Lecture 1 of 3

The First Four Trumpets

New Development of Truth

In every age there is a new development of truth, a message

of God to the people of that generation. The old truths are all
essential; new truth is not independent of the old, but an
unfolding of it. It is only as the old truths are understood
that we can comprehend the new. When Christ desired to
open to His disciples the truth of His resurrection, He began
"at Moses and all the prophets" and "expounded unto them
in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself." Luke
24:27. But it is the light which shines in the fresh
unfolding of truth that glorifies the old. He who rejects or
neglects the new does not really possess the old. For him it
loses its vital power and becomes but a lifeless form. -
Christ’s Object Lessons, 128.
In the year 1840 another remarkable fulfillment of prophecy
excited widespread interest. Two years before, Josiah Litch, one
of the leading ministers preaching the second advent,
published an exposition of Revelation 9, predicting the fall of
the Ottoman Empire. According to his calculations, this power
was to be overthrown "in A.D. 1840, sometime in the month of
August;" and only a few days previous to its accomplishment
he wrote: "Allowing the first period, 150 years, to have been
exactly fulfilled before Deacozes ascended the throne by
permission of the Turks, and that the 391 years, fifteen days,
commenced at the close of the first period, it will end on the
11th of August, 1840, when the Ottoman power in
Constantinople may be expected to be broken. And this, I
believe, will be found to be the case."--Josiah Litch, in Signs of
the Times, and Expositor of Prophecy, Aug. 1, 1840. (cont.)
At the very time specified, Turkey, through her ambassadors,
accepted the protection of the allied powers of Europe, and
thus placed herself under the control of Christian nations.
The event exactly fulfilled the prediction. When it became
known, multitudes were convinced of the correctness of the
principles of prophetic interpretation adopted by Miller and
his associates, and a wonderful impetus was given to the
advent movement. Men of learning and position united with
Miller, both in preaching and in publishing his views, and
from 1840 to 1844 the work rapidly extended. The Great
Controversy, 334-335.
 In the year 1840, another remarkable fulfillment of prophecy
excited widespread interest. Two years before, Josiah Litch,
one of the leading ministers preaching the second advent,
published an exposition of Revelation 9, predicting the fall of
the Ottoman empire, and specifying not only the year but the
very day on which this would take place. According to this
exposition, which was purely a matter of calculation on the
prophetic periods of Scripture, the Turkish government
would surrender its independence on the eleventh day of
August, 1840. The prediction was widely published, and
thousands watched the course of events with eager interest.
(The Great Controversy (1888), 334.)
 "The agency of the Holy Spirit is to combine with human effort and all
heaven is engaged in the work of preparing a people to stand in these last
days. The end is near and we want to keep the future world in view. . . .
“In this last conflict the Captain of the Lord's host [Joshua 5:15] is leading
on the armies of heaven and mingling in the ranks and fighting our
battles for us. We shall have apostasies, we expect them. "They will go out
from us because they were not of us" (see 1 John 2:19). "Every plant, which
my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up" (Matthew 15:13).
“The angel, the mighty angel from heaven, is to lighten the earth with His
glory (Revelation 18:1), while he cries mightily with a loud voice, "Babylon
the great is fallen, is fallen" (verse 2). . . . We would lose faith and courage
in the conflict, if we were not sustained by the power of God. “Every form
of evil is to spring into intense activity. Evil angels unite their powers with
evil men, and as they have been in constant conflict and attained an
experience in the best modes of deception and battle and have been
strengthening for centuries, they will not yield the last great final contest
without a desperate struggle and all the world will be on one side or the
other of the question.
“The battle of Armageddon will be fought. And that day must find none
of us sleeping. Wide awake we must be, as wise virgins having oil in our
vessels with our lamps. The power of the Holy Ghost must be upon us and
the Captain of the Lord's host will stand at the head of the angels of
heaven to direct the battle. Solemn events before us are yet to transpire.
Trumpet after trumpet is to be sounded; vial after vial poured out one
after another upon the inhabitants of the earth. Scenes of stupendous
interest are right upon us and these things will be sure indications of the
presence of Him who has directed in every aggressive movement, who has
accompanied the march of His cause through all the ages, and who has
graciously pledged Himself to be with His people in all their conflicts to
the end of the world. He will vindicate His truth. He will cause it to
triumph. He is ready to supply His faithful ones with motives and power
of purpose, inspiring them with hope and courage and valor in increased
activity as the time is at hand. 3 Selected Messages, 425-426
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN TRUMPETS AND PLAGUES
TRUMPETS PLAGUES
1 Upon the earth Rev.8:7 Upon the earth Rev.16:2
2 Upon the sea Rev.8:8 Upon the sea Rev.16:3
3 Rivers & fountains of waters Rev.8:10 Rivers & fountains of waters Rev.16:4
4 Sun smitten Rev.8:12 Upon the sun Rev.16:8
5 Air darkened Rev.9:2 Darkness Rev.16:1
6 Great River Euphrates Rev.9:14 Great River Euphrates Rev.16:12
7 Mystery of God finished Rev.10:7 "It is done" Rev.16:17
8 Lightnings, voices, Rev.11:19 Voices, thunders, lightnings, Rev.16:1
thunderings, earthquake, great earthquake, hail
great hail
 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRUMPETS AND PLAGUES
Trumpets
6 symbolic. 1 literal
1 Hail, fire & blood affects 1/3 trees, all grass
2 1/3 sea to blood, 1/3 creatures die
3 1/3 waters bitter
4 1/3 sun, moon, stars smitten, 1/3 day in
darkness
5 Smoke from pit darkness; locusts torment for 5
5 months
6 Angel (spirits) loosed from Euphrates;
myriads of horsemen kill 1/3 of men.
7 Cleansing of the sanctuary commences;
extends to close of probation.
Plagues
6 literal. 1 symbolic
1 'Noisome & grievous sore'
2 Sea as blood of dead man
3 All drinking water blood
4 Sun more active; men smitten with
fierce heat
Papal kingdom filled with darkness
6 Euphrates dried up & evil spirits unite
whole world against God.
7 Probation closes; events extend to
the coming of Christ.
And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves
to sound. The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire
mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third
part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. And the
second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire
was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And
the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died;
and the third part of the ships were destroyed. And the third angel
sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a
lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains
of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third
part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters,
because they were made bitter. And the fourth angel sounded, and the
third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and
the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and
the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
(Revelation 8:6-12)
What does the constant reference to “the third
part” in Revelation 8 imply?

“The Roman Empire, after Constantine the Great, was divided into three
parts. Hence the frequent remark, "a third part of men," is an allusion to
the third part of the empire which was under the scourge. This division
of the Roman kingdom was made at the death of Constantine, among his
three sons, Constantius, Constantine II, and Constans. Constantius
possessed the East, and fixed his residence at Constantinople, the
metropolis of the empire. Constantine II held Britain, Gaul, and Spain.
Constans held Illyricum, Africa, and Italy.” Uriah Smith, Thoughts on
Daniel and Revelation, 473-474.
 progressive destruction of western Rome
western Rome destroyed
1st trumpet 2nd trumpet 3rd trumpet 4th trumpet
Rev 8:6-7 Rev 8:8-9 Rev 8:10-11 Rev 8:12

AD 395-410 AD 428-468 AD 451-453 AD 476-490

Alaric Genseric Attila Odoacer

Goths Vandals Huns Heruli

Hail/Fire/Blood Burning Mountain Great Star Sun/Moon/Stars

Earth Sea Rivers Heavens

While praying at the family altar, the Holy Ghost fell on me, and I seemed to be rising
higher and higher, far above the dark world. I turned to look for the Advent people in
the world, but could not find them--when a voice said to me, "Look again, and look a
little higher." At this I raised my eyes and saw a straight and narrow path, [Matthew
7:14.] cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people were travelling to
the City, which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up
behind them at the first end of the path, which an angel told me was the
Midnight Cry. [Matthew 25:6.] This light shone all along the path, and gave light
for their feet so they might not stumble. And if they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus,
who was just before them, leading them to the City, they were safe. But soon some
grew weary, and they said the City was a great way off, and they expected to have
entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them by raising his glorious right arm,
and from his arm came a glorious light which waved over the Advent band, and they
shouted Hallelujah! Others rashly denied the light behind them, and said that it
was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out leaving
their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and got their eyes off the mark and
lost sight of Jesus, and fell off the path down in the dark and wicked world below. It
was just as impossible for them to get on the path again and go to the City, as all the
wicked world which God had rejected. A Word to the Little Flock, 14.
 Lecture 2 of 3
The Fifth and Sixth Trumpets
and the First and Second Woes
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the
earth [Mohamed, after the manner of Satan]: and to him was given the key of
the bottomless pit [earth, in this case Arabia]. And he opened the bottomless
pit [as opposed to closing it as in Revelation 20:1]; and there arose a smoke out
of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace [affliction; false teaching]; and the
sun and the air [the gospel] were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth [Muslim hordes]:
and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And
it was commanded them [by Abu-Bakr] that they should not hurt the grass of
the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men
which have not the seal of God in their foreheads [non-sabbathkeepers].
And to them it was given that they should not kill them [end their authority],
but that they should be tormented five months [150 years]: and their
torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in
those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die,
and death shall flee from them. And the shapes of the locusts were like unto
horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns
[turbans] like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men [they had beards].
(Revelation 9:1-7)
And they had hair as the hair of women [Arabians did not cut their hair],
and their teeth were as the teeth of lions [persecuting power]. And they had
breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron [a reference to the military nature
of Islam]; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many
horses running to battle [Islam are noted for their use of horses and chariots
in battle with few footmen]. And they had tails [teachings of Mohamed] like
unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails [teachings of war]: and
their power was to hurt men five months [150 years]. And they had a king
over them [Othman], which is the angel of the bottomless pit [Satan],
whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath
his name Apollyon [destroyer]. One woe is past; and, behold, there come
two woes more hereafter. (Revelation 9:8-12)
"As soon as their numbers were complete, Abubeker [Abu-Bakr]
ascended the hill, reviewed the men, the horses, and the arms, and
poured forth a fervent prayer for the success of their undertaking..
'Remember', said the successor of the prophet, 'that you are always in
the presence of God, on the verge of death, in the assurance of
judgement, and the hope of paradise. Avoid injustice and
oppression; consult with your brethren, and study to preserve the
love and confidence of your troops. When you fight the battles of the
lord, acquit yourselves like men, without turning your backs; but let
not your victory be stained with the blood of women or children.
Destroy no palm trees, nor burn any field of corn. Cut down no fruit
trees, nor do any mischief to cattle, only such as you kill to eat. When
you make a covenant ... stand to it and be as good as your word. As
you go on, you will find some religious persons, who live retired in
monasteries, and propose to themselves to serve God that way: let
them alone and neither kill them nor destroy their monasteries. And
you will find another sort of people that belong to the synagogue of
Satan, who have shaven crowns; be sure you cleave their skulls, and
give them no quarter, till they either turn Mahometans or pay
tribute.” – Abu-Bakr’s command; Edward Gibbon 'Decline & Fall'!,
Vol.V:489-490.
Five months - So far as the words here
are concerned this might be taken
literally, denoting five months or one
hundred and fifty days; or as a prophetic
reckoning, where a day stands for a
year. The latter is undoubtedly the
correct interpretation here, for it is the
character of the book thus to reckon
time. If this be the true method of
reckoning here, then it will be necessary
to find some events which will embrace
about the period of one hundred and
fifty years, during which this distress
and sorrow would continue. The proper
laws of interpretation demand that
one or the other of these periods
should be found - either that of five
months literally, or that of 150 years.
– Albert Barnes Commentary on
Revelation 9:5
 1st woe

5th trumpet
517 years
6th trumpet
Rev 9:1-11 Rev 9:13-21

126 391
AD 629 years years
AD 632 AD 782 AD 908 7/27/1299 1449
150 years Crusades
Mohamed
Rev 9:5 1095 -1291 150 years
Abu-Bakr Treaty of Rev 9:10

Muslim Constantinople
Othman Constantine XI
(Nicomedia) & 4 sultans
Rev 9:4
star/smoke/locusts
Ottoman empire Turkish rule
rises begins
earth
 1st woe

5th trumpet 6th trumpet

Rev 9:1-11 391 years, 15 days Rev 9:13-21

AD 606- 150 years 150 years

629 AD 632 AD 782 2/25/1058 7/27/1299 3/12/1449

Constantine XI

Fatimid caliph
publicly recognised
caliph in Baghdad
by Buyids.
 “The prophetic 391-plus-15 day-years claimed for the sixth trumpet had to commence
on July 27, 1449, as well, in order to precisely fulfill the total span allotted to the
prophecy of 541 years and 15 days. That is because William Miller, Josiah Litch and the
Millerites combined the two claimed prophetic time periods together as one continuous
whole. This then demanded that the prophecy be terminated not only in the year of
1840, but also to the very day of August 11th, as Ellen White recounted of the Millerites’
belief and teaching at that time.
“Unfortunately, Josiah Litch overlooked one very important point in his calculation of
the prophetic periods, as you well know. The Gregorian calendar by Pope Gregory XIII
replaced the Julian calendar by a papal bull signed into effect on February 24, 1582.
When introduced, it immediately omitted ten days in order to realign the calendar with
the spring equinox, which was tied by the Roman Catholic Church to the celebration of
Easter. The Millerites failed to take this ten-day discrepancy into account when they
fixed the date for the termination of the sixth trumpet on August 11, 1840.
“Many Seventh-day Adventists today do not remember or know that their history has
been falsely colored with numerous apologies and adjustments, until Josiah Litch’s
prophecy has become almost unrecognizable to the historian. It’s almost as if we
Adventists have picked and chosen what we want to keep and have disposed of what we
don’t. That is exactly what Treiyer blatantly does today, and it is all presented as fully
supportive of the historic position. Incredible!” Heidi Heiks, Response to Dr. Alberto R.
Treiyer (His Review Of Satan’s Counterfeit Prophecy), 4.
 1st woe 2nd woe

5th trumpet 6th trumpet 7th trumpet

Rev 9:1-11 Rev 9:13-21 Rev 11:15-19

AD 629 hurting of E. Rome slaying of E. Rome 10/22/1844

7/27/1299 1449 8/11/1840

150 years 391 years, 15 days

Rev 9:10 Rev 9:15

Othman Constantine XI Sultan &

(Nicomedia) & 4 sultans 4 Christian powers

Ottoman empire Turkish rule Turkish rule ends

rises begins Ottoman Empire falls
Year New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter

1299 Jan 3 19:35 Jan 10 14:09 Jan 17 21:32 Jan 26 01:51

Feb 2 07:28 Feb 8 23:16 Feb 16 14:54 Feb 24 19:40
Mar 3 17:41 T Mar 10 09:43 Mar 18 08:45 p Mar 26 09:24
Apr 2 02:32 Apr 8 21:59 Apr 17 01:39 Apr 24 19:19
May 1 10:27 May 8 12:19 May 16 16:28 May 24 02:16
May 30 18:16 Jun 7 04:29 Jun 15 04:59 Jun 22 07:23
Jun 29 03:05 Jul 6 21:50 Jul 14 15:41 Jul 21 11:58
Jul 28 14:02 Aug 5 15:24 Aug 13 01:18 Aug 19 17:26
Aug 27 03:51 A Sep 4 08:19 Sep 11 10:33 p Sep 18 01:14
Sep 25 20:28 Oct 3 23:56 Oct 10 19:58 Oct 17 12:39
Oct 25 14:53 Nov 2 13:46 Nov 9 05:55 Nov 16 04:19
Nov 24 09:40 Dec 2 01:28 Dec 8 16:48 Dec 15 23:43
Dec 24 03:24 Dec 31 10:59

Year New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter

1840 Jan 4 21:21 Jan 12 07:58 Jan 19 00:34 Jan 26 13:34

Feb 3 13:59 Feb 10 16:05 Feb 17 13:54 p Feb 25 10:51
Mar 4 04:05 A Mar 10 23:08 Mar 18 04:31 Mar 26 06:42
Apr 2 15:21 Apr 9 06:22 Apr 16 19:55 Apr 24 23:47
May 2 00:06 May 8 14:50 May 16 11:30 May 24 13:24
May 31 07:15 Jun 7 01:17 Jun 15 02:49 Jun 22 23:31
Jun 29 13:59 Jul 6 14:04 Jul 14 17:31 Jul 22 06:46
Jul 28 21:28 Aug 5 05:15 Aug 13 07:16 p Aug 20 12:18
Aug 27 06:44 T Sep 3 22:38 Sep 11 19:50 Sep 18 17:32
Sep 25 18:28 Oct 3 17:38 Oct 11 07:14 Oct 17 23:58
Oct 25 08:59 Nov 2 13:04 Nov 9 17:52 Nov 16 08:54
Nov 24 02:12 Dec 2 07:18 Dec 9 04:17 Dec 15 21:04
Dec 23 21:25 Dec 31 22:50
Jewish Karaite calendar applied to dating the woes.
Tammuz Av
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
July 1299 (Julian calendar) August

541 years 15 days commences 15 days 541 years and 15 days ends

Tammuz Av
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
July 1840 (Gregorian calendar) August
The warning has come: Nothing is to be allowed to come in that will disturb
the foundation of the faith upon which we have been building ever since
the message came in 1842, 1843, and 1844. I was in this message, and ever
since I have been standing before the world, true to the light that God has
given us. We do not propose to take our feet off the platform on which they
were placed as day by day we sought the Lord with earnest prayer, seeking
for light. Do you think that I could give up the light that God has given me?
It is to be as the Rock of Ages. It has been guiding me ever since it was
given. Brethren and sisters, God lives and reigns and works today. His hand
is on the wheel, and in His providence He is turning the wheel in
accordance with His own will. Let not men fasten themselves to
documents, saying what they will do and what they will not do. Let them
fasten themselves to the Lord God of heaven. Then the light of heaven will
shine into the soul-temple, and we shall see the salvation of God. General
Conference Bulletin, April 6, 1903.
 Lecture 3 of 3
The Seventh Trumpet and the Third Woe
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and
the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years….
And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites [from
Arabia] came up, and the Amalekites [from Arabia], and the
children of the east [those who inhabited Arabia Deserta,
Ishmaelites; Adam Clarke], even they came up against them; And
they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the
earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel,
neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. For they came up with their cattle
and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for
both they and their camels were without number: and they entered
into the land to destroy it. And Israel was greatly impoverished
because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the
LORD." Judges 6:1, 3-6.
 1st woe

Islam
loosed
5th trumpet Islam 6th trumpet
Rev 9:1-11 restrained Rev 9:13-21

7/27/1299 1449
AD 629
AD 632 AD 782 AD 938 Othman Constantine XI
(Nicomedia)
150 years
Mohamed
Rev 9:5 150 years

Abu-Bakr Treaty of Rev 9:10

Muslim Constantinople
Islam
Rev 9:4 loosed
star/smoke/locusts

Islam
earth restrained
 The Arab tribes issuing
from Arabia with their
great speed, struck the
army of Rome suddenly
and unexpectedly,
symbolised by the swarms
of locusts.
 Mahomet II used canons to take
Constantinople on 29th of May,
1453. Gunpowder and guns were
used for the first time against
Rome. When the pistols were held
close to the horses as they rode to
battle, it looked like fire and
brimstone came from the mouths
of the horses.
 1st woe 2nd woe 3rd woe
Eastern Papal Modern
Rome Rome Islam Rome
Islam restrained Islam
restrained restrained
5th trumpet 6th trumpet 7th trumpet

AD 629 150 150 years 391 years, 15 days 10/22/1844 9/11/2001

632 782 7/27/1299 1449 8/11/1840 1993

Islam Islam Islam

loosed loosed loosed
 1st woe 2nd woe 3rd woe
Eastern Papal Modern
Rome Rome Islam Rome
Islam restrained Islam
restrained restrained
5th trumpet 6th trumpet 7th trumpet

AD 629 150 150 years 391 years, 15 days 10/22/1844 9/11/2001

632 782 7/27/1299 1449 8/11/1840 1993

Islam Islam Islam

loosed loosed loosed
 So in the third woe we can
expect radical Islam to
suddenly and unexpectedly
attack the army of Rome
(now America) using
explosives.
""How comes the word that I have
declared that New York is to be swept
away by a tidal wave? This I have never
said. I have said, as I looked at the great
buildings going up there, story after story,
'What terrible scenes will take place when
the Lord shall arise to shake terribly the
earth! Then the words of Revelation 18:1-3
will be fulfilled.' …. I have no light in
particular in regard to what is coming on
New York, only that I know that one day
the great buildings there will be thrown
down by the turning and overturning of
God's power. From the light given me, I
know that destruction is in the world. One
word from the Lord, one touch of his
mighty power, and these massive
structures will fall. Scenes will take place
the fearfulness of which we can not
imagine." Review and Herald, July 5, 1906.
Caliphate: A map purportedly showing the
areas ISIS plans to have under its control
within five years has been widely shared
online. As well as the Middle East, North
Africa and large areas of Asia, it also reveals
ISIS' ambition to extend into Europe. Spain,
which was Muslim-ruled until the late 15th
Century, would form part of the caliphate, as
would the Balkan states and eastern Europe,
up to and including Austria
IN DECLARING A CALIPHATE, ISIS NOW CLAIMS TO LEAD ALL MUSLIMS
A caliphate is an Islamic state ruled by a 'caliph' - in this case Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi -
who is seen as the successor to Prophet Mohammed by those swearing allegiance. In
much the same way as the Pope is considered the head of the Catholic church, a caliph
would consider themselves leader of the world's Muslims. They would hold
themselves responsible for establishing policy - based strictly on the Quran - for all
Muslims and territories. One of the first things ISIS did after announcing a caliphate
was to declare all emirates and sultanates illegal. Therefore anybody swearing oath to
the new Islamic state would simultaneously be declaring that they no longer recognise
either the borders, laws or authority of current Muslim-led states. On announcing the
Islamic state, the militants repeatedly described it as being 'restored'. This is a
reference to the last widely-acknowledged caliphate - which existed under the
Ottoman Empire and effectively ended with the founding of Turkey in 1923. Many
Islamists - including ISIS - blame this collapse on the geographical carving-up of the
Ottoman Empire by Allied Forces after the First World War. In declaring a caliphate,
ISIS now claims to partly 'corrected' the century-old dispute. (www.dailymail.co.uk,
July 1, 2014.)
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (Arabic: ‫أبو بكر البغدادي‬‎, ʾabū bakri l-baḡdādī) is the
ringleader of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), an Islamic
extremist group in western Iraq, Libya, northeast Nigeria and Syria self-
styled as the "Islamic State". It is believed that he has been proclaimed
by his followers to be a Caliph.
On 29 June 2014, ISIL announced the establishment of a worldwide
caliphate. Al-Baghdadi was named its caliph, to be known as "Caliph
Ibrahim", and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant was renamed the
"Islamic State" (IS).
In an audiotaped message, al-Baghdadi announced that ISIL would
march on "Rome"—generally interpreted to mean the West—in its
quest to establish an Islamic State from the Middle East across Europe.
He said that he would conquer both Rome and Spain in this endeavor
and urged Muslims across the world to immigrate to the new Islamic
State. (from Wikipedia article Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi)