The Green Horseman and World War III – Part 2 – Endtime Ministries

The Great Tribulation Unveiled

In the end time the true people of God will not be weak, anemic and defeated. Daniel says they “shall be strong, and do exploits.” Daniel continues, “And they that understand among the people shall instruct many … ” We cannot afford to allow the compromising and lukewarm spirit of this end time age sweep us away. Now is the time to renew our commitment to Jesus Christ.

By Dave Robbins

The Fifth Seal

Revelation 6:9-11 says,

“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”

The Fifth Seal describes people who will be killed during the Great Tribulation. Their spirits have ascended to God, and they are in the presence of the Lord asking, how long until thou dost avenge our blood upon those that dwell upon the Earth? The Lord replied that they should rest “a short time” until their fellow servants should be killed like they were.

Jesus prophesied about this coming persecution in Matthew 24:21, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

The Fifth Seal, which is the Great Tribulation, occurs just before the Sixth Seal.

Once this Fifth Seal is opened, we don’t have much time left. There are six different scriptures that say the Great Tribulation will only last 3 ½ years. (Daniel 7:25, Daniel 12:7, Revelation 11:2, Revelation 11:3 and Revelation 12:14, Revelation 13:5)

The Sixth Seal

Revelation 6:12-17 says,

“And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”

The Sixth Seal reveals the Second Coming of Jesus Christ at the Battle of Armageddon. The sun will become black as sackcloth of hair, the moon will become as blood and the stars will fall from Heaven. These are the three events that are described as occurring at the time of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus spoke about this in his famous Olivet Discourse. Matthew 24:3 (NKJV) says, “ … Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” Jesus spends the rest of Matthew 24 telling many prophecies about the things that would come.

In Matthew 24:29-31, Jesus says the following:

“Immediately after the tribulation,” [the Fifth Seal] “of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

All these events listed in Matthew 24:29-31, happening immediately after the tribulation, are also listed to happen when the Sixth Seal of Revelation 6:12-17 is opened. This leaves us with no doubt the Sixth Seal is the Battle of Armageddon and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

The Seventh Seal

The Seventh Seal concludes the events of the Second Coming. In Revelation 8:1 we are told, “And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.”

Why is there silence in Heaven? It happens when the Heavens depart like a scroll and the great day of His wrath comes. It is the Second Coming of Jesus.

Why the silence? It appears Heaven is silent because its inhabitants are watching the Rapture of the church. The Bible says when Jesus comes to Earth, the dead in Christ will raise from the graves immortal. Those who are alive and have been born again will be changed from mortal beings to immortal beings. They will then be caught up to meet the Lord in the air with those who are raised from the dead.

This is the bride of Jesus Christ being caught up to meet her Bridegroom in the air. All of Heaven will be watching this pivotal final event, the Marriage of the Lamb. The Apostle Paul described this incredible event in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17:

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

After the 30 minutes of silence, Revelation 8:2-4 describes the events occurring in Heaven: “And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.” (They are not told to blow them yet; they are just given the trumpets.) “And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.” When we pray, our prayers may not be answered immediately but they are bottled up and stored until the day of God’s Wrath.

The last description of the Seventh Seal is given in Revelation 8:5, “And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.”

We also see this same event at the Seventh Trumpet and the Seventh Vial. This provides absolute proof the Seventh Seal, the Seventh Trumpet and the Seventh Vial are all the same event.

The Seventh Trumpet is described in Revelation 11:15, “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.” Revelation 11:19 concludes the account of the Seventh Trumpet with the declaration, “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”

When the Seventh Vial is poured out in Revelation 16:17, we are told, “And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.”

The words of verse 17 are so ominous and so final, “It is done.” The same declaration contained in the Seventh Seal and the Seventh Trumpet is repeated one more time in Revelation 16:18, “And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.”

This illustrates conclusively that the Rapture is described in the Seventh Seal, the Seventh Trumpet, and the Seventh Vial. This also allows us to understand the Book of Revelation is not in chronological order from front to back. The Seals are the long story ending at the Second Coming, the Trumpets are the short story ending at the Second Coming and the Vials are the even shorter story also ending at the Second Coming.

Now that we understand the current rise of Islam is prophesied to occur just prior to the Great Tribulation, it certainly leads to a few questions.

Will Islam Rule the World?

Characteristics of the final world governing empire, ruling at the time of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, are mentioned a few times in Scripture.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

The first prophetic account of the end time world governing structure or Holy Roman Empire is found in Daniel 2:31-45. It occurs when Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Babylonian Empire, has a dream that neither he nor his wise men can remember or interpret. However, God gives Daniel a vision of the dream and the interpretation, which he reveals to the king.

In the dream, Nebuchadnezzar saw a great statue with a head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron and the feet and toes were iron mingled with clay. After this, he noticed a large stone came and smashed the image on the feet, destroying the entire structure.

The interpretation, revealed to the king in Daniel 2:36-45, shows us the five metal sections of the image represent the five empires that would rule the world from the time of Babylon until the establishment of the Kingdom of God upon the Earth. The first empire was Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian Empire (Head of Gold) which ruled from
604–539 B.C. Then came the Media-Persian Empire which lasted from 539–331 B.C. (Arms and Breast of Silver). The third empire to rule the world between 331–197 B.C. was the Grecian Empire (Belly and Thighs of Brass). The fourth was the Roman Empire from 197 B.C. – 284 A.D. (Legs of Iron). This empire was the strongest of all. The last empire to rule the Earth will be the Holy Roman Empire (Feet of Iron Mingled with Clay). This final empire, which began in 800 A.D., will end at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Large Stone) when He will destroy all the governments of men.

This final empire will rule the entire Earth in the near future. That being true and knowing we are in the end time, the Holy Roman Empire must already exist. If so, what is it today?

Holy Roman Empire

After the decline of the Roman Empire, it seemed that the vision of a united Europe had all but died. However, that dream was brought back to life when Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne, the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, in 800 A.D. The Holy Roman Empire was designed from the very beginning to rule Europe as a partnership between politics and religion. Remember the feet of iron mingled with clay in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream? The iron symbolizes the political element, and the clay represents the religious factor mixed in. The feet of iron mingled with clay symbolizes the Holy Roman Empire!

After 800 A.D., the Holy Roman Empire dominated Europe for the next 1,000 years. Its leadership was always comprised of the most powerful political leader in Europe, working alongside the strongest religious force in Europe, the Roman Catholic Church.

Although many historians pronounced the Holy Roman Empire dead after Napoleon defeated Francis II in 1806, European and Vatican officials have never given up on the dream of a Holy Roman Empire. That dream is now being realized.

On Nov. 3, 2009, the last EU country, the Czech Republic, ratified the Lisbon Treaty which became Europe’s first constitution. This event was the rebirth of the Holy Roman Empire! The last world empire (European Union) is now reborn and waiting to take the reins of power.

End Time World Government

Another account of the end time world governing structure is mentioned in Daniel 7 and Revelation 13.

Six hundred fifty years before John wrote the Book of Revelation, the Prophet Daniel was given a vision of four beasts that represented kingdoms or nations that would exist at the time of the Second Coming of Christ. The four beasts described in Daniel 7:4-7 and the modern nations they symbolize are:

A lion with eagle’s wings — Great Britain and the United States
A bear — Russia
A four-headed leopard — Germany
A 10-horned beast — the reborn Holy Roman Empire or the current European Union.

In Revelation, John uses these same symbols of nations to describe the end time world government. In John’s account, the four separate nations of Daniel 7 have federalized into one large global governing body.

The interpretation is as follows:

“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns,” [European Union] “ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard,” [Germany], “and his feet were as the feet of a bear,” [Russia], “and his mouth as the mouth of a lion.” [Great Britain]: “and the dragon,” [Satan] “gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.” (Revelation 13:1-2)

This is a 2,000-year-old prophecy of the world government that is currently being established. It is important to understand the end time world government is a European-centered world government. We know this because all the prominent nations included in this prophecy are European nations — Islam is not mentioned here.

After the prophesied World War III occurs, the world is going to be devastated, burying well over 2 billion people. The center for world power is going to shift from where it is right now, mainly the United States of America for the last several decades. It’s going to shift to Europe. It appears that Europe, or at least part of it, may sit out the war. I don’t know for sure. Nevertheless, they’re going to survive the war, and they’re going
to be stronger than ever. This will be the power base of the last world dictator —
the Antichrist!

Is the Israel-Hamas-Iran Conflict World War III?

Another event tied to Islam that is supposed to occur right before the Great Tribulation is found in Revelation 9:13-16. It reveals a war that will kill one-third of humanity.

“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.” So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.” (Revelation 9:13-16, NKJV)

This passage also foretells the war will start near the Euphrates River. The Euphrates River begins in Turkey, flows down into Syria and through Iraq, emptying into the Persian Gulf by Iran. All four of these nations are Islamic controlled areas and are either directly or indirectly involved in the Israel-Hamas-Iran conflict. Many politicians and journalists speculate it could be the beginning of World War III.

First, let me say I am not sure whether it is the beginning of this war or not. Certainly, the Israel-Hamas war could end, and the war could start somewhere else along the Euphrates.

However, as we anticipate the beginning of this great war at any time, we must consider Iran’s “ring of fire” and the terrorist proxies surrounding Israel. Iran has expanded its precision guided missile project throughout the Middle East to build, “ … a ring of fire around the State of Israel.” The plot to attack Israel reflects an Iranian strategy to encircle Israel with armed groups, instigate turmoil, and promote acts of terrorism.

Even if the Hamas situation ended tomorrow, Iran (the head of the snake) will still seek to destroy Israel. Therefore, it is a possibility the Israel-Hamas war could be the beginning stage if not a continuation of previous events, igniting this apocalyptic war.

To comprehend the full gravity of the situation, one must understand why it is so important for Iran to eradicate Israel.

Mahdism

Iran wants to implement sharia law globally and views the West and their efforts to establish a world government standing in the way of that goal. Iran believes Israel is the West’s encroachment/footprint in the Middle East. That is why they must destroy Israel and expel the United States out of the Middle East. The ideology driving these efforts is Mahdism.

Kasra Aarabi is the Director of IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) Research at United Against Nuclear Iran and non-resident scholar at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. In an interview with The Sun’s David Ross, he reveals the anti-Semitic extremist ideology which drove the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. He states:

“Since 2009 the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) (has) focused on a particular doctrine that it has been radicalizing its members and their families (with) … the militaristic doctrine of Mahdism. Now amongst Islamist ideologies the militaristic doctrine of Mahdism is the most extremist Doctrine …This Doctrine is all centered around the return of the so-called hidden Imam who Shia Muslim believe was withdrawn into a state of disappearance, (a) miraculous state of disappearance, by God in 874 A.D. One day he will return bringing justice to the world. He will reappear. To do this … according to historic Shia narrations he will return with an army of 313 commanders that will wage a war against the infidels, the non-muslims. Prior to his arrival … prior to Mahdi’s arrival … prior to the hidden imam’s arrival, there will be an apocalyptic War where Jews worldwide will be eradicated and killed.”

This apocalyptic war, which Iran believes will speed up the return of their Mahdi (messiah figure), is another reason we must consider the current Middle East turmoil as a step toward the prophesied WWIII scenario.

Mr. Aarabi goes on to say,

“The IRGC, since 2009, has been indoctrinating its recruits on the basis that the IRGC is the militaristic vehicle to speed up Mahdi’s return. They have been communicating and radicalizing their recruits and stating that there are barriers to the hidden imam’s return. The biggest barrier they claim is the existence of the State of Israel. They draw again on these Shia historic narrations that prior to his arrival all Jews across the world will be eradicated. We’ve seen that the IRGC double down on this Mahdist Doctrine so much so that right now the October 7th terrorist attacks across the board, by the way not just in relations to the IRGC, across the axis of resistance is being communicated as the first step towards Mahdi’s arrival. So the first step towards the eradication of the state of Israel … ”

Never forget, Iran is fighting a proxy war. Iran is the one calling the shots. Hamas invaded Israel on October 7 but Iran is ultimately responsible.

Mr. Aarabi explains,

“The IRGC is the principal supporter of Hamas militarily, financially (and) logistically in terms of armaments …This terrorist attack that took place on October 7th simply could not have taken place without not only the green light of the IRGC but the Strategic coordination at the planning level … we know there have been multiple reports … there has been multiple intelligence … ”

It’s not just Israel they are after.

The Middle East Institute published an article titled, “Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and the Rising Cult of Mahdism: Missiles and Militias for the Apocalypse.”

The article states:

“A quick examination of the IRGC’s (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) ideological-political textbooks also reveals the way in which it views the U.S. (United States): as an evil regime h—bent on world domination. This worldview sees the U.S. as the representation of all that is evil and puts the Islamic Republic of Iran on the side of everything good. Linked to this notion is the IRGC’s other key ideological pillar of eradicating the State of Israel and Zionism. Like other Islamist ideologies, the IRGC’s Shi’a Islamist worldview regards Israel as an illegitimate, oppressive, and usurping entity created in the heartland of the Muslim world to enable the West to achieve its supposed colonial goals. The “liberation” of Palestine through the destruction of Israel remains one of the IRGC’s main objectives, and antisemitism pervades every aspect of its ideology.”

It appears the annihilation of Israel is only the first phase of the plan.

Will Iran Realize its Global Vision to Eradicate Israel and Zionism?

The answer is an emphatic “No.” We know this because Israel’s future is clearly foretold in Scripture.

Daniel 9:27 prophesies the Antichrist will confirm a covenant with many for a final seven-year period. This accord will be a confirmation of God’s covenant with Abraham that Israel would always have a homeland in the Promised Land (Genesis 15:18).

The fulfillment of this prophecy will be the signing of a peace agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians. The prophesied agreement must do five things:

Establish a Palestinian state in Judea (the West Bank).
Allow the Jewish settlers presently living in Judea to remain in their homes, living as a Jewish minority in the new Palestinian state.
Place the Temple Mount under an internationally supervised sharing arrangement allowing both Jews and Muslims to worship there.
Allow Israel to build her Third Temple.
Israel will retain control of the city of Jerusalem throughout the end time.

When you see the prophesied peace agreement, know assuredly that the Final Seven Years to the Battle of Armageddon and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ have begun!

The euphoria over the peace agreement will be short lived. When the issue of Jerusalem resurfaces at the end of the seven years, Israel will still refuse to surrender her beloved city of Jerusalem. The United Nations will demand Israel allow the establishment of a Palestinian capital in east Jerusalem. Israel will declare that Jerusalem is her eternal capital and must never be divided or surrendered.

The World Community will demand Israel comply with the edicts of the U.N. or face international forces. Still, Israel will steadfastly refuse. The decision will be made to launch a military invasion to force Israel’s submission to the will of the International Community. This is clearly prophesied in Zechariah 14:2, “For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle … ”

The invasion will start in northern Israel in the Plain of Megiddo. The word Armageddon comes from two words, Har Megiddo (Hill of Megiddo). Har is a mountain or hill and Megiddo is the ancient site of Tel Megiddo, whose remains form a tell (archaeological mound), situated in northern Israel about 30 km southeast of Haifa. You can stand in the ancient city of Megiddo, in northern Israel, overlooking the Plain of Megiddo or the Jezreel Valley. This is the valley where the Battle of Armageddon will be engaged.

Israel will fight valiantly but will be slowly driven back by the superior forces of the World Community.

Finally, the international forces will reach the outskirts of Jerusalem where Israel will make its last stand. We are told in Zechariah 14:2 that “ … half of the city shall go forth into captivity … ” It will appear Israel is on the brink of being wiped completely off the map.

The God of Heaven will be watching the war against Israel by the Antichrist and his world government. When Israel’s situation looks hopeless, Zechariah 14:3 tells us what will happen:

“Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.”

Jesus Christ will supernaturally intervene on the side of Israel. He will destroy the Antichrist and will remove all the human governments that have so utterly failed in their efforts to rule the Earth. Jesus will establish His Kingdom upon Earth as described in Revelation 11:15,

“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.”

It is from these and many other scriptures we know Iran will not be successful in the eradication of the nation of Israel.

How do These Prophesied Events Affect Us Today?

The global rise of the green spirit certainly proves we are in the end time.

What are we supposed to do about it? Do we hide in bomb shelters and try to save ourselves? Daniel 11:32-33 says, “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he (the Antichrist) corrupt by flatteries:” Yes, the Antichrist will be able to deceive some. But Daniel continues and says, “but the people that do know their God … ” He is talking about those who are the true people of God, not nominal or lukewarm Christians.