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GLOBAL NUCLEAR WAR
Foretold . . . in Bible Prophecy !!!
THE DEFINITIVE PROOF . . . IT IS COMING !!!
P A R T 2
THE TIME OF TROUBLE ( RECURRING ‘ METAPHORICAL ’ THEMES )
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THE CURSE / THE PLAGUE / THE PESTILENCE
Beyond the normal use of symbols and metaphoric language , there are ‘ recurring themes ’ consistently found in these ‘ last days ’ prophecies. These recurring themes - while at times having subtle differences in name - nevertheless speak clearly of the same events and details that inextricably tie these end-times passages together . While some are commonly assumed to be directly referencing ‘ divine power ’ through the ‘ forces of nature ’ this is frequently NOT the case , and a closer examination often reveals the origin of many of these judgments befalling mankind are actually from man himself as we will demonstrate. Equally, it’s also quite true that many of these prophetic events can also have a ‘ double-application ’ or outworking , and will soon originate from both man and God during the ‘ Great Tribulation ’. Among the most notable ‘ metaphoric ’ themes found in these end-times prophecies are the phrases “ THE CURSE / THE PLAGUE / THE PESTILENCE ”
As noted in Verse 6 above , “ THE CURSE ” is translated from the ancient Hebrew word ‘ אלה ‘ ( ‘ âlâh ’ – Strong’s H423 ). It is an unusual rendering of the word that is found some 18 times in scripture, whereas the general English word “ curse ” is used HUNDREDS OF TIMES. One of the other ‘ rare ’ occurrences of this same Hebrew root is found in Zechariah Ch.5 , a chapter and prophecy that speaks of a troubling vision seen by the prophet. The entire chapter - from beginning to end - is utterly replete with descriptive symbolism and metaphorical language that points meticulously and indisputably to the certainty of an end-times ‘ global nuclear ’ war.
It is a remarkable prophecy clearly never intended to be understood ( in this manner ) until the very last days. Down through the ages this prophecy in Zechariah 5 has rightly had other ' legitimate ' interpretations attributed to it, however we would contend ( given the ‘ enormity ’ of this coming final fulfilment ) this will be its ultimate and principle outworking. The prospect of worldwide nuclear war may be a shocking and confronting revelation to many students of God’s Word , however , it is also entirely consistent and in conformity with the ‘ Time of the End / Great Tribulation ‘ described in Daniel 11-12 , the gospel accounts and the devastating global events described in Isaiah 24.
In the event the reader still remains ' unconvinced ' of the bible evidence pointing to a coming nuclear war , there is still yet another ‘ TRULY ASTONISHING ’ connection that will TOTALLY and CONCLUSIVELY CONFIRM this approaching scenario as described in God’s Word. This previously ‘ unknown -and- undiscovered ‘ connection that we will reveal , quite incredibly is taken from ( no less than . . . ) one of the MOST well-read , loved and cherished ‘ PSALMS ’ known to bible students.
However , for just a moment let us consider the remarkable language used in Zechariah Ch. 5 that so unmistakably describes this approaching ‘ nuclear nightmare ’.
ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 5 - THE ‘ NUCLEAR WAR ’ PROPHECY
Initially , as we read through Zechariah 5 the reader is presented with a peculiar , and at times ‘ truly bizarre ’ series of descriptive mental images as seen by the prophet . . . ‘ a roll ... that flies ’ ; ‘ a woman .. in a basket ’ and seemingly with a metal lid , as well as other women ‘ ... who have wings ’ and who ‘ fly like storks ’. These images seem utterly nonsensical and unrelated. Yet when two elementary ( but critical ) ‘ ERRORS of TRANSLATION ’ are corrected and then the overall prophecy re-considered through its masterful selection and use of metaphors and symbols , what materialises before us is a precise and detailed depiction not only of ' missiles ' but of a full-scale ' nuclear war ' in the modern age.
ERROR OF TRANSLATION # 1
The first error to be corrected is in Verses 1 & 2 with the words “ flying ROLL ”. For generations this has been interpreted as a TWO cylindered ‘ scroll ’ typical of writing parchments of that age. Yet the original Hebrew word is ‘ megillâh ’ [ מגלּה Strongs H4039 ] which specifically defines a ‘ SINGLE cylindered ’ roll. This distinction is critical. As Zechariah looked skyward , the sight of a ‘ flying ’ object in the shape of twin cylindered scroll would make no logical sense. However, if the object is in the form of a ‘ SINGLE ’ cylinder it immediately reveals a plausible aerodynamic-shaped representation of an arrow . . . or more accurately a missile.
The logical conclusion that this strange ‘ cylinder-shaped ’ object that Zechariah witnessed ‘ flying across the sky ’ was in fact pointing forward ( prophetically ) to the latter day invention of ‘ missiles ’ is given even further credence in the very same verse as the angel actually reveals to the ancient prophet the ‘ EXACT DIMENSIONS ’ of these mysterious projectiles . . .
“ the LENGTH thereof is twenty cubits ” ( approx. 34 feet / 10.4 metres )
and “ the BREADTH thereof ten cubits ” ( approx. 17 feet / 5.2 metres )
Anyone looking at these measurements would immediately ( and correctly ) assert that being ‘ half as wide ’ as it is in length would certainly not qualify the object as being ‘ aero-dynamic ’ let-alone suitable for flight.
The Hebrew word for “ breadth ” in this instance is a poor translation. It does not mean the ‘ diameter ‘ ( this method of measurement was ‘ unknown ’ to the ancient Hebrews and was only devised later by the Greeks ). Rather , “ breadth “ in this passage speaks of ' a line cast about ' in the same manner as a person In old times would cast a rope around the base of a tree to measure it’s girth. For further biblical proof of this , we note in all scripture there are ONLY TWO other instances where ‘ cylindrical ’ objects ( ie. pillars ) are measured for their ‘ breadth ‘. In both 1 Kings 7v15 & Jeremiah 52v21 this concept of a “ line cast about ” is clearly described as the means of measuring the ‘ breadth ‘ of the pillars. “ Lines ” or “ Fillets ” ( the identical Hebrew word in both verses ) are used to ‘ compass around ‘ the columns or pillars to measure their respective sizes. In both instances , it explicitly describes the measure of ‘ the circumference ’ of the pillars by use of a rope-like chord ( Line / Fillet ) . . . and not their diameter.
1 KINGS 7v15 - For he cast two PILLARS of brass , of eighteen cubits high apiece :
and a ' LINE ' [ H2339 ] of twelve cubits did ' compass ' [ H5437 ] either of them about.
JEREMIAH 52v21 - Concerning the PILLARS , the height of one PILLAR was eighteen cubits ;
and a ' FILLET ' [ H2339 ] of twelve cubits did ' compass ' [ H5437 ] it ;
and the thickness thereof was four fingers : it was hollow.
Furthermore , when we look deeper to the specific Hebrew meaning of these words ( ie. “ Line / Fillet / compass ” ) their definitions provide yet another layer of unequivocable proof that the measurement described in Zechariah 5 is indeed speaking of a “ line cast about “ ( ie. circumference ) and quite clearly NOT the diameter of these “ flying objects ” .
[ STRONG’S CONCORDANCE ] - “ LINE / FILLET ” [ H2339 ] חוּט chûṭ khoot - From an unused root, probably meaning to sew ;
a string ; by implication a measuring tape - cord , fillet , line , thread
[ STRONG’S CONCORDANCE ] - “ COMPASS ” [ H5437 ] סבב sâbab saw-bab' - A primitive root ; to revolve , surround or border used in various applications, literally and figuratively : - bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, X whirl, X round about , be on about every side , apply , avoid, beset (about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to come about, X circuit , ( fetch a ) compass ( about , round ), drive, environ, X on every side, beset ( close, come, compass, go, stand) round about, remove, return, set, sit down, turn (self) (about, aside, away, )
So clearly , this term “ breadth ” in verse 2 actually refers to the ‘ circumference ’ of the flying roll and not it’s diameter. When we then mathematically recalculate the objects’ correct dimensions using the stated circumference , we soon discover the ‘ actual ' diameter of these flying objects converts to ( approx. 5 - 6 feet / 1.6 metres )
We therefore have a mysterious ‘ flying ’ object/s whose dimensions are :
( approx. 34 feet LONG X 6 feet DIAMETER / 10.4 metres X 1.6 metres )
Could it be merely an ‘ astonishing co-incidence ’ that these measurements - as told to Zechariah over 2,500 years ago by ‘ an angel ’ - are indeed reflective of the actual dimensions of nuclear and ballistic missiles typically made around the world today ?? Simply INCREDIBLE !!! . . . but there remains far more to come !!
Verse 3 is the terrible heart of this prophecy. It contains a ‘ critical link ’ that inextricably connects this chapter to the apocalyptic prophecy we previously examined in Isaiah 24 . While speaking to Zechariah , the angel of the LORD also defines this impending cataclysmic event as “ THE CURSE ” , the exact same phrase used by the prophet Isaiah and who described the same terrifying effects in his vision. Compare the words of both prophets :
ZECHARIAH 5 v3 - This is ' THE CURSE ' [ H423 אלה' âlâh ] that goeth forth over the face of THE WHOLE EARTH
ISAIAH 24 v 6 - Therefore hath ' THE CURSE ' [ H423 אלה' âlâh ] devoured THE EARTH.
This use of the ‘ identical ’ Hebrew word for “ THE CURSE ” in both these two passages is extraordinarily unusual. As noted in our prior examination of Isaiah 24 “ THE CURSE ” is translated from the Hebrew word ‘ אלה ‘ ( ‘ âlâh ’ – Strong’s H423 ) . It is a very rare rendering of the word found only 18 times in scripture , whereas the more common English word for “ curse ” is used HUNDREDS OF TIMES. Given the same ‘ apocalyptic back-drop ’ in both these two chapters we can see how the LORD has ‘ tied ’ these two prophecies together simply through the common use of this one unique Hebrew word.
As we continue to read through the balance of Verse 3 we are presented with a vision of widespread death and destruction as “ THE CURSE ” sweeps forth over the ‘ whole earth ’ with many being “ cut off ” ( ie. ‘ die ’ or ‘ perish ’ ). We note specific focus is placed upon everyone that either ‘ steals ’ or ‘ swears ’ ( ie. falsely or profanely ). All these will perish . This clearly indicates that the effects of this ‘ man-made nuclear curse ’ will be NOT be arbitrary or chance , rather it will be the execution of a ‘ moral judgment ’ and the passing of a sentence against a wide swathe of mankind. However , there is also an absolute implication in this passage , those who are NOT found amongst these two evil classes of mankind ( that steal or swear ) will actually be ‘ preserved ’ from the deadly effects of this global nuclear war. Sound improbable ?? . . . even impossible ?? Later, in yet another ‘ stunning ’ bible passage we will provide ‘ incontestable bible proof ’ of this exact promise , expressly pledged by God Himself and made to ‘ the faithful ’ . . . and ( once again ) all found in the ‘ indisputable context ’ of an end-times ‘ global nuclear ’ war !!! . . . and incredibly , all within our ‘ much-loved PSALM ’ !!
Finally as Verse 3 concludes , we note the descriptive label of this ‘ CURSE ’ that Yahweh uses as His chosen agency for the end-times judgment of the nations , changes for much of the remainder of the chapter to ‘ IT ’ or ‘ THIS ‘ perhaps to underline the ‘ mysterious ’ and ‘ utterly inexplicable ’ nature of the event/s that Zechariah was witnessing in this vision . . . yet wholly unable to comprehend. Quite simply , this prophecy was never intended to be fully understood either in Zechariah’s time , nor in the ages up until the final days , when these technologies would come into being.
While this coming nuclear holocaust is absolutely of man’s making and foolishness - nevertheless Verse 4 provides a powerful and authoritative ‘ divine commentary ’ of this event , that unequivocably establishes that it is God Himself who ‘ initiates ’ this judgment on mankind. We know this for a certainty because at the very outset of the verse He states clearly :
“ I WILL bring ' IT ' forth . . . saith the LORD of hosts ”
He neither apologises for - nor baulks from - the fact that , it is He ( the divine ruler of the universe ) who Himself has previously sworn that at the appointed time He would ‘ judge the nations ’, now pronounces the execution of His righteous judgment in the form of ‘ the fire ’ and ‘ the flame ’ of nuclear war. It is by no means unusual that God has used a symbol or metaphor to declare the impending prosecution of His divine will. Indeed throughout scripture we know of many instances where God uses illustrative language ( both literal and figurative ) to announce an approaching evil whether in the form of THE WHIRLWIND , THE SWORD , THE PESTILENCE , THE PLAGUE or THE LOCUSTS. Just a few examples include :
EXODUS 10 v 4 - If thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow
WILL I bring the ‘ LOCUSTS ’ Into thy coast
JEREMIAH 25 v29 - For, lo, I BEGIN to bring ‘ EVIL ’ on the city which is called by my name . . .
For I WILL call for ‘ A SWORD ’ upon all the inhabitants of the earth , saith the LORD
JEREMIAH 30 v23 - Behold, the ‘ WHIRLWIND ’ of the LORD goeth forth with fury . . .
it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.
As Verse 4 continues , the reader is introduced to a ‘ new and striking ’ theme. Despite the massive scale and enormity of nuclear detonations ( as we know capable of wiping out ‘ entire cities ’ in an instant ) the language in verse 4 describing this approaching ‘ world-wide ’ disaster , surprisingly and somewhat oddly is scaled down dramatically to a commentary of events at a ‘ domestic -or- household ’ level. This is quite peculiar but is also deliberate. Critically it also provides yet another ‘ remarkable link ’ to our previously mentioned connection to a ‘ much-loved ’ PSALM that points unmistakably to the certainty of a coming nuclear war. We will graphically illustrate this later.
This ‘ CURSE ’ is then labelled in Verse 4 as ‘ IT ’ and is repeatedly described as ‘ entering into the house ’ and also ‘ remaining in the house ’ specifically identifying the dwellings of " the thief " and " him that swears falsely ". So again , we see further reinforced ( from Verse 3 ) the ‘ DISCRIMINATORY ’ SELECTION of those in society who commit these evils , as they are purged ' individually and collectively ' as a result of this nuclear scourge . Beyond this , we are told in Verse 4 after ‘ entering in ’ and ‘ remaining in ’ the house this undefined and unidentified curse ( ‘ IT ’ ) also has a tertiary phase that actually “ consumes ” the timber and the stones of the house. We would contend that this lethal and destructive substance that enters into , remains in and ultimately consumes these houses ( which could not have been more accurately and graphically described over 2,500 years ago ) is without doubt the residual effects of ‘ nuclear radiation ’. What else could it be ??
[ NOTE : As a further point of clarification , to the passage ‘ . . . of him that SWEARS FALSELY . . . BY MY NAME ’ , the inclusion of ‘ BY MY NAME ’ ( God’s ) denotes a strong religious connotation. It is by definition those who swear allegiance ‘ falsely in a religious sense ’. It is a condemnation of mainstream religions. It is a statement identifying those corrupt religious institutions that down through the centuries have adopted ( and continue to teach ) the ‘ false doctrines ’ of the Roman ‘ Mother Church ’. Therefore by direct implication , this judgment will also apply to all the unfortunate ‘ individual followers ’ of these false faiths , as they themselves have not personally searched out ‘ God’s Truth ’ in His Holy Word , but opted to ‘ entrust ’ their belief and understanding to the corrupt teachings and traditions of ‘ men in robes ’. ]
Verse 5 & 6 - The angel speaking with Zechariah then seeks to inform him further of the nature of
this ‘ CURSE ’, but still unable to understand the meaning or import of this vision , Zechariah directly
asks the angel “ What is IT ? ”. The angel proceeds to offer additional details telling Zechariah, ‘ IT ’
is an ‘ ephah ’. An ‘ ephah ’ is a ‘ basket-like container ’ dating back to ancient Hebrew times , it was
commonly used for measuring quantities of grain and produce , and was approximately 40 litres in
capacity. Once again ( on the surface ) this additional clue seems bizarre and completely unrelated
to the ‘ flying object ’ yet it is a vital component within what we now know today as ‘ missiles ’. This
' ephah ' ( or basket ) represents the ‘ payload ’ that contains the deliverable elements forming the
explosive warhead. Finally the angel says :
“ This is ‘ THEIR resemblance ’ through all the earth ”
This simple statement reveals two major factors concerning the ‘ flying object ’. Firstly, that they are all of ' similar ' design and construct , particularly with respect to the carrying of an ephah / basket. Secondly , these flying objects are found through ‘ all the earth ’ . . . and by implication , they are too numerous to be counted. So we see the figurative description of the basket ( payload ) ; the broad uniformity of design and construction ; and their widespread proliferation globally are consistent with the ballistic missile industry we see worldwide today.
Verse 7 & 8 ... then continues to provide more overwhelming evidence that the angel is indeed pointing forward prophetically to the advent of the nuclear age , when he then speaks of a ‘ talent ‘ ( or weight ) of LEAD being lifted up. As in prior instances , a completely random and seemingly unrelated item is introduced , but once again , it serves as a symbolic representation of a key facet of the actual subject matter , namely ‘ nuclear missiles ’ in the modern age. It is no coincidence the angel chose ‘ LEAD ’. The crucial element that is at the ‘ very heart ’ of nuclear weapons technology is ‘ Uranium 235 ’. It is a scientific fact , that when this radio-active substance ( Uranium 235 ) ‘ degrades and decays ’ it actually turns into ‘ lead ’. Could this be purely co-incidence ?? What other metallurgical substance could the angel have possibly nominated to ' more accurately ' depict the nature of this ' end-times ' weapons technology ??
Furthermore the angel describes the ‘ lifting up ‘ of this weight of LEAD and then in Verse 8 the ‘ casting down ’ of the same upon the ephah ( basket ). It is a remarkable ( coded ) description of the ‘ nuclear trigger ’ used to detonate warheads in ballistic missiles. Not only do we have descriptions of the core ingredient ( Uranium 235 / Lead ) but also an illustrative overview of the operational trigger. This leads us to the ‘ actual effect ’ of this detonation , which INCREDIBLY is ALSO described in Verse 7 . However , this also brings us to the second major correction of ‘ TRANSLATIONAL ERRORS ’ contained in this chapter - which once corrected - will incontrovertibly lift the lid on this widely misunderstood prophecy.
ERROR # 2 - In Zechariah 5 the translation of the word ‘ woman ’ has been source of confusion and consternation for centuries. A woman sitting ‘ in a basket ’ ?!? An extremely bizarre image to try to make sense of. Almost comical. Yet it did not need to be so. The original Hebrew word that the translators have erroneously derived ‘ woman ’ from is " ishshah " ( Strong’s Heb. H802 ) as found in Strong’s authoritative concordance of the Bible.
This word is among a cluster of 3 almost identical Hebrew words , all have their original root in a primary word H784 :
H784 אשׁ 'êsh aysh A primitive word ; fire ( literally or figuratively ) : - burning , fiery , fire , flaming , hot
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
H800 אשּׁה 'eshshâh esh-shaw' Feminine of H784 ; fire : - fire.
H801 אשּׁה 'ishshâh ish-shaw' The same as H800 , but used in a ‘ liturgical ’ sense ; properly a ‘ burnt offering ’ ;
but occasionally of any sacrifice : - ( offering , sacrifice ) , ( made ) by fire .
H802 אשּׁה 'ishshâh ish-shaw' is the feminine of H376 or H582 ; a woman ( used in the same wide sense as H582 ) :
[adulter]ess, each, every, female, X many, + none, one, + together, wife, woman.
In fact , the reader will notice the word ( ‘ woman ’ - H802 ) the translators chose to insert in Zechariah 5 v 7 is the ' VERY LAST ' of this series of Hebrew words. Incongruously, they also used a translation that is ‘ THE LEAST ’ reflective of the original root word ( H784 ) and defies ‘ ALL ’ the preceding translated words that speak incontrovertibly of ‘ FIRE ’ . Is it any wonder this prophecy has been so misunderstood for two millennia ?? Clearly ‘ FIRE ‘ was the intended word.
' THE PROOF ' . . . STRONG'S EXHAUSTIVE BIBLE CONCORDANCE ( EXTRACT )
Upon substitution of the word ‘ FIRE ’ in place of ‘ woman ’ the prophecy - and the vision of WHAT is coming - becomes infinitely clearer. We see the causal effect of the ‘ casting down ’ of the lead will spark a ‘ fiery ignition ’ of the nuclear elements within the missile warhead. This is represented by the ‘ FIRE ’ in the basket. It is a terrifying prospect that is being revealed. If the reader has any doubt concerning the true nature of this evil and destructive man-made device , in Verse 8 the angel himself , being aware of the intended purpose of these weapons, succinctly concludes “ This is WICKEDNESS ”.
Verse 9 . . . then reveals ‘ three ’ additional features of these modern day ‘ missile systems ’ . . .
Firstly , as Zechariah looked skyward to witness this unfolding vision , he saw not “ two women ” but rather two separate “ FIRES ” come out of the ‘ flying roll ’ while it was in flight. This could not speak more conclusively to the widespread configuration of ballistic missiles today that often have ‘ multiple ‘ independent warheads that actually detach and deploy in flight to strike separate targets. Some missiles can ‘ carry up to 14 ’ independent nuclear warheads and have the capability to wipe out entire countries. Each of these smaller individual MIRV’s ( Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicles ) are deployable ‘ missiles / warheads ’ in their own right , which Zechariah saw as smaller “ FIRES ” coming out of the larger.
Secondly , Zechariah then vividly describes ‘ the flight ’ of these two new ‘ fiery objects ’ as he witnessed these happenings , saying “ the wind was in their wings ; for they had wings like the wings of a stork ”. While missiles do not typically have elongated wings as a stork , Zechariah being unable to conceive of the invention of rocket propulsion could only liken the motion of these ‘ flying objects ’ with something that he knew. His description speaks to the smooth , effortless and graceful motion classically associated with storks , gliding through the sky with unbridled ease , elevated and propelled through the air as the wind gathers beneath their wings. He saw this ‘ mirrored ’ in the motion of these fiery ‘ flying objects ’.
Thirdly , in Verse 9 Zechariah once again hearkens back to the ‘ ephah ’ ( basket / payload ) as he completes the picture , revealing these two new smaller ‘ fires ’ ( missiles ) also lift up the ephah “ between the earth and the heaven ”. So in other words , both these two MIRV’s each have their own ‘ ephah ’ or deliverable payload that the missiles carry in flight between the heaven and the earth , that is ‘ through the sky ’ or the upper bounds of the ‘ stratosphere ’ ( near to heaven ). This is ‘ exactly ’ how ballistic missiles are conveyed to their intended targets around the world today. How could ‘ a vision ’ from 2,500 years ago . . . provide a more accurate and comprehensive depiction of these horrendous weapons of war ??
So in Zechariah’s vision we can see that almost every aspect of this ' coming nuclear war ' is comprehensively and graphically detailed for the reader’s benefit. How amazing that so many details of this 21st century military technology and warfare could be so meticulously explained and illustrated through ‘ natural and symbolic ‘ imagery that - for the most part - did not seem out of place in these passages when written by Zechariah so long ago.
Verse 10 & 11 . . . Finally, to understand the ultimate destination and purpose of these highly destructive projectiles Zechariah enquires of the angel , “ Whither do these bear the ephah ? ”. The angel responds somewhat cryptically by telling Zechariah “ to build it AN HOUSE in the land of Shinar ”. As we consider the unmitigated death and destruction ( on a world-wide scale ) found in Zechariah’s prophetic vision , the answer “ to build a house ” in an ancient Babylonian land of ‘ Shinar ’ seems utterly detached and unrelated to the question. Yet hidden within this simple statement , rests the entire scope of God’s eternal plan and purpose with mankind. The term ‘ Shinar ’ is used as a representation of the first ‘ kingdom of men ’. The Assyrian / Babylonian empire was the Head of Gold in Daniel’s vision , the quintessential symbol of the rulership of man. It was renown for its wealth , its glory , its idolatry , its immorality and most of all its ungodliness. Several thousand years later , its pagan and hedonistic influence , ideologies and practices can still be found in society today. For this reason the angel used ‘ Shinar ’ as a symbol for ‘ the world ’ today , in all its corruption , depravity and godlessness.
The purpose of delivering these ‘ ephahs ’ is to finally cleanse the world of man’s evils. It is why ‘ THE CURSE . . . goes forth over the face of the whole earth . . . cutting off all evil-doers who steal and swear falsely ( both institutions and individuals) ’. Essentially its purpose will be to ‘ wipe the slate clean ’ in preparation for the building of ‘ the house of the LORD ’ in Zion ; the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth and the rulership of the Lord Jesus Christ worldwide. This global harvesting ( or removal ) of all ungodliness in the earth , will come in two stages , first this ‘ man-made ’ nuclear holocaust , before the full forces of nature are unleashed on the nations through the agency of the Lord Jesus Christ at his return. Once this ' cleansing process ' is complete then as the angel says in Verse 11 ( . . . of the LORD’s House and kingdom on the earth ) “ and it shall be established . . . and set there upon her own base ”.
ZECHARIAH Ch. 5
v1 - Then I turned & lifted up mine eyes & looked & behold a ' FLYING ROLL '
v2 - And he said unto me , What seest thou ?
And I answered , I see a ' FLYING ROLL ' [ H4039 מגלּה megillâh - Note : It is a " ROLL " NOT a scroll ► ie. " missile "]
the length thereof is twenty cubits ( approx. 34 feet )
& the breadth thereof ten cubits ( ie. circumference " … line cast about " -- diameter approx. 5 - 6 feet )
v3 - Then said he unto me, This is ' THE CURSE ' [ H423 אלה' âlâh ]
that goeth forth over the face of THE WHOLE EARTH ( nuclear war )
for every one that ‘ stealeth ’ shall be cut off [ perish ]
as on this side according to it & every one that ‘ sweareth ’ shall be cut off [ perish ] as on that side
v4 - I will bring ' IT ' forth, saith the LORD of hosts
and ' IT ' shall enter into the house of ' the thief '
and into the house of him that ‘ sweareth falsely by my name ’ ( false religion )
and ' IT ' ( ie. ' nuclear radiation ' ) shall remain in the midst of his house
and shall consume it with the timber thereof & the stones thereof ( ie. ' nuclear radiation ' )
v5 - Then the angel that talked with me went forth and said unto me ,
Lift up now thine eyes and see what is ' THIS ' that goeth forth.
v6 - And I said , What is ' IT ' ? And he said , ' THIS ' is an ' ephah ' ( ie. ' basket ' approx. 40 Litre ~ " payload " )
that goeth forth. He said moreover , This is ‘ THEIR resemblance ’ through all the earth.
v7 - And, behold , there was lifted up a ' talent of LEAD ' ( ie. ' Uranium 235 ' )
and this is ' A WOMAN ' ( Heb. H801/802 " ishshah " - BURNT / FIRE offering ) that sitteth in the midst of the ephah
v8 - And he said, This is ' wickedness '. And he cast ' IT ' into the midst of the ephah ( ie. ' nuclear trigger ' )
and he cast the weight of LEAD ( ie. uranium ) upon the mouth thereof.
v9 - Then lifted I up mine eyes and looked and behold ,
there came out ' two women ' ( ie. ' BURNT / FIRE offerings ' - Heb. H801/802 " ishshah " )
the wind was ' in their wings ' ; For they had ‘ wings ’ like the wings of a stork
and they lifted up the ephah ( ' basket / payload ‘ ) between the earth and the heaven ( ie. ‘ stratosphere ’ )
v10 - Then said I to the angel that talked with me , Whither ( where to . . ) do these bear the ephah ?
v11 - And he said unto me , To build it ‘ an house ’ in the land of Shinar ( Babylon ~ ie. ‘ The World ’ )
and it shall be established and set there upon her own base
The use of metaphoric and symbolic language , so masterfully woven into scripture , is a key feature that has allowed these prophecies to be written thousands of years ago , yet also ensured so many of them would only come to be ‘ fully understood ’ with the passing of time , when the time was right in God’s eyes. It is a truly unique aspect of scripture and an unmistakable testament to its divine authorship , that the gradual ‘ rolling out ’ of His plan and purpose has been facilitated over vast expanses of time through these ancient allusions and analogies. We can look to many other bible passages which further illustrate the use of this ‘ hidden ’ but purposeful language in God’s Word.
A simple , but powerful example of this is found in Jeremiah Ch. 51 . This is a chapter and prophecy that has a clear outworking in the present age as we now see in current world events , the ‘ Medes ’ ( modern day ‘ Iran ’ ) rising to the fore just prior to Armageddon , but also ( as noted in this chapter ) with both hostile and hegemonic intentions towards its neighbour Iraq ( ancient Babylon ). Similarly and absolutely consistent with the Iranians we see today ( who arguably , more than any other nation have an ‘ obsessive pre-occupation ’ with missiles and rocket technology ) the prophet Jeremiah actually describes these people making ‘ BRIGHT ' the arrows . Writing thousands of years ago of the ancient Medes , the mention of perhaps ‘ torch-lighting ’ a primitive arrow would be entirely normal and appropriate in such a context. Yet this figurative analogy also presents an amazing long-sighted vision ( that has remained undetected and misunderstood for millennia ) of the fearful ‘ weapons technology ’ that would ultimately be developed and used in the future. It will be this technology foreseen so long ago , that will be the ' principle delivery vehicle ' to this looming ‘ nuclear war ’ at the end of time.
JEREMIAH Ch. 51
v11 - Make " bright " THE ARROWS ( missiles ) ; gather the shields :
the LORD hath raised up ' the spirit ' of the kings of the Medes ( IRAN )
for his device is against Babylon ( Iraq ) to destroy it ;
because it is the ‘ vengeance of the LORD . . . ’
Importantly, it is also noted that whilst Jeremiah 51 v11 describes these destructive evils ‘ unleashed by man ’, it is nevertheless characterised and explained by the prophet as “ because it is the VENGEANCE OF THE LORD ” indicating these are in fact ‘ divine judgments ’ upon the people.
ZECHARIAH CH. 14
We have already seen the use of the phrase “ THE CURSE ” in the apocalyptic contexts of Isaiah 24 and Zechariah 5. Another prophecy widely accepted as having a ‘ latter days ’ application is Zechariah 14. In fact, it’s one of the signature passages often held out as bible evidence to support the idea a nuclear war is coming , with its haunting description ( v.12 ) of men’s ‘ flesh , tongues and eyes ’ consuming away while they stand on their feet. It is graphic imagery that certainly does lend weight to the nuclear war concept. However , most importantly in the very same verse , this grievous affliction that consumes these men is actually called “ THE PLAGUE ”. This simply cannot be ‘ a co-incidence ’ when we consider the thematic links between these prophecies ( The Curse / The Plague / The Pestilence ). In fact , the term “ THE PLAGUE ” is used repeatedly in this chapter ( v12, v15 x2 ) as if to underscore its importance. In Zechariah 14 the original Hebrew word for ‘ THE PLAGUE ’ is :
H4046 מגּפה maggêphâh mag-gay-faw' From H5062 ; ‘ a pestilence ’ ; by analogy defeat : - plague (-d), slaughter, stroke
The translation here of the word PLAGUE as “ a pestilence ” is quite uncommon and different to the majority of translations for ‘ Plague ’ throughout scripture wherein most instances have a primary meaning of a ‘ personal ’ wound , stroke or sore pertaining to leprosy. Whereas all 3 instances Zechariah 14 use this Hebrew word for ‘ plague ’ that relates to a ‘ collective affliction , a widespread slaughter or defeat resulting from a pestilence / plague ’ which is entirely applicable to nuclear war.
Verse 12 and 15 also highlight there is no distinction between man and beast , both are mortally effected by this “ PLAGUE ”. So we can see the chilling parallels between the effects of ‘ THE CURSE ’ ( both in Zechariah 5 & Isaiah 24 ) and also the “ THE PLAGUE ” ( Zechariah 14 ) and their accuracy and consistency of detail with modern nuclear war are undeniable.
It is also critical to note in Zechariah 14 the contextual backdrop to this ‘ PLAGUE ’. Verses 13-14 make perfectly clear at the ‘ same time ’ this nuclear ‘ PLAGUE ’ happens , there is also ‘ widespread conflict ’ between men, as the nations fight against each other at Jerusalem. This further underlines that this “ PLAGUE ” is the direct ‘ by-product ’ of man , not God.
ZECHARIAH Ch. 14
v12 - This shall be ' THE PLAGUE ’ which the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem
Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet
and their tongue shall consume away
and their eyes shall consume away in their holes
v13 - And it shall come to pass IN THAT DAY , that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them ;
and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour
and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour
v14 - And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem and the wealth of ' all the heathen ' ( nations ) round about
shall be gathered together , gold and silver and apparel in great abundance.
v15 - And so shall be ' THE PLAGUE ’ of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass,
and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents AS THIS ' PLAGUE ’ .
So we have examined Isaiah 24 , Zechariah 5 and Zechariah 14 which all speak of this coming man-made nuclear nightmare in metaphorical terms , each prophet describing it as “ THE CURSE ”, “ THE PESTILENCE ” or “ THE PLAGUE ”. Likewise in each of these cases , the translations relate back to often exceptionally uncommon ( but highly specific ) Hebrew words that portray flawlessly this ‘ nuclear war ’ scenario. This incredible level of specificity - that has been masterfully hidden in God’s Word for literally ‘ thousands of years ’ - has NOT happened by chance. It is undeniably ‘ by design ’ and represents the indelible marque of ‘ divine ’ authorship.
Which brings us to - PSALM 91 - perhaps ‘ the most astonishing ’ revelation concerning this subject of bible prophecy.
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