Recently I have been hearing the news about the wars going on, in and around Jerusalem. There is talk of mass destruction and people are wondering if we will be totally enialated. God makes it no secret that after the second coming of Christ, the world will be destroyed by fire instead of water again. But for those of us who are born again will not experience this horrendous act of destruction. By the grace of God we will have been given our one way ticket into His glory when Christ returns for His bride. But for anyone who hasn't accepted Christ as their Savior will live through the worst seven years upon this earth, the Tribulation. Just as God gave His invitation to Noah and his family to be saved from destruction by entering the ark, He is extending His invitation to everyone today to enter into another ark of safety, this ark is Christ the Messiah. It's only through Him will people escape the final judgement when God destroys this world as we know it with a fire hotter than hell itself.

Upon studying and teaching God's Word, I am beginning to see how He ties it all together and how every account of recorded Biblical history was an event that leads to Christ, the fullfillment of God's truth which is eternal salvation by being saved through grace. This is a revelation that God laid upon my heart and I thought it worth sharing.

In Matthew the 24th chapter, Jesus is telling His disciples about the events that will first take place before His second coming. His first warning was this: "Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error]." Matt. 24:4

This made me think of the author of the 'Da Vinci Code', Dan Brown. It has caused such a stir among Christians and non-Christians alike. The sad thing about this book is that even though it's full of false claims, a weak follower of Christ will not be able to decipher the lies, and a non follower will be eager and willing to believe it. This book alone will be responsible for drawing people away from the Gospel of Truth. Satan's plan to keep people in the dark is working, for now. Satan is leading people into error and being deceptive. I pray you are not among them.

Then Christ said we will hear of wars and rumors of them, but not to be frightened because these things must take place first. Nations will be against nations. (Mt. 24:6) Sound familiar? There certainly is all of that going on right now. And if you read Ezekial 38 and Isaiah 61, these wars all involve Israel, which seems to be the major headlines in today's news. God reveals in these chapters just how it's going to end up. I wouldn't want to give away the plot, but Israel wins because of God's favor for His people. Sadly though, this will not stop other countries from trying.

And in Mt. 24:7 Jesus talks about famines and earthquakes. All of these are a result of people's disregard for fellow human beings through a sinful nature, which brings me to this point.

"As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For just as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, [men] marrying and [women] being given in marriage, until the very day when Noah went into the ark. And they did not know or understand until the flood came and swept them all away-so will be the coming of the Son of Man." Mt. 24:37-39

What were the days of Noah like that Jesus should compare the last days to them? It's recorded in Genesis 6 that God saw the wickedness of men, which included every imagination and intention of all human thinking and it got progressively worse. God saw how degenerate, debased and vicious it was. All humanity was corrupt and they had lost their true direction. It was at this point that He was sorry that He ever created man. Doesn't this make you think how He must feel today? But Noah won favor with God and from him, the world continued...but still repeating history of every wicked imagination. This time God has it all under control through Jesus Christ. People are still wicked in every conceivable way, only this time, He is giving everyone, not just a select few the chance to come aboard the "Ark" of safety.

Today people are going about doing their "own thing" and they aren't understanding the seriousness of it. They are anxious and easily led astray by false doctrines such as the Da Vinci Code. Are you beginning to see now?

Here's the revelation that God showed me, it was the object of the ark. In the Old Testament God's Spirit was contained in the Ark of the Covenant. The Bible says that after the flood had destroyed every living creature and had receeded, He smelled the pleasing odor [a scent of satisfaction to His heart] and said He would never again curse the ground because of man's evil ways. He blessed Noah and his sons and made a covenant with them that He would never destroy the earth with water. Noah's ark is a law of 'first mention' regarding the safety of being in Christ. He carries us through every tribulation, when the waters of life try to take us under. The Ark of the Covenant was God's promise to His people that He was with them. Today, Christ is that ark. His death and resurrection left a pleasant odor of satisfaction unto the Lord. It was the ultimate sacrifice. God now gives us all the choice to enter into the safety of "The Ark" through Christ, we all have God's promise of eternal salvation should we choose to step inside.

Just as we will never have to experience destruction by floods, neither shall we have to worry about destruction by fire the next time. But Jesus also gave another warning. Although no one knows the time or day of His return, He does say that we will be able to see the signs. He is telling us to be ready. Are you prepared?

"So also when you see these signs, all taken together, coming to pass, you may know of a surety that He is near, at the very doors." Mt. 24:33

If we know for sure that all this is still to come, wouldn't it be wise to be ready, unlike the people of Noah's time? When God makes a promise, He can not break it. Are you willing to take that chance? If you haven't received Christ as your Savior, your Ark of safety, you still have time, but for how long? God only knows.

The gospel is bad news to those who reject it...and wonderful news to those who receive it.