Preparing for Climate Change

     Owing partially to innumerable cold temperature records in 2013 and the record growth of Antarctic Sea Ice, the term ‘global warming’ has evolved into ‘climate change’.  However, such phenomena are still being attributed to human activity.  Variable weather patterns need to be differentiated from actual climate changes.

     Rain, drought, and temperature fluctuations can be classified as weather patterns while prolonged periods of increased or decreased temperatures, which cause catastrophic damage, can be categorized as actual changes in the climate.

     As would be expected, the Bible addresses both weather patterns and climate change along with their causes.

     “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments…the LORD will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do…the LORD will change the rain of your land to powder and dust…”  Deuteronomy 28:15, 20, 24

     Inasmuch as God created the rain, He also controls it at His will and may withhold it as a disciplinary action for disobedience.  The above instructions were given to the Israelites just prior to entering the Promised Land of Canaan.

     Approximately 450 years later the sovereignty of God relative to giving or withholding rain was recognized by King Solomon in his prayer for the Israelites as he began his reign.

     “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them, then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.”  2 Chronicles 6:26-27

     Once again, God controls the rain or drought as He wills to teach His people obedience.

     But how about real climate change?  That subject is addressed in the final book of the Bible.

     After the 7 seals are opened, and the trumpet judgments begin:

     “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

     It is difficult to imagine the result of the severe temperature reduction on earth when a third of the sun is darkened.  But it gets even worse.

     After the trumpet judgments the even more severe activities with the pouring out of the vial (bowl) judgments follow.

     “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 (from the Greek plege, i.e. calamities); and they did not repent and give Him glory.”  Revelation 16:8-9

     Therefore, the climate will change from extreme cold to extreme hot within the 7 year tribulation period.

     Note that God also has power over the extreme climate changes just as He has power over weather pattern changes.

     The president acknowledges the seriousness of climate change and he addressed the issue in his recent State of the Union Address.

     “But the debate is settled.  Climate change is a fact.  And when our children’s children look us in the eye and ask if we did all we could to leave them a safer, more stable world…I want us to be able to say yes, we did.”

     “But we have to act with more urgency…that’s why I directed my administration to…set new standards on the amount of carbon pollution…”

     The greatest difference between God’s control of the rain and drought in the Old Testament is that He initially gave Israel a choice to repent and obey which would result in life giving rain.

     The catastrophic climate changes described in the Book of Revelation can be classified as pre-written history.  There is no opportunity for man to repent now or in the future that could prevent those judgments.

    

    

Who has the Right to say "I Am" or "I Will?"

     “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am Almighty God…and I will make My covenant between Me and you…I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you…Also I will give to you and your descendants after you all the land...of Canaan…and I will be their God.’”  Genesis 17:1-8

     But ever since creation others have usurped the use of the terms ‘I am’, or ‘I will’.

     It began with Lucifer, Son of the Morning.

     “…I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.”  Isaiah 14:13-14

     God responded to Lucifer’s pride.

     “Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.”  Isaiah 14:15

     Recall the fate of King Nebuchadnezzar after he credited himself for building mighty Babylon even after he had been warned by God not to be proud but to realize that He (God) establishes kings and kingdoms. 

     “…he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen…”  Daniel 4:33

     And then there was the Assyrian king Sennacherib.  He also touted his Kingdom and power.

      “…By the multitude of my chariots I have come up to the height of the mountains, to the limits of Lebanon…I will enter the extremity of its borders…I have dug and drunk strange water, and with soles of my feet I have dried up all the brooks of defense.”  2 Kings 19:23-24

     He was boasting about his accomplishments and threatening Judah’s King Hezekiah not to trust in Israel’s God.  Sennacherib was in fact mocking Israel’s God.  He reminded Hezekiah of all his victories and conquers.  Then God sent word to Hezekiah through Isaiah.

     “This is the word which the LORD has spoken concerning him: … ‘The daughter of Zion, has despised you, laughed you to scorn…whom have you reproached and blasphemed?  Against whom have you raised your voice, and lifted up your eyes on high?  Against the Holy One of Israel.’”  2 Kings 19:21-22

     God’s proclamation against Sennacherib?

     “Because your rage against Me…have come up to My ears, therefore I will put My hook in your nose and My bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way which you came.”  Isaiah 37:29

     Sennacherib’s humiliating defeat.

     “And it came to pass…that the Angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand…so Sennacherib…departed and went away and returned home…”  2 Kings 19:35-36

     Such pride was also illustrated in the New Testament.  Recall Pilate’s statement to Jesus while interrogating Him.

     “…Do You not know that I have power (authority) to crucify You, and power to release You?”  John 19:10

     Jesus’ authoritative response to Pilate:

     “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above…”  John 19:11

     Thus it is plainly seen that all power or authority claimed by any of God’s creations has been given or granted from above to accomplish God’s purpose.  It is absolute folly to claim such power has been achieved by one’s own efforts.

     In that context it is interesting to note several relevant statements in the recent State of the Union address.

     “As commander in chief, I have used force when needed…and I will never hesitate to do so as long as I hold this office.  But I will not send our troops into harm’s way…”

     “And as chief executive…I will issue an executive order requiring federal contractors…”

     “I will cut red tape to help states get those factories built…I will use my authority to protect more of our pristine federal lands…”

     “So wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation…that’s what I am going to do.”

     “…but I’ll act on my own…”

     Will he do better than, say, Sennacherib or Pilate?

     This column began by quoting an “I am” from the first book in the Bible and will end with a quote from the last book of the Bible.

     “I, Jesus…am the Bright and Morning Star…Surely I am coming quickly.”  Revelation 22:16, 20

    

    

Comparing our President to Famous Kings of the Past

     The Bible reveals that God appointed kings of gentile nations in ages past, even those who oppressed Israel.  He appointed all of Israel’s kings both good and evil, and He appoints all governmental leaders in this present age. 

    God has an immutable plan for all nations and His plan is right on schedule.  A major problem arises when kings and presidents credit themselves for their achievements and agendas.

     Consider Israel’s first king Saul who reigned from 1050BC to 1010BC.  Recall that Israel’s leaders asked for a king so they could be like all the other nations.  God told Samuel to warn the Israelites what it would be like to have a king.

     “He will take your sons and appoint them for his own…He will appoint captains over his thousands…He will take your daughters to be perfumers…and he will take the best of your fields…and give them to his servants.  He will take a tenth of your grain…and give it to his officers…and he will take your male servants…he will take a tenth of your sheep…” 

1 Samuel 8:11-17

     So God told the Israelites via Samuel that their desired king would issue numerous executive orders and make many appointments, and that he would take from them and give to others for his own purposes.

     God also told the Israelites that there would be great buyer’s remorse, but to no avail.

     “And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day.” 

1 Samuel 8:18

     God allowed the Israelites to choose Saul to teach them a lesson.

     “I gave you a king in My anger, and took him away in My wrath.”  Hosea 13:11

        Israel’s King Saul was removed not only for his personal agenda, but also because he rejected the word of the LORD.

     “…for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.”  1 Samuel 15:26

     Next consider the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar.  He had two dreams both of which the Hebrew Daniel interpreted.  As Daniel began to interpret the first dream, he said:

     “This is the dream…‘You, O king, are a king of kings.  For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory…’”  Daniel 2:36-37

     This dream was foretelling of the future gentile kingdoms of which Babylon was to be the head of gold.  The present point; however, is that Daniel advised Nebuchadnezzar that his kingdom was given to him by God.

     Thereafter Nebuchadnezzar had a second dream.  In that dream he again was told that God rules in the kingdom of men. 

     “I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.  He cried aloud and said thus: ...‘in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.’”  Daniel 4:13, 17

     One might have expected that Nebuchadnezzar would have rid himself of any self pride of his position after being told twice that what he had was given to him.  But alas, such was not the case.

     “All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.  As…he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon…the king spoke, saying. ‘Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?’”  Daniel 4:28-30

     “While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!’”  Daniel 4:31

      Nebuchadnezzar had fulfilled God’s purpose by taking Judah into captivity in accordance with God’s plan revealed more than 7 centuries earlier so God disposed him in shame.

      So is our president more like King Saul, who rejected the word of the LORD, or is he more like King Nebuchadnezzar who was steeped in pride.  Or perhaps he is more like King David, who was described as ‘a man after God’s own heart’.

    

    

Freedoms with Unintended Consequences

     Recently Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson caused uproar when he openly discussed several practices which, according to the Apostle Paul, had dire consequences.  Paul addressed those same issues in his letters to Christians in Rome, Corinth, and Galatia.

     For example in his letter to the Galatians he listed numerous practices which he labeled ‘works of the flesh’ meaning natural inclinations for man.

     “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: …sorcery…murders – and the like; of which I tell you beforehand…that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:19-21

     Paul listed many more ‘works of the flesh’ in this passage, but we’ll highlight just two of them and inasmuch as they are listed in the same sentence, they must carry equal weight.

     The term ‘practice’ is used in the NKJ version while the term ‘do’ is used in the KJ.  ‘Do’ is from the Greek prasso and in the present context means continue, repeatedly, and or habitual.  It also connotes an action not yet completed or an action one is not willing to abandon. 

     The act of murder in the above passage is readily recognizable as wrong, but how about sorcery?

     The Greek base for sorcery is pharmakeia from which we get our English word pharmacy. The Greek meaning includes illicit pharmaceuticals, trance, or magical incantation with drugs.  In more contemporary language it means ‘mood and mind-altering drugs’ according to John MacArthur in his editorial comments in the NKJV.

     The practice of sorcery is not limited to Paul’s writings.  Sorcery is also mentioned several times in the final book of the Bible.

     “But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent…of their murders or their sorceries…”  Revelation 9:20-21

     And in the final chapter of the final book is a final warning.

     “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they…may enter through the gates into the city.  But outside are…sorcerers…and murderers…”   Revelation 22:14-15

     Recall that Paul stated that if it weren’t for the law, i.e. the revelation of God’s standard of righteousness and justice, we wouldn’t recognize and consider many natural inclinations as being ‘wrong’.

     Paul also wrote that once enlightened, a person is equally guilty if just approving of others who participate in Biblical ‘wrongs’.

     “…who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”  Romans 1:32

     Considering the present issue of sorcery, or drug use, two states have recently legalized the personal recreational sale and use of marijuana and there is a movement to greatly expand such practice.

     The major issue is not limited to that specific practice, but rather legalizing any practice that is contradictory to God’s word.  Perhaps the greatest example is the 40 year old Roe v Wade case.

     A major effort is underway to expand man’s perception of basic ‘freedoms and human rights’ with little, or no, consideration given to Biblical standards.

     For example there are statutes that restrict people from honoring and obeying God’s mandates such as restricting freedom of speech that mentions Jesus, or praying in public places, or displaying a cross.

     Such is termed ‘freedom from religion’.

     The prophet Isaiah warned against such folly nearly 2700 years ago.

     “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!”  Isaiah 5:20-21

     It would be difficult to identify a single proposed legislative action that could not be scripturally tested prior to being put to a vote.

     It is always interesting to post-examine legislation or executive orders that have been enacted in the past several years to see if America is closer to God’s standard of righteousness than we were, say, five years ago.

     Of course the day is coming when Christ will return to rule all nations with a rod of iron, but in the meantime America will have to contend with a president who wants to rule this nation with a pen.