Having grown up in the 1960s and 1970s I was a part of the generation that was constantly bombarded with the possibility of nuclear war. The possibility of a worldwide nuclear war continued while I was a young U.S. Marine in the early 1980s. Yearly training was conducted in the area of nuclear, biological and chemical warfare in the hopes that perhaps some of us might survive such a war. Then in the late 1980s the Soviet Union began to disappear and the nuclear war threat was greatly diminished. Treaties were signed, nuclear weapons were disassembled and many forgot about the threat all together. All seemed mostly fine from the late 1980s through 2022 and then came the Russian invasion of Ukraine. At that point everything that I had heard in the 1960s and 70s was suddenly in the news again. Would Russia use nukes in Ukraine if it thought it was losing? Not only was the topic back in the news, it appeared more threatening and more likely than at any time since World War 2. From a biblical prospective shouldn’t we as Christians have seen this coming?
In this article we are going to explore what the bible has to say on the use of nuclear weapons at some point in the future. Many chapters give a vivid picture of such future events and given what we know about the nuclear bombs that were dropped on Japan we can make comparisons between the two.
Let’s now take a look the actual effects of a nuclear bomb type of explosion. First know that a nuclear type of weapon can be used in two ways. The first is an airburst. This means that the bomb is exploded above the ground. This causes maximum damage to things on the surface of the earth. This airburst also produces very little radioactive fallout. The second method is a ground burst, meaning that the bomb explodes after hitting the ground. These are used to attack underground locations like missile silos. These are the worst type of nuclear explosion due to producing large amounts of nuclear fallout which contaminates the earth down wind. The two bombs dropped on Japan were airburst. That’s why both cities are inhabited today and are not a nuclear wasteland.
The effects of a nuclear bomb type explosion are many. It starts with the explosion which causes a bright flash which is both hotter and brighter than the sun. The main effects of this explosion are heat, radiation and the overpressure of the blast wave. The after effects of the blast add more elements. These include nuclear contamination, hail and even large boulders falling from the sky. Hail was observed when the United States was conducting above ground testing and also during the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was discovered that the explosions caused powerful up-drafts containing huge amounts of water. As with a thunderstorm hail is produced by pulling the water into the very cold upper atmosphere. A nuclear explosion has much more energy than a thunderstorm and the results are greatly enhanced.
A ground burst nuclear bomb will send a large amount of debris into the air. Some of this debris comes back down to earth nearby in the form of large rocks or boulders. Some of the debris is small enough that it may stay airborne for months before falling back to earth. The effects of this airborne debris consist of causing both the sun and moon to turn a reddish color and even lowering the temperatures on the earth.
Now that we have taken a look at the modern day effects of a nuclear energy type of bomb lets now see what the bible has to say on the matter. First remember that God can choose to take care of matters himself or he may send an angel or he may use man to accomplish his purpose. In the book of Genesis we see the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed. You can read about the entire event in chapter 19. Here, I have edited the chapter to a few verses. In these verses we see God acting with two angels for the purpose of destroying the cities. So did God confine himself to the use of the physics that he created for this Universe in destroying these cities? He could have simply made these places disappear. Instead we see the effects of a modern day bombing. As we read these next few verses Lot and his family are told not to look back while fleeing. Could this warning be for the coming bright flash of light? The angels insisted that leaving the city was an urgent matter so was Lot’s family still close enough to the city to have been effected by the flash of a nuclear type of detonation? As we read on we see burning sulfur, destroyed vegetation, and dense smoke rising from the destroyed cities. There are many unknowns about this story. One thing that intrigues me is Lot’s wife becoming a pillar of salt. It’s interesting to study the effects of a nuclear explosion. During such an explosion Cesium 137 is produced. In the body Cesium 137 acts similar to potassium which is also known as salt.
Gen 19:12 The two men said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here–sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here,
Gen 19:13 because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.”
Gen 19:14 So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, “Hurry and get out of this place, because the LORD is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.
Gen 19:15 With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.”
Gen 19:17 As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”
Gen 19:24 Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah–from the LORD out of the heavens.
Gen 19:25 Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities–and also the vegetation in the land.
Gen 19:26 But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
Gen 19:27 Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD. Gen 19:28 He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace.
Gen 19:29 So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.
The prophet Amos spoke about God’s ability to destroy a city. Amos stated that it started with a “blinding flash”. Just like the unfortunate people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki discovered, if you are looking at the explosion of a nuclear bomb when it occurs, you might well be blinded, maybe temporarily or maybe permanently.
Amo 5:9 With a blinding flash he destroys the stronghold and brings the fortified city to ruin.
These two prophets knew that God might very well show up in the flesh and take care of business himself.
Isa 66:15 See, the LORD is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
Jer 4:13 Look! He advances like the clouds, his chariots come like a whirlwind, his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us! We are ruined!
So we have seen an example in the Old Testament of what may have been the use of a nuclear bomb. We can argue that perhaps it wasn’t but whatever it was it certainly gave the impression of such a bomb.
Let’s now move on to the future end of days wars and see what we can find while examining the details. The prophet Malachi foretold of the possible end of days use of nuclear weapons. Nothing is hotter than to be in the fireball of a nuclear explosion.
Mal 4:1 “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them.
Mal 4:2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.
Mal 4:3 Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty.
Zechariah also tells us what is going to happen to those who attack Jerusalem in the last days. In verse 12 we see, “their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet”. I believe that Zechariah is giving the exact details of what happens to a person who is near the heat of a nuclear explosion. The heat which is greater than the surface of the sun will simply dissolve the outer portions of human flesh in an instant which might give the appearance of having rotted instantly while still standing in the same place. The bones of a human will remain intact during such an event.
Zec 14:12 This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.
Zec 14:13 On that day people will be stricken by the LORD with great panic. They will seize each other by the hand and attack one another.
Zec 14:14 Judah too will fight at Jerusalem. The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected–great quantities of gold and silver and clothing.
Zec 14:15 A similar plague will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps.
So where biblically does it appear that nuclear type weapons are used in the last days? Let’s look at the 6th seal of Revelation. It’s here that I believe we see the first use of nuclear weapons in the end times. All the elements of a large explosion are here. First a shaking of the ground, second is material being lifted into the sky causing the appearance of the sun and moon to be distorted, third is the sky rolling up like a scroll. We have all seen the photos of Hiroshima that were taken of the sky rolling up like a scroll. Fourth, we see what appear to be stars falling from the sky to the earth. An airburst nuclear weapon is said to be both brighter and hotter than our sun. Lastly, we have the people of the land hiding in fallout/bomb shelters. All governments have them and now in the year 2023 it seems very popular for all the rich folks to be building them as well.
Rev 6:12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red,
Rev 6:13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.
Rev 6:14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
Rev 6:15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
Rev 6:16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
Rev 6:17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”
It is likely that Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 are also referring to the sixth seal. These two chapters and the sixth seal of Revelation chapter 6 appear to be describing the same event. In verse 21 God is saying that he will summon a sword against Gog. This appears to mean God is using man to accomplish his purpose. In verse 22 we see more of the effects of a nuclear explosion, torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur
Eze 38:18 This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD.
Eze 38:19 In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel.
Eze 38:20 The fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground.
Eze 38:21 I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign LORD. Every man’s sword will be against his brother.
Eze 38:22 I will execute judgment on him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.
Eze 38:23 And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’
In the next few verses God says that Gog and his army will be killed in the mountains of Israel. It appears that the Gog battle is confined to small area of Israel. It also appears that the home of Gog, Magog, is also attacked by fire or possibly nuclear weapons. It’s unknown here if God is doing this himself like he did at Sodom or if he using man to accomplish his purpose.
Eze 39:4 On the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you. I will give you as food to all kinds of carrion birds and to the wild animals.
Eze 39:5 You will fall in the open field, for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD.
Eze 39:6 I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in safety in the coastlands, and they will know that I am the LORD.
Eze 39:21 “I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the punishment I inflict and the hand I lay on them.
At the opening of the sixth seal we see what appears to be the first end-times use of nuclear weapons. During the opening of the seventh seal below we see what appears to be the second use of nuclear weapons. As the trumpets are sounded we see the effects of a nuclear detonation. So is this God giving the land the Sodom treatment or is God using man to accomplish his purpose? Either way the appearance and end results are the same.
Rev 8:1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
Rev 8:2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
Rev 8:3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne.
Rev 8:4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.
Rev 8:5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
Rev 8:6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
Rev 8:7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
Rev 8:8 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood,
Rev 8:9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
Rev 8:10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water–
Rev 8:11 the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
Rev 8:12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.
Rev 8:13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”
The seven thunders of Revelation chapter 10 are very interesting. There is much speculation about what the 7 thunders actually are, and since the Prophet John was told not to record any details about the thunders, it will remain speculation. With that said, here is my speculation and reasoning on the issue.
Actual thunder occurs in the sky. As we all know thunder is simply a loud noise that occurs in the sky as a result of atmospheric conditions. In John’s day the only explosive noise that they had ever heard was likely from that of thunder during a storm. So in keeping with the theme of this article is it possible that these thunders are actually nuclear detonations at a very high altitude? We might also call these an EMP attack. If you are unaware of what an EMP is, I suggest that you read one of the many internet articles on the subject. This event occurs at the time of the seventh and last trump. The time when I believe that the rapture will occur. So if EMP type of nuclear bombs were exploded in the upper atmosphere at 7 different locations around the world at the time of the rapture what would be the results? Many scientists would tell you that worldwide communications would be shut down. This would certainly blind much of the world to the fact that the rapture had occurred. But until the event occurs we will not know and the seven thunders will remain a mystery accompanied by speculation.
(This is the 7th and last trump)
Rev 10:1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars.
Rev 10:2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,
Rev 10:3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke.
Rev 10:4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.”
Rev 10:5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven.
Rev 10:6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay!
Rev 10:7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”
It’s not until the 7th bowl that we again see all of the elements of a nuclear explosion. Look at verses 18 and 21.
Rev 16:16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
Rev 16:17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!”
Rev 16:18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake.
Rev 16:19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.
Rev 16:20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found.
Rev 16:21 From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.
The judgement of Babylon the great appears also to be at the hand of a nuclear detonation. Babylon the great is a city and not a nation. Verse 8 tells us that this judgement is by fire and that the city is mostly destroyed in one hour. It would be nearly impossible to destroy a large modern city in one hour without either the divine intervention of God or the use of a nuclear detonation or in this case, possibly a combination of both. Verse 10 adds a new element to this nuclear bomb theory, they are staying far away from it.
Rev 18:1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.
Rev 18:2 With a mighty voice he shouted: “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’ She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.
Rev 18:3 For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”
Rev 18:4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “‘Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
Rev 18:5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.
Rev 18:6 Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Pour her a double portion from her own cup.
Rev 18:7 Give her as much torment and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit enthroned as queen. I am not a widow; I will never mourn.’
Rev 18:8 Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.
Rev 18:9 “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her.
Rev 18:10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: “‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon! In one hour your doom has come!’
Rev 18:11 “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore–
Rev 18:12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;
Rev 18:13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.
Rev 18:14 “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’
Rev 18:15 The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn
Rev 18:16 and cry out: “‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!
Rev 18:17 In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’ “Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off.
Rev 18:18 When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’
Rev 18:19 They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: “‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’
Rev 18:20 “Rejoice over her, you heavens! Rejoice, you people of God! Rejoice, apostles and prophets! For God has judged her with the judgment she imposed on you.”
Rev 18:21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.
Rev 18:22 The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again. No worker of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again.
Rev 18:23 The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Your merchants were the world’s important people. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray.
Rev 18:24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people, of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”
No one is quite sure where to put these next verses with regard to the order of prophecy but it is sure that these verses are future. One thing we do know is that the Damascus of this verse is the same Damascus that exists today. Modern day Damascus is about 41 square miles in size. This is about the same size area that was damaged or destroyed by the small nuclear bomb that was dropped over Nagasaki Japan. Modern day Damascus can easily be made a “heap of ruins” with one small air burst nuclear bomb.
Isa 17:1 A prophecy against Damascus: “See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins.
Isa 17:2 The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down, with no one to make them afraid.
Isa 17:3 The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim, and royal power from Damascus; the remnant of Aram will be like the glory of the Israelites,” declares the LORD Almighty.
So in conclusion, I found the research that I put into this article very interesting. If one looks you will find many types of warfare spoken of in the bible. You will see everything from warfare with rocks to bows, spears and swords and then, as we have seen in this article, the ultimate in warfare. The leveling of whole cities by what appears to be nuclear or similar type of weapons. As stated at the beginning of this article, we can’t be sure if God himself is preforming these actions or if he is perhaps using an angel or man to accomplish his purpose. The one thing that we can be sure of is that these will be truly horrifying events.
Jeff
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