Subject: Prophecy
GLOBAL WARMING OR GOD’S WARNING?

Rivers flood, oceans rage, hurricanes destroy, earthquakes demolish, famines kill, and fires blaze. According to the European Journal of Public Health (2006) “the incidents of floods, storms, earthquakes and drought and the number of people affected are escalating greatly…” The U.S. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration claims “…the escalation increases from spaces of one every 20 years between disasters to at least one happening nearly every year.”

Why? Is it global warming or God’s warning? According to scientific consensus, climate change is human induced! In actuality, blame DOES fall squarely on humanity’s shoulders! But God is in total control and is personally involved in every event of the universe (Job, chapters 37, 38). So how, indeed, are WE responsible for the increasing onslaught of weather calamities or for weather patterns veering out of control? Perhaps we have been poor stewards of the land, but this isn’t the root cause of ever-increasing weather assaults…Sin Is!

Because humanity’s first parents – Adam and Eve – disobeyed God’s instructions to abstain from partaking of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17), sin entered the world (Romans 5:12). Not only were Adam and Eve expelled from the Garden’s unblemished environment (Genesis 3:24), but nature’s perfect balance was erased as God’s curse fall upon all of creation. (Genesis 3:17)

Now creation, the victim of sin, fights against that curse, ever increasing in strength as it struggles to be free. Just as labor pains intensify until birth, creation’s struggle will intensify until the glorious return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! (I Thessalonians 5:3; Revelation 19:11-16) Scripture warns that nature will violently be unleashed as God’s wrath pours out onto His enemies.

Jesus said, "for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21)

In the Book of Revelation (Chapters 6-16), we see nature playing a significant part in the last days’ judgment: famine, pestilence, a great earthquake, hail, fire, a burning mountain, diminished sun, sea and rivers turning to blood, extreme heat, darkness, lightening, thunder, even the Euphrates River will dry up.

Truth is…God has used the forces of nature throughout history to carry out judgment! The days of Noah were violent and corrupt; in total rebellion against God (Genesis 6:5). As Noah preached repentance, the people laughed at Noah AND God, and ignored the warnings. Judgment fell! The flood waters came, and the entire existing population drowned (Genesis 7:21). Only Noah and his family survived God’s judgment! (Genesis 6)

Read the Book of Genesis, Chapter 19 (vv. 1-26) and grasp the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. Decadent immorality was rampant! Mankind was brazenly thumbing its nose at God (Genesis 13:13), causing Him to bring judgment. The cities were annihilated, along with all the people, save Lot and his daughters. God used fire and brimstone –elements of nature (Genesis 19:24)!

Jesus warned that the conditions of the last days will be characterized by the wickedness of Noah’s and Lot’s days. (Luke 17:26-30). God is, indeed, warning that the final chapter of humanity’s inept attempt to rule the world is closing, and, as in the previously mentioned days, nature will become a fearsome foe as God’s holy judgment is released. God will only tolerate sin for a while!

But because God wants NO ONE to perish, “For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them…” (Luke 9:56), He waits for the sinner to repent. “…but (the Lord) is longsuffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (II Peter 3:9) Nevertheless, as we watch the shadows of His Second Coming fall across the land, God’s patience will finally wane.

God is, indeed, warning that history’s end is imminent, and eternity’s beginning very near! Will our eternity begin by joyously shouting loud hallelujahs as God ushers in the new heavens and a new earth (II Peter 3:10-13) or will we be screaming in terror as we enter the eternal Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:15)?