Nuclear Weapons and the End of the World

Friends of Sabeel North America [friends@fosna.org] Friday, March 13, 2026

Nuclear Weapons and the End of the World

by Jonathan Kuttab

As the disastrous war launched by Israel and the United States continues and its impact expands, serious analysts are worried that, unless it ends soon, it may well lead to a protracted multi-nation conflagration and even the temptation to use nuclear weapons in the pursuit of unrealistic objectives that could not be achieved otherwise.

In this atmosphere, it was reported that some commanders have been instructing US soldiers and navy personnel that the war on Iran is a “divine mission,” that God wants them to carry out their military tasks with the knowledge that they are doing God’s will to bring about Armageddon and the Second Coming of Christ. Soldiers were informed that Trump was “anointed by Jesus to ‘light the signal fire’ in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth.” According to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, over a hundred complaints were made from over 30 military installations making similar complaints and alleging that their commanders showed “unrestricted euphoria as to this new biblically-sanctioned war” bringing about the End Times, citing the book of Revelations and the imminent end of the world. Such toxic language is oftentimes heard from televangelists and extreme Christian Zionists, yet such religious fanatics apparently are also being heard within the corridors of power, from politicians like Ambassador Huckabee, Ted Cruz and others, and by Pentagon officials and military commanders.

Along the same lines, Israeli Rabbi Zev Leff has publicly stated he believes God raised Trump precisely to create a biblical scenario leading to the building of the Third Temple. He said the war was divinely ordained and that it may lead to the coming of the Messiah. He also repeated the Amalek doctrine stating that the annihilation of Israel’s enemies was a Mitzvah, a divine commandment, and it included killing women, children and entire societies. Many in Israel, including secular people, have offered similar opinions, and they do not seem bothered by the loss of civilian lives in Iran, any more so than in Gaza. There seems to be little hesitation to advocate for the use of nuclear weapons to ensure victory against the Iranian regime, if all else fails. One commentator said that we are not only living in historic times but in Tanachi (Torah) times. There is excitement, not fear, that we may be living in the End Times.

 This religious excitement over mass killings and apocalyptic disasters, especially when voiced by those who have access to nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and who are in a position to use them, is truly frightening.

 By contrast, the highest religious authority (supreme leader) of the Shias offered a well-reasoned, theological repudiation of nuclear weapons as a sin (haram) and issued a fatwa that no good Muslim can manufacture, possess or use a nuclear weapon. The reasoning was that such weapons of mass destruction cannot distinguish between noncombatants and combatants and, therefore, are by their very nature evil. He provided the same reasoning to prohibit, manufacture or use chemical or biological weapons, which were in fact used by Iraq against the Iranians in the past. His position, respect, spiritual authority and arguments held sway in Iran and were the true reasons (not sanctions or fear of military attacks) why Iran steadfastly refused so far to manufacture a bomb, even though, as Iranian negotiators indicated to Witkoff recently, they had the knowledge, technology and uranium to manufacture 9-10 bombs, if they had chosen to do so, but had steadfastly refused precisely because of the religious prohibition. Now this leader, who was portrayed as demonic and evil by the West, has been assassinated. It is hoped that despite his death, his arguments will continue to hold sway with the Iranian regime, though his son is reportedly more of a hardliner. After the current attack on Iran, he may be tempted to deviate from his father’s fatwa and argue that manufacturing such a weapon, at least as a deterrent to Israel, can be religiously sanctioned under Shari’a law. I certainly hope not.

 As I write, I just heard of the horrific attack on a synagogue compound in Detroit, apparently by a Lebanese person who lost members of his family to an Israeli raid. It is needless to say that we at FOSNA condemn this attack in the strongest terms, and we stand with the intended victims in solidarity and support. This we do on a number of grounds rooted in our own principles: Hatred towards and attacks against the Jewish community, as a whole, or Jewish individuals because they are Jewish are evil manifestations of bigotry that must be condemned no matter what excuses are offered; Jewish people can NOT be held responsible for the actions of the Israeli government and should not be blamed for it as a group. Zionism and political support for Israel is totally distinct from antisemitism and hatred of Jews; also, any attack on civilians should be condemned outright no matter who is the perpetrator and what the political basis for it may be. In addition, we always reject resorting to violence and seek methods of nonviolent action, even if and when it might be in support of just causes.

 As shown above, religion can often be a toxic component in political and military affairs. For us, our Christian commitment motivates us to care about, show empathy towards, and even love our enemies and our political opponents. Christ urges us to seek justice, but he also tells us that he came so we could have life and have it more abundantly. Our vision and dream is for The Kingdom of God, about which Jesus preached. It is a kingdom with no room for hatred, violence, or destruction. The gospel of Christ is a gospel of peace and reconciliation, not hatred and destruction.

 Friends of Sabeel North America · PO Box 3192, Greenwood Village, CO 80155, United States

 Donations can be sent to Max Obuszewski, Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 431 Notre Dame Lane, Apt. 206, Baltimore, MD 21212.  Ph: 410-323-1607; Email: mobuszewski2001 [at] comcast.net. Go to http://baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com/

"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs