As it was in the days of Noah...but wait - what does it say about Noah's day? Let us look into God's word for the answer instead of just swallowing the traditions of man, as we have in the past. Are you really willing to do that? To believe God's word and come out of the prison house of man's theology? God spoke to Jeremiah while he was in the prison, and because he heard God's voice and believed, he was delivered out of prison and became free. You can be free today too, friend, for Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Just believe the plain teaching of the Word of God, regardless of how it cuts your past theology and teaching.

Now let us turn to Luke 17 and see what it says about Noah. First, Luke 17:26-37

"And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left."

Now let us examine this very closely and see who it was that was taken, and what happens to the one who is left. In John 15:1-2 Jesus says:

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."

Notice please..the one who was taken away was the one who did not bear any fruit. In Luke the ones who did not enter into the ark were destroyed when the flood came. The one who was left was the one who bore fruit, but he was purged so that he would bear more fruit.

Now let us turn to Matt. 24:37-41 and read carefully together:

"But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming 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 until the flood came, and took them all away: so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field: the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill: the one shall be taken, and the other left."

Now it very plainly says, "As it was in the days of Noah". As it was. Not different, not the opposite way. But as it was in the days of Noah. How was it in Noah's day? The flood of judgment came and took the wicked all away, and the righteous were left to inherit the earth. Oh yes, they did, for when the waters receded and Noah and his family stepped out on the earth again, it all belonged to them. There was no one to dispute their claim. The fat of the land was theirs. God had given it all to them. The wicked had been taken away. And yet, man has devised a theology in which it is just the opposite. They claim the righteous are taken away into the sky for a big supper and the wicked are left to rule the earth. Also, the devil is left free to have his own way in the lives of all men on the earth.

The Bible, my friend, does not teach any such thing. For as it was in the days of Noah, the wicked shall be judged and taken away, and the righteous and the meek shall inherit the earth, as well as all of heaven's glories. Someone says, "Don't you believe in a rapture, a catching up of the saints?" Of course I believe in a catching up of the saints. The Bible declares it firmly. But I do not believe the purpose of it is to snatch a Door little half-hearted. down-trodden people

out from under the heel of Satan just before he crushes them completely out of existence. Nor to keep the last little handful of discouraged saints from backsliding into the ways of the world, as we have been taught.

Someone says, "God is too good to let His own dear people go through the great tribulation, with all its fiery trial." Is that so? Did you ever think of trying to tell that to the three Hebrew children? Was God too good to let them be thrown into the fiery furnace? No, but He was good enough to stay by their side in the furnace, and to bring them forth with nothing burned but their bonds. Did you ever think of telling Daniel that God was too good to let him go into a den of lions? And did you ever wonder what the martyrs of the early church would answer to that? What would those faithful children of God who were tortured by the Roman Popes and suffered at the hands of the fiends of the Inquisition if you told them God was too good to let His people go through persecution and tribulation? The church has always grown strong and healthy in the Grace of God during times of great persecution and fiery trials.

The prophet of God warned, "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion." It is those who call upon God and strengthen weak knees and put on the whole armor of God who will stand in that day. And God certainly will have a people who will be strong and do exploits in the last days, the days of judgment, for God promised it in Daniel 11:32. These are those who will "Stand", who will be left when judgment has passed over. Proverbs 3:25-26:

"Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken."

It is plain here that the righteous are not taken, but the righteous will be left. Well, if someone is to be taken, who is it? Proverbs 11:6 says - "The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; but transgressors shall be taken.." Think of that! Transgressors to be taken! That is not what man has taught us, is it? As it was in the days of Noah. Remember. . . As it was...

In Job 34:20 we have a vivid description of atomic destruction: "In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away; and the mighty shall be taken away..."

Do you still want to be taken away, at midnight, in a moment, or would you rather put on the whole armor of God and stand in that evil day?

The trouble is that the preachers, having learned their revelation from man, are not telling the people that they will have to stand. Therefore, God's people are not putting on the whole armor.

Jeremiah the prophet cried out against them in chapter 6, verses 10 thru 14, saying that they were taken because they rejected the Word of the Lord, and that the preachers had cried peace when there was no peace. Also in chapter 8, verses 9 thru 11, he said:

"The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken; lo, they have rejected the Word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them? From the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, peace, peace; when there is no peace."

Isaiah the prophet said in 8:15: "And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken and be snared, and be taken."

By: Bill Britton