Climate Change is back in the News

     Various reports indicate that the Antarctic icepack is increasing in area; Himalayan glaciers are growing, polar bear populations are increasing, while parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa experienced record or near record cold temperatures in the past year.  Perhaps those reports explain why President Obama promised in his recent inaugural address that, “We will respond to the threat of climate change.”

     It is undisputed that there have been regional fluctuations in the climate around the world in recent decades. Regional climate fluctuations have been either hotter or drier than usual or colder and wetter than usual. The major question is what causes such fluctuations.  Many think that climate change can be attributed to man’s poor stewardship of the earth. 

     According to the Bible God used heat and drought to chastise Israel for indifference and disobedience.  Just prior to entering the Promised Land, God outlined the consequences for disobedience which included:

    “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes…your heavens which are over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you shall be iron.  The LORD will change the rain of your land to powder and dust…”  Deuteronomy 28:1, 23-24

     Notice the drought would be a direct act of God. 

     Approximately a millennium later when the Israelites returned from their Babylonian captivity, their priorities centered on selfish pursuits instead of honoring God and again they were chastised with drought.

     “Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew…For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and…whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”  Haggai 1:10-11

     During the future tribulation period, however, the whole earth will be chastised with both excessive cold and excessive heat.

     “Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened.  A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.”  Revelation 8:12

       The level of cold can only be imagined when a third of the sun is struck so that it won’t shine.  It will only get worse after that.

     “…Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”  Revelation 8:13b

     Then the earth will experience extremes in the form of heat.

     “Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire.  And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.”  Revelation 16:8-9

     Notice several significant facts from the above verses.  Firstly, it is reaffirmed that God has power over those plagues including the solar system and will cause heat or cold, drought or flood on the earth as He sees fit.  Secondly, men’s hearts will not change, i.e. they will continue to blaspheme the name of God and not give Him glory.

     If then the Bible is accepted as true, ‘climate change’ is in the hands of the almighty sovereign God and He will send heat or cold as He deems necessary in order for man to recognize Him as God and at the same time realize their own impotence relative to climate control.

     Therefore, it will be very interesting to see if President Obama in responding ‘to the threat of climate change’ will recognize reality or succumb to his own ‘wisdom’ along with the majority of mankind.

     “And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders…hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’”  Revelation 6:15-17