| This article continues our study of the four horsemen | | | | CRN makes this point as part of its 30 Essential |
| of the apocalypse. In Part 1, we examined the rider on | | | | Studies of Nanotechnology. In Essential Study #20, |
| the white horse. We will now study his successor, the | | | | they pose the question, "How hard will it be to recover |
| rider on the red horse. | | | | from a nanotech gap?" Their answer: |
| This second horse appears in verses 3 and 4: | | | | "At the point where a nanofactory or equivalent |
| "When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the | | | | system is developed, even a few months difference |
| second living being say, 'Come!' And another horse | | | | could be unrecoverable. The more advanced side |
| appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty | | | | would have access to vastly better computers, and |
| sword and the authority to remove peace from the | | | | the technology would advance as rapidly as their |
| earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere." | | | | creativity allowed. There is no obvious plateau in |
| Revelation 6:3-4 (NLT) | | | | capability that would allow a laggard to catch up. Also, |
| What does the symbolic language of this verse tell us | | | | the advanced side would be in a much better position |
| about the rider on the red horse? We can identify | | | | to thwart development in its opponents, with or without |
| several points: | | | | all-out war." |
| 1) He rides a red horse. In the Bible, the color red | | | | If parallel powers do emerge, the likelihood of a |
| symbolizes blood and war, meaning the appearance of | | | | massive and devastating war increases dramatically. I |
| this rider and his horse will usher in a deadly war. | | | | previously stated that the leading developer of MM will |
| 2) He is given authority to remove peace from the | | | | most likely use its advantage to disable its competitors, |
| earth. As a direct result of his actions, the rider sparks | | | | an undertaking required to prevent the unprecedented |
| a global conflict. | | | | destruction of a MM-based arms race. But a |
| 3) There was war and slaughter everywhere. This last | | | | preemptive strike by the initial power might itself result |
| part of verse 4 clearly states that the rider on the red | | | | in a limited MM-based arms race. Even if its |
| horse brings global war and slaughter. | | | | competitors are at a decided disadvantage, the death |
| 4) He was given a mighty sword. The rider wields a | | | | toll could rival that of all 20th Century conflicts |
| mighty sword, a weapon far more powerful than any | | | | combined. |
| of his enemies. | | | | In fact, CRN views the idea of a massive war as a |
| The most intriguing characteristic of the rider on the | | | | "highly plausible" event. Here's what they say: |
| red horse is the "mighty sword" he possesses. What is | | | | "A nano arms race appears almost inevitable, and |
| this mighty sword? Although we don't know for sure, | | | | would probably be unstable as discussed in the military |
| we do know that it is a unique and powerful weapon. | | | | capabilities study (#20). A nano-enabled war would |
| No other "mighty swords" are mentioned in these | | | | probably be lethal to many civilians. As pointed out by |
| verses, and it would seem unnecessary to mention the | | | | Tom McCarthy, "Military planners will seek a target that |
| rider's "mighty sword" if it was just one of many. | | | | is large enough to find and hit, and that cannot be |
| I believe the four horsemen in Revelation 6 represent | | | | easily replaced. The natural choice, given the |
| the various phases of the career of the Antichrist. In | | | | circumstances, will be civilian populations." Both full-scale |
| Part 1 of this series, I speculated that the Antichrist (the | | | | war and unconventional/terroristic war will target |
| rider on the white horse) might use molecular | | | | civilians, who will be nearly impossible to defend without |
| manufacturing (MM) to conquer many nations without | | | | major lifestyle changes. It would be easy to deploy |
| using deadly force. Since the rider on the red horse | | | | enough antipersonnel weapons to make the earth |
| immediately follows the rider on the white horse, it | | | | unsurvivable by unprotected humans." |
| would stand to reason that the second horseman's | | | | Because of the nature of molecular manufacturing, the |
| actions are an immediate consequence of the first | | | | direct targeting of civilian populations will probably |
| horseman's actions. If this is so, do the events | | | | become the number one aim of the world's military |
| described in verses 3 and 4 support the theory of | | | | leadership. MM will enable the decentralization of a |
| molecular manufacturing? Yes, they do. | | | | nation's military hardware, making it very difficult to |
| In Revelation 6:2, the rider on the white horse "goes | | | | track and destroy on a large scale. It will also enable |
| out to conquer many nations." He does not go out to | | | | the quick replacement of that hardware which is |
| conquer "all nations." But if this were the ultimate goal, | | | | destroyed. One thing it will not enable is the |
| he could conquer non-MM-enabled nations with relative | | | | replacement of human lives. Massive loss of brain |
| ease. MM-enabled nations, however, will pose a | | | | power and creativity will devastate a nation. This is |
| greater challenge. Although the leading nation will likely | | | | why we fear terrorists with a single nuclear weapon |
| develop an insurmountable lead, the defeat of these | | | | more than we do a major hurricane. A hurricane might |
| better defended nations will probably result in an | | | | cause more widespread property damage, but people |
| unprecedented amount of destruction. | | | | generally survive. A nuclear explosion, however, could |
| If a nation is attempting to capitalize on its first-mover | | | | very easily kill hundreds of thousands, bringing a |
| molecular manufacturing advantage by disabling its | | | | nation's capacity to function to a screeching halt. |
| competitors and establishing a global empire, competing | | | | Given the circumvention of Mutually Assured |
| nations would likely do everything within their means to | | | | Destruction (MAD) and the negative impact on |
| prevent this from happening. As The Center for | | | | international trade that will result from the development |
| Responsible Nanotechnology (CRN) suggests, "A | | | | of molecular manufacturing, the idea that it might result |
| declared global empire will be resented, hated, and | | | | in "war and slaughter everywhere" is more than |
| feared, no matter who is emperor. Preparation for it is | | | | probable. When taken in context with the white horse |
| likely to tempt preemptive strikes." | | | | of Revelation 6:2, as well as other evidence we will |
| A non-MM-enabled power will be utterly defenseless | | | | explore in future articles, it seems quite possible that |
| against a MM-enabled power. However, it seems likely | | | | the four horseman of Revelation 6 foreshadow the |
| that the nation which first develops MM will do so in | | | | development of molecular manufacturing, a technology |
| near parallel with competing nations. This means that | | | | that may well be developed within the next 3 to 5 |
| it's highly likely that other MM-enabled powers could | | | | years, and almost certainly will be developed by the |
| emerge in a similar timeframe. These powers might be | | | | year 2020. In Part 3 of this series, we'll examine the |
| able to mount some sort of token resistance. But even | | | | rider on the black horse as well as the economic |
| an advantage of a few days could provide the leading | | | | impact that will result from the emergence of general |
| power with an insurmountable advantage. | | | | purpose exponential molecular manufacturing. |