A Grain of Wheat - Grao de Trigo - David W. Dyer

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Babylon


TODAY’S BABYLON

Ch. 9

SOME SPECULATION


In the following section we will engage in some speculation. The author does not claim that these ideas have any biblical basis. This is merely an extrapolation from our current investigation. These are simply some thoughts about what the future could possibly hold for the residents of Babylon.
We are told that Babylon will be “utterly burned with fire” (Rev 18:8) in “one hour” (Rev 18:19). This means a large scale, rapid, fiery destruction. In these days, one particular form of attack which would produce such results comes to mind – nuclear explosions. Looking at this prophecy from our present perspective, it appears quite logical that Babylon might suffer some kind of atomic attack.
Present Babylon feels very safe and secure. She says in her heart, “I sit as queen...and will not see sorrow” (Rev 18:7). Therefore, we might be led to believe that she is located in a place which is quite isolated from most of the rest of the world. However, God will find a way, using the Antichrist and his ten nations (Rev 17:17) to execute His judgment upon her. Although she feels safe, there are some other nations plotting to bring her down. They will succeed because God will anoint them to do it.
Just to make a guess at the future, let us suppose that this happens with a sneak attack like Pearl Harbor, in which a few ships and/or submarines launch maybe 80-100 nuclear missiles. Further, let us imagine that these missiles destroy 50 or more of the largest cities in Babylon. This would require only 10 ships or subs launching 8-10 missiles apiece. While this may strike you as preposterous, it is in fact a very real possibility.
In the past, only the Soviet Union and the United States had the capability to strike at another distant country with their ICBM’S. But today, the world has changed. According to a recent article in Jane’s Defense Weekly, an authoritative publication detailing the latest military equipment and activities around the world, there is an interesting new development. North Korea now has missiles which have a range of up to 2,500 miles. They have recently mounted these missiles on ships and old nuclear submarines bought from the U.S.S.R. They are thought to be able to equip them very soon with nuclear warheads. With them, they could reach the heart of any country in the world with sudden destruction.
This author does not believe that North Korea will play an important part in the end-times scenario. He believes that the threat to Babylon will come from the Middle East. In the next part of this series on the end of the age and the emergence of the Antichrist, we will be speaking in more detail about these things, including the verses which support this idea. But for now, I only want to mention that Jane’s specifically states that a prominent Middle Eastern country is very interested in buying this technology from North Korea. Further, North Korea is very interested in selling, since they are short of money and this is one of the only commodities which they have to sell.
This same country has already purchased a number of “decommissioned” nuclear submarines from Russia. No doubt, they also have some ships. They too have a strong nuclear development program. In a very few years, if it has not happened already, they, or any other seeming “small” country in the world could have the means to mount a fairly significant nuclear attack on a prosperous, secure place like Babylon. With a range of 2,500 miles, most of these ships or submarines would not even have to come near her shores. There is almost no defense against such attacks beyond intelligence reports which have recently proven to be very faulty.

THE AFTERMATH

it occurs, if the harlot suffers a large scale attack with nuclear weapons of any sort, the results will be virtually the same. If this kind of attack happened in any large nation like Babylon, contrary to what many may believe, many millions of people would survive. Although millions would be killed, many more would make it through the experience.
Those who are not right at “ground zero” who are not immediately burned, blinded or badly contaminated with radiation would survive. Varying with their radiation doses, their life span would decrease; nevertheless, they would survive. Those further away, depending upon the winds at the time, would suffer milder doses or perhaps no effects from the radiation. This would then leave many millions of men and women alive. However, the nuclear strike would only be the beginning of sorrows for them. For many, although they survived the first attack, they would not survive the plagues which follow.
A large scale nuclear attack on any modern country would have the following effects. It is probable that the electricity supply would be cut off almost everywhere. Therefore, televisions would not work. Many radios and radio stations would cease to operate. Consequently, little or no news will be available and the government (if there still were one) would have no way to communicate with the population. The telephones also would not function, and if a few did, most places would not be able to receive calls. Many gas stations would not be able to pump gas. And if they could pump it by means of generators or by hand, they would not be able to refill their tanks when it runs out.
Home heating requiring any electricity would stop cold. Freezers and refrigerators would fail and food would spoil. Grocery stores would empty and no more food would arrive because the transportation system would be interrupted. Even if some highways around major cities were still passable, no one would go there because of the residual nuclear radiation. Further, there would be no way for any trucks to refuel along their routes. The water supply would fail. There would be no drinking water or water for toilets, showers or washing of clothes.
Most of the workmen responsible for fixing the infrastructure would not be willing or able to go to work. The resources and communication facilities necessary to mount the effort to fix all that was damaged simply will not be available. The radiation contamination would be widespread. Most people will be looking out for themselves and how to survive, not thinking about rebuilding the country. Soon, what was once a modern place would revert to the most primitive conditions.

THE OTHER “PLAGUES”

The Bible lists several judgments on Babylon besides the “fire” about which we have spoken. They are called “plagues” (Rev 18:8). The plagues mentioned are: death, mourning and famine. Let us investigate how this could occur. To begin, any widespread nuclear strike would produce fallout. Depending upon the dosage anyone receives, fallout produces nasty results. Slow painful death, cancer, tumors, “burns” and many other effects will be evident. This is certainly a plague which will produce much mourning.
Famine would also be a result. Most farmers will be unable to plant or harvest, since this depends entirely on fuel which will be difficult to obtain. People, after they have eaten what they can in their homes, will fan out into the countryside around the cities, searching for food. Theirs will be a desperate situation. Perhaps you imagine that you could hunt and fish to supply your family. But where would you go? You won’t be able to spare gasoline to travel to your usual spot. So you will have to stay close to home where thousands of others are also desperately searching for game. Within weeks, all edible animals would disappear from anywhere near cities and towns. With time, cats, dogs, birds and all other pets would vanish too.
Let us suppose you do have a few woodland skills and that you managed to get out hunting and shoot a deer. You won’t be able to just drag it to your truck and take it home. You will have to drag it all the way home which could be miles away. But what if someone sees you in the process of trying to get this food home to your family? They just might shoot you to take it or rob you at gunpoint. (Remember their loved ones are probably starving to death at home.) If they merely see you with a gun they may attack you to try to take it from you. Famine will be one terrible part of the judgment of Babylon. The angel has promised it.
Perhaps you have food and water stored away. Maybe you have stockpiled arms and ammunition. You believe you are prepared for what is coming. You imagine that you don’t have to “flee” anywhere. You are safe and ready. What you don’t realize is that you then will become a target for those who don’t have anything. They may not know where you are hiding your stores, but your neighbors will notice that you are still eating and surviving. They will attack you to get what you have. So unless you are prepared to kill those who are banging at your door demanding your food, you will not have it for very long. Even if you shoot a few of them, soon gangs could attack your home with awful results.
After a large scale nuclear attack, law and order will break down quickly. You will have no way to summon the police when you are attacked and they will have no way to come to your house even if you did manage to call them. Just like you, they will be short of fuel and even food and water.
Consequently, the evil which is in the hearts of men and women will soon surface. Without any civil authority to control them, people will begin to manifest their fallen nature, doing whatever they can to survive. Chaos will result. People will band together to protect themselves. Other groups of people will pour out of the towns and cities in search of food. There will be rape, murder, looting and every imaginable evil. All this will occur while you are desperately searching for food to survive. Millions will die of starvation, especially the elderly, the young and the weak. Famine will certainly be one of the plagues.
Farmers will be some of the first targets for this violence. Anyone who has cattle or stored grain will be first asked and then attacked. Within months, all that they have will disappear in one way or another. The farms which are further from “civilization” will last longer, but no one will be safe.
Those who refuse to obey the voice of God and come out of Babylon will suffer the judgment of God along with the unbelievers. Their stubborn resistance to hearing God speak to them will finally bear fruit. They will see those they love dying of radiation. They will witness their family starving to death before their eyes. Perhaps their goods will be stolen and their wives and daughters raped and murdered. Just as the word of God says, there will be the greatest mourning, much death and a mighty famine. “Strong is the Lord who judges her” (Rev 18:8).

MANY RUMORS

During this time, rumors no doubt will fly. There will be rumors of invading armies and rumors of help or of airplanes waiting to take people to safety. There will be whispers of food, new attacks, dangers, diseases and almost anything imaginable. Some will talk of new ways out of the country. Others will speculate about which areas are safe from radiation and which are not. Since there will probably be no reliable forms of communication, every kind of rumor will abound. Winds of rumor and fear will sway people this way and that looking for an escape. It will be a very difficult and perplexing time. You don’t want to be in Babylon when this happens.
After the fire falls on Babylon, for most people it will then be too late to flee. Remember that the transportation system will be disrupted. No fuel will be available along the way. Few, if any, airplanes will be flying in or out of Babylon. No trains or buses will be operating. If you live near the seacoast, perhaps you could find a boat in which to escape. If not, you will have to walk. Any horse you might have, if it has not already been eaten, would be taken from you by force as you travel.
But where would you go? You will have to confront all the dangers of travel, without supplies, during a very treacherous time. You will probably be on foot for most, if not all, of your journey. You will have to circumvent areas of radiation contamination, but you won’t know exactly where these are. You will have to make it to another country where you will then have to try to survive or find transportation to somewhere else. If you do make it out, what will you have to exchange for what you need? Will your Babylonian money still have any value? How will you buy food, clothes, or even a passage to another place?
It is not advisable to prepare to disobey God. Perhaps some survivalists think that they can find a secluded place, stock it with food, water and armaments and withstand any and all attacks. But when God says to get out, this is what He means. Making preparations to do something else does not seem wise.
This reminds me of God’s people fleeing into Egypt after an attack wiped out Jerusalem. They thought they would be safe. They looked at Egypt as a haven with a lot of security. But God promised that His judgment would find them there too (Jer 42:1-22). When He says to “come out” it is better to simply do what He says rather than prepare for the aftermath of disobedience.

Chapter 10


Table of Contents

1. Today's Babylon
2. That Great "City"
3. The Prostitute
4. Mountains, Heads and Kings
5. Coming Persecution
6. The Roman Catholic Church
7. Come Out of Her my People
8. The Plan of God
9. Some Speculation
10. Obeying God