Title: The Days of Noah

Text: Genesis 6:1-8

Theme: The Times leading up to the Flood

Key Verse: Matthew 24:37 37But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

What were the days of Noah like? How close are we to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? All of this and more as we continue our study in the book of Genesis. Your listening to Preach the Word with Dean Carmichael Jr

Introduction: Matthew 27:37-42

• Who: Mankind
• What: The days of Noah
• Where: Earth
• When: Before the Flood, Before 2500 BC
• Why: Rebellion from God
• How: Matthew 27:37-42

• Jesus is giving his disciples the Olivet Discourse (discourse (sermon) on the mount of Olives)
• They ask him three questions after Jesus prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem

1. When shall these things be (destruction of the temple)
2. What shall be the sign of thy coming?
3. What shall be a sign of the end of the age?

• The first question is answered in Luke’s Gospel. He is referring to when the Romans would destroy the temple in A.D. 70. (Luke 21:20-24) It is not mentioned in Matthew because the Gospel of Matthew is written presenting Jesus as the King “The Gospel of the Kingdom” When did the destruction of the temple happen? The Church Age. It has nothing to do with the Kingdom so it is not presented in Matthew.
• The next to questions are answered in chronological order. He will answer the first last and the last first.
• What shall be a sign of the end of the age?

v.4-8 “The Church Age”

(go over this on my questions and answers podcast – is COVID 19 in the Bible?)

This is not a specific event that was prophesied in the Bible. However, this is a Generic event that was prophesied in the Bible and falls under the same category as many other events in history.

Notice of the things that come to pass there is "pestilences". Pestilence is defined as "a fatal epidemic".

This is not the first global pandemic.

- 1918: Spanish Flu, 675,000 deaths in the U.S.

- 1957 Asian Flu - 69,800 deaths in the U.S.

- 1968: Hong Kong Flu, 33,800 deaths in the U.S.

So yes, COVID-19 is in the Bible under "pestilences" but the specific event of COVID-19 is not something we should spiritualize and say that is must mean something else is about to happen.

v. 6 “but the end is not yet”

false Christ, wars/rumors of wars, pestilences, famines- these are all events in the Church age. But notice “the end is not yet”

Please note, before we can get into the Tribulation period a specific event has to happen, that is the Day of Christ, The Rapture of the Church. (1 Thessalonians 4 ; 1 Corinthians 15)

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 16For the LORD himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air: and so shall we ever be with the LORD.

There is a type mentioned in the Book of Genesis for the Rapture of the Church which is found in the man Enoch

Jude 14-15 King James Version (KJV)

14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

Hebrews 11:5 5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

We will soon discover that in Matthew 24 when Jesus mentions “the days of Noah” He is comparing them to the Tribulation period. Before the tribulation can happen, the Church must be Raptured out. In this story, Enoch is a type of the Church because he is “translated that he should not see death” and taken out of the World.

v. 9-22 “The Tribulation”

v.9 “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted”

This is not the Church

Read v. 13,14

“endure to the end” Tribulation Saints

“Gospel of the Kingdom”

We live in the Church age. We do not preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. What is the Kingdom of Heaven? The Kingdom of Heaven is the rule of the Heavens over the earth. A Theocracy. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ will return to rule and reign and He will do it with a Rod of Iron (Psalm 2, Revelation 2) The tribulation Saints will preach the Gospel of the Kingdom because the Kingdom of Heaven is soon coming. Jesus is soon returning. We preach the Gospel of Grace because that is the era in which we live. Is it a different Gospel? No, just with a different emphasis. Jesus and John the Baptist preached the “Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” The Kingdom of Heaven was at hand in the presence of the King. The Gospel of the Kingdom will again be preached in the Tribulation because the King will soon be coming again.

• What shall be the sign of thy coming?

v. 23-51 The Second Coming

v. 37-42 make the comparison to the Days of Noah

1. Spiritual Decay (living is as if God didn’t exist) v.37

Matthew 24:37 37But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Genesis 6:5 5And 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.

2. Shameless Depravity (Gross Immorality)

Matthew 24:38-39 38For 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, 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

What is so wrong with what they were doing? They were living as if God didn’t exist.

3. Sorrowful Demise (Ignored God’s warning) v.40 41

Matthew 24:40-41 40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Doesn’t that have to do with the Rapture? No, the Rapture has already taken place. We have already been given the type of Rapture of Church in Noah’s Story, Enoch. Jesus in His Olivet Discourse has already changed the attention to the Tribulation period and now sign of His Coming. Let’s look back at previous verse

39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

These folks were destroyed in a flood. They were removed by Judgment. When Jesus Christ returns there will be a removal of those in the earth who will not enter the Kingdom (Revelation 19)

Outline: “The Days of Noah” Genesis 6:1-13

1. Corruption - 6:1-5

Genesis 6:1-5 1And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 3And 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. 4There 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. 5And 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.

There is a disagreement regarding the interpretation of this verse.

• “The sons of God” = Angels; The sons of God were not angels
• Always compare scripture with scripture

Chapter 4 – Two lines (1.) Cain = Rebellious man (a type of the see of the serpent) and (2) Seth = “then began men to call upon the name of the Lord” (seed of Christ)

Chapter 6: 5 “5And 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.” This would result in a worldwide judgment = a flood

How do you get from Chapter 4 where there are two groups to chapter 6 where there is literally everyone on earth (estimated 7 billion) who were extremely wicked except Noah and his family (8 people)

Genesis 6:2 “The sons of God (Seth’s line) saw the daughters of men (Cain’s line) that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

Remember something, salvation is a personal decision. They were the “son’s of God” because like Adam, Abel, Seth, Enoch, Methusalah – they chose to have faith in God. Now, we see them mixing with the world. Just like satan used the woman in the garden to get to Adam, he is using the daughters of Cain to the godly line that came down from Seth. The result was catastrophic. God would end up judging the world in a flood. That’s how far man would get from God. He gave them 120 years to make things right with Him but they rejected Him.

The “sons of God” were not angels because the results of this was rebellion and worldwide judgment. Then demons? No, demons would not be referred to as “the Son’s of God.”

But they produced Giants? No, Giants were already on the earth and not a direct result “There were giants in the earth in those days”. All of the offspring of man in this day were outstanding individuals. However, that’s all they were, men. This is not the mixing of Angels and women, it is the line of Seth mixing with the line of Cain in Rebellion to God.

2. Condemnation – Genesis 6:6,7

“it repenteth the Lord” it means God changed His mind about man. From the beginning of when man sinned against God until now, God is seeking out man. He went searching for Adam. He tried giving Cain a second chance. He is now going to give man 120 years to make things right. However, God cannot accept sin. Yes, He is loving, He is Gracious. He is also perfect. He is also Righteous and Just. The Love of God is not Him tolerating sin The Love of God is Him being longsuffering and giving man opportunities. Do not pass up on the opportunity to give your heart and life to Jesus Christ. You may not get another one.

3. Compassion- Genesis 6:8

Genesis 6:8 8But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Hebrews 11:7 7By 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.

Why did Adam name the woman Eve?

Why did Abel bring the firstlings of his flock as an offering to God?

Why did Enoch walk with God?

Why did Noah walk with God?

Faith.

Conclusion:

Ephesians 2:8-9 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

A special thank you to my Friend Michael Barnette for the song "All things new" and to my friend Dave Compton for the opening remarks.