The Close of Probation – Noah’s Flood

Notes from Stephen Bohr’s “The Genesis Code” #13 Noah’s Flood-Myth or Fact

Noah/flood – The devil’s plan B: When plan A fails because God protects his people, corrupt God’s people so they are no longer under his protection

Devil’s plan B. Corrupt all good through marriage with evil. Result is that mankind become only evil continually:

Genesis 6:1-2 Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.

Context:
Gen 4 genealogy of Cain. note that 3 women are mentioned (daughters of men)
Gen 5 genealogy of Seth (sons of God)

Only 8 righteous out of millions. Without flood righteous lineage would die out and Christ could not come.

Theory of sons of God = Angels. Inconsistent with the conflict between human groups in the rest of the book of Genesis. Also the sons of God is used in places to describes those who have accepted God in their hearts and have been converted:

1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Genesis 6-8 story of the flood, 1656 years after creation

Jesus referenced Noah so shall it be at the 2nd coming. If Noah’s flood is figurative how can we trust the second coming?

Matthew 24:37-39 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Genesis 6:5 Condition of the Earth:

5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Genesis 6:11-12 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

Noah’s character:

2 Peter 2:4-7 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Note that Noah did not have much success. He preached for 120 years and only was successful in converting his own family. Note that in the Scriptures the majority is always wrong in all the events described. Also note that Noah’s words were absurd in their time since it had never rained.

Water was below ground in the original creation:

Genesis 2:5-6 Before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; 6 but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.

Note that God’s Holy Spirit was working with Noah’s preaching during those days:

Genesis 6:3: And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive/abide with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”

The animals listened to God even though the people did not:

Genesis 7:8-9: Of clean animals, of animals that are unclean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the earth, 9 two by two they went into the ark to Noah, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.

The period of probation was closed by an act of God after a long period of warning, but before any destruction came. Note that God waited seven days between closing the period of judgment and starting the rain and the world was destroyed. Noah’s faith was severely tested during this time and certainly those outside became more and more belligerent. Those outside did not know they were lost until the rain fell, but they were lost after the door was closed.

Genesis 7:9-10: two by two they went into the ark to Noah, male and female, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth

Genesis 7:16: So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD shut him in.

2 Peter 3:5-6: For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.

The Hebrew word mabul is the word for “flood” used throughout Genesis 6-9. It is a unique word used only for this stupendous event. Eight other Hebrew words are used to describe local floods. But none of these compare with the extent of the Great Flood. The Greek word kataklusmo and kataklysmos, used both in the Septuagint and in the New Testament hardly needs interpretation. Cataclysm denotes violent destruction. It occurs in Matthew 24: 38-39; and Luke 17: 26-27. In 2 Peter 3: 5-6 we are reminded of that which mankind desires to forget: that is, that God made the heavens and earth with its water, and by that water the world was cataclysthized, destroying the surface of the earth and all living, breathing creatures.

Genesis 7:22-23: All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. 23 So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive.

“remained alive.” – Literally “left” (SHAWAR in Hebrew – the word repeatedly used in the Old Testament as those who remained alive after a great calamity, military invasion, or natural disaster)

In the New Testament, “left” (APHIEMI in Greek) is most commonly used to describe movement from one place to another. Its secondary meaning is the same as the Greek Shawar as in “that which remains after calamity or disaster, that which remains alive”

Note that the words of Jesus make the same distinction of judgment at the end of the world, those in the world being ignorant of their fate until the actual destruction occurs:

Matthew 24:37-39: But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

… two uses of the word until. Until Noah entered the ark they had hope. They were ignorant of their lost status “did not know until the flood came” until the actual day of destruction.

Notice that Noah’s family were left, the wicked were taken.

Matthew 24:40: Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.

Widely misused scriptural verse by the rest of the world. In the context of the story that is directly said to be in the context of the story of Noah, the wicked are taken, the righteous are left alive.

Catalogue of sins at the end of time. Notice that all of these people are described as having a form of godliness, other words they are professed followers of God, or false Christians, just as in Noah’s day God’s people were corrupted by intermingling with the world, sons of God, daughters of men:

2 Timothy 3:1-5 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

The end of time three Angels message is global, warning of judgment and calling people back to worship God. Note that one commandment deals with the Authority of God, creation, and worship:

Revelation 14:6-7 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

The result of the end of the third angel’s message is that all people will be divided up into two distinct groups. Note that in the parable of the 10 virgins, the ones who were not prepared did have time between the beginnings of calamitous end time events to regret their lack of preparedness, buy oil, and knock on the door. Because they are motivated by a desire to save themselves and still do not know God despite a rushed preparedness, they are not saved. Note that there is a delay between the closing of the door and their destruction:

Matthew 25:10-12 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

Probation is closed, there is no lukewarm group, and then Jesus will come:

Revelation 22:11-12 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

Matthew, last half of chapter 24, in all of 25: all dedicated to a series of parables describing how to be ready at the close of probation:

1. Watch, be awake, be aware, watch for the signs (parable of the virgins)

Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour[a] in which the Son of Man is coming.

2. Pray, keep your relationship with God

Mark 13:33-36 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.

3. Bless others, give clothing, food, visit them in trouble

Matthew 25:37-39 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

4. Be ready, Use your talents for the honor and glory of God

Matthew 24:45-51 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ [a] 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

5. Occupy yourself, keep busy:

Luke 19:13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’