The Euphrates Prophecies: The Four Angels & ISIS

According to the book of Revelation, the river Euphrates is not only significant in the last days, but a dramatic, observable sign that will indicate the imminent return of Christ.

What is shocking and possibly disconcerting to Bible scholars and students alike is that the signs surrounding the Euphrates seem to be happening too soon.

There are two signs given that involve the river Euphrates in the book of Revelation: one that happens at the sounding of the sixth trumpet, and one at the sixth bowl of wrath. Regardless of the end-times theology one subscribes to, both of these events should come very near the end— in fact, long after many eschatological timelines say the rapture should occur.

This is why the Euphrates prophecies are threatening to turn our theology on its head— because if we as Christians see them happening, it begs the question: “What about the rapture?” After all, how could the Christians still be on the planet… that late in the game?”

In the next two posts we’ll take a closer look at these two prophecies, compare them to current events, and see what the Euphrates is telling us right now.

Prophecy #1: Four Angels Released To Kill A Third Of Mankind

Revelation 9:13-16:

“9:13 Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a single voice coming from the horns on the golden altar that is before God, 9:14 saying to the sixth angel, the one holding the trumpet, “Set free the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!” 9:15 Then the four angels who had been prepared for this hour, day, month, and year were set free to kill a third of humanity. 9:16 The number of soldiers on horseback was two hundred million; I heard their number.”

There are two distinctive elements to observe in the prophecy about the Euphrates in Revelation 9.

1. The 200 million man army
2. The four angels that are unbound

The 200 Million Man Army

Last week’s blog touched on what we see happening at the Euphrates through the militant Muslim group ISIS, and the estimated 160-240 million Islamists worldwide who are committed to a violent jihad. ISIS has called for these dormant forces to rise up in violence in their respective countries, to kill non-Muslims indiscriminately in obedience to the Koran. This call has already resulted in numerous beheadings and attacks worldwide, and is only expected to grow.

The world’s largest military (China) has only 2.3 million active duty personnel, and all world militaries combined have 20.2 million— a far cry from the 200 million troops spoken of here. So, like many end-times prophecies, we can only see how these things are possible when they actually start to unfold.

But that’s exactly what has happened since the lightning-fast entrance of ISIS onto the world stage. Unlike any nation in the world, ISIS and the “nation of Islam” are positioned to fulfill the prophecy of the 200 million man army – and as predicted, it’s all happening at the river Euphrates.

 

The Four Angels

Revelation 9:14b:

“Set free the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!”

Spiritual signs in prophecy— things that happen in heaven or the spiritual realm— are easy to misinterpret, as they are not usually directly observable. Because the four angels in this passage are spirits, the only way to observe this event is by:

1. Identifying the nature, or function, of these spirits, and
2. Identifying how the spirit of these messengers will manifest itself

Nature and Function:

The word for “angel” in this prophecy is aggelos, defined in Strong’s concordance as:

“a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God.”

The term “four angels” is used in other passages, and often associated with the Biblical phrases “four winds”, “four spirits”, and “four corners of the earth”. (In Hebrew, one word—  ruach—is used for “spirit”, “breath”, and “wind”. In Greek, the word pneuma is used for both “spirit” and “breath”.)

Examples:

“The messenger replied, ‘These are the four spirits (winds) of heaven that have been presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth…” Zechariah 6:5 (NET)

”Then said He to me, Prophesy to the breath {and} spirit, son of man, and say to the breath {and} spirit, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath {and} spirit, and breathe upon these slain that they may live.” Ezekiel 37:9 (AMP)

“After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so no wind could blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.” Revelation 7:1 (NET)

So, we know the following things about the nature and function of these four angels:

• The four angels are spirits that deliver a message.
• The connotation of the “four angels” is closely associated with the “four corners” of the earth— which indicates a worldwide event.
• The purpose of the four angels is to kill— their nature is murderous.

Manifestation

 Revelation 9:15-16:

“Then the four angels… were set free to kill a third of humanity. The number of soldiers on horseback was two hundred million; I heard their number.”

• These four angels will manifest as an armed force of 200 million that will be sent out to kill.

QUESTION: If there are angels bound at the Euphrates, what will we see on earth when they’re “unbound”?

ANSWER: A worldwide release of murderous spirits (four winds) sent to inspire a 200 million man army to slaughter unprecedented numbers of people.

ISIS and the “nation of Islam” may not be the only manifestation of this Scripture— but it cannot be said that it is not an expression of the nature and function of these spirits. This is what we can observe:

• The militant extremists behind ISIS are delivering a message. They spread propaganda, they preach, they proselytize. They are notorious for their use of social media to spread their message – airing videos and pictures of human beheadings to stir up fear, attract recruits, and inspire Muslims to a violent jihad.
• The message of ISIS has been delivered worldwide in a short time— to the four corners of the earth.
• The purpose of ISIS is to kill— its nature is murderous. This murderous spirit of ISIS is stirring up a force of militant Muslims scattered all over the world— a scattered army

In the next post, we’ll look at Prophecy #2: The Euphrates Dries Up, Reveals The Road to Armageddon.

In the meantime, talk to me! How will it change your perspective on the Bible if you start to see events occur that your theology says can’t happen until after the rapture?