For when the earth experiences Your judgments, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness [ Isaiah 26 verse 9 ]
Defining Extreme Weather
It is normal to distinguish between climate and weather. The difference between the two is the timescale. ‘Weather’ refers to changes in atmospheric conditions over short periods of time – resulting in weather events, and ‘climate’ refers to atmospheric behaviour over relatively long periods of time (decades or centuries).
Examples of extreme weather events are heatwaves, cold snaps, torrential rain, storms, cyclones, drought and wild fires. Compared to climate change, these events have a well-defined start and end date and are relatively short-lived.
Extreme weather events in mid-latitudes are related to the polar jet stream, link. For instance, when the jet stream dips further south it can lead to unseasonably cold weather north of the stream and unseasonably hot weather south of the stream. This happened over Europe summer 2023. Conversely, the jet stream may become “stuck” leading to prolonged heat waves or flooding. Some climate scientists suspect that climate change (a warming arctic) may be making this jet stream “wavier” and leading to extreme weather in the US and Europe, link.
The media usually sees today’s extreme weather as the likely result of climate change from the late 1800’s onwards. But extreme weather is not always associated with climate change.
The Bible often describes short-term extreme weather events rather than longer-term climate change. This can be seen for example in the biblical Flood, in the plagues of Egypt, and in end-time prophecy. The implication is that God sometimes makes a relatively short-term intervention in the weather in order to arrest people’s attention. When this happens it seems the nations have little control over it!
God’s Extreme Weather Control in the Past
Flooding Rain
According to Genesis, when God saw the violence and wickedness of man He was grieved in heart and vowed to destroy all but Noah and his family through a flood:
“I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights” (Genesis 6:4)
It seems the Flood itself was a global short-term extreme weather event. See strong scientific evidence for a cataclysmic worldwide flood. See also a possible Flood mechanism. That said, it could also be argued that before the creation of man there was no rain (Genesis 2:4-6), and that at the time of the Flood the world experienced God-ordained climate change and the creation of rain.
Drought
As the Israelites wandered in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land, God gave them many sundry laws. He warned Israel to obey them and if they did not then one of the consequences would be drought:
The heaven which is over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you iron. And the Lord will make the rain of your land powder and dust … (Deuteronomy 28:23-24)
If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain … (2 Chronicles 7:13)
If Israel sought God and turned away from their rebellious ways, then God promised to ‘heal their land’ (2 Chronicles 7:14). But when some Israelites returned from exile in Babylon, they were more interested in making nice houses than in the restoration of God’s house – the desolate temple. As a result, God caused drought, resulting in a lack of produce (Haggai 1:11).
Drought can even be City-Specific: The prophet Amos (c750 BC) is more specific when it came to God’s control of extreme weather. Here judgment was even different for adjacent Israelite cities:
Furthermore, I withheld the rain from you while there were still three months until harvest. Then I would send rain on one city, but on another city I would not send rain; one part would be rained on, while the part not rained on would dry up. (Amos 4:7)
Violent Storms and Hail
The seventh plague of Egypt was severe hail. Because Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go, God said to Pharaoh:
I will send a very heavy hail … and the hail shattered every tree of the field (Exodus 9:18,25)
When the kings of the Amorites attacked friends of Israel, Joshua’s army went up to defend them. It is recorded that God helped Israel by throwing large hailstones at the enemy:
… more died from the hailstones than those killed by the sons of Israel (Joshua 10:11)
Later, the prophet Ezekiel challenged the false prophets of Israel, saying that God would judge them. The Lord spoke to these false prophets through Ezekiel, saying:
I will make a violent wind break out in My wrath … flooding rain and hailstones … (Ezekiel 13:13)
When Jonah tried to ignore God’s instructions by taking a boat trip, God sent ‘a great wind and storm’ (Jonah 1:4) that threatened to destroy the ship. Jonah eventually got the point! Then, in New Testament times, God reversed the situation and calmed the wind and sea in order to save the disciples:
Jesus rebuked the wind and sea … and the wind died down and it became perfectly calm (Mark 4:39)
This is a good example of God controlling the weather in order to help (not judge) those who love Him.
Darkness and Gloom
Before the ninth plague of Egypt, when Pharaoh still refused to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt, God said to Moses:
stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land … a darkness which may be felt … and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days (Exodus 10:21,22)
Again, when Ezekiel was in exile in Babylon he challenged Israel to turn from their wicked ways, but he also spoke to the surrounding nations like Assyria and Egypt. He warned Egypt of God’s coming judgement, when clouds and darkness would be used as a way of arresting their attention. We read:
It will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nation … all the shining lights in heaven I will darken over you and will set darkness on your land (Ezekiel 30:3, 32:8)
Were these biblical Extreme Weather events the result of Climate Change?
Probably not! Here’s why. Today there is a tendency to attribute such weather events to climate change aka global warming. But natural archives generally show that Earth’s average temperature roughly 6,000 years ago (the start of biblical history) was warmer by only about 0.7°C compared with the 19th century median, link. This is also shown on a timeline spanning the Old Testament period, link; global temperature was only about 0.7°C higher during Old Testament times relative to the 1951-1980 mean average.
Clearly, short Old Testament weather events do not appear to be the result of excessive global temperature! They were direct interventions by God. On the other hand, from science and prophecy, it seems future extreme weather events could be a combination of excessive global temperature, and direct intervention by God.
God’s Extreme Weather Control Today
Occasionally it seems God uses short-term weather events in a beneficial way. Here are two interesting examples.
1. Did God Protect Israel from ISIS?
Remember, God promises to protect Israel:
Whoever assails you will fall … no weapon that is formed against you will prosper (Isaiah 54:15,17)
In 2016 some claim God intervened in the Golan Heights to protect Israel from ISIS: “This strange storm of what appears to be dust, cloud and rain did NOT cross the border fence into Israel. It sat like a barrier between ISIS and Israel” [Israel News Online].
During the 2023 Israeli-Hamas war the IDF were considering flooding the numerous Hamas tunnels. But on November 14/15 violent Mediterranean thunderstorms fell on Gaza [Haaretz][Times Network]. Did the God of Israel send the rains to flood Hamas tunnels?
2. The D-Day Weather Miracle?
The D-Day invasion of Europe was planned for 5 June, but meteorologists had calculated that the chances were about 50:1 against the weather being favourable. However, they did see a temporary weather break for the 6 June.
So US General Eisenhower made the difficult decision to postpone the invasion by one day (the next possible date was 19 June). The commanders trusted in God and Army chaplains prayed with troops. Speaking later General Eisenhower commented:
“If there were nothing else in my life to prove the existence of an almighty and merciful God, the events of the next twenty-four hours did it”.
It turned out that the break in the weather was a critical factor in the success of the D-Day invasion.
What of the Future?
It seems God helped the Allies in 1944 through a beneficial weather event. But what of the future? Many see modern Britain, for example, as a rebellious, post-Christian nation in danger of judgement, and extreme weather is one form of judgement. See Prophecy over Britain, 2011. Indeed, Britain has recently had a series of extreme weather events. On the other hand, Britain is just one example of how God will use extreme weather events to exact a series of judgements on the Gentile nations (see end-time prophecies below)! Recall:
For when the earth experiences Your judgements the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness (Isaiah 26:9)
Such events could arise from long-term climate change, and some could be God’s direct short-term action.
God Controls Earth’s Future Weather – Judgement
An idea of future weather changes is described by the prophet Isaiah. Chapters 24-27 of Isaiah are sometimes called ‘Isaiah’s Apocalypse’ since they describe judgement upon the whole world for its rebellion against God. Many suffering from extreme weather (as in world-wide destructive floods, fire and drought) will ask “how can a loving God let these things happen?” That’s a fair question!
Nevertheless, Bible history shows that those nations who rebel against God are judged. Old Testament Israel is a good example. See examples of how nations today are increasingly rebellious against God.
To reiterate, Isaiah refers to global judgements and these correlate well with the global judgements on the earth described in Revelation. In contrast to other parts of the Bible, Isaiah 24 could be referring more to climate change rather than to relatively short-term weather events. Consider:
Future Extreme Drought
One of the judgements predicted by Isaiah appears to be drought:
The earth will be completely laid waste … the earth mourns and withers, the world fades and withers… (Isaiah 24:3,4)
In this text, the word “earth” (Heb: “erets”, Strong’s 776) means “the earth at large” i.e. the world, as in Genesis 1. Drought is one of the consequences of disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:23-24). For instance, when Christ reigns as King [during the Millennium] nations are asked to go and worship Him at Jerusalem. But . . .
If any nation refuses to go and worship the Lord Almighty as King, then rain will not fall on their land. (Zechariah 14:17, GNT)
Future Extreme Heat
Another form of judgement prophesied by Isaiah appears to be extreme heat – heat severe enough to kill people:
Therefore … the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left (Isaiah 24:6)
The book of Revelation appears to speak of the same end time scenario and predicts extreme heat as part of God’s judgement upon the nations. In this case, fierce scorching heat is attributed to the sun (rather than to CO2 ):
The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. Men were scorched with fierce heat … (Revelation 16:8,9)
Future Extreme Rain
When questioned about the end of the age, Jesus hints at wild weather:
There will be … dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves (Luke 21:25)
The root meaning of the Greek in this verse can mean nothing else but literal sea and literal waves. The word ‘roaring’ comes from the Greek ‘echeo’ meaning ‘to make a loud noise’. Hurricanes and coastal flooding spring to mind. Isaiah clearly prophesied torrential rain:
For the windows from on high are open (Isaiah 24:18, NKJV)
Here, the English word “windows” is translated from the Hebrew word “arubbah” (Strong’s 699) which is also translated ‘windows’ or ‘floodgates’ in Genesis 7:11. The term denotes an opening in the atmosphere like a sluice or floodgate. It seems that torrential rain as experienced at the Genesis Flood will also feature at the end of this age as part of God’s judgements on the rebellious nations.
Meanwhile the nations (and specifically the IPCC) attempt to counter such events with their CO2 reduction programme, link.
Future Extreme Hail
Hail features high on the weather ingredients at the end of the age. It is part of God’s judgement upon the nations. Besides fierce heat there will be extreme hail and snow storms:
… have you entered the storehouses of the snow … which I have reserved for the time of distress … (Job 38:22-23)
… and huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men … (Revelation 16:8-9,21)
Clearly, God intends to use short-term weather events to influence world affairs in the future. These could arise from God’s direct interaction i.e. without obvious climate change, as in the Old Testament. Or they could be a result of climate change, as predicted by the IPCC. Either way, it seems God (not man) will have final control of the weather as judgement comes upon the world.
Extreme Weather decides a Middle East War
Consider the prophesied Gog-Magog War. At some point in the foreseeable future it seems Russia and Iran, together with other Islamic nations in the Middle East, will invade Israel from the north (see Ezekiel 38-39).
But, just as God intervened to release Israel from the grips of Pharaoh, so He will intervene to protect Israel from these invading armies. As with Joshua and the Amorites (see above), the weather plays an important part in their defeat. God uses torrential rain and great hailstones:
I will rain on him (Gog) and on his troops … a torrential rain, with great hailstones … (Ezekiel 38:22)
“There is no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says that the phase-out of fossil fuel is what’s going to achieve 1.5C.” [ Dr Ahmed Al-Jaber, COP28 president ]
Conclusion: It’s God’s Weather!
Given the scientific controversy over the cause of climate change (see Causes of Extreme Weather) why not turn to Bible prophecy? As we have seen, prophecy has serious things to say about earth’s future weather and implies that:
It is God, not man, who has final control over the climate and related weather events!
From the Bible we can say with certainty that:
- God has used the weather to influence rebellious nations and individuals in the past
- Bible prophecy says that God will use severe weather to ‘speak’ to the nations at the end of this age
- Many end-time prophecies are being fulfilled, implying that the end of this age is imminent
If we are indeed close to the end of this age, then extreme weather events are imminent and are to be expected. God will soon use extreme weather to speak to, and judge, the rebellious nations. Clearly, weather is a very effective tool to arrest the world’s attention!
Now the Good News
There is no need to worry! Those who trust in the Lord Jesus (Heb: Yeshua) are eternally safe in the hands of the living God:
Moreover, Bible prophecy strongly implies that you do not have to go through the extremes of these end time judgements (the ‘wrath’ of God). The Bible promises all those who put their trust in Jesus will be exempt from ‘the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world’ (Revelation 3:10). How? Many believe that those who trust in the living Christ will be miraculously rescued from what is coming, just like Noah was rescued before the Flood. Jesus said that at the end of this age:
Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken, and one will be left (Matthew 24:40-41).
These individuals are taken into God’s care before the end time tribulations. More detail HERE.
So don’t delay; Jesus is returning to earth soon. Put your trust in Jesus and receive His peace, forgiveness and security in an insecure world.
APPENDIX
Why does God Judge the Nations?
Isaiah chapter 24 states why the earth experiences God’s end-time judgments in the form of extreme weather events. It is because the nations have rejected the God of the Bible (the God of Israel) and His laws for living:
The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers conspire together against the LORD and against His Anointed [Christ], saying, “Let’s tear their shackles apart and throw their ropes away from us!” (Psalm 2:2,3)
For example, Christianity is rapidly declining in the US and in Europe, and God is totally missing from the EU Constitution. None of the Constitution chapters mentioned any deity, or any explicitly religious or Christian values. The word “God” was simply omitted. Some claim the EU is “spiritually dark“. As already noted, Britain is also rebellious. When it comes to the Middle East, Christianity is suffering virtual genocide, and in the far east China’s Communist party is intensifying religious persecution, link.
So, as the prophet Isaiah says, at the end of this age:
The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God’s instructions, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant. (Isaiah 24:5, NLT)
For our sins are piled up before God and testify against us. Yes, we know what sinners we are.
We know we have rebelled and have denied the Lord. We have turned our backs on our God.
(Isaiah 59:12-13, NLT)
Here are a few examples of how nations have rebelled:
- Western faiths now embrace “other gods” as well as the God of Israel, so violating the first of God’s commandments
- Nations have passed laws permitting abortion on demand (Pro-Choice) but many believe this is breaking the fifth commandment (the killing of an unborn person)
- The media widely promotes marital infidelity (so violating the sixth and ninth commandments)
- By law, schools invariably teach evolution as the only truth (biblical creation is seen as mythical)
- Nations have legalised homosexual acts, and even the church is redefining marriage as “between two persons”, as opposed to the biblical definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24)
So here’s a Paradox:
On the one hand, God has given man the creative ability to improve his lifestyle, as for example in better housing, better food and water supplies, better transport and better medical practice. But, because of man’s greed and selfishness this improvement has often been at the expense of poor nations. In particular, the IPCC claim such lifestyle improvement (essentially industrialisation) has created destructive climate change – global warming!
Assuming global warming is largely CO2 induced (many scientists debate this), the IPCC also claim that it is still within man’s capability to counter the worst effects of global warming. Hence the drive towards clean, renewable energy and the move away from fossil fuels. All this seems very reasonable
But the Bible claims it is really God’s world, not man’s. Genesis 1 says God created the earth and so God controls the weather (see Old Testament examples above). According to the Law of Noncontradiction, we cannot have both man and God having the final say about the weather. It’s either man, or God.
As just explained, the problem is that the nations have rejected the God of the Bible (the God of Israel) and His laws for living (Psalm 2:2-3), and so
“The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God’s instructions, violated his laws” (Isaiah 24:5).
Sadly, according to Isaiah chapter 24 (and the book of Revelation) it seems that man’s arrogant attempt at climate control will fail – as in control of drought, extreme heat and torrential Flood-type rain. Even Jesus hinted at violent end-time storms (Luke 21:25).
The Solution
Paradoxically, it seems man can solve the climate change problem – but only by asking God do it! Only by turning to God in repentance! But world leaders have the arrogance to believe they can solve the extreme weather/climate change problem without God! There is no repentance for rejecting God’s laws and statutes for living. And so the Bible claims they will fail because they are rebelling against God. Watch this space!
