Thoughts on the Nuclear Conference in Washington DC

This past Monday and Tuesday, nearly fifty heads-of-states gathered in Washington DC to dialogue about nuclear arms. The focus was upon the persistent pursuit by Iran in developing nuclear capabilities. Many nations expressed strong fears of what Iran might do if they possessed a nuclear weapon. They certainly have trumpeted to the world that they would not hesitate to use it, especially against Israel.

All this nuclear discussion got me to thinking about what the Bible had to say, if anything, about the potential of a nuclear attack. We know from the account of eyewitnesses to the only nuclear bombings in history - Hiroshima and Nagasaki, at the end of World War II - that fire, heat, severe burns, and death are the consequences.

I found it very interesting that I could find no direct link to anything like a nuclear attack, although a couple of passages could be cited that might indicate something like a nuclear explosion. The first is found in Zechariah 14:12, 15 - "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. ... A similar plague will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps." Of course this passage is a description of Armageddon, of God's victory of those forces of the Antichrist who have assembled outside of Jerusalem. Could this "rotting" be an indication that God will use nuclear fallout? If it is, then it is a miraculous fallout for it appears that the only people or animals that are affected are those who are opposed to Israel. Nothing is said that the people of Judah will be affected. But, this would not be the first time that God used selectivity when sending a plague. Something similar happened in Egypt during the time of the plagues. And, again, it was experienced in Joshua 10 when the hailstorm affected only the retreating, panic-stricken Amorite armies and not the pursuing, excited Israelite army. But I would be hard-pressed to make a case for nuclear attack from this text.

The second possible passage is found in 2 Peter 3:10 - "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare." The context of this passage is the return of Christ. Is Peter saying that when all has been completed - Armageddon, the Millennium, the defeat of Satan - that God will destroy this world and then recreate it? It certainly appears that that is Peter's intentions. And the destruction will come about with a great cataclysmic fire. Could this be a reference to a nuclear destruction? Possibly. But you need to remember that its purpose is not to destroy one nation in order to achieve a victory, but will be the destruction of the entire world so as to experience the recreation of a new earth.

In my study of Old Testament prophetic truths as they relate to Israel, I have found no passage that specifically indicates that Israel will experience a nuclear attack. Iran might have aspirations of nuking Israel, but God will prevent that from occurring. Does that mean that Israel will attack Iran to prevent it from having a nuclear weapon? That is quite possible. The stage is being set for some very interesting events. Watch for God's next chapter.