Why are billionaires building luxurious underground bunkers? Built to survive earthquakes, pandemics and even a nuclear winter, can these withstand the apocalypse?
In 2023, the technology website WIRED published an investigation about Mark Zuckerberg’s Hawaiian Compound. The information gathered seems to point to a luxurious underground bunker being built with an estimated cost of $270 million.
Other billionaires were also busy securing their own luxurious shelters with prices ranging from $1.5 million for a unit in the Survival Condo in Kansas to $60 million for an Oppidum L’Heritage model.
Features of Underground Bunkers for Survival
These bunkers for the super rich boast of structures that can protect people from nuclear blast, earthquakes and even volcanic eruptions.
They have a self-sustaining system that includes air-filtration, water supply and purification, indoor gardens to grow vegetables, power generators, and ample supply of food.
The more advanced ones have medical equipment that include facilities for surgery. There is even a decontamination area in case of radiation.
Who Can Survive the Apocalypse?
Given such security and protection measures, can these underground bunkers truly protect people when the worst disasters come?
While such may claim that they can withstand very harsh situations above the ground, it is doubtful that any of these can fully claim a hundred percent exemption from calamities.
For a start, Backdoor Survival lists “All of the Ways Underground Bunkers Can Kill You.” This includes possible collection of toxic gas, fire hazards, radiation and problems with escape and getting out.
Also, if an external ecosystem can have its own problems, how much more can an internal one suffer from contamination or the malfunction of one of its supporting equipment?
The True Apocalypse
Building these underground shelters may have considered some of the worst calamities that have happened in the world. They could even have thought about other things that have not yet happened such as a gigantic solar flare or the looming consequences of global warming and world-wide economic breakdown.
But if we start to read the disasters actually contained in the Apocalypse, can we still say that these bunkers can survive them all?
“And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a violent earthquake, such as had not occurred since people were upon the earth, so violent was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell… And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found; and huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, dropped from heaven on people, until they cursed God for the plague of the hail, so fearful was that plague.”
Revelation 16:18-21 (NRSVCE)
Revelation cites the strongest earthquake ever felt by the world, an earthquake so violent that because of it, no mountain could be found. Besides this, huge hailstones weighing a hundred pounds dropped from the sky. And we don’t know how many hailstones of that size devastated the earth!
And if this is not enough, let us consider the prophecy found in the letter of St. Peter himself:
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. – 2 Peter 3:10 (NRSVCE)
In the end, everything will be destroyed “by fire”. And that includes everything over the earth as well as under the earth, including the strongest and most luxurious bunkers ever built!
Should We Trust Underground Bunkers?
If this world can suddenly be destroyed by fire, where should we place our trust?
Should we put our confidence on our material wealth and all the best facilities that money can buy? Or do we put our trust in God alone who can save us from even the worst calamities to come?
What is the use of saving our earthly possessions when we can’t even save our souls? Instead of building luxurious dwellings on earth, why not strive for mansions in heaven?
“Then I watched while he broke open the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; the sun turned as black as dark sackcloth and the whole moon became like blood. The stars in the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs shaken loose from the tree in a strong wind. Then the sky was divided like a torn scroll curling up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. The kings of the earth, the nobles, the military officers, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid themselves in caves and among mountain crags. They cried out to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of their wrath has come and who can withstand it?’”-Revelation 6:12-17(NABRE)
You may also want to read “Is It The End Times But We Just Don’t Know It Yet?”
Jocelyn Soriano is the author of the book Defending My Catholic Faith. In this book, you can also read the author’s special chapter titled “A Personal Analysis of What the End of Days Will Be Like.”
“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” – 1 Peter 3:15 (NABRE)
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