The Permian extinction occurred around 250 million ago. It wiped out 95% of all marine life and 70% of land life. Recent research confirms that the triggering event was massive volcanic eruptions in Siberia.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/science/862008/siberia-volcano-great-permian-mass-extinction
This site has argued that man-made global warming has triggered natural global warming self-reinforcing cycles which will lead to many of the catastrophes described in Revelation. In many ways, the processes that are currently occurring resemble those that occurred in the world leading up to the Permian extinction.
In the place of Siberian volcanoes spewing global warming gases, man-made pollution has raised global temperatures to the point of triggering the same natural global-warming cycles that destroyed life 250 million years ago.
http://news.mit.edu/2011/mass-extinction-1118
A group of researches from MIT found that:
“the average rate at which carbon dioxide entered the atmosphere during the end-Permian extinction was slightly below today’s rate of carbon dioxide release into the atmosphere due to fossil fuel emissions.”
Revelation 8:7 tells us that after the Seventh seal is opened,
The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
The MIT research group also commented that:
The researchers also discovered evidence of simultaneous and widespread wildfires that may have added to end-Permian global warming, triggering what they deem “catastrophic” soil erosion and making environments extremely arid and inhospitable.
The parallels between the Permian extinction event and the prophecies of Revelation are very apparent. However, though the natural global warming cycles may be similar, the ending is very different. Revelation tells us that this time around, Christ’s return will save man (well, at least the Believers) and the world (what is left of it) from extinction.
We live in interesting times.