How does Matthew 24:39 relate to Noah's time and today's world? The Word That Frames Our Study “and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:39) What Life Looked Like in Noah’s Day • Everyday routines—marrying, eating, drinking (Matthew 24:38) • Widespread wickedness and violence (Genesis 6:5–6, 11) • A righteous remnant: Noah “became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith” (Hebrews 11:7) • Divine warning through Noah, “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5) • Sudden, global judgment: “all flesh on the earth perished” (Genesis 7:21) Jesus’ Point: History’s Pattern Repeats • Ordinary life continues right up to the crisis • Spiritual dullness blinds the majority (“they were unaware”) • Judgment arrives swiftly, decisively, and universally • God saves a prepared remnant while the unprepared are swept away Striking Parallels to Today • Routine normalcy: jobs, weddings, sports, social media—few consider eternity • Moral climate: “people will be lovers of self…without self-control, brutal, haters of good” (2 Timothy 3:1–4) • Widespread skepticism: “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:3–4) • Global connectivity that could amplify sudden cataclysmic events • Faithful witnesses still proclaim truth amid rising apathy Why the Comparison Matters Now • Urgency: the same “swept away” imagery warns of final judgment at Christ’s return (Revelation 20:11-15) • Vigilance: “Stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42) • Evangelism: like Noah, believers are called to sound the alarm (2 Corinthians 5:20) • Holiness: “conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness as you anticipate the day of God” (2 Peter 3:11-12) • Assurance: just as the ark delivered Noah, Christ secures those who are in Him (1 Peter 3:20-22) Living Ready in an Age of Complacency 1. Ground your worldview in Scripture’s literal warnings and promises. 2. Practice daily repentance; refuse the moral drift of the culture. 3. Invest in gospel proclamation—family, neighbors, nations. 4. Gather faithfully with the church, foreshadowing the safety of the ark. 5. Keep watch with hope, “looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing” (Titus 2:13). Closing Takeaway Matthew 24:39 links Noah’s flood and Christ’s return as real, historical judgments. One proved God’s word in the past; the other will confirm it in the future. In both eras, rescue is offered, warning is clear, and readiness is vital. |
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