As It Was In The Days Of Noah

Matthew 24:36-39 – Jesus speaks of the last days

– Jesus states that the times we live in will be just like the days of Noah

– Noah and the ark represent the return of the Lord and the last days – Genesis 6:1-22 & 7:1,7

(1) THE DAYS OF NOAH REFER TO THE CHURCH AGE – 2 Peter 2:4-5

* The church age started in Acts 2

* The church age is a long period of time designated by God in His grace

* The church age is to fulfill the Great Commission – redemption and evangelism

A. The Lord raised up Noah to preach for 120 years. The Lord raised up the body of Christ for 2,000 years.

B. The church age is a resistant force against the powers of hell – 2 Thessalonians 2:5-7
– Christians push back the powers of hell and the judgment of God

C. The church age has signs that occur to reveal to the world that the Lord is coming back
Luke 21:7-17, 25-28

Genesis 6 signs – violence, corruption, immorality, love of people growing cold

Sign – means to point to someone beyond the sign – the sign points to Jesus….

(2) THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2

A. After Noah stopped preaching, the ark came and took them away

B. The ark represents Jesus and one day soon He is coming for the church

Rapture – means to be caught away in a state of ecstasy or full joy

A. Everyone who is born again gets in the ark

(3) THE JUDGMENT OF GOD – – – THE TRIBULATION – 1 Thessalonians 1:10 & 5:9-10

– The judgment of God never touched Noah

– The judgment of God never touches the body of Christ

– The Lord does not want to pour out His judgment because of His compassion for people

(4) THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS AND A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH – 2 Peter 3:10-13

– When Noah got off of the ark, everything was new and fresh – Genesis 8:11

– In our time today, after the judgment of God, the Lord comes back and sets up a new heaven and a new earth

* Jesus rules the universe and earth forever
* no more sickness, sin, death or disease
* satan and demons are locked up forever