“Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them. (Rev. 9:3-6)

This invasion of ‘locusts’ occurs following the blowing of the fifth trumpet during the plagues that afflict mankind during the period known as the Great Tribulation. Until recent history, this obscure passage of scripture was a mystery. Modern technology, however, sheds light on the implications of this biblical text. In particular, Prophecy News Watch reports that the United States has developed a new form of warfare known as LOCUST, so named for the drone-swarm technology that looks and behaves like the notorious insect. The future of this technology includes swarm drones that turn into weapons that blow up targets on the ground. They could even be used for chemical or biological warfare if the perpetrator was so inclined. According to the Office of Naval Research, this is the future of war.

“A few months ago the US navy demonstrated its Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology (LOCUST) program by putting 30 drones flying together in perfect formation. These drones are launched from a special tube in less than a minute to create a vicious swarm designed to overwhelm an adversary autonomously. What makes the swarm unique is that any hostile aircraft, manned or unmanned, can be brought down by a single missile, but a swarm can take multiple hits and keep going. The drones are self-reconfiguring so that if one drone gets taken out, the others autonomously change their behavior to complete the mission.” (Prophecy News Watch www.prophecynewswatch.com/)

In addition to LOCUST, CNBC News reports, “Mini-nukes and mosquito-like robot weapons [are] being primed for future warfare.” They state that the U.S., Russia, and China are developing Nano-weapons that could be used to unleash attacks using mini-nuclear bombs and insect-like lethal robots. 

“Frightening details about military nanotechnologies were outlined in a 2010 report from the Pentagon's Defense Threat Reduction Agency, including how ‘transgenic insects could be developed to produce and deliver protein-based biological warfare agents, and be used offensively against targets in a foreign country.’” (CNBC News)

There are a number of references to ‘locusts’ in the Bible suggesting they represent armies of destruction. For instance, the prophet Nahum uses this metaphor when describing the complete destruction of Nineveh.

“…fire will consume you, the sword will cut you down; It will consume you as the locust does. Multiply yourself like the creeping locust, multiply yourself like the swarming locust…The creeping locust strips and flies away. Your guardsmen are like the swarming locust… For on whom has not your evil passed continually?” (Nahum 3:15-17, 19c)

The Lord calls His army locusts, the army that He will bring against Israel to discipline His people for their rebellion against the Lord. This army is described as different types of locusts, since this army will comprise many nations. He also calls them the Northern Army.

“What the gnawing locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; and what the swarming locust has left, the creeping locust has eaten; and what the creeping locust has left, the stripping locust has eaten…For a nation has invaded My land, mighty and without number…” (Joel 1:4-6)

 “Then the Lord … will have pity on His people…I will remove the northern army far from you, and I will drive it into a parched and desolate land…Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust, My great army which I sent among you.” (Joel 2:18, 20, 25)

We can see from the above scriptures that the ‘locusts’ point to armies of destruction that are permitted by the Lord to advance against a nation to bring judgment for wickedness and rebellion. So, who will be permitted to employ such evil technology, as described above, on mankind? The answer lies in the Book of Revelation. 

Following dreadful wars and famine on the earth [the red horse and black horse] there is widespread death [green ‘pale’ horse] and martyrdom. Then the sixth seal of the Tribulation Scroll is opened.

“I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black…and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth...Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.” (Revelation 6:12-14)

This ‘cosmic disturbance’ on the earth mirrors a war being fought in Heaven at this point in time that results in Satan and his rebellious angels [stars] being cast to the earth. 

“And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail…. So the great dragon was cast out … cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him…Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”  (Revelation 12: 7-12)

The apostles Jude and Peter remind us that those fallen angels have been reserved for the Day of Judgment, which the Bible calls the Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb. 

“And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day…” (Jude 6:6 & also 2 Peter 2:4)

God will use this ‘army’ of fallen angels to bring judgment against the rebellious and wicked people of the earth, using their own technology [Drone Swarms and Nanotechnology] against them during the Wrath of the Lamb. We cannot imagine the innumerable angels that are in heaven any more than we can count the stars. Nor do we know the myriad of angels that rebelled with Satan. While Satan’s rebellion is recorded in Isaiah 14:12-19 and Ezekiel 28:11-19 there is no mention of the fallen angels there. But, Revelation states that Satan drew a third of the stars (angels) of heaven with him in his revolt against God.

“… behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.” (Revelation 12:3-4)

We can also look to the ancient Jewish teachings of the Talmud and Zohar that record information about angels. Samael is the archangel of death. His name literally means ‘the drug of God’ or, as it is explained in the Zohar, the poison of God. In the Talmud, Samael is described as the commander of a legion of two million angels.

Since Satan has one-third of the angels under his authority, we can deduce the reason why God only allows Satan and his angels to affect one-third of the vegetation, one-third of the waters, and one-third of the heavens [darkness over part of the earth], and are only permitted to kill a third of mankind during the trumpet judgments that follow the opening of the seventh seal. 

Yeshua revealed the event that sparks the Wrath of the Lamb. (Revelation 6:17)

“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand) … For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” (Matthew 24:15, 21, 22)

The Wrath of the Lamb is described as a time of great tribulation, the Trumpet Judgments. But before God calls on His angels to blow the trumpets, the servants of God are sealed on their foreheads to protect them from the plagues that will follow. Numbers in the Bible are often used symbolically. The 144,000 that are sealed of all the tribes of Israel represents those that will rule and reign with the Lord for 1000 years: 12 x 12 x 1000. The number characterizes a company of people with a specific purpose and is likely not an actual numerical count. Twelve times twelve could be alluding to God’s rulers among both Jewish and Gentile believers who are grafted into the Cultivated Olive Tree (Romans 11:24) since the number twelve represents the government of God. For believers in Yeshua, we know that it is the Holy Spirit in us that ‘seals’ us for the purposes of God.

“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)

When the Fifth Trumpet is blown, the insect-like weapons of warfare will be released to be used by a two hundred million-man army to kill a third of mankind. 

“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 9:14-16)

Those that are ‘sealed’ by God will not be affected by these Judgments, but will be afforded the great opportunity to preach the gospel to those who are in danger of perishing. A faithful follower of the Lord from Australia writes this word concerning the days ahead.

“The Lord will do many mighty works during this time. The Lord will lead his entire church to be a light to shine in the darkness and the darkness will not be able to prevail against it. Those who belong to the Lord will be kept safe during this time. The Lord will protect them and watch over them…All who belong to the Lord will pass safely through this time…” (Leo Roosipuu)

As we see the technology of global destruction advancing, we can follow the timeline of events by watching Israel, the nation that God watches over continually (Psalm 121). Israel is the central focus of the Bible and even the world. It is the thermometer by which we can gauge the seasons leading to the return of the Lord. 

Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Benjamin Disraeli once said, “The view of Jerusalem is the history of the world; it is more, it is the history of earth and of heaven.”

Eric Hoffer, a renowned philosopher quite aptly said the following.

“I have a premonition that will not leave me; as it goes with Israel so will it go with all of us. Should Israel perish, the Holocaust will be upon us all.”

In describing the apocalyptic events that will come upon the earth, Yeshua admonishes, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” (Luke 21:25-28)

Baruch HaShem (Blessed is the Name of the Lord)