DAYS OF NOAH - DAYS OF THE SON OF MAN

"But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the presence [Greek parousia] of the Son of Man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and KNEW NOT,...so shall also the presence of the Son of Man be." `Matt. 24:37-39`

The real point of this illustration is overlooked by many who presuppose, without any authority in the Master's words, that the similarity here being pointed out is the wickedness of Noah's day and that of the day of Christ's presence. But while such a comparison might have been justifiable and proper, the fact remains that such comparison was not made, but avoided. The comparison made is similarity of ignorance. Only Noah and his family knew; the people KNEW NOT, but proceeded as usual--marrying, planting, building, eating and drinking. Similarly, during the time of Christ's presence in the end of this age, and while the great time of trouble is impending, the only ones who will know of his presence or have a clear apprehension of what is coming, or why, or the outcome, will be the Lord's people. Others will "know not."

In `Luke (17:26-29)` the same lesson is taught; and both Noah's and Lot's neighbors are shown to have been ignorant of their impending troubles in the days of Noah, and in the days of Lot, as people here will be ignorant of the coming trouble in the days of the Son of Man--after he has come and is present. We see this clearly fulfilled about us today. The world is fearful and perplexed; but it knows not of the presence of the Son of Man, and the "harvest" reckoning now in progress.

Paul tells us that Satan is the god (ruler) of this world (Acts 26:17, 18; 2 Corinthians 4:4) and has blinded the minds of the people. Some serve Satan directly, but the vast majority indirectly, unwittingly, because they are mentally blinded as to the real state of affairs. Elsewhere, Paul declares it would become worse in the last days, here is how he describes it: "This know also, there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God."--2 Timothy 3:1-4, New International Version.

Some say history repeats itself. Well, in this case, that is very close to the truth. In fact, Jesus tells us as much: "And as it was in the days of Noe (Noah) so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man (Jesus returned). They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe (Noah) entered into the Ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all...even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. (Luke 17:26,27,30) Let us learn from history what happened in the days of Noah.