| Some of the most intriguing passages in the Bible can | | | | structure. Just as the development of atomic weapons |
| be found in Revelation Chapter 6, a chapter dealing | | | | made the United States and the Soviet Union world |
| with events that occur during the Tribulation period of | | | | superpowers during the Cold War, the development of |
| human history. Both Old and New Testament prophets | | | | molecular manufacturing will make the nation which |
| mention this period frequently, including Jesus Christ | | | | develops it the world's dominant superpower. In |
| when he said "unless that time of calamity is | | | | addition, it can cement that power permanently if it |
| shortened, not a single person will survive" Matthew | | | | uses its initial advantage to disable competing nation |
| 24:22 (NLT). This series of articles will focus on the | | | | states from developing a molecular manufacturing |
| proper interpretation of the "four horsemen of the | | | | capability of their own. |
| apocalypse" (found in verses 2 through 8 of Chapter | | | | It is my assertion that this elimination of potential rivals |
| 6), while exploring one possible scenario for their | | | | will not simply be one of many foreign policy options, |
| fulfillment. | | | | but rather, the only one. This is because of the inherent |
| The first horseman appears in verse 2: | | | | instability of a MM-based arms race. The Center for |
| "I looked up and saw a white horse. Its rider carried a | | | | Responsible Nanotechnology has identified an unstable |
| bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode | | | | arms race as one of the top dangers of molecular |
| out to win many battles and gain the victory." | | | | manufacturing: |
| Revelation 6:2 (NLT) | | | | "The nuclear arms race was stable for several |
| Throughout history this has been properly interpreted | | | | reasons. In virtually every way, the nano-arms race will |
| as a passage referring to the Antichrist. But what | | | | be the opposite. Nuclear weapons are hard to design, |
| does the symbolic language of this verse tell us about | | | | hard to build, require easily monitored testing, do |
| the man of perdition? Several things are immediately | | | | indiscriminate and lasting damage, do not rapidly |
| noticeable: | | | | become obsolete, have almost no peaceful use, and |
| 1) He rides a white horse. This is commonly used in | | | | are universally abhorred. Nano capability will be easy to |
| scripture to identify a conqueror. So it is appropriate to | | | | build (given a nanofactory), will allow easily concealable |
| view the Antichrist as a conqueror. | | | | testing, will be relatively easy to control and deactivate, |
| 2) A crown is placed on his head. The Antichrist is | | | | would become obsolete very rapidly, almost every |
| either the king of a nation(s), or the elected or | | | | design is dual-use, and peaceful and non-lethal (police) |
| appointed head of state(s). | | | | use will be common. Nukes are easier to stockpile than |
| 3) He rides out to win many battles and gain the | | | | to use; nano weapons are the opposite." |
| victory. The Antichrist goes out into the world with | | | | They also agree that a MM-monopoly will be an |
| every intention to conquer it and gain victory. | | | | attractive policy option for the developing nation: |
| 4) He carries a bow. The Antichrist wields the | | | | "Each nation will see only a few possibilities: 1) an arms |
| traditional weapons of war, but in this passage, he is | | | | race that will probably be unwinnable since it will |
| not viewed as using deadly force to conquer (no | | | | develop into a disastrous war; 2) developing ahead of |
| arrow accompanies his bow). | | | | everyone else and establishing dominance; 3) some |
| This last characteristic of the Antichrist and his | | | | other nation developing earlier and establishing |
| nefarious career is intentionally placed last on the list | | | | dominance; 4) international cooperation and trust |
| because it is the most revealing and enigmatic | | | | sufficient to ensure safety; 5) a multinational |
| statement in the aforementioned verse. How can a | | | | organization willing and able to keep the peace." |
| person conquer without using deadly force, when this | | | | "Option 1 is undesirable; Option 3 is probably unthinkable |
| has been the exclusive method of choice for | | | | for any of the current large powers; Option 5 is |
| conquerors throughout history? This apparent | | | | probably unacceptable to the U.S., as the world's sole |
| contradiction has often been rectified by viewing the | | | | superpower; Option 4 may be seen as unfeasible. Only |
| Antichrist as a great diplomat who will use diplomacy | | | | one nation can succeed at Option 2. This implies that a |
| to peacefully bring a willing world into an era of global | | | | preemptive strike option (whether military attack, or |
| government. But is this a realistic view? Revelation 13:7 | | | | sabotage or derailment of nanotech development |
| tells us "and he was given authority to rule over every | | | | efforts) will appear very attractive to a number of |
| tribe and people and language and nation." Given the | | | | powerful nations." |
| global history of nationalism, tribalism, racism, and other | | | | Regardless of whether or not it is linked to bible |
| animosities among men, it seems beyond | | | | prophecy, molecular manufacturing is near and |
| comprehension that any man, no matter how | | | | inevitable. It's also a foregone conclusion that a |
| charismatic, could conquer the world with mere words. | | | | nanotechnology arms race must be avoided at all |
| This gives us the perfect opportunity to apply the | | | | costs. As such, it is very likely the leading power will |
| golden rule of biblical interpretation: "when the plain | | | | assert itself over potential rivals in order to prevent the |
| sense of scripture makes common sense, seek no | | | | unprecedented destruction of a nanotech arms race. |
| other sense." | | | | Oddly, this leads to the agreement of two often |
| The Bible is clearly telling us that one of the ways in | | | | diametrically opposed worldviews: |
| which believers will be able to identify the Antichrist is | | | | The Secular Worldview: Molecular manufacturing is |
| his ability to conquer the world without using deadly | | | | coming. In order to insure geopolitical stability and |
| force. But, again, given what we know about history, is | | | | survival of the human race, competition among |
| it possible to conquer the world without using deadly | | | | molecular manufacturing-enabled competitors must be |
| force? | | | | eliminated and a global government must be |
| Right now, it's not. But very soon, it will not only be | | | | established. |
| possible, but absolutely necessary. | | | | The Biblical Worldview: The Antichrist will worship a |
| Just as much of the world remains asleep to the | | | | god of fortresses unknown to his fathers (Daniel |
| "signs of the times," it also remains ignorant of the | | | | 11:37-39), and he will rule over a global government |
| exponential growth of its technological capability. The | | | | (Revelation 13:7). When he initially appears, he will ride |
| world is on the verge of a monumental breakthrough | | | | out to conquer many (Revelation 6:2). |
| that will literally change the world geopolitical landscape | | | | This convergence between the secular worldview and |
| overnight. This imminent technological discovery is | | | | the biblical worldview is cause for examination of the |
| known as molecular manufacturing (MM), the ability to | | | | times in which we live. When molecular manufacturing |
| precisely position reactive molecules via | | | | is developed in the near future, its invention will almost |
| mechanochemical synthesis. The length of this article | | | | certainly be followed by a military campaign to prevent |
| doesn't allow me room to elaborate on the details of | | | | a future showdown between competing MM-enabled |
| MM, but those interested can learn more by visiting | | | | nation states. However, this military campaign will in no |
| The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology at ( That | | | | way resemble the military conquests to which we've |
| said, molecular manufacturing will be a technology so | | | | become accustomed. It will be waged with horrifically |
| powerful, it will swiftly transform every facet of the | | | | effective weapons which will be hundreds of times |
| human condition - partly to great benefit, partly to great | | | | stronger, lighter, faster, and more accurate than the |
| peril. | | | | best military technologies of today. Encrypted |
| In his 1986 book Engines of Creation, in which K. Eric | | | | networks will be easily compromised, the concept of |
| Drexler first posited the ideas of nanotechnology and | | | | MAD easily circumvented. World domination will come |
| molecular manufacturing, he made the following | | | | with relative ease to a MM-enabled power competing |
| observation (found in Chapter 11: Engines of | | | | against today's defense technologies. And victory can |
| Destruction) concerning the dangers of this | | | | be absolute without a single human casualty. |
| technology's development: | | | | Is this the scenario foreseen in Revelation 6:2? |
| "States could use assemblers or advanced AI | | | | Perhaps. Perhaps not. However, it should be noted that |
| systems to achieve sudden, destabilizing | | | | the timeline for its development coincides with an era in |
| breakthroughs. I earlier discussed reasons for | | | | which all the "signs" addressed by Jesus and the |
| expecting that the advent of replicating assemblers will | | | | prophets are present. |
| bring relatively sudden changes: Able to replicate | | | | The most important sign is that Israel is once again a |
| swiftly, they could become abundant in a matter of | | | | nation. Jesus told his followers: |
| days. Able to make almost anything, they could be | | | | "Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its buds |
| programmed to duplicate existing weapons, but made | | | | become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you |
| from superior materials. Able to work with standard, | | | | know without being told that summer is near. Just so, |
| well-understood components (atoms) they could | | | | when you see the events I've described beginning to |
| suddenly build things designed in anticipation of the | | | | happen, you can know his return is very near, right at |
| assembler breakthrough. These results of | | | | the door. I assure you, this generation will not pass |
| design-ahead could include programmable germs and | | | | from the scene before all these things take place. |
| other nasty novelties. For all these reasons, a state | | | | Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will |
| that makes the assembler breakthrough could rapidly | | | | remain forever." Matthew 24:32-35 (NLT) |
| create a decisive military force - if not literally overnight, | | | | The fig tree Jesus is referring to is Israel. It's been six |
| then at least with unprecedented speed." | | | | decades since Israel was once again declared a nation |
| For those who think the United States remains, and will | | | | against all worldly odds. Jesus promised that the |
| remain, the world's greatest military power well into the | | | | generation which witnessed fulfillment of this prophecy |
| future, I recommend rereading that last sentence. | | | | would not pass until the things of which he spoke |
| Molecular manufacturing will turn the world upside | | | | came to pass. The hourglass is running out on that |
| down. Its development will amplify the current march | | | | generation, so be alert. |
| toward smaller, more precise, and efficient weapons. | | | | Christ tells us that those who are watching for this |
| Instead of killing its enemies, a nation could simply | | | | hour will be blessed: "Know this: A homeowner who |
| disarm them. Even a nation state as small as | | | | knew exactly when a burglar was coming would stay |
| Singapore or Monaco could very quickly build a military | | | | alert and not permit the house to be broken into. You |
| force far more powerful than all the current world | | | | also must be ready all the time. For the Son of Man will |
| militaries combined. | | | | come when least expected." Matthew 24:43-44 (NLT) |
| This will have a significant impact on the world political | | | | "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! |