Another Example: Atomic Energy
The same thing is true of atomic energy. Prior to the twentieth century, man knew virtually nothing about the inner secrets of the atom. Then, on July 16, 1945, the incredible, stupendous power of the atom was unleashed in the New Mexico desert. Within 30 days, two atomic bombs were detonated over Japan, obliterating two cities and over a hundred thousand people. In a few short years during World War II, man had learned more about the atomic nucleus than in all of previous history.
The atom, of course, can be used for peaceful purposes. Radioactivity can be used in cancer treatment, in "x-raying" metal casings, and in "labeling" molecules for studies in agriculture and medicine. The energy of the atom's nucleus can be slowly released in nuclear reactors to be used in producing electricity or desalinizing seawater. Controlled nuclear fusion could provide prodigious amounts of energy in a time of rapidly diminishing fossil fuels. But, as the lesson of history has borne out, our military might is now dependent upon an atomic arsenal. In the event of war, atomic energy will be used once again for destruction and aggression.
But back to our original question: Will modern laser technology be used for the good of mankind, or will the laser, like other inventions, be used for destruction and war?
Like it or not, the laser has an awesome and stunning potential for destructive purposes. Many people have seen the science-fiction films with Buck Rogers-type warfare, where whole buildings are blasted away by some kind of super ray gun. Or maybe we have seen a death ray obliterating men, jeeps, or anything else in its way. Sometimes the battles have occurred underwater — or maybe in outer space. It all seemed so "way out" then. But the laser promises to transform science fiction into terrifying reality!
In addition to stupendous power, the laser has two characteristics that make it a formidable weapon:
• Line of sight. Light from lasers travels in straight lines. There is no need to calculate trajectories.”Once you've got him in your sight," said one engineer, "you've got him." The Buck Rogers "ray gun" is no longer science fiction.
• "Zero" travel time. The "instantaneous," 186,000 mi./sec. speed of light makes escape or avoidance maneuvers impossible. There is no way to even "see" it coming.
Indeed the laser is already being incorporated into sophisticated and devastating weapons of destruction such as:
• Smart bombs. Lasers are already used to unerringly direct bombs to their targets. In Vietnam, "smart" laser-guided bombs meant "one bomb — one kill."
• Laser bombs. Nuclear weapons triggered by lasers are also being developed. Such a "laser bomb" would have the power of an H-bomb, but would be much simpler, smaller, and would not need a "dirty" atomic bomb to set it off.
• Death rays. Lasers are being developed for "electro-optical warfare." The fantastic power of lasers — some pulses are over 100 billion watts — enables them to penetrate and obliterate almost anything.
The military is extremely interested in the possibility of knocking down missile warheads by melting their nose cones into a useless mass. The Air Force has tested lasers that, knife through cockpit canopies "like butter."
At the Army's Redstone Arsenal, tanks have already been equipped with high-energy laser guns. And hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent by the U.S. military on developing even more powerful lasers.
• Space warfare. Lasers work best in thin air or in a vacuum. In the future, satellites and space stations may be armed with laser weapons to shoot down hostile missiles or satellites. The Russians are already reported to be testing "killer satellites" which may be armed with sophisticated high-energy lasers capable of blinding or destroying U.S. reconnaissance and military satellites.
The B-I supersonic bomber, recently given a partial go-ahead by Congress, may be equipped with a powerful laser gun in its tail. There's also the neutron "death ray" bomb that could destroy an enemy troop concentration without contaminating friendly forces.
A neutron bomb, when developed for combat, would revolutionize nuclear warfare. It could kill men with streams of deadly radiation, while leaving machines and buildings undamaged.
Weapons of Revelation?
Will lasers, neutron bombs, and other modern weaponry play a part in the fulfillment of Bible prophecy?
The Bible tells of a yet future time of global tribulation and war. Notice the symbolic language of Revelation:
"And the fifth angel sounded, and . . . he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit [the military-industrial complex?].
"And there came out of the smoke locusts [warplanes, helicopters?] upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power [to sting and burn like the laser?].
"And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man [sudden pain and destruction?].
"And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle . . . and their faces were as the faces of men . . . and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle [the noise of jet aircraft and rockets?]. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails [a laser equipped B-1 bomber?]" (Rev. 9:1-10).
No one really knows whether the laser will play a part in prophesied future events, but the apocalyptic potential of the laser is inescapable.
We live in a time when the collective and cumulative effect of all man's inventions is having its full impact. And unless mankind has a miracle happen, the lesson of history is that the weapons man produces will eventually be used.
The laser . . . for good, or for evil?