World War lll

7 Trumpets of Revelation

~ Pat Vick ~ 2 Comments
Chernobyl Memorial. Monument of the Third Angel
-Photo Credit: Darmon Richter

Where are we right now in endtime prophetic events? Most people believe everything after Revelation chapter 3 is still in the future. The truth is, we are presently living much further down the line of endtime events than people think, or want to admit. Let’s look at the seven trumpets to find out where we are, and what we can expect in the near future.


7 TRUMPETS

We are going to begin by identifying the Third Trumpet. This is the first trumpet of the seven that God revealed to the late Rev. Irvin Baxter of Endtime Ministries.

3rd TRUMPET: Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster 1986

“And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; and the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.” (Revelation 8:10-11)

The key to understanding the third trumpet is the word wormwood. The Ukrainian word for wormwood is Chernobyl. If you were reading a Ukrainian Bible, you would actually read the word Chernobyl instead of Wormwood.

In 1986, the world‘s worst nuclear disaster happened in Chernobyl Ukraine. The nuclear reactor exploded, and the massive dome was thrown into the sky, and feel like a burning star. The nuclear fallout caused poison rain, which in turn poison, the waters. Approximately 1000 mi.² across Europe was contaminated and deemed unlivable. Thousands of people died, and countless birth defects are still being reported almost 40 years later.

Picture above is one of several Chernobyl memorials called Monument of the Third Angel, a direct reference to the third trumpet in Revelation 8.

Now, knowing we are looking for world events, and also knowing the identity of the third trumpet being the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, we must look back further than this point in history to identify trumpets one and two. They will obviously be major world events…

1st TRUMPET: World War l (1914-1918)

“The first Angel sounded, and they followed hail and fire, mingled with blood, and they were casted up upon the Earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.” (Revelation 8:7)

Retreating forces, especially Russia, implemented the “Scorched Earth Policy.” They would purposely destroy all resources that might be useful to their enemies. This would include, but was not limited to, burning all crops and vegetation, leaving the land completely wasted. *World War I was also the first time biological weapons were used.

2nd TRUMPET: World War ll (1939-1945)

“And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.” (Revelation 8:8-9)

The first nuclear bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II. If you look at images of this explosion, you will agree that to John, it would have absolutely looked like a mountain burning with fire. The nuclear fallout wreaked devastation to the sea life.

The scripture also very accurately declares one third of all ships in the war would be destroyed. History records 36,387 of 105,125 ships in WWll were destroyed.

4th TRUMPET: Length of Days Shortened (1989-)

“And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.” (Revelation 8:12)

”And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matthew 24:22)

The Berlin Wall came down in 1989. This event marked the birth of the New World Order, and initiated the major push toward a One World Government. Since this time, our days have actually gotten shorter. Remember how days seemed to go on forever? Gone are the “dog days of summer.” Not just because we’re getting older, but the length of each day has actually been cut by one third. *We know this prophecy cannot be referring to the number of days because of scriptures giving us an exact number of days from the Abomination of Desolation to the coming of the Lord.

”And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.” (Daniel 12:11)

I remember thinking about this prophecy, and wondering how people wouldn’t notice if each day was shortened by one-third. The thought came to me that if the whole universe was sped up at the same time, most people wouldn’t notice for the most part, except to feel like they didn’t have nearly enough time to get their work done in a day, and not enough time to sleep and be refreshed at night. Turns out that’s exactly how we all feel.

Even though this shortening of days seems to make our lives feel overwhelming at present, there’s coming a time during the tribulation period when we’ll be so thankful the days don’t go on and on. According to Matthew 24, this shortening of days is for the Church’s sake.

5th TRUMPET: Gulf War (1990-1991)

“And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto 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 upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.“ (Revelation 9:1-3)

Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990. He set 700 oil wells ablaze. The sky was darkened for approximately ten months from the smoke. Several months of that time it was so dark, the sun could not be seen in the middle of the day.

“And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.“ (Revelation 9:7-9)

The military aircraft John would have seen in this vision would have looked to him like great metallic locusts “stinging” people with their tails. He would have seen the pilots faces and heard the rotors beating the air like thundering horses. Helicopters are often painted with fierce faces on the front, as well.

“And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.“ (Revelation 9:11)

The Hebrew word “Abaddon” and the Greek word “Apollyon” both mean DESTROYER. By no coincidence, the name “Saddam” also means DESTROYER.

6th TRUMPET: World War lll (?)

“And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And 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. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.” (Revelation 9:13-16)

World War lll, also called the Sixth Trumpet War, is the next event on the timeline of endtime events. This war will emanate from the Euphrates River region. There are four nations that border the Euphrates -Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. Shockingly, the prophecy declares that one-third of humanity will be destroyed in this war. Over 2 billion people. It will no doubt be a series of nuclear exchanges for this number of people to be killed. Although we need to be in sincere prayer in this endtime, this event is unavoidable. It is set on God’s prophetic calendar, and will happen in the near future.

7th TRUMPET: The Return of Jesus Christ (The Near Future)

“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.”

We are the generation who will most likely see the return of Jesus to set up his earthly Kingdom. This series of events will include the wrath of God being poured out, the Rapture of the Church, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, our return with Jesus to the Battle of Armageddon to put an end to all human government, and established Him as King of all.

IN SUMMARY

Did you take note of the timeline? We are presently living between the 5th and 6th trumpets. Five of seven are behind us! Knowing that we are so far along the timeline of endtime events should cause us to live closer to the Lord than ever before. We should pray like we’ve never prayed before. We should fast like we’ve never fasted before. We should witness like we’ve never witnessed before. We should use our callings and giftings to help a lost world. That ministry you’ve been planning on pursuing…Now’s the time. It’s time to get serious about the things of God.

Warm Regards,

-Pat

What Two Events Must Happen Before The Rapture?

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment
Photo by Terence Burke on Unsplash

The vast majority of Christians believe the Rapture of the Church is the next big event on the end time timeline. However, a close study of scripture reveals there are two major events that must occur first.

Granted, we must be ready to meet the Lord at any moment. None of us know how many days our lives consist of, or what moment we will personally pass through the veil of death into an eternity spent either in or out of God’s presence.

However, when we talk about the timing of the RAPTURE of the Church, according to scripture, it must still be at least SEVEN YEARS away. As I said, there are two major events still on the end time timeline. Let’s talk about each one.

SIXTH TRUMPET WAR
(Revelation 9)

“And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,” (Revelation 9:13)

The 6th angel refers to the sounding of the sixth trumpet. It is largely believed that the sounding of these seven trumpets are still in the future. However, we are currently living between the 5th & 6th trumpets. (The sounding of the fifth trumpet being the Gulf War.) The 7th trumpet, or Last Trump, will be the Rapture of the Church when we are caught up into the air to be with Jesus, go to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and return with Him to the Battle of Armageddon. 

“Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.” (Revelation 9:14)

These four “angels” which are loosed, are demonic spirits. We know they are not holy angels because they are bound. Their mission is to go out and draw world leaders into what we know to be World War lll.

These demonic spirits are at this moment bound under the Euphrates River, and will be loosed from that geographical area. There are four nations that border the Euphrates. Turkey, Syria, Iraq & Iran. This prophecied war will originate from this area, and quickly spread to other nations.

“And 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.” (Revelation 9:15)

We should be in deep and consistent prayer over end time events. Praying for this war not to happen, however, is futile. Its timing is locked in to God’s end time calendar of events, and nothing will change it, or keep it from happening.

The most disturbing detail of this prophecy is the number of people who will be killed in this war. Scripture specifically says “the third part of men.” It would be easy to assume, and hope, scripture is referring to a third part of people in a certain geographical location. While I am strictly a King James Version girl, in this instance I’d love to find other translations proving this theory. Unfortunately, every notable version of the Bible translates this phrase to mean one third of all mankind. Or one third of the world’s population. 

There are over 8 billion souls alive on the earth at present. It is excruciating to consider that over two and a half billion people will soon perish. The vast majority of them lost without God.

“And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.” (Revelation 9:16)

We find out here the main instigating army will consist of 200,000,000 soldiers. This is an astounding number that can only be fielded at this time by four nations or people groups:

-China, whose leader actually boasted of being able to field this exact number of soldiers, and is a nuclear power on the world stage.

-Islam, which is the prophecied “pale/green horse” of Revelation 6:8 whose rider was death.

-India, who also is a nuclear power.

-America, who has a strong military presence around the world, and is also a nuclear power.

“And 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.” (Revelation 9:17)

Here we see the imagery John used to describe modern day military equipment and warfare using the only reference points he knew at the time.


“By 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.” (Revelation 9:18)

Fire. Smoke. Brimstone. By these, one third of humanity will be killed. This war will undoubtedly be a nuclear exchange in order for such a vast number of people to perish.

***Please note this war occurs at the 6th Trumpet. The 5th Trumpet was the Gulf War (1990-1991) and the 7th Trumpet, when the Church will be raptured, is still in the future. This is one way we know this world war will occur BEFORE the rapture. It is one of the next two events on the end time timeline. Let’s talk about the other event we’re looking to happen before the rapture. Either of these events could happen first. Scripture isn’t explicitly clear which comes first.

CONFIRMATION OF THE COVENANT 
(Daniel 9)

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.“ (Daniel 9:24)

This prophecy was revealed to Daniel by the angel Gabriel at the beginning of the Jewish people’s captivity in Babylon. He is told that God has decreed a time period of judgement against the Jewish people of seventy weeks. This refers to 70 weeks of years, or 490 years. The end of this time period will accomplish five specific things:

1. Finish the transgression

2. Make an end of sins

3. Make reconciliation for iniquity 

4. Bring in everlasting righteousness 

5. Seal up the vision and prophecy

6. Anoint the Most Holy

For the sake of the brevity of this article, I will simply say there is one remaining week of years, or a final seven year period of time. We know this final seven years hasn’t occurred because none of the six requirements have happened yet. These will be the final seven years before Jesus raptures the Church, and returns to the earth to set up His earthly Kingdom.


“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” (Daniel 9:27)

There is a specific event that will happen to trigger this final seven year period. Students of Bible prophecy call it the Confirmation of the Covenant. The “he” in this verse refers to the antichrist. He is a political figure whose identity we cannot be sure of at this point, but is undoubtedly working behind the scenes at present. He will confirm, or put his stamp of approval and support  on a seven year peace agreement between the Jewish people and the Palestinian people. 

This agreement will affirm the Covenant God made with Abraham and his descendants through his son Isaac. He would give them a Promised Land (the land we know as Israel) forever. This seven year peace agree will establish several specific things:

1. It will affirm the Jewish people’s right to their God-given homeland.

2. It will establish a Palestinian homeland in Judea-Samaria, also known as the West Bank.

3. It will allow for the building of a third Jewish Temple.

4. It will allow Jews and Arabs to both worship on the Temple Mount.

5. It will establish a Palestinian state, presumably in Judea-Samaria (the West Bank)

IN SUMMARY

While it is unclear which of these events will occur first, recent world developments reveal how quickly either one might happen. Never before in modern history could we imagine a scenario where any nation would actually bomb the nuclear Iran. Yet it happened. I dare say there have been several itchy fingers on nuclear buttons in recent weeks. We are also seeing the resurrection of the Abraham Accords, which could easily produce this prophecied Israeli/Palestinian peace agreement. 

In a world of uncertainty, one thing is certain. Major life-changing events are on the horizon, and it’s high time to seek and serve the Lord with all our hearts and strength. What will be your mindset? How will you navigate these final seven years once they begin? Will you be consumed by anxiety, or will you be found faithful and working for the Kingdom?

”And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” (Daniel 11:32)

Warm Regards,

~Pat Vick

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