"For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus." Revelation 19:10 (NLT)

Winning World War III

Can anyone win World War III? Recently, I heard some national pundits ask this very question. Their answer? They said, "World War III will begin the same way World War II ended." In other words, World War III will be a nuclear war. It will be an unwinnable war, and it will end all human life on earth. And because of this, every leader on the planet is determined to avoid it at any cost.

This is the conventional wisdom. A lot of people think this way. The idea World War III is certain to bring global nuclear destruction and the end of the world is generally accepted as true. But is it? No. Reality tells a far different story.

The End of an Era

The widespread belief World War III is unwinnable and will end in global nuclear destruction took hold during the Cold War. Since the day the Soviet Union successfully tested its first nuclear bomb, world leaders have warned of the terrible implications of WWIII. Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." President John F. Kennedy said, "Mankind must put an end to war - or war will put an end to mankind." And the father of the atomic bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer, said, "If this next great war occurs, none of us can count on having enough living to bury our dead."

During the Cold War, these beliefs were common. And they made sense for the time. WWIII meant nuclear war. And global nuclear war meant complete global destruction. Ironically, acceptance of this belief prevented WWIII. The official term for it is Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD). MAD is the fear of total destruction and the idea no one can win a war between two nuclear powers. For 70 years, it's all that's kept us from WWIII.

In an all-out nuclear war, no one wins. It's a lose-lose proposition, and every world leader knows it. Because they do, we've avoided all-out war. But will this continue forever? Many think it will. Even in the face of nuclear proliferation, many people believe MAD will forever keep the peace. But that's short-sighted.

The sad truth is MAD won't keep the peace forever. MAD is based on technology. And the technology it relies on will soon be obsolete. Like all previous military eras, the era of MAD will soon come to an end.

If we've learned anything from the past, it's to "never fight the last war." Just because nuclear weapons ended WWII, we shouldn’t assume they'll be the centerpiece of WWIII. Something new will replace nuclear weapons. Firearms once replaced arrows. Tanks replaced horse mounted troops. And one day soon, new technologies will replace nuclear weapons. When that day arrives, MAD will become obsolete. And when MAD becomes obsolete, the world peace built on it will fall to pieces. Why? Because the threat of certain and total destruction will disappear. And when it does, world leaders will once again see a path to victory in WWIII.

The Next Era

When post-MAD technologies emerge, the current global order will be turned upside down. The old rules will no longer apply. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, molecular manufacturing, and quantum computers will shatter the status quo. Imagine new technologies able to detect and track all nuclear armed submarines. Imagine mechanized swarms of tiny drones controlled by artificial intelligence. Imagine supercomputers able to crack into any communications network. How will conventional military forces fare? How effective is a machine gun or a missile in the face of a drone swarm? About as effective as a firearm in the face of a swarm of bees. Today's weapons will be useless against tomorrow's technologies. With artificial intelligence and molecular manufacturing, a nation can quickly build a ruthless force capable of overwhelming another nation's military networks and mechanical systems. In the face of such an enemy, the most powerful militaries on earth today will crumble.

It's Coming Soon

Does all of this sound like science fiction? Does it sound like something decades or centuries in the future? If so, I don't blame you for thinking that way. But nothing could be further from the truth. A new era is coming, and world peace is one the verge of disintegration. Don't take my word for it. Just read the daily headlines. When you do, you'll realize a race is on to dominate these new technologies and completely upend today's world order.

Need an example? In September 2017, Vladimir Putin spoke in Yaroslavl, Russia. Speaking about artificial intelligence, he said, "The one who becomes the leader in this sphere will be the ruler of the world." Putin didn't say the leader in this sphere will be powerful. He didn’t say they'll be the first of many leaders in a pioneering field. He said they'll rule the world. Putin knows a new era is coming. He understands the stakes. No doubt he wants to rule the world himself. Unfortunately, he's not alone.

China also understands what's at stake. Last year, they unveiled a plan to become the global leader in artificial intelligence by the year 2025. They understand what a global leadership position in artificial intelligence will mean. Already, they're using AI systems to track and arrest their own citizens. I'm sure they'd like to use them to conquer the world as well. And guess what? China and Russia aren't alone. Other nations and world leaders know the world is on the verge of a major shift. Soon, WWIII will be winnable. And every nation wants to be the one to win it.

What the Bible Says

Not surprisingly, the Bible also says World War III is winnable. The Book of Revelation describes a global war of unparalleled destruction (Revelation 6:4). While a quarter of the world's population is killed (Revelation 6:8), the world still survives. A single world power wins the war and goes on to rule the world (Revelation 13:7). For the past several decades, many people have found these prophecies difficult to understand. They've operated under the assumption no one can win World War III. But with the rise of advanced technologies such as molecular manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and quantum computers, it not only becomes feasible - it becomes inevitable. And it might come sooner than most people think.

After all, the development of these technologies appears in tandem with a number of end time signs Jesus and the prophets said to look for. Those signs include (but are not limited to): the rebirth of Israel as a nation (Jeremiah 23:7-8)... The Jewish people in control of Jerusalem (Luke 21:24-28)... A marked increase in travel and knowledge (Daniel 12:4)... and many more. The prospect of a winnable World War III, with the winner establishing a global empire, is just one more sign. According to Jesus, you should "look up, because your salvation draws near" (Luke 21:28). He's coming soon!

What do you think? Will WWIII be fought with nuclear weapons, post-nuclear weapons, or a combination of the two? Leave your answer here.

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