9 Climate Change and Eschatology
181
But so much seems clear: In light of the many failed predictions, apocalyptic texts
also have built-in contingencies that are not made explicit because, if they were, they
would undermine the very objectives which their authors aim to achieve.
Towards an Hermeneutic of the Three Models
This survey of the three biblical narratives has yielded a number of hermeneutical
insights with regard to how God may be seen as dealing with mankind. I shall
enumerate a number of such discernments:
The Rainbow Narrative
1. If we accept the modern discoveries about the Black Sea flood some 7500 years
ago as the basis for the flood myths, then we must also accept the fact that there
was never a worldwide flood which extinguished virtually all life on earth.
2. Be that as it may, the flood narrative was meant to convey a comforting message:
that as long as the rainbow would be seen in the sky, there would not cease day
and night, summer and winter, seedtime and harvest; life will always go on!
3. The narrative also testified to the general depravity and sinfulness of man. But
despite that depravity God will abide by his eternal covenant with mankind and
not punish mankind again as He appears to have done at the time of the flood.
4. The story also encouraged the listeners and readers to live a righteous life as
Noah had lived, who set himself apart from the majority of his contemporaries
who did not heed his warnings.
5. The flood narrative was also about making appropriate preparation for a time
when calamity does strike. Entering the ark thus becomes a symbol for disaster
preparedness which is today as needful as it ever was.
6. In light of Jesus comparing the sinfulness of Noah’s contemporaries with the
sinfulness of the people at the time of the end (Mt 24:37–39), the rainbow promise
(of there never again being worldwide destruction) emerges as being contingent.
The Nineveh Narrative
1. The Jonah narrative exemplifies, first and foremost, the contingency inherent in
all prophetic predictions which may or may not contain explicit (or implicit)
conditionalities.
2. The narrative also witnesses to the sublime sovereignty of a God who may reward
or punish whom he wishes, whether it be His own people or the Gentiles. For
God is no longer a tribal god, but the sovereign Creator of the universe.
181
But so much seems clear: In light of the many failed predictions, apocalyptic texts
also have built-in contingencies that are not made explicit because, if they were, they
would undermine the very objectives which their authors aim to achieve.
Towards an Hermeneutic of the Three Models
This survey of the three biblical narratives has yielded a number of hermeneutical
insights with regard to how God may be seen as dealing with mankind. I shall
enumerate a number of such discernments:
The Rainbow Narrative
1. If we accept the modern discoveries about the Black Sea flood some 7500 years
ago as the basis for the flood myths, then we must also accept the fact that there
was never a worldwide flood which extinguished virtually all life on earth.
2. Be that as it may, the flood narrative was meant to convey a comforting message:
that as long as the rainbow would be seen in the sky, there would not cease day
and night, summer and winter, seedtime and harvest; life will always go on!
3. The narrative also testified to the general depravity and sinfulness of man. But
despite that depravity God will abide by his eternal covenant with mankind and
not punish mankind again as He appears to have done at the time of the flood.
4. The story also encouraged the listeners and readers to live a righteous life as
Noah had lived, who set himself apart from the majority of his contemporaries
who did not heed his warnings.
5. The flood narrative was also about making appropriate preparation for a time
when calamity does strike. Entering the ark thus becomes a symbol for disaster
preparedness which is today as needful as it ever was.
6. In light of Jesus comparing the sinfulness of Noah’s contemporaries with the
sinfulness of the people at the time of the end (Mt 24:37–39), the rainbow promise
(of there never again being worldwide destruction) emerges as being contingent.
The Nineveh Narrative
1. The Jonah narrative exemplifies, first and foremost, the contingency inherent in
all prophetic predictions which may or may not contain explicit (or implicit)
conditionalities.
2. The narrative also witnesses to the sublime sovereignty of a God who may reward
or punish whom he wishes, whether it be His own people or the Gentiles. For
God is no longer a tribal god, but the sovereign Creator of the universe.