The Overshadowing Nuclear Fear

All peoples of the world hunger for peace. Yet as another year draws to a close prospects of international peace grow dimmer.

1980 has seen a further escalation of armaments among major world powers. Taking only NATO and Warsaw Pact countries they have available between them 10 million trained men, 90,000 tanks, 1,500 submarines, 15,000 combat aircraft and 35,000 pieces of artillery. But it's the destructive power of nuclear weapons which makes former global wars seem relatively insignificant compared with the devastation which could result from any future major war. Over 4,500 strategic nuclear launchers of various kinds are available between the NATO and Warsaw Pact alliances, with some 14,000 strategic nuclear warheads. 1980 has seen agreement by several European nations to the deployment of United States nuclear tipped cruise missiles in their territories - 160 are to be based in Great Britain, and 304 in other European countries. Britain and France have also decided to update their own independent nuclear deterrents at enormous cost. So the total destructive power ready for use in case of war is many times greater than ever before in human history. What this might involve in terms of devastation and loss of life is difficult for most of us to imagine.

The world has therefore been reduced to a sinister "balance of terror". Fear of nuclear attack has become the main reason for avoiding major war. Many felt a measure of security behind the United States "nuclear shield"; and while the United States had clear superiority in nuclear power there was some justification in this attitude. But as her lead is overtaken and smaller

nations develop their independent nuclear deterrent, there is growing nervousness. World thinking is overshadowed by fear of the nuclear threat. For the overall destructive capability increases; and there are so many more fingers on a nuclear trigger!

Inevitably, the economic burden placed on many nations to maintain this mighty arsenal of sophisticated weapons is tremendous. Annual defence spending is reported to cost $510 for each American, $396 for West Germans, $349 for Frenchmen and $314 for Britons!

Only when the Lord Jesus Christ asserts His authority as King of kings and Lord of lords will worldwide peace be established. As Psalm 46 foretells:

"He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;

He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;

He burneth the chariots in the fire.

Be still, and know that I am God:

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth" (Psa. 46:9,10).

Isaiah looked forward to the same great day of deliverance when he wrote:

"They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Isa. 2:4).

Before this there must be "the time of the end", history's darkest era. To this period belong the terrible judgements described in such scriptures as Revelation chapter 8, including a third part bf the trees and all green grass being burnt up (v.7); the death of a third part of the creatures in the sea, and destruction of a third part of all sea-going ships (v.9); a third part of freshwater supplies being polluted, and many people dying as a result (vv. 10,11). Will these be the result of nuclear destruction and "fall-out"? Nuclear development has put such tremendous destructive power under man's control that these scriptures could conceivably be fulfilled by human agency. Whether by this means or by direct divine intervention the prophetic word must come to pass in that awesome day of visitation.

Meanwhile we wait as believers for the return of the Lord Jesus to the air to take His Church out of the world before the end-time period of judgement begins. Through prayer and supplication for all men (1 Tim. 2:1-2) we may exert a mighty influence before God. How effectively Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah! (Gen. 18). Had there been but ten righteous the city would have been spared from destruction for their sake. The restraining power of Almighty God is the believer's confidence

"Thou art my hiding place and my shield:

I hope in Thy word" (Psa. 119:114).

There is no guarantee, of course, that further war will be restrained until after the Lord's coming to the air. But whatever is allowed, we can confidently say, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, Therefore will we not fear ..." (Psa. 46).

"Why should I ever anxious be, since such a God is mine?

He watches o'er me night and day, and tells me, Mine is thine".

unknown | Dec 1980
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