The Last
Generation
                                                                                       By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                       August 27, 2018
     "There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.  
     There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
     There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes!  and their eyelids are lifted up.
     There is a generation whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men,"  Proverbs 30:11-14.
Introduction
     The Lord Jesus Christ Himself explicitly stated, "And as it was in the days of No'e, so shall it also be in the days of the Son of man.
     They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that No'e entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all," Luke 17:26-27.
     The Godly Lineage
     Have our readers ever seriously studied the time period from Adam until the flood?  In that period of 1,656 years, there were some great "men of God" who lived upon the earth.  Adam himself was one of them, but also Adam's son, Seth, whom Jewish scholars say was a very Godly man.  
      It is certain that in carefully studying Genesis 5, the inspired writer was setting forth the Godly lineage through which the knowledge of God was preserved and passed from generation to generation.  
      There is no such lineage of the ungodly recorded in God's Word.  Why not?  Because the inspired Word clearly states, "The memory of the just is blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot," Proverbs 10:7.  
     The inspired Word speaks in several places of Enoch, the 7th man in the Godly lineage from Adam.  Enoch was so devoted to God, that he is described in God's Word as one who "walked with God," 5:24.  Enoch was so dedicated to loving, serving, and living for the Lord God, that the Lord "took him" on home to glory without dying.  Enoch then served as a type of New Testament believers who shall also be "raptured" to glory without dying, 1 Corinthians 15:51; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
     The inspired Word clearly instructs believing parents to bring up their children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," Ephesians 6:4.  It is highly likely that Enoch would not have become so dedicated to God, unless from his birth, he had been brought up by his Godly parents to know, love, serve, and worship the God of Heaven.   
     Enoch's son was Methuselah, whom the inspired Word sets forth as  the oldest man  who has ever lived in human history, 5:21-27.  Methuseleh was the grandfather of Noah, the builder of the ark.  I can almost visualize Grandpa Methuseleh sharing the knowledge and love of God with his little grandson.  Glory to God!
      Little Noah must have listened to his Grandpa, and became a devout believer, for it was Noah to whom the Lord said, "Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation," 7:1.  
     So the knowledge of God was passed from one generation to the next, by these faithful "men of God" listed in Genesis 5.  Praise the Lord!  
     Lamech was the son of Methuseleh and the father of Noah.  Notice that the life span of Lamech was 777 years.  If our readers will do the calculations of the lineage of these "men of God" listed in Genesis 5, it will be seen that some of them lived right up to the very year the flood came.  No!  I do not believe they were destroyed in the flood.  Rather, they likely died in the first month of that year, being at peace with God, and were properly buried before the flood began.  
      Remember that the Lord Himself said when speaking of those days, "and as it was.....so shall it be."  This present year on the Jewish calendar is 5777.  Is it then just "coincidence" that Noah's daddy, Lamech, was 777 years old the year the flood began, and this present year is 5777 on the Jewish calendar?  Think about it!
The Origin of the Ungodly
     In spite of our best efforts to instill the Word of God, and the love of God, into the minds and hearts of our children, most parents have children who just are not interested in the things of God and the great truths of His Word.  So it was in the ten generations before the flood.  
     The inspired Word explicitly states that Adam, after having begat Seth, lived another "eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters."  We are not told in God's Word, the names of these additional children of Adam, but only that Adam was their father.  
     Likewise this same statement is made about Seth, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, Methuseleh, and Lamech.  All of them fathered additional sons and daughters, and there is little question that their children grew up and also produced their own children.  So there was a large population on the earth when the flood began.  All of that population was destroyed in the flood, with the exception of Noah and his family, Luke 17:27.
     Why were they all destroyed?  Obviously because they had all turned away from the truths taught them by their Godly parents, and had gone into apostasy against God.  They obviously did not believe what they were taught about God, and were not interested in even hearing about God.  In other words they were "willingly ignorant," 2 Peter 3:5.  They  loved to indulge in the things of the flesh and the world, and had no time for the things of God, 2 Timothy 3:4.  But they paid a terrible price for their lack of knowledge about God.  See also 1 Peter 3:18-20.   Romans 6:23 is still in the Bible!   Think about it!
The Last Generation
     The last generation who lived before the flood, had become extremely wicked and evil.   The inspired Word clearly says, "And 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," Genesis 6:5.  
     And again, "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.  
     And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
     And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth," 6:11-13.  
     As our readers think about these Scriptures, remember that the Lord Jesus Himself said, "And as it was in the days of No'e, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man," Luke 17:26.  
     Is mankind upon the earth any better today, than it was "in the days of Noah?"  Is this last generation of mankind today any better than the generation which lived before the flood?  If some reader thinks so, then why does the inspired Word say,
     "Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
     Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father;
     To whom be glory for ever and ever.  Amen." Galatians 1:3-5.
     Our readers can find an inspired description of this last generation of mankind today by reading 2 Timothy 3:1-5.  Believe what you read!   Then look about you and see the truth of God's Word for yourself in the world system in which we are living today.  The Lord Jesus is not coming back to take His people out of a wonderful world.  Rather, He is coming back to deliver His people "from this present evil world."  
The Godly Remnant
     In the days before the flood, there was a Godly remnant who still loved the Lord and served Him in truth and righteousness.  The Godly remnant at that time consisted of Noah, his wife, and Noah's three sons and their wives; eight souls, 1 Peter 3:20.  All the rest of mankind was in a state of apostasy, unbelief, and rejection of the Lord God who had created them.  
     There most certainly is a parallel today!  "8" is the number in the Bible which signifies, "New birth; new beginning; new things; renewal."  And so it was in "the days of Noah."  Noah and his family; the Godly "remnant," were saved, while all the rest of mankind perished in the flood.  
     There has always been a Godly "remnant" in every period of time in human history.  A "remnant" who loves God and the knowledge and truth of His Word.  As it was then, so it is today.  
     We believers look about us today, and see wickedness and evil prevailing in this present world.  Remember, apostasy had become so bad in the days of Elijah, that he went before the Lord and told him, ".....I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant, thrown down Thine altars, and slain Thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away," 1 Kings 19:14.  
     However, the Lord assured Elijah, that he was not the only one left serving the Lord, "Yet I have left Me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him," 1 Kings 19:18.  
     Even so, there is a Godly "remnant" today, still living for and loving and serving the Lord.  Right in the midst of all the wickedness and evil we see about us today, it is still possible to love and serve the Lord God, if one is of a mind and heart to do so, 2 Peter 1:10-11.  Is the reader one of the Godly "remnant," or just another "religionist" going along with the course of the world?  Search your heart and answer carefully, for the Lord God is listening, Matthew 12:36-37.  
What the Future Holds.....
     For the Godly Remnant.......The Lord Jesus Christ is coming again, just as He promised His disciples that He would, John 14:1-3.  When He comes, every true believer will be bodily lifted right off the face of the earth, and taken up into glory, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  
     This will involve the resurrection of all deceased believers, who have lived throughout this present dispensation.  Therefore every true believer who is still living when the resurrection and rapture occurs shall meet again those believing loved ones who preceded us in death.  Oh, what a glorious reunion that will be!  
     But best of all, we believers shall see the Lord Jesus who loved us enough to die in our place on Calvary's old rugged cross, and pay our sin debt, in order that we might be saved, and have access to Heaven.  The old prophet Job, assured us long ago that our eyes will behold Him; we shall see Him for ourselves, Job 19:25-27; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 John 3:1-2.  And oh, what a wonderful future is awaiting every true believer, Ephesians 2:4-7.  
     For Every Christ Rejector.......When the resurrection and rapture occurs, every person on this earth who has not received the Lord Jesus Christ as their own personal Savior, will be left behind to enter into the prophesied Tribulation period.  This will be a period of seven years, in which the Lord God will take "vengeance" on those who have counted His sacrifice at Calvary as an unholy thing, Hebrews 10:28-31.   
     The Tribulation period is described in detail in Revelation chapters 4 through 19.  Read it, and this time, believe what you read.  
     Yes, there will be people saved during the Tribulation period, for God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, Isaiah 45:22; Ezekiel 18:23; 18:32; 33:11; 2 Peter 3:9.  But will they be those unbelievers who are presently rejecting Christ, and get left behind when the rapture occurs?  I don't know!  But I don't gamble either!  Gambling with one's soul is sheer stupidity.  Romans 10:8-13.  
A Final Warning!
     This is the last generation in this present Dispensation of Grace.  The Lord is coming for His people within days of this writing.  Will the reader of this study be taken in the rapture?  Or....will you be left behind to enter into the terrible Tribulation period, and thereby experience "the wrath of God?"
     There is no need for any reader of this study to be left behind when the rapture occurs.  Seek the Lord Jesus now in earnest prayer, and ask Him to come into your heart, and save you from sin and death by His own precious blood shed for you at Calvary.   Those readers of this study who sincerely seek the Lord in prayer, will be saved.  John 3:16-18, 3:36, 5:24, 14:6, Acts 4:12, 16:30-31, Romans 10:8-13, Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 John 1:7-9.  May God grant every reader GRACE.  
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     Permission is granted to any true believer, or Bible believing Christian ministry to reproduce this study to share with others, or to quote from it in context as written.  
     From my heart, I want to thank every reader, who has prayed for this Bible study ministry, and those who, from time to time, have shared their blessings with this old preacher for the support of this Bible study ministry.  Your prayers and support have made it possible to send these studies into many different countries all over the world.  And it has all been accomplished on a "shoe string" budget.  This is not a great multi-million dollar ministry.  It is just one old preacher man, who, even though physically disabled, cannot be quiet.  I must continue to witness and speak out for my Lord, and you dear brothers and sisters who have prayed for and supported this ministry have made it possible.  Thank each of you folks so very much.  May your rewards be great in glory.

     My personal contact information:
POSTAL.......Pastor F. M. Riley, 14275 Co. Rd. 8120, Rolla, MO 65401.
EMAIL..........francismriley34@gmail.com
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