Today, we were able to negotiate our final study of the “Days of Noah” in relation to Daniel's 70th week, the tribulation. Jesus was giving the disciples a clear simile comparison to a story they were all familiar with.
Matthew 24:36-44, Mark 13:32-37, and Luke 17:22-37, 21:34-36 all paint a picture of the wickedness of mankind in the days leading up to the 2nd Advent. The prophetic language Jesus used was very clear to Peter, Andrew, James, and John as they listened to him explain what to be watching for in the last days. Of course, these things did not happen in their lifetime, so, it is reserved for the generation that will be living during the tribulation, as stated in Matthew 24:34, Mark 13:30, and Luke 21:32.
Bruce Cocking brought up a great question concerning Jesus not knowing anything concerning the mystery of the body of Christ as revealed to Paul with the stoning of Stephen in acts 7:55-56. Stephen gave the last offer of the kingdom to Israel. They rejected John the Baptist's message of repentance, as well as Jesus's message of repentance and restoration to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. When Stephen supernaturally saw Jesus standing in Heaven, he was ready to return and establish the kingdom, if the religious leaders would have accepted his message. Alas, they killed Stephen, too. Just two chapters later, in Acts 9, Saul of Tarsus was confronted on the road to Damascus by the Lord Jesus himself, and the apostle to the Gentiles was saved, opening salvation to the whole world without the need to go through Israel to have a relationship with God.
Peter reinforced the Lord's message of the time of the 2nd Advent in 2 Peter 2:4-9 using Noah and Lot. 2 Peter 2:9: The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
God saved a remnant from the flood, and He will save a remnant of Jews and Gentiles alike at the end of the tribulation when he returns with the armies of heaven as described in Revelation 19:11-21.
Even the Lord's half brother, Jude gave a stern warning concerning the judgment that awaits at the 2nd Advent:
Jude 1:6-7: And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Where will the Church, the body of Christ be when all these things are going on? We will be in glory, having been caught up at the rapture, bringing the Church Age, the mystery program of the dispensation of the grace to a close. The prophetic program concerning Israel will once again be in full swing for the seven years of Daniel's 70th week.
Next week, we will look at God's promise to remnant Israel to save her from the all-out assault by the Antichrist. Jesus will come with a sword and a rod. God will not forget his covenant with His people. Please read Matthew 24:45-51, Romans 11:25-29, Deuteronomy 4:26-31 in preparation for our study.
