The Nuclear Crisis

The Threat of Annihilation

“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” – Matthew 24:22

IRAN and North Korea are both aggressively pursuing nuclear programs, putting the rest of the world on edge and moving the hand of the “Doomsday Clock” ever nearer the dreaded midnight hour.

Threatened trade sanctions and economic boycotts have only strengthened the resolve of these determined nations. Iran, seemingly motivated by their hatred of Israel, and North Korea, seeking to bolster their faltering economy by selling their nuclear arms to the highest bidder, pose a problem that other world leaders find difficult to solve.

The United States, faced with the drain on both finances and manpower by the lingering conflict in Iraq is hesitant to act. The European Union, Russia, and China, seeing themselves torn between the need to curtail an accelerated arms race and their lucrative trade deals with these countries, are also immobilized. The United Nations is just as deadlocked in asserting any meaningful deterrent to the impending menace before them.

Televised statements by Osama bin Ladin and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi stating that al-Qaeda is planning further terrorist attacks against the United States and its European allies have raised concerns that the Islam extremists may be shopping for nuclear weapons.

As world leaders ponder the problem of nuclear proliferation, there seems to be ...

No Way Out

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring.” – Luke 21:23

The Greek word aporia, translated “perplexity” in this verse literally means, “no way out.” One lexicographer defines it: “to be without resources, to be in straits, to be left wanting, to be embarrassed, to be in doubt, not to know which way to turn.” All of these aptly describe the present world confusion concerning how to reduce today’s nuclear crisis.

The best-intentioned and most skilled diplomats are unable to bring peace to a world divided along ethnic and religious lines. It is thus that the world finds itself in a quagmire that could lead to the death of the entire human race.

Today those nations possessing nuclear weapons are able to destroy everyone several times over. And if even one nation, or one terrorist, uses one atomic bomb, the temptation would be strong for the attacked nation to retaliate in kind.

The direst of doomsday scenarios does indeed indicate a risk that there should ...

“No Flesh be Saved”

With such awesome consequences, it is easy to understand why men’s hearts should be “failing them for fear, and for those things which should be coming on the earth” (Luke 21:26). But the Bible is not a doomsday book. There is hope for a fear-filled world.

While it is true that the sacred Scriptures do predict that there would come upon the world “a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation,” it also predicts a time of worldwide prosperity to follow. The trouble is only a transition to better days. It is a dark night before a morning of joy (Psalm 30:5).

A Plan of the Ages

The Bible depicts an orderly plan of God divided into three periods of time, or “worlds”: the world that was before the flood (2 Peter 3:6); the “present evil world” (Galatians 1:4); and the “new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13).

“The present evil world,” as its name designates, has been controlled by unjust forces–corrupt governments, tyrannical dictatorships, economic greed, racial and ethnic prejudices, and religious intolerance. These must all pass away before a rule of righteousness can be initiated. It is much like a contractor erecting a new structure where a dilapidated one had previously stood. Before construction can begin, the demolition crew must use its wrecking ball to clear the site.

Israel

Much of the turmoil in the world today is centered in the Middle East territorial dispute between the Israelis and the Palestin­ians. There are three claims laid to the land:

1.       Israel claims the land by God-given promises, by international law, and out for safe and secure borders from surrounding hostile nations.

2.       Palestinians claim the territories controlled by Israel as a result of military victories in wars threatened by their Arab neighbors.

3.       Extremist factions, such as Hamas, claim the entire territory for the Palestinians and explicitly deny the right of Israel to exist as a nation.

The outcome of this dispute is described in some detail by many of Israel’s ancient prophets. Notable among these are Ezekiel (chapters 38 amd 39); Psalm 83; Joel (chapter 3), Zechariah (chapter 14), and Micah (chapter 5).

The combined prediction of these prophets depict a final battle in which Israel, after suffering an initial setback will be miraculously delivered by the power of God.

The Aftermath

With that victory, the transition will be complete into the coming age of righteousness. The prophet Zephaniah predicts that God will then “turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent” (Zephaniah 3:9).

Then God will lay justice to the line and righteousness to the plummet (Isaiah 28:17). That is the day when “he will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:30).

At that time there will be no need to fear annihilation by nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons, for they shall “beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks” and “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:4).

A Resurrection for All