QT 20 Jul 15, Isa 24:1,4-7, The Earth will warm some day

Isa 24:1, 4-7 (ESV)

Behold, the Lord will empty the earth and make it desolate,

and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants.

…

4  The earth mourns and withers;

the world languishes and withers;

the highest people of the earth languish.

5 The earth lies defiled

under its inhabitants;

for they have transgressed the laws,

violated the statutes,

broken the everlasting covenant.

6 Therefore a curse devours the earth,

and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt;

therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched,

and few men are left.

7  The wine mourns,

the vine languishes,

all the merry-hearted sigh.

NOTE: So, I will never be accused of being an advocate for global warming, although I do accept the obvious impact of anthropogenic warming. This would include parking lots, buildings, automobile engines, factories, etc. All of these things, created by humans, do warm things near them. Where I differ is that even with 5 billion plus people, I don't think the affect is as great as some scientists argue. I think the greater driver in global warming would be the Sun's activities (notwithstanding the last dozen years, there has be an episodic increasing of temperatures). In this passage, God hints at some pretty disastrous effects to the earth in the last days. Verse one suggests massive structural changes through earthquakes and tsunamis. The verses that follow could refer to the same time period or a period preceding the end. The passage does talk about a warming that God brings (allows) upon the inhabitants of the earth because of their sin (which would include greed). The earth is scorched and even the fabled vines for making wine wither. The real vehicle for the change is not specified here (ie., the result of sinful man's actions or God's specific judgement because of man's sin), nor is the timeframe clear, although the first verses and the context of this part of the book all point to a time of God's judgment on man and on the nations. Are we in that time now? Are we close? We don't know and can't say for sure. But the day does grow closer. And the cultural changes and the speed of the cultural changes suggest that the time must be very short indeed.