World War 3

“And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.” (Rev 9:15)

World War III

A. World War III (Revelation 9:15)

1. Fifteen to 20 translations of Revelation 9:15 indicate a third of mankind will die in this war. “And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.” (Rev 9:15)

B. World War Fatalities

1. World War I – 8.2 million dead
2. World War II – Over 52 million dead
3. World War III – Over 2.5 billion will die.

C. The Beginning of World War III – Sixth Trumpet Prophecy

1. WWIII will begin around the Euphrates River. “Then 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 who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.” (Rev 9:13-15)
   
   a. When the four angels who are bound in the Euphrates River are loosed, their assignment is to slay the third part of men.
   
   
2. The angels are evil spirits. (Revelation 9:14)
   
   a. They are bound and when loosed, they are to kill.
   b. According to Daniel 10:13, 20, nations have their own angels.
   
   
3. Four nations house the Euphrates River.
   
   a. Turkey
   b. Syria
   c. Iraq
   d. Iran

D. Who will be Involved in WWIII?

1. The number of the army was two hundred million (Revelation 9:16) “The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.” (Rev 9:16)
   
   
2. The question is who could assemble such an army?
   
   a. China - Mao Tse-Tung boasted he could field an army of 200 million.
   b. Islam – Population of 1.9 billion
   c. India – Population of about 1.4 billion
   d. The United States military presence – around Euphrates for decades

E. The Three Woes

1. The Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Trumpets - the Three Woes (Revelation 8:13)
   
   “Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who live on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”” (Rev 8:13)
   
   a. The first woe - Fifth Trumpet (Revelation 9:1-12)
   b. The second woe: The Sixth Trumpet War (Revelation 9:13-21)
   
   “Then 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 who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.” (Rev 9:13-15)
   
   c. The beginning of the Great Tribulation (Revelation 10)
   d. Events that transpire during the final 3 ½ years (Revelation 11:1-13)
   e. The third woe - Seventh Trumpet/Battle of Armageddon and the Rapture (Revelation 11:15)

F. The Timing of World War III

1. Before the Great Tribulation (Revelation 9:13-20)
   
   a. The Great Tribulation begins 3 ½ years before the Battle of Armageddon and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 10:1-2, 5-6, NKJV)
   b. The Great Tribulation is 3 ½ years. (Daniel 7:25, Revelation 13:5, Revelation 12:6)
   c. Old Testament account of Great Tribulation (Daniel 12:1, 6-7)
   
   
2. Jesus said the Great Tribulation would begin at the Abomination of Desolation.
   
   ““Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place—let the reader understand— then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. “Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get things out of his house. “And whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. “But woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days! “Moreover, pray that when you flee, it will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.” (Mat 24:15-21)
   
   a.        The Abomination of Desolation happens halfway through the final seven-year period. (Daniel 9:27)
   b.        ““And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come the one who makes desolate, until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, gushes forth on the one who makes desolate.”” (Dan 9:27)    

G. Timeline of Events

1. Sixth Trumpet War (begins just before or just after the peace agreement in the Middle East)
2. Peace agreement (Confirmation of the Covenant) – Final Seven Years begins.
   
   a. Final borders of Israel established.
   b. Temple Mount will be placed under international control.
   c. Third Temple built within first 3 ½ years.
   
   
3. Animal sacrifices reinstated
   
   a. Antichrist will cause the sacrifice and oblation to stop.
   
   
4. Abomination of Desolation – Final 3 ½ years begins.
   
   a. The Antichrist will stand on the Temple Mount and claim to be the ultimate authority and God.
   b. Jesus said, “... then shall be great tribulation ... ” (Matthew 24:21)
   
   
5. Mark of the Beast
   
   a. Every person on Earth will be forced to pledge allegiance to Antichrist.
   b. Power was given to the beast (Antichrist) to continue 42 months then culminating at the Battle of Armageddon. (Revelation 13:5)

H. What Happens After World War III?

1. An incredible outcry for peace
   
   a. This war will be catastrophic enough to usher in the peace agreement in the Middle East.

I. What will Start World War III?

1. Terrorist attacks
   
   a. A terrorist attack against the United States?
   b. Israel could attack Iran?
   c. The U.S. could attack Iran in support of Israel?
   
   
2. Noted historians say this war began with 9/11.
   
   
3. Iran (bordering the Euphrates River) is the number one state sponsor of terrorism.
   
   a. Iran’s goal is to take over the world and convert everyone to Islam.
   
   
4. The war will be a nuclear war to kill over 2.5 billion people.

J. The Global Political Situation After World War III

1. Whole world will follow this beast. (Revelation 13:1-3)
   
   a. Four beasts from Daniel 7 are combined into one beast in Revelation 13
   
   (one-world government).
2. The eagle’s wings from Daniel 7 are not included in Revelation 13.
   
   a. The U.S. will not be part of this one-world government.
   b. America will not be under the reign of the Antichrist.

K. American-Israeli Friendship

1. The nation of Israel
   
   a. Israel will survive WWIII to build her Third Temple.
   
   
2. Over 2.5 billion people killed during WWIII
   
   a. Islam will be part of this number.
   b. China may be included.
   
   
3. The center of power in Europe will include:
   
   a. Germany (the leopard)
   b. Russia (the bear)
   c. Great Britain (the lion)
   d. The Holy Roman Empire (the 10-horned beast)
   
   
4. The Antichrist and False Prophet will form a coalition.
5. The False Prophet will be the leader of apostate Christianity.
   
   a. Because of lack of doctrine, Christians will rejoin the leadership of Roman Catholicism.
   b. The Roman Catholic Church will be the strongest religion on Earth.
6. Religious extremism will be blamed for WWIII.
   
   a. Those who are unwilling to bow to the belief that all religions are accepted under Christianity will be persecuted.

L. What About the Eagle?

1. The eagle’s wings are not mentioned in the combo beast of Revelation 13.
   
   a. The Antichrist will make war against the woman Israel. (Revelation 12:13)
   b. Israel will be protected during Great Tribulation - final 3 ½ years. (Revelation 12:14)
2.  Israel’s only friend is the eagle – the United States.
   
   a. The U.S. has used its veto power at the United Nations to protect Israel.
   b. There will be nations who resist the Antichrist.
   c. The people that understand among the people are going to be in full evangelism mode. (Daniel 11:32)

M. Sixth Trumpet War is not the Battle of Armageddon.

1. The distinctions of the Sixth Trumpet War
   
   a. Originates in the Euphrates River region (Revelation 9:14-15)
   b. This war must expand beyond the Middle East region.
   
   
2. The distinctions of the Battle of Armageddon
   
   a. This battle will be localized in Israel. (Revelation 16:16)
   b. The word “Armageddon” comes from two words: Har Megiddo or Hill of Megiddo.
   
   
3. The Sixth Trumpet War occurs before the Great Tribulation.
4. The Battle of Armageddon occurs at the end of the Great Tribulation.
   
   a. Mark of the Beast is implemented during the Great Tribulation and reign of the Antichrist. (Revelation 13:5, 7)
   b. The Seven Vials of God’s Wrath are poured out at the end of the Great Tribulation. (Revelation 16:1-2)
   
   
5. The location and timing allow us to know these are two separate wars.

N. After the Sixth Trumpet War men did not repent of their sins. (Revelation 9:20-21)

1. Men will turn toward the Antichrist and his one-world government.
2. This scenario where men repented not is recorded another time. (Matthew 11:20-24, NKJV)
   
   Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. “But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. “And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. “But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” Matthew 11:20-24 (New King James Version)
   
   
3. During the Fourth Vial, men were scorched with great heat, yet they blasphemed the name of God instead of repenting. (Revelation 16:8-9)
   
   a. Most people will feel no remorse for their sins and rebellion against God.
   b. When we are chastised by God, we should repent instead of rebelling!

O. Summary

1. Repentance is part of the salvation experience. Ask God to forgive you of your sins and turn away from your old sinful lifestyle.
2. It is so important to God, He included the inconceivable unrepentant mindset of mankind after both the Sixth Trumpet War and during the Vials of the Wrath of God!
3. There is only one place of safety in the times just ahead. (Proverbs 18:10)
   
   The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10 (New King James Version
   
   
4. Except a person is born again, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.