38) For as in the days that
were before the flood they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that
Noe entered into the ark
Here we are told that before Christ returns, it will be
just like in the days of Noe. Then we are given a
general description of what was happening at that
time. There is a lot more to this than what is
actually said. To understand this completely, we must
go to Genesis and find out exactly what was happening
at that time.
Genesis 6
1) And it came to pass, when men
began to multiply on the face of the earth, and
daughters were born unto them,
2) That the sons of God
saw the daughters of men that they were fair;
and they took them wives of all which they
chose.
Here is the marrying that was spoken of by
Jesus in the book of Matthew. I want you to
notice how these sons of God are contrasted
with men. In this verse, the Hebrew word that is
translated God, is Elohim. This title is always
used of God in relation to creation or as the
creator. You can contrast this with God in
verse 5 in which it is Jehovah. Jehovah is
always used of God in terms of His covenant
relationship with man. This will be relevant
after we read the next two verses.
3) And the LORD said, My
spirit shall not always strive with man, for that
he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred
and twenty years.
4) There were giants in the
earth in those days; and also after that, when the
sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and
they bare children to them, the same became mighty men
which were of old, men of renown.
We see here, that when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men,
giants were born in the earth. Now this is not normal. So I think it is fair
to say, these sons of God are somehow different, than the men that daughters
were born unto. The title, sons of God, or son of God (Elohim), is only used of
Adam (Luke 3:38), who God created directly and of angels (Job 1:6, 2:1, 38:7),
that is, up until the time of Christ, through which we become a new creature
and all things are of God (2 Cor.5:17). The word giants in the Hebrew
dictionary is nephilim. It means fallen ones.
So we have here, a group referred to as the Sons of God, who are
obviously given this title to set them apart from men, and we know from
scripture that God, (Elohim), is only used as a title for God when he is
the direct creator of an entity, as in angels or Adam. From this, we have
to assume, God created these entities directly. Since there is only one
record of God creating a man directly, Adam, then we have to assume
these are angels. When we look again at the word nephilim, (fallen
ones), it's no great stretch to draw the conclusion that these are
fallen angels. This may seem outrageous but scripture further documents
these assumptions. The book of Jude will tell us
about these fallen angels and their sin with the daughters of men.
Jude
6) 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.
7) 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.
These two verses tell us about the angels leaving
their habitation and compares their sin to that of
Sodom and Gomorrah. It would be no great leap to give
these the title "Fallen Angels", since they disobeyed
God and would have fallen out of His Grace. It is also
evident from verse 7, that their sin was that of
fornication. Angels are not flesh, they are
spirits, taking the daughters of men for wives, would
be giving themselves over to strange flesh. This unnatural act
would have caused an unnatural result, giants
were born in the earth.. You can also read about the
angels sin in 2 Peter chapter 2 (1-5).
The point of all of this, is that, this is what was
happening during Noah's time, and Matthew tells us, it
will happen this very same way again. These angels
will be returning to the earth to take wives of the
daughter's of men. To just further this point and give
a second witness that this is true, let's go to 1
Corinthians Chapter 11.
4) Every man praying or prophesying, having his head
covered, dishonoureth his head.
5) But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with
her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is
even all one as if she were shaven.
Here we are told it would be a dishonor for a woman to
pray or prophesy with her head uncovered. Why? Verse
10 holds the answer.
10) For this cause ought
the woman to have power on her head because of the
angels.
The power the woman should have over her head is Christ.
Why, because of the angels, they will be coming back! God sent the flood in
Noah's time to destroy these unnatural nephilim. Noah
was spared, because he was upright and his generations
were perfect (Gen. 6:9). Noah's family had not mixed
with the fallen angels or the giants. This mixing with
the angels and their offspring was all plotted by Satan
himself to corrupt the seed line in which Christ was to
come. If he could have accomplished this God's word
would have failed.
Now that we have determined the events that were
happening to Noah, and will happen at the time
of the end, we can establish a timeline. The
angels do not appear on the earth until the
sixth seal. Let's go read about that in
Revelation chapter 6.
Revelation 6:12-13
12) And I beheld when he had
opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great
earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of
hair, and the moon became as blood;
13) And the stars of heaven
fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth
her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty
wind.
Angels are often referred to as stars in the Bible,
here are just a few examples: (Rev. 1:20, Rev. 9:1,
Dan. 8:10). Our goal here, is to see when the one
will be taken and the one will be left behind. Let's
go back to Matthew for a moment.
37) But as the days of Noe were, so shall also
the coming of the Son of man be.
38) For as in the days that were before the
flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and
giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered
into the ark,
39) And knew not until the flood came, and
took them all away; so shall also the coming of the
Son of man be.
40) Then shall two be in the field; the one
shall be taken, and the other left.
41) Two women shall be grinding at the mill;
the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Notice here, that when one is taken and one is left,
the marrying has already began. We can determine
that the angels are already here taking the
daughters of men as wives. We just read in the book
of Revelation, that the angels are not here until
the sixth seal. There is only one seal that has not
been opened. If "Left Behind" is describing a
rapture, then it is not a pre-trib rapture. The
tribulation of antichrist has already began at this
point. Let's read on and see if we can determine who
is left behind, and who is taken.
Matthew 24
39) And knew not until the flood came, and
took them all away; so shall also the coming of the
Son of man be.
40) Then shall two be in the field; the one
shall be taken, and the other left.
41) Two women shall be grinding at the mill;
the one shall be taken, and the other left.
I just want you to ask yourself one simple question
about this verse. In the time of Noe, who was taken in
the flood? Was it Noe, who was upright and just? No, it
was those who weren't watching, those who didn't
believe they had anything to watch for or to prepare
for. Those
who are taken are taken in a flood of lies and
deception. This will be the flood of the end times and
we can read about it in Daniel chapter 11.
20) Then shall stand up in his
estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom:
but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in
anger, nor in battle.
21) And in his estate shall stand
up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour
of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and
obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
22) And with the arms of a
flood shall they be overflown from before him,
and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the
covenant.
23) And after the league
made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he
shall come up, and shall become strong with a
small people.
Notice this vile person shall become strong with a
small people. This is the little horn of Daniel 8:9,
which is the antichrist. Satan doesn't come in like
most people think, but rather he comes in peacefully
and obtains the kingdom through flattery and
deception. Words are his weapons, along with a few
miracles he has the power to perform. He is very
convincing and notice, "with the arms of a flood shall
they be overflown". Just like in the days of Noe,
only this flood comes out of the mouth of the serpent.
We can read about that in Revelation 12:15.
15) And the serpent cast out
of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that
he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
Here we see this flood of lies and deception
and it comes right out of his mouth. It's amazing
how many e-mails we have received were people say
there is no way a Christian could be deceived by
Satan. If he can obtain rule over the whole world
through his deception and flattery, it wouldn't be
too smart to underestimate his ability to deceive
you or me. We need to take this seriously and
prepare ourselves.
44) Therefore be ye also
ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of
man cometh.
Many will think Christ is already here because they
have been taught He comes first. The antichrist
comes first and he will be playing the role of
Christ, his mission, to deceive you and me. See
that this doesn't happen, let go of fables and
find the truth.
45) Who then is a
faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath
made ruler over his household, to give them
meat in due season?
46) Blessed is that servant, whom
his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
