EB: Appendix C A Biblical Case for the Loss of Modern Technology in the Endtimes

Appendix C

A Biblical Case for the Loss of Modern Technology in the Endtimes

[Note: Appendix C “Modern Technology in the Endtimes” has been reviewed by: 1) a highly respected and experienced electrical engineer and; 2) an expert in EMP radiation/nuclear weapons effects who works for a defense contractor]

Contents

A) Biblical evidence of the destruction of modern technology after Christ’s Return when the Church is not on the Earth

A.1) Ancient weapons in the Battle of Armageddon

A.2) Ancient transportation in the Battle of Armageddon

A.3) Supernatural communication for the Battle of Armageddon

A.4) Ancient agriculture in the Endtimes

A.5) How and when could modern technology be destroyed after Christ’s Return? The 4th & 5th Bowl Punishments

B) Biblical evidence of the destruction of modern technology before Christ’s Return when the Church is still on the Earth

B.1) There will be modern communications technology before Antichrist’s destruction of Endtime Babylon in order to broadcast his Resurrection (Rev 13:1-14)

B.2) The Antichrist’s speaking statues distributed worldwide would provide supernatural communication and control without modern technology (Rev 13:13-15)

B.3) Merely “rumors” of war implies the absence of technology (Matt 24:6)

B.4) The dystopian world described in the 3rd Seal suggests the loss of technology from the wars unleashed in the 2nd Seal (Rev 6:5-6)

 

B.5) God’s and Antichrist’s desire to destroy the world’s worship and dependence on technology

B.6) False Christs effectively claiming they are all Jesus returned to Earth seems to require isolated communities

B.7) The use of swords during The Beginning of Birth Pains and at Antichrist’s Abomination

B.8) Endtime warfare with the Antichrist using ancient weapons

B.9) Fleeing by foot in winter at the beginning of The Greatest Persecution

B.10) The common use of hand mills at Christ’s Return

B.11) The enforcement of Antichrist’s mark

B.12) Potential problems with the suggestion that EMP radiation could destroy modern technology in the world

B.12.a) The lack of guns & ammunition?

B.12.b) The ministry of God’s Two Prophets (Rev 11:1-12)

C) The effect of EMP & nuclear weapons on modern technology

C.1) The 75% probability that modern technology will be destroyed during the 2nd Seal

C.2) The destructive power of EMP radiation

C.3) The destructive scope of EMP weapons

D) The practical effects of losing modern technology before Christ’s Return when the Church is still on the Earth

D.1) Imagining a pre-modern world

D.2) Water and food

D.3) Household & daily life

D.4) Communications & Transportation

D.5) Banking & commerce

D.6) Health care

D.7) Conclusion: many challenges, one advantage, & a plan

Summary & approach to this topic

The purpose of this paper is to offer biblical evidence for the following:

• There is a 95% probability that modern technology will be lost sometime during the Endtimes.
• There is a 20% probability this loss of modern technology will occur after Christ’s Return when the Church is not on the Earth.
• There is a 75% probability this loss of modern technology will occur before Christ’s Return when the Church is still on the Earth.

It is admitted that there is probably not one isolated piece of biblical evidence for the above conclusions. However, when all of the verses that imply the loss of technology are considered as a whole, the evidence becomes very significant.

The biblical evidence presented here comes from biblical prophecies concerning the state of things in the Endtimes. Therefore, it is important to establish the need to interpret these prophecies in a physical, if not literal way. As noted elsewhere in the Endtimes Essentials:

OT scholar J. B. Payne has provided what is probably the most detailed study of biblical prophecy available. In his Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy he identified 592 OT and NT prophecies that have already come true in history. Every single one of these almost 600 biblical prophecies was fulfilled in a physical way by a person, place, or event. None of these prophecies were fulfilled in merely a metaphorical or spiritualized way. (CET ch. 12, sec. A.4)

Therefore, the Scriptures studied in this paper will be interpreted in a physical, if not literal way.

A) Biblical evidence of the destruction of modern technology after Christ’s Return when the Church is not on the Earth

A.1) Ancient weapons in the Battle of Armageddon

As discussed elsewhere, the Battle of Armageddon occurs after Christ’s Return and first appearance for the Church’s Rescue from the Earth. This battle occurs some years later at the culmination of Christ’s Wrath, and ends with Christ’s second appearance with His Church coming with Him from Heaven (cf. CET ch. 9, sec. A).

Some of the clearest evidence that modern technology is completely lost at some point in the Endtimes is the descriptions of the Battle of Armageddon. Ezekiel gives us details about the weaponry and means of transportation that will be used at the Battle of Armageddon. God says to Gog:

I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army—your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords… You will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army. (Ezek 38:3-4, 15 NIV) ^[1]

The prophetic Scriptures are clear. At the Battle of Armageddon, both ancient means of weaponry and transportation will be used. We will address weaponry first. The prophecy states that the whole army will be using large and small shields with all of them brandishing their swords. Again, we have learned that God always fulfills prophecy in a physical, if not literal way, and therefore, this prophecy should be interpreted this way. Based on how God has fulfilled biblical prophecies in the past, it would be foolish to doubt real and literal swords and shields will be the only weapons available at the Battle of Armageddon.

Therefore, a vital question must be asked. If modern weaponry, like nuclear missiles, artillery, warplanes, and tanks were available at this time why wouldn’t they be used?

Likewise, Ezekiel 38-39 indicates human soldiers will be the primary strategy at the Battle of Armageddon. In Ezekiel 38 it says there will be horsemen fully armed … a great horde with large and small shields … a great horde, a mighty army (vs. 3-4 NIV). In chapter 39 God says to the birds that will be present:

“At my table you will eat your fill of horses and riders, mighty men and soldiers of every kind,” declares the Sovereign LORD (Ezek 39:20 NIV).

Again, in modern warfare, ground soldiers are not the primary strategy. But in this battle, it seems only soldiers are available.

There are other Scriptures that are probably referring to the Battle of Armageddon and also describe primitive weapons and transportation. Speaking of the Endtimes, and probably the Battle of Armageddon specifically, we read in Psalms:

Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. (Ps 46:8-9 NIV)

Likewise, another description of Armageddon is probably given in the following from Joel:

“In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat [probably Armageddon ^[2]]… Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack. Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears.” (Joel 3:1-2, 9-10)

A literal interpretation suggests that plowshares and pruning hooks will be important agricultural tools in the Endtimes. They will be converted into swords and spears for the Battle of Armageddon because modern weaponry will not be available.

If there is any doubt these passages should be interpreted literally, God stated what will occur after the Battle of Armageddon:

Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both shields and bucklers [small shield NLT], bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires of them. They will not take wood from the field or gather firewood from the forests, for they will make fires with the weapons (Ezek 39:9-10 NASB; cf. Isa 9:5)

Again, Block interprets this literally, writing “the armaments provided the land with seven years’ worth of firewood.” ^[3] Likewise, K&D write, “the burning of all the weapons of the fallen foe will furnish the inhabitants of the land of Israel with wood for firing for seven years.” ^[4] The weapons used at the Battle of Armageddon will be made of wood and easily used in fireplaces in Jewish homes. In addition, it needs to be asked, if modern technology will be available for heating and cooking, why would the Jews bother with so much firewood?

Not surprisingly, many have difficulty interpreting God here in a literal way. Even His statement that Israel will use the weapons from the Battle of Armageddon to make fires for seven years such that they will not gather firewood from the forests because they will make fires with the weapons. Such a statement from God is virtually impossible to understand merely as metaphors. But Wiersbe offers a typical response to these biblical predictions:

People from the cities of Israel will go out and gather and burn the weapons and supplies left by Gog’s defeated army. The ancient military equipment listed here includes hand shields and body shields (bucklers), bows and arrows, and clubs and spears. These are not the weapons of a modern army, but Ezekiel used language the people could understand. If he had written about jet planes and rockets, he would have been a poor communicator. So large will be the collection of unused equipment that the people will use it for fuel for seven years. ^[5]

This view is understandable. It is difficult to conceive how the world could lose its modern weaponry of airplanes and missiles. However, there are several problems with Wiersbe’s view.

First, these prophecies are not “language” from “Ezekiel” as Wiersbe claims. On the contrary, This is what the Sovereign LORD says (Ezek 38:3; 39:1). These statements are direct quotes from God, not something being interpreted or accommodated by Ezekiel.

Second, biblical prophecy, such as this text, is a promise from God. Therefore, Wiersbe is essentially accusing God of promising things that are not really true. A metaphorical approach to these texts must admit that there will not actually be shields … bows and arrows, war clubs and spears at the Battle of Armageddon, even though this is what the Sovereign LORD says there will be. Merely metaphorical interpreters are always in danger of making God a liar.

Earlier in Ezekiel, God predicted what kind of weapons ancient Babylon would use to destroy the city of Tyre ca. 580 B.C. There God mentions horses and chariots, with horsemen and a great army and the sword and siege works and shields and wagons (Ezek 26:7-11 NIV). These predictions were fulfilled literally. If they had not been, then God would have been a liar. There is no biblical or historical reason to believe that when God describes the same kind of weapons and transportation being used at the Battle of Armageddon, that He has switched to merely metaphorical language with no literal meaning at all.

Third, when God intends to communicate things ancient people they have never seen or experienced, He uses highly symbolic visions as in Revelation. But Ezekiel 38-39 are not visions, but direct quotes from God. This is because God expected His OT people to accurately understand what these weapons would be. And modern readers know exactly what shields … bows and arrows, war clubs and spears are as well.

Fourth, God’s meaning is made abundantly clear when He predicts these weapons from the Battle of Armageddon will be used in Israel to make fires for seven years such that they will not gather firewood from the forests because they will make fires with the weapons. According to Wiersbe and other metaphorical interpreters, it seems the fires would have to be understood as merely symbolic as well.

Modern tanks and airplanes are all made of metal, not wood. They would not furnish enough combustible material for people to use for fuel as the prophecy predicts. Not even the fuel used in modern weapons would fit the description given here. First of all, the quantity of jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline would be insufficient to fulfill the prophecy. Second, it is unlikely people would use such fuels for fires in their homes. Third, it is likely that such fuel would often be combusted in the destruction of the planes, tanks, and vehicles. The weapons used at the Battle of Armageddon will be pre-modern and made of wood. ^[6]

Finally, all interpreters of prophetic Scripture like Wiersbe need to be reminded of one simple fact. Every single one of the almost 600 biblical prophecies fulfilled to date were fulfilled in a physical, if not literal way. In other words, we have no example in history of any biblical prophecy being communicated or fulfilled in the way Wiersbe describes. Biblical prophecy and history do not give us any warrant to interpret these things as merely metaphorical.

A.2) Ancient transportation in the Battle of Armageddon

We have already noted the numerous references to horses and horsemen in the prophecies above describing the Battle of Armageddon. Again, in Ezekiel 38-39 we read God say:

I will … bring you out with your whole army—your horses, your horsemen… You will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army. (Ezek 38:3-4, 15 NIV; cf. 38:21; 39:3)

The lack of modern transportation methods is clear. The whole army at the Battle of Armageddon will be made up of horses and horsemen. Accordingly, the respected and Evangelical OT scholar Daniel Block writes concerning Gog: “he and his vast host will sweep down on Yahweh’s people riding their horses.” ^[7] Again, it must be asked, if modern means of transportation will be available at this time, then why would God describe this mighty army as riding on horses?

Revelation’s descriptions of the Battle of Armageddon reflect the same things. In chapter 16 it says:

The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East (v. 12 NIV).

If modern weapons such as planes and missiles were available, why would the river Euphrates need to be dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East to physically travel to Israel? It is because they will not have long range modern weapons available, and they will be coming on horses or walking.

Accordingly, later in Revelation we read that at the Battle of Armageddon an angel will proclaim:

“Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings [including the kings from the East, Rev 16:12], generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders” (19:17-18 NIV; cf. 14:20; Ezek 39:20). ^[8]

In Zechariah we read:

This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem [at the Battle of Armageddon]: 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. (Zech 14:12, 15 NIV) ^[9]

Again, it is quite odd to find a description of so many “pack” animals at this Endtime battle. But it seems another indication they will be used for transportation purposes because modern vehicles will not be available.

A.3) Supernatural communication for the Battle of Armageddon

Revelation says the kings of the whole world will be gathered for the battle at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon (Rev 16:14, 16). How will the kings of the whole world know when and where to gather for the battle at Armageddon? The prophecy explains it will occur through supernatural means, not technological. John writes:

The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East [to travel by walking or riding horses].

Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon [Satan], out of the mouth of the beast [Antichrist] and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle … to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. (Rev 16:12-14, 16 NIV)

It seems these demonic spirits will be operating through the false prophets ministering at this time (cf. Matt 24:11, 24). And through such supernatural means, the kings of the whole world will receive a message from the mouth of the beast Antichrist to gather them for the battle at Armageddon. Again, it needs to be asked: If modern communications technology will be available, why wouldn’t the Antichrist use it to gather his armies to Armageddon?

A.4) Ancient agriculture in the Endtimes

In the prediction above from Joel we read that after Christ’s Return and before the Battle of Armageddon it will be proclaimed: “Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears” (Joel 3:10 NIV). As noted, a literal interpretation suggests that plowshares and pruning hooks will be important agricultural tools in the Endtimes.

Indeed, descriptions of the Millennium suggest this very thing. Again, Isaiah says:

He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (Isa 2:4 NIV; cf. Mic 4:3) ^[10]

This prophecy reflects the same primitive methods for agriculture during Christ’s 1,000-year Reign. There is no mention here of modern farming equipment. In fact, there is never any mention of modern technology in the Bible’s descriptions of life in the Millennium at all. Rather, biblical prophecies describe life during this time as reflecting more ancient times.

The prophetic Scriptures repeatedly describe the Endtimes and its weapons, transportation, and life in general in primitive terms, without modern technology. It simply is bad hermeneutics to assume all of these descriptions are merely symbols for modern technology. The history of the fulfillment of biblical prophecy alone, demands that we interpret these predictions literally.

A.5) How and when could modern technology be destroyed after Christ’s Return? The 4th & 5th Bowl Punishments

We have noted several clear references in prophetic Scripture to ancient means of warfare, transportation, and agriculture. Perhaps even a reference to the absence of modern communications technology. How and when could modern technology be completely destroyed sometime before the Battle of Armageddon and the Millennium?

One possibility is intense solar flares occurring during the Fourth Bowl Punishment. Immediately before the description of the Sixth Bowl describing the Battle of Armageddon, we read of the Fourth and Fifth Bowl Punishments:

The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.

The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast [Antichrist], and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. (Rev 16:8-10 NIV)

The prophecy describes intense (fierce, NASB) heat coming from the sun … to scorch people with fire. This phenomenon would probably be caused by unprecedented solar flares being caused by God. Accordingly, Osborne comments:

The sun’s … fiery power is intensified beyond anything imaginable. Now we have a massive solar flare or a mini-nova as God gives the sun power to burn people with fire. ^[11]

As explained below, solar flares are known to damage electrical devices. The resulting loss of electricity from solar flares unleashed in the Fourth Bowl Punishment could cause and explain the worldwide darkness described in the Fifth Bowl. Again, when the fifth angel pours out his bowl on the throne of the beast [Antichrist], his kingdom which include the whole world will be plunged into darkness. ^[12]

An article from the Smithsonian Institute explains:

On occasion, the unstable area around a sunspot can trigger an unusually large solar flare, flinging streams of [electro-magnetic] radiation outward from the sun. And a big enough solar flare can lead to an alteration in solar wind significant enough to set off a geomagnetic storm here on Earth, with the potential to short out the circuitry on satellites and disrupt our telecommunications infrastructure worldwide.

To be clear, such a scenario seems unlikely to occur… SpaceWeather.com indicates there is just a 15% chance of X-class flares at the moment, the minimum level necessary to knock out satellites and ground-based communications technologies. ^[13]

Another source explains:

One such incident happened on Earth at a time when there was very little electronics on Earth in 1859… The 1859 incident, which occurred on September 1-2 in 1859, is also known as the “Carrington Event.” This event unfolded as a powerful geomagnetic storm struck Earth during Solar Cycle 10. A CME hit the Earth and induced the largest geomagnetic storm on record.

The storm was so intense it created extremely bright, vivid aurora throughout the planet: people in California thought the sun rose early, people in the northeastern U.S. could read a newspaper at night from the aurora’s bright light, and people as far south as Hawaii and south-central Mexico could see the aurora in the sky.

The event severely damaged the limited electrical and communication lines that existed at that time; telegraph systems around the world failed. ^[14]

The Smithsonian article adds:

Of course, the massive solar storm [in 1859] also caused damage, triggering telegraph malfunctions, and causing some telegraph pylons to suddenly spark and catch fire.

A much smaller solar storm occurred in 1989, knocking out power throughout much of Quebec for over 9 hours, disrupting communications with several satellites in orbit and interfering with the broadcast of short-wave radio in Russia.

If a CME as large as the one that triggered the 1859 storm were to occur today, the consequences could be devastating. Given the increase in our reliance on electricity and telecommunications (even since 1989), the effects would certainly be far more significant than malfunctioning telegraph pylons.

It’s hard to appreciate just how many aspects of modern life rely on technologies that could be affected. As Daniel Baker of the University of Colorado’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics told National Geographic in 2011, ”Every time you purchase a gallon of gas with your credit card, that’s a satellite transaction.” A giant storm could disrupt our GPS systems, communication with planes in flight and other crucial satellite-based technologies.

But the biggest concern, experts say, would be disruptions to our power grid—as a 2011 OECD report (PDF) on the impacts of solar storms points out, “Electric power is modern society’s cornerstone technology on which virtually all other infrastructures and services depend.” A surge in solar wind can blow out power transformers by melting their copper windings, and especially in highly interconnected regions (such as the East Coast), transformer failures can trigger cascading effects, spreading power outages over wide areas.

One analysis looked at a 1921 storm—which was ten times more powerful than the 1989 event—and estimated that if it occurred today, it would leave some 130 million people without power, potentially affecting water and food distribution, heating and air conditioning, sewage disposal and a host of other aspects of the infrastructure we take for granted daily… and a total recovery that could take 4 to 10 years in total. ^[15]

The above referenced report (2011 OECD report), adds:

The damage or loss of transformers and the resulting power grid outages are direct, or first-order consequences of an electric power disruption due to a geomagnetic storm, leading to widespread outages. A severely damaged transformer generally cannot be repaired in the field and may need to be replaced with a new unit, which often have manufacture lead times of 12 months or longer (NAS, 2008)… Countries farther south also can be susceptible to geomagnetic storms, but the severity of consequences is likely less than for those in the northern latitudes. ^[16]

Therefore, it is possible that solar flares resulting from the increased intensity of the sun in the Fourth Bowl Punishment, and perhaps causing darkness in Fifth Bowl Punishment, could explain the loss of modern technology in the Endtimes. Accordingly, this is given a 20% probability of occurring at this time.

Why isn’t the suggested probability greater? First, the situation described in the Battle of Armageddon would seem to require significant time to develop. Horses are not currently bred in the rather massive quantities suggested in the description. Notice that guns and bullets that would not require modern technology are also absent from the Battle of Armageddon. Is this because they have been expended over a considerable amount of time?

Such a long period of time may exist between the Fifth Bowl Punishment (of darkness) and the Sixth Bowl Punishment (preparation for travel to the Battle of Armageddon). But the Bowl Punishments seem to follow one another rather quickly.

However, the biggest reason to believe the destruction of modern technology occurs before the Fourth Bowl Punishment is all the biblical evidence presented for this in the next section.

B) Biblical evidence of the destruction of modern technology before Christ’s Return when the Church is still on the Earth

It has been argued above that biblical evidence suggests a 90% probability that modern technology will be destroyed in the Endtimes. It was suggested there is a 20% probability of this occurring after Christ’s Return when the Church is not on the Earth. However, the remaining 70% probability is assigned to such destruction occurring before Christ’s Return when the Church is still on the Earth. The reason for this is the many references to the absence of modern technology during The Beginning of Birth Pains and The Greatest Persecution.

B.1) There will be modern communications technology before Antichrist’s destruction of Endtime Babylon in order to broadcast his Resurrection

It has been argued elsewhere that Antichrist’s Resurrection occurs rather early in Endtime events, being portrayed with the opening of the First Seal (cf. BBP ch. 11, sec. C). First then, let us notice that apparently modern communications technology will be operating at this time. This is because the whole world will be astonished by the Antichrist’s Resurrection. The whole world will be filled with wonder because they will witness a fatal wound of the Antichrist being healed (Rev 13:3, 8, 14; cf. BBP ch. 13, sec. C). The worldwide witnessing and knowledge of such an event would seem to require modern communications and media technology. It would seem most will receive this information through their smart phones.

In addition, the False Prophet is described as deceiving the whole world with his miracle working abilities (cf. Rev 13:11-14; BBP ch. 14, sec. C). This too would suggest that modern communications technology is operating at least at the time of the opening of the First Seal at the very beginning of the Endtimes.

It will be argued in section C below that the destruction of modern technology will probably occur with the opening of the Second Seal and the massive war predicted. As explained elsewhere, it is expected that China and Russia will use Electromagnetic Pulse weapons to neutralize America’s military and nuclear weapons (cf. EB ch. 10, sec. B). It was also demonstrated there that such devices will destroy electrical components.

Therefore, we should not be surprised to find references to the loss of modern technology even at the relative beginning of the Endtimes.

B.2) The Antichrist’s speaking statues distributed worldwide would provide supernatural communication and control without modern technology

It must be admitted that there are challenges to the claim that modern communications technology will be absent in the Endtimes. Several prophesied events seem to require such things.

For example, Revelation 13 says that after his Resurrection and his destruction of America, and during The Greatest Persecution, the Antichrist will be given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast (Rev 13:7-8 NIV). How will the Antichrist exercise such authority over the whole world if there is no modern communications technology during The Greatest Persecution? The answer could be the rather odd prediction that supernaturally speaking statues of the Antichrist will be erected all over the world rather immediately after his Resurrection.

Elsewhere (BBP ch. 14, sec. C.2) the following text was studied:

And with all the miracles he [the False Prophet] was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast [Antichrist], he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life. He was then permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die. (Rev 13:14-15 NLT)

The word statue is in the singular tense here in the original Greek, but the context makes it clear that the result will be a multitude of statues in the image of the Antichrist all over the world. And the Antichrist and False Prophet will be supernaturally speaking through them.

Those who would confidently claim these statues of the Antichrist will use modern communications technology ignore what the text says. Why will the statues speak? He [the False Prophet] will be permitted by God’s authority and power to supernaturally give life to this statue so that it could speak. Therefore, these statues of the Antichrist will become a supernatural and demonically controlled communications device operating throughout the world without the need for modern communications technology. ^[17]

Therefore, it should be noticed that supernaturally speaking statues is how biblical prophecy describes the Antichrist communicating with, and exercising his power over, the world. Again, it must be asked: If modern technology will exist at this time…

• Why would the Antichrist need to deploy speaking statues all over the world?
• Why would people gather at such statues to hear and worship the Antichrist?
• Why would the False Prophet need to exercise supernatural powers to make them work?

None of these things would seem necessary if modern communications such as smart phones were operating.

It seems the odd worldwide distribution of these supernaturally speaking statues will be one more strategy in Antichrist’s plan to rule the world. Perhaps he will know that technology will be destroyed by his EMP and nuclear attack on America. Therefore, before that happens, these supernatural and demonic communication devices will be built all over the world.

Such a total replacement of modern communications technology (Internet, satellites, smart phones) would be the best way imaginable for the Antichrist to completely control all worldwide communication on the planet. It would also be another opportunity for the Antichrist to demonstrate his supernatural power because the statues will not be based on modern technology. And having them as the only available communications device will enhance his power.

B.3) Rumors of war implies the absence of technology

Jesus said that at the beginning of the Endtimes, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars” (Matt 24:6 NIV). The translation of rumors is supported by both the NIV and NASB and numerous commentators (Carson, Morris, Nolland; cf. Jer 51:46). “Rumors” is defined as: “talk or opinion widely disseminated with no discernible source; a statement or report current without known authority for its truth” (Webster’s). Mere rumors of wars that are impossible to confirm could hardly happen with modern communications technology. The emphasis on merely hearing these rumors instead of viewing these wars on TV or smart phones also suggests a lack of technology. ^[18]

If the alarming wars refer to the complete destruction of America with EMP and nuclear weapons, along with the world’s communications technology, how would such merely unconfirmed rumors of wars occur?

The prophecy of America’s destruction explains that the people of the world will see the smoke of her burning (Rev 18:9, 18). This would not require modern video communications. Indeed the smoke resulting from the nuclear destruction of America will spread throughout the atmosphere of the world. People will assume something catastrophic has occurred, even though the destruction of modern technology in the nuclear attack will not allow them to see the destruction.

Secondly, the prophecy states that shipping will be operating at this time, and sailors will certainly return with reports of seeing America’s destruction and reporting the loss of its commerce (cf. Rev 18:17-19).

B.4) The dystopian world described in the 3rd Seal suggests the loss of technology from the wars unleashed in the 2nd Seal

We read:

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” (Rev 6:5-6 NIV)

The Seal describes the state of things immediately after Antichrist’s Attack portrayed in the 2nd Seal. Clearly, that Attack has resulted in a worldwide and unprecedented catastrophe. Granted, it is difficult to discern the scope of the description in the 3rd Seal. Does it reflect what will be happening in the entire world, or just a fourth of the earth where the people will eventually be killed by sword, famine, and plague (Rev 6:8)? In a sense, it does not matter in terms of evidence regarding the technological state of the world.

For example, let’s assume that the effects of the 3rd Seal are generally confined to a fourth of the earth. If that is the case, then it is unlikely the rest of the world will simply go on as it is today. Wherever two pounds of wheat will cost a day’s wages it will barely be subsistence living and on the verge of widespread starvation. Therefore, this suggests a drastic decline in the availability of food in the rest of the world as well.

Let’s assume, for example, that food is two or three times more abundant in the rest of the world. What would that look like in America? A days’ wages on average in America is about $170. ^[19] You can buy bulk wheat berries for about $1.50 per pound. So, what would cost you $6-$9 today (4-6 pounds of wheat), would cost you $170 in a scenario that is 2-3 times better than what the 3rd Seal is describing.

Therefore, the 3rd Seal reflects a catastrophic event has occurred to rather instantly and drastically reduce the world’s food supply. More specifically, the war in the 2nd Seal has resulted in a rather dystopian world where virtually every economic, agricultural, and transportation institution and system has been significantly damaged if not destroyed. A rather complete destruction of modern technology would seem to be necessary to cause this.

Accordingly, one resource estimates that the loss of technology in the world would decrease the world’s food supply by over 50%. ^[20] However, that seems very conservative. A loss of technology would cause the world to revert to the family subsistence farming that humanity lived by for thousands of years.

Two pounds of wheat will cost a day’s wages (or something even significantly less) because the modern ways of growing, manufacturing, preserving, and transporting food have been destroyed. This is the same reason that mere wheat berries, not even loaves of bread, are described as a staple food of the world. It is possible the use of scales being portrayed at this time refers to the destruction of modern economic and banking systems, with a necessary reverting back to ancient practices of commerce.

As explained elsewhere, oil and wine were valued in the ancient world for their medicinal properties (cf. BBP ch. 18, sec. C). This could suggest another return to ancient medical practices, something again that would seem to require the loss of technology. In addition, oil was used for centuries to produce light in lanterns. With the loss of electricity and the light it produces, we can understand why it would be exclaimed at this time, “do not damage the oil!”

Therefore, the dystopian world described in the 3rd Seal suggests the immediate loss of technology from the EMP and nuclear wars unleashed in the 2nd Seal.

B.5) God’s and Antichrist’s desire to destroy the world’s worship and dependence on technology

Both God and Satan will have reasons to destroy the technology of the world. First, God’s purpose for destroying Endtime Babylon (America) could certainly include the destruction of modern technology. Remember that Endtime Babylon will represent the anti-God World (cf. EB, ch. 4). This will include its technological systems that promote humanity’s idolatry and independence from God. As written elsewhere:

The technological advancements of the anti-God World also significantly increase both its power and its spread over the Earth. They make people feel more self-sufficient and independent from God. This is why less developed cultures are the least affected by the influences of the World. Jeremiah may be speaking of that worldly technology when he writes, Babylon reaches as high as the heavens (51:53 NIV). Could this refer to space programs?

The entertainment systems of the World are among its most powerful weapons to influence people away from worshipping God, and instead worshipping celebrities. John described the World as the cravings of sinful man, the lust of the eyes (1 John 2:16 NIV). This especially describes the PLEASURES offered by the World to lead people into sin. It is the entertainment systems of the World that are also broadcasting millions of filthy pornographic images all over the Earth to demean the women who make them, and ensnare and corrupt the men who watch them…

Technology can be a good thing, enabling humans to subdue … the earth as God commanded (Gen 1:28). But ever since the Tower of Babel, humanity has perverted technology to gain their independence from God. Satan has always used technology to empower the anti-God World. (EB, ch. 4, sec. A-B)

When God prompts the Antichrist and 10-nation Coalition to destroy Endtime Babylon (America; cf. Rev 17:16), He intends to destroy one of His enemies: the World (cf. 1 John 2:15-16; 5:19; Jms 4:4; Rev 11:15; Luke 16:15). He will no longer want the World’s wealth to be an idol. Nor will He want modern technology to be the same. This is perhaps why there are no mentions of modern technology in biblical descriptions of the Millennium or the New Earth. Such temptations to idolatry will not be a part of a world ruled by Christ or the Father.

Therefore, it makes sense that when God destroys the primary center and source of the World in Endtime Babylon, that He also destroys a primary aspect of the anti-God World: its technology.

Likewise, there are reasons the Devil will want modern technology to be destroyed at the relative beginning of the Endtimes. Satan will want the world to progress in an increasing direct worship of him. Today, people worship Satan by worshipping the World, including its technology. But in the Endtimes, Satan will desire the world to worship him more directly by worshipping the Antichrist he will indwell. Satan will not want the distractions and idols of the World’s technology and entertainment to compete with him for worship.

In fact, the existence of modern communication technologies would seem to make it possible for all kinds of news, truth, and messages to be disseminated against the Antichrist’s will. The presence of modern technology would actually make Antichrist’s dictatorship harder, not easier. As noted above, with the placement of his supernaturally speaking statues all over the world, the Antichrist will be able to control all communication on Earth, if he has destroyed modern technology in his Attack on America.

Again, the prophecy regarding the destruction of Endtime Babylon says the ten horns … and the beast will hate the Prostitute and … completely burn her up with fire … because God will put a desire in the hearts of the ten kings to accomplish His purpose. Both God and the beast will have reasons for destroying the systems and idols of the World. This may include its technology.

 

B.6) False Christs effectively claiming they are all Jesus returned to Earth seems to require isolated communities

As you read the following, imagine the difficulty of the Endtime False Christs effectively deceiving a multitude of unbelievers in the world, if modern communications technology is operating.

Jesus said: “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many” (Matt 24:5 NASB). Later in the passage, Jesus further describes the claims of these False Christs and makes it clear that they will all be claiming to be Jesus Christ Himself returned to Earth (cf. vs. 23-27). Elsewhere it was written:

[Some claim] that the False Christs will merely be claiming to represent Christ as in speaking for Him. The best reason to reject this view is the clear evidence in the text that the False Christs will be claiming to be Jesus Christ Himself returned to Earth… Obviously, this is a rather shocking statement. But As Carson puts it:

Those who “come in my name” (v. 5) may refer to those who come as Jesus’ representatives, but because of the words that follow, we must assume that their claim goes further. They claim to be Messiah, Christ himself.

This is indicated in verse 5 itself in Mark’s and Luke’s versions which read: “Many will come in my name [of Jesus], claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many” (Mark 13:6 NIV; cf. Luke 21:8). The False Christs will be using the name “Jesus” and claiming, “I am He.” That seems to clearly indicate they will be claiming to be Jesus Christ Himself.

Jesus clearly confirmed this when He said in His Endtimes Sermon:

“Then [during The Greatest Persecution, v. 21] if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great  signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance.”

“So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the [Real] Son of Man be.” (Matt 24:23-27 NASB; cf. Luke 17:22-24)

Jesus predicted in the Endtimes that they (probably the false prophets) will claim “He is in the wilderness” or “He is in the inner rooms.” Who does He refer to? The real Son of Man who will be coming like lightning and who is clearly Jesus Christ Himself. Therefore, it is clear that the false Christs who will arise and will show great  signs and wonders in the Endtimes will be claiming to be Jesus Christ Himself returned to Earth…

Let us also note that the False Christs will be operating simultaneously all over the world. Jesus described Antichrist’s Claim to be God and then the resulting Greatest Persecution (vs. 15-22). Then He said: “Then … false Christs [plural] and false prophets will arise and will show great  signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect” (vs. 23-24 NASB). This event will happen during the Endtimes, and false Christs (plural) will arise all simultaneously claiming to be Jesus Christ returned to Earth. (BBP ch. 10, sec. B.2)

Which presents a considerable problem. Many False Christs all claiming to be Jesus Christ at the same time would seem contradictory and not convincing to the world. How then will such contradictory claims deceive so many that a particular False Christ is Jesus Christ?

In section C below a case will be made that the EMP and nuclear weapons used to permanently remove all people from Endtime Babylon, and completely burn it up with fire… in one hour (Rev 17:16; 18:10) will destroy modern technology, including modern communications and transportation. People living on Earth will not know what is going on in other parts of the world except what the Antichrist wants to communicate through his statues that will speak (Rev 13:14-15). Therefore, the multitude of miracle working False Christs operating on the Earth at that time will be working among isolated people groups in different sections of the world. Their simultaneous claims to be Jesus Christ returned to Earth will not seem contradictory because people will not be aware of the claims of the others. In fact, their claims will be very convincing, and they will mislead many (Matt 24:5), perhaps including Christians at the time. ^[21]

B.7) The use of swords during The Beginning of Birth Pains and at Antichrist’s Abomination

As noted above, the opening of the 4th Seal portrays the culmination of The Beginning of Birth Pains. There it is predicted that a fourth of the earth will be killed by sword, famine, and plague (Rev 6:8 NIV). Those will be literal, physical swords, and a clear reference to the use of ancient weapons that are hardly even in existence today. In addition, these events are clearly occurring while the Church is on the Earth.

The same method of weaponry is described as being present at the time of Antichrist’s Abomination. In this event he will forcefully enter the rebuilt Jewish temple in Jerusalem and desecrate it. Part of that action seems to be an attack on Jerusalem itself. Jesus said of the Jews in the Endtimes:

“And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its destruction [desolation, NIV] has arrived… They [the Jews] will be killed by the sword or sent away as captives to all the nations of the world. And Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the period of the Gentiles comes to an end. (Luke 21:20, 24 NLT).

It is a common mistake to claim this prediction was fully fulfilled in the 1^st century (70 A.D.) when the Romans invaded Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. Obviously, this was another one of those common examples of a near/partial fulfillment of a biblical prophecy that will have a final/complete fulfillment in the Endtimes (cf. ASE ch. 3). In the 1^st century the Romans did not disperse Jews as prisoners to all the nations of the world. At the time they had no control over large portions of Asia (e.g. China) and were not even aware of the Western Hemisphere.

The thing to notice here is that this Endtime attack before Christ’s Return and the Church’s Rescue will involve Jews being killed by the sword, an ancient weapon.

B.8) Endtime warfare with the Antichrist using ancient weapons

As discussed elsewhere, Daniel 11:40-45 is difficult to place in the sequence of Endtime events (cf. ASE ch. 16). It may be describing a battle in the Endtimes against the Antichrist (cf. v. 36). It is clearly not describing the Battle of Armageddon, so it may occur before Christ’s Return and the Church’s Rescue. If so, it is another indication of the loss of modern technology earlier in Endtime events. We read in verse:

At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him [Antichrist?] in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with [horse drawn chariots and [horse-riding] cavalry and a great fleet of [sailing?] ships.

The chariots and cavalry here are not metaphorical, but literal, and again suggest the loss of modern military technology, perhaps even before Christ’s Return and the Church’s Rescue.

B.9) Fleeing by foot in the winter at the beginning of The Greatest Persecution

In Christ’s Endtimes Teaching Jesus addressed those who would be living in Jerusalem at the time of Antichrist’s Abomination and the beginning of The Greatest Persecution. When this occurs in the Endtimes, Jesus said “those who are in Judea are to flee to the mountains” (Matt 24:16 NIV).

Why wouldn’t they drive completely out of the country in cars? Why only go as far as the mountains? Jesus was probably referring to the mountains that surround Jerusalem (Ps 125:2 NIV). As one resource explains:

The mountain range that surrounds Jerusalem is known as the Judaean Mountains or Judean Hills. Some of the mountaintops that are in or around the Old City of Jerusalem are Mount Zion, Mount of Olives, the Temple Mount, Mount Scopus, Mount Herzl, Mount of Rest, Mount Hotzvim, and Har Nof. ^[22]

Therefore, the mountains that Jesus instructed those who are in Judea to flee to at the beginning of The Greatest Persecution will only be a short distance away. The text implies that people will flee on foot, not with modern transportation. That is why Jesus describes them as only fleeing a very short distance.

Likewise, Jesus said to these same people, “Pray that your flight will not take place in winter” (Matt 24:20 NIV). Why? Because travelling on foot in winter would be especially difficult. And perhaps because modern heating technology will not be available.

B.10) The common use of hand mills at Christ’s Return

In Christ’s Endtimes Teaching he seems to describe common conditions at the time of His Return:

As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.

That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. (Matt 24:37-41 NIV)

The geographical context of Christ’s statement was Palestine in the Endtimes (cf. Judea v. 16). It is possible that there are people there today using a primitive stone hand mill for grinding flour and making bread. But Jesus seemed to imply this will be a common everyday experience of how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man, just like eating and drinking, and marrying.

Let us notice then that before Christ’s Return and the Church’s Rescue, grinding with a hand mill will be a common practice. What will they be grinding? Remember that with the opening of the 3^rd Seal, two pounds of wheat will sell for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages (Rev 6:6). These would be common foods at this time and would need to be ground in order to make it more edible. This prophecy suggests that even food preparation will be done with very primitive methods at some point in the Endtimes.

Likewise, there is a hint that food production may revert back to pre-modern times as well. Jesus implied that at His Return He expects a significant number of men to be in the field working crops to produce the grain that the women will be grinding with a hand mill. Of course, this is common in third world countries today. However, Christ may be referring to a worldwide phenomenon when work has primarily shifted to agriculture instead of modern industry.

B.11) The enforcement of Antichrist’s mark

Speaking of the False Prophet, probably during The Greatest Persecution, we read:

He required everyone—small and great, rich, and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. (Rev 13:16-17 NLT)

Elsewhere it is argued that Antichrist’s mark will not require any new or existing technology and will simply be a physical tattoo on the skin of a person (cf. BBP ch. 1, sec. C.3). Imagine trying to enforce the need for such a physical mark on a person’s body if online electronic banking or shopping is still operating.

Over 6 trillion dollars’ worth of shopping is done online in the world today. ^[23] How would a bank or business confirm you have such a mark in order to make a financial transaction? Show your mark over an Internet connection? Such things are easily imitated with “deep fake” technology today.

Enforcing the need for a physical mark on a person’s body for all financial commerce suggests only in-person transactions and the loss of online shopping and electronic banking. If such technology still exists, it would seem very hard to enforce people not using it so that their mark can be physically observed.

Likewise, it is interesting to note that the mark itself is very “low tech.” The ability to tattoo the body is an ancient practice (cf. Lev 19:28). If modern means of identification were available, why does the Bible predict physical tattoos on a person’s body will be used?

 

B.12) Potential problems with the suggestion that EMP radiation could destroy modern technology in the world

B.12.a) The lack of guns & ammunition?

The suggestions above do not answer all the problems of explaining why Endtime wars will be fought with primitive weaponry. For example, why are guns absent from the biblical descriptions of these events? They would not be directly affected by EMP devices. One suggestion is that perhaps all ammunition has somehow been expended before The Battle of Armageddon occurs. Remember, Jesus said there will be wars (plural) in the Endtimes. There will be the first massive war that destroys Endtime Babylon with EMP and nuclear weapons, and perhaps also disables modern weaponry. But perhaps subsequent wars, riots, and general violence will consume all of the limited supplies of conventional ammunition available, so that when The Battle of Armageddon occurs many years later, only primitive weapons are available.

B.12.b) The ministry of God’s Two Prophets (Rev 11:1-12)

At first glance, the events portrayed in Revelation 11 also seem to require worldwide communication abilities.

[Read Revelation 11:1-12]

Some of the events described here seem confined to those living in Jerusalem. After the Prophets are killed by the Antichrist, their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city [Jerusalem] … where also their Lord was crucified… For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language, and nation [in Jerusalem] will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial (vs. 8-9 NIV).

The Greek text literally reads: “those out of [ek] the peoples… will see [blepousin]” the Prophets’ dead bodies. Therefore, it is not all the peoples of the world who will witness this, but as the NIV has it, only some from every people. This interpretation is confirmed by the fact that these same people are those who will refuse the Prophets’ burial. That only applies to those living in Jerusalem at the time, personally witnessing these events. ^[24]

The text also states that God will raise the Prophets to life and those who saw them will be struck with terror (v. 11). It seems most likely this is also referring to residents of Jerusalem who will personally witness this event. Likewise, these people alone will hear a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here” (v. 12). This is confirmed when the prophecy states that a severe earthquake will occur when the Prophets are resurrected, and only the survivors living in Jerusalem will be terrified and give glory to the God of heaven (v. 13).

These above events will not be experienced by the entire world, nor require modern communications technology. Rather, they will be experienced by some from every people, tribe, language, and nation that will be living in Jerusalem at this time. Gentiles mentioned in the beginning of the chapter who will trample on the holy city [Jerusalem] for 42 months (v. 2). Jerusalem will likely be the Antichrist’s worldwide headquarters during The Greatest Persecution, and he may require the presence of representatives from every people, tribe, language, and nation.

However, the text does describe the worldwide hatred of these Prophets. When they are killed, The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth (v. 10 NIV). Inhabitants of the earth is a repeated statement in Revelation that probably refers to all pagans living in the world during the Endtimes. Apparently, all those who live on the earth will have experienced the Prophets’ power to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire (v. 6). However, if modern communications technology is not available during this time, how will all the people in the world know the Two Prophets are causing these punishments, and how will they know they have been killed so that they celebrate their death?

It would seem the method of supernatural demonic communication through the Antichrist’s statues/idols described above provides an answer (sec. B.2). Of course, the Antichrist will want to slander these two servants of God. He could communicate this through the supernaturally empowered statues/idols of himself erected all over the world and given the ability to speak (Rev 13:14-15).

C) The effect of EMP & nuclear weapons on modern technology

C.1) The 75% probability that modern technology will be destroyed during the 2nd Seal

As noted in section B.1 there is biblical evidence that with the Antichrist’s Resurrection (portrayed with the opening of the 1st Seal), modern communications technology will be operating. However, throughout section B biblical evidence was provided to support a 75% probability that modern technology will be destroyed rather early in the Endtimes, before Christ’s Return and the Church’s Rescue. For example, as noted in section B.4, the biblical description of the results of opening the 3rd Seal are important:

Wherever two pounds of wheat will cost a day’s wages it will barely be subsistence living and on the verge of widespread starvation… Therefore, the 3rd Seal reflects a catastrophic event has occurred to rather instantly and drastically reduce the world’s food supply. More specifically, the war in the 2nd Seal has resulted in a rather dystopian world where virtually every economic, agricultural, and transportation institution and system has been significantly damaged if not destroyed.

A rather complete destruction of modern technology would seem to be necessary to cause this… Therefore, the dystopian world described in the 3rd Seal suggests the immediate loss of technology from the EMP and nuclear wars unleashed in the 2nd Seal.

Accordingly, it was explained in section B.1:

It will be argued in section C below that the destruction of modern technology will probably occur with the opening of the 2nd Seal and the massive war predicted. As explained elsewhere, it is expected that China and Russia will use Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) weapons to neutralize America’s military and nuclear weapons (cf. EB ch. 10, sec. B). It was also demonstrated there that such devices will destroy electrical components.

For further arguments that EMP producing nuclear weapons will be used in Antichrist’s Attack on America, see the material for Endtime Babylon, chapters 9-10.

Therefore, it is being claimed that there is a 75% probability that the following scenario will occur in the Endtimes:

1) With the opening of the 1st Seal, Antichrist’s Resurrection is portrayed (Rev 6:1-2). During this time, the False Prophet will order the placement of supernaturally speaking idols of the Antichrist all over the world, in anticipation of destroying the world’s communications technology (Rev 13:13-15; B.2).

2) This will be followed at some undisclosed time with the opening of the 2nd Seal, portraying Antichrist’s Attack on America with EMP producing nuclear weapons (Rev 6:3-4; 17:16; 18:8; EB chs. 9-10).

3) The Antichrist and 10-nation Endtime Coalition will seek to neutralize nuclear and military weapons in Europe as well, using EMP producing nuclear weapons.

4) It is unlikely that the Coalition will be able to neutralize all military weapons in America and Europe, including their submarines. Therefore, a sufficient amount of EMP producing nuclear weapons will probably be used against Russia and China to destroy their electrical power grids and computer and communications technology.

5) Because of the power of an EMP and the probability of numerous such weapons being used, unforeseen consequences would potentially occur including: serious damage to or collapse of the power grid across large portions of the globe, loss of the infrastructure to repair the power infrastructure, inability to manufacture modern technology, and loss of satellites for global communications.

6) This is why with the opening of the 3rd Seal, we have at least a significant part of the world where two pounds of wheat costs a day’s wages (Rev 6:6; B.4). In addition, during The Beginning of Birth Pains and The Greatest Persecution:

– False Christs in isolated communities are all effectively claiming they are Jesus Christ Himself returned to Earth (B.6).

– Swords are being used during The Beginning of Birth Pains and at Antichrist’s Abomination (B.7).

– Endtime warfare with the Antichrist will be using ancient weapons (B.8).

– Jesus will expect people in Jerusalem to flee by foot at the beginning of The Greatest Persecution (B.9).

– Jesus expects the common use of hand mills at His Return (B.10).

– Antichrist’s mark will be a physical tattoo instead of modern technology (B.11)

C.2) The destructive power of EMP radiation

If the Bible gives evidence of the loss of modern technology near the beginning of the Endtimes, how could this happen? In one sense it’s not necessary to explain how it could happen if we see it predicted in Scripture. But the following is a suggestion.

Nuclear weapons produce a massive amount of EMP radiation. Such radiation is invisible and harmless to humans, but very destructive to any kind of electrical equipment. Here a portion of chapter 10 in Endtime Babylon is quoted:

Cyber warfare is not the only way that Russia and China could disable America’s nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons themselves produce massive amounts of Electro-magnetic pulse (EMP) radiation that is very destructive to anything electrical. One source reports:

There’s a lesser-known consequence of a nuclear explosion that can drastically expand its damage zone: an electromagnetic pulse, or EMP.

Nuclear EMPs — if a detonation is large enough and high enough — can cover an entire continent and [permanently] cripple tiny circuits inside modern electronics on a massive scale, according to U. S. government reports.

The power grid, phone and internet lines, and other infrastructure that uses metal may also be prone to the effects, which resemble those of a devastating geomagnetic storm… Radios, computers, anything that uses electrical transmission to power itself, will be effectively neutralized by a nuclear bomb’s EMP… It happens within a fraction of a microsecond, and the surge of energy can overload or “shock” sensitive electronic devices — especially the kinds we heavily rely on today. ^[25]

Accordingly:

In order to address the potential EMP [electro-magnetic pulse] threat, in 2000, Congress created the EMP Threat Commission. In its final report it acknowledged that an EMP attack against the United States would disable “all systems that depend on electricity and electronics from medical instruments to military communications.” ^[26]

An article in the Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin had this to say about the threat of EMP weapons:

While testing hydrogen bombs in outer space [in the 1960’s], hundreds of miles above the planet, American and Soviet scientists discovered that each atomic blast created a pulse of electromagnetic energy similar to conventional radio-made microwaves, but with energy so great that they erased magnetic memories and melted the microscopic junctions in transistors on the Earth below. These were veritable tidal waves of energy, sufficient to cripple sensitive microelectronics but too weak to be seen, heard, or felt by human beings…

According to a declassified U.S. military report, the explosion of a bomb about one megaton in size (the exact size remains classified) eight hundred miles over Omaha, Nebraska, would shower the continental United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico with an EMP capable of disabling virtually every computerized circuit in its path.

Edward Teller, the father of the hydrogen bomb, succinctly described the damaging consequences of such an EMP attack in 1982, when he wrote in an obscure engineering journal:

Today there is almost universal dependence on electronic computers. They are used by first-graders as well as research engineers. Industry, communications, financial records, are all at stake here. In the event of heavy EMP radiation, it would be difficult to list the electronic devices that would continue to function…

The U.S. Defense Technology Plan confirms that development of advanced EMP weapons continues to this day, and not just by the Americans… This knowledge has set off a new arms race. Whether fitted into cruise missiles or parked at the side of the road in a van, non-nuclear EMP weapons have the potential to devastate the electronic systems of areas as large as a city or as small as a selected building, all without being seen, heard, or felt by a single soul.

Sound far-fetched? It did not in 1993 to the owners of automobiles parked about 300 meters from a U.S. defense contractor’s EMP generator test site at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Their alternators and electronic engine controls were accidentally and permanently fried by a pulse during classified field trials. ^[27]

One scholarly paper on the effects of EMP weapons used against America relates:

[Some] think every electronic device in the country will fail, and we will go back to the Stone Age. There are many such exaggerated scenarios; for example, it is doubtful that more than a very small fraction of vehicles will suddenly stop working – but how long will they be able to run with gasoline supply disruptions from possible electric power grid problems?…

It is unlikely that all electronics in the country, or even in any small region, would suddenly stop in the event of a high altitude explosion. Unhardened modern electronics, with long attached cables, are likely to be hit hard, and some fraction damaged. Cars and vehicles might have some failures. Newer ones do depend on a multitude of computers to work properly, but their cabling is limited in length. In addition, cars’ metallic frames provide some protection. It is unlikely that very small systems, such as an electronic wristwatch, would experience much trouble. ^[28]

The authors relate the greater vulnerability of electrical devices and the power grid connected to long wires and cables:

Soviet scientists tested the effect of a rather small EMP device on a 350 mile section of telephone lines that were protected by multiple fuses and overvoltage protectors. The EMP “blew all of the fuses and destroyed all of the overvoltage protectors.” In addition, a buried communications line about 400 miles from the detonation was damaged, as well as a diesel generator. ^[29]

However, the authors admit that current research is insufficient to be certain of the effects of the widespread use of EMP weapons:

One significant aspect of E1 HEMP vulnerability is that it has proven to be very difficult to predict the damage levels, even with very crude accuracy. A system typically is composed of many parts, and it has been hard to even estimate which part will fail, let alone get within even an order of magnitude in predicting at what level the system failure would occur… There has been little success in predicting (through calculations) vulnerability levels for systems – at what levels damage happens, and what part of the system fails…

As a final note, the bottom line for predicting E1 HEMP effects is that our modern world has never experienced such as assault. We can try to predict effects and draw upon similar effects and experimentation, but there is always the possibility of some surprise. Often even somewhat minor issues have led to extensive problems in the past, which would not have been predicted. ^[30]

Still, the knowledge of the potential effects of EMP weapons has prompted efforts to protect America’s infrastructure and military equipment. In particular, military hardware such as airplanes have been “hardened” against EMP attacks. But it is virtually impossible to protect the electrical power grid and computer and communications systems that the American military depends on. As noted above, power lines act as powerful antennas attracting and distributing EMP radiation for hundreds of miles. They have no protection against an EMP attack. Therefore, it would be the destruction of the electrical power grid and modern computer and communications systems by EMP radiation that would seriously cripple the American military.

Accordingly, as recent as June of 2020, Forbes business magazine published an article entitled: “China Has ‘First-Strike’ Capability To Melt U.S. Power Grid With Electromagnetic Pulse Weapon.” The article was derived from a U. S. Congressional hearing and reports the following:

Last week, the EMP Task Force on National and Homeland Security issued a scary report on China’s ability to conduct an Electromagnetic Pulse attack on the United States. The key takeaway, according to Dr. Peter Pry, executive director of the task force, is that China now has super-EMP weapons, knows how to protect itself against an EMP attack, and has developed protocols to conduct a first-strike attack, even as they deny they would ever do so.

According to the Center for Strategic International Studies, China has the most active ballistic missile development program in the world, so this is doubly troubling. China used stolen U.S. technology to develop at least three types of high-tech weapons to attack the electric grid and key technologies that could cause a surprise “Pearl Harbor” attack that could produce a deadly blackout to the entire country.

Dr. Pry outlines how China has built a network of satellites, high-speed missiles, and super-electromagnetic pulse weapons that could [permanently] melt down our electric grid, [permanently] fry critical communications, and even [permanently] takeout the ability of our aircraft carrier groups to respond.

EMPs are one of those things that many people think is fake, or over-blown, or a conspiracy theorist’s dream. But they are real… If they are coordinated with physical attacks then things can get very bad, real fast…

The phenomenon of a large electromagnetic pulse is not new. The first human-caused EMP occurred in 1962 when the 1.4 megaton Starfish Prime thermonuclear weapon detonated 400 km [250 miles] above the Pacific Ocean. One hundred times bigger than what we dropped on Hiroshima; Starfish Prime resulted in an EMP which caused [permanent] electrical damage nearly 900 miles away in Hawaii…

Even more troubling, Dr. Pry found that China is eager to shoot first with “high-altitude electromagnetic pulse,” or HEMP, weapons launched from satellites, ships, and land.

“China’s military doctrine—including numerous examples presented here of using HEMP attack to win on the battlefield, defeat U.S. aircraft carriers, and achieve against the U.S. homeland a surprise ‘Pearl Harbor’ writ large—is replete with technical and operational planning consistent with a nuclear first-strike,” said Pry in his report.

Needless to say, we are not prepared for this. China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran are moving to build and deploy systems which can launch a nuclear weapon into the atmosphere to explode and disable electronics below, including flying aircraft.

Pry concluded in his remarks to Congress: “This poses a real threat of possibly being able to win a war with a single blow by means of an EMP attack. This is regarded by Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran as potentially the most decisive military revolution in history. By attacking the technological Achilles heel of a nation like the United States, you could bring us to our knees and not even have to do battle with the Marines or the Navy or the Air Force, and win a war in 24 hours with a single blow–a combined EMP cyberattack.” ^[31]

Notice that EMP radiation does permanent damage to these systems. They do not cause a temporary interference in their operation that will dissipate over time. Therefore, damaged electrical power grids, and electronic and communication devices would all have to be re-manufactured to replace the damaged ones. However, if such electrical and computer components are permanently destroyed, it would seem impossible for the world to reconstruct them from scratch. How do you manufacture such sophisticated equipment if you do not have any electricity? You cannot. ^[32]

C.3) The destructive scope of EMP weapons

If EMP and nuclear weapons are used in the alarming wars (Matt 24:6-7; Rev 6:3-4, 8) predicted at the beginning of the Endtimes, could they destroy all modern technology everywhere in the world? Admittedly, this is difficult to believe. However, biblical evidence for this very thing was presented in section B. Is this possible?

First of all, nobody really knows the destructive effects of unleashing a massive amount of EMP radiation in the world. Because of its destructive nature, experiments have been limited to relatively very small demonstrations. ^[33] But as noted above, those limited experiments have demonstrated that an EMP weapon can affect very large areas of the Earth. The above warnings describe the effect of one nuclear device over an area. What if hundreds or thousands of nuclear weapons are used in Endtime wars?

It has been argued elsewhere that a massive amount of EMP and nuclear weapons will be simultaneously unleashed to leave America completely defenseless and annihilated as one of the early events of the Endtimes (cf. EB chs. 9-11). This explains how modern technology could be lost in North America. But how would it be lost worldwide?

First, it is probable that the Antichrist and 10-nation Endtime Coalition will attack European and NATO countries with at least a limited nuclear weapons strike. This would be for the purpose of neutralizing the over 600 nuclear warheads currently in those countries. ^[34]

Second, as noted above, it is unlikely that the Coalition will be able to neutralize all military weapons in America and Europe. Therefore, Russia and China will be attacked with at least some EMP producing nuclear weapons, which may be sufficient to destroy their electrical power grids and computer and communications technology.

Third, it was noted above that the EMP Threat Commission warned in 2020 that China has built a network of EMP weapons that are satellites circling the Earth. It is believed that an EMP weapon will affect everything in its “line of sight.” ^[35] Therefore, an EMP satellite would affect the entire geographical area that could be “seen” from such a satellite from outer space. In other words, it would seem just a few EMP weaponized satellites could affect an entire hemisphere of the world.

Finally, the destructive scope of a satellite-based EMP weapon would be greatly expanded because all power lines and cables affected would become long-range distributors of the damaging electrical currents. As one resource relates:

A high-altitude nuclear EMP (HEMP) can induce voltages in power lines that can travel hundreds or even thousands of miles. These have the capability to impact a large area because the EMP is emitted in a broad wave. ^[36]

Actually, power lines and cables act as antennas for EMP electrical currents and transmit them throughout an inter-connected power grid even across national boundaries.

Admittedly, it is difficult to understand how the entire world could lose modern technology. However, regardless of our inability to explain how such a catastrophe could occur, the biblical evidence in section B strongly suggests we should at least attempt to be prepared for the destruction of modern technology in the beginning of the Endtimes.

D) The practical effects of losing modern technology before Christ’s Return when the Church is still on the Earth

D.1) Imagining a pre-modern world

For reasons given above, it is again suggested:

• There is a 95% probability that modern technology will be lost sometime during the Endtimes.
• There is a 20% probability this loss of modern technology will occur after Christ’s Return when the Church is not on the Earth.
• There is a 75% probability this loss of modern technology will occur before Christ’s Return when the Church is still on the Earth.

The probabilities you would give to such things may be different. Regardless, it is claimed that there is enough biblical evidence for the loss of modern technology before Christ’s Return and the Church’s Rescue that it would be wise for those who believe they may enter the Endtimes to prepare for such a catastrophic and life-threatening event.

Because Americans have lived for so long being surrounded by technology it is very difficult for them to imagine what a world would be like without it. It is easy to forget that humanity lived without electricity and cars for the vast majority of its existence on Earth.

For example, cars were not available until the early 1900’s. Therefore, they have only existed for the last 125 years of a biblically estimated 6,000 years that humans have lived on Earth. That means that humans have had the luxury of cars for only the last 2% of their time on Earth.

Electricity has a similar story. It was not until 1882 that Thomas Edison’s Pearl Street Power Station in New York City became the first electric power plant to produce electricity for homes. But its availability worldwide was rather slow. By 1970, only 49% of the world’s population had access to electricity. By 1990, 76% of the world’s population had access to electricity. Even in the “early 2010s” only about 80% of the world’s population had access to electricity. ^[37] So, less than 15 years ago, about 20% of people in the world did not have access to electricity.

The widespread availability of modern inventions like the Internet and cell phone communications is even more recent.

Still it is difficult for us to imagine how all those people living in Old Testament times and in Jesus’s day, all the way up until the 20th century (60th century in total), lived without electricity and modern transportation, communications, and even plumbing. Therefore, it is very difficult for us to understand what a world would be like without modern technology.

Some official reports to the U. S. Congress have attempted to communicate the seriousness of such an event. For example, a summary from a 2008 report is still relevant regarding the practical effects of the loss of technology due to an EMP attack:

Electrical power is necessary to support critical infrastructures, including the supply of water, food, fuel, communications, transport, financial transactions, emergency services, government services, and all other infrastructures supporting the national economy and welfare. Should significant parts of the electrical power infrastructure be lost for any substantial period of time, the Commission believes that the consequences are likely to be catastrophic, and many people may ultimately die for lack of the basic elements necessary to sustain life in dense urban and suburban communities. ^[38]

The everyday lives (and even life itself!) of Americans depends very heavily on technology. Therefore, again, it is almost impossible for them to imagine what their life would be like without it. Americans forget that modern technology is very, very recent in human history. If we interpret biblical history literally, it seems humans have only existed for about 6,000 years. It is only in the last 100 years that modern technology has influenced our lives. In other words, humans have only lived with modern technology for about 1.5% of history. ^[39]

For example, “in 1925 [99 years ago] only half of all homes in the U.S. had electric power,” including electric lighting. ^[40] “In 1940 [84 years ago], nearly half of houses lacked hot piped water, a bathtub or shower, or a flush toilet.” ^[41] Likewise, “many Americans didn’t own cars until after World War II and into the late 1940s. At that time, 40% of people in cities and towns used public transportation instead, such as buses, trolleys, and trains.” ^[42] In 1955 (about 70 years ago) only half of American homes had televisions. ^[43] In other words, the vast majority of humans that have lived throughout all of history never had household water, heating, toilets, electric lighting, or a car.

Again, it is very difficult for modern Americans to imagine such a world. It can help to visit rural places in third world countries. Perhaps it can help to think about movies that portray life before the 1900’s such as westerns or during the civil war or medieval or ancient times. Some have suggested the more recent Walking Dead series depicts what life might be like if modern technology was destroyed (minus the zombies, hopefully).

For planning purposes, let us recognize all the systems and devices that depend on electricity in the world and what effects their destruction would have on everyday life.

D.2) Water and food

– Municipal water systems and rural wells are operated by electric pumps. Therefore, drinking water would probably have to come from natural sources such as rivers and lakes.

– All food manufacturers rely completely on electrical equipment. Therefore, essentially anything at the grocery store would probably become unavailable.

– Refrigeration would not exist.

– Electric stoves, ovens, and microwaves would not work. Food preparation would probably occur over a fire.

A Chat-GPT enquiry concluded that the loss of technology in the world would reduce the world’s food supply by 50%. Frankly, this seems conservative.

D.3) Household & daily life

– There would not be any electrical lighting, heating, or cooling.

– Toilets would only function by pouring water into them.

– But again, household water systems would not be operating.

– There would be no TV’s, computers, smart phones, or Internet for accessing websites, apps, books, or entertainment.

The latter is not so much because it is certain these devices will be destroyed by EMP’s. Research suggests that electrical devices that would be unplugged or have relatively short or limited wires and circuitry may very well survive EMP radiation. However, because of the rather complete vulnerability of the electrical power grids, such devices would become inoperable. ^[44]

D.4) Communications & Transportation

– Again, EMP radiation would damage much of the modern communications equipment including satellites, computers, the Internet, and radios.

– Even if you protect electronic devices, the electrical power grid would be severely damaged and probably not be operating.

– All modern aircraft would probably be grounded.

– There is some evidence that perhaps ships will still be operating (cf. Rev 18:17-19). However, their modern navigation equipment will probably not operate.

– It has been proven that EMP radiation can permanently disable modern vehicles. Although most of the research suggests many vehicles would survive.

– However, even if a vehicle survives EMP radiation, oil refineries will be a special target in any nuclear warfare. Therefore, the equipment to refine, transport, and pump fuel would be disabled, eliminating modern transportation.

D.5) Banking & commerce

– “The sum total of money (M2) in the world is about $60 trillion of which c. 1/10^th is held as coins or bank notes. The remaining 90% is held as digital money on computers servers; the vast majority of transactions by value are executed by moving electronic data from one computer file to another without any exchange of physical cash.” ^[45]

– If electronic systems are destroyed in an EMP attack, all money stored by digital means in banks will be immediately erased and lost.

– Financial transactions will only occur with hard currencies or bartering.

– For more on this, see “Currencies & Commerce in the Endtimes.”

D.6) Health care

– Surgeries of almost any kind would not be available.

– Over-the-counter and prescription medicines, produced and distributed by modern technology, will not be available.

– Modern therapies for cancer (radiation, chemo) and dialysis would not be available.

– Vaccinations would not be available.

– Emergency medical care would not be available.

– In essence, only basic and first aid medical care would be available.

D.7) Conclusion: many challenges, one advantage, & a plan

As noted above, all we can do is suggest probabilities regarding the state of modern technology in the Endtimes. It is possible technology will not be lost before the Church’s Rescue and will be present during the Endtimes. However, biblical evidence has been presented to suggest a significant probability that modern technology will be destroyed by the heavy use of nuclear and EMP weapons in Antichrist’s Attack rather early in the Endtimes.

Obviously, if this occurs, it will present several serious and life-threatening consequences. Preparing for the unprecedented hardships of the Endtimes is a challenging task. Unfortunately, it is made many times more difficult in light of losing modern technology. The lack of modern drinking water systems, food production, and transportation will be especially difficult.

However, there may be one advantage to losing modern technology in the Endtimes. Especially during The Greatest Persecution, it would seem much harder for authorities to locate and capture isolated communities of Christians if modern communications and transportation does not exist. Especially in the beginning of such catastrophic chaos, such authorities will be far too busy with civilian violence and daily needs themselves, to have the resources to locate and pursue Christians. Perhaps this is even part of God’s plan.

1. See Block, 439, for the Hebrew meanings of the weaponry. NIV seems accurate. ↑

2. Again, McComisky and K&D are not helpful in locating the Valley of Jehoshaphat. But Wiersbe comments:

   This great battle will take place in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (vv. 2, 12), a site mentioned nowhere else in Scripture. In verse 14, it’s called “the valley of decision,” referring to God’s decision (decree) to punish the nations. Since the name “Jehoshaphat” means “the Lord judges,” the name “Valley of Jehoshaphat” might well be symbolic, but some students believe it refers to the Plain of Esdraelon where the “battle of Armageddon” will be fought (Rev. 16:16). Joel 3:1 ↑

3. Block, 466. ↑

4. K&D, at Ezek 39:9. Although they oddly claim, “The number seven in the seven years as well as in the seven months of burying (v. 11) is symbolical.”

   Not surprisingly, Wiersbe writes of Ezek 39:9-10:

   So large will be the collection of unused equipment that the people will use it for fuel for seven years… Some writers suggest that world disarmament would make it necessary for Gog and his army to use ancient weapons and ride on horses. But ancient weapons and cavalries don’t lend themselves to surprise attacks in a world equipped with satellites, the Internet, radar, and television reporters!

   The author ignores the possibility that “disarmament” is more likely to occur through weapons discussed in this chapter, rather than voluntarily. If those weapons have their proven effect, there will not be any “satellites, the Internet, radar, and television reporters!” ↑

5. Wiersbe at Ezek 39:9. ↑

6. Many years ago, popular prophecy author Hal Lindsey claimed that Russia’s tanks were made out of a combustible material. It is unclear where he got such information. It is certainly unclear why Russia would make their tanks combustible. The tanks and military hardware Russia is using today in Ukraine is certainly made of metal and their scattered remains throughout Ukraine demonstrate they are not combustible. ↑

7. Block, 450. K&D do not comment on the nature of the weapons described in Ezek 38:4. ↑

8. Neither Thomas, Osborne, nor Mounce comment on the presence of horses at the Battle of Armageddon. ↑

9. McComisky makes no comment about Zech 12:3 referring to the Battle of Armageddon. K&D suggest the text refers to, “all the wars of the Lord on behalf of His people.” Wiersbe is more helpful, writing:

   Note the emphasis on “all nations” and “all peoples” (Zech. 12:2-3, 6, 9; 14:2, 12, 14, 16), for this attack involves the armies of the whole world and is part of the famous “battle of Armageddon” described in Joel 3:9-16; Matthew 24:27-30; and Revelation 9:13-18; 16:12-16; and 19:17-21. ↑

10. No OT scholars could be found who commented on the ancient nature of the weapons and agricultural tools being described here in Isaiah 2:4 or Micah 4:3. ↑

11. Osborne, 586. ↑

12. MacArthur writes: This is the first mention of the beast’s kingdom. It obviously refers to a concrete kingdom with geographical extent, not to an abstract rulership of the beast… Since the beast’s kingdom is worldwide, this amounts to a darkness that covers the whole earth.

    Thomas explains how mere darkness may cause the agony described in Rev 16:10:

    But the plural πόνων (ponōn, “pains”) in v. 11 sums up those cumulative pains and implies that this singular ponou is a particular distress caused by the darkness (Beckwith). Perhaps the difficulty in explaining the source of pain relates to the fact that the world has never experienced such a widespread and extended darkness. Conceivably, this will create all sorts of physical havoc… One can imagine the conditions of panic that already existed until now, when the darkness comes and compounds the hysteria. (1276-78) ↑

13. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-damage-could-be-caused-by-a-massive-solar-storm-25627394/ ↑

14. Ref. unavailable. ↑

15. Smithsonian. ↑

16. https://web-archive.oecd.org/2022-10-18/99884-46891645.pdf ↑

17. Thomas comments on the supernatural power exercised by the False Prophet:

    John’s language in no way implies a sleight-of-hand deceptiveness. The signs are genuine, but they fool people into following false gods (Kiddle). So his works should not be in the category of “magic.” As one of the beast’s signs (13:13), he gave life to the image so that it actually spoke (1146; cf. Osborne, 515). ↑

18. It is admitted that elsewhere in Endtimes Essentials the translation of rumors was argued against (cf. BBP ch. 18, sec. B.3). ↑

19. The average annual salary in America is reported to be about $64,000. This divided by 360 days is $177. https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/average-salary-in-us/# ↑

20. A Chat GPT inquiry asking if the world lost technology how would that effect the world’s food supply. ↑

21. Some have suggested that with the presence of modern technology the Antichrist could restrict and control what is being communicated worldwide, including reports of multiple miracle-working False Christs simultaneously claiming to be Jesus Christ. The example of restricted and filtered information in North Korea, China, and Russia are offered as examples. But such a scenario does not account for the use of modern transportation if technology is still operating. Simply by driving a car to a nearby city or flying a plane to another country, one could become aware of additional False Christs making contradictory claims to being Jesus Christ. ↑

22. https://firmisrael.org/learn/as-the-mountains-surround-jerusalem/ ↑

23. Google AI result. ↑

24. Not surprisingly there is some debate on the scope of Rev 11:9. In the NIV it reads: For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language, and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. If only some from various nations will view these things, then it would support the possibility that there will be no modern communications technology at this time.

    However, the NLT translates Rev 11:9 as: And for three and a half days, all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will stare at their bodies. No one will be allowed to bury them. If that will be true, then it can only happen through the use of modern communications technology.

    The literal Greek is: ek tōn laōn (“out from the peoples;” cf. BDAG). It should be noticed that this is a rather odd way for John to write, if he intended to mean everyone in the world. This would provide some evidence that the NIV is correct. Accordingly, A Greek Grammar of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, by F. Blass, A. Debrunner, and R. W. Funk, BDF (University of Chicago, 1961), states that Rev 11:9 is an example of “a partitive use of ek, as in ‘some of’” (162.2).

    But it must be admitted that the NLT translation is also possible. J. Otis Yoder, writing in J. B. Smith’s Revelation commentary, notes regarding the Greek here:

    The earlier expositors no doubt found it difficult to interpret the see, except as it related to the dwellers at Jerusalem. However, within the fourth decade of the twentieth century the introduction of television makes the literal truth of the verb see entirely possible.

    One may understand the thought in this way, or else the preposition ek, out from, may have reference to the cosmopolitan character of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. In which case one would understand the syntax to the Greek to be the partitive use of the genitive case. Thus the sentence would read, And they out of the peoples, and kindreds, and tongues, and nations [which dwell in Jerusalem] shall see their corpses… Either interpretation is sound exegesis. (Smith, 173)

    And either translation is possible. Therefore, the Greek cannot decide the issue. Accordingly, scholars are divided. Thomas writes:

    Here the worldwide groupings are the pool from which come those who in league with the beast are for the moment glad to see the end of the two witnesses. These must be members of different nations present in Jerusalem at this critical time (Charles)… A globe-spanning interest in these two deaths is anticipated, but not every single person will see the corpses in person. Because of the cosmopolitan backgrounds of Jerusalem’s inhabitants, representatives from all groups will be there to witness it personally, however. (1007)

    But perhaps the majority of scholars see it differently. MacArthur writes:

    The use of the all-inclusive phrase peoples and tribes and tongues and nations (cf. 5:9; 7:9; 10:11) indicates that people around the world will look at the dead bodies of the two witnesses (on satellite television or some other form of visual media). (304)

    Likewise, Walvoord writes:

    There was a time when interpreters wondered how people from every part of the earth would be able to see the prophet’s bodies, but of course modern technology has made this completely possible. Anyone with a cell phone can snap a picture and post it on the Internet where it can be viewed instantly. (Rev)

    Finally, Osborne writes: “It is obvious the whole world of unbelievers will participate in the celebration” (428). He acknowledges the opinion of BDF above that Rev 11:9 is an example of “a partitive use of ek, as in ‘some of,’” but replies, “this does not mean only “some of” the people around the world watched. More likely, it means people “from” all over the world participated in the celebration” (Ibid. cf. Beale, 593-4).

    Therefore, neither the Greek text nor scholarly opinion is decisive on the scope of those who will gaze on, the Prophets,’ bodies. But there is something in the text that fairly much proves it will only be residents in Jerusalem. Notice again the entire sentence: For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language, and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The same people who will gaze on their bodies are the one who will be present to refuse them burial. It will not be people all over the world who will be in a position to do so.

    In addition, the prophecy states that only the survivors of a severe earthquake in Jerusalem will be terrified and give glory to the God of heaven when they see the Prophets resurrected (v. 13). If these events were being watched all over the world, the scope of the affect would be greater. These events will not be experienced by the entire world, nor require modern communications technology. Both the NLT and the scholars above ignore this.

    Therefore, it can be concluded with some confidence that Rev 11:9 actually supports the claim that modern communications technology will not be available in the world when God’s Two Prophets are ministering. ↑

25. https://www.businessinsider.com/nukes-electromagnetic-pulse-electronics-2017. For updated information on the threat of cyber warfare and EMP weapons from Russia and China, see online at: https://emptaskforce.us/ ↑

26. Frank J. Gaffney & Colleagues, War Footing: 10 Steps America Must Take to Prevail in The War for The Free world, (Naval Institute Press, 2006), 102. ↑

27. Major Scott W. Merkle, “Non-Nuclear EMP: Automating the Military May Prove a Real Threat” online at https://irp.fas.org/agency/army/mipb/1997-1/merkle.htm ↑

28. Edward Savage, et. al., “High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) and Its Impact on the U.S. Power Grid,” pp. 10, 113. Online at

    http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2019/ph241/rogers1/docs/meta-r-320.pdf ↑

29. Ibid., p. 59. ↑

30. Ibid., pp. 113, 157. ↑

31. https://www.wionews.com/world/expert-warns-of-impending-doomsday-says-us-vulnerable-to-chinas-electromagnetic-pulse-attack-432136 and

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2020/06/25/china-develops-first-strike-capability-with-electromagnetic-pulse/?sh=42b2e6dbe190 ↑

32. The paper by Savage et. al. is very technical and seems very thorough. However, its conclusions do not seem helpful or conclusive. On one hand, the authors seem to claim the danger is rather minimal:

    There are others that think every electronic device in the country will fail, and we will go back to the Stone Age. There are many such exaggerated scenarios; for example, it is doubtful that more than a very small fraction of vehicles will suddenly stop working – but how long will they be able to run with gasoline supply disruptions from possible electric power grid problems?…

    Its certainty is unlikely that all electronics in the country, or even in any small region, would suddenly stop in the event of a high altitude explosion. Unhardened modern electronics, with long attached cables, are likely to be hard hit, and some fraction hurt. Cars and vehicles might have some failures. Newer ones do depend on a multitude of computers to work properly, but their cabling is limited in length. In addition, cars’ metallic frames provide some protection. It is unlikely that very small systems, such as an electronic wristwatch, would experience much trouble. (10, 113)

    However, the authors admit that current research is insufficient to be confident in such conclusions:

    One significant aspect of E1 HEMP vulnerability is that it has proven to be very difficult to predict the damage levels, even with very crude accuracy. A system typically is composed of many parts, and it has been hard to even estimate which part will fail, let alone get within even an order of magnitude in predicting at what level the system failure would occur… There has been little success in predicting (through calculations) vulnerability levels for systems – at what levels damage happens, and what part of the system fails…

    As a final note, the bottom line for predicting E1 HEMP effects is that our modern world has never experienced such as assault. We can try to predict effects and draw upon similar effects and experimentation, but there is always the possibility of some surprise. Often even somewhat minor issues have led to extensive problems in the past, which would not have been predicted. (113, 157) ↑

33. See endnote above. ↑

34. In Europe, France and the UK are the only countries with nuclear weapons. Together they are estimated to have 515 nuclear warheads, of which 400 are deployed, according to SIPRI. The US also has an estimated 100 nuclear warheads stored across Europe on air bases in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey, according to the Centre for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/10/13/explained-who-has-nuclear-weapons-and-where-are-they#:~:text=Some%201%2C588%20are%20deployed%20which,are%20deployed%2C%20according%20to%20SIPRI ↑

35. Regarding “the amount of the Earth’s surface that is exposed to the E1 HEMP … is simply determined by geometry – a given point on the Earth will be illuminated by E1 HEMP if it is within line-of-sight of the burst location” Savage, 24. ↑

36. Chat-GPT generated answer. ↑

37. Goolge AI generated answer. ↑

38. Report of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack; online at http://www.empcommission.org/docs/A2473-EMP_Commission-7MB.pdf ↑

39. 1.5% is derived from the following: (100/6000)x100 = 1.6% ↑

40. https://www.nps.gov/edis/learn/kidsyouth/the-electric-light-system- ↑

41. https://www.aceee.org/files/proceedings/2004/data/papers/SS04_Panel1_Paper17.pdf ↑

42. Google AI overview. ↑

43. Google AI overview ↑

44. Information derived from personal conversation with an expert on the effects of EMP’s on electrical equipment. ↑

45. https://www.futureagenda.org/foresights/digital-money/# ↑