In Matthew 24:37, Jesus was talking about His coming and the end of the world. Jesus said, among others, that the days would be as in the days of Noah. What was Jesus referring to? What does the Bible say about the days of Noah? We know that the wickedness of people was great upon the earth in the days of Noah. We also know that Noah was a righteous preacher and built an ark in obedience to God, to save himself, his family, and many animals from the flood that God brought upon the earth. But what are the other characteristics of the days of Noah? What happened in the days of Noah that also takes place in these days?
In the days of Noah, sin was great
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. And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:5-8)
In the days of Noah, the wickedness of man was so great, that it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth.
No one was righteous and no one walked with God, except for Noah.
In the rest of mankind, evil reigned. Because of the fact that the imaginations of the thoughts of the hearts of people were only evil, the people walked in evil and were wicked and did everything that was evil in the eyes of God.
The sin was so great, that God had no other choice than to destroy man from the earth. Because of the choices they made and their own behavior, they brought mischief upon themselves (Read also: ‘The mischief people bring upon themselves’ and ‘The evil that shall come’).
In the days of Noah, the earth was corrupt
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth (Genesis 6:11-12)
No, there was no global warming in the days of Noah. Therefore the state of the earth; the corruption of the earth and the flood were not caused by global warming.
But the corruption of the earth had a spiritual cause, namely the sin of mankind.
The sin was so great and therefore the earth was filled with violence and was corrupt.
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished (Isaiah 51:6)
As in the days of Noah, these days, the state of the earth is also pretty bad. We are all witnesses of the corrupt state of this earth, that waxes old like a garment, as written in the prophecy above.
Natural scientists may give all kinds of natural causes for the corrupt state of the earth, but since the Word of God is the truth, the real cause of the corrupt state of this earth is a spiritual cause, namely the sin and unrighteousness of mankind, just like in the days of Noah.
The earth mourns and waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. But where are the sons of God?
In the days of Noah, the sons of God became unfaithful
And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown (Genesis 6:1-4)
The sons of God belonged to God and had the Spirit of God. Because God said, after the sons of God took the fair daughters of men, that His Spirit would no longer abide and strive with man (from a moral point of view), since the sons of God misbehaved.
The sons of God didn’t stay faithful to God and His will, but the sons of God became unfaithful and exchanged their position to fulfill their carnal lusts and desires, with the fair women, who most likely were born of the seed of Cain.
And just like the sons of God misbehaved themselves in the days of Noah and became unfaithful to God and His will and were led by their senses and the beauty (the appearance) of (pagan) women, and took many women to satisfy their carnal lusts and desires, and exchanged the Spirit for the flesh, the same takes place in these days.
The unfaithful sons of God of today
As in the days of Noah, these days, many sons of God are carnal and therefore they are led by their senses and the lusts and desires of their flesh, instead of being spiritual and being led by the Spirit and staying faithful to Jesus Christ; the Word.
Their eyes are not focused upon Jesus Christ and His will and eternity, but their eyes are focused upon themselves, their will, women (and even men and children) and to temporarily satisfy their carnal lusts and desires.
And so many exchanges their birthright and position as son of God for temporary pleasures and commit adultery, fornication, and/or engage in marriages with unbelievers, because they are blinded by – and focused upon the outward appearances and external beauty.
However, their choices will have consequences for their lives, just like Esau. (Read also: ‘Selling your birthright for temporary pleasures‘)
Actors of life, who lead a double life
There are believers, who go to church, have a task in the church, and/or are in leadership, but are in reality actors of life aka hypocrites, who lead a double life behind the scenes.
They have not identified themselves with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and are not born again and have not laid down their flesh, but their flesh, in which their will and sin reign, is still alive and reigns in their lives.
They don’t follow God’s Word and God’s Spirit, but they are sense ruled and follow their vain thoughts, feelings, and emotions and are led by their carnal lusts and desires, which lead to (sexual) uncleanness and sins. And in today’s world, the wickedness and the sins of people are great.
Although they confess, that they believe that God exists and that they long for the return of Jesus Christ and shout and sing about His coming, they live as if God doesn’t exist and Jesus will never return.
Secretly, they do things, which may be hidden from the eyes of carnal people and think that God doesn’t see them, but God is omnipotent and sees everything. Nothing is hidden for the Almighty God and He reveals the works and confronts people with their sins by the Holy Spirit.
The sinners hate the righteous
The world cannot hate you; but Me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil (John 7:7)
Therefore, those who live in sin, are not able to be in the presence of the real sons of God (males and females), who have been made righteous by the blood of Jesus and have the Holy Spirit and walk after the Spirit in righteousness. Because in their presence, they will be confronted with their evil works; their sins. Since the Holy Spirit in them confronts them and testifies that their works are evil, just as was the case with a.o. Noah and Jesus.
And since the sins and iniquities on earth are so great and have even defiled many churches and many sons of God have become unfaithful and left God and His Word, which represents His will, and the Spirit for the flesh, this behavior of the sons of God is also a characteristic that we live in the days of Noah
In the days of Noah, the people didn’t want to listen
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm (1 Timothy 1:5-7)
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (2 Timothy 4:1-4)
As in the days of Noah, many people didn’t want to listen to the words of God, in these days, many people also don’t want to listen to the words of God. Instead, they listen to the knowledge and wisdom of the world and have their own opinion.
They don’t want to listen to people, who speak the truth of God and therefore they make it difficult for them and do everything they can to silence their voices.
Because of the fact that in many churches, the spirit of this world has entered and reigns in the lives of many people, who say they are believers, these people also don’t want to listen to the infallible words of God, which call them to repentance, the removal of sins and a holy life.
Many are prideful and don’t want to listen to the truth and be corrected. Because of that, many preachers, who belong to the world and are in the service of man instead of God, have adjusted the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, to what people want to hear.
The carnal people have gathered these preachers, who are in reality sons of the devil and have the spirit of this world and many times live in sin and/or approve people’s sins and speak words that please and strengthen the flesh of people.
These preachers don’t preach the Kingdom of God and don’t call the people to repentance and to live holy lives, but instead, they preach lies of the kingdom of darkness and allow people to have licentious lives or lead the people to licentious lives far away from God.
Since they have the spirit of the world, they speak the same (motivating) words as the people, who belong to the world and don’t know God.
They are blind leaders, who walk in darkness and invisible graves, who keep the people in bondage of death and lead them to eternal death (Read also: ‘Many pastors are leading the sheep into the abyss’)
In the days of Noah, the people were too busy with their own lives
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be (Matthew 24:33-39)
In the days of Noah, the people were too busy with their own lives and didn’t have time for God. They were too busy eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage and that was the focus and center of their lives.
Just like these things are the focus and center of many people’s lives today. They don’t have time for Jesus Christ; the Word and the things of the Kingdom of God, but are only focused on their own lives and the things of this world.
They don’t like commandments, obligations, and rules and don’t want to be bound. But they want to be free, make their own choices, and be entertained. They love to fellowship and to be entertained with the things that the world and/or the church has to offer.
The harvest truly is plenteous and Jesus looks for laborers, but many are too busy with their own lives, fellowshipping, and their own pleasures.
Who wants to obey Jesus Christ and who can Jesus trust and send? (Read also: ‘Ministers of flaming fire‘)
In the days of Noah, Noah was the only one, who was doing the work of the Lord
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God (Genesis 6:9)
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch (Genesis 6:13-14)
As in the days of Noah, the people were too busy with their own lives and to satisfy their carnal needs and enjoy the temporary pleasures and lived in sin and didn’t want to listen to the truth of God, and didn’t want to live holy and righteous and therefore the earth was corrupted, there was one person, who had separated himself from the wickedness of the people unto God, and listened to God and stayed faithful to God and was busy doing his work. And that person was Noah.
Noah was a just and perfect man, who walked with God, despite the fact that all the people around him walked in sin and iniquity and turned themselves away from Noah.
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith (Hebrew 11:7)
Noah believed in God and yielded to God and His Word and did what God had commanded Noah to do.
Despite the fact, that in the natural realm there were no signs of a flood, by faith, Noah built the ark in obedience to God. His eyes were and remained focused on building the ark.
Noah didn’t allow himself to be distracted by the people and the things that happened around him, but Noah remained focused on God and listened to God and obeyed His words, and was led by Him.
In the days of Noah, only Noah prepared himself for the coming of the flood
Noah did what God had commanded him to do and prepared himself for the coming of the flood. Noah worked on the preservation of himself, his family, and those, who wanted to listen to Noah. But unfortunately, nobody wanted to listen to the words of the righteous preacher. Because of that, only Noah, his sons and daughters-in-law, and part of the animals were saved.
As in the days of Noah, these days, there are also few, who are busy doing the work of God and their preservation and the salvation and preservation of others and prepare themselves for the coming of Jesus Christ.
There are only a few, who are spiritually awake and live after His will and are busy doing the work of Jesus Christ and represent, preach and bring His Kingdom on earth, so that many souls are redeemed from the power of the kingdom of darkness and be saved from eternal death. They are out there, but there are not many.
Because not many people have died to self and are bold enough to speak the truth. Since many people, who belong to the world, are not willing to listen to the truth and therefore they experience resistance. Because of that, they compromise to prevent resistance and persecution of people.
But the true sons of God know Jesus Christ; the Word and shall speak the truth of God no matter what the consequences will be. The sons of God don’t compromise and water down the gospel and speak lies, but they keep standing on the Word and don’t deviate from the Word.
The sons of God, who are born of Him, know that it’s better to be (temporarily) rejected by people, than to be rejected by Jesus Christ and God the Father for eternity on the Day of Judgment.
Because on that Day of Judgment, every person shall be judged according to his or her works to everlasting life or everlasting punishment. And no person will be excluded.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
