“They Did Not Understand Until…”

 

They did not understand until what? They did not understand until the flood took them away. Jesus spoke those words, here is the rest of the narrative.

For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away;  Matt 24:38,39

What a sad scenario—only a few understood and heeded the warnings of pending judgment and entered the ark for salvation. And when the rest of the people finally understood, it was too late, judgment was upon them. Jesus also told us that a similar scenario would play out again at the end of the world.

For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. Matt 24:37-41

So my question to you is; do you understand what is coming? Unfortunately many, including Christians, do not understand what is coming. In this short post I will endeavor to help you understand what is coming, before it is too late.

As a matter of fact the words of Jesus above was part of a response to a few questions the disciples posed along those very lines—what is going to happen at the end of the world and when? Here is what they asked.

As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” Matt 24:3

Very important questions indeed! And Jesus answered their questions very succinctly. The first thing that the Lord tells them is to not be misled by false Christs.

See to it that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. Matt 24:5

This warning is followed by a very important admonition regarding the end times—See that you are not frightened. Jesus then goes on to describe a series of events that will occur at the end of the world.

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. 9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. Matt 24:7-9

Wars, famines, earthquakes, and Jews and Christians being persecuted by all nations—now ask yourself this question; where in Revelation do you read of these same events and in the same order? How about the first 5 seals.

The First Seal—Rider on White Horse

Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.” 2 I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

The Second Seal—War

3 When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” 4 And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.

The Third Seal—Famine

5 When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”

The Fourth Seal—Death

7 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” 8 I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.

The Fifth Seal—Martyrs

9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also. Rev 6:1-11

War, famine, persecution—looks like a match to me. OK now let’s go back to Matthew 24 and see what Jesus says will happen after the tribulations of the wars, famines, and persecutions of the first 5 seals.

But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other... and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. Matt 24:29-41

Sun darkened, stars fall, heavens shaken, Jesus appears in the sky, the nations of the earth mourn, the trumpet sounds and the elect are gathered at the rapture. Hmm where in Revelation do we see the sun darkened, heavens shaken, nations mourning and Jesus appearing in the sky? How about the Sixth Seal.

12 I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. 14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” Rev 6:12-17

Sun darkened, stars fall, heavens shaken, Jesus appears in the sky, the nations of the earth mourn, the trumpet sounds and the elect are gathered at the rapture—looks like a match to me.

So Jesus tells us there will be tribulations of war, famine, earthquakes, and persecution (Seals 1-5) and then after that there will be great celestial signs and Jesus will appear in the sky and the saints will be raptured (Seal 6).

Now do you understand Christian, or will you not understand until you see the Seals opened and it is too late to prepare. Now do you understand people of the world, or will you not understand until you see Jesus in the sky and it is too late to escape God’s wrath?

The flood is coming; do you understand? If you are not saved, the doors of the ark are still open. Get in today before it is too late. Read a short message about what you must do to be saved.

Christian, the flood is coming; do you understand the rapture will NOT occur until after the Sixth Seal is opened? —read The Coming Epiphany today for FREE.