Warm hellos to you dear brethren, co-workers, spiritual family, and scattered children of God, from our offices here in Spanish Fort, AL.

My wife and I pray and hope this finds you all doing well, and that again your week has been blessed.

Seventy five years have passed since the end of World War 2. There have been various documentaries and historical reviews of the significant events of WW2. In just a few days, on December 7, will be the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor – December 7, 1941. This event was dubbed “a date which will live in infamy” by U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt. This prodded the United States to enter the war and turn the tide against the Axis forces.

There was a few years ago, a Public Broadcasting Service documentary that researched the development of the V-1 and V-2 rockets and warheads successfully used by the Nazis to attack England, especially London, during the last years of WW2.  Scientists and technicians in England used advancement in photography and 3 – dimensional analysis to detect factories and launch sites of these rockets through aerial surveillance. Many of these Nazi sites were identified and bombed before their deadly arsenal of rockets were unleashed. WW1 and WW2 brought many advances in weapons and vehicles, including airplanes and tanks used in that war.

A question to ask is, do the Scriptures refer to advanced weapons and even weapons of mass destruction? I believe that some Bible passages do refer to some kind of high tech and advanced weapons of mass destruction that will be unleashed in the future.

Let’s look at a statement made by the greatest prophet, Jesus Christ. “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” (Matthew 24:21-22) Jesus is not referring here to being “saved” in a religious or spiritual sense. He is referring to the loss of all human life on this planet we live on!

This scripture implies the very real existence of weapons of mass destruction that could be unleashed to accomplish such a level of death. During the “Cold War” the concept of “mutually assured destruction” was considered as a deterrent to unleash an attack by the Soviet Union against the United States. If such an attack occurred it would mean they would be destroyed also.

I at one time lived within a short distance of Offutt Air Force Base, in Nebraska. Offutt was well known as the Strategic Air Command Headquarters (or SAC) of the United States. I still remember the air raid siren drills and having to duck under our desks. I also remember the constant airplane activity above our home, as planes were in the air 24/7 during that time. The constant threat of nuclear war was very real.

The mindset of terrorists today would not be deterred by such reasoning of “complete human destruction”. If they can destroy the infidel, then their blessed afterlife is assured! It is truly a dangerous world in which we live.

Lets’ look at several other Scriptures that imply the existence of advanced technology in the weapons area.

The Book of Revelation is set at the time of the “day of the Lord” (Revelation 1:10) Following the great tribulation and the heavenly signs, (symbolized by the opening of the fifth and sixth seals), the seventh seal is opened that introduces the one year “day of the Lord” proper. Seven angels sound seven trumpets which introduce some horrific and destructive events.

Notice what happens when the fifth angel sounds the fifth trumpet. “Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.” (Revelation 9:1-3) This swarm of locusts seems to come out of nowhere!

As we ponder and imagine the description of these locusts, it becomes obvious that John is describing some kind of flying vehicle that resembles a locust in some way but he is obviously not referring to an insect! “The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.” (Revelation 9:7-10) I can easily see how a modern attack helicopter equipped with missiles in the tail section is being described. The forward canopy of the helicopter seems to fit the face, crown and teeth description. Some of the weapons unleashed by them may be some kind of low level radioactive or biological weapons that bring eventual rather than instantaneous death. The armies described following the sounding by the sixth angel seems to be describing a mechanized army equipped with modern day tanks containing guns, missile launchers and other weapons. (vv.13-17) The unleashing of the weapons described in Revelation 9 will result in the death of a third of mankind that remains. (v.18)

Revelation 18 describes the downfall of modern day Babylon, the great trading and military colossus yet to emerge. Notice how quickly the destruction comes about. “Therefore her plagues will come in one day–death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her.” (v.8) The kings of the earth will view Babylon’s fiery destruction and will cautiously remain at a distance as they exclaim how “in one hour your judgment has come.” (vv.9, 10) The mention of the destruction of Babylon in “one hour” is repeated several times. (vv.17, 19) Such sudden destruction implies the use of weapons of mass destruction such as nuclear weapons or huge waves of bombers doing “carpet bombing”. Of course the great God could supernaturally destroy Babylon. But throughout these events, it appears that God uses or allows human instruments to accomplish the destruction. These are indeed sobering words.

In spite of all this, we can take encouragement from the words recorded in Zephaniah 2:3 “Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger.”

Let us draw closer to God day by day dear family, for we do indeed live in serious and sobering times.

And remember, arms up friends! Our prayers and thoughts are with you daily. Please do pray for us as well.