Outside the Ark
Have you ever thought about what it must have been like for the people "outside" the ark? I mean the scripture tells us it rained day and night for 40 days and then,
..." the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days." (Genesis 7:24)
I don't know about you, but I never really thought too much about those outside the ark. All he teachings I heard about Noah and the flood were always focused on Noah and his family and touched very briefly on how everyone else were sinners and basically just turned down their chance at Noah's offer of salvation...
You know, a kind of, "Oh well...so sad." kinda teaching.
Which is really in itself literally a, "So sad." kind of teaching.....(if you ask me...basically "grace free" and hypocritical)
I found myself this morning thinking about all those people....as I was reading through the book of Revelation, again.
Just think about it. The flood waters had to cover the earth long enough to kill all life.
That means every person. Every, man woman and child drown. Just take a moment....really think about that....The recent flooding' s we've had have nothing on Noah's flood.
It took time for the water to cover the earth and for people to drown....just imagine how horrifying that was for Noah and his family to hear all those people dying.
These were people that Noah knew. People that his wife knew. People that his sons and daughter in laws knew.
Yes, they were sinners......Yes, in the end they chose to reject God's way out......but they were people just like YOU and ME.
My point here?.................*(see also again the bottom when you're through reading)
When Jesus was asked by when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus answered and said,
..."And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man,..." Luke 17:20-3o full
I think most would agree in the world today, it is surely as "in the days of Noah".
My question to all of us, myself included, what are we doing to reach out to those "outside the ark". (the unbelieving ones).
If we look at the story of Noah, and at the scripture referencing his commission from God to build the ark. Pretty much life went on around him as he build the ark. Everyone pretty much though he was crazy until the rain started coming down. Until the door of the ark was closed. Until it was too late.
Now I know we are not building an ark. Our commission is different. I believe it is far easier than Noah's. At least for the vast majority of s followers of Yeshua/Jesus...and at this time. For we are only at the beginning of sorrows as the Word of God speaks of.
Still, my question is, "What are we, what will we do about it?"
I know that a great number of believers truly think and believe in their heart that they will be ushered out, taken up, or raptured away before the great tribulation. I have heard this my entire life as a believer. Honestly, as much as I have heard the arguments over and over. I don't see the scriptural foundation for it.
Am I worried about it? No. Not a bit. Why would I be?
As a believer I am protected from God's wrath. The seven woes spoken of in the book of Revelation are very plainly and pointedly for those that are not God's Own and have chosen to receive the mark of the Beast.
I truly believe that many, unfortunately, have confused Persecution from Antichrist and Wrath from God.
They are not one in the same thing.
In Revelation 13 it says, .."It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe,tongue, and nation."
However, Jesus warned in Matthew 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (The Lord G_d of Abraham Issac and Jacob)”
Remeber ~
The wrath of God is far worse, is far worse than ANY PERSECUTION from ANY man, as it will destroy and condemn to Hell. The true wrath of God means eternal destruction. Whatever an antichrist may do, no matter how evil, mean and destructive he becomes, he can only destroy the body, not the soul. Regardless of the power given to him, no antichrist is capable of pouring out the wrath of God. Only God can do that. Those that believe in the rapturng before the great tribulation, often confuse the wrath of God with the persecution from the antichrist. They are not the same thing. The wrath of God is intended for the ungodly and will be poured upon them and them only.
This is why, among many other encouraging scriptures I am not worried , anxious or afraid!
As lovely as it sounds ..."rapture before the great tribulation".... all that would serve is to escape the great tribulation period.... and this just isn't scriptural.
God's promise of protection for his church isn't "removal" from the earth. It never has been. It is "Protection from His wrath". Just look into the Holy Scripture......all through the days of His People.....the Israelites. The Passover is a perfect example. A bodily removal of the church would not be a “protection” from wrath, but an “escape” from wrath. While an escape may be man’s preferred way, it is not God’s planned way. To correctly interpret God’s promise of protection, one must stay with Scripture and avoid man’s concepts and theories. God’s power and glory will be evident as He delivers His bride throughout great Tribulation.
And
HE Shall Come in the Clouds
Immediately after the tribulation
Matthew 24:29-31
Matthew 24:29-31 = Immediately after the tribulation the sun and moon shall be darkened, the stars shall fall from heaven, the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: (30) And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (31) He shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
So I will leave you today with these thoughts:
Awake O Sleeper!
Keep your oil in your lamp and stay alert for you do not know what the future holds!
Reach out to those outside the Ark...those who do not believe. Even yourself Because just as peace and safety is proclaimed all around do not be deceived for there is no peace and there is no safety. For it is just as it was in the days of Noah, people giving and taking. Going about about their ways. Getting married and ignoring the call of their maker.
*(note from top) Let's reach out to all those people around us who don't believe. Who even , maybe are mocking us, before they are completely locked out of the ARK; God's presence. i.e. Have taken the mark of the beast and will not be able to enter the kingdom of God. Just like in the days of Noah when God shut the doors of the Ark. We WILL see people around us that we know take the mark and we WILL know in our hearts that we may have - should have- could have at one time or another said something to them that may have lead them to the cross. So My encouragment to us all is to take the time NOW to reach out and be obedient to everyone arund us and share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Be a watchman and reach out to the lost and dieing world!
Do not hide behind the voice of the deceiver because of fear!
Know God! Know He will will never abandon His church, His People, His Children!
Go! Waste no more time on the things that do not matter but give head to life sustaining commission's, in the Name of Yeshua the Anointed One!
