“But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matt. 24:37)
There are many facets to that particular period in the history of mankind, Noah preached, warned and pleaded with the people for 120 years, the time that it took to build the ark. “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.” (Gen. 6:5) Those same people aged at a much slower rate, had never seen water fall from the sky, for there was a mist that covered the earth for moisture. It was in this time that many believe that Genesis 5:24 was fulfilled, “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.”
A righteous man that the Lord removed from the earth before the deeps were broken up and the rain began to fall.
It is the heart of man at that time that we are concerned with today for that same heart is in them today. “And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” (2 Peter 3:4)
In the thoughts of many that day is approaching quickly, and in this sense the Word of God stands true, “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” (Matt. 24:11) Signs and wonders are easily manufactured today, many see what they want to see and attribute it to the end of the age of the Gentiles, and so in that respect Matthew 24:24 also becomes a truth. “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
Men have indeed become lovers of self more than of God, the fear of the Lord exists in only a few of us relative to the eight billion souls on this planet, and Satan, to quote a popular phrase at this time, is the epitome of one who identifies as what he is not, God Himself.
Noah and those other seven souls endured mocking’s and ridicule that you probably will not, unless your life revolves around Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Those who do not speak of the Lord Jesus Christ are not persecuted for the Lord Jesus Christ.
There are more false prophets abounding today than perhaps at any other time in history, eight against the world in Noah’s day, as for today I cannot say, but again the Word of the Almighty stands as truth. “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matt. 7:14)
If what a person says cannot be verified in the Scriptures as truth, it is a lie, there is no third option, and I firmly believe that in love we are to attempt to correct and reprove them. “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” (Prov. 9:9) If they are wise, they will heed the correction, see the error of their way, repent and seek the truth, if not, they are to be rebuked. In that sense Jeremiah is an example for us, the only prophet out of many that spoke what he was told to, and not only was he chastised and punished, ridiculed and mocked for it, but he watched as all the people suffered as the Lord said they would.
If you are a man of God called by the Most High you understand this letter, you fear dishonoring the Lord by offering false testimonies of these days, you are frustrated by the many who will not heed the warnings, who will not repent and call upon the Lord for the salvation of their souls, and yes, you hate those who profess falsely and lead many astray for whatever reason they have chosen.
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:” (Rev. 22:18)
If there is another truth about righteous Noah it is this, as he worked, he warned, when the people came and mocked him, he spoke the truths that he had been given, and then he went back to work, sometimes sad, sometimes angry, but his emotional state did not stop him from believing and continuing in what had been set before him. “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” (Matt. 24:46)
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22)