LA Times: Sea levels continue to rise; COGwriter: The impact of rising will exceed what the ‘experts’ think

Aftermath of 2011 Tōhoku Earthquake and Tsunami

The Los Angeles Times reported the following:

August 27, 2015

Sea levels will rise, experts warn, and ‘it’s not going to stop’

For the last 23 years, ocean levels around the world have climbed by about 3 inches on average, and NASA scientists say the sea will continue to rise as warming temperatures cause ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica to melt. …

New satellite measurements from NASA suggest that ocean levels could rise by 3 feet or more globally by the end of the century. The question faced by scientists and policymakers is not whether oceans will rise, but how fast and by how much.

“People need to be prepared for sea level rise,” said Joshua Willis, an oceanographer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge. “It’s not going to stop.”

If ocean levels are rising, where is the additional water coming from?

Steve Nerem, a scientist at the University of Colorado, Boulder, said that about one-third of the rising sea level is a result of the ocean expanding as it absorbs heat trapped by greenhouse gases and becomes warmer. Another third comes from melting glaciers, and the rest comes from the melting of enormous ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica.

How much ice is actually melting in Greenland and Antarctica?

During the last decade, Greenland’s ice sheet lost about 303 gigatons of ice on average each year, while Antarctica’s ice sheet lost about 118 gigatons annually on average. One gigaton is a billion metric tons. http://www.latimes.com/science/la-me-0827-oceans-rising-20150827-story.html

So, ‘experts’ feel that the ocean could rise by 3 feet or more by the end of the century. According to the Bible, the situation before the end of this century (see Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? ) will eliminate islands (Revelation 16:18-20; see also Islands and Bible Prophecy).

The reality is that there is enough water to pretty much cover the earth. The great flood in Noah’s time, when the mountains were a bit lower than they now are, covered the entire planet–even the highest mountains then (Genesis 7:19-20).

Will that happen again?

No. At least not that way.

How do we know? Because of God’s promise to Noah:

11 Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

12 And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; 15 and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.” (Genesis 9:11-17)

God gave humans rainbows as a sign that the entire world would not be destroyed by a great flood.

But that does not mean that there will be no weather problems nor problems with sea levels:

11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. (Luke 21:11)

25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (Luke 21:25-26)

Earthquakes that cause tsunamis are consistent with the above. More tsunamis are prophesied and will come to pass.

The Los Angeles Times article also had the following:

What are we supposed to do about rising sea levels?

The key word stressed by scientists: planning. Tom Wagner, cryosphere program manager for NASA, said communities along coastal zones should factor in the increase in sea levels when considering major infrastructure projects such as a water treatment plant or power plant. Rising sea levels could mean more erosion or flooding associated with a storm surge, he said.

The Bible urges repentance and often ties its need in with God’s intervention in the weather (Revelation 16:8-11).

Jesus warned about a time of earthquakes and troubles:

8 … And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be…troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)

Parts of Japan were devastated by the Tōhoku earthquake and and subsequent tsunami in 2011. Even more severe earthquakes are coming.

The biggest earthquake described in biblical prophecy is the following one:

18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. (Revelation 16:18-20)

Notice that the above earthquake is so big that the cities of the nations will fall. Mountains will be leveled and islands “fled away” (more on this can be found in the article Islands and Bible Prophecy). This seems to be the biggest earthquake that will ever hit the planet with humans on it. Despite the view of religious ‘preterists’ that this already happened (see The Dangerous Rise of Preterists), that is nonsense.

The earthquake of Revelation 16 will be bigger than what the usual “experts” have believed was possible. It will change the planet and humble parts of humanity.

What should humans do about severe weather events? Repent:

8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.

10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. 11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds. (Revelation 16:8-11)

Instead of repenting, notice what the Bible prophesied humanity will do after the islands and mountains are basically gone:

20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great. (Revelation 16:20-21)

Humans should repent now and not wait. Yet, despite Divine intervention related to weather, including sea levels, humanity refuses to. Worse problems will be coming.

It should be noted since that apparently biggest of all earthquakes (Revelation 16:18) seems to take place near the end of the Day of the Lord, it probably cannot happen prior to 2023 (for more on why as well as dates, please see the articles When Can the Great Tribulation Begin? and Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?).

Despite the danger, rising sea levels should serve as assurance that biblical prophecy will be fulfilled and that all should believe the prophecies in the Bible. Including those prophecies that show that the kingdoms of this world will be replaced relatively soon.

People should live their lives as if God does exist and that He does have a plan, because He does. It will come to pass and His kingdom will come.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Earthquakes Today and Bible Prophecy Contains a cool up-to-the-hour update of earthquakes around the world from USGS. It also explains what did Jesus teach about earthquakes and how the Bible describes “the big one” (as well as when it is expected).
Islands and Bible Prophecy What’s ahead for islands? What does the Bible prophesy about them?
The Bible, Christians, and the Environment How should Christians view the environment? Does the Bible give any clues? What are some of the effects of air, water, and land pollution? Is environmental pollution a factor in autism and death? Do pollutants seem to double the autism risk? What will Jesus do? A YouTube video is available titled Air Pollution, Autism, and Prophecy.
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2023 or 20xx? There is also a video titled The 6000 Year Plan: Is the end of humanity’s reign almost up? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2015, 2016, or 2017? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2014 o 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
When You Sin: Do You Really Repent? This is an article by Charles F. Hunting. A related sermon is Confess to God and truly repent.
Weather Blessings and Sorrows Are weather problems a warning? What should be done? Here is a related YouTube video Does God Use Weather?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?