Ateneo de Davao University

Jacinto St., Davao City

A Comparative Theological Analysis on Climate Change

on the Light Of Laudato Si And Book Of Revelation

In partial fulfillment
of the requirements in
Theology 131
Christian Morality and Spirituality

Submitted by:
Edwina Louise Jumuad

Submitted to:
Winifredo Nierras
Professor

March 14, 2017

 Chapter 1

Introduction

A. Significance of the study

This study helps identify implications of climate change based on the

encyclical of Pope Francis, Laudato Si, that relates to the end of the world based

on what the Book of Revelation affirms. It gives a person an idea on how to view

climate change as a Christian and how it can affect ones understanding of the

Second Coming. This study also enlightens Christians on the truth behind the

Book of Revelation to enable themselves to prepare for the Great Tribulation.

B. Statement of the problem

For many years, people have debated about whether climate change may

be attributed to end of the world. Natural phenomena today such as earthquake,

tsunami and flood could cause sudden, massive destruction in a matter of

minutes; these events are often the topic of church liturgy, preaching and

pamphlets. People fear that the Wrath of God has now begun. However, are

these natural phenomena indicate that the Second Coming of the Lord is near?

Are these phenomena indicate the sign of the Great Tribulation?

C. Methodology

First, the researcher defines the meaning of climate change in accordance

with the encyclical released by Pope Francis last 2015 (i.e. Laudato Si). This

definition includes but not limited to the primary cause of climate change, effects
of climate change as perceived today, and the duties and responsibilities of

Christians toward it.

Second, the researcher defines the Second Coming, or the end of the

world as humans perceive it, on the light of Book of Revelation. This definition

includes but not limited to events recorded in the Book and events happening

today around the globe and then determine their similarities. The researcher may

also include other interpretations of the Second Coming from other bible as

supplementary information. Nevertheless, the researcher focuses mainly on the

Revelation.

Lastly, the researcher correlates the ideas gathered and determines the

relationship between climate change and Second Coming with theological

understanding.
 Chapter 2

Review of Related Literature

Climate Change

According to Pope Francis, nature is at our disposition and we are called to

exercise a responsible stewardship over it. Inherent in the nature is the climate.

However, due to the greed and arrogance of dominion, possession, manipulation and

exploitation, humans do not preserve nature not respect or consider it a gracious gift to

care for. Due to these bad habits, climate nowadays has greatly changed. Humans and

wild animals face new challenges for survival because of climate change. More frequent

and intense drought, storms, heat waves, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and

warming oceans can directly harm animals, destroy the places they live, and wreak

havoc on peoples livelihoods and communities.

The climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all. At the global

level, it is a complex system linked to many of the essential conditions for human life. A

very solid scientific consensus indicates that we are presently witnessing a disturbing

warming of the climatic system. In recent decades, this warming has been accompanied

by a constant rise in the sea level and, it would appear, by an increase of extreme

weather events, even if a scientifically determinable cause cannot be assigned to each

particular phenomenon. (Pope Francis, 2015).

Second Coming on the light of Book of Revelation

The book of revelation contains an account of visions in symbolic and allegorical

language borrowed extensively from the Old Testament, especially Ezekiel, Zechariah,

and Daniel. It cannot be adequately understood except against the historical

background that occasioned its writing. Like Daniel and other apocalypses, it was

composed as resistance literature to meet a crisis. Though the perspective is

eschatologicalultimate salvation and victory are said to take place at the end of the

present age when Christ will come in glory at the Parousiathe book presents the

decisive struggle of Christ and his followers against Satan and his cohorts as already

over (USCCB).

The Savior told Joseph Smith, I will reveal myself from heaven with power and

great glory and dwell in righteousness with men on earth a thousand years, and the

wicked shall not stand (The Doctrine and Covenants). Jesus has told us that certain

signs and events will warn us when the time of His Second Coming is near.

Many of the signs are terrifying and dreadful. The book of revelation promised

that the earth itself would be diverted from its usual composition at the end of time, at

the opening of the sixth seal:

There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat

hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the ski fell to earth the sky

receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its

place (Revelation 6: 12-3).

The prophets have warned that the earth will experience great turmoil,

wickedness, war, and suffering. The prophet Daniel said that the time before the
Second Coming would be a time of trouble such as the earth has never known (Daniel

12:1). We can expect earthquakes, disease, famines, great storms, lightnings, and

thunder. Jesus also told His disciples that war would fill the earth: Ye shall hear of wars

and rumors of wars. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against

kingdom (Matthew 24:58).

 Chapter 3

Findings

According to Johann Caspar Neubeck, nature is an instrument and tool of God,

and is therefore a secondary cause; God is causa prima. Nature is the servant of God,

while God is the Lord and Master, who regulates and orders the effects and deeds of

nature according to His will, for He is the Father and Lord of His house. God is also not

bound to secondary causes, so that everything must occur according to nature and not

otherwise (Dixon, 1999). Therefore, God may provide for the needs of His people

without the interaction of nature or apprise the people of how He wants them to act with

nature interaction. Stated differently, He is a free agent who can work with or without

nature.

An integral ecology is inseparable from the notion of the common good, a central

and unifying principle of social ethics. The common good is the sum of those conditions

of social life which allow social groups and their individual members relatively thorough

and ready access to their own fulfilment (Gaudium et Spes, 26). This term [integral

ecology] names the interconnectedness of all creation and, as such, highlights two

insights that can help shape responses to climate change as a moral issue. First, all

aspects of human welfare depend on ecological flourishing. Thus, to the extent that we

are committed to human life, health, dignity, and material well-being, we must uphold

the integrity of creation. Second, the interconnectedness of creation requires that

solutions to complex problems attend to relevant systems both human and non-

human (Dileo, 2015).

 God would therefore, in His mercy, often allow man the luxury of familiar seasons

and natural world that was usually fairly predictable in its temperature, elements and

supply of bounty for human sustenance. Sometimes, however, He would choose to alter

the physical environment in order to communicate His message to uncomprehending

man, through natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, natural wonders such

as the appearance of comets or monstrous births and of course, through the advent of

unusual climatic conditions with all their attendant side-effects (Levene, et. Al., 2010)

God sent the ten plagues to Egypt as a mark of his judgement; fire that destroyed

Sodom; and flood from which God saved Noah and his family marks divine wrath. God

has been provoked to reveal to us through natural and supernatural means, in water,

earth, air, fiery elements, even in the starry firmament, his wrath, mercy, and works of

wonder, that our adamantine hearts, poisoned by the Devils tempting counsel, might

relent, turn from evil, and come to right.

To the early mind, there could be no doubt that the world would end, and soon

outbreaks of war disease and famine, as well as unusual natural phenomena only

confirmed that the final cataclysm was approaching more quickly.

Undeterred, the prophets of doom kept up with their prediction: the world will end

on 1999, or 2012; but in many ways it did not matter that the anticipated end did not

come as predicted; such eschatological inaccuracies could easily be explained away as

a miscalculation on the part of the relevant astrologer, or, more likely, as a sign of Gods

continued mercy for those living on earth.

It is a sermon to repentance to all that see them, or hear thereof, a memento to

every one of us to look to ourselves and to call to remembrance our own sins, knowing
that same God that will take vengeance of every sin, and transgression of men, and that

He will strike with a more heavy hand, if His warning and example of His justice be not

regarded (Walsham, 1999).

For thousands of years, followers of Jesus Christ have looked forward to the

Second Coming as a time of peace and joy. But before the Savior comes, the people of

the earth will experience great trials and calamities. Our Heavenly Father wants us to be

prepared for these troubles. He also expects us to be spiritually ready when the Savior

comes in His glory. Therefore, He has given us signs, which are events that will tell us

when the Saviors Second Coming is near. Some of the signs foretelling the Second

Coming of Jesus Christ have already been or are now being fulfilled. Others will be

fulfilled in the future.

 Chapter 4

Conclusion and Recommendation

Many of Apocalypse signs are being fulfilled. Wickedness is everywhere. Nations

are constantly at war. Earthquakes and other calamities are occurring. Many people

now suffer from devastating storms, drought, hunger, and diseases. We can be certain

that these calamities will become more severe before the Lord comes.

It is primarily a moral message that is at the heart of interpretations of climate

change and all disaster that it carries in its wake: war, famine, disease and the

overturning of the natural world as divine call for true repentance on the part of sinful

man.

Although climate change may be attributable to the actions committed by

humankind, the effects of it are not in any way related to the Second Coming. The

Second Coming, as the Lord said, The hour and the day no man knoweth, neither the

angels in heaven. He taught this with the parable of the fig tree. He said that when we

see a fig tree putting forth leaves, we can tell that summer will soon come. Likewise,

when we see the signs described in the scriptures, we can know that His coming is near

(Matthew 24:3233.).

These findings give people understanding that although the signs [calamities] of

the Second Coming are happening now around the world, these are not assurances

that the end is near. These are just God calling us for repentance to be able to rise with

Him when The Day comes.

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