Hi John and Doves,
 
Brilliant, EAR! Gosh - so clear and concise. Okay - if the marauding hordes have a period of 42 months to do their thing............. then, the so-called Arab Spring started (officially) in Tariah Square, Egypt on 3rd March 2011. I pick that date because that is when the bizarre live television footage showed the 'Pale Horse' (Chlorus - "pale green")leaping, eerily through the crowd, in Egypt. At the beginning of the Arab Spring, when the riots kicked off in Egypt. An easy google search will verify what I'm talking about. It went live in front of millions - no-one can deny it. If that date is the start - we are on the brink of tribulation. The telly footage was very real - yet supernatural. However one would try to explain it away (reflections, lighting etc., etc) It happened - and drew millions of you tube viewers. So - 42 months later brings us to August 2014. Okay - all conjecture - basing facts on the supernatural footage of the pale horse on live telly. I lean towards this sign as 'the beginning'. Perhaps the 42 months began at the bursting forth of Isis?!? Who knows? Whatever - your post was wonderfully researched and well written.

God's Blessings

Fay