WORLD - Doomsday Clock 90 Seconds to Midnight
With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the specter of nuclear weapon use, Earth crept its closest to Armageddon, a science-oriented advocacy group said, moving its famous “Doomsday Clock” up to just 90 seconds before midnight.
“We are really closer to that doomsday,” former Mongolian president Elbegdorj Tsakhia said at the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists annual announcement rating how close humanity is from doing itself in. He and former Ireland President Mary Robinson joined scientists to underscore what they consider a gathering of several existential threats, with Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s actions and words chief among them.
Scientists and activists at the Bulletin announcement also mentioned nuclear weapon proliferation in China, Iran increasing its uranium enrichment, missile tests in North Korea, future pandemics from animal diseases, pathogens from lab mistakes, “disruptive technologies” and worsening climate change as other existential threats to humanity.
-www.yahoo.com, 24 January 2023
Arno's Commentary
For over a century, we have heard doomsday predictions from respected leaders and scientists, and unfortunately, also from the Christian camp. Thus, it behooves us to answer the question: what is Armageddon? Based on Revelation 16:16, it is a place in the land of Israel. Britanica.com defines Armageddon: “(probably Hebrew: ‘Hill of Megiddo’),” and adds, “In the New Testament, the place where the kings of the earth under demonic leadership will wage war on the forces of God at the end of history.”
When reading verses 13 and 14, we notice this is a demonic event. They are “spirits of devils.” They are in contact with “the kings of the earth and of the whole world.” Who are they? Diabolical, demonic entities, not humans. How do we know? From Daniel’s fourth night vision, we learn that after a three week delay, Daniel gets the answer from an angelic identity. The reason for the delay? “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia” (Daniel 10:13). This does not speak of literal, physical kings of Persia, but of diabolical entities that are in charge of all nations.
In the Revelation 16 event, we learn the aim of these diabolical entities: “to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (verse 14b). In Revelation 17:14a, it states: “These shall make war with the Lamb.” No military force, missiles, planes, tanks, cannons, or other equipment can oppose the Lamb of God. We have to be very blunt and ask the question: Can America—home to the world’s largest military force—declare war against the Lamb? The answer is NO. Thus, Armageddon is not a physical military conflict.
We realize general interpretation identifies Armageddon as an end-time war. That, however, is not exactly what the Bible says. Rather, it is the direct confrontation between the diabolical world and the Lamb of God.
Armageddon, therefore, cannot occur unless and until the light and the salt has been removed from planet earth. Only then will total darkness prevail. The diabolical forces will make their fatal mistake by believing in their ability to destroy the Lamb of God. How will it end? “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming” (2 Thess 2:8).
Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight Call Ministries and editor-in-chief of the acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call and News From Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecy conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. His extensive travels have contributed to his keen insight into Bible prophecy, as he sees it from an international perspective.
