As In The Days Of Noah

Angels are spirits, flames of fire; they are higher than man, they have wider connections.
- Matthew Simpson

The proliferation of novels and movies provides several popular genres, many of which synergistically reach their zenith in none other than the Book of Revelation. From action and adventure, to crime and mystery. From thriller and occult, to fantasy and science fiction. Each on a grand global and eternal cosmic scale! John’s revelation has it all and then some.

Jesus warned the End Times would be reminiscent of the Days of Noah. While carrying a variety of connotations, one likely scenario is future interaction of ancient and glorious, brilliant and malevolent persons. Beings that literally spawned the primeval myths of the gods of legend.

For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.

-Matthew 24:24-25 NKJV

We live to better ourselves. To our credit we’ve come a long way. From Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages to Middle, Modern and Contemporary periods. Will wonders ever cease? Myriads of today’s blessings are the fruit of wise, resilient and courageous accomplishments. Results of the labor, exploration and dreams of extraordinary men and women. Often in spite of difficult, if not disastrous circumstance.

Human plasticity is impressive. From blank slates, time and the influences of often radically different circumstances of nature and nurture combine to form individuals and whole societies. Together, with limited yet lively free will, we shape ourselves and environments, becoming both products and producers of continuance and change. Hence the best of times.

Yet something’s amiss. Quantum adaptability presents as both virtue and vice. The same trait allowing for rapid adaptation to challenges and opportunities responsible for greatly multiplying creativity and expression, can all too easily metastasize into pain and suffering on an individual and even global scale.

Acts against mankind’s interests fall into two categories. Commission and omission. The former, such as crime and abuse, violence and war, are relatively obvious. The latter less so. For example, few among modern society view poverty as an act against humanity. Even so, the World Economic Forum cited a U.N. report estimating that it would cost $267 billion a year to end world wide hunger. A considerable sum. Though less than the estimated $320 billion annually spent just purchasing illegal drugs. Not to mention a probable equal or larger price tag on lost productivity and treatment. While largely unrecognized, today’s levels of apathy and aggression devastate the lives of billions. Hence the worst of times.

Spiritual fluidity can be more subtle still. Judging the physical health and wellbeing of people is one thing. Determining which ethical and social principles to keep or jettison quite another. As noted, in quantity and quality, abortion currently ranks as the pinnacle sin of mankind. Yet, in only decades, its become not only fashionable but an and inalienable right. A right introduced and fortified in such a way as to remain all but off the radar of modern Christianity. While tragic, such a scenario makes for a perfect example of the role adaptivity plays in deceptability.

As a lay and professional Christian leader I’ve attended well over 1,000 corporate prayer meetings, including several pastor's prayer summits. Many years ago, a generous and gregarious Episcopal bishop in charge of a well attended three day biannual pastor’s prayer summit and forest retreat devoted an hour or two for attendees to wait quietly before God. We were asked to listen for a new “word from the Lord” specifically for the group. No left overs or warmed up sermonizing.

For years, having repeatedly tried to communicate the insidious nature of abortion with mitigated success, I asked God for my first parable. Not just any parable. I wanted something along the lines of Nathan’s customized message presented to King David after his secretly having committed adultery and murder:

“There were two men in the same city—one rich, the other poor. The rich man had huge flocks of sheep, herds of cattle. The poor man had nothing but one little female lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up with him and his children as a member of the family. It ate off his plate and drank from his cup and slept on his bed. It was like a daughter to him. One day a traveler dropped in on the rich man. He was too stingy to take an animal from his own herds or flocks to make a meal for his visitor, so he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared a meal to set before his guest.” David exploded in anger. “As surely as God lives,” he said to Nathan, “the man who did this ought to be lynched! He must repay for the lamb four times over for his crime and his stinginess!” “You’re the man!” said Nathan. “And here’s what God, the God of Israel, has to say to you: I made you king over Israel. I freed you from the fist of Saul. I gave you your master’s daughter and other wives to have and to hold. I gave you both Israel and Judah. And if that hadn’t been enough, I’d have gladly thrown in much more. So why have you treated the word of God with brazen contempt, doing this great evil…” 2 Samuel 12:1-9 The Message

Decades ago I’d only written a few observations. These would later become the first of thousands of QC’s Modern Proverbs. I was surprised to write the following “Pastor’s Parable” in less than an hour. It was offered, then and now, both in regards to the issue of abortion and principle of deceiving even God’s anointed.

A Pastor’s Parable:

A great flock with devoted shepherds pastured on every mountain and filled every valley of a land overflowing with milk and honey. Everything it imagined it accomplished as it drew all the Earth into the blessings of its prosperity. This wondrous flock grew strong, grazing wherever it desired, whether in land or sea or sky or even the heavens. No secret was safe as it began unlocking the very mysteries of creation. Feeding on knowledge, it feasted on the fruit of its forefather's labors, surpassing the hopes, dreams and prayers of all past generations.

But the more it tasted, the hungrier it became. The more it received, the greater its demands. The more it learned, the less it remembered the Word of the Good Shepherd: "What shall it profit to gain the world but lose your soul?” With each new achievement whetting its appetite, the flock stampeded in a feeding frenzy. Biting, battering and trampling more of the weak than in all previous generations combined. In devouring the fruit of knowledge, the flock swallowed half its own offspring.

Hear the heart of the Good Shepherd: What shall I say when I return for my flock? “Well done, good and faithful servants. Enter into the joys of your Lord?” Or, what have you done? The blood of billions of My lambs cries to Me from the Earth? And how shall I judge My flock? All that you dreamed I gave you. And if that were not enough, you had but to ask Me and I would have given more. In return, all I asked is that you receive My Kingdom by receiving Me in your family and friends, your neighbors and visitors, your widows and orphans."

Now billions will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, we've covered the ends of the Earth making converts and helping the poor in your name.' But I will ask, why are half My lambs slaughtered? Why are you covered in their blood? “However you have treated the least of these, My brothers, you have treated Me.” He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches: "Come, let us reason together. Though your sins be as scarlet you may yet be washed whiter than snow.”

A profound and reverent silence fell upon the gathering after gently sharing this parable. For well over a whole minute or two. Then we were excused for lunch and all was forgotten. The vast majority of today’s ministers, while trained to recognize and respond to good and evil, seem incapable of identifying, much less addressing, the pinnacle sin of mankind. And this after decades of legalized abortion and it’s cumulative effects. Makes one wonder what the future holds?

Aliens or Angels

Scripture explains history repeats itself. Given this and other considerations, the last days may well resemble the first. Jesus himself predicted a correlation between future events signaling the end times and the days of Noah:

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." Matthew 24:36-39 New International Version

While there are no doubt many applications of this passage, a primary reason for God's judgment against mankind in Noah’s day was an astonishing assault by fallen angels against the human race:

"When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years." The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown. The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the LORD said, "I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD." Genesis 6:1-8 New International Version

Likely the foundation of ancient mythology, the full extent of fallen angelic influence on mankind, both then and now, remains unknown and provides the context of QC’s work of Biblical faction Eternity...The Wager. As previously mentioned, what we do know is that the Book of Revelation foretells of a fantastic war in Heaven that may well have the gravest of implications to all life on Earth.

John warns of a transfer of Satan's power to first his Antichrist and then the False Prophet:

"And the Dragon stood on the shore of the sea. I saw a Beast rising from the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads—on each horn a crown, and each head inscribed with a blasphemous name. The Beast I saw looked like a leopard with bear paws and a lion's mouth. The Dragon turned over its power to it, its throne and great authority. One of the Beast's heads looked as if it had been struck a deathblow, and then healed. The whole earth was agog, gaping at the Beast. They worshiped the Dragon who gave the Beast authority, and they worshiped the Beast, exclaiming, "There's never been anything like the Beast! No one would dare go to war with the Beast!" Revelation 13:1-4 The Message

"The Beast had a loud mouth, boastful and blasphemous. It could do anything it wanted for forty-two months. It yelled blasphemies against God, blasphemed his Name, blasphemed his Church, especially those already dwelling with God in Heaven. It was permitted to make war on God's holy people and conquer them. It held absolute sway over all tribes and peoples, tongues and races. Everyone on earth whose name was not written from the world's foundation in the slaughtered Lamb's Book of Life will worship the Beast." Revelation 13:5-8 The Message

"This second Beast worked magical signs, dazzling people by making fire come down from Heaven. It used the magic it got from the Beast to dupe earth dwellers, getting them to make an image of the Beast that received the deathblow and lived. It was able to animate the image of the Beast so that it talked, and then arrange that anyone not worshiping the Beast would be killed. It forced all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to have a mark on the right hand or forehead. Without the mark of the name of the Beast or the number of its name, it was impossible to buy or sell anything." Revelation 13:13-17 The Message

These and other Scriptures denote a coming global domination and apocalypse through devilish miraculous power. A scenario that today, might be interpreted as the arrival of advance aliens. While we are told Satan uses the Antichrist and False Prophet to due his bidding, it is uncertain how and/or to what extent the fallen angelic race fully reveals itself to mankind. Should they so choose, and be allowed to do so, they might take any number of forms. Appearances ranging from inspired human leaders, to miracle working messiah figures. From advanced alien visitors, to refugee angels fighting against an unjust God.

What is foretold, and quite plausible, is the introduction of planetary influence and control through supernatural power and advanced technology. Up to and including an implanted chip identified as the Mark of the Beast. Weened on a steady diet of science fiction, even modern society could hardly imagine, much less resist, the level of science and technology eternal and glorious angelic beings might possess having existed individually and collectively for perhaps billions of years!

The global impact of such an unprecedented event can hardly be over stated. Depending on the manner and depth of disclosure, the possible spiritual and social, political and technological ramifications are beyond staggering.

Sadly, Revelation’s monumental prophecies are falling on deaf ears. Millenia old, they are ignored for a myriad of reasons. From higher and lower forms of Biblical criticism's attacks on Scriptural authority, to the functional Biblical illiteracy of worldly Christianity. From the perceived futuristic distance of such events, to the pursuit of everyday pleasures. From life's pressing realities, to philosophical positivism. From the deceptive pre-trib rapture creating disintered Christians, to the horror of end time predictions.

Well intentioned or not, the misguided principles and priorities of Churchianity produces believers that "appear to have a godly life, but they will not let its power change them.” A power that begins with the ability to understand Scripture and spiritually perceive the true nature and message of the Kingdom of God.

For example, consider the negative effects of the recent and widely received false doctrine of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture. Placated with the promise of being whisked away before judgment starts, Churchianity remains comfortably lukewarm and lounging in Zion. At the very moment in history when we should be readying ourselves for humanity’s final exam. This, even in the face of the New Testament’s clear exposition of a mid tribulation rapture.

Mid-Tribulation Rapture

No lessor New Testament contributors than Jesus, Paul and John all warn that Christ’s return for His spotless Church is prophesied to take place only after the appearance of the Antichrist and the False Prophet, Mark and Image of the Beast. A point Paul makes painstakingly clear:

“Now, friends, read these next words carefully. Slow down and don’t go jumping to conclusions regarding the day when our Master, Jesus Christ, will come back and we assemble to welcome him. Don’t let anyone shake you up or get you excited over some breathless report or rumored letter from me that the day of the Master’s arrival has come and gone. Don’t fall for any line like that. Before that day comes, a couple of things have to happen. First, the Apostasy. Second, the debut of the Anarchist, a real dog of Satan. He’ll defy and then take over every so-called god or altar. Having cleared away the opposition, he’ll then set himself up in God’s Temple as “God Almighty.” Don’t you remember me going over all this in detail when I was with you? Are your memories that short?” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 The Message

In His Olivet Discourse Jesus agrees. Meticulously, He explains that only after a series of events, including the beginning of the Great Tribulation and arrival of the Antichrist, will He return. Picking up about half way through the passage Christ warns of false prophets and finally the Antichrist:

“But be ready to run for it when you see the monster of desecration set up in the Temple sanctuary. The prophet Daniel described this. If you’ve read Daniel, you’ll know what I’m talking about. If you’re living in Judea at the time, run for the hills; if you’re working in the yard, don’t return to the house to get anything; if you’re out in the field, don’t go back and get your coat. Pregnant and nursing mothers will have it especially hard. Hope and pray this won’t happen during the winter or on a Sabbath.” Matthew 24:15-20 The Message

Jesus then identifies what is clearly the Great Tribulation Period:

“This is going to be trouble on a scale beyond what the world has ever seen, or will see again. If these days of trouble were left to run their course, nobody would make it. But on account of God’s chosen people, the trouble will be cut short…“Following those hard times, Sun will fade out, moon cloud over, Stars fall out of the sky, cosmic powers tremble.” Matthew 24:21-22,29 The Message - Emphasis QC’s

Then, again signifying after, Christ promises to return with the sound of a global trumpet-blast:

“Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies—no one will miss it. Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. At that same moment, he’ll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God’s chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.” Matthew 24:21-22,29 The Message - Emphasis QC’s

What trumpet-blast? In the New Testament there are only two such accounts. The first is Paul discussing the timing of the Rapture:

“But I am telling you this strange and wonderful secret: we shall not all die, but we shall all be given new bodies! It will all happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For there will be a trumpet blast from the sky, and all the Christians who have died will suddenly become alive, with new bodies that will never, never die; and then we who are still alive shall suddenly have new bodies too. For our earthly bodies, the ones we have now that can die, must be transformed into heavenly bodies that cannot perish but will live forever.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 Living Bible- Emphasis QC’s

With this second piece of the puzzle, we discover Christ’s return is scheduled “when the last trumpet is blown.” “Last” denotes multiple trumpets. Revelation provides the final clue about mid way through the Great Tribulation, after the Antichrist and False Prophet, Mark and Image of the Beast are revealed. John predicts after seven seals are opened by Christ, seven trumpets are blown prior to seven bowls of final wrath decimating the Earth. Sure enough, sandwiched in-between the seventh or last trumpet, and the outpouring of the first of seven bowls of God’s final wrath, we are told:

“Then the scene changed, and I saw a white cloud and someone sitting on it who looked like Jesus, who was called “The Son of Man,” with a crown of solid gold upon his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then an angel came from the temple and called out to him, “Begin to use the sickle, for the time has come for you to reap; the harvest is ripe on the earth.” So the one sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the harvest was gathered in.” Revelation 14:14-16 Living Bible

Sorry, but according to Jesus, Paul and John there is no Pre-Tribulation Rapture. As Jesus cautioned:

“See, I have told you ahead of time.” Matthew 24:25 New International Version

“But be on your guard. Don’t let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it’s going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don’t go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that’s coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36 The Message

These and many other Scripture’s, such as Christ’s terrible parable of the Ten Virgins, stress the wisdom of preparation before coming calamity. As previously referenced:

“So get yourselves together. Shape up! You’re a nation without a clue about what it wants. Do it before you’re blown away like leaves in a windstorm, Before God’s Judgment-anger sweeps down on you, Before God’s Judgment Day wrath descends with full force. Seek God, all you quietly disciplined people who live by God’s justice. Seek God’s right ways. Seek a quiet and disciplined life. Perhaps you’ll be hidden on the Day of God’s anger.” Zephaniah 2:1-3 The Message - Emphasis QC’s

Everyone, but particularly those who may face perilous times, do well to emulate Noah’s example. In the Book of Hebrew’s hall of fame of faith we are reminded:

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” Hebrews 11:6-7 New King James

Beginning by stressing the need for diligence, the passage highlights the spiritual quantum entanglement of living faith and godly fear. In regards to Noah, it explains that by faith, he received and accepted God’s warning of unprecedented coming disaster. Then, by fear, he was moved to action in preparation. Lastly, by faith, his attitude and actions separated him from those refusing to appropriately respond to an unseen, yet imminent threat. Doing so demonstrated his righteousness and saved those he loved.

The Apostle John's Book of Revelation is remarkable on many levels. Within its pages John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, reveals the greatest time of suffering and death Earth has ever known. Just two of his sixty predictions will take the lives of half of humanity!

Our generation has been given unprecedented and tremendous gifts and would do well to remember Christ's warning, "to whom much is given much is required." Besides reaping the answers to the prayers of all generations we also have 2,000 fulfilled Bible prophecies and the pages of the Scriptures's final Book of Revelation coming alive as a prophetic witness of Biblical authenticity.

The Apostle John, perhaps well educated in the knowledge of his time, still knew far less about the world than today's average elementary school student. Even so, he was able to look ahead into the future and describe in detail what were then unimaginable events. Two thousand years later the honest reader of his words can see the stage being set for the last chapter of human history as many of of his prophecies begin to unfold!

For example, the nation of Israel is a key player in Revelation's drama, yet in the Apostle John's day Israel was being ground under the boot of Rome, a global power showing no signs of weakening. For John to suggest Israel would become the center of world wide attention was ludicrous. All the more so after 70 A.D. when the Romans literally wiped it off the map. Yet in 1947 A.D. Israel reappeared in the same location. Never before or since has a nation having vanished for two centuries, much less two millennia, suddenly reemerged so. Israel's resurrection as a nation, not to mention its global status, is unprecedented in human history. Adding to Israel's miraculous modern history is the unbridled hostility of billions of Muslims, hundreds of millions of which all but surround the small plot of land Israel resides on. About the size of San Bernardino County in the Los Angles basin, Israel's population has been as little as 3 million. The Muslim nations nearby occupy as much territory as the United States, with over 300 million and yet in every war and conflict Israel has not only survived but conquered its attackers. The odds of Israels reappearance, growth and national prominence are astronomical. Additionally, there are a host of other previously impossible predictions all testifying to the validity of John's awesome and awe-full prophecy. These include the potential of a nuclear holocaust and fallout, as well as the technology necessary for the Mark of the Beasts, both for the first time in human history at the stage of development necessary for the kind of implementation Scripture warned of two millennia ago.

The Alive After The Fall video is a short but well produced overview of last day prophecies in light of recent events. It also offers a reasonable though fearful handling of America's currently apparent place in Biblical prophecy, along with resources to help equip individuals and families to survive what may well be coming. GB highly recommends watching the video, but if necessary you can click here to view the transcript.

Even without impending catastrophe, with so many modern challenges to our "most holy faith" the responsibility, or the ability to respond, to this escalating crises/opportunity falls most gravely on the shoulders of Prophetic Christians. This small subset of believers, dedicated to seeking and serving God diligently, studying and praying intensely, and hoping and sanctifying completely, stand uniquely prepared to begin to address today's intractable challenges. Challenges, in and of themselves, precursors of far worse to come.

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