Revelation 16:16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

    The word Armageddon appears only once in the entire Bible, yet it is a word that has come to strike absolute terror in the heart of mankind all over the world. The world's superpower geo-political diplomats and think-tank engines have sought for over 50 years since the birth of the atomic age for a way to avoid a potential Armageddon scenario. Thus, the natural course of mankind's conflict rationalization took us through the early nuclear test ban treaties, then into disarmament dialogue, and finally into strategic arms limitations strategies with concepts of controlling the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Today the whole world's biggest fear is being realized, and that fear is the catastrophic nightmare of nuclear weapons being acquired by rogue States that sponsor international terrorist organizations.

RUSSIA - 13,000 to 20,000 Nuclear Warheads (Nearly 2/3 Worlds Stock)
    The former Soviet Union arsenal was inherited by Russia in 1989 and has dwindled and aged but remains the largest arsenal on the planet. The cost of safely destroying missiles and warheads has hampered Moscow's ability to reduce the arsenal. (the US has helped pay for destroying some of Russia's nuclear stock) However, Russia still intends to meet the 3,500 war-head target agreed to with the U.S. in the START II accord, even if the treaty remains unratified by the Russian parliament. In 1999, Russia still had about 20,000 warheads many of them supposedly slated for destruction. However and undetermined amount of the former Soviet nukes have either disappeared, been stolen, or sold on the black market, or fallen into the hands of some of the breakaway republics south of Russia. Extensive missile systems and a fleet of aging nuclear submarines, plus long-ranged bombers continue to make Russia a formidable nuclear power to reckon with. Also Russia deployed SS-27 ICBM's in 1999 with a range of over 6200 miles, (13 years newer than US models) indicating they are still intent on posing a nuclear threat. Ironically, Russia has regularly practiced war games in which they simulate a nuclear attack on the United States. (Prophetic role: Russia has long been an arms supplier and ally of the many adversaries of Israel, and the Bible portends that Russia will lead an assault on the mountains of Israel in the Last Days)

CHINA - 434 Nuclear Warheads
China's nuclear arsenal is relatively small but includes the three major strategic components: land, air and submarine-launched systems. U.S. defense strategists regard China's arsenal as defensive in nature, but China has aggressively pursued an offensive strategy in the Pacific Rim. Aggressive nuclear espionage in the US and a growing economy suggest modernization, if not expansion is in the cards for China. China was even implicated in acquiring sensitive nuclear-computer technology from the Clinton Administration. On arms control, China refuses to take part in any arms control talks until U.S. and Russian arsenals have come down to a level comparable to Britain, France and China.

(Prophetic Role: China is portrayed in the Bible as leading the “Kings of the East” in an incursion into the Middle East coming across the Euphrates River against Israel.)

UNITED STATES - 15,500 Nuclear Warheads (About 1/2 Worlds Stock)
    The U.S. is modernizing and reducing its arsenal in line with what it sees as new post-Cold War realities. The U.S. will retain 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines. Its force of land-based Minuteman III missiles have been cut from 530 to 500. Short-range nuclear attack missiles have been retired. The START II treaty goal is to reduce warheads to 3,500 by 2003. Along with the subs and Minute-mans, B-52 bombers with air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs), and 20 B-2's carrying up to 16 gravity bombs each and some tactical weapons, will round out the U.S. arsenal. The US nuclear arsenal is second in size only to Russia. The US has endeavored to reduce its nuclear arsenal and place a renewed emphasis on its conventional and smart technology weapon systems. The US has traditionally been the sole friend of Israel in the world. It is because of this alliance with Israel that the US finds itself the target of so much of the world's wrath.

(Prophetic Role: The US is not directly linked to any specific action during the Great Tribulation, but it is certainly linked to the pre-tribulation foreign relations of the Middle Eastern world.)

FRANCE - 482 Nuclear Warheads
    France maintains a nuclear bomber force and a small fleet of nuclear missile submarines. Its arsenal, on paper at least, is the third most powerful in the world. However, post-Cold War reductions are sweeping, including the elimination of land-based missiles. At the same time, France's modernization program continues. Like China and Britain, France has chosen to stay out of arms control efforts, arguing that its forces are purely defensive.

(Prophetic Role: France will play a role as a member of the EU and the world empire of the Antichrist against Israel)

UNITED KINGDOM - 200 Nuclear Warheads
    The British nuclear bomber force was phased out in 1998, leaving Great Britain only a submarine-based deterrent system of defense. Nonetheless, the British force remains formidable based upon its four new Vanguard type class nuclear missile subs. The submarines are armed with U.S.-supplied Trident II D-5 missiles.

(Prophetic Role: Britain will play a role as a member of the EU and the world empire of the Antichrist against Israel)

ISRAEL - 100 Nuclear Warheads
    Israel's officially unacknowledged nuclear arsenal is the worst-kept secret in the Middle East, and that is no accident. Israel is fighting for its survival in a dangerous neighborhood! No potential foe can discount Israel's unknown nuclear capabilities. Recent revelations suggest that Israel has about 100 nuclear weapons in a mix of gravity bombs and missiles. The Israeli air force relies heavily on U.S.-supplied aircraft such as the F-4E and F-15 to deliver such weapons.

(Prophetic Role: Israel will soon find the entire world arrayed against it, and marching to its very doorstep with their vast arsenals of weapons.)

INDIA – 60 Nuclear Weapons
    India detonated a nuclear device in May 1974. For over two decades, India claimed that no bombs were built and that their nuclear power was only peaceful research continued. Then, in 1998, India all but declared itself a nuclear power with a series of nuclear tests, a move that angered the West and prompted its rival Pakistan to follow suit to acquire nukes. India has enough plutonium for over 80 weapons. It continues to work on improvements to its Prithvi and Agni ballistic missiles. India and Pakistan continue to make the world nervous because of their nuclear taunting over a border dispute in the Kashmir.

(Prophetic Role: Pakistan, or either of these two nations could be aligned with the “Kings of the East” when China comes against the Western Power of the Antichrist)

PAKISTAN – 25 Nuclear Weapons
    Ever-aware of India's intentions, Pakistan began a secret nuclear weapons program in 1972. By the late 1980's, Pakistan was capable of building nuclear weapons, and in 1990, that fact prompted the U.S. cut off aid to Islamabad. With Chinese and North Korean assistance, Pakistan is believed to have several recently completed and now joined the nuclear club. Pakistan has tested many nuclear devices and as recently as last year demonstrated that it is willing to use them. Pakistan also has received Chinese aid in developing the Hatf I and Hatf-II ballistic missiles. Pakistan has also been a key exchanger of nuclear technology/missiles with North Korea and Iran

. (Prophetic Role: Pakistan, and other nations could likely be aligned with the “Kings of the East” when China comes against the Western Power of the Antichrist)

IRAN -- (May acquire Nuke by 2004-2005)
    Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons predates the Islamic revolution of 1979. However, Iran under the Ayatollahs recommitted itself and, according to U.S. intelligence estimates, may be only a matter of a few years from attaining nuclear status. Though Iran denies it is trying to build a bomb, senior Iranians privately have cited the large, unacknowledged Israeli nuclear arsenal and efforts in neighboring Iraq, another bitter foe, as a rationale for their own program. The Indian and Pakistan bomb tests also raised Iranian eyebrows. Iran's main source of technology and nuclear material is thought to be China and North Korea, with Russia supplying civilian nuclear power technology. China and North Korea have also sold missile technology to Iran. Iranian leadership has publicly stated that its nuclear program goal is to destroy Israel. Iran is known to have two nuclear producing facilities, and is suspected of stealing nukes and nuclear technology from former Soviet sources. Israel has publicly stated that Iran poses its 2nd most serious security threat, (behind the Syrian-Hezbollah threat) and that if Iran should acquire nuclear weapons that it might take preemptive action against Iran)

(Prophetic role: Iran is known as Persia in Bible Prophecy, and is forecast (along with others) to be a compelling factor in drawing Russia down into the Middle East against Israel.)

IRAQ – (Presently being de-activated by US)
    The extent and sophistication of Iraq's nuclear weapons program came as something of a shock to the West when the Gulf war's guns fell silent. Israel was convinced enough of Iraq's potential as a nuclear threat that it dispatched jets to destroy an Iraqi research reactor at Osirak in 1981. After the Gulf war, U.N. weapons inspectors won access to Iraqi facilities as part of the war's armistice. They found that Baghdad's scientists had been on the verge of success. Iraq's program was aided enormously by former Soviet and Chinese technology. UNSCOM inspectors feel they crippled most of Iraq's nuclear research facilities before they lost access to the country in late 1998. However, experts fear the knowledge they gained may be able to be quickly reapplied to a new nuclear weapons program. Iraq' nuclear and WMD facilitations program is rumored to be available to international terrorist organizations, and in the aftermath of the recent US led war against the Saddam Hussein regime, those weapons may have been transported to Syria, or other terrorist groups.

(Prophetic Role: Iraq is not depicted as an ally of the great Russian-Persia invasion on Israel, therefore, something unique is still on the horizon for Iraq as China will eventually cross its borders to confront the Antichrist confederation at Armageddon.)

SYRIA – (Under Intense Scrutiny by US)
    Syria, like many of Israel's regional rivals, is thought to have launched a program aimed at building a nuclear weapon in the 1970s after it became clear Israel had obtained such weapons. The program, probably aided by Russian and Chinese (or Iran, North Korea) technology is not thought to have progressed very far as Syria lacks both the technical infrastructure and money for serious nuclear research. China and North Korea however, have provided Syria with ballistic missile technology. Syria has cooperated with Iran extensively in building up a sizable missile capability for Hezbollah in Central and South Lebanon. Syria has maintained that the international (IAEA-UN) must de-nuke Israel or they will never agree to join the Middle East Peace Process.

(Prophetic Role: Syria, or Damascus is destined for a nuclear exchange with somebody, either Israel or the US, or perhaps even the Antichrist Confederation.)

NORTH KOREA – (May now have Nukes-Under Intense Scrutiny by US)
I    n 1993, after U.S. intelligence raised fears of a North Korean nuclear weapon, saying the North had diverted enough plutonium from an old Soviet-designed reactor to produce at least one crude bomb. After a period of tension, the U.S. and Pyongyang signed a nuclear agreement through which the U.S., Japan and South Korea would aid North Korea in building a proliferation-safe, Western-style nuclear plant, and supply it with food aid. North Korea, in exchange, agreed to a complete cessation of its nuclear weapons program and opened its research sites to international (IAEA-the same organization that could not find WMD in Iraq) inspection. The 1994 agreement remains extremely controversial, and recently North Korea admitted breaking it and continuing its nuclear program. The United States, South Korea and Japan have always had serious doubts about Washington's ability to verify North Korea's compliance. Groundbreaking on the North's new Western-funded non-military reactor took place in the summer of 1997. This year North Korea has claimed that it already has nuclear weaponry, and has defied the US/UN to do anything about it.

(Prophetic Role: Pakistan, and other nations could likely be aligned with the “Kings of the East” when China comes against the Western Power of the Antichrist)

EGYPT -- (Very Secretive-but building)
    Egypt, like Syria, embarked on a nuclear weapons program during the 1960s under Gamel Abdel Nasser. Despite generous Soviet patronage in other areas of Nasser's military program, Moscow apparently stopped short of providing nuclear weapons technology. Egypt's program sputtered on through the 1970s but according to U.S. intelligence officials, to little result. By the end of the decade, Egypt's secret-weapons development efforts were being directed toward chemical and biological weapons and ballistic missiles. These programs largely were ended after the Camp David accords in 1979. However, Egypt has continued to maintain contacts with Chinese and North Korean sources for ballistic missile technology, much to the concern of the United States, which has invested heavily in Egyptian geo-political stability. Egypt has continually purchased every sophisticated weapons system it can get its hands on. Egypt has bought weapons from the US, China, North Korea, France, and Germany. Meanwhile Egypt continues to downplay its military abilities and to pretend that it is a force for peace in the region.

LIBYA – (Under Intense Scrutiny by Israel)
    Libya is thought to lack the technical resources to develop nuclear weapons on its own or even with significant outside help. The threat posed by Libya, in Western eyes at least, is that its radical regime might find a way to purchase such a weapon and supply it to a terrorist group. Libya's complicity in the 1987 bombing of a Pan Am 747 jetliner only increased these fears. Both the Soviet Union and China have supplied civilian nuclear reactor technology to Libya in the past. U.S. intelligence agencies believe a low-level effort to build a bomb is under way but that it probably has not progressed far. Israel however begs to differ. Israel insists that Libya is heavily involved in biological and chemical weapons development, and supporting Islamic terrorism in Africa.

(Prophetic Role: Libya is depicted as being aligned with the alliance of Russia in the great assault on the mountains of Israel)

    Is it just mere coincidence that so many nations have gone overboard in the development and acquisition of so many types of weapons of mass destruction? Is it by mere accident that the very nations that were prophesied hundreds of years ago to be involved in an Armageddon scenario against Israel are today busy researching and constructing their doomsday war machines? Recently a political/scientist/ history organization noted that the chances of Armageddon occurring today are a 1-in-2 chance of likelihood. That means that the chance for an Armageddon type scenario happening today are no better than the chances of it not happening. One hundred years ago the same formula for calculating the “Armageddon Syndrome” produced a “zero chance” for an Armageddon event happening. In the past 10 decades we have gradually gone from a zero chance, to a multi-billions-to-1 chance, until now today we stand at an even chance for Armageddon happening. Coincidence? Not hardly! When one calculates the chances of all these things happening at the exact same point in history that Israel was being reconstituted amongst the community of nations in this world, (for the 2nd time) and that just one city, “Jerusalem” is the fuse that could ignite Armageddon, one must marvel at the precision of Bible Prophecy.

    Zechariah 14:12 And this shall be the plague wherewith 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 eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

    Joel 3:9-11 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. (KJV)

Focus on Jerusalem Prophecy Ministry
©2003Darrell G. Young
July, 2003

    The big question is, “What are you going to do to prepare for Armageddon”? Build a bomb shelter? How about trusting in Jesus Christ as your savior,……..He is the only sure hope that anyone can have!