World War III Begins

(1) World War III Begins

We saw in the last chapter that famine is certain to come upon the world. If billions could die in famine, why not just kill your neighbors and take what food they may have so that your country will not starve until the sun returns to bring crops again? Famine has historically been an instigator of warfare, and it will be so again. Even without a famine, the tsunami of the 2nd trumpet and the asteroid impact of the 3rd trumpet will be a door of opportunity for aggressive nations. So there will be no better time to invade Western Europe, the United States, or the country next door.

It is a little known fact that war does not increase mortality; mortality is 100% in every generation, it just brings death a few years sooner. Since a large percentage of the world’s population will be facing death by starvation, they will think to themselves that it is better to go out in a blaze of glory by dying for a cause they believe in such as Islam, communism, the annihilation of Jews, the annihilation of Christians, the annihilation of Capitalism, a neighboring country or city, or just the people next door. So the dogs of war will be unleashed as wars break out among the nations.

Several passages that refer to World War III say that war will rage between nations, cities, even neighbors, and relatives. It will be like a city with a hostile population that has suffered a blackout, the populace then goes on a rampage of looting and killing and setting fires, only it will be global; “Every man’s sword will be against his brother” (Ezekiel 38:21). This is not merely battlefield confusion, other passages make it clear:

“I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian– brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.” (Isaiah 19:2)

Every man will seize the hand of another, and they will attack each other. (Zechariah 14:13)

People will oppress each other– man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, the base against the honorable. (Isaiah 3:5)

Behold, the days are coming when the Most High will deliver those who are on the earth. 30 And bewilderment of mind shall come over those who dwell on the earth. 31 And they shall plan to make war against one another, city against city, place against place, people against people, and kingdom against kingdom. (2 Ezra 13:29-31)

(2 Ezra is part of the Apocrypha, which means “hidden” not “false.” The Apocrypha was part of the Septuagint, the Latin Vulgate, and the original KJV Bible; it is still included in some Bibles especially in the Eastern Church. It is 4 Esdras in the Vulgate, and 3 Esdras in Russian Bibles.)

It might happen something like this: the Muslims may think to themselves that God has provided this opportunity to eliminate the Christians and Jews. They may consider the asteroid a sign from God. By then there will be over 2 billion Muslims worldwide, so if only 1% engaged in jihad, that is more than 20 million warriors for Allah.

(2) Sixth Trumpet – Missiles and Rockets
When the angel blows the sixth trumpet in Revelation 9, John sees fire-breathing horses. John’s description was not an attempt to describe a modern weapon; what he describes is exactly what he saw. However, it is actually symbolism that must be interpreted to arrive at its meaning, but when properly interpreted, it turns out to be modern missiles:

13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God. 14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number. (Rev. 9:13-16)

The Euphrates begins in Turkey and flows through Syria and Iraq, but the major portion is in Iraq. The four angels of destruction being released from the Euphrates River tells us that the final war in this age will begin in Turkey or Iraq, which means that Turkey or Iraq will contain the capital of the next Islamic empire. Armageddon will be the last battle of this war and is described in Rev. 16.

17 The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. 18 A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. 19 The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury. (Rev. 9:17-19)

One-third of all people on Earth will be killed in this war, because it says one-third of “mankind;” if it said one-third of the earth, it could mean the Middle-East, southern Europe, and North Africa. Therefore, it must include a nuclear war, because only a nuclear war can kill over two billion to three billion people.

Notice that it says the “power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails.” This describes two different power sources. It is the power at the tail that kills people; since it kills with fire, smoke, and sulfur, the tail must explode. So the tail has a head on it that explodes.

A missile’s payload of explosives is in the nose-cone and is called a “warhead.” The power of the mouth is at the opposite end and propels the missile to its target. The metal breastplate of the rider represents the outer metal covering of the missile. The breastplates have colors on them, as do missiles that identify their intended purpose, the type of explosive they are carrying, and so forth.

Rockets travel up then down as they travel toward their targets, like an artillery shell; but guided missiles have the ability to make turns as they travel. Consider the tail of these horses that are like snakes. The snake-like tail is what turns the tail’s head. Directly behind the missile’s warhead is the guidance and control section.

John’s description is not specific enough to refer to one particular missile; it refers to all self-propelled missiles regardless of size, from the small shoulder-launched missiles to the intercontinental. It probably also includes rockets, but rockets do not have guidance systems. There will be 200 million missiles and rockets used in this war. You have probably seen some on the evening news or in a movie.

Notice that the command to release the angels of destruction come from the altar before God. Because of the large number killed and the specific date given, “this very hour and day and year,” we know that this war will not and cannot start until this exact point in time. There is security in knowing that nuclear war cannot happen today, or any other day, except the specific day and hour that God has appointed. The 6th trumpet blast signals the start of world war and it will continue until completion at the final battle of Armageddon.

The prophet Joel in the Old Testament saw the same army of horses that John saw. In the following Scripture, notice that the horses leap over the mountain tops, destroy with fire, cause the earth to shake, and cause clouds and darkness that will darken the sun and moon. Also notice the term “the day of the Lord,” which is the Day of Judgment.

1 Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand– 2 a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come. 3 Before them fire devours, behind them a flame blazes. (Joel 2:1-3a)

The fire that devours is caused by the explosion of the rocket; the flame that blazes behind them is the burning fuel that propels the rocket. This describes the same two power sources that John described.

Before them the land is like the Garden of Eden, behind them, a desert waste– nothing escapes them. 4 They have the appearance of horses; they gallop along like cavalry. 5 With a noise like that of chariots they leap over the mountaintops, like a crackling fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army drawn up for battle. 6 At the sight of them, nations are in anguish; every face turns pale.

7 They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their course. 8 They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks. 9 They rush upon the city; they run along the wall. They climb into the houses; like thieves they enter through the windows. 10 Before them the earth shakes, the sky trembles, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine. (Joel 2:3-10)

This can only describe nuclear missiles. The statement that the land is like the Garden of Eden before them and after them is like a desert waste, refers to the great destructive ability of these symbolic horses; it does not literally mean that the land will be like the Garden of Eden before the destruction. The fact that “nothing escapes them” also refers to their destructive ability. A nuclear explosion can turn steel beams into fine dust!

It is a known fact that earthquakes accompany nuclear explosions. What is not known is whether the explosions create earthquakes or trigger earthquakes waiting to happen. About one day after the nuclear test in North Korea Oct. 9, 2006, there was a strong quake in Japan. Japan gets frequent quakes, but on Oct. 15th there was also a strong quake in Hawaii. Shortly after the nuclear war, there will be a huge global quake.

No earthquake like it has ever occurred since the human race has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. (Rev. 16:18)

Notice that it says they “march in line, not swerving from their course . . . each marches straight ahead.” Missiles have guidance systems but rockets do not, so they can only go straight. It also says that never before has there been such an army, and there will never be another; nuclear war will only happen once. Humanity will never again build nuclear weapons, and it is likely that they will never again build rockets and missiles of any type.
Also notice the word “before” in verse 10. This could mean, “preceding,” but most likely means “in the presence of” which would mean the earthquakes and sky turning dark is the result of the nuclear war.

11 The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it? . . . 31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. (Joel 2:11, 31)

The above verses indicate that the nuclear war will take place at the end of the GT and will serve as part of God’s judgment upon the world. Notice also that, “the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine.” The asteroid impact will bring a dark cloud, but that will be more than three and one-half years before the nuclear war; the cloud that comes from the asteroid impact will have cleared out by this time. This nuclear war will bring dark clouds that will likely cover the entire globe. Jeremiah also records God referring to these same horses:

11 At that time this people and Jerusalem will be told, “A scorching wind from the barren heights in the desert blows toward my people, but not to winnow or cleanse; 12 a wind too strong for that comes from me. Now I pronounce my judgments against them.” 13 Look! He advances like the clouds, his chariots come like a whirlwind, his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us! We are ruined! . . . 20 Disaster follows disaster; the whole land lies in ruins. In an instant my tents are destroyed, my shelter in a moment. (Jer. 4:11-13, 20)

A squadron of planes “advances like the clouds.” Helicopters are probably the chariots that are “like a whirlwind” because the blades spin around and create a strong wind. The horses that are “swifter than eagles” are missiles and rockets. And the destructive force of an explosion can destroy in a second, “In an instant my tents are destroyed, my shelter in a moment.” These prophecies are conclusive, nuclear war is coming.

Notice the statement, “a wind too strong;” a nuclear explosion will create powerful winds that sweep across the countryside burning everything in its path, but it may refer to a global storm.

(3) Prophecies of World War III
The prophet Jeremiah speaks of this global nuclear war that will spread its poison:

15 This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. 16 When they drink it, they will stagger and go mad because of the sword I will send among them.” 17 So I took the cup from the LORD’s hand and made all the nations to whom he sent me drink it: 18 Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, its kings and officials . . . and all the kings of the north, near and far, one after the other—all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. And after all of them, the king of Sheshak will drink it too. 27 “Then tell them, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Drink, get drunk and vomit, and fall to rise no more because of the sword I will send among you.’
28 But if they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink, tell them, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: You must drink it! 29 See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears my Name, and will you indeed go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword on all who live on the earth, declares the LORD Almighty.’ (Jeremiah 25:15-18; 26-29)

“Sheshak” refers to Babylon, which means there is a nation today that God symbolically refers to as Babylon. Vomiting is what happens to people who are exposed to high levels of radiation.

The nuclear explosions will burn up chemical plants and cities full of plastic, glue, tires, gasoline, and other toxins, the result being clouds of toxic air that will burn the lungs of people that breath the air and they will die within minutes; quicker than from radioactive nuclear fallout.

But your enemies will become like fine dust, the ruthless hordes like blown chaff. Suddenly, in an instant, 6 the Lord Almighty will come with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire. (Isaiah 29:5-6)

The literal translation of “the Lord Almighty” is “the Lord of Armies” which is the way the GW translation reads. This likely describes nuclear war. Just one hydrogen bomb, also called thermonuclear, is 1,000 times more powerful than the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. We have bombs today that are 4,000 times more powerful than the one at Hiroshima! Just one American submarine can carry 24 nuclear missiles, each missile has 14 independently targeted warheads totaling enough explosive power to equal 24000 Hiroshimas. Eight nations are known to have nuclear weapons: the United States, Russia, England, France, Pakistan, India, North Korea, and China, but several others are believed to have them, including Brazil and Israel.

The radiation from an explosion can travel for hundreds of miles in all directions, so if you do not want to die in nuclear war, you should be far away from the high population centers of the world. And the nuclear “fallout” can fall on land hundreds or thousands of miles away. Nuclear “fallout” is radioactive particles of dirt and material destroyed in the blast that get taken up into the mushroom cloud and falls out days, weeks, and months later. A U.S. Air Force manual called, Fundamentals of Aerospace Weapon Systems, says:

It should be understood that fallout is a gradual phenomenon extending over a period of time. There can be considerable fallout many hours after the surface detonation of a nuclear weapon, and many miles away. Additionally, there is a worldwide fallout which occurs for years after a nuclear explosion. Fallout that occurs within 24 hours of a nuclear explosion is referred to as local fallout. Fission products, which make up the greatest hazard in residual radiation, are initially very radioactive. However, this activity falls off at a fairly rapid rate as a result of decay. (page, 190)

The first week is the most critical. After the first 24 hours, the radiation begins to decay and in just one week it will be 1/1000th as strong. So you must remain in a shelter for at least one week after the nuclear war. Since nuclear explosions will not be in every city, state or nation, the real danger will be the radioactive fallout, or from the poison air.

(The remainder of this chapter is not available online.)