AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH

Matt. 24:35-39

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. The one great central prophecy of the N.T. is the Second Coming
      of Christ in judgment.
   B. In this lesson we want to study in detail Matt. 24:35-39 which
      reveals facts about the Lord's coming.

I. First, let's look at verses 35 and 36.
   A. There are many other plain passages which teach that we cannot
      know the exact time of our Lord's coming. 1 Thess. 5:1-4; 2    
      Pet. 3:10
      1. Jesus was the first to use the comparison of the thief.     
         Matt. 24:42-43
         a. How does the thief come? Does he give warning? No
            signs or forewarning -- the same with Jesus' coming.
      2. Thus, a constant readiness is necessary. Matt. 24:44; 25:13
   B. In spite of this, there are many today who speculate on the    
      time of the Lord's coming. Most of them teach that it is       
      imminent, that He is coming soon.
      1. It is interesting that a lot of their speculation is based  
         on this same passage. Matt. 24
         a. Much of what they are saying is from a false
            interpretation of certain verses.
         b. Example, verses 6-7. People read this and assume that
            it's talking about today.
            (1) We hear of wars and rumors of wars.
            (2) We have had earthquakes in recent times.
            (3) We have had famines in Ethiopia and other places.
   C. Let's look briefly at the context of Matt. 24. Let's read      
      24:1-3.
      1. Notice that the disciples asked a two-fold question:
         a. When will these things be? Example: When will the
            temple be thrown down and one stone not left on
            another?
            (1) He gave them many signs (vs. 4-31) and concluded
                by saying -- vs. 32-34.
            (2) The destruction of the temple did occur in 70 A.D.
                at the hands of the Romans.
         b. Beginning with verse 35, there is a change in our Lord's
            words which answer the second part of the disciples'
            question.
            (1) Verse 36, "But of that day..." What day? When
                heaven and earth shall pass away.
            (2) Thus, Jesus said that the temple would be
                destroyed within that generation, but regarding My
                coming and the end of the world, no one knows.
            (3) Mark's account adds that not even the Son knows.
                Mark 13:32
   D. Thus, there is no way to know exactly when the Lord will come.
      1. It is wrong to speculate, and to teach that His coming is
         near. Col. 2:18
      2. Only the Father knows and there will be no signs to show us
         when it will occur.

II. In the second part of our study, we want to look at the          
   similarities between the days of Noah and now. This should give   
   warning and cause us to be diligent regarding readiness.
   A. They were engaged in sinful activities.
      1. Gen. 6:5-8 -- Thus, men were given over to wickedness --
         the thoughts of their hearts were only evil continually.
      2. God's view of sin is clearly demonstrated in the destruction
         of those wicked people. 2 Pet. 2:4-10
         a. If God did not spare those who sinned in the days of
            Noah, what makes us think that He will spare us in our
            disobedience to Him?
   B. They were engaged in secular activities.
      1. There was a lot of wickedness in Noah's time, but that is   
         not what Jesus mentioned. vs. 38
         a. The things the Lord mentioned are not wrong in and of
            themselves.
      2. They were so busy with the normal affairs of life that they
         forgot to prepare to meet God.
         a. Like in the prophet's illustration to the king who said  
            he was "busy here and there" and he let his prisoner go,
            likewise many are busy here and there and let their
            spiritual life go." 1 Kings 20:39-40
         b. Many are like Martha--"careful and troubled about many
            things"--and fail to choose the good part which will not
            be taken away. Luke 10:38-42
         c. Those of us who are members of the church need to
            recognize this problem.
            (1) We can be busy with a thousand and one different
                things.
            (2) We have our jobs, families, household activities,
                education, recreation, entertainment--a host of
                things which occupy our time and interest.
            (3) It is easy to become busy with so many different
                things that our spiritual life becomes choked. Luke
                8:14
      3. Let us not be like the people in Noah's day--so busy with   
         life that we neglect God. 2 Tim. 2:4
   C. Another similarity of Noah's day and our time is the lack of
      knowledge of divine things.
      1. This is seen in verse 39. "...And did not know..." The      
         people did not know what was about to happen to them. The
         implication is that they should have known.
      2. The Scriptures show that Noah was a "preacher of
         righteousness." 2 Pet. 2:5
         a. It took Noah over a hundred years to build the ark and
            all that time he was preaching.
      3. Do you see any similarities today?
         a. Imagine how it was in Noah's day. Seeing a huge boat
            and asking him what's going on, and him saying, "God is
            about to punish the wicked by destroying the world by a
            great flood." How many listened?
         b. Today -- 2 Thess. 1:6-9. Will people listen? They could
            know, but they choose not to listen.
         c. They are "willfully ignorant," (KJV) "willfully forget"
            (NKJ) about the Lord's coming. 2 Pet. 2:5
   D. Another similarity: It was a day of doom then, and will be a
      day of doom with the Lord comes.
      1. Verse 39 -- "...And took them all away." There is
         significance in the word, "all."
         a. Gen. 7:17-24 -- not a single person escaped who was
            not in the ark.
      2. It was certainly a day of doom for the wicked back then.
         Remember, "As the days of Noah were, so also will the
         coming of the Son of man be."
         a. Only a few were saved (1 Pet. 3:20); only a few will be
            saved when the Lord comes. It won't be the vast
            majority who will enjoy the blessings of heaven. Matt.
            7:13-14
         b. Paul writes in Rom. 14:11 -- Thus, there is a time
            coming when every knee will bow and every tongue will
            confess.
            (1) It will be too late for many. Yes, they will bow the
                knee; and, yes, they will confess, but they should
                have done so when there was opportunity.
         c. When it started to rain and the food waters came up, do
            doubt those evil people realized their condition, and    
            they would have begged to be able to get into the ark,   
            but it was too late.
         d. 1 Pet. 3:20 says "the longsuffering of God waited in the
            days of Noah." Likewise, now -- 2 Pet. 3:9.
         e. God's patience ran out in the days of Noah, and
            someday it will run out for us and the end will come.
            Are you ready for that day to come?
   E. Another similarity: the day of salvation.
      1. The same thing that brought destruction to the wicked,
         brought salvation to Noah and his family -- the water. 1    
         Pet. 3:20
      2. Noah had prepared in the way God ordained. Heb. 11:7
      3. If God had decided to destroy the earth with fire and
         brimstone, Noah would have perished with the rest.
         a. However, the ark could survive a flood, and so it was
            ordained by God, and Noah prepared in accord with
            God's will. Gen. 6:22 
      4. The same is true concerning the coming of the Son of man; it
         will bring destruction on the unprepared, but salvation to  
         the prepared. 2 Pet. 3:5-7; 10-13
         a. Vs. 12 -- "looking for and earnestly desiring" ASV
         b. Let us look forward to that time. Let us anxiously await,
            eagerly desire Jesus' return, because it is the day of   
            our salvation.
         c. Our attitude should be that of John -- Rev. 22:20. The
            Lord said, "Surely I am coming quickly." John's reply is
            commendable, "Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus!"
            (1) The apostle John was ready. That should be our
                attitude. We heard the gospel message and we've
                obeyed the Lord's instructions and we are ready.

Concl.
   A. Let's read Matt. 24:35-39 again.
   B. We have not looked at the things of Noah's day, comparing them
      to today, and said, "The time is near."
      1. We don't know when the Lord will come and it is wrong to
         speculate about it.
   C. What we are saying is that we need to be ready whenever that   
      day might be.
      1. We can see the clear lessons to be learned from how it was  
         in Noah's day.
         a. The people were wicked, they were busy, they had no
            knowledge of spiritual things and the flood came and
            took them all away.
      2. Noah and his family were saved because their faith caused
         them to heed the warnings and to make preparation in accord
         with God's will.
         a. Let us, by faith, heed God's warnings and instructions
            that will save us from destruction and give us eternal
            life. 2 Pet. 3:7