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.