Welcome to Frog City Willimantic
The Revelation is dangerously misinterpreted so please indulge me this “tongue-in-cheek” interpretation of those “three foul spirits like frogs” who assemble kings of earth for battle at Armageddon (Rev. 16:13-14). First the story of the frogs that grace the bridge into Willimantic. Settlers living near a swamp SE of Willimantic heard rumors of an impending night attack. Armed to fight the enemy, they hear alarming sounds coming out of the swamp and fire at the sounds. Next morning all they found were some dead frogs. So atop those thread spools that recall Willimantic as the thread capitol of the world sit four benign frogs.
Back to the Revelation. The frogs come out of the mouth of an evil trinity -- a dragon, a sea-beast, and a land beast/false prophet. John tells us that a river [of lies] come out of the mouth of the dragon to destroy the woman/community that birthed the Messiah (12:15-16). The god-like beast out of the sea, imperial Rome, speaks “haughty and blasphemous words against God (13:1-8). The land beast that looked like a lamb but spoke like a dragon [local authorities] speak words that call people to worship Rome (13:11-15). There is a war of words between these “frogs” and the Lamb whose weapon is the sword of his mouth and his followers who bear their testimony to him (12:11, 17).
John’s message made sense to its original hearers in their situation. It is not predictions of 21st century events (14:13; 16:15). The propaganda they heard and saw was a parody of the eternal God who was, is, and is to come. Their faith is in Jesus who was [his life], was not [crucified], and is to come (1:17). He is the faithful witness and they are to give their testimony (6:9ff) with its terrifying consequences.
Frog imagery in that culture often described the croaking calls of gods and goddesses to follow them. One comedy spoke of a frog who puffed itself up to look like an ox. Could John be describing the militaristic and materialistic propaganda of Rome with this ironic humor? I wonder if he may be talking to us in America today. Who shall we worship and to whom shall we testify (19:10)?
—Tom Yoakum