For an analysis of the scientific data please see climate change
If global temperature change is a primary parameter, then climate change is a reality; the mean global temperature increased 0.6-0.8C over the 20th century. The main debate is between those who attribute this rise to man i.e. anthropological warming and those who attribute it to natural causes, such as solar irradiance change. In fact, natural causes may well be cooling the planet over recent years and long-term change may not be so drastic. Those who agree with the latter viewpoint might also point out the Biblical promise:
'While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall not cease' (Gen 8.22).
In other words, the natural cycle of things was promised to continue, and nothing special was meant to happen to the climate whilst man is around. Of course, man may well be upsetting what God had planned.
We should also distinguish between weather and climate. The difference between weather and climate is the timescale. 'Weather' refers to the atmospheric conditions over short periods of time (days), and 'climate' refers to atmospheric behaviour over relatively long periods of time (decades or centuries). In other words, 'weather' refers to short-term changes in the atmosphere.
Long-term climate change is not readily apparent in the Bible (although some point to scientific evidence supporting the view that long-term climate change is simply due to the earth emerging from an ice-age some 4000 years ago). On the other hand, there are good examples of God using relatively short weather events as a way of arresting man's attention. Moreover, Bible prophecy says that He will do it again!
God's Weather Control in the Past
Let's consider some historical events:
When Pharaoh refused to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt, God instructed Moses to 'stretch out his hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land - a darkness that could be felt' (Exod 10.21). This resulted in 'thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days' (Exod 10.22).
Again, when Ezekiel was in exile in Babylon he challenged Israel to turn from their wicked ways, but he also spoke to the surrounding nations like Assyria and Egypt. He warned Egypt of God's coming judgement, when clouds and darkness would be used as a way of arresting their attention. We read 'It will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nation ... all the shining lights in heaven I will darken over you and will set darkness on your land' (Ezek 30.3, 32.8).
As the Israelites wandered in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land, God gave them the Ten Commandments, together with many sundry laws. He warned Israel to obey them and if they did not then one of the consequences would be drought; the sky would be like bronze and the earth like iron (Deut 28.23,24).
When the kings of the Amorites attacked friends of Israel, Joshua's army went up to defend them. It is recorded that God helped Israel by throwing large hailstones at the enemy: '... more died from the hailstones than those killed by the sons of Israel...' (Joshua 10.11).
Later, the prophet Ezekiel challenged the false prophets of Israel, saying that God would judge them. The Lord spoke to these false prophets through Ezekiel, saying:
'I will make a violent wind break out in My wrath ... flooding rain and hailstones ...' (Ezek 13.13)
When Jonah tried to ignore God's instructions by taking a boat trip, God sent 'a great wind and storm' (Jonah 1.4) that threatened to destroy the ship. Then, in New Testament times, God reversed the situation and calmed the wind and sea in order to save the the disciples:
'Jesus rebuked the wind and sea ... and the wind died down and it became perfectly calm' (Mk 4.39)
From these few examples we are left in little doubt that, in the past, God has used abrupt weather changes (not long-term climate changes) to arrest man's attention.
God's Weather Control in the Future
The Bible makes it quite clear that there will be a definite end to life as we know it. Earth's governmental systems, economic and trading systems, animal kingdom, and even geology will all be changed at the Second Coming of Christ. Our current age is coming to a dramatic end as God deals with rebellious nations. During a brief period at the end of this age God will exact a series of judgements on the nations, and this includes changes to earth's weather! These are more likely to be severe 'weather events' rather than long-term 'climate changes' simply because of the relatively short prophetic timescale involved.
Chapters 24-27 of Isaiah are sometimes called 'Isaiah's Apocalypse' since they describe God's judgement upon the entire world for its sin. They also correlate well with judgements on the earth described in Revelation.
One of the judgements predicted by Isaiah appears to be drought:
'The earth will be completely laid waste ... the earth mourns and withers, the world fades and withers...'(Isa 24.3,4)
Drought is one of the consequences of disobedience (Deut 28.23,24)(Zech 14.17). Another form of judgement prophesied by Isaiah appears to be extreme heat - heat severe enough to kill people:
'Therefore ... the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left' (Isa 24.6)
The book of Revelation appears to speak of the same end time events and predicts extreme weather as part of God's judgement upon the nations. There will be fierce, scorching heat:
'The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. Men were scorched with fierce heat ...' (Rev 16.8,9)
When questioned about the end of the age, Jesus hints at wild weather:
'There will be ... dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves' (Lk 21.25)
The root meaning of the Greek in this verse can mean nothing else but literal sea and literal waves. The word 'roaring' comes from the Greek 'echeo' meaning 'to make a loud noise'. Hurricanes and coastal flooding spring to mind.
Then there's the future Gog-Magog War. At some point in the future, Iran, together with other nations, will invade Israel from the north (Ezek 38). Just as God intervened to release Israel from the grips of Pharaoh, so He will intervene to protect Israel from the invading armies. As with Joshua (see above), the weather plays an important part in their defeat, with torrential rain and hail (Ezek 38.22).
Hail features high on the weather ingredients list at the end of the age. It is part of God's judgement upon the nations. Besides fierce heat there will be extreme hail and snow storms (Job 38.22,23)(Rev 16.8,9,21):
'Or have you entered the storehouses of the snow ... which I have reserved for the time of distress ...' (Job 38.22,23)
'... and huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men ...' (Rev 16.21)
Clearly, God intends to use short-term weather changes to influence world affairs in the future. Since there is clear Biblical support for God's control of past and future weather, it is logical to ask 'is God speaking through climate change or severe weather events in today's world?'. How close are we to these future events?
Is God Speaking via Climate Change or via Severe Weather Events?
Climate change is hotly debated. Certainly some effects associated with climate change have been observed over the last century:
But who or what is responsible is another matter: is it anthropological warming as proposed by the IPCC, or simply natural causes? The latter view has good support:
Given the uncertainty as to the cause of climate change, and the possibility that anthropological warming may even be a conspiracy, we might consider climate change as part of God's end-time scenario - it is God who is controlling the climate! In fact, according to Bible prophecy it may be more logical to watch for severe 'weather events' rather than long-term 'climate change' since end-time events seem short-term. From the Bible we can say with certainty that:
If we are indeed close to the end of this age, then dramatic weather events seem immanent. God will soon use severe weather events to speak to, and judge, the nations. Clearly, it is a very effective tool to arrest the world's attention!
The good news is that there is no need to worry! Those who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ are eternally safe in the hands of the living God (Jn 3.16). You do not have to go through the extremes of these end time judgements (the 'wrath' of God). The Bible promises all those who put their trust in Jesus Christ will be exempt from 'the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world' (Rev 3.10). Jesus said that at the end of this age:
'... there shall be two men in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left ...' (Mat 24.40).
Believers in Christ will be rescued from what is coming, just like Noah before the flood. Don't delay, put your trust in Jesus and receive His peace, forgiveness and security in an insecure world.
See Steps You Must Take.
Bible quotations are from the New American Standard Bible
Related topics: Climate Change ; End Times ; Reality
