Over the past few decades, we have been hearing the increasing cries of warning from scientists alerting us that the earth is heating to temperatures that are incompatible with the ongoing existence of life as we know it. More recently these warnings have become significantly louder as they call for immediate global reforms in order for us to avoid the next ‘mass extinction’. It is easy for anyone to see that the climate is certainly changing and natural disasters are increasing. On May 4th, 2020, an article was released by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that indicated that with current climate projections, in the next 50 years up to three billion people will likely “live under climate conditions that are warmer than conditions deemed suitable for human life to flourish”. Many island nations are growing anxious that rising sea levels will eventually see entire communities underwater. Here in Australia, we have just experienced one of the most devastating fire seasons any of us can remember. Many people would be happy to skip 2020 and move straight into 2021 with the hope that things will improve, however, we can only expect things to get worse from here.
Is all of this really just due to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions or could there be something more going on? Before we continue further there are a few things that need to be established. When God created this world He gave it to us to keep and protect. It should always be our endeavour to do that which brings the least harm upon the home God lovingly made for us. It is our duty to reduce pollution, keep the air clean, protect habitats and ecosystems, and care for the animals that also call this world home. If we can be doing a better job at achieving this then this is something we should support. If we do not care for this world God warns that He will “destroy those who destroy the earth” (Revelation 11:18).
Since Jesus spoke the words of Matthew 24, Christians all over the world have been looking for what has now been labelled as ‘climate change’. An increase in the number and severity of natural disasters is one of the clearest prophecies of scripture that points to the soon coming of Christ. Along with this increase in natural disasters, there has also been the expectation that we would see more tension among nations, wars, violence, selfishness and crime in fulfilment of Jesus prediction.
“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” Matthew 24:6-7
All of this we are seeing today. This year seems to have dealt us a full hand of every kind of disaster and unrest. If a pandemic were not enough, we can add to that plagues of locusts, famines of ‘biblical proportions’, trade wars, a global financial crisis, and riots. Nature, it would seem, is not the only thing losing its mind. Further to this we can add the daily occurrences of murders, thefts, rapes, kidnappings, and drug-fueled violence. Gone are the days when parents felt safe to let their kids play out on the street just so long as they were home in time for dinner.
Jesus said that these things would increase as we neared His second coming. He described this increase as the beginning of ‘sorrows’ (Matthew 24:8). The word ‘sorrows’ refers to childbirth. Just as a woman in labour has contractions that become more frequent and intense just before the baby is delivered, so these calamities will increase in our world until Jesus returns and puts a stop to it all.
Even if our world were somehow able to make the needed changes in our policies around greenhouse gas emissions in ‘time’ to avert this ‘climate crisis’ this would not stop prophecy from fulfilling itself. As we reject God, His Spirit is withdrawn from the world and Satan is then given power to bring havoc and destruction upon us. It is within Satan's power to bring natural disasters and plagues of disease. Each time that we set up laws that are contrary to the law of God and persecute those who stand on the truth of God’s word we are picking Satan’s side in this political battle between Christ and Satan. Unlike God, Satan has no desire to bring health and happiness to the human race. If God allowed it Satan would destroy every one of us. Choosing him as our master is the same as choosing misery and death.
"For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord; but he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death.” Proverbs 8:35-36
The earth is “waxing old like a garment” (Isaiah 51:6) but if we put our trust in Jesus we have a new earth to look forward to; a world that will be untouched by sin and decay. Never again will we watch an animal die or a flower fade. Eternal life is the inheritance of all who choose to accept Jesus as their saviour and live in obedience to the laws of heaven. God is giving us our last chance now to accept Him as our saviour and walk in obedience to the truth. Let’s heed the warning given and look forward with hope to a better world.
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