Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Correctly Interpreting Rev. 11:18

"Though the Bible indicates a serious temperature increase upon the earth (as everything will be set
ablaze with fire), it does say that prior to that end—during the 4th plague—the sun will “scorch men with fire,” (Rev. 16:8c KJV).  
Yet, there is no indication this intense burning from the sun is in response to CO2 emissions, conspicuous SUV usage, or ambivalence to the environment.  The 4th plague is specifically designed for those who receive the “Mark of the Beast” and “[worship] his image” (Rev. 16:2 KJV).  While the Bible warns that God will punish those who “destroy the earth” (Rev. 11:18 KJV) it has nothing to do with CO2 emissions.

Contextually, Revelation 11:18 is within the 7th Trumpet, promising reward for the righteous who “fear [his] name,” and punishment for “them which destroy the earth.”  The next verse features the temple and ark of the covenant where seismic natural disasters follow.  In short, verses 18 and 19 highlight the impending justice and mercy of God with the ark of the covenant, followed by unprecedented natural disaster.

How ironic would it be to punish men who “destroy the earth,” and then open the ark of covenant—where “an earthquake” and “great hail” spring forth—to destroy the earth.  The “earthquake” and “great hail” found in 11:19 allude to the 7th plague (Rev. 16:17–21), wherein the final judgments are poured upon wicked men.  Environmentalist-minded Christians would have us believe that God is punishing the inhabitants of the earth for the very thing he does in the next verse.

Since we dare not charge God with hypocrisy, we must examine the whole of Scripture and compare.  If all we had was Revelation 11:18–19 we would have to conclude the judgment found in these verses refers to the ark of the covenant in context of judgment.  Thus, “those who destroy the earth” must be connected with the ark of the covenant where wrath bursts forth.  There is little in the law of God punishing men for willful destruction of their natural environment.  Something within the ark requires justice.  For this, Isaiah 24:5–6 is instructive:
The earth also is polluted under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.  Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are found guilty: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. (ASV)
According to Isaiah, the pollution of the earth comes as a result of transgressing God’s law and breaking His “everlasting covenant.”  
While all the commandments of God are important for faith and salvation, only one references the earth.  The fourth commandment, exclusively, points to God’s creatorship while promoting a rest for both man and nature (Ex. 20:8–11).  When the Sabbath is violated, curses were promised to disobedient Israel (Ex. 31:14–15; 35:2; Lev. 26:30–35; Num. 15:31–36; 2 Chron. 36:21; Neh. 13:18–21; Jer. 17:27; Ezek. 20:13–33; 22:26–31). Even the earth is avenged because it was prevented from resting on the Sabbath (Lev. 26:30–35; 2 Chron. 36:21).

Consequently, those “who destroy the earth” are they which fill it with a curse due to their disobedience to God, particularly violating the holy law of God found inside the ark of the covenant.  Therefore, the earth—according to the Bible—is not polluted by coal power plants and SUV utilization, but because men break the Law of God and defile the earth with sin.  We find this same reasoning just before the flood (Gen. 6:3, 5, 11–13)."
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