The Days of Noah

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But as the days of No’-e were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:37)

In these troubled times we often find ourselves anxiously “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).  As we observe the rapid decline in our society and try to “discern the signs of the times” (Matthew 16:3), we can almost sense the “whole creation” groan and travail in pain; “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:22-23).

Jesus said that the time of His coming would be as in the days of Noah.  So we ask: what were they days of Noah like?  Genesis 6:5 says, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”  Has our society degenerated to the point that “every imagination” of the heart of man is nothing but evil always, or does some semblance of virtue still remain?  As an eyewitness to the events of Noah’s day, Jesus says that “they were eating and drinking, and marrying and giving in marriage until the day that No’-e entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away” (vv. 38-39).  In other words, they were conducting life as usual.  Even though they had “Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5) warning them of the coming flood, they chose to remain in a clueless state so that they “knew not until the flood came and took them all away” (v. 39). 

Without much effort, it is not difficult to see that we are living in such times today.  Perhaps the only reason that some semblance of virtue remains is due to the restraining power of the Holy Spirit through the Bride of Christ on earth.  Take that away, and the full fury of hell will be unleashed on earth.  “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (v. 42).