**The Doomsday Clock: A History of Existential Threat** At the start of 2026, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has set its famous Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds to midnight—the closest it has ever been to the hypothetical hour of global doom. This measurement concept originated after World War Two and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, events which caused terrible destruction and the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives. Following continued bomb testing, including the American H-bomb test in 1952 and tests by other nations, the concerned atomic scientists resolved to provide an annual indication of how close the world, due primarily to nuclear weapons, was to self-destruction. A significant retreat occurred at the end of the Cold War, when the clock was set back to 17 minutes to midnight, reflecting a widespread hope for peace. However, this optimism was short-lived. The clock’s hands soon began moving forward again, tumbling almost as fast as they had receded, reaching 89 seconds to midnight last year. **2026: A Confluence of Global Dangers** In their most recent report, the scientists foresee a year of severe conflicts ahead. Key factors prompting the move to 85 seconds include: * Russia’s continued war in Ukraine. * The effects of United States and Israeli bombing campaigns in Iran. * The ongoing border clashes between India and Pakistan. * China’s tangible threats towards Taiwan. * Rising tensions across the Western Hemisphere following the return of Donald Trump to the US presidency. * The expiry of the last remaining nuclear arms pact between the United States and Russia—the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). With this treaty lapsed, testing and development of nuclear weapons are advancing once more with fewer restraints. The report also highlights the unregulated rise of artificial intelligence as a major hazard. While AI holds potential for good, the lack of global regulation means it could equally be harnessed for terrible destruction, including the advancement of nuclear weapons and other “apocalyptic dangers.” **New Era of Weaponry: From Testing to Deployment** The world now faces weapons of mass destruction on an unprecedented scale, capable of destroying the world many times over. Russia, in particular, has not stood still. It is bringing new systems to full production, including the Poseidon, an incredibly fast, nuclear-powered underwater cruise missile, and the Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile. The Oreshnik, which Vladimir Putin boasts can overcome all current air defence systems, has been used twice in Ukraine. Its recent use on Lviv involved a MIRV (Multiple Independently-targetable Re-entry Vehicle) system, which Putin described as “like raining meteors from the sky”—a reference to multiple warheads, each potentially nuclear-tipped, striking from a single missile. These weapons are now being stationed in Belarus, further escalating tensions in Europe. **The Quest for Peace and the Biblical Prophecy** Amidst this, efforts for peace continue. Donald Trump has moved to establish a “board of peace,” with documentation underway and some countries showing interest, particularly following perceived headway in Gaza-Israel relations. However, the question remains: can such a board truly bring about lasting peace? The Bible speaks plainly to this in 1 Thessalonians chapter five, stating that when mankind says “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come upon them. This is a prophecy for the time of the end, associated with the literal return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth—an event we as Christadelphians expect very soon. **Conclusion: A Time for Watchfulness** The advancing Doomsday Clock underscores the profound troubles facing our world, perfectly aligning with the biblical description of the end times.
