Topical Bible: The Deluge: (Unexpectedness of) Suddenness of Christ's Coming

◄ The Deluge: (Unexpectedness of) Suddenness of Christ's Coming ►

Topical Encyclopedia

The Deluge, commonly referred to as the Great Flood, is a pivotal event in biblical history, recorded in Genesis 6-9. It serves as a profound illustration of divine judgment and mercy, as well as a typological foreshadowing of the suddenness of Christ's second coming. The unexpectedness of the Deluge is a theme that resonates throughout Scripture, particularly in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles regarding the end times.

Biblical Account of the Deluge

The narrative of the Deluge begins with God's observation of humanity's pervasive wickedness. Genesis 6:5-7 states, "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him in His heart. So the LORD said, 'I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—every man and beast and crawling creature and bird of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.'"

In response to this corruption, God determined to cleanse the earth through a flood, sparing only Noah, a righteous man, and his family. Noah was instructed to build an ark to preserve his family and pairs of every living creature. The floodwaters came suddenly, as described in Genesis 7:11-12 : "In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And the rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights."

The Suddenness of Christ's Coming

The unexpected nature of the Deluge serves as a powerful metaphor for the suddenness of Christ's return. Jesus Himself draws a parallel between the days of Noah and the coming of the Son of Man. In Matthew 24:37-39 , He warns, "As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. 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."

This passage underscores the unexpectedness and suddenness of Christ's return, emphasizing the need for vigilance and preparedness. Just as the people in Noah's time were caught off guard by the flood, so too will many be unprepared for the return of Christ. The apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 , stating, "For you are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'Peace and security,' destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape."

Implications for Believers

The unexpectedness of the Deluge and the suddenness of Christ's coming serve as a call to spiritual readiness. Believers are encouraged to live in a state of constant watchfulness and moral integrity, anticipating the Lord's return at any moment. The apostle Peter, reflecting on the flood, exhorts believers in 2 Peter 3:11-12 , "Since everything will be dissolved in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God."

In conclusion, the Deluge stands as a sobering reminder of the suddenness of divine intervention in human history. It calls believers to a life of faithfulness and readiness, ever mindful of the promise of Christ's return and the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.