"It is intrinsic to the doctrine of creation that human beings in sin are the supreme environmental threat."

- J. Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah, pg. 197
(Commenting on Isaiah 24:1)

For the 40 day fast leading up to the Call on 7/7/07, I have been studying the book of Isaiah, using an excellent commentary by J. Alec Motyer. I highly recommend the commentary, but would also recommend allocating approximately six months to study the book through. I'm currently on Isaiah 25 after having studied the book approximately 2 hours a day for almost 30 days. I'm really going to have to step it up if I intend to get through Isaiah 66 by 7/7/07…

In light of 7/7/07 coming up, and amazing juxtaposition of the two stadium events taking place on that day (the Call and SOS), Motyer's commentary on Isaiah 22 jumped off the page at me when I read it last week:

"The message of the whole is solemn, that past decisions mould future experiences... And the unforgivable sin is to believe that if one cannot save oneself one cannot be saved [Is. 22:9-11] and to act as though this world were all [v13]." (Motyer, 181)

See the following post from LiveEarth.org:

"Our climate crisis affects everyone, everywhere. Only a global response can even begin to address our climate crisis. SOS asks all people to Save Our Selves because only we can."

I haven't really studied out the subject of global warming, so I don't have an opinion about that particular issue. In terms of environmental stewardship in general, there's no question that we should take care of the environment – Christians, in fact, should be in the front lines of that charge.

But the message of SOS is flat-out blasphemy. The contrast between The Call (crying out for God to save us because we cannot save ourselves) and SOS (rallying to save our selves because only we can) could not be clearer.

And this is not just coincidence. This is where the whole world is going. The 2 billion gathering or tuning into SOS in New York, London, Johannesburg, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney, or Hamburg are a foretaste of a global movement for humanity to "save our selves" from all of our problems – environmental, social, political, spiritual. It's called "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." (Revelation 17:5)

But the 100,000 gathering for the Call in Nashville, and the perhaps 1 million watching via the Internet or GodTV, are also a hint of things to come.

"…the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. 33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. 34 Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. 35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time." (Daniel 11:32-35)

It seems appropriate to end with this summary from Isaiah 22:

12 And in that day the Lord GOD of hosts
Called for weeping and for mourning,
For baldness and for girding with sackcloth.
13 But instead, joy and gladness,
Slaying oxen and killing sheep,
Eating meat and drinking wine:

" Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"
14 Then it was revealed in my hearing by the LORD of hosts,

" Surely for this iniquity there will be no atonement for you,
Even to your death," says the Lord GOD of hosts.