“Beware of False Prophets”

Al Gore’s Version of the Apocalypse Doesn’t Match the Bible

By John EllisJune 8, 2017

[Shutterstock]

Al Gore has a long, inglorious history of making absurd pronouncements about both himself and climate change. When not tied up with things like “inventing” the Internet, Gore is busy jet-setting around the world, stomping his sizeable carbon footprint anywhere that he can find a platform. Among other predictions that have failed to come true, Gore falsely claimed in 2006 that Mount Kilimanjaro would be snow-free by 2016 and that rising temperatures would create deadly heatwaves.

Mount Kilimanjaro still has snow, and the temperature rising to deadly levels, well, has yet to happen. Now, thanks to President Trump kicking the Paris climate accord to the curb, Al Gore is at it again with a new head of “green” steam.

You would think that after decades worth of silly and flat-out wrong declarations and predictions, Gore would’ve learned to be a little more circumspect. Instead, dusting off some old talking points, Al Gore is now trumpeting that our current weather is a harbinger the apocalypse from the Book of Revelation.

Now, two things before I say what I want to say. One, this is the Faith section of the website; I’m not going to be interacting with the back-and-forth over whether climate change is an actual thing or not, nor the debate about what’s causing climate change if climate change is indeed a thing. Two, eschatology (end times) is often a contentious topic among Christians. I’m not going to present an argument for an eschatological position.

What I am going to do is argue that Al Gore’s statements reveal an almost complete lack of knowledge of the basic eschatological position held to by the vast majority of professing Christians and taught by the Bible. That position is that Jesus Christ is going to return one day, and God will judge the wicked and reward the righteous on the final day. Furthermore, the apocalyptic visions found in the Book of Revelation are directly connected to God’s judgment of the wicked.

Whether or not a Christian believes that the catastrophes described in Revelation are future events or are past and continuing events, that Christian understands that the events are divinely initiated by a holy and just God who is putting an end to sin.

Sin, in case you were curious, is anything that violates God’s holy law. A short sampling of things that violate God’s holy law are rebelling against your parents, engaging in sexual activities that fall outside of God’s ordained parameters for sex, and, of course, gluttony. The bad news is that violating God’s law brings with it the curse of death and separation from God. The worse news is that all of us violate God’s law, probably on a daily, if not hourly, basis. Because of our sin, we are damned to an eternity in hell under God’s wrath.

But God is gracious, and not only did He provide a solution to the problem of our sin (repentance of sins and faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ), He also waits. The final day has not yet arrived. Using wonderfully graphic imagery, the Book of Revelation is a visceral unveiling of that final day, God’s wrath, and the coming culmination of the salvation of God’s people.

The Book of Revelation is not a politically charged parable that can be co-opted in order to promote specific, modern-day ideologies. The floods, famines, and overall catastrophic destruction woven throughout the apocalyptic book reference God’s judgment on sin, including the sin promoted by leftist ideology (abortion, gay marriage, etc.). The plagues are evidence of God’s wrath. Al Gore’s comparison of God’s wrath to bad weather is quite the understatement.

The overall point of the Book of Revelation is that the wicked, those who refused to repent of their sins and place their faith in Jesus, will be utterly undone, destroyed by a righteous, just God who cannot abide sin. The righteous, on the other hand, those who have humbled themselves before God, will be ushered into the full and final completion of their new life in Christ. Those who have repented of their sins and placed their faith in Jesus will spend all eternity in full fellowship with their Creator.

None of that has anything to do with climate change and/or the Paris agreement. Al Gore’s hijacking of God’s Holy Word is blasphemous. In fact, Revelation 22:18-19 has something to say about playing around with God’s Word:

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this Book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of the prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”

Morning Prayer: 29 Nov – Revelation 22:6-21 ~ Jesus is coming again!

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

I arise today, through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to secure me: against snares of devils,
against temptations of vices, against inclinations of nature,
against everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.

Revelation 22:6-21 (ESV) – to be read aloud

And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”

“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Reflection

THE FOURTH VISION: THE NEW JERUSALEM (21:9-22:5)

Epilogue (22:6-21)

In this passage, we hear the voice of Christ… who sets forth two major themes: the authenticity of the book as a divine revelation, and the imminence of the end. (Mounce, p. 402)

The reliability of Revelation: The words that relate the visions of things to come… are worthy of belief because they correspond to realty…. The source of the revelation is the Lord, who is further described as “the God of the spirits of the prophets….” John insists that his visions of the end constitute genuine prophecy. Under the impulse of the Holy Spirit he has faithfully recorded what God has revealed concerning the end of all things (cf. 1:3; 19:10). Further, he attests that he has actually heard and seen all the things recorded in the book…. They are prophetic and intended to be heard and understood. (Mounce, 403-5)

The end is near: Since the time is near, the message of judgement and hope is to be proclaimed among the churches. This raises once again the problem of a postponed consummation…. One of the most helpful suggestions is that the Apolcolypse has a two-fold perspective: it is concerned with the struggle between Christ and Antichrist that comes to a climax at the end of the age, but this struggle also existed between church and state in the first century and has surfaced in history whenever the state has made totalitarian demands. Thus the time has always been at hand. The tension of imminence is endemic to that span of redemptive history lying between the cross and the parousia. (Mounce, p. 406)

Rewards in heaven: The distribution of rewards on the basis of works is taught throughout Scripture (see Jer 17:10; Rom 2:6; 1 Pet 1:17). The reward will be spiritual blessedness to the righteous but judgement for those who are evil. It is the quality of a person’s life that provides the ultimate indication of what that person really believes…. Eternal life is the reward of faithfulness in the face of the great tribulation. (Mounce, p. 406-7)

Jesus Christ: The “Alpha and Omega” sets him apart from the entire created order…. The “Root and Offspring of David” identifies him as the promised Messiah. The “bright Morning Star” is a promise that the long night of tribulation is all but over and that the new eschatological day is about to dawn…. It is the testimony of the church empowered by the Holy Spirit that constitutes the great evangelizing force of this age…. The threefold use of the present imperative (“come/let him come”) serves to extend the invitation until that very moment when history will pass irrevocably into eternity and any further opportunity for decision will be past. (Mounce, 407-9)

Maranatha: The longing for the Lord’s coming stands at the heart of the Christian faith; apart from Christ’s return, his redemptive work remains forever incomplete. His return is the only sure hope for the future of the world. (Ladd, p. 296)
__________

Jesus is coming, He’s coming again / Jesus is coming again
Jesus is coming, He’s coming again / Jesus is coming again

Just as He went, He’ll come back in a cloud
We’ll hear the sound of a trumpet loud
Heavenly warriors and angels of praise
Will sing of His glory that triumphant day

The groom is preparing a place for His bride
There for eternity close to His side
Awaiting the words His Father will say
Go get Your bride for the wedding’s today
__________

Canticle

Christ, as a light – illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield – overshadow me.
Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me – on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me – on my left and my right.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
_____________________________________

Peanut Gallery: In September, we will begin reading through the Book of Revelation (ESV). Our purpose will be devotional, i.e. to discover the word of blessing that God has for us in these troubled times… to find hope and help for our daily lives.

This will not be a Bible Study per se: we will not attempt to unravel the “mysteries” of Revelation… that is far beyond our abilities and is not our interest here. However, so as not to get too far afield, we will rely on three study resources: primary – A Commentary on the Revelation of John (George Elton Ladd); supplemental Revelation (Leon Morris) and The Book of Revelation (Robert H. Mounce).

The general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) On Sundays, we’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world. Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.

Morning Prayer: 28 Nov – Revelation 22:1-5 ~ the river of life, Eden restored

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Revelation 22:1-5 (ESV) – to be read aloud

In this mixed media textile by artist Karen Goetzinger, each element was chosen for its particular meaning and ties to Revelation 21. For instance, the layered organdy fabric making up the city skyline is a fabric often used in wedding dresses, evoking the description of the holy city, “coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (21:2). The patchwork fabric at the base of the piece evokes the precious jewels decorating the New Jerusalem (21:19-20), and the gold leaf cross in the center illuminates the city, for “the city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp” (21:23). Karen Goetzinger, Revelation 21. Mixed Media Textile. Collection of Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minnesota. © Karen Goetzinger, www.karengoetzinger.com. — In this mixed media textile by artist Karen Goetzinger, each element was chosen for its particular meaning and ties to Revelation 21. Mixed Media Textile. Collection of Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minnesota. © Karen Goetzinger, http://www.karengoetzinger.com.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Reflection

THE FOURTH VISION: THE NEW JERUSALEM (21:9-22:5)

Eden restored (22:1-5)

Throughout chapter 21 John has been using the imagery of a magnificent city to describe the people of God in the glorious age to come. While the first five verses of chapter 22 continue that description, they also portray the eternal state os Eden restored, thus “book-ending” the Christian Bible…. Now in Revelation we see redeemed humanity back in the garden, able to eat the bountiful fruit of the tree of life. The curse has been removed, and God’s people are again privileged to “see his face” and serve him. No greater good or more joyous truth could be imagined than eternal fellowship with God and the Lamb! Truly, the unimaginable blessings of Eden have been restored. (Mounce, p. 398)

In divine providence, our Bible ends with the ultimate restoration of the original creation. Paul teaches that although the creation is currently in bondage to decay, it nevertheless eagerly awaits the time when it will be liberated from this bondage. This will take place when the children of God are brought into the glorious future prepared for them (Rom 8:19-21). Although sin has marred the history of the human race, God has, through the redemption wrought by his Son, set into motion a new humanity. In the present age he rules the hearts of all who have turned to him in faith: in the age to come that reign will find it’s full completion. Sin will be forever removed and the design of Eden will be fully realized. The book of Revelation is the final chapter in God’s eternal plan for his children. It portrays in imagery of the most evocative kind the glorious future of all who resist the mark of the beast and turn in believing faith to the Lamb. It brings us full circle to the original desires of God in his creation of all that is (Mounce, p. 401)
__________

__________

Canticle

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
_____________________________________

Morning Prayer: 27 Nov – Revelation 21:9-27 ~ the holy city

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Revelation 21:9-27 (ESV) – to be read aloud

The New Jerusalem (Tapestry of the Apocalypse) Angers — The New Jerusalem
(Tapestry of the Apocalypse)
Angers

Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed — on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Reflection

THE FOURTH VISION: THE NEW JERUSALEM (21:9-22:5)

The Holy City (21:9-27)

The presentation of the New Jerusalem, the eternal dwelling place of God and his people, is described in terms that would delight the first readers of Revelation for whom a beautiful and abundant city would symbolize everything that is necessary for complete satisfaction. (Mounce, p.388)

The holy city: The holy city coming down from God out of heaven should be understood as a “real event’ within the visionary experience…. The descent is an announcement in visionary terms of a future event that will usher in the eternal state. That the city comes down from God means that the eternal blessedness is not an achievement of people but a gift from God…. As the holy city descends from heaven, it glitters with a shimmering radiance that manifests the presence and glory of God…. The juxtaposition of the twelve tribes and the twelve apostles shows the unity of ancient Israel and the NT church…. The best interpretation of the measuring of the city is that the apocalyptist is “struggling to express by symbols the vastness, the perfect symmetry, and the splendor of the new Jerusalem. (Mounce, p. 389-92)

The overall picture is of a city of brilliant gold surrounded by a wall inlaid with jasper and resting upon twelve foundations adorned with precious gems of every color and hue. The city is magnificent beyond description. As the eternal dwelling place of God and his people, it is described in language that continually attempts to break free from its own limitations in order to do justice to the reality it so imperfectly describes. (Mounce, p. 389-95)

No temple: In the heavenly city there is no temple…. The temple is replaced by “the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb….” The final state toward which this points is eternity itself, where the presence of God the Father and the Lamb permeates and sanctifies all that the heavenly Jerusalem symbolizes…. The heavenly city has no need of sun or moon to shine because it is illuminated by the glory of God. (Mounce, p. 395)

Open gates: The gates of the New Jerusalem stand open because with the demise of evil security measures are no longer necessary…. Through these open gates the kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations. The reference is of the choicest of earthly treasures. Once again we are to think of the imagery, not in a literal sense, but in its symbolic significance…. Those who enter the city are not the wicked and deceitful but those whose names have been written in the Lamb’s book of life. In the imagery of this paragraph the people with free access to the city are one with those who dwell within it. (Mounce, p. 397)
__________

__________

Canticle

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
_____________________________________

Morning Prayer: 26 Nov – Revelation 21:1-8 ~ all things new

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Revelation 21:1-8 (ESV) – to be read aloud

all-new

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Reflection

THE THIRD VISION (17:1-21:8)

The New Creation (21:1-8)

Throughout the entire Bible, the ultimate destiny of God’s people is an earthly destiny…. Biblical thought always places man on a redeemed earth, not in a heavenly realm removed from earthly existence…. “Behold, I am making all things new,” suggests the renovation of what already exists.

New Jerusalem: The New Testament conceives of a heavenly Jerusalem as the dwelling place of God, the true homeland of “the saints, and the dwelling place of the spirits of just men made perfect” (Heb. 12:22; see Gal. 4:26; Phil. 3:20). While this heavenly Jerusalem is represented as the dwelling place of the departed saints, heaven is not their ultimate destiny, but only the temporary abode of the saints between death and resurrection (Rev. 6:9-11; 2 Cor. 3:8; Phil. 1:23). In the consummation after the resurrection (20:4), the heavenly Jerusalem will descend from heaven to take up its permanent location in the new earth.

God with us: In the coming of Christ, God took up his dwelling temporarily among men (Jn 1:14)…. During the church age, God indwells his church, which is his temple (Eph 2:22); but this is a dwelling “in the Spirit,” which can be apprehended only by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:17). In the consummation, all this is changed; faith will be changed to sight, and “they shall see his face” (22:4).

This is a reality which we cannot visualize; but direct, unmarred fellowship between God and his people is the goal of all redemption…. The essential blessing is direct, untroubled fellowship with God. (Ladd, p.275-7)

Perfected Church: In John’s vision the first heaven and earth are replaced by a new heaven and a new earth…. The entire presentation stretches the limits of human vocabulary and thought to emphasize the glorious reality of God dwelling among his people.

John’s vision includes a new Jerusalem as well…better understood as a symbol of the church in its perfected and eternal state. The point is that Jerusalem is the site of the temple, the place where the Presence dwells. In 1 Cor 3:16-17 the people of God form the temple where God dwells: here (in Revelation) they are the city. The vision itself takes the form of a magnificent city symbolizing the eternal fidelity of those who follow the Lamb. The holy city (cf. Isa 52:1; Matt 4:5) is of heavenly origin. It comes down from God, that is to stay, the church is not a voluntary organization created by human beings but a fellowship initiated and given by God (cf. Matt 16:18). (Mounce, p. 381-2)
__________

__________

Canticle

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
_____________________________________

Al Gore’s Version of the Apocalypse Doesn’t Match the Bible

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