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Biblical apocalyptic prophecy could come to pass as major river dries up

The Euphrates River, which flows through Turkey, Syria and Iraq, is drying up at an alarming rate - and many believe this fulfils an ancient Biblical prophecy warning of the end times and Armageddon

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A report estimated that the Euphrates River will dry up by 2040(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Water levels in the Euphrates River, in what's known as the "cradle of civilisation", are plummeting at an alarming rate. This concerning drought has triggered concerns a Biblical apocalyptic prophecy might be coming to pass.

The dwindling Euphrates - Western Asia's most extensive river, flowing through Turkey, Syria and Iraq - runs through one of the Bible's most significant regions, the Fertile Crescent. The waterway holds a pivotal position in the Book of Revelation - and a prophecy connected to its significance has caused considerable unease online, as it foretells the apocalypse and Christ's Second Coming.

Revelation 16:12 states: "The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East."

Many interpret this as a warning that once the Euphrates becomes parched, a vast army from the East will march across the dried riverbed towards the Battle of Armageddon.

This passage marks the second Biblical prophecy concerning the Euphrates running dry, with the initial one appearing in Jeremiah 50:38, where God declared: "A drought on her waters! They will dry up. For it is a land of idols, idols that will go mad with terror."

[Euphrates River]

People online worry that the Euphrates River drying up could signal the end of times(Image: Esri)

What is the Biblical 'second prophecy' The second prophecy in Revelation, part of the seven bowl judgements symbolising the end of the seven-year tribulation, is so catastrophic that "no human being would be saved."

The deteriorating condition of the river has left apocalyptic believers increasingly troubled, with many convinced this ancient prophecy is manifesting before our very eyes, reports the Express.

A 2013 NASA study disclosed that both the Tigris and Euphrates river basins - the waters of Babylon - shed an enormous 117 million acre feet (34 cubic miles) of freshwater between 2003 and 2009.

This amount of water loss is roughly equivalent to that of the Dead Sea, with the majority (60%) attributed to groundwater being pumped from subterranean reservoirs.

[Blonde girl sitting on grass in bright natural light, peacefully reading an open Bible, symbolizing faith, learning, and reflection.]

Could a prophecy come true?(Image: D-Keine via Getty Images)

In earlier eras, these two mighty rivers enabled agricultural communities to thrive, but nowadays they are steadily withering amid a mounting crisis. For those who firmly embrace Biblical apocalyptic prophecy, such developments could witness the prophecy fulfilled within the coming decades.

Iraq's Ministry of Water Resources has cautioned that without urgent intervention, the Euphrates River could entirely disappear by 2040, with dropping water levels further worsened by droughts caused by climate change.

What dangers does the Euphrates pose to humans?

Dropping water levels and deteriorating water quality are also triggering a host of further problems, including famine and disease.

"Diarrhea, chicken pox, measles, typhoid fever, and cholera are currently spreading across Iraq because of the water crisis, and the government no longer provides vaccines to its citizens," Naseer Baqar, climate activist and field coordinator at Tigris River Protectors Association in Iraq, informed BJM.

The Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has reported that water levels in the Euphrates have now plummeted to one of the lowest points ever recorded.

As the river continues to deplete, internet users are debating whether this is a sign of the apocalypse or simply further proof of climate change wreaking havoc on our planet.

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