References to trumpets

End Times Nations

A possible scenario for the beginning of the End Times

Tracking the future progress of global trends through a study of past, present, and prophetic events.

Most who attempt to anticipate (even predict) the future do so by studying past and present trends and projecting these into the future. For example, a demographer seeking to develop population projections for a particular geography (city, county, state, province, nation, region) might determine the rate of population increase over the last 10, 20, 50, 100 years and project this rate into the future, perhaps modifying his or her projections by factoring in such things as past fluctuations in the rate of change, changing fertility rates, migration trends, etc. However, anticipating the future remains largely guesswork, and such projections can prove totally inaccurate due to factors the demographer cannot, with any certainty, anticipate (epidemics, wars, catastrophic natural disasters, etc.) The Bible student looking into the future has the advantage of Bible prophecy, which provides at least a partial glimpse into what will be. The Bible student can therefore project (it may be better to say interpret) past and present trends along paths revealed in scripture, and perhaps obtain a surer, if not necessarily a clearer, insight to what the future holds.

A study of past and present trends, together with Bible teaching about the End Times, might suggest that:

America

Internally divided on political, social and economic issues at home and abroad (global terrorism, illegal aliens, outsourcing, shifting international alliances, etc.); burdened by consumer and national debt and by trade deficits; facing ever increasing costs of entitlements (Social Security, Medicare and other social programs); abandoned by traditional allies; over-extended militarily; and hamstrung by dependence on increasingly expensive foreign oil - America loses its competitive edge in the expanding global economy, curbs its global reach and shrinks its military commitments abroad.

Alternately America, as the world's first and only hyper-power, may simply refuse the mantle of global imperium and turn inward, allowing the rest of the world to sort itself out as best it can.

Notes:

1. America is not mentioned in the bible, & it may not feature prominently in the events of End Times prophecy – I hope.

2. America may soon enter a cyclical period of crisis that could end with the nation weakened [William Strauss & Neil Howe The Fourth Turning, an American Prophecy Broadway Books 1998]

Elizabeth Becker UN Says US Deficits Distort Global Economy New York Times 1/25/05 Global Policy Forum [globalpolicy.org];

Paul M. Kennedy Watch Out for the BRICs - Will Brazil, Russia, India, China Be Superpower? The Seoul Times 4/27/05;

F. William Engdahl Running into a ‘BRIC wall’ with Eurasia? Energy Bulletin 1/7/05 [energybulletin.net];

India And China: Oil-Patch Partners? BusinessWeek Online 2/7/05 [businessweek.com];

John Lancaster & Rama Lakshmi India, China Hoping to 'Reshape the World Order' Together Washington Post Foreign Service 4/12/05. [washingtonpost.com];

China, India seek cooperation in global oil quest Reuters 4/5/05 expressindia [expressindia.com];

Harish Dugh India, China set to dethrone US expressindia 5/7/05 [expressindia.com];

Anatoliy Golitsyn The Perestroika Deception Edward Harle 1998;

Naill Ferguson Colossus – The Rise and Fall of the American Empire Penguin Books 2004

Israel

Ezekiel 38: 7-12: [The Sovereign LORD will say to Gog] "Get ready; be prepared, you and all the hordes gathered about you, and take command of them. After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety. You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land." This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "On that day thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil scheme. You will say, "I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people-all of them living without walls and without gates and bars. I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land." (NIV - text in parenthesis added)

Continuing the ingathering promised by God to their ancestors, Israel redirects its strategic alliances away from America and towards Europe, makes a cold peace with its Arab neighbors (including an independent Palestine), and grows prosperous at the center of world affairs, believing (falsely) that it is living in peace and safety.

Notes:

1. The ingathering of the Jewish nation will not be completed until after the Tribulation [Isa. 11: 11-16, Ezek. 37: 16-28, Zech. 10: 6-12, Rev. 7: 4-8] when all 12 tribes will occupy Greater Israel – the land originally promised to Abraham by God – 'from the river of Egypt [Nile River?] to the great river, the Euphrates' [in eastern Syria and Iraq]. Gen. 15: 17-21

2. During the Yom Kippur War of 1973, Israeli forces advanced to within 60 miles of Cairo [on the Nile] and to within 25 miles [artillery range] of Damascus [in Syria], before agreeing to a cease-fire and withdrawal [MSN Encarta Encyclopedia - encarta.msn.com.]

3. Israel has the potential to become a major terminus for energy transport for the Middle Eastern region, once peace is achieved (Israel Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy, U.S. Government 4/04 [eia.doe.gov])

Israel partners with an expanding Euro-Arab confederacy, distancing itself from America & seeking a closer relationship with Europe as America's regional/global influence wanes. Dan. 9: 27

Notes:

NATO update 2/23/05 NATO Secretary General visits Israel to discuss greater cooperation [nato.int];

European Union, External Relations, Israel [europa.eu.int];

Euro-Mediterranean Partnership/Barcelona Process [europa.eu.int/];

Martin Walker Analysis: Israel weighing EU membership United Press International 5/21/2003;

Foreign Ministry warns Israel, Europe on collision course Haaretz Service and the Associated Press 10/13/04 [haaretz.com];

Israel Among the Nations Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs 4/23/03 [mfa.gov.il];

Ze'ev Boin, A Partnership with NATO? Haaretz International 2/25/05 [haaretz.com];

Sergei Blagov Russia's gas dreams' Asia Times 1/13/05 [asiatimes.com];

Amiram Cohen U.S. Checking on Possibility of Pumping Oil from Northern Iraq, via Jordan' Haaretz 8/25/03 [haaretz.com]

The Seventh Empire

After Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Grecia, and Rome [Rev. 17: 6-14] and rising out of Rome [Dan. 2: 40-43]

Dan. 2:40-43: "Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom [Rome – the legs of iron], strong as iron-for iron breaks and smashes everything-and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this [the successor to Rome: the Seventh Kingdom?] will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay." (NIV - text in parenthesis added)

The European Union (EU) and the League of Arab States (Arab League, or AL) move towards a lose confederacy comprising the nations occupying most of the region once ruled by Rome. This alliance seeks global parity with America, if not global dominance, and increases its involvement in the Middle East peace process.

Note: At no time since Babel (the world's first empire at the beginning of the age of empires) has an empire formed through a voluntary union of peoples (Gen. 11: 1-9). All subsequent empires formed primarily through military conquests. The European Union could become a modern-day 'empire of the willing' – the first since Babel.

European Union (EU) - Consolidating its membership in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, together with its alliance with the Arab League (AL), the European Union becomes more involved in Middle East security (to guarantee its energy resources), supports the peace process between Israel and surrounding Arab nations, and builds its military (to fill the power void left behind by the retreat of America). Islamic infiltration of European society, the result of massive immigration from Arab League nations and declining European fertility rates, facilitates the growing EU/AL alliance (Eurabia?).

Notes:

European Union [europa.eu.int];

National Intelligence Council Global Trends 2015 (See section: 'Europe') 12/00 [cia.gov/nic];

Naill Ferguson Colossus – The Rise and Fall of the American Empire Penguin Books 2004

Arab League – With member states plagued by population growth outpacing economic growth, failure of effective governance, and cultural backlash from westernizing influences through globalization, the AL as an organization grows increasingly weak, fragmented, and irrelevant. Islamic leaders focus on strengthening ties between Europeans and Arabs, but along Islamist cultural and theological lines (Eurabia?).

Notes:

1. Arab League [arableagueonline.org/];

National Intelligence Council Global Trends 2015 (See section: 'The Middle East and North Africa') 12/00 [cia.gov/nic]

2. On the phenomenon of Eurabia -

Robert Spencer The Rise of "Eurabia" FrontPageMagazine.com 3/18/04;

Bat Ye’or European Fears of the Gathering Jihad FrontPageMagazine.com 2/21/03;

Niall Ferguson Eurabia? New York Times 4/4/04

The Ten Kings

Dan. 7: 8: "While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully." (NIV)

Rev. 13: 1-2: And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard [Grecia], but had feet like those of a bear [Media-Persia] and a mouth like that of a lion [Babylon]. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. (NIV - text in parenthesis added)

Rev. 17: 12-14: The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings – and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” (NIV)

Overview Notes:

PINR – Powers & Interest News Report Lines in the Sand;

Western State Building in the Muslim World 1/26/05 [pinr.com];

Organization of Islamic Conferences [oic-oci.org/index.asp];

National Intelligence Council Global Trends 2015; A Dialogue About the Future with Non-government Experts – The Middle East and North Africa 12/2000 [cia.gov];

Mesopotamia

Iraq – Iraq fragments into Shiia, Sunni, and Kurdish autonomous regions as America withdraws from the Middle East. The Shiia seize control of the southern Iraqi oil fields and develop ties with Iran. The Kurds seize control of the northern Iraqi oil fields and negotiate with Turkey, Syria, and Iran for recognition and economic cooperation. The Sunni, backed by surrounding Sunni Arab nations, negotiate a cold peace with the Shiia and Kurds for a share of the oil revenues. Iraq could be where the End Times Anti-Christ first gains power.

Notes:

Dr. Nimrod Raphaeli Kirkuk: Between Kurdish Separatism and Iraqi Federalism 3/31/05 No.215 Middle East Media Research Institute [memri.org];

Peter W. Galbraith As Iraqis Celebrate, the Kurds Hesitate The New York Times 2/1/05 [also reported in the Kurdistan Observer – [KurdistanObserver.com];

Thanassis Cambanis Fractured Iraq sees a Sunni call to arms Boston Globe 3/27/05

Kurdistan – Kurdish nationalism continues to grow as Iraq fragments. The Kurds of Northern Iraq enter into a cold peace with the Sunni and Shiia autonomous regions of Iraq, and with Iran, Syria and Turkey, and cooperate with efforts to establish regional hegemony.

Notes:

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan [pku.org];

KurdishMedia – United Kurdish Voice [kurdmedia.com];

Kurdistan Observer [kurdistanobserver.com];

Kurdistan Democratic Party [kdp.pp.se/]

Syria – Dependent on Iraqi (Kurdish controlled) oil exports for revenue and bordered by hostile nations (Turkey to the north and Kurdistan to the east), Syria makes a cold peace with the Kurds and Israel and cooperates to establish regional hegemony.

Notes:

Syrian Social Nationalist Party [ssnp.com];

What Motivated me to Establish the Syrian Social Nationalist Party by Antoun Saadeh [ssnp.com/new/library/saadeh/misc/en/motivated_1.htm];

Saif Shahin Is Syria next on the U.S. Hit-list? Hindustan Times 4/14/03 [hindustantimes.com]

Palestine – Desiring peace, statehood and an end to endemic poverty, Palestinian Arabs make a cold peace with Israel and cooperate to establish regional hegemony.

Lebanon – Desiring release from Syrian dominance, Lebanon makes a cold peace with Israel, reestablishes ties with the West, regains some of its former status as a regional center for banking and trade, and cooperates to establish regional hegemony.

Jordan – Surrounded by stronger nations and dependent on Iraqi oil revenues and trade, Jordan continues its cold peace with Israel, remains the weak man in the region, and cooperates to establish regional hegemony.

Note:

Jordan Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy, U.S. Government 4/04 [eia.doe.gov];

Arabian Peninsula

Southern Gulf States – Desiring to counter growing Western, Chinese and Indian influence in the region (all of whom want to secure energy resources) and to lessen popular demands for political and economic reform, the Southern Gulf States cooperate to establish regional hegemony.

Notes:

Hard Times for the House of Saud Eurasia Security Watch No. 11, 12/23/03 American Foreign Policy Council [afpc.org];

Fareed Zokaria Is Saudi Arabia Doomed? Newsweek 6/28/04;

Robert Harvey Global Disorder: Chapter 7 Oil and Saudi Arabia and Chapter 17 The Kings Must Die Carroll and Graf Publishers 2003

Gog, Magog, and Allies

Ezek. 38: 1-6: The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech [Turkey?] and Tubal [Armenia? Azerbajan? Georgia?]; prophesy against him and say: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army-your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. Persia [Iran, Afghanistan?, Pakistan?], Cush [Sudan – ancient Ethiopia] and Put [Egypt and Libya] will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer [Ukraine? Belarus?] with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north [Russia?] with all its troops-the many nations with you. (NIV - text in parenthesis added)

Turkey – Failing to gain full entry into the European Union (EU) and alarmed as the center of Arab unity and power gravitates towards Mesopotamia and the Arabian Peninsula (i.e., on its southern border), Turkey seeks stronger ties with Russia, Iran, and other regional non-Arab nations. Desiring trade with, and oil transit revenues from, Iraq, and fearful of the aspirations of the Kurds within its borders, Turkey makes a cold peace with the Kurds of Northern Iraq (Kurdistan).

Note:

Amiram Cohen U.S. Checking on Possibility of Pumping Oil from Northern Iraq, via Jordan' Haaretz 8/25/03 [haaretz.com]

Iran – Alarmed as the center of Arab unity and power gravitates towards Mesopotamia and the Arabian Peninsula (i.e., on its western border), Iran seeks stronger ties with Turkey, Russia, China, and Central Asian nations, continues to support the Shiia majority in southern Iraq, and develops nuclear weapons, enhancing its status as a major regional power. Fearful of the aspirations of the Kurds within its borders, Iran makes a cold peace with the Kurds of Northern Iraq (Kurdistan).

Pakistan – As American global influence wanes and India expands its economic, political and military power throughout South Asia, Pakistan develops alliances with Iran and Russia.

Afghanistan – As American global influence wanes, Afghanistan becomes a weak partner in an emerging Iran/Pakistan/Russia axis.

Notes:

Muralidhar Reddy Pakistan, Iran sign pacts to strengthen relations The Hindu 3/7/04 [hindu.com];

Sudha Ramachandran 'Brothers' in arms Asia Times 3/18/05 [atimes.com];

Middle East Institute Policy Brief Pakistan foreign policy toward Iran and Afghanistan 4/12/05 [mideasti.org]

Egypt – As the Arab League weakens and the center of Arab unity and power gravitates towards Mesopotamia and the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt seeks stronger ties with Turkey, Iran and Russia.

Libya – As the Arab League weakens and the center of Arab unity and power gravitates towards Mesopotamia and the Arabian Peninsula, Libya seeks stronger ties with Turkey, Iran and Russia.

Sudan – As the Arab League weakens and the center of Arab unity and power gravitates towards Mesopotamia and the Arabian Peninsula, Sudan seeks stronger ties with Turkey, Iran and Russia.

Russia – To counter-balance growing European, Chinese and Indian power and increasing Middle Eastern (Muslim) hegemony, Russia seeks alliances in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, North Africa, and Central Asia, and promotes closer ties with the European Union.

Emergence of Russia, in alliance with other nations, as a global economic power Ezek. 38-39, Isa. 66: 18-19

Notes:

Paul M. Kennedy Watch Out for the BRICs - Will Brazil, Russia, India, China Be Superpower? The Seoul Times 4/27/05;

F. William Engdahl Running into a ‘BRIC wall’ with Eurasia? Energy Bulletin 1/7/05 [energybulletin.net];

Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation [bsec.gov.tr/]

Russia continues to maintain influence in the Middle East

Notes:

Putin reassures Israel over Iran BBC News 4/23/05;

Putin wants Moscow Mideast talks CNN 4/27/05 [cnn.com];

Hisham Abu Taha Missile Sale to Syria Is No Threat to Israel, Says Putin Aljazeerah 4/23/05 [aljazeerah.info/];

Lyuba Pronina Russia Says It's Ready to Arm Saudi Arabia The Moscow Times 2/10/05 [themoscowtimes.com];

Saudi leader's visit to Russia brings key oil accord, closer ties Center for Defense Information #10 - RW 272 9/4/03 [cdi.org];

Sergei Blagov Russia's gas dreams' Asia Times 1/13/05 [asiatimes.com]

Russia seeks hegemony in Europe, 'from the Atlantic to the Urals'?

Note: Anatoliy Golitsyn The Perestroika Deception Edward Harle 1998

Kings of the East

Rev. 16: 12: The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. (NIV)

China –Developing economically, China builds its military, seeks regional hegemony in Central and Southern Asia (cooperating with India), and grows increasingly dependent on Middle Eastern energy resources.

India – Developing economically, India builds its military, seeks regional hegemony in Central and Southern Asia (cooperating with China), and grows increasingly dependent on Middle Eastern energy resources.

Notes: India And China: Oil-Patch Partners? BusinessWeek Online 2/7/05 [businessweek.com];

John Lancaster & Rama Lakshmi India, China Hoping to 'Reshape the World Order' Together Washington Post Foreign Service 4/12/05 [washingtonpost.com];

China, India seek cooperation in global oil quest Reuters 4/5/05 expressindia [expressindia.com];

Harish Dugh India, China set to dethrone US expressindia 5/7/05 [expressindia.com]

Anti-Christ

Dan. 7: 23-27: He gave me this explanation: 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth [Rome]. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings [little horn that uproots three]. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.' (NIV - text in parenthesis added)

Dan. 8: 9-12, 19-26: Out of one of them [one of the four horns of the goat, or Gercia] came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land. It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. It set itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host; it took away the daily sacrifice from him, and the place of his sanctuary was brought low. Because of rebellion, the host of the saints and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.

He said: "I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end. The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king [Alexander the Great]. The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power. In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power. The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future." (NIV - text in parenthesis added)

Rev. 17: 6-14. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman [Babylon the Harlot] and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come. This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. They are also seven kings. Five have fallen [Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Grecia], one is [Rome], the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while [the last gentile empire to seek Israel's destruction – the EU/AL alliance?]. The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings – and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” (NIV - text in parenthesis added)

As America withdraws from the Middle East, a 10-nation confederacy arises in the region once ruled by Babylon, Persia and Greece (that part of the Middle East now occupied by Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula states). This confederacy could provide the power base for the rise of the Beast from the Sea, who is the last great End Times Anti-Christ, perhaps as the next Pan-Arabic or Pan-Muslim leader, or khilafah.

Anti-Christ as the next Pan-Arabic or Pan-Muslim leader, or khilafah? (Little horn that subdues 3 horns: Turkey, Syria, Iran after Kurdistan gains independence upon break-up of Iraq? Leopard [Empire of Grecia], bear [Empire of Media], & lion [Empire of Babylon] – geography of the easternmost reaches of the Roman Empire – modern Lebanon, Syria & Iraq.) Dan 7: 3-8, Rev. 13: 2 & 17: 16-17

Notes:

National Intelligence Council Mapping the Global Future 12/04, Fictional Scenario: A New Caliphate [cia.gov];

Khilafah.com – 'what is the khilafah?';

The Heritage Foundation [heritage.org/] – word search 'khilafah'

Anti-Christ becomes the leader of all or part of the Arab League (AL)? (10 kings who give their authority to Anti-Christ?) Rev. 17: 10-14, 16-17

Anti-Christ gains great influence in the West (EU) & in the Middle East (Rev. 13: 1-2), extends influence throughout the world (Rev. 13: 3-4), & ushers in a period of temporary peace & prosperity. Mat. 24: 37- 39, I Thes. 5:3 (based on free-flowing, but expensive, Arabian oil?)

Note:

By 2024, the Middle East will supply 2/3 of oil on global market [National Geographic 6/04] & have 85%+ of global oil reserves [Institute For Analysis of Global Security - iags.org])