Is it important to be environmentalists since the earth will be destroyed? In other words, should we as believers prioritize taking care of the Earth?
Yes! In fact, it is of utmost importance!
In the beginning the unique task God gave to humanity was to be caretakers of the earth (Genesis 2:15). And on the day of judgment it says God will “destroy those who destroy the earth” (Revelation 11:18). In order to be a faithful follower of God and his timeless instruction from the beginning, and to avoid annihilation on the day of judgment, it would be wise to prioritize being a faithful and wise steward of the earth (Luke 12:42).
The handful of passages that mention the end of the earth do so in vastly different imagery, suggesting the imagery of each is symbolic rather than literal. For instance, the earth being “rolled up like a scroll” (Revelation 6:14) indicates the end of sin and death’s reign over the earth (1 Corinthians 15:24-26). And the earth being “melted with fervent heat” (2 Peter 3:10) indicates the earth undergoing a refining process like metal or glass being melted down to be reshaped into a new form, a form of the kingdom of God rather than that of the devil (Revelation 21:4). The “new earth” suggests a transformation and restoration of earth back to a pre-fall, unbroken state in which righteousness dwells rather than sin and rebellion (Revelation 21:1).
To misinterpret these passages as suggesting it is unimportant to be diligent stewards of the earth is a grave mistake. Jesus says when the master returns he wants us doing the things he instructed, and taking care of the earth and its inhabitants has been God’s timeless instruction from the beginning (Genesis 1:27-31). It would be wise to repent of our destructive ways and return to our first works of caring for the earth and our fellow inhabitants thereof (Revelation 2:5).
Hi Craig, thank you for this post. In studying with some Messianic groups and videos, they say “to know the end, go back to the beginning.” Everything we need to know is said to be gleaned from the beginning. In looking at the Genesis passages that set us in a position of having dominion it is interesting the contrasts between the two eras. We can clearly see God starting over in Genesis 9, and a reluctant shift in protocol. In Genesis 1, the dominion appears partial when comparing it to 9, where it reluctantly includes more than his ideal design entailed. If we think about the shift God makes, we can see the trajectory of history portrayed in these passages. More and more I have been feeling called back to the beginning, I believe God is really moving in bringing us back to an understanding of Edens original design and another shift that will change the trajectory again, one bringing us back to Eden.
Genesis 1
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
Genesis 9
Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. 2 The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. 3 Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
4 “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. 5 And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.
I find it so sad that scholars in our western culture do not see how dreadful this is for God; instead they make the concessions he makes at the 2nd juncture of the mention of our dominion after the flood into something that God ordains. They miss entirely the implications of the passages that destroying creation or the earth has simply never been his will.
I hope all this made sense, it is a little late and I am tired! Blessings, Craig.
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Thanks for the input Kathy. I think we’re on the same page about everything you said. I think it’s important to point out that God in the end of Genesis 8 and beginning of 9 is responding to Noah building an altar and burning animals on it, saying we are following our own evil imaginations instead of God’s instructions. So I’m not even convinced it is a reluctant permission but rather a statement about the consequences of our violent actions. My reading is that if Noah did not do that God would have stated to Noah exactly what he said to Adam and Eve in Eden about having dominion, eating fruit and herb, feeding the animals, and everything being very good. The only difference would have been the added rainbow covenant. But instead they already fell into temptation again before the words could even come out of his mouth. In short, I don’t believe God ever changed his mind from his original instructions in Eden. It all points back to the origin.
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