The Coming Global “Climate Change”

By Ryan Habbena

“Climate change” is a hot button term these days. Far from simply being a U.S. political issue, the nations are now gathering to solve this seemingly “unstoppable, urgent issue.” Certainly, climates do change, and have throughout the age of this earth. But the chief concerns by those scrambling throughout the world are totally misplaced.

About 5,000 years ago there was a global climate change. Eight humans entered an ark, and were preserved while the world was purged through water. The world today scoffs at the notion that this actually occurred. Furthermore, they find it even more incredulous that a similar event is fast approaching. The apostle Peter teaches the people of God the following in his second letter:

They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 2 Peter 3:4-6

History will be repeated. The world will be judged, but not with water. The climate of this world is reserved for fire. This will not be fire produced by the natural means of war or atomic weapons — the Sovereign Lord needed no such means for the examples of Sodom and Gomorrah. Instead, through His own power, and angelic hosts, destruction will come upon this world. Note Peter’s continuing, inspired words:

But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 2 Peter 3:7

This is the “global warming” humans really need to be concerned about. God is holy. He is the creator – the owner of heaven and earth. One day, He will arise and purge this world through fire. Note what John writes in the book of Revelation and how it reflects Peter’s description of the coming judgment in the “Day of the Lord:”

The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter. Revelation 8:7-11

These first three judgments are just the beginning of the systematic, unstoppable, end-times wrath of God that encompasses all facets of this world’s climate: the earth, the water, the skies, and the world’s inhabitants. This day is fixed. God has declared that this will surely come to pass. But in the midst of these descriptions of the coming time of judgment, the rays of hope and redemption shine through. Hear Peter’s exhortation:

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

The reason that this world has not yet met global judgment is because our God is patient. He is full of mercy and lovingkindness. He is saving a people from every tribe, nation, and tongue through the preaching of the good news: that Jesus Christ has died, is raised, and is returning. The only way to escape the coming wrath is to repent of our sins and turn in faith to the One who holds the keys of Death and Hades (Acts 2:28, 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, Revelation 1:18).

The delay is for salvation. May our lives be saturated with the Gospel of Jesus Christ as we wait for His return. We know His return will be blessing and vindication for those who trust in Him and it will be terror and wrath for those who do not obey His Gospel. Paul teaches us in 2 Thessalonians 1 that His return will:

grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8

Though the world is going to be purged through fire, the “climate change” does not end there. In the wake of the systematic unstoppable wrath of God, culminating with the final conquest over the Antichrist and his minions (Revelation 19), this world will lay in ruins. We are eagerly looking for the new heavens and the new earth. This world will be renewed by the hands of the Sovereign Lord, and most importantly, justice and righteousness will reign:

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
2 Peter 2:11-13

Climate change is coming. Let’s be sure we are at peace with the One who will bring it to pass.