"A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever: but thou, LORD, art most high for evermore."(Psalms 92:6-8)
Another Look
Let us return, again, to events surrounding the end of the world. The following passage of Scripture has been repeated a number of times in this discussion. It is repeated because there is much to consider in these few words. So, please bear with the writer a little longer.
Once again, it is written: "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places."(Revelation 6:12-14)
In the above passage of Scripture, it states that "the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together." At this point, a question should be asked. What would allow for the heaven to depart like a scroll being rolled together?
Here is one thought. The earth's magnetosphere is one of the things which appears to hold our atmosphere in place. Like it or not, it is a fact that the magnetic field of the earth is diminishing. If the earth's magnetic field were to reduce far enough, or disappear altogether, possibly our atmosphere could also disappear.
If the atmosphere surrounding this earth were to greatly diminish or disappear, the earth would likely lose its atmospheric protection from incoming space objects. In such a case, the earth would be relatively naked: fully exposed to the barrage of space objects, both large and small. The air we breath, plus the surface of the earth and whatever is on it, could also be exposed to the powerful barrage of deadly and reactive space radiation.
Some may say, "So what, if we are exposed to reactive or ionizing space radiation." In answer, consider the information which follows.
Space Radiation
The page linked below declares the following: "Radiation in space takes the form of subatomic particles from the sun as well as from sources in the Milky Way galaxy and beyond. These high-speed particles tear through DNA molecules, splitting them or damaging the instructions they have encoded for cell reproduction. The damaged DNA can lead to cancers or other diseases."
The page indicates that the Earth's magnetic field shields it "from 99.9 percent of harmful radiation." Then there is the atmosphere. The page states: "The Earth's atmosphere provides additional protection, equal to a slab of metal about 3 feet (1 meter) thick." Actually, against space radiation, the atmosphere is said to protect living things on earth with the effectiveness of a 3 foot thick shielding layer of lead.
The page above also states: "For people outside the protection of Earth's magnetic field, space radiation becomes a serious hazard." The pages linked below present further information about the dangers of space travel and space radiation, when it comes to humans and their DNA and basic body functions.
There is something to note in the page from the NASA site, which is linked here and further above. It clearly declares: "No feasible shielding is possible from radiation in space, especially for the heavy ion component, as suggested solutions will require a dramatic increase in the mass of the mission."
Well, if the above information is actually true, then how have humans, even quite a number of humans, supposedly been going out in space in relatively lightweight metal spacecraft and "walking" out in space in lightweight, flexible spacesuits? Oops! The writer was not supposed to notice things like this and really needs to get back on track.
In relatively recent times, it has been noted that space radiation in increasing. This increase in space radiation may indicate that Earth's protective atmosphere and magnetic shielding may not be quite as effective in the future at protecting life on earth. The sizeable increase in space radiation in noted in the pages linked below.
There is more to consider with space radiation increasing. If something happened to Earth's atmospheric and magnetic shielding, and they were not able to protect life as they do now, humans living here could begin to experience some of the problems which astronauts now experience, or possibly even worse. Information about the health issues facing astronauts is included in the pages linked below.
At this point, there is a question to consider. By traveling into space, are humans hoping to avoid the prophesied, devastating judgment from God upon the wicked of this earth? But, as they travel into space are they just "going from the frying pan into the intense fire," so to speak?
From the writer's research over the years, it appears that errant humans can do their best to run from the mighty judgment from God, but they can never truly hide or avoid it. It is time to come out of the common delusions and face the facts.
When Earth's magnetic field and its atmosphere are stripped away, when the heavens depart "as a scroll when it is rolled together," humanity and all life on Earth will no longer have the great protection which is provided against damaging space radiation. And yes, all of a sudden there shall be a serious hazard to life on earth. All life will be exposed to intense, ionizing and altering space radiation.
Cosmic Rays
It is time to consider some of the characteristics of space radiation. The NASA page, linked below, states: "Space radiation has to do with the flow of energy through space. This energy flow can be in the form of waves such as sunlight or in the form of particles such as electrons, protons and elements in the Periodic Table. Sunlight is a form of electromagnetic radiation produced by the sun. Electromagnetic radiation in general includes gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet radiation, visible light, infrared radiation (or heat), microwaves and radio waves."
The page states further: "Particle radiation in space can travel at very high speeds. One type is solar particles that are emitted in a burst of energy from our sun called a solar flare or a coronal mass ejection. Another type is extremely energetic particles that originate outside of our solar system called galactic cosmic rays."
Alpha Particles
The page linked below, from the University of Oregon website, declares: "About 85 percent of the GCRs [galactic cosmic rays] are protons (nuclei of hydrogen atoms), with approximately 12 percent consisting of alpha particles (helium nuclei). The remainder are electrons and nuclei of heavier atoms." These particles have kinetic energy levels "in excess of about 1 GeV (gigaelectron volts, or one billion electron volts)... ...but individual particles with energies as high as 1020 eV have been detected."
It is time to turn our attention to the "approximately 12 percent" portion of cosmic rays which consist of alpha particles. It is time to consider what could happen if our earth's magnetic field and our shielding from space radiation were suddenly stripped away, as the Bible indicates, and the components of our atmosphere and the very air we breath were fully exposed to a barrage of cosmic rays. And yes, what could just the alpha particles do to our air?
Air and Reactions
The composition of the air we breath is approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% argon, less than one-half percent of carbon dioxide and lesser amounts of other gases (1). Let us consider the 78% value of nitrogen, in relation to an alpha particle bombardment.
A page linked here gives some history about the scientist Earnest Rutherford. The ninth paragraph states the following: "In 1919, he became the first person to transmute one element into another when he converted nitrogen into oxygen through a nuclear reaction involving the shooting of alpha particles into nitrogen gas."
So, if the Earth's shielding from space radiation is suddenly stripped away, as appears to be the case in that which the Holy Bible is speaking about, that 78% nitrogen portion of our air could then be readily blasted with reactive alpha particles. A certain percentage of the nitrogen in our air, and possibly a large percentage, could then potentially be converted into oxygen. Our air could then consist of a very high percentage of oxygen. And, what could happen then?
Burning Asbestos and Other Materials
Scroll almost half way down the page linked below to the section titled NASA TESTS. Check out the entry for November 17, 1962, which presents what happened to four occupants in an oxygen atmosphere in a test chamber. The simple act of changing a light bulb in this oxygen atmosphere "caused their clothes to catch on fire. They escaped in 40 seconds but all suffered burns. Two were seriously injured. In addition an asbestos 'safety' blanket caught fire and burned causing one man's hand to catch fire."
The entry for February 16, 1965 presents information about a different test which used a 28 percent oxygen atmosphere. Please remember that our atmosphere which now exists contains 21 percent oxygen. So, a 28 percent oxygen atmosphere is not an extremely large increase. In the test, it was found that a 28 percent oxygen atmosphere "supported extremely rapid combustion."
A little further down on the above page is found the following words. "In pure oxygen at normal pressure even a piece of steel wool will burn rapidly." And, "as mentioned already an asbestos blanket, normally classed as fireproof, was consumed when used to smother flames during an oxygen fire." Further down, the page states: "It is well known that a pile of oily rags in an oxygen environment will burst into flame."
So, once again, a question must be asked. What will happen on earth, when its protective shield from space radiation is stripped away and cosmic rays and alpha particles are able to readily react with the nitrogen in the air we breath? Let us not hold our breath too long, as we wait for an answer. The Holy Bible does speak about a lake of fire, into which the wicked shall be cast.
Cosmic Ray Intensities Increasing
Once again, there is something to consider. The 2009 ScienceDaily article, linked below, declares: "In 2009, cosmic ray intensities have increased 19% beyond anything we've seen in the past 50 years." Possibly things are being prepared for that mighty judgment from God which lies ahead.
The 2009 page which was formerly linked below, but which has now disappeared from the "reliable" Internet, declared: "Earth is being bombarded by powerful cosmic rays from deep in the galaxy because the Sun's natural shields are down, NASA reports. The level of space radiation is nearly a fifth higher this year than at any time since the dawn of the space age 50 years ago."
Well, the introductory information presented above in this page should provide at least some food for thought. Now, in the next part in this series about The End of the World, let us consider what other effects cosmic rays can have upon this earth. Let us also consider a potential driving force behind at least some of the global warming which is being claimed for our day.