By Dr. Lawrence Butler, The Bridge Church, Pembroke.

“But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 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” (Matt. 24:37-39).

 These words of Jesus let us know that before the Lord returns for His people, conditions that existed in the days of Noah will be replicated. The same spirits of men that brought judgment from God will again spring forth in rebellion, resulting in their destruction.

1. Population increase – currently at 7.2 billion, expected to reach 8.2 billion in 12 years, and increase to 9.6 billion by 2050.

2. God dealing with longsuffering toward a wicked world – consider the murders, thefts, abortions, and addictions. 

3. God sending His messengers to warn of coming judgment.

 4. God’s Spirit striving with men, but warning that He will not always do so, remember the warning of II Thess. 2:7: “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.”

5. God’s overtures toward men were despised and rejected – they refused to believe that what they were doing was wrong and continued in sin until there was nothing left but judgment.

(2Ch 36:16) “But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.”

(Pro 29:1) “ He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

6. A small remnant find grace in the eyes of the Lord and walk with Him.

7. Enoch was miraculously translated, typifying the escape of the church before judgment falls on the world of ungodliness.

8. God’s judgments poured forth on the world (2Pe 3:12) “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?”