Although it hasn’t been widely covered, India and Pakistan are fighting again. So far it’s nothing serious, but considering both countries have plenty of nuclear weapons, it has some people a bit unsettled. It’s definitely not the only combustible situation featuring nuclear weapons these days. After all, Russia and the United States are at odds in Syria, even going so far as to cut off diplomatic communications. Then there’s always North Korea, a nuclear power with a crazy and chubby dictator that doesn’t really like anybody, certainly not South Korea or the United States.
Naturally, considering all of the nuclear saber-rattling going on, it’s logical to ask if nuclear war is found in the Bible. Typically, people will point to the Book of Revelation to suggest that there will be global nuclear war in the end times. While the use of nuclear weapons is a possibility, it’s unlikely that there will be nuclear war on a large scale. For starters, the vast majority of the judgments in the end times will be directly carried out by God during the Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord is the period of time when God will pour out His wrath upon rebellious, sinful humanity. It’s also known as “the day of the Lord’s sacrifice” (Zephaniah 1:8) and “the day of His fierce anger” (Isaiah 13:13), among other names.
Again, the judgments which take place during the Day of the Lord will be conducted by God Himself. Specifically, He’s going to use angels to execute a number of His judgments (Revelation 9; 16). While it’s possible God could use people to carry out His wrath in the end times, He never states that He will. For example, the Lord spoke through Isaiah that “In that day”, referring to the Day of the Lord, Damascus will be destroyed in a single night (Isaiah 17:9, 14). Certainly, it doesn’t say how Damascus will be destroyed, which has led many students of Bible prophecy to speculate that this could be a nuclear incident. Yet, since Damascus will be destroyed during the Day of the Lord, it’s safe to say God will supernaturally destroy the city, not a nuclear attack or foreign army.
That said, there is one instance in the end times where a nuclear attack is likely. Babylon the Great is a city that will rule over the nations of the world before the Antichrist rises to power (Revelation 17:5, 18). Eventually, the Antichrist will attack the city (Revelation 17:16), and ultimately it will be destroyed by the Lord for its wickedness (Revelation 18:21). On an interesting side note, the most likely candidates for Babylon the Great are New York City or London, based upon the city’s characteristics. Regardless, the way the Antichrist attacks Babylon the Great is interesting. It’s said that the Antichrist will “burn her with fire” and “make her desolate and naked” (Revelation 17:16). Could this be a nuclear attack?
Of course, whether nuclear or not, this event will take place before the Day of the Lord’s wrath. The Antichrist’s attack on Babylon the Great will lead to his short reign of terror, known as the Great Tribulation. The Great Tribulation will be Satan’s wrath against Christians and Israel. It will be cut short by the return of Jesus to rescue His followers, followed by His wrath on the Antichrist and the ungodly: the Day of the Lord (See Matthew 24:9-31 or read The King Is Coming for a detailed explanation).
So, is nuclear war in the Bible? While it’s difficult to say with complete certainty, it seems likely that nuclear war isn’t going to happen, but that an isolated nuclear attack is highly probable.