Six Months in the Dark

Hal Lindsey, 5/4/05

Although it seems laughable to think America could be defeated militarily by any foreign power (barring total nuclear destruction by a force like, say, the Russians), Kyl argues that a single Iranian Scud missile armed with a single nuclear warhead, detonated 200 miles above the Midwest, could plunge America into the 1880s and render our amazing military advantages useless.

It is hard to overestimate the scope of the threat an EMP attack against the United States poses. It would take only a single nuclear warhead of sufficient size detonated from a sufficient altitude.

Iran is working feverishly toward developing a nuclear weapon and has just successfully tested a missile capable of delivering it at the right altitude.

A successful strike would be virtually silent. An EMP-blinded Pentagon could be prevented from pinpointing its origin. And, since the damage is much less than a nuclear explosion, there would be little support for a non-conventional counterstrike.

Especially if it is launched by terrorists not directly connected with Iran as a country.

While there would be no immediate loss of life, the cascading effects would result in millions and millions of indirect casualties.

Contaminated water and food, no resupply, six months of darkness and total loss of communications. It would potentially throw us, technologically speaking, back to the 1880’s.

Consider for example, the effect where I live, in what is called California’s Inland Empire. That is a triangle from the desert cities of San Bernardino to Temecula to Palm Desert.

In the 1880’s very few lived in the desert. It wasn’t survivable. Without working transportation, electricity for air-conditioning and pumps to supply water, the only way out is to walk.

The California desert isn’t survivable without water. And if you could survive the walk, where would you go? Nobody else has food or water either.

An EMP attack’s effects would be felt continent-wide, including Canada and Mexico. Although our nuclear capability would survive, we dare not use them except to prevent a direct attack. We would still have our submarine fleet, and shielded communications would probably survive.

But who would we strike? And what would happen then?

Once our nukes are gone, we present no greater a military threat than, say, Argentina. We wouldn’t dare to use them. Should Russia decide to help itself to a helpless Mexico or Canada, there is little anybody could do to stop them.

Senator Kyl says it could take the US as long as six months to make a minimal recovery. And that’s assuming the Russians, Europeans and Chinese will wait while we are helpless. The Muslim nations certainly do not want us re-assume our place as “the Great Satan superpower.”

None of this is an over-exaggeration of the threat posed by such an attack. Neither is it as unlikely or impossible as we would like to believe.

It isn’t paranoia to think that the Russians would be opposed to seeing America reduced to a third world country. It would restore Russia to her former status of one of the two remaining superpowers without having to fire a shot or risk retaliation.

It isn’t paranoia to think Europe would be particularly saddened by the elimination of the competition for global superpower, either.

Bible prophecy clearly identifies four spheres of global power during the final hours of human history during the Great Tribulation.

Ezekiel identifies the Russian/Muslim Alliance. John foretells the 200-million-strong-military-force of the Kings of the East.

The prophet Daniel identifies the Kings of the South as the Muslim nations and a revived form of the old Roman Empire.

There is no mention of a fifth global superpower that matches the description of the United States. On the contrary, the Revived Roman Culture of Europe is predicted as the supreme power.

The United States is the world’s only Christian country. It is the only country outside Israel founded on Judeo-Christian principles.

The nation of Israel is the representative of the Jewish presence in the last days. So, I believe, is the United States representative of the Church in the very last days.

The United States is mentioned in Scripture for the last days, but in a very different context than the Tribulation.

Writing of the Church Age, the Apostle Paul wrote;

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.” (2nd Timothy 3:1-5 NASB)

This is a hard truth. It is difficult not to recognize much of modern America’s social culture in Paul’s description. But the Apostle Paul also holds out this promise to believers who trust Jesus during the Church Age’s final hours.

He writes,
“For this we say to you, BY THE WORD OF THE LORD, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.”

Of the living believers at the close of the Church Age, Paul writes:

“Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we always be with the Lord.”

“Therefore, comfort one another with these words. -- 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16 (NASB)

Finally, Revelation gives a specific promise to the believing remnant Church of the last days, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” (Rev. 3:10)

John identifies “those who dwell on the earth” as unbelievers in the seven times they are mentioned in the Revelation. These are contrasted with the “believers”. The believers are removed from the place of trial, which is aimed at “those who dwell upon the earth.”

Make sure that you are one of those who will be removed from the time of trial aimed at the unbelievers. Receive the gift of pardon Christ purchased for you now.

SOURCE: Hal Lindsey Oracle