Climate Change and Eschatology

Abstract

Global Warming and other environmental hazards have conjured up among Bible readers an impending end-time apocalypse. Based on a previous paper offering three biblical eschatological scenarios (the Rainbow Model, the Nineveh Model and the Apocalypse Model), this paper expands on the three scenarios, giving more theological and, if any, historical background. While the Rainbow Model (Noah’s flood story) assumes that another worldwide destruction will never again take place and the Apocalypse Model (Jesus’ end-time expectation) assumes the ultimate end-time world annihilation, the Nineveh Model (Jonah’s doomsday message) assumes that the prospect of an envisioned end-time annihilation can be avoided through repentance and a change of behavior. For each scenario, this paper looks at possible historical roots and the theological intent. The result of the study suggests that each of the three narratives (Noah, Jesus, Jonah) is characterized by an inherent component of contingency, explicit or not, and that none of them is unequivocally unconditional. Each narrative assumes the basic tenet of God’s compassion and mercy in light of man’s willingness to change heart. Explicit or not, all biblical predictions entail contingencies that make it impossible for man to exactly predict the future. While the biblical covenants put man into a special relationship with God, God remains at all times sovereign and supreme to extend His mercy and compassion to whomever He wishes if and whenever man confesses his sins and changes his ways.