TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY IN BIBLE PROPHECY
Lesson 23: The prophetic significance of Isaiah's description of
atomic missile-firing submarines.
I Careful analysis of the language Isaiah used to describe
"Leviathan" reveals that the object he saw in vision was
a modern, atomic missile-firing submarine.
1 In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong
sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even
leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the
dragon that is in the sea (Isa. 27:1).
A In ancient Babylon and Canaan Leviathan was a mytholog-
ical sea monster known for its ability to devour on a
large scale.
B The 42x560 foot long U.S. Trident and the 75x600 foot long
Russian Typhoon boomer subs are not only monsters in size,
but they are also capable of destroying 200 or more cities
and their inhabitants in less than one hour.
C Isaiah noted further that these Leviathan-like sea
monsters are capable of inflicting lethal wounds on
unsuspecting people in a manner which is similar in some
respects to the deadly strike of a "piercing serpent."
1 A "piercing serpent" delivers its deadly wound by
piercing the flesh of its victim with its sharp fangs.
2 People caught by the deadly winds of an atomic blast
are likewise killed suddenly when they are pierced by
sharp flying debris moving at many hundreds of miles
per hour.
D "Even leviathan that crooked serpent" is rendered
"Leviathan the twisting serpent" in the RSV.
1 Both crooked and twisting describe the tactical
maneuvers of modern monsterlike subs locked in mortal
subsea combat.
2 In a confrontation, high performance submarines on
both sides would twist, turn and dive, while
simultaneously firing torpedoes and dodging them.
3 Thus, Isaiah selected a Hebrew word equivalent to
twisting or crooked to describe the phenomenal speed
and agility with which modern man's huge underwater
boats move when they are engaged in a slugfest
beneath the waves.
E In closing, Isaiah noted that these man-made sea
monsters will conduct themselves with the cunning of a
"dragon who lives in the sea" NASB.
1 Mythical dragons were often viewed as dreadful
creatures, hiding in dens where they would silently
wait for the right moment to pounce on an unaware
prey.
2 The primary objective of today's strategic missile
toting subs, in the true tradition of the legendary
dragons of old, is to remain completely silent and
hidden from view until the day they receive war orders
to annihilate whole cities full of unsuspecting
people.
3 From their snipers nest atop the world under the
Arctic Ocean's permanent polar icecap, missile-firing
subs can burst through several feet of ice to attack
hapless cities in much the same way mythical dragons
were perceived as bursting through the vines and
brush hiding the entranceways to their dens, before
attacking unwary prey.
4 (Trident has more firepower than has been unleashed in
all of history, more than 1,000 Hiroshimas.)
5 Today's dragonlike subs do "live" submerged "in the
sea," (at depths of 1,000 feet).
a The nuclear powered Trident's ten-year power supply
enables them to make all the air they need from
seawater.
b They can stay submerged for months, or until their
food runs out.
F Isaiah also noted that "In that day (at the end of the
nuclear age) the LORD with his sore and great and strong
sword will punish leviathan . . . , and he shall slay"
the dragonlike missile-firing subs "who live in the sea"
NASB.
1 This means that even though the nations presently
have little to no ability to detect and counter the
Leviathan-like monster subs hiding under the Arctic
ice cap, techniques will be developed before Christ
returns that will enable the nations to locate and
destroy them.
2 The prophecy also teaches that the nuclear powers
will come to rely more and more on a sea-based
strategic nuclear deterrent as the day of Christ's
promised return approaches.
3 Current trends in the arms race between the nuclear
powers confirm Isaiah's predictions.
a By 1987 the United States and the U.S.S.R. already
had 5,632 and 3,688 SLBM's, respectively.
b The fact that weapons' researchers estimate it may
take until the year 2,010 to develop a reliable
submarine-detection system, means Christians still
have time to prepare for AWWI.
G Isaiah 27 ends with Christ reigning in Jerusalem and
the Jewish people safe at last.
II What measures should Christians take to prepare for AWWI?
A First review the prophetic description of the magnitude
of the calamity AWWI will bring upon the earth.
1 One third of the earth will be destroyed by atomic
fire (Rev. 8:7).
2 One third of the world's oceans will die and a third
of all sea-going ships will be destroyed (Rev. 8:8-9).
3 One third of the world's lakes, rivers, and subsurface
water will be contaminated by radioactive fallout from
AWWI (Rev. 8:10-11).
4 AWWI will be followed by five months of worldwide
famine brought on by the nuclear winter aftereffects
of the war (Rev. 9).
5 Beginning sometime after the worst five months of the
nuclear winter driven, post-AWWI famine, it will not
rain for 1,260 days (Rev. 11).
6 The sum of these prophetic facts warn that one third
of the world will be unfit for human habitation for
some years after AWWI and crop production will be
severely limited for at least four years after the
atomic war.
B Then consider today's scientific assessment of the
damages that can be expected in the aftermath of a
global nuclear war.
1 The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
released a report in May of 1987 called the "Nuclear
Attack Planning Base-1990" (NAPB-90).
a The FEMA report warned that none of the continental
U.S. land area can be considered categorically
secure from the risk of a "vast and far-reaching"
threat from radioactive fallout.
b NAPB-90 noted that the most dangerous fallout areas
will include the states where missiles are buried
(Colorado, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North
Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming), 30% of the U.S.
landmass.
c Only people hiding in shelters capable of reducing
the gamma radiation to one-fiftieth the outdoor
level could expect a 50-50 chance of living for two
months after an attack.
d About 170 million Americans in the "low fallout
risk" areas, would also need a shelter for a week or
more to protect against radiation exposure.
2 NAPB-90, like Isaiah's original warning, emphasizes
the necessity of hiding in a first class bomb shelter
during and after a nuclear attack.
a NAPB-90 also echoes Isaiah's initial advice that
once "your doors" are "shut behind you," stay
securely locked in "until the wrath is past."
b That is, stay inside until the radioactive fallout
in the air has diminished to the point where it is
completely safe to breathe outside air again.
3 The nuclear war studies of the '80s predict global
famine, as a direct consequence of nuclear winter
effects, lasting for months.
C Once the magnitude of the coming atomic calamity is
understood, Christians need to establish what their
response should be.
1 The Christian's first action should be to warn those
around them of the coming atomic calamity.
2 The United States needs an anti-ballistic missile
system to stop the bombs from falling on their land.
3 At least a four year supply of food needs to be
stockpiled; it would be wise to have a ten year
supply on hand. Several questions need to be
answered on this subject:
a What type of food should be stored?
b How should the food be stored--type of packaging,
storage facilities, containers, etc.,?
c Where should food reserves be stored?
d What measures should be taken to guard against
theft?
4 Should Christians build bomb shelters?
a If so, where should they be built?
b Should the shelters have radiation filtering
systems, and if so what design will work?
5 What type of transportation should Christians attempt
to maintain after the atomic war--cars, trucks,
motorcycles, bikes, running shoes? Keep in mind that
fuel will be in short supply to non-existent.
6 Medicine, clothing, fuel, etc., should also be
stockpiled.
7 Should Christians arm themselves to protect their
supplies and shelters and if so what type of arms
should be stashed?
8 How should Christians respond when an endless stream
of hungry and injured refugees arrive at their door?
9 What type of organization should Christians establish
to develop effective plans for tomorrow's atomic war?
a (Note here that the operative word is "effective,"
not "contingency."
b Contingency speaks of a dependence on the fulfillment
of some uncertain event--AWWI is certain.)