Earth Endings

Predictions for the end of the earth multiplied during the twentieth century, and continuing in the new millennium, largely related to global warming.  At the end of his recital of an ending to the earth, the Apostle John said, (but in more sophisticated prose than current conversation): Don’t worry about it.  (Revelation 22:11)  If we may take Scripture for its purpose, we have only one ultimate concern – to be prepared for outcomes for earth and mankind in the course of events through the provision of God. For those seeking affirmative experience through identity with him there is triumph.  The matter is as clear as that.  The transition may include smooth or difficult transport.  The consequences are described as negative or affirmative for individuals in the contexts of choice, and we proceed to live in peace and acceptance for the context the individual approves.  Scripture accent is always for now that points to future.

We need to remember that the earth will end to begin – illustrated before our time, in variant contexts.  Currently there is a flurry of interest in the dinosaur age.  Recently skeletal remains have been found that belonged to an animal weighing several tons.  A photo on the internet shows a worker stretched over what might have been one femur bone, and the bone extending a bit beyond the man’s head and feet.   There is growing belief of significant differences in life and environment on earth when those enormous animals lived.  Apparently animals were vegetable eaters, not carnivorous, subject to different forces, massive foliage, perhaps different atmosphere, and waters.  Great cataclysms are said to have ended life contexts.  

Scripture refers to an ending related to Noah.  Afterwards a greenhouse effect was ended.  Animal life became a source for diet, so to manage the new context introducing a differing nutrition.  The story is lengthy and incorporates many questions, but if the present narratives are true, the world did suffer destruction without annihilation in pre-modern history.  Our current earth nature apparently began with Noah and his family debarking from the ark (a story encapsulated in secular cultures and in earth evidence of a massive flood in various areas of the world accented by geologists).  Secular scientists predict another destructive episode, perhaps from a collision of planets, a decline of solar energy, or even through the follies of mankind in the treatment of air, water and earth.  Some have projected the beginning of the end when the fouling of the air will become irreversible for the safety of mankind in a few decades.  Some believe the end could be that close.  In the hope that society can save the earth, there is a large movement working toward the greening of life.  Even if the earth is not as threatened with man-made forces of destruction as conservationists predict, it is of great importance that society address the matter for solution, in the similar understanding that we wash our hands to cleanse them of unseen influences on human health.  Contaminating the air must not be greater than nature’s ability to cleanse it, if health is to be maintained.

Media have made striking events and cataclysms of the Bible into major productions.  The presentations are often fouled from presumed facts, mythology, even personal views of directors and writers.  The story of Moses, starring Charlton Heston, as Moses, was recognizable in the biblical context. Some decades ago, John Huston made something of a humorous character out of Noah.  A recent major film, casting a leading actor, Russell Crowe as Noah, used current interest in mythological approaches, but cast the story in a concoction of ideas and conducts, perhaps unrecognizable.  It is touted as a biblical representation – which it is not.  No serious authors would permit so great range of editing to stand for their work.  We can be assured that the author of Genesis would not approve the 2014 Noah of Hollywood.  We are rightly appalled that many persons believe that appearing in modern media is factual about the biblical narrative.  During recent years, a book alleging that Jesus married, fathered children, with current living descendants made the best seller lists, not once but twice for periods of months, and that the readers, in majority, believe the story.  The author announced openly that it was a novel, but that did not significantly reduce illusions.  For centuries Christians were known as prophets of doom.  Some scientists have now taken over the honor.