As in the days of Noah...

Jesus told us (Matt 24:37) that the last days would be like the days before the deluge in Genesis 6.  Looking at the Greek text we find he said it wouldn't be just a bit like those days but the same.  I want to encourage  you to read Genesis 6 and Peters warnings in 2 Peter 3.   There are many elements to focus on here but I want to simply describe the Ark and who was on it.

Firstly we find that Noah was, by our standards a rubbish preacher.  Only his family responded to over 100 years of preaching whilst stood next to a massive boat.  So what we find is scant response to the true message of God.  'Judgement is coming' ... 'Get on the boat' was ignored.   Today this is our message and people are ignoring it.

15 years ago I was led by God to leave the ministry and set up small groups in our home.  We have seen some scenarios where people have come to us but numbers wise it is perplexing.  This bothers me because I still haven't become fully free from my western mindset and AOG teaching that big is beautiful (and a sign God is on your side).  It so happens that our home is like the Ark and few will take on board the message we live out that The Day of the Lord is at hand and we must get with His program.   It seems counter intuitive but we are in the last days and we should be looking like Noah with his family safely tucked into the Ark.

So where you are obedient (like Noah was) you wont see people coming to attend 'the show.' Faithful obedience to the Lord means not conducting meetings that really look after our own need to be recognized as spiritual.  Peter tells us that scoffers will come following their own evil desires.  Because we may not be able to see sexual sin occurring we think that is an indication to do with 'evil desires.'  However even though the evil desires can include sexual impropriety, it also includes those who are setting up church meetings to serve their own core desires.  These are to make self feel special / authentic / valued / respected / validated etc.  The problem is that these things can be found in the Lord but many in the last days will develop identity from ministry... following their own evil desires.  Let us not forget that the earth was destroyed by water because of this.

Judgement is coming.

All this is not to say that the Lord cannot or will not cause many to come to meet with you in the last days.  It is more to say 'don't fret or be concerned that you have perhaps only your own family meeting faithfully, only 8 of one family survived the Flood!'  And as in the days of Noah so shall the end times be.

Gary Ward