Do you think environmental change is new?
Before there could be environmental change the environment had to be created.
“2 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created [a]and made. 4 [b]This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made earth and heaven.” Genesis 2:1-4 New American Standard Bible 1995
“8 The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. 9 Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Genesis 2:8-9 New American Standard Bible 1995
“15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.” Genesis 2:15 New American Standard Bible 1995
The world as God had intended it was created. God envisioned a perfect world, where humans and God could communicate and walk in friendship. Adam and Eve were used to God walking in the garden. “8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3:8 King James Version If God did not regularly visit them, they would not have recognized that God was coming.
God had forbidden them to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but they rebelled and ate when the serpent tempted Eve. As a result of disobedience God allowed weeds to grow on the earth. They now had to work for their sustenance, and death entered the world. This was the first environmental change.
Because of sins increase God sent the flood, only Noah and his family were spared along with the animals God had instructed Noah to take on the Ark. This was the second environmental change.
Popular Mechanics published an article in November 2023 titled “Archaeologists Think They Might Have Found the Real Noah’s Ark” https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/archaeology/a45700571/was-noahs-ark-found/ The Jerusalem Post and other publications have written articles about this.
We know that God allowed east wind in Egypt and throughout the world to create famine. God gave Pharaoh a dream that Joseph interpreted. The dream revealed seven cows “that were sleek and fat.” Then seven cows “that were ugly and gaunt.” Genesis 41:1-4 Joseph’s interpretation was that Egypt would have seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. Because God let Pharaoh know what to expect they planned for the seven lean years by storing up excess food for the seven abundant years to come. This is an example of another environmental change.
King David acknowledged environmental change: “33 He [b]changes rivers into a [c]wilderness And springs of water into a thirsty ground; 34 A fruitful land into a salt waste, Because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it. 35 He [d]changes a [e]wilderness into a pool of water And a dry land into springs of water; 36 And there He makes the hungry to dwell, So that they may establish [f]an inhabited city, 37 And sow fields and plant vineyards, And [g]gather a fruitful harvest. 38 Also He blesses them and they multiply greatly, And He does not let their cattle decrease. 39 When they are diminished and bowed down Through oppression, misery and sorrow, 40 He pours contempt upon [h]princes And makes them wander in a pathless waste. 41 But He sets the needy [i]securely on high away from affliction, And makes his families like a flock. 42 The upright see it and are glad; But all unrighteousness shuts its mouth. 43 Who is wise? Let him give heed to these things, And consider the lovingkindnesses of the Lord.” Psalm 107:33-43 New American Standard Bible 1995 Many believe that Psalm 107 was written between 1010-970 BC.
From the descriptions in Psalm 107 environmental changes varied.
There have been varying periods of greenhouse effects and ice ages according to various recognized sources today.
According to History.com There have been at least five significant ice ages in Earth’s history, with approximately a dozen epochs of glacial expansion occurring in the past 1 million years.” https://www.history.com/topics/pre-history/ice-age This fact is substantiated by Discover Magazine. https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/ice-ages-what-causes-the-earth-to-freeze-over-every-few-million-years
According to a report from Cordis titled Earth's 'super greenhouse' period did not prevent glaciation, research suggests a super greenhouse period existed 91 million years ago. Researchers from Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and the United States worked together to gather this data. https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/28971-earths-super-greenhouse-period-did-not-prevent-glaciation-research-suggests
Another recent ecological problem was the dust bowl in the 1930’s. Wikipedia states “The Dust Bowl was the result of a period of severe dust storms that greatly damaged the ecology and agriculture of the American and Canadian prairies during the 1930s. The phenomenon was caused by a combination of natural factors (severe drought) and human-made factors: a failure to apply dryland farming methods to prevent wind erosion, most notably the destruction of the natural topsoil by settlers in the region.[1][2] The drought came in three waves: 1934, 1936, and 1939–1940, but some regions of the High Plains experienced drought conditions for as long as eight years.[3]” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_Bowl
“In the 1930s, drought covered virtually the entire Plains for almost a decade (Warrick, 1980). The drought’s direct effect is most often remembered as agricultural. Many crops were damaged by deficient rainfall, high temperatures, and high winds, as well as insect infestations and dust storms that accompanied these conditions. The resulting agricultural depression contributed to the Great Depression’s bank closures, business losses, increased unemployment, and other physical and emotional hardships. Although records focus on other problems, the lack of precipitation would also have affected wildlife and plant life, and would have created water shortages for domestic needs.” https://www.drought.unl.edu/dustbowl/Home.aspx
Today we see draught, famine, in some places and excessive rain in others. Wildfires are destroying acreage throughout various countries. People who govern throughout the world have declared that we have an ecological crisis that will destroy the earth unless humans change various consumption habits.
They want wind, solar, and electric power to replace traditional sources of energy. They want to eliminate gas stoves, and cars fueled by gasoline. Some want our diets to change eliminating meat from our diets and eating more vegetables.
Why do environmentalists believe meat consumption should be ended? “The UN says we need to reduce our meat consumption to fight climate change and improve food security.” … "There are certain kinds of diets that have a lower carbon footprint and put less pressure on land," Jim Skea, professor at London's Imperial College, said on Thursday.” “https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/08/global-meat-consumption-reduce-mitigate-effects-global-warming/
“4 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:” 1 Timothy 4:1-4 King James Version
Now God’s word states clearly that the earth will wear out.
“6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.” Isaiah 51:6 King James Version
“10 And, “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of Your hands; 11 They will perish, but You remain; And they all will become old like a garment, 12 And like a mantle You will roll them up; Like a garment they will also be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.”” Hebrews 1:10-12 NASB 1995
The apostle John when writing the vision God gave him said, “21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21 New International Version
It is clear in the passage from Revelation that God will have what He intended in Genesis. A place where He can dwell and communicate with His people.
Environmental change is not new. It has been experienced many times in small to large scale changes. Is the environmental change we are experiencing today leading to the earth wearing out as prophesied, the one that will end the world as we know it? Only God knows. However, there are other prophesies that have been fulfilled that indicate the end of the world as we know it is near. Christ called these birth pangs.
Environmental change is only one sign to be looked at for the nearness of Jesus return. People that do not know God panic at these changes. No matter what they do to prevent the earth’s demise they will not thwart God’s ultimate plan.
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