Locusts and Martyrs

Greetings, Beloved Bride of Christ,

Truly, the LORD is sovereign, and King Jesus can return for His Bride whenever He so chooses. As a student of His Word, I do my best to understand the "signs of the times" (Matthew 16:3), because Christ chided the Jews for not recognizing them (Luke 19:44), and He commanded us to "watch" (I Thess. 5:1-6).

In 2009 I was convinced that Daniel 12:9-13 provided the year of 2012 for Christ's return, but He did not return. Another time Scripture states 1 day = 1,000 years. Using Usher's Tishri 1, 4004 BC date for Adam and Eve's creation and Christ's birth on Tishri 1, 3 BC, the "second Adam" was born exactly 4001 years from the first Adam's creation. For those using one day is "as a thousand years" (II Peter 3:8), and the beginning of Christ's millennial reign on the 7th day; that gives Tishri 1, 1997 AD as 2,000 years from Jesus' birth, and April 14 (Passover), 2033 AD from Jesus' death on April 3, 33 AD. This is the time window (1997-2033) in which I would expect to see the signs of Revelation fulfilled.

Also in 2009 I wrote that Muslims were anti-christs who "beheaded" (Rev. 20:4) people. The Wahhabi's of Saudi Arabia were the "whore" (Rev. 17), the Sunnis were the beast of the sea (Rev. 13:1-10; Daniel 7's 4th beast), and the Shia were the beast of the earth (Rev. 13:11-17). I wrote that God would remove the US from the middle east based on II Thess. 2:3-8. I wrote Mecca-Jeddah was "mystery Babylon" (John 17:5) and that Al-Qaeda were the "locusts" (Rev. 9:1-12). Now it appears the "locusts" are an off-shoot of Al-Qaeda known as ISIL, but when does/did their five months of terror begin?

And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven to the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts on the earth: and to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he strikes a man. (Revelation 9:1-5)

ISIS came out of the smoke of the Syrian War. Though most are aware ISIS and other terrorist groups get their funding from rich Muslims living in the Arabian Peninsula, transactions can't be traced to them [article]. It seems to me that we are in the midst of the 5th seal of the martyrs described in Revelation 6:9-11 and 7:9-17. Yes, ISIS has been killing and crucifying Christians, but the ones who are "sealed" that they are not to touch are the 144,000 Jews (Rev. 7:1-3) Under Nebuchadnezzar II, the Babylonian empire stretched from Elam (western Persia) to Egypt, including eastern Anatolia (Turkey) and Cyprus. Speaking of Babylon, "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues." (Rev. 18:4) The exodus of Christians from Babylonia has been ongoing since 2000.

START DATE OF 5 MONTHS OF LOCUSTS

Though this group formed in 2006, ISIS/ISIL became known to the world early in 2014. The description of the "locusts" includes what most agree is a description of helicopters with missiles. 

"When ISIS captured Mosul Airport on June 14, 2014, it seized a number of UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and cargo planes that were stationed there." (wikipedia, based on article)

"On 29 June 2014, the establishment of a new caliphate was announced, with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi named as its caliph, and the group formally changed its name to the "Islamic State"." (wikipedia, based on article) 

Five months from the middle or end of June comes to the middle or end of November. This ignites the Battle of Armageddon which lasts one year, one month, and one day (Rev. 9:15); before Christ returns for His "day of vengeance/judgment". But for all we know, the five months will soon be over.

SAUDI ARABIA and ISRAEL to ATTACK IRAN BEFORE 2015?

Joel Rosenberg was correct in predicting America would rebuild Babylon (Baghdad), and it will soon "fall" into the control of ISIL.[article] When it does, Iran may decide its time to launch a nuclear bomb at Israel. Israel and Saudi Arabia may combine forces to destroy Iran's nuclear plants. [article]

The world does not like when Israel defends itself, and could easily bolster governments to portray a united front against Israel with two hundred million men in uniforms of red, blue, and yellow (Rev. 9:16-17). The only place in Israel to stage such a vast army is in the Jezreel Valley near Har Megiddo. 

I could be wrong again, but it seems the angelic announcements and three woes are occurring in quick succession. The first angelic announcement is the everlasting gospel with a loud voice to the world (Rev. 14:6-7). The gospel has been received by Muslims in the Middle East through visions and visitations. The first woe is the locusts (Rev. 9:10-12). The second angelic announcement is the fall of the great city Babylon (Rev. 18:1-2). The beginning of the Battle of Armegeddon is the second woe (Rev. 11:14). The third angelic announcement is if anyone worships the Beast or takes its mark, he will also experience God's wrath poured out on the Beast (Rev. 14:9-12). The third woe (Revelation 11:14-19) comes immediately upon the last day of the Armegeddon War. Then the Bride will come with Jesus to destroy the wicked with King Jesus in great power and majesty.

I agree with Payne, that the trumpets and vials are done in tandem (Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy by J. Barton Payne, p.598, 1973); and propose that seals 6 and 7 culminate together with the 7th trumpet and vial immediately preceding Christ's return. I believe King Jesus will return on Tishri 1, the day of His birth ,when trumpets are sounded to honor the king. The new moon will occur on Sunday, September 13th, 2015 with a partial solar eclipse at 1:55 pm observable from Antartica.  Sometime approaching midnight, or passed midnight on September 14th, I would hope to see King Jesus return to earth. This would be prior to the 4th blood moon of the tetrad late on the evening of September 27th. [NASA]   More likely, Christ's Bride will need to continue to "watch" for her Bridegroom's appearing.

God's mercy will triumph. If the harvest is not yet great enough, He will wait.

Sixth Trumpet and Vial

6th Trumpet and South Sudan's new Colors

“13And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. 15And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. 16And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. 17And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. 18By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. 19For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like to serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. 20And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: 21Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.” (Revelation 9:13-21)

The last verse surely depicts much of this last generation: “murders” (both of the born and the unborn), sorceries (pharmakaeia – drugs to enhance communication with demons), “fornication” (porneia) , and “thefts”, especially now with 'flash robs'. They love their wicked deeds and will not “repent” (metanoeo – think differently, come to their senses or amend their ways). Verse 15 is where I get 391 days for this war until the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” comes to end it on feast of trumpets in 2012, which gives a start date of August 23, 2011.

The breastplates of the soldiers on the “horses” are fire, jacinth, and brimstone. Fire is red or red-orange. Jacinth is a semi-precious stone and flower that is also known as hyacinth. The flower is blue. The stone jacinth is a lustrous orange-yellow, orange-red, yellow, or yellow-brown; but when it's cut and polished it is blue-white. Brimstone is equated with sulfur. In its natural state, sulfur is yellow; when it's melted, it turns blood red. Sulphur produces a blue flame when it's burned. In 2009 I looked for a flag or uniform with the colors red, blue and yellow; and except for the Olympic flag, did not find one. . . .

Until today, July 9, 2011, when South Sudan declared their independence with their new flag. Sudan means 'black' in Arabic, so the black stripe is on top. Mohammed declared green to be the color of Islam. Red, white, black and green are called pan-Arab colors. But with the addition of the blue triangle and yellow star; it is unique among the nations. When Sudan gained independence from Egypt and Britain on January 1, 1956, they adopted a blue, yellow and green horizontal striped flag; and this may be related. Sudan is the only country I know to have predominant portions of their flag colored red, blue and yellow; and I accept it as a sign that the sixth trumpet is about to sound.

The four angels of destruction are loosed from the Euphrates to slay 1/3 of mankind, but their slaughter may not necessarily be contained within the Middle East, though that and Israel will be the focus. The “horses” had heads like “lions”, fierce and swift in battle (1 Chron. 12:8), and “their mouths [stoma – front edge of weapon] issued [exporeuomai - discharged] fire [pur - lightning] and smoke and brimstone [theion – flashing, like divinity].” This sounds like an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) to me.

“The next shoe dropped in 1998, when Iran tested missiles fired from a barge in the Caspian that exploded a hundred miles above the surface. The Iranians knew about EMP too, and were making plans to menace any nation they could reach from a cargo ship as soon as they had the necessary nuclear warheads. Concerned at last, Congress established a commission in 2001 to examine the potential damage to the United States from an EMP attack. The final report was published in 2008, and the news was not good. Attacked by EMP weapons, the United States infrastructure would suffer catastrophic and irreversible damage—unless defensive preparations were made. The cost for hardening vulnerable things such as electrical power transmission lines, communications, and computer-controlled systems like refineries and water supplies would cost billions of dollars. Speeches were made, but expensive action was left to disappear from congressional agendas.” by Chet Nagle on March 29, 2010 at
http://warsclerotic.wordpress.com/2010/04/18/emp-israels-solution-to-the-iran-nuclear-threat/

But if that doesn't do it, Iran should have a nuclear bomb by 2012. Iran has possibly bought whatever it wanted from Russia and North Korea already. And don't forget that Pakistan has nukes and doesn't like the US very much anymore. Pakistan is also a kingdom of the east.

“Official American and Israeli estimates suggest Iran would not be able to produce a bomb until 2012, or more likely several years after that. In June, Iran declared that it aimed to triple production of nuclear fuel and increase enrichment to 20 percent, a level that would indicate technological progress that experts say would make the weapons-grade level of 90 percent enrichment much closer.” July 9, 2011, updated from June 8, 2011 in The New York Times http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/iran/nuclear_program/index.html

There is also the tails of the "horses" in verse 19 "For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like to serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt." As with the tails of the scorpions who "hurt" men for five months, these horses' tails also "hurt" (adikeo) men for a particular time period. Adikeo is "to be unjust, that is, (actively) do wrong (morally, socially or physically): - hurt, injure, be an offender, be unjust, (do, suffer, take) wrong." These horses' tails were like "serpents"/Ophis, "figuratively (as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, like Satan." These horses' tails were like serpents with heads, which brings to mind the picture of a sperm; so these bombs may carry biological weapons as well. The other serpent with heads in Revelation refers to Satan.

6th Vial

“12And the sixth angel poured out his vial on the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 13And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 16And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.” (Revelation 16:12-16)

Turkey demonstrated in 2008-2009 that it can use its dams to withhold water in the Euphrates from reaching Iraq. Turkey is also controlling how much electricity they supply Iraq. See http://onedinar.forumotion.net/t31767-minister-of-electricity-an-agreement-on-the-semi-final-import-200-mw-from-turkey-with-the-increase-in-the-euphrates-river
Turkey led the Ottoman Empire, and I think it will also lead the last caliphate.

Messiah's inclusion of a warning of His coming in the midst of the sixth vial assures me that there is only one coming of King Jesus/Yeshua, and that it is after the 391 days of this Armageddon War to which the “whole world” will be enticed. One enticement may be the next Gaza Flotilla. Christ's warning also leads me to think a false messiah will be “working miracles” during the 391 days to entice people to follow Islam or Chrislam. “Miracles” is semeion, from a root for 'mark', meaning “that by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others and is known” according to Thayer.

The only Biblical time-table for the declaration of diety by the “son of perdition” is that it is after the apostasy of “falling away” of many and prior to “that day” of Messiah's return. I speculate that God has given us a pattern of earthquakes in order to prepare us for one on the west coast in the last half of September this year. It may be of such large magnitude that it sets off the supervolcano in Yellowstone (this may be part of the “smoke” which kills people) as well as the New Madrid Fault. (It may be a kindness that the Mississippi was flooded and people had to move away from this fault.) If any of these major disasters take place, the president would initiate martial law. During Katrina they sent in military men to disarm the citizens 'to keep peace'.

I speculate the Mahdi is Muqtada al-Sadr, and that he will reveal himself openly before the end of 2011. After the Mahdi does so, I speculate President Obama will do obeisance to him and declare himself to be Jesus and call people to accept Allah as god either blatantly or subtlely. It may be that unless you accept Allah you will not be able to do banking or be able to receive government assistance. Those who resist will be imprisoned or killed as has been happening in Muslims countries for decades, but moreso the last five months of locusts.

We as followers of our LORD Jesus Christ, are to keep vigilant in our faith and our expectation of His “blessed appearing” and to keep doing whatever good works He tells us to do as we shine His light in the darkness.

Release of Emergency Oil Reserves

So what's the emergency? Obama released 30 million barrels of crude oil from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) on June 23, 2011. Currently, the US consumes 21 million barrels of oil daily, and the SPR holds 726.5 million barrels [wikipedia].

The real reason for this political move may be to warn Israel, that if they don't give up their land to the Palestinians, the US will not honor their treaty to sell oil to Israel during their time of need, because it will already be sold. According to the 1975 Second Sinai withdrawal document, the U.S. is obligated to sell oil to Israel for up to 5 years in case of an emergency. The emergency will be all the Muslim countries attacking Israel, but this time it will be with the support of the U.N. (full of pro-Muslim countries) to enforce the “Responsibility to Protect Act” to establish a Palestinian state.

Counting backward one (360-day) year, one (30-day) month, and one day (Rev. 9:14-16) from September 16, 2012 (Rosh haShanah, Feast of Trumpets) is August 23, 2011. This date begins the War of Armegeddon against Israel.

I hope you can bicycle to work.

Five months

In 2010 I posted about how I thought God was using earthquakes at Christchurch, New Zealand as a way to communicate to His Bride the church what was about to happen. On September 4, 2010, Christchurch was hit by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, but suffered little damage and no casualties. Now FIVE MONTHS later, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake has devastated the city with hundreds of casualties because the epicenter of the quake was closer to the city. [The return of King Jesus for His Bride is coming closer, but more Christians will die before He arrives.]

If my Biblical interpretations are correct, prior to March 26, 2011 the first four trumpets and vials will come upon the earth from space (possibly combined with volcanoes erupting). Vials 1-4 which fall on Babylon/Islam will be in tandem with trumpets 1-4 which fall on the world, and occur close in timing. First trump is “hail and fire mingled with blood” (meteorite shower). Second trump is “a great mountain burning with fire cast into the sea” (meteor/asteroid strike): 1/3 sea became blood, 1/3 sea creatures died, and 1/3 of the ships were destroyed. At the third trump a great star named Wormwood falls on 1/3 of the rivers, fountains and waters; and people die from the bitter waters (sulfuric acid rain). At the fourth trump 1/3 of daylight and nightlight is darkened (from the debris cloud).
On February 10th the earth had an asteroid near-miss.
[http://www.newser.com/story/111740/asteroid-barely-misses-earth.html]

"And there came out of the smoke locusts on the earth: and to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he strikes a man. . . . And they had tails like to scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months." (Rev. 9:3-10)

From Scriptural clues, I think Osama bin Laden is the "king" over these "locusts". Muslims are calling for an Islamic Caliphate in the Middle East which they hope will spread to encompass the world. Those Muslims who will not submit their country to this new caliphate will experience the "torture" of Al-Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood, and other jihadist groups. The country likely to hold out the longest is Saudi Arabia who has a protest scheduled for March 20th. If bin Laden is yet again unsuccessful at setting their oil fields ablaze, maybe Iran will decide to test a nuclear missile strike against Mecca.

But on March 26, 2011 I expect FIVE MONTHS of organized Al-Qaida attacks, primarily against the “whore” (Wahhabis) and other 'wayward' Muslims, in order to organize them as one caliphate and to purify them for their attack against Israel in which UN nations will join. I expect Armegeddon to begin August 23, 2011 and last for one year, one month, and one day; with Jesus Christ returning on September 16, 2012 at midnight on Rosh Hashannah, the "great and very terrible" "day of the LORD".

I don't know if their Mahdi (12th imam) will declare himself before or after the FIVE MONTHS to lead the new caliphate, but I still think it will most likely be Muqtada al-Sadr, the leader of Iraq's Mahdi army.

It's interesting that on May 8th, the King James Bible will celebrate its 400th anniversary. People have had access to the Word of God for 400 years, yet the hatred toward the Bible and those who believe in it is growing. Four people were just murdered by Somali pirates for distributing Bibles.

"And he said to Abram, Know of a surety that your seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not their's, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come here again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full." (Genesis 15:13-16)

"And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up." (Daniel 8:23)

Maybe the Mahdi will make his announcement after May 8th.