World War III
Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran against the Sunni nations
Revelation 9:13-16
By Craig C. White
The sixth seal of God’s judgment in Revelation chapter 9 identifies a 200,000,000 man army that kills one third of men. Is this World War III? Well I think that you should probably call it Old-world War III. This war emanates from the Euphrates River. Four nations will set out to conquer the old world. I think that the sixth seal in Revelation chapter 9 describes Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran as they fight to conquer the Sunni Muslim nations. Today 85% of all Muslims are Sunni so this war will be bloody. There are over 1 billion Sunni Muslims in the Middle East. This Shia vs Sunni war will happen during the first half of the Tribulation. We can already see the alliances and rivalries in place. Therefore I think that the Tribulation period along with this Old-world war will begin soon. I think that you could also characterize this as a war between Muslim Brotherhood led Sunni teamed up with Shia fighting against non Muslim Brotherhood Sunni nations..
Rev 9:13-16 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. 15 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. 16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
In the Bible angels are set over nations. In the verse below, Michael the archangel is set over the nation of Israel. The Prince of Persia is an angel that is set over today’s Iran. At the appointed time the four angels that are set over Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran will lead these nations into regional conquest.
Dan 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
In Revelation chapter 9 four nations located along the Euphrates River are stirred up to war. Today the Euphrates River flows through only four nations. They are Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. I think that Revelation 9:13-16 describes Turkey as it leads Iran, Iraq and the rest of the Shia Muslim population in an all-out war against the Sunni Muslim nations. Turkey is not a majority Shia Muslim nation but I think that Revelation chapter 9 describes a Turkey/Shia alliance as Turkey fights for dominance in the new Islamic Caliphate. Turkey has already declared itself as the rightful head of a revived Ottoman Empire.
The vast majority of Shia Muslims live along the Euphrates River in southern Iraq and Iran. The Shia population as of 2009 is estimated to be 200 million. I think that you may be able to add the Kurds to this fight because historically they have sided with Iran. If you add the Kurds to the Turkish army plus Iran, Iraq, and the rest of the Shia Muslim population then you would come very close to counting 200 million soldiers. As we will see Libya and Sudan may also join Turkey as it conquers northern African nations.
Turkey and Iran will be the aggressors in a full scale Shia vs Sunni Muslim war. 85% of Muslims are Sunni. So the Shia minority will rise up against the Sunni majority. This happens during the first half of the seven years long Tribulation period. Turkey will fight on the western front and Iran will fight on the eastern front. Turkey will conquer several nations in northern Africa including Egypt. In case you didn’t know already, I think that Turkish President Erdogan is the Antichrist, the chief prince (or primary governor) of Turkey (Ezekiel 38:2). We are told about the Antichrist as he conquers several nations including Egypt in this verse from the book of Daniel following.
Dan 11:42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
I think that Turkey will march southward to conquer much of northern Africa. Notice in the verse above that Libya and Ethiopia (better translated as Sudan) are fighting alongside of Turkey. Even though Libya and Sudan are primarily Sunni nations they are aligned with Turkey and Iran today. The vast majority of Al-Qaeda fighters that make up the Free Syrian Army are Libyans. The Libyans along with the Free Syrian Army are Turkey’s and the Muslim Brotherhood’s representatives in Syria. The Libyans are fighting to bring Syria under the control of a Turkish led Caliphate. Al-Qaeda from Libya is not to be confused with ISIS who is also fighting in Syria. ISIS primarily consists of Al-Qaeda terrorists from northern Iraq. Today Hezbollah militia from Sudan is siding with Hezbollah militia from Iran as they fight together for the Syrian government. Hezbollah from Iran and Sudan have already announced that they will soon team up with Al-Qaeda from Libya to attack Israel. This invasion is led by Turkey and is described in Ezekiel chapter 38. We must not overlook the most significant alliance that is forming today. Turkey is increasing its cooperation with Iran.
In the verse below, Isaiah tells us that the Antichrist will conquer several nations. I think that this describes Turkey as it marches southward into northern Africa and eventually enters Jerusalem at the middle of the Tribulation.
Isa 10:7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.
Like I said before Turkey will attack northern Africa on the western front while Iran, Iraq and others fight on the eastern front against Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Turkmenistan and perhaps a few other nations. That means that almost everybody in the Middle East will be at war. Israel and Jordan are the only exceptions for now.
Jesus told Israel that the nations around them would go to war just before the time of Jerusalem’s Great Tribulation (during the second half of the seven years long Tribulation period). The verses below are written to the Jews who are living in Israel during the first half of the Tribulation period.
Mat 24:6-8 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Matthew 24:6-7 most likely identifies the same wars that Revelation 9:13-16 describes. These are not worldwide conflicts but the nations that first settled the earth will fight against each other in the old-world.
The Bible does not describe another worldwide conflict like the two World Wars that we have previously experienced. But this Old-world War will surely be catastrophic. The war with the highest number of casualties on record was World War II with 60-85 million killed. This Shia vs Sunni war promises a death toll of between 350-400 million. At the end of this Old-world War Turkey will overrun Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will suffer three and one half years of Great Tribulation (Mat 24:21). There is one more tremendous Old-world battle at the end of the Tribulation period. All of these nations will set their sights on the tiny nation of Israel to destroy it utterly. At that time Jesus Christ will return in great power and fury to defeat Israel’s enemies and then to rule in Jerusalem forever!
Very interesting to read and hard to stop. – Alexandria
High Time to Awake 
Hi Brother Craig, thank you for your work and messages. I have a few questions:
-In Rev 9 when the angel sounded the sixth horn, is it not said that a third of mankind will be killed in this WW III? By your calculation, 350 to 400 million Shia and Sunni muslims will die, but fall far short of a 2 billions people of the current world population? Or does the scripture mean a third of the men in the region along the Euphrates? Because of the great number I’d always thought Russia and China’s military would be greatly involved.
-How long do you think in reality, the unfolding of Turkey’s dominating and establishing alliance in that part of the world will take? what with the U.N. and U.S. intervention and all?
-In terms of timeline, again, do you think it is reasonable to believe in Mathew 24 when the Lord first spoke of the rebirth of Israel, then at the end said that “this generation will not pass away until…”, He was talking about the generation of the Israel’s rebirth? Someone on this blog mentioned that a generation is 70 years, I’d also add that Moses in Psalms said that a strong generation could be 80 years
Thank you for all your work and your time.
In Christ,
phoebe
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Hi Phoebe. Thank you for your comment. I am making an educated guess when I say that one third of the middle east will be killed. The way that things are shaping up it looks like Turkey, Iran, and the Muslim Brotherhood (Al-Qaeda) will team up to create this 200,000,000 man army.
Rev 9:13-18 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. 15 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. 16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. 17 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. 18 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.
Turkey is already making progress towards controlling the middle east. The Turkish Army is already in Syria. We are standing on the threshold to end time events. Realistically I expect the Tribulation to begin in a year or so. I think that the Tribulation will begin after Turkey destroys Damascus and then invades Israel.
Matthew isn’t referring to our generation. Jesus is saying that the generation of JEWS who enter the Tribulation period will also see the coming of Jesus and the restoration of Israel.
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
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