TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY IN BIBLE PROPHECY
Lesson 16: John's account of shorter post-AWWI days is compared
with the insight Christ gave us on the matter.
I The fourth trumpet angel described the most damaging
climatic wound inflicted on the planet by AWWI.
12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the
sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the
third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was
darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and
the night likewise (Rev. 8:12).
A How does this verse show that the atomic war is over?
- There are no further descriptions of the immediate
destructive effects of atomic weapons.
B The fourth trumpet angel reported the most damaging
post-AWWI negative effect--the inability of a third of
the light from the sun, moon, and stars to penetrate
the planet's smoke-filled atmosphere.
C Why did the fourth trumpet angel describe the climatic
aberration, but not the root cause of the abnormality?
1 God knew that until the 1980s computer studies revealed
how 100 to 300 million tons of smoke from a full-scale
nuclear war would block out a large fraction of the
earth's sunlight, people would not be able to understand
the root cause anyway.
2 The historical record proves this point since even
though the fifth trumpet angel clearly identified smoke
as the reason for the blockage of one-third of the sun's
inbound light, no one, prior to the nuclear war studies
of the '80s, made this connection.
3 (Pre-atomic age prophecy books often stated that the
Bible's descriptions of the vast destruction wrought
by AWWI could not happen, literally.)
D The light-blocking capacity (optical depth) of the high
altitude smoke clouds will be the root cause of the loss
of a third of the light from the sun, moon, and stars.
E Nuclear war studies do not estimate to what extent atomic
smoke clouds will shorten the planet's days after a
nuclear war since scientists do not have a way to
determine what size a future atomic war might be.
F Scientists could use the Bible's forecast that the
thickness and density of the high altitude encircling
smoke will be sufficient enough to block out one-third of
all inbound light, to determine the size of the coming
atomic war.
II Christ's definition of the Great Tribulation explains why
the post-AWWI days will be shortened.
A SETTING:
1 Christ revealed the redeeming aspect of AWWI's immense
clouds of smoke to His disciples during the course
of His response to their question: "What shall be the
sign of thy coming?" (Matt. 24:3).
2 Christ's answer included a number of signs and events
that would precede His Second Coming.
B In the midst of His reply Jesus identified the most
important unnatural phenomenon that will occur during the
Great Tribulation and its awesome significance.
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not
since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever
shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should
no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days
shall be shortened (Matt. 24:21-22).
A For centuries many Christians held the view that this
prophecy was fulfilled when the Roman army killed 1.1
million Jews during the destruction of Jerusalem in
70 A.D.
B The idea hinged on the premise that the siege of Jerusalem
was shortened so thus some Jews survived.
C What are two major shortcomings of this view?
1 The Jewish people suffered far greater tribulation
at the hands of Hitler's Nazi war machine, which
brutally killed six million Jews over the course of
World War II.
2 Also, the fall of Jerusalem to Rome's army failed to
meet the prophecy's specific requirement that "except
those days should be shortened, there should no flesh
be saved."
a "No flesh" refers to everyone living on the planet,
not just the Jewish people.
b Thus, the plain meaning of the prophecy teaches that
no man, woman or child on planet Earth would survive
the Great Tribulation "except those days should be
shortened."
c The siege of Jerusalem, whether it lasted 5 months or
5 years, had no life-threatening significance to the
rest of the world's population in 70 A.D.
d Accordingly, "except those days should be shortened"
does not refer to the length of the Great Tribulation
period, but rather, the shortened length of each
individual day during the time of the Great
Tribulation.
D What prophetic facts establish that there is one, and
only one, Great Tribulation in Bible prophecy?
1 The Sixth Seal prophecy's pronouncement that an unpre-
cedented atomic war will launch the first day of the
Great Tribulation matches Christ's warning that the
Great Tribulation would be so terrible that it would
be beyond the grasp of preceding generations--"such
as was not since the beginning of the world to this
time, no, nor ever shall be."
2 The Fourth Trumpet angel's report that the world's
post-AWWI days shall "shine not for a third part and
the night likewise," agrees with Christ's identifica-
tion of a second unique feature to look for during
the time of the Great Tribulation--"shortened days."
E Clearly then, without the cloud of high altitude atomic
smoke blocking out "a third part of the sun," which in
turn will stop the four winds and shorten the days,
deadly radiation would quickly be carried to the far
corners of the planet.
F Thus, if the days were not shortened and the winds were
not brought to a standstill after AWWI, according to
Jesus: "no one would survive" (Matt. 24:22, NIV).
G Because the 40 scientists who met in Cambridge, Mass.,
April 25 and 26, 1983, to discuss the Long-Term World-
wide Biological Consequences of Nuclear War, failed to
perceive that high altitude atomic smoke would shut down
the earth's winds, they came to the conclusion that the
"extinction of the human species itself cannot be excluded."
H Wind-borne radiation arriving on the west coast of North
America ten days after the Soviet's 1986 Chernobyl
nuclear-power-plant disaster, demonstrated that "no one
would survive" if the days were not shortened by the high
altitude atomic smoke.
I Thus, the "shortened days" from AWWI's globe-girdling,
high altitude atomic smoke turns out to be part of a
life-saving safety feature, put there by God; not, as has
been commonly supposed, the death blow to the human race.
J The "shortened days" blessing in disguise reveals how God
applies His love to the task of salvaging a dying race
from its own commitment to destruction.
K In summary, an atomic war which, but for the intervening
grace of God, would terminate the human species, unargu-
ably fulfills the first requirement of the Great Tribula-
tion: "such as was not since the beginning of the world."
III Christ's explanation for why the days will be shortened.
A Jesus ended His "Great Tribulation" prophecy with the
statement: "but for the elect's sake those days shall
be shortened."
1 The word elect in the Greek means chosen.
2 It is given to Christians "because God chose them from
the beginning to be saved, through sanctification of
the Spirit and belief of the truth"
(2 Thess. 2:13, RSV).
B Sanctification is the spiritual act of God freeing a man
from his sins.
1 God chose from the beginning to save all men who would
believe in the truth that Jesus Christ is the Savior of
the world:
2 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his
name" (John 1:12).
C The "shortened days" will, in addition to sparing the
human race from extinction, make it possible for
Christians living during the Great Tribulation to teach
others about Christ's plan of salvation.
D Jesus emphasized the Christians' presence directly follow-
ing His explicit definition of these "shortened days."
23 At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the
Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it.
24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and
perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the
elect--if that were possible.
25 See, I have told you ahead of time.
26 "So if anyone tells you, "There he is, out in the
desert,' do not go out; or, Here he is, in the inner rooms,
do not believe it (Matt. 24:23-26, NIV).
A Why is God so intent on keeping Christians alive through
such a trying time as the "Great Tribulation?"
1 The answer is found in the fact that "for the elect's
sake" includes people who will be living after AWWI
who have not yet accepted Christ as their Savior.
2 Thus, for the sake of the unbelieving who will yet
trust in Christ, the days will be purposely shortened
to keep Christians alive so that they will be able to
spread the gospel during the dark days of the Great
Tribulation.
B This means God designed the physical structure of the
planet in such a way that atomic war-produced smoke
would automatically stop the winds and shorten the days.
IV Questions
A Does the statement "two women shall be grinding at the
mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left
(Mt. 24:41)" refer to the rapture?
1 First note that Mt. 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, all
record Christ's response to the disciples question:
"Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall
be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the
world? (Mt. 24:3).
2 Next read Christ's explanation of the parable of the
tares in (Mt. 13:36-42).
3 Compare (Mt. 24:21-28, 29-41) to (Luke 17: 20-37).
4 These passages show that Mt. 24:41 does not refer to the
rapture but to the angels killing those who will support
the world government's violent policies during the Great
Tribulation.