The Threat of EMP
“An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) triggered by a high altitude detonation of a nuclear weapon, could cripple the U.S. by knocking out electrical power, telecommunications and transportation, along with banking and financial networks.”
This was a statement made by Chuck Missler at a prophecy conference in Dallas in December of 2005.
The impact of an EMP would depend on the size of the nuclear warhead and the altitude of the blast. It would virtually bring America to its knees, as we are so dependent on our electrical system infrastructure. A “blackout” of this nature would put us back in the 19th century.
Imagine this country with no electricity, no phones, no cell phones, no working gas stations, no electronics at all, no banking, etc. Everything runs pretty much on electricity. It's not something that could be fixed in a few days and then everything would be back to normal. It could possibly be permanent.
If a nuclear weapon was detonated at an altitude of 400 km over the middle of the United States, its effect would cover the entire United States and parts of Mexico and Canada.
Senator John Kyl, who chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and Homeland Security, wrote in the April 15 edition of the Washington Post:
“An electromagnetic pulse attack on the American homeland is one of only a few ways that the United States could be defeated by its enemies - terrorist or otherwise. And it is probably the easiest. A single Scud missile, carrying a single nuclear weapon, detonated at the appropriate altitude, would interact with the Earth's atmosphere, producing an electromagnetic pulse radiating down to the surface at the speed of light. Depending on the location and size of the blast, the effect would be to knock out already stressed power grids and other electrical systems across much or even all of the continental United States, for months if not years.
Few if any people would die right away. But the loss of power would have a cascading effect on all aspects of U.S. society. Communication would be largely impossible. Lack of refrigeration would leave food rotting in warehouses, exacerbated by a lack of transportation as those vehicles still working simply ran out of gas (which is pumped with electricity). The inability to sanitize and distribute water would quickly threatened public health, not to mention the safety of anyone in the path of the inevitable fires, which would rage unchecked. And as we have seen in the areas of natural and other disasters, such circumstances often result in a fairly rapid breakdown of social order.”
A test done by the U.S. in 1962 was so destructive that it brought about the Atmospheric Test Ban Treaty, signed by the Soviet Union and the U.S. in 1963.
China and Russia have the capability of executing an EMP attack. However, it is believed that the rogue states of Iran and North Korea, and their terrorist allies present a more imminent threat.
Peter Pry, from the Senate Committee on the Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and Homeland Security, testified that:
“… Iran, the world's leading sponsor of international terrorism, might provide terrorist with the means to execute an EMP attack against the United States.”
I don't know if Iran is, in fact, the leading sponsor of terrorism, but I do know from the news reports that Iran is considered to be a country to watch more closely.
I wrote in Think On These Things in 2004:
“Jeremiah 49:36 says:
And upon Elam will I bring four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come. (Elam is in the southwestern part of Iran today.)”
This is a prophecy that will take place in the last days. What God has planned for Elam is not good, because they have the wicked nature “to destroy.”
Iran has been very active in supporting terrorist groups. They have openly showed extreme distaste of the United States, and it is surpassed only by their extreme hatred for Israel. They have openly stated that “Israel must be wiped off the map.” In fact, I have seen pictures of maps where there is no Israel shown. They also openly display banners saying they will crush America.
So, knowing this, how do we deal with the serious threats to our well-being? Proverbs 1:33 says:
“But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.”
My God is a big God, and therefore I know that He is able to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20).
Amos 6:1, 3, 7 says:
“Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, … Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; … Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive.”
In other words, “Woe to you who are complacent. You put off the evil day and bring near a reign of terror. Therefore you will be among the first to go.” (NIV)
If we stop and think about all the things that have happened in the last sixty years, we would do well to listen to God and hear what He is telling us.
What could it possibly mean “…there shall be no nation where the outcasts of Elam (Iran) shall not come?” We know that the terrorists of Iran are here, and they are here for only one reason.
We must not be at ease concerning national security. There is only one meaningful thing that we can and must do to prevent any sort of diabolical attack against the U.S. We must, as a nation, return to God. He promises that if we turn to Him, He will hear us.
Since many in this nation would not even consider that as an option, those of us who will hear God must prepare ourselves for the escape God has for us. One day Jesus Christ will return to call forth those who are “believers” and have put their faith and trust in Him. Believe that this is a near possibility, and make sure you are ready.
For the day is coming when “the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:” (1 Thess. 4:16).
“For God hath not appointed us to wrath …” (1 Thess. 4:9).
