NOAH AND LOT
Greetings Doves all, and may we see the glory of our Lord soon ! At the bottom of this study for your convenience I have copied the two accounts in the N.T. given by Jesus regarding the coming judgment years and the days of Noah and Lot, one in Matthew and the other in Luke. Last night I read these two accounts carefully a couple of times, and then went to sleep asking the Lord for some insights to share with you. So, to follow these thoughts you might want to read the two sections at the bottom of this study. First of all, in Matthew only the Noah warning is given, whereas in Luke, both Noah and Lot are given as examples. In Matthew, after talking about the days of Noah, before the flood, He says that “then” shall two be in the field, the one taken and the other left, etc. referring back to when He had just said “the day” that Noah entered the ark. I shall assume here He means the rapture, when one is “taken” and the other is “left” (to go through the tribulation). So, on the day that Noah entered the ark, some are taken and others are left. There is nothing about Lot in Matthew.
But in Luke 17, He speaks of the times of Lot, after briefly addressing the times of Noah.
First, when speaking of Noah, in Matthew, He speaks of the day when Noah entered the ark, as the day when one would be taken and the other one left behind. In Luke, He just says that the flood came and destroyed them all. For those who say that those who were “taken” are the evil ones, then right here would be a most problematic scenario. For the flood came, and destroyed them all. The flood would have had to happen on earth, and those destroyed were on the face of the earth. So if the evil ones were “taken”, and the righteous ones “left”, where were they taken so that they might be carried away of the flood? Go figure. Then the Lord says in the Matthew accound ot Noah, “watch, for ye know not what HOUR your Lord doth come.” in verse 42. Then in verse 44, He repeats this:
Matthew 24:44
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
So, twice He tells us to watch, or we wouldn’t know the HOUR. (And the thief and bridegroom come at MIDNIGHT, so that’s the hour) Now, He must be assuming here in discussing the HOUR, then, that we know the DAY, for in verse 38, He has just told us the DAY: “until the DAY that Noe entered into the ark”.
Now, in Genesis chapters 6 and 7, the exact DAY that Noah wall called into the ark is given:
Genesis 7:11
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
12
And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
13
In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;
So, this is obviously the DAY to which our Lord referred in verse 38 Matthew 24. In the Bible, no dates are mentioned whatsoever, until these dates referring to Noah and the flood above, so this is an important consideration to us, a date to which later our Lord would refer when speaking to us about the rapture.
Prior to this He had told us about a day and an hour which we would not know of:
Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Above, the day and hour which only the Father knows about, is when “heaven and earth shall pass away”the subject He had just addressed,,,and indeed we do not, nor can we find out, about that day and hour, which only the Father knows. Here is the famous line that everyone throws in your face when you tell them the Lord told us to “watch or we wouldn’t know the day or the hour”. He then in the next verse says “BUT (contrariwise, and pointedly differing) as it was in the days of Noah”. In those days Noah was “watching”, and listening for the command of the Lord, and so was saved from the flood.
There are some very subtle differences between the two accounts of Noah and Lot. When speaking about Noah he just says one will be taken and the other one left. But when speaking about the days of Lot, He goes into some instruction about not going from the roof back into the house, or returning from the field, and that they should “remember Lot’s wife”. (He also says this to those who witness the abomination of desolation in Matthew 24:15-16.) This assumes some amount of time to consider a choice, like Lot’s wife had, for they were told not to look back, and she did, bringing upon herself that baleful distinction of turning into a pillar of salt right then and there. Both the wise and foolish virgins apparently have some time to consider their situation. The wise know exactly what they want. Furthermore, He says that he who loves his life (like Lot, in this world), will lose his life, whereas he who hates his life in this world, will gain life. Folks who are looking for Him to return at the time of the rapture, with anticipation and joy, have already made that choice.
Noah and Lot are two very different kinds of people. And the day of the rapture will provoke two differing responses from two different groups of people, all of whom are the Lord’s “elect”.
Noah was a preacher of righteousness. Noah had separated himself from “the world”, and over a prolonged period of time, prepared for his departure, and that of his family. He followed God’s instructions perfectly, and the final command to enter the ark. He was most probably mocked and belittled for his separateness unto God.
But Lot was not like Noah. Lot lived in the city of Sodom, an evil and wicked city. In fact, he first “saw” the fertile plains where these cities were, and then “pitched his tent toward Sodom”, and then the next thing he is living there, and then the next thing is he is “at the gate”, meaning he had political and social standing there. This is how we become wed to the world, first because we “see” what the world has to offer, and then move ever closer to an affiliation with the world and its ways, politics, wealth, power, religions, and social life. Meanwhile, his uncle Abram, walked in close communion with God, for he remained separate, like Noah, and grew in faith and love of the Lord.
Notice that because Abram loved his nephew Lot, that he interceded for him with God, who came to tell him about His planned destruction of the cities, for God said, “shall I withhold from my servant that which I am about to do?”. Abram pleaded with God that He should not destroy the righteous (his nephew), with the wicked, and God agreed, and thus did not destroy the city until Lot was out of it. We do this when we pray for those whom we love so much, and see that they are good and righteous people, but far from a close relationship with Christ----we want God to protect them, and draw them closer to Him and Jesus. When the angels arrived to take Lot from the city, he “hesitated” – hey he was popular and powerful and wealthy, in this city, even though he was a just man, vexed with the on-going wickedness therein. He was clueless about the possibility of God judging this type of behavior. His soon-to-be sons in law, mocked him when he suggested that they should come, too. Finally after the wicked homosexual men of the city were trying to break his door down, the angels blinded them, and forcefully led Lot, his wife and two daughters out of the city.
But then Lot didn’t want to go to the mountains as commanded by God-----he wanted to go to a nearby little town. Which he did for a night or two, but ended up in the mountains anyway. His wife, who loved her social position and house, just couldn’t bear to leave all that and escape to the mountains so she longingly looked back.
Jesus says in Luke 17: “Remember Lot’s wife”. There is coming a moment for the Lot’s of this world, and a “valley of decision”, and they will not have very much time to make this decision, just like Lot.
Jesus says to them, “do not come down into your house, or come back from the field”, (also he warned about this for those who see the abomination of desolation) for again, one will be taken, another left. Only, this group will have to make the choice instantly, without having considered leaving their possessions, cities, families, associates, etc. If they “hesitate”, like Lot did, or “look back” like Lot’s wife did, they will not go in this particular rapture. And I cannot figure out whether the Noah-rapture is the same day as the Lot-rapture, for it may be that the “hesitating” Lot’s, do not go in the first rapture and then have to wait for a mid-tribulation rapture, for around mid-tribulation there appears in heaven an innumerable company of people who have been raptured….perhaps these are the foolish virgins, and the hesitating Lot’s.
Now, here’s another bone I have to pick about the Matthew / Noah rapture and the Luke / Lot rapture. In the “days of Noah” they were “eating and drinking, and marrying and giving in marriage”. But when speaking about the days of Lot, He says they were “buying and selling, planting and building, eating and drinking”. Accordingly the people in the days just prior to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, were doing MORE THINGS (buying / selling / planting / building / eating / drinking), than they were doing just before Noah entered the ark (just eating / drinking / marrying). Which brings me to reflect upon seasonal activities. If it is true that the flood occurred in late fall (November 19, 2005), then the spring-summer-type activities (buying, selling, planting, building), would have drawn to a close and people would have retired into their homes to enjoy the prior years’ harvests and newly-built homes.
Also, in an agrarian society, perhaps the marrying was delayed until the fall, after the able-bodied young men had finished the harvest work. Further, Noah had to stock the ark with a rather large cargo of food and provender for the animals. Best time for this would seemingly be after the harvest. Seasonal differences were magnified after the flood, for it is then that God spoke of “seedtime and harvest, summer and winter”, but prior to the flood there must have also been optimal seasons for grains and other fruits, although the climate was not as differentiated in its seasons. At any rate, a late-autumn flood, would explain why they were not planting and building.
I checked on the net for some confirmation on a November date, and found the following:
This Date in History: Noah's Flood
November 25, 2348 BCE: According to Archbishop James Ussher, "Noah's Flood" began on this date.and from:
http://www.ecclesia.org/truth/flood.html
According to historians, and Bible scholars, the date was from November in the year 2345 to November 2344 BC. These dates fall smack in the middle of the period in history known as the BRONZE AGE. (3000 BC to 1200 BC)
Different with the activities in the days of Lot,,,they were planting and building, buying and selling, eating and drinking. But not marrying, for God had long abandoned these cities to their abominations and would not sanctify their marriages. Lot’s daughters were betrothed, but not married yet.
Therefore, the Lot rapture could happen in the spring / summer? Which would be so, if there were a mid-tribulation rapture of those who washed their robes in the Blood of the Lamb, and appear as saved in heaven, mid-tribulation. (after the sixth seal earthquake in Revelation).
Now, I also find very interesting that in chapter 5 of Genesis, the entire geneology from Adam is given……read that……not one of the great men from Adam gives a child a certain name, for any particular reason, but when it comes to the father of Noah, Lamech, it says:
Genesis 5:29
And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.
Now, I wonder why Noah is the first to be given a name whose father says of their name “their name will mean……” I wonder if this is because this name Noah is very very important to us. Indeed it is, as discussed in my recent paper
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/nov2005/arlene111.htm
where I discussed that Noah’s name means “rest”.
This naming of Noah is a big deal, here, being the first in the geneology to be given a name with a meaning that directly relates to the “rest” which our Lord promised to us.
After all, Jesus did give us a very emphatic “DAY” to watch for, and a particular DAY on which to expect to be saved from the tribulation years, for it will be just like the days of Noah,,,,,and He did say “the very DAY that Noah went into the ark” and as for an “hour”, we know that the thief comes at midnight.
CONSIDER: THE NOAH’S: (watching / prepared)
Matt 24:44
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47
Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
AND THE LOT’S: (not watching / not prepared)
Matt 24:48
But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49
And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50
The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51
And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Sometimes when making a treasure hunt for the children, we put some of the jelly beans right out in plain view. Then, some seven or more months later,,,wow there it is, front/center of the mantle. How did none of us even see it there for this long? (says alot about my dusting schedule)…..
We have all been very busy digging like badgers into the significance of the Lord’s feasts. This is truly very good, and our Lord intended for us to learn all these things, and in His own beautiful way, lures us into more abundant knowledge about Himself in the scriptures. But truly, if He really does come late autumn, the day Noah went into the ark, plainly given in the book of Genesis, and referred to directly by our Lord as the day when some would be taken and others left,,,,,well, I also would say, how did He hide this in plain sight for so long? Because for years I have been looking at all the feasts (the hidden jelly beans) and then getting too downhearted to look at anything beyond the fall feasts. Sort of, well, back to reading the National Enquirer, sigh…….
Below, verses to study, blessings to you
Your sister in Christ, Arlene
Matthew 24:15
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17
Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18
Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19
And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20
But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21
22
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
23
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25
Behold, I have told you before.
26
Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28
For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and 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
And 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.
32
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38
For 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,
39
And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41
Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47
Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48
But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49
And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50
The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51
And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Luke 17:22
And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
23
And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.
24
For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
25
But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
26
And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
27
They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
28
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
29
But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
30
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
31
In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
32
Remember Lot's wife.
33
Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
34
I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
35
Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
36
Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
37
And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.