"Have I got time for a cup of coffee?"
Posted on 10/13/2008 6:28:08 PM PDT by mbeeber
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An Introduction
"The Prophetic Visions of Zechariah" provides a glimpse "above history and time", peering into Israel's immediate and far distant future. Zechariah, like Jeremiah and Ezekiel was a priest as well as a prophet. His prophetic writings focus primarily upon the restoration of the second temple in Jerusalem after the 70 year Babylonian captivity, but also foretells the coming of the Messiah to suffer an atoning death and later to reign as King over all the Earth. On the 24th day of the 11th month (Shebat), in the second year of Darius (536 B.C.), Zechariah received the first of his seven visions. In the seventh vision, events leading up to Messiah's return are vividly portrayed. Zechariah envisioned a future time (chapter 14) when all the nations of the Earth will turn against Judah (Israel), laying siege against Jerusalem. Within this prophecy is the prediction of a plague that will fall upon the armies that fight against Jerusalem.
Zechariah 14:12
This prophecy seemed like a horrific fantasy until the dawn of the nuclear age. In the 1970s Samuel Cohen, a nuclear physicist, invented a new tactical nuclear weapon called the "neutron bomb" which would have the exact effect that Zechariah's prophecy stated. See below:
Definition of the Neutron Bomb "Also called ENHANCED RADIATION WARHEAD, specialized type of small thermonuclear weapon that produces minimal blast and heat but which releases large amounts of lethal radiation. The neutron bomb delivers blast and heat effects that are confined to an area of only a few hundred yards in radius. But within a somewhat larger area it throws off a massive wave of neutron and gamma radiation, which can penetrate armor or several feet of earth. This radiation is extremely destructive to living tissue. Because of its short-range destructiveness and the absence of long-range effect, the neutron bomb would be highly effective against tank and infantry formations on the battlefield but would not endanger cities or other population centers only a few miles away. It can be carried in a Lance missile or delivered by an 8-inch (200-millimetre) howitzer, or possibly by attack aircraft. In strategic terms, the neutron bomb has a theoretical deterrent effect: discouraging an armored ground assault by arousing the fear of neutron bomb counterattack. The bomb would disable enemy tank crews in minutes, and those exposed would die within days. U.S. production of the bomb was postponed in 1978 and resumed in 1981." Source: http://www.britannica.com/seo/n/neutron-bomb/
The neutron bomb is now part of the arsenal of most countries armed with nuclear weapons. After a recent threat of Israel's annihilation by the leader of Iran in 2006, Israel admitted having an arsenal of nuclear weapons. The types of weapons Israel possesses were not specified.
Some theologians believe the plague will emanate directly from God's angels rather than being of human invention. They admit the plague resembles the effects of a "neutron bomb", but refute the prophetic connection with nuclear weaponry. In support of the "Neutron Bomb Connection" in Zechariah 14:12, some propose certain human inventions to be "Wrought of God" when fulfilling a purpose in God's prophetic plan. Samuel Morse, inventor of the telegraph made such a statement upon its inception. The topic remains an intriguingly credible bit of prophetic speculation. See the referring links below for details.
Referring Links
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As mentioned, the article is a very credible prophetic speculation. Would you prefer that such speculations not be mentioned? If so, why not?
I agree. With very very diligent study you might be able to decipher the book of Revelation, but I’m not sure God wanted us to figure it out. It will probably be hindsight, ‘Oh yeah, I see it now!’ Just to let us know he’s smarter than us.
Just NEUT em’ baby!
The neutron bomb is now part of the arsenal of most countries armed with nuclear weapons.
From the wiki article on the "neutron bomb:"
Conception of the neutron bomb is generally credited to Samuel Cohen of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, who developed the concept in 1958. Although initially opposed by President John F. Kennedy, its testing was authorized and carried out in 1963 at an underground Nevada test facility.[2] Development was subsequently postponed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 following protests against his administration's plans to deploy neutron warheads in Europe. President Ronald Reagan restarted production in 1981.[3]Your article doesn't seem to be very accurate. Perhaps the author could do some actual research and try again?Three types of ERW were built by the United States.[4] The W66 warhead, for the anti-ICBM Sprint missile system, was produced and deployed in the mid 1970s and retired soon thereafter, along with the missile system. The W70 Mod 3 warhead was developed for the short-range, tactical Lance missile, and the W79 Mod 0 was developed for artillery shells. The latter two types were retired by President George H. W. Bush in 1992, following the end of the Cold War.[5][6] The last W70 Mod 3 warhead was dismantled in 1996[7], and the last (W79 Mod 0) was dismantled by 2003, when the dismantling of all W79 variants was completed.[8].
France tested a neutron bomb at the Mururoa Atoll on June 24, 1980. Enhanced radiation weapons were also produced by France in the early 1980s, though they have since destroyed these weapons. The 1999 "Cox Report" indicates that China is able to produce neutron bombs,[9], although no country is currently known to deploy them.
With all of those mistakes why should we believe a word he says?
Ezek. 38:8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land [that is] brought back from the sword, [and is] gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
38:9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.
38:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, [that] at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
38:11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
38:12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places [that are now] inhabited, and upon the people [that are] gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.
38:13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?
38:14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know [it]?
38:15 And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:
38:16 And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
"Have I got time for a cup of coffee?"
The problem with this particular prophecy is it's dire nature. Of course I am not sure if this prophecy is the prediction of the use of “neutron bombs’ by Israel on it's invading enemies, but I certainly can state that it appears to be so. The “curse” may be from God's angels.
Even the theologians that disagree with the “neutron bomb” connection with Zech 14:2 leave the topic admitting the effects of the curse does appear to be similar to that of a neutron bomb.
The difference between me and you is that I am accustomed to speculating such matters. They intrigue me, as well as many other science related prophetic topics. So my fault may be my interest in such morose topics as this. The fault though is a minor one. As long as such speculation does not leave the realm of the possible, straying into fantasy, my thoughts remain debatable and credible.
Thanks for the gnat. I will retain it in my matchbox.
However, if connecting current events to Biblical prophecy motivates one to more urgently spread the Gospel, that would be a good thing.
When the time comes, I’ll take my coffee black, thank you. Anyway, it’s 10:30 PM Eastern time and I have to be up at 5:30 AM tomorrow for business. I will return tomorrow evening at 9 PM to pick up where I left off, if anyone is still interested.
Such topics may motivate one to be a bit more urgent, but could also distract from the gospel if we get carried away into too much speculation.
You might want to check out my website too. Lots of grace oriented teachings. It’s at http://www.messianic-literary.com .
“If I knew God I’d be Him.”
Blessings on you and yours.shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua
The operative word in all this is speculation, a key feature of futurist dispensationalism. But it lacks biblical credibility. God managed to inflict the horrible plagues against ancient Egypt without the need for humanly conceived technology like neutron bombs. So why the need to look under every technology rock for “solutions” to these ancient prophecies?
With enough imagination you can invent just about any scenario you wish for alleged end-times events.
This neutron bomb theory vis-à-vis Zech. 14:12 is nothing new. The problem is that the futurist dispensationalists can’t keep pace with the technology and geo-political changes that undo their theories every time they turn around.
But don’t worry, they will spin a new yarn next week … and come out with a new, exciting work of fiction to back it up.
That was why I mentioned Samuel Morse and the invention of the telegraph. His first public message on the telegraph was “What hath God wrought!”. We understood that God had inspired him to invent a tool that would be the foundation of the electronic communications revolution. He recognized that his invention was indeed a fulfillment of Gods will.
So it may also be with the neutron bomb!
I surmise that you are not a dispensationalist. The only reason why dispensationalism makes more sense than other escatologies is that it is mostly in agreement with the same prophetic mindset of the Hebrew prophets and Jesus. I must admit that not everything dispensational is correct. But dispensational eschatology and it's hope for a redeemed Jewish people promotes a genuine love for modern Israel and the Jewish people, where other escatologies appear to lack such a love. We are what we eat! If we eat bitter fruit we become bitter ourselves.
But back to the main topic of Zechariah and neutron bomb. I believe the possibility of the Zech 14 plague being a neutron bomb is a credible speculation. Credible means that the description of the plague fits the characteristics of a neutron bomb, nothing more, nothing less.
The difference between my opinion and his was quite distinct. He refused to consider anything but the dogmatic teaching he received in bible school,
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I surmise that you are not a dispensationalist. The only reason why dispensationalism makes more sense than other escatologies is that it is mostly in agreement with the same prophetic mindset of the Hebrew prophets and Jesus.
Blah Blah … Sounds like dispensational dogmatism to me.
where I was open to explore the possibility of nuclear war being prophesied in Zechariah.
You know what they say about being too opened minded.
bomb is a credible speculation.
Interpreting Bible prophecy is not about credible speculation, except in the case of futurist dispensationalism which is build on the foundation of speculation. The futurist needs speculation because it is really all they have to go on. Since things they claim are future have not happened yet, it suits their purpose to read the newspaper and see how things fit with what they think they are reading in the Bible. The problem is that they do not realize their presuppositions about the Bible are being infected by their understanding of contemporary events.
No, I’m not a dispensational. I find that most of dispensationalism is unbiblical sensationalism. It is a convoluted system that does not comport with a plain, straightforward reading of the Bible using sound interpretative methods recognized by the Church for centuries.
This article is a perfect example of dispensationalism’s hermeneutical failure as a system. Rather than look at Bible history and see how this prophecy was fulfilled in and around the person of Jesus Christ and His first coming, the dispensationalist asserts a far future, technologically-sophisticated solution to his interpretive difficulties.
He only likes it cuz it sounds good to his ears. At least you are honest enough to call it what it is, rank speculation. What happens in a hundred years when neutron bombs are no longer in vogue. Where do you turn for your next “credible speculation”?
For the sake of argument, let’s assume this neutron bomb scenario is a possible correct interpretation.
In modern terms, who exactly are the people being spoken of that are smitten with this plague, and where does it fit in the popular end-times timeline? Is there anything in the NT that speaks of this same calamity?
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