World War III

I woke up thinking on the upcoming world war, particularly how it is commonly felt by Jehovah's Witnesses that a nuclear World War III is Biblically impossible. The reasoning used is that such a war would mean the entire destruction of humanity and the earth and this would contradict what the Bible says about the longevity of the inhabited earth. (Isaiah 45:18; Ecclesiastes 1:4; Psalm 37:29)

This morning I fired up the Watchtower library CD-ROM to find where such a line of reasoning had its origins. It was surprising to discover that the Watchtower publications seem to have acknowledged the possibility of a third World War, even a nuclear one. In the 6/8/81 Awake! article, "Hope of Escaping World Destruction" the following was said "Will this nationalistic "pushing" match result in World War III? Possibly." Additionally the article acknowledged the Bible didn't specify whether an arms race would touch off World War III.

Perhaps the confusion then comes from the Reasoning book that presumes that a nuclear world war would equal the eradication of humanity and the earth. Under the subheading "Earth: Will planet Earth be destroyed in a nuclear war?" The question is raised: "Is there a possibility that, since the nations show little regard for God's purpose, they might completely ruin the earth for habitation anyway?" In answer the book says, "The nuclear power developed by the nations is fear inspiring to men. But billions of stars employ nuclear power on a scale that is beyond our ability to comprehend. Who created and controls all these heavenly bodies? Can He not prevent the nations from using their nuclear weapons in a way that would hinder his purpose? That God would do this is illustrated by his destroying the military power of Egypt when Pharaoh sought to stop the deliverance of Israel."

Such reasoning though is rooted in the old Cold War mentality of MAD (Mutual Assured Destruction). MAD was a component of the arms race between the US and the old Soviet Union that maintained a tense state of peace through the idea that if one country used nuclear weapons the other would quickly respond with equal force ensuring the mutual destruction of both. It was basically a "Mexican Standoff" stalemate with both countries pointing a loaded gun at the other. Commenting on the devastating affects of any such war a Soviet Union booklet stated, "The Soviet Union holds that nuclear war would be a universal disaster, and that it would most probably mean the end of civilization. It may lead to the destruction of all mankind"

However now in the 21st-century nuclear weapons are moving from being simply a deterrent to an active part of the modern military arsenal. Many of the larger cold war nuclear missiles systems have been dismantled and phased out in favor of the development of smaller, tactical nuclear devices. A BBC News article "Mini-nukes on US agenda" said "A new form of warfare is coming. It is the extension into the nuclear field of the highly accurate conventional bombs and missiles already in use."

Plans are already on the boards to use such nuclear devices immediately against Iran. The August 1, 2005 issue of the American Conservative commented, "The Pentagon, acting under instructions from Vice President Dick Cheney's office, has tasked the United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) with drawing up a contingency plan to be employed in response to another 9/11-type terrorist attack on the United States. The plan includes a large-scale air assault on Iran employing both conventional and tactical nuclear weapons."

So all that stands between humanity and a nuclear war is another domestic terrorist attack. The likelihood of another terrorist attack was recently expressed by counterterrorist expert Juval Aviv. When asked "Do you believe another terrorist attack is likely on American soil?", Mr. Aviv answered, "I predict, based primarily on information that is floating in Europe and the Middle East, that an event is imminent and around the corner here in the United States. It could happen as soon as tomorrow, or it could happen in the next few months. Ninety days at the most." (U.S. Terror Attack - 'Ninety Days at Most' - FoxNews.com) As it presently stands nuclear war is only a matter of time.

What does the future hold? Well God's Word predicted unparalleled time of great tribulation that will soon come upon the earth. This tribulation will be so bad that if it was not cut short humanity would not survive. "for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short." (Matthew 24:21,22)

Additionally Revelation 11:18 says that God's Kingdom, "will bring to ruin those ruining the earth" In that time in what way will humans be "ruining the earth"? Is it through pollution and environmental ruin as has been often stated? It appears to me that this scripture is specifically speaking of earth being ruined through violence. It is important to keep in mind that much of Revelation finds parallel in other parts of the inspired Bible. So we can compare Revelation 11:18 to Genesis chapter 6:11,12 which states the "And the earth came to be ruined in the sight of the true God and the earth became filled with violence. So God saw the earth and, look! it was ruined, because all flesh had ruined its way on the earth." Notice now the result in verse 13, "After that God said to Noah: "The end of all flesh has come before me, because the earth is full of violence as a result of them; and here I am bringing them to ruin together with the earth."

The days of Noah are directly comparable to the days leading up to Christ's coming.(Matthew 24:37,38) It would not be unreasonable to assume that the earth may be filled with violence just as in the days of Noah. Indeed a comparison or Revelation 11:18 to Genesis 6 give evidence that this will be the case. Jesus' words in Matthew 24:6 give indication that a period of wars will come before the time of the end. He says, "You are going to hear of wars and reports of wars; see that you are not terrified. For these things must take place, but the end is not yet."

Looking at the news it appears as if things are definitely heading toward a period that has been termed, "The Clash of Civilizations". The conflict between Islam and the West is strengthening and increased war and violence loom on the horizon. World War III appears to be right around the corner - or perhaps in retrospect it may have already started.

What can we do? I like how Jesus expresses it at Luke 21:34-36:

"But pay attention to yourselves that YOUR hearts never become weighed down with overeating and heavy drinking and anxieties of life, and suddenly that day be instantly upon YOU as a snare. For it will come in upon all those dwelling upon the face of all the earth. Keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that YOU may succeed in escaping all these things that are destined to occur, and in standing before the Son of man."

Seriously give consideration to this. For instance how often have you prayed that you and your family will be delivered from the coming tribulations? How often have you heard someone in the congregation pray that we make escape these things? If your answer is, "not very often" or "never" then we really need to note that this scripture says that we should be making supplication "all the time".