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.

Pentecost Fire

In 1973 Syria and Egypt launched a surprise attack against Israel on Yom Kippur, their highest holy day, so there is precedence for the Muslims to attack Israel during Jewish holidays. The eight days of Hanukkah began at sundown on December 21, 2008. Three days later the Negev of southern Israel was hit by more than 60 mortar shells and rockets from Iran's proxy in Gaza, so there is precedence for Iran to attack Israel during Jewish holidays. Ancient Iran (Persia) sought to destroy the Jews when queen Esther intervened and king Xerxes turned it into a day the Jews could destroy their enemies (which is celebrated as the holiday called Purim).

Iran and its proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah, have vocalized their desire to annihilate the Jews, and have been lobbing Katusha rockets at Israel for years. On May 18, 2009 PM Netanyahu met with Pres. Obama about Iran's threats. Obama said that within a year he would know if discussions/diplomacy had not worked with Iran, and then would consider sanctions. Sanctions have already failed. The next day Israel's air force held large-scale exercises simulating war with Iran in preparation for the real one. Obama's actions may have emboldened Iran's plans to destroy Israel.

The next Jewish feast is Weeks (Shavuot), which was called Pentecost in Greek, which will begin at sundown on May 28, 2009. It celebrates the day God spoke His Ten Commandment to the Hebrews as fire from Mount Sinai, and was fulfilled the day Christ's disciples (with "cloven tongues like as of fire" on their heads) spoke the wonders of God in various languages to the Jews from many nations in Jerusalem.

Satan wants to be "like the Most High" and often counterfeits His miracles. Satan's proxies in the middle-east are the Sunnis (beast of the sea, Rev. 13), the Shia (beast of the earth), and the Wahhabis (the "whore", Rev. 17).
Revelation 13:11-13 "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,"
Daniel 8:20 "The ram which you saw having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia."

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has consistently stated his goal is to create enough chaos to hasten the reign of the Mahdi, and has asserted that was why he was made president. When asked by the Ayatollah Khamenei, "What if he doesn't come by then [the end of your term]?" Ahmadinejad adamantly replied, "I assure you; I really believe this. He will come soon." [Ahmadinejad: The Secret History of Iran's Radical Leader by Kasra Naji, p.92] Iran will hold presidential elections on June 12, 2009.

North Korea successfully conducted another nuclear test on May 25, 2009, and the CIA didn't have a clue that it had occurred, and had to rely on Russia's confirmation. Hours later, North Korea successfully test-fired three short-range, ground-to-air missiles which could carry nuclear warheads. The CIA was caught off-guard at Iran's revolution in the 1970's, and Obama made it clear the US is in a 'wait and see' stance for the remainder of the year.