by Michael G. Mickey
(6-2-04)
Luke 21:25: And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Have you heard of a phenomena called global dimming? An article in The Independent states the following concerning it:
Can this be true? Sunlight levels on earth have dropped by as much as 37% since the 1950s? If so, there is little doubt something dramatic is taking place, but what?
A Yahoo News article with a somewhat related theme states "the light the Earth casts on the dark side of the Moon is waning, perhaps a signal of climate change or worsening pollution." Additionally, the article states scientists "found a gradual dimming of the planet over the past two decades, more in the last part of the 1990s."
What is causing the earth's sunlight to dim? Is the sun itself dimming? Is a pollution cloud caused by mankind's mismanagement of the earth blocking some of the sun's rays, creating the illusion the sun is dimming? I'm not sure, but there is clear evidence something of significance is taking place - and it's baffling the scientific community.
Is the world's scientific community unknowingly documenting the early warning signs of prophesied events to come while trying to solve the mystery of global dimming? Perhaps.
Bible prophecy tells us the sun will eventually scorch men with great heat during the second half of the seven-year Tribulation Period (Revelation 16:8-9) - a seven-year period which will begin when a European Union leader of Roman descent confirms a covenant of peace between Israel and her enemies seven precise years in length.
Revelation 16:8-9: And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
Ironically, one of the causes of the greenhouse effect which creates global warming is a cloud of gases caused by the use of fossil fuels combined with the depletion of the earth's protective ozone layer. Could an earth-encompassing pollution cloud dim the measurable sunlight reaching the earth, but still cause the earth to get hotter due to the greenhouse effect, eventually bringing about conditions like those described in Revelation 16:8-9? I believe, based on what I've read, the answer is yes.
Prophecy further teaches us that by the time Christ returns the sun will be darkened. Could this darkening of the sun be beginning even now in the form of global dimming?
Matthew 24:29: Immediately after the
tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give
her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens
shall be shaken:
Although I believe the darkening of the sun mentioned in Matthew 24:29 is likely referring to the damage caused by objects from space which prophecy teaches us will strike the earth during the Tribulation Period along with global warfare and volcanic activity detailed in the book of Revelation, I don't discount the possibility another factor in the prophecy being fulfilled could be the buildup of pollution the scientists in the Yahoo News article refer to as a possible explanation of global dimming.
Christ told us to expect signs in the sun to come near the time of the end, as documented in Luke 21:25. Regardless of what is precisely causing it, the phenomena of global dimming is a sign in the sun we need to take notice of. Why? Because global dimming may be telling us the return of Jesus Christ is right around the prophetic corner!
Keep looking up! Jesus Christ is coming soon!