Eagle Feathers and WWIII


There is a very interesting dream/prophesy in 2 Esdras chapters 11 and 12 (links are at the end). I first came across it several years ago while reading an online book called The Lost 10 Tribes by Michael Rush. The chapter in Rush's book referencing the chapters in 2 Esdras is found at:


Since that time I've re-read the chapters in Esdras several times, and often thought about the feathers mentioned in the dream.

The interesting thing about dreams, visions, and prophesies is, unless there is a specific, clear interpretation and explanation given, they are subject to a variety of interpretations and understandings. And it's usually not until the actual event, or afterwards, that they are more fully understood. Even those who have the dreams and visions have to be careful about giving their own interpretation.

Esdras' dream is about an eagle with 3 heads and 20 feathers (which are also seemingly interchanged with and references as wings). 12 of the feathers were regular ones, with one being longer, and the remaining 8 are short or contrary feathers. The feathers are divided with the 12 longer ones and 2 of the contrary/short ones taking turns reigning during the first time period. The second short feather's reign would be mark the middle of the first time period. Once these 14 feathers had all taken their place reigning, there would be a final time period with six short/contrary feathers left.

For the final time period, two of the remaining feathers divided themselves from the six and were under the head on the right side (2 Esdras 11:24). That means four would come first, followed by a  time, and then the final 2 feathers.

For the first 4 feathers, the first one rules for a short time, and the second's time was even shorter.

Then is seems that of the remaining 4 (feathers 3 and 4), two of them "thought also in themselves to reign" (2 Esdras 11:28), but the middle head was awakened and it awoke the other two heads, and it ate the two feathers.

This "head put the whole earth in fear" (2 Esdras 11:32) but after what appears to be a short governance of the world it (the center head) "appeared no more" (verse 33).

Then the right head devoured the left head.

At the beginning of 2 Esdras chapter 12 we find the remaining head "appeared no more" (verse 2) and it appears that the final two feathers "set themselves up to reign, and their kingdom was small, and fill of uproar."

After that "the whole body of the eagle was burnt so that the earth was in great fear" (verse 3).

I mostly agree with Michael Rush's thoughts and analysis. The feathers seem to correspond to presidents of the United States.

Rush gives some good reasons for starting the line of presidents--the feathers--with Hoover. Rush thinks Hoover would be the one to start because of his association with a conspiracy group that apparently formed about that time.

A reason I see for starting the feather-count with President Hoover is his presidency was just prior to World War II, and it was during that time that America began to really gain prominence throughout the world. And WWII solidified America's superpower status. 

We know from 2 Esdras chapter 12 verse 11 that the eagle "is the kingdom which was seen in vision" by Daniel.

And from that same chapter in Esdras, we learn the feathers are kings who reign one after another. When the second short feather's reign is finished it's "the middle time." There are eight total short/contrary feathers, with four of the short feathers near the end, and two are "kept unto the end" (verse 21).

The eagle, which is a kingdom, has three heads.

Rush does an excellent job in explaining why he believes the three heads are people in the context of the chapter as well as in comments at the end.

At first, the three heads of the eagle seem to be more likely the three branches of government.

Could the left and right heads refer to political extremes? With the center head controlling/manipulating the other two?

In 2 Esdras chapter 12, verses 22-23 (https://ebible.org/kjv/2ES12.htm) it states the three heads are three kingdoms that have dominion of the earth. And apparently there is a lot of oppression in those kingdoms. So, it's unlikely the heads represent political extremes in the country or the branches of government.

The middle head is greater than the others, and it ends up dying in its bed. 

But people are not the only ones who can die in their "beds" which is one argument Rush uses. A bed can be symbolic of a place to rest, or even a place where something is planted. In the latter case, plants can certainly die in their beds.

The other two heads die by the sword, with one head killing the other, and the last one falls "through the sword himself" (2 Esdras 12:28).

"For the sword of the one shall devour the other: but at the last shall he fall through the sword himself."
Chapter 11 verse 35 says "the head upon the right side devoured it that was upon the left side."

For most of the time the three heads "were at rest" (2 Esdras 11:4). However, after the second short feather near the end the heads are all awakened.

Logic seems to indicate that the heads and eagle would be all part of the same body, or country. But the interpretation of the meanings of the eagle parts implies there are 4 different kingdoms, the eagle and the 3 heads. However, the 3 heads/kingdoms must have enormous influence or control on the eagle kingdom.

Maybe the center head is a conspiracy network, a "kingdom" of a deep state, that is based in the eagle kingdom. Or it could be some global group (globalists?) and their plan to take over, and they've been lying in wait, almost as if they were asleep, waiting for their time to act.

The other heads could be other conspiratorial organizations, maybe that have close ties to the center head. Maybe the other heads are other countries (China? Russia?) that have strong influence on the eagle and its actions. This influence could be the theft of state secrets, or influencing elections. Maybe the influence is more economical, with trade deals.

A lot of countries have used, or use, an eagle in their symbols. But most countries aren't globally influential. Here's a few interesting morsels to chew on.

By the 13th century the Holy Roman Empire had a double-headed eagle on it's coat of arms.





And the German Confederation (in the 19th century) also used a double-headed eagle.


Germany had and has (both before the Nazis and after) a black eagle.

And Nazi Germany, which tried to take over the world, had its eagle. 



And what about the Russian two-headed eagle?





One suggested reason for the two-headed eagle (which was slightly different than the image above, which is associated with communist Russia utilizing the hammer and sickle) is the Byzantine empire ( 395 AD - 1453) wanted to unite "both east and west under its wings" with the eagle having two heads but one body. It was in 1497 that Russia had its first official double-headed eagle.

And while Nazi Germany was defeated, fascism, socialism, and communism weren't. 

Here's another interesting bit. During the 1930's, right before WWII, fascism and communism were seen as extreme right and left forms of government. For many these two are still seen as the extremes of right and left politics/ideology.

Fascism is considered by some to be extreme right-wing economics and politics, with it's opposition to state ownership of capital and economic equality is not a principle or goal. A fascist government is typically led by a dictator having total power.

Communism is seen as extreme left economics and politics. It's ideal is community ownership of property with its end goal being complete social and economic equality. The reality is most communist countries are more socialist in nature where socialism refers to the state/government ownership of common property and production.


Esdras' eagle has a third head, bigger and sitting in the center, between the left and right (east and west) heads. My guess is that center head has the greater power and control. I suspect the center head influences the other heads, and may even try to manipulate the left and right. 

Kind of reminds me of how the extreme liberals/Democrats and extreme Republicans seem to be opposite sides of the same coin. And some may add that both are controlled by the same behind-the-scenes actors, those involved with the Deep State. Skousen would probably called them the Globalists.

If we consider the two heads as generally referencing countries (kingdoms), we might see them as east and west, or China and Russia, being representative of globally influential countries from the east and western civilizations. Of course these countries have leaders, and those who influence or even control those leaders.

If the east and west heads were assigned a side, the most logical reference would be to use the cardinal points of the compass. The head would be at the north/center point, with left being the country to the west (which would be China, which is referred to as the far east from historical references based on the British Empire), 

What about this possible scenario for the last six feathers.

The first short feather (of the last six), would, if they are U.S. presidents, correspond to President Trump. If he's a short feather, he won't complete his full term. Pence would then become president (short feather #2). 

What happens next is interesting because there are two more short feathers  (#3 and #4) which will basically line up to rule but won't get much of a chance. That could mean they either don't rule or their reign is extremely short.

Because they are actually mentioned as short feathers, I'm inclined to think they will have extremely short reigns, or at least be formally identified as being the next president, and not just be in the line of succession. If they don't have any time in office, why even mention them? Rush thinks feathers 2, 3, and 4 could be taken out simultaneously as those in line of succession are eliminated before they get a chance to take office. But, the line of succession can go much deeper than 2, 3, or 4 people. Why stop with those? To me it seems unreasonable to consider someone in the line of succession as a feather if they don't have even a day in power, or weren't even voted in to be the next president.

I'm thinking these short feathers (#3 and #4) will each have reigns of a year or so. Not more than 2 years, but likely less than 1. Basically my thoughts are it can take year before a president can get momentum to actually accomplish much, and until they can start accomplishing their agenda they are in more of a state of "thinking" about their reign and lining up the pieces to get things done. This is especially true if Congress is in opposition to the president's agenda.

One option is we get a new president in 2020 (feather #3) who doesn't complete a full term, and another president (feather #4) would take his/her place. By the time elections in 2024 take place, both of these feathers would be gone and it would be time for the middle head to reign for its short time.

Another option is Pence could be elected in 2020 and then not complete a full term. He'd still be considered a short feather because he never completed a full term in office. That means before the 2024 election his time would be cut short. 

But, we know the second feather's time is shorter than the first, so if Pence were elected his total time should to be less than Trump's. Assuming Trump makes it into 2020, Pence could then serve up to 3 years of a term before his time would be cut short. If he were elected in 2020, he'd be inaugurated in January 2021 and could serve to the end of 2023 (depending on when Trump leaves office) before his time starts to exceed Trump's.

With the next two feathers (#3 and #4 of the last six) it would seem that one could be Pence's VP (if Pence were elected) and then the fourth feather would be the next elected president (in the 2024 election).

Either scenario could line up with when I've theorized a possible WWIII could start, which could be at the end of 2024 during the lame duck session. In either case, I don't think whoever is elected in 2024 will have much of a presidency, either being killed before taking office or soon after. I think its likely that the successor to such an event will be someone specifically put into place by the globalists to take power and usher in a global military power, which I'll mention in a bit. For most people, that president will appear to have assumed power in a legitimate way, but will actually be part of the center-head kingdom.

In past posts I've mentioned how if North Korea invades South Korea, the U.S. might retaliate with tactical nukes, and then the U.S. would be attacked with EMPs, and nukes on key installations, and later invaded. I've had the thought of the North invading the South years ago, but it was Joel Skousen who introduced the idea of the US using tactical nukes. I also think shortly after this China will invade Taiwan.

Under President Clinton nuclear weapons policies were revised for the US to absorb a first strike before launching any counter-attack. Basically there needs to be an actual nuclear detonation before launching our own nukes. The policy is commonly referred to as No First Use (NFU).

But supposedly the US has three options where it may not wait for a first strike, but instead strike first. The first is if the US is in conflict with a state that has nuclear weapons. The second is if the opponent is not a member in good standing under the Non-Proliferation Treaty or other equivalent international convention. And the third case is if a nuclear-capable state attacks the US or one of its allies or forces. 

Based on this, if North Korea invades South Korea, a US ally, the US would justify itself in using tactical nukes. Especially if the North uses chemical or biological agents. It's doubtful they'd use nukes on the South as they want to join the two countries into a single Korea, an a nuclear attack would make one less inhabitable with radiation.

China and Russia could see the use of tactical nukes as an excuse to attack the US with nukes. But the US could then determine to wait to see if the attack was credible by waiting to absorb the first strike. The tracked targets might not trigger immediate retaliatory response.

Joel Skousen has said that he believes globalists are conspiring with Russia and China in a backhanded sort of way. Their intent is to have the communists attack America, and for America to be caught off-guard, and unable to defend itself. The goal is to get public opinion to be swayed to create a joint world military to fight the communist threat, or whatever the common enemy ends up being. This world police/military force would be under the direct control of the globalists, and whoever is their leader, who could likely be the new president of the US.

But in my opinion, this kind of new world order wouldn't last long. With political unrest in nations, increasing natural disasters, harsh famines, and areas of the world that are ethnically and culturally opposed to those who are not like them, the global government would probably collapse and die within a short time, basically on its own bed. Not to mention this kinds of conspiracies often have others within the organization conspiring to ascend to the leadership and control of the organization. So, it may be that the president gets killed off by another globalist plotting to take over.

Skousen believes China and Russia would initially be allies, but the globalists would conspire to undermine that to try and turn the two superpowers against each other so only one remains. I can't remember which one Skousen believes the globalists are working to double-cross the other. In any case, the globalists want and need an enemy so they can justify the need for a global military/police force.

But I believe the plan will backfire. How often do these conspiracies, especially when they are made up of opposing groups who all want total power, end up double-crossing the double-cross? 

In the Book of Mormon we read of people (Gadianton robbers) who are part of the same group who murder others who belong to their band in order to get ahead. So, factor in an American globalist group, Russian globalist group, and a Chinese globalist group. Each one wants the real power and control, but each is willing to manipulate and work with the others until they see an opening to get ahead. The opposing groups may act like they will trust the others, but they won't because they know what they would do if the circumstances were different. I think it's the conspiracies behind the conspiracy that will end up killing the center head in its bed, and the remaining ones will then turn on each other.

In the aftermath of the fall of the great superpowers, the United States of America would break up into smaller sections politically and geographically. It's very likely massive earthquakes splintering the California coast and separating the Mississippi River basin will be among some of the geographic changes. The last two small feathers (#5 and #6) would have a small kingdom to reign over, and the dissatisfaction and unrest (combined with the famine and natural disasters) would mean those two final kings/presidents won't rule long.

At that point, it seems that eagle kingdom will be burnt--probably nuclear attacks on many of the remaining great cities of the land. Of course the burning could result from a number other possibilities, such as a supervolcano and other volcanic activity, or meteor strikes, or even just massive wildfires all over that can't be brought under control due to the lack of resources (including equipment to fight the fires and manpower), or a combination of events. I suspect the burning will primarily be the result of a nuclear attack as "the whole earth was in great fear" (2 Esdras 12:3) as a result of the "whole body of the eagle" being burnt. The rest of the world could fear earthquakes or supervolcanoes, but the threat of nuclear winter, with its fallout and radiation, would certainly create "great fear" around the world.

After the burning, the land (America) will then be in a position to be restored to its original purpose, to become a land of liberty, a land of freedom. It's important to note that the burning does not kill off everyone, so there are those who remain who still believe in the values and principles that the country was founded on.

However the burning occurs, I believe the rest of the world will likely not want to come to the land of America for some time, and will likely fear doing so. If there is the possibility of radiation poisoning the other nations will probably avoid coming to America for a number of years. And, the other nations of the world will be experiencing their own problems so it won't be worth it to them to come to a country they believe to be mostly dead and contaminated. I think most of the world won't see America as posing any kind of immediate threat, and they will believe they can take the land for themselves after a few years have gone by, and the contamination risk has diminished.

Of course, having the rest of the world leave the land of America alone will help the survivors, including the residue of the house of Israel (and lost 10 tribes), build and rebuild cities as well as to establish and build up the New Jerusalem. By the time the rest of the world decides to return to America they will likely be surprised by what they find.

Based on the above, the following would be one possible rough timeline/event sequence. Keep in mind years are just place holders and events could happen in the year(s) before or after. Basically what follows is an attempt to try to put events in order (primarily using the feathers and eagle heads) and roughly assign an approximate year:

  • 2019 Trump is president (short feather #1)
  • 2020 Trump leaves office, probably by mid year, and Pence (short feather #2) takes office. Pence gets elected to presidency (but Democrats will likely take control of the House and Senate, although I hope not).
  • 2021 Pence is inaugurated
  • 2022 Pence (possible last year)
  • 2023 last year for Pence. Something happens and he's unable to complete his term in office. His VP (short feather #3) becomes president. VP's time as president is less than Pence's, probably only a year or so.
  • 2024 The year of major and widespread disasters and earthquakes. Democrat president (feather #4) is elected. North Korea invades South Korea. EMPs deployed against and disable America. Maybe president-elect is assassinated. VP-elect might also be eliminated. Could happen during January 2025 inauguration.
  • 2025 A globalist (the VP, or designated survivor or other successor) comes into power and joins forces with other countries to create a world police/military force to fight the communist threat. Mega-quakes, volcanoes, and other disasters have been physically splitting America apart.
  • 2026 Globalist new world order begins to fall apart due to forces outside of its control (natural disasters, political unrest, famine, etc.) and leader is killed. China and Russia begin to go after each other with one having its superpower status killed. Within a short time span (year or two) the remaining superpower collapses on itself (natural disasters, internal strife, famine, etc.) In America elections have resulted in a new president being elected (feather #5).
  • 2027 new president is killed or removed from office and the successor (VP or designated survivor--feather #6) takes control.
  • 2027-2028 Nuclear attack on America burns the remaining major cities--the body, the main industry--of what is left of the eagle kingdom.
  • 2028-- the country begins to slowly reunite and rejoin in the aftermath of its near total destruction.

On a side note, the conclusion of the current solar cycle is expected sometime this year (2019), with the next 11-year solar cycle beginning either later 2019 or early 2020. There are those who think the cycle after the next one (beginning 2030-ish) may be a solar grand minimum, which could begin a mini-ice age. This event would likely be similar to the Maunder Minimum (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maunder_Minimum) which happened during the Little Ice Age (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age). 

It's also believed widespread volcanic activity contributed to the Little Ice Age with the increased particulates in the atmosphere. After a "year without a summer" in 1816, Joseph Smith Sr's family ended up moving to Manchester, New York, area, from Palmyra, because of crop failures. It's likely those failures were a result of increased particulates in the atmosphere from the April 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora on the island of Sumbawa, east of Java. The increased particulates in the atmosphere would have caused a mild cooling of the earth.

If we start seeing an increase in volcanic activity, especially larger eruptions, we can expect to also have an increase in crop failures, especially at the higher latitudes.

The magnetic poles are also in a period of flux, where they appear to be shifting. Most scientists believe it would take hundreds or thousands of years to complete a pole shift. But, there is evidence, and some scientists think, a pole shift could happen much, much faster. Easily within a lifetime. There are even those who cite evidence the shift could happen extremely fast, and such a change would cause extreme and violent catastrophes around the world. One of those disasters could likely be the onset of a mini ice age.

Whether an ice age comes from solar minimum or some other event, like widespread volcanic activity, doesn't matter. If a mini-ice age were to happen, widespread famine would result, along with millions of the world's population perishing.

It is purely my speculation, but if the above event sequence happens in roughly the presented order, a great gathering (calling out) would not happen before 2024. Such an event may not happen until a few months prior to the nuclear attacks that burn the country, which would be 2026-27. 

But I believe a great gathering call is most likely to happen when the economy and life in general are seeming to be doing well, and even improving. After an invitation to gather it will likely be a few months before anything significant happens, and normal life may even appear to be getting better. This will further test the faith and resolve of those who gather because they don't want to be left behind. But when nothing immediate happens to justify--in their minds--the reason for gathering, they're likely to return to their lives.

A gathering call/invitation is likely to be a real test of faith. It would be easy for people of little faith to gather if the economy has crashed, earthquakes have devastated the country, and a foreign enemy is invading. It'd be more difficult for many to gather, particularly those who may believe themselves faithful, when life is good and comfortable, and there are no immediate or apparent threats. In fact, if the country had just experienced a number of disasters (natural and economic) people will likely scoff at the idea of things worsening just as conditions are getting better.

Where does this take us for the present?

Keep preparing, gathering equipment, supplies, and especially food. Learn everything you can. Teach your families.

But, don't freak out. Don't go to extremes. Don't go into debt. Don't fear. Don't move just because you think--or someone said--something bad must be about to happen, and you think some other place might be safer.

Most importantly, learn to listen to and follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual preparation is absolutely paramount. Recent general conferences have been full of talks stressing this importance.

There's a quote from Elder Richard L. Evans regarding the attitude we should have in preparing for the Second Coming, and, I will add, in preparing for the perilous days that are coming.

“I recall a reported statement, attributed, as I remember it, to President Wilford Woodruff. Some of the brethren of his time are said to have approached him (they had their troubles also) and to have inquired of him as to when he felt the end would be—when would be the coming of the Master? These, I think, are not his exact words, but they convey the spirit of his reported reply: ‘I would live as if it were to be tomorrow—but I am still planting cherry trees!’ I think we may well take this as a page for our own book and live as if the end might be tomorrow—and still plant cherry trees!” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1950, pp. 105–6.) - taken from (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/doctrines-of-the-gospel/chapter-36?lang=eng)

Cherry trees take a long time to grow. Even if you knew the Second Coming were to happen tomorrow you should still plant the cherry tree you were planning to. I've read that in some Hebrew culture a similar saying is given, that if you knew the Messiah were coming you should plant a cherry tree.

Most of us don't know how certain events will affect us where we currently are, so we should not panic and change our plans based on fear. For the most part, I think those who are better prepared physically and spiritually, who have been consistently working on their preparations, are less likely to panic and go to some extreme out of fear. They are proof that "if ye are prepared ye shall not fear" (Doctrine and Covenants 38:30).

Knee-jerk preparations, including acting/prepping out of fear or panic, do little to actually prepare us physically, mentally, emotionally, and, especially, spiritually. An physical preparation is more than just having emergency supplies and food storage, and despite what some people think having a 72-hour kit, some water, and a little food storage is not being prepared.

Without adequate and continual preparations in those other areas our faith will be more sorely tested because we may expect something to happen, and, when it doesn't, we will doubt and begin to lose faith. Spiritual preparation is the most important because being guided by the Spirit can aid us in other preparations.

This is also why each of us must learn to receive personal revelation, to be guided by the Spirit. Only then can we know if we really should change our plans, or do something different. Remember, it is very likely that some people may be guided to move/gather to another location years in advance, while another family is given only a short notice to do so, and another is asked to remain behind.

If we are continually working on improving and strengthening our spiritual preparations, as well as physical, mental, and emotion preparations, if we are putting our faith and trust in the Lord and following the Spirit, then we will be where we are supposed to be.

------

2 Esdras chapter 11 https://ebible.org/kjv/2ES11.htm
2 Esdras chapter 12 https://ebible.org/kjv/2ES12.htm


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