The Second Coming of the Days of Noah
Jesus warned that in the last days the world would once again be like it was in the days of Noah, just before the flood. Jesus prophesied in Matthew chapter 24:
“For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark” (Matthew 24:37-38).
Jesus warned in the same chapter “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). We noted earlier that chapter six of the book of Genesis tells us that God flooded the earth because it was filled with violence, sexual perversion and the thoughts of humans were “only evil continually.”
In 1993, the former Secretary of Education, William Bennett, released his “Index of Leading Cultural Indicators.” Bennett succinctly demonstrated the moral collapse of American culture over just a few decades, by stating:
“Over the years teachers have been asked to identify the top problems in America’s public schools. In 1940 teachers identified talking out of turn; chewing gum; making noise; running in halls; cutting in line; dress code infractions; and littering. When teachers were asked the same question in 1990, it was a completely different assessment, they identified drug abuse; alcohol abuse; suicide; rape; pregnancy; robbery; and assault.” –William Bennett “Index Of Leading Cultural Indicators,” p. ii
Since the release of Bennett’s The Index of Leading Cultural Indicators, we could add wicked and violent atrocities such as global terrorist attacks and mass school shootings to the horrifying list.
God not only reveals to us that it would once again be like it was in the days of Noah in the last days, but that He would again judge the world as he did in the days of Noah.
In 2 Peter 3, God warns that those who mock God and say “Where is the promise of His coming,” are deliberately ignorant of the fact that God once before judged the entire world with a flood. God declares in His Word that when He comes in judgment this time, it will not be with a flood of water but with the judgment of fire.
“But they deliberately forget that long ago…the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly…But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:5-7, 10-13)
Peter states in this very context of the flood as a picture of Christ’s second coming, that just as God was longsuffering in the days before the flood, the reason Jesus has not yet returned to judge this wicked world is because He is waiting for more people to repent and turn to Christ before it is too late:
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8-9).
Noah As A Type of Christ
Dear friend, God does not want you to go to hell. Just as Jesus warned that the last days would be like it was in the days of Noah, God has also provided an “ark” for the safety of you and your family in these last days. Noah and the ark were a glorious typological or prophetic picture of a coming Savior and ark that God had (before time) ordained to save us from the final judgment. Noah’s famly was saved because of God’s grace and the fact that Naoh was the most righteous man on earth. Even so, the only way we can be saved is through the grace of God and the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ:
“This is his name whereby he [Jesus] shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6).
“It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30).
“And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith” (Philippians 3:9).
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Just as there was only one door into the ark, so Jesus is the one and only door that saves us from the wrath to come. Jesus said:
“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved… I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 10:9; 14:6).
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
When one studies the dimensions of the ark, we find that it was constructed like a giant casket. In 1 Peter 3, Peter indicates that the ark was actually submerged at one point in the flood waters and came up through the water, which he states was a picture of the believers baptism. What God did historically with Noah and the ark is a breathtaking picture of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself:
“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God…. the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:18, 20-21).
The baptism of the ark, like the baptism of the believer, was a solemn act pointing to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We should thank God every day that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and, conquering death, rose again! Those who are in Christ, like those in the ark, have died and risen with Christ to new life:
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:4).
When the believer is buried in the waters of baptism and comes back up, he is saying that he is identifying with both Christ’s death for his sins and His resurrection to life. He is signifying that he accepts Christ’s death on his behalf as a payment for his sins and salvation from the wrath to come.
After the ark came out of the water, Noah knew he was safe and that the waters had receded, because a dove had landed on dry ground and returned to the ark and landed upon Noah. Even so, when Jesus came up out of the water at His baptism, the Holy Spirit fell upon Him like a dove, signifying that Jesus, as the Son of God, is the Savior of the World and God’s ultimate ark of salvation.
While Peter makes it clear that the waters of baptism do not cleanse the believers sins (the believer is cleansed by the blood of Christ before he or she is even baptized), Peter does state that baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God.
It is imperative that each of us make sure that we are prepared to stand before God and that our souls are hidden in the ark of Gods salvation, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Don’t Wait ‘Til It’s Too Late!
Jesus warned that God’s judgment, just like in the days of Noah, would come at a time when people are carrying on with their lives as though everything were normal. Just as the days of Noah, when the lost thought that God would not judge them for their sinful rebellion against His moral law, before they knew it, it was eventually too late to repent. Suddenly, just as God Himself closed the door to the ark for those who refused to repent, God will soon slam the door of salvation shut and it will be too late for those who refused to repent and turn to Jesus for salvation.
Just as countless people must have rushed the ark after the door was shut, and sought to get in before the flood waters rose, similarly many will wait until it’s too late to repent of their sins and turn to Christ. Tragically, they will be overtaken by the eternal wrath of God because they waited too long. Jesus warned that it will be like that again for those who wait to long:
“But unless you repent, you too will all perish…. Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, ‘Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out” (Luke 13:5, 23-28).
Dear friend, we plead with you to turn from the road to destruction and cry out in faith to Jesus Christ for His saving grace. There is no work you can do to save yourself from the coming judgment. You must repent of your evil rebellion against God and embrace Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior to be saved. He alone died for our sins and He alone can save us from the wrath we all deserve.
Do it right now, before it’s too late. “The Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” and “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (Hebrews 3:7-8; 1 Corinthians 6:2).
The ark of salvation is waiting for you. Jesus’ arms are wide open and He promised, “Whoever comes to Me I will never cast out,” and “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (John 6:37; Romans 10:13).
Do it now before it’s too late. Do not dare gamble with your eternal soul. The odds are too great, the stakes are too high and eternity too long!
If you are already saved, I want to encourage you to turn what Satan is using for evil, in his twisting of the story of Noah, back to God’s glory. May the Lord give us strength and boldness to seize this opportunity to set the record straight and point the lost to Jesus, the ultimate ark of salvation. Like Noah, before the rain came flooding down, we too can expect to be mocked by those who are spiritually blind and lost. May the Lord give us the patience and love He gave Noah, as we enter into the longsuffering of God and remember that we too were once lost, but are now eternally found, in Jesus. Like Noah, who rose from the ark with a glorious, colorful rainbow announcing God’s promise of salvation and that God would not again food the planet, we will one day stand before God’s glorious throne, which is encircled with an emerald rainbow and behold His glory (Revelation 4:1-13). May the Lord give us the grace to be found in Him in peace at His return:
“That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him” (2 Peter 3:12b-14).
May the Lord richly bless you as you seek His face and live for His glory!
