The US government has been accused of constructing insect robots for the purpose of spying on public protests. Witnesses have reported seeing insect like objects hovering in packs above anti-war protests. Private companies have been attempting to construct robots that can fly like insects, but so far have had only had limited success. The US military has looked into the possibility of creating cyborg-rats that can be remotely controlled through a radio transmitter wired into their brains. The US Defence Department has also been funding an experiment to create radio-controlled moths, which could carry out surveillance operations on enemy combatants, whilst remaining virtually undetectable.

Quote: "Vanessa Alarcon, a university student who was working at an anti-war rally in the American capital last month, told the Washington Post: "I heard someone say, '*****, look at those.' "I look up and I'm like, 'What the ***** is that?'. They looked like dragonflies or little helicopters. But I mean, those are not insects." Bernard Crane, a lawyer who was at the same event, said he had "never seen anything like it in my life". He added: "They were large for dragonflies. I thought, 'Is that mechanical or is that alive?'" The incident has similarities with an alleged sighting at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York when one peace march participant described on the internet seeing "a jet-black dragonfly hovering about 10 feet off the ground, precisely in the middle of 7th Avenue".

I thought this news was extremely interesting, in light of the prophecies in the book of Revelation concerning an army of locusts. The Scriptures state that these locusts will have a "king", and are "commanded" not to touch any green thing, but will instead be given authority to torment men five months. The characteristics of these locusts contradict the normal behaviour of locusts, the Bible stating that locusts go forth by bands but have no king (Proverbs 30:27), and eat everything in sight (Exodus 10:15). There are a number of different interpretations on this passage in Revelation, and although we do not yet know which one may be correct, it seems it is entirely possible for locust like creatures to be created or controlled by mankind.

Revelation 9:1-6
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them 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. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: 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.

Source Telegraph

The state Agriculture Commissioner of New Orleans has announced that of Africanized honeybees appear to have established themselves in the city. A hive of the aggressive bees was discovered by demolition workers in the city last January, but another swarm has been captured five miles away from the first reported find. The Agriculture Commissioner has warned citizens to be careful when outdoors. The bees swarm when they feel threatened, and can kill.

Quote: ""Because Africanized bees have been labeled 'killer bees' for years, there's an idea around that they are bigger than European honeybees," Odom said. "The truth is they're actually smaller but a lot fiercer." They have the same venom as honeybees, but attack in groups. Experts recommend that anyone confronted with Africanized bees find cover quickly. Africanized bees are the result of an experiment to increase honey production in Brazil. A swarm escaped a lab in 1957 and headed north. When they mated with native strains, the offspring were as aggressive as the African parents.

My own country has been suffering from a plague of wasps. It seems the unusually wet weather has suited them. We discovered a nest of wasps in a cavity wall of our house a few months ago. When we called the council to have the nest destroyed, they said it would be over a week before they could remove it, because there was now a waiting list due to so many people reporting nests in their properties. I created a special mixture of honey, jam, sugar, orange juice and water in a box, hoping to sweetly lure them to their deaths, but the only thing I attracted were two big magpies. They ate the oranges, and spilled my mixture all over the ground! My niece Amy prayed that the wasps would go away, and when the lady came the next week to remove the nest, they had vacated! Only a few stragglers were sitting on the wall. 

I didn't know that Africanized bees were a result of an experiment to increase honey production. That is extremely interesting. The Bible states that during the tribulation period, mankind will be plagued by a swarm of locust that have human and scorpion characteristics. Swarms of locust can strip crops bare, but for some reason these creatures will not touch any plant. Instead hey will torment those who have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Revelation 9:3-7
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them 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. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: 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. 

Exodus 10:13 
And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such. For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

The plagues of Revelation do seem to parallel some of the 10 judgements upon Egypt... 

Water turned to blood - Exodus 7:17 - Revelation 16:4
Boils - Exodus 9:10 - Revelation 16:2
Hail mingled with fire - Exodus 9:23 - Revelation 8:7
Locusts - Exodus 10:4 - Revelation 9:3
Darkness - Exodus 10:21 - Revelation 16:10

With news that Britain has given the green light for scientists to create genetic hybrids, along with news that the United States is seriously considering using animals as remotely controlled robots, nothing surprises me any more. Although the book of Revelation is largely symbolic, and John was describing things that he could not explain in every day terms, I believe mankind has the technology to fulfill these Scriptures.

Source Las Vegas Sun, National Geographic

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.”
—Matthew 24:7