I recently came across some videos discussing the potential for a civilization to rise to the same level of advanced technology as ours following a catastrophic event on Earth. The premise is that if such an event were to occur, could a civilization reach the same advanced level as the one that existed before? The conclusion was that it is possible, but it would take significantly longer since the raw materials that were easily accessible to build our modern civilization would be much harder to obtain. If humanity avoids such an event, our potential is to master not just the physics of the universe but multiple universes.
These ideas reminded me of the Tower of Babel:
“Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.'” (Genesis 11:4 NIV)
There is perhaps a subconscious recognition seeping into the global consciousness that in this nuclear age, a cataclysmic event is all too possible, which would destroy our cities and scatter humanity across the earth. Russia’s repeated threat to use nuclear weapons in its war with Ukraine, North Korea’s threat to use nuclear weapons against perceived aggression from its neighbor, and Iran’s race to acquire weapons-grade nuclear material all play out in the global news weekly. Imagine the probability of a nuclear exchange should a fanatical regime like the Houthis acquire nuclear weapons.
Will the world lose its mind and send civilization back to the Dark Ages or worse?
From an eschatological perspective, the question isn’t whether humanity can rise to the same level of advanced technology following a cataclysmic event, but rather will it rise to the same level of technology following the cataclysmic events prophesied in the Book of Revelation. The answer is no; there will not be another advanced civilization like ours. Future humanity, with the loss of life and the collapse of economies prophesied and leading to the return of Christ, is likely going to be agrarian by design and out of necessity.
The extravagant costs in time and energy in making steel and cement, two of the basic building materials of our advanced civilization, will be beyond the reach of people during the Tribulation or Millennial reign. These materials require fossil fuels to achieve the temperatures necessary for manufacturing. Food, water, and shelter will be the focus of this civilization, not the mining and refining of raw materials. Silicon, the basic material for all electronics, or plastics would be unthinkable to produce. The best civilization is likely to achieve is working in bronze. Modern medicine will be non-existent.
It is likely all humanity will once again be able to look into the night sky and marvel at the wonder of the stars.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalms 19:1)
The world keeps trying to build that tower into the heavens, but it is doomed to fail just as the first one did. I’ll end with these words of wisdom:
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
“In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills.” (Micah 4:1 HCSB)
“But each man will sit under his grapevine and under his fig tree with no one to frighten him. For the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has promised this.” (Micah 4:4 HCSB)
“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf, the young lion, and the fatling will be together, and a child will lead them. The cow and the bear will graze, their young ones will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.” (Isaiah 11:6-7 HCSB)