of sense; for this world and this life alone. Extravagance pervades all circles of society.
Integrity is sacrificed for luxury and display. They that make haste to be rich pervert
justice and oppress the poor, and “slaves and souls of men” are still bought and sold.
Fraud and bribery and theft stalk unrebuked in high places and in low. The issues
of the press teem with records of murder—crimes so cold-blooded and causeless that
it seems as though every instinct of humanity were blotted out. And these atrocities
have become of so common occurrence that they hardly elicit a comment or awaken
surprise. The spirit of anarchy is permeating all nations, and the outbreaks that from
time to time excite the horror of the world are but indications of the pent-up fires of
passion and lawlessness that, having once escaped control, will fill the earth with
woe and desolation. The picture which Inspiration has given of the antediluvian
world represents too truly the condition to which modern society is fast hastening.
Even now, in the present century, and in professedly Christian lands, there are crimes
daily perpetrated as black and terrible as those for which the old-world sinners were
destroyed.
Before the Flood God sent Noah to warn the world, that the people might be led
to repentance, and thus escape the threatened destruction. As the time of Christ’s
second appearing draws near, the Lord sends his servants with a warning to the world
to prepare for that great event. Multitudes have been living in transgression of God’s
law, and now he in mercy calls them to obey its sacred precepts. All who will put
away their sins by repentance toward God and faith in Christ are offered pardon. But
many feel that it requires too great a sacrifice to put away sin. Because their life does
not harmonize with the pure principles of God’s moral government, they reject his
warnings and deny the authority of his law.
Of the vast population of the earth before the Flood, only eight souls believed
and obeyed God’s word through Noah. For a hundred and twenty years the preacher
of righteousness warned the world of the coming destruction, but his message was
rejected and despised. So it will be now. Before the Lawgiver shall come to punish
the disobedient, transgressors are warned to repent, and return to their allegiance; but
with the majority these warnings will be in vain. Says the apostle Peter, “There shall
come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and
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saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all
things continue as they were from the beginning.” 2 Peter 3:3, 4. Do we not hear these
very words repeated, not merely by the openly ungodly, but by many who occupy the
pulpits of our land? “There is no cause for alarm,” they cry. “Before Christ shall
come, all the world is to be converted, and righteousness is to reign for a thousand
years. Peace, peace! all things continue as they were from the beginning. Let none
be disturbed by the exciting message of these alarmists.” But this doctrine of the
millennium does not harmonize with the teachings of Christ and his apostles. Jesus
asked the significant question, “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the
earth?” Luke 18:8. And, as we have seen, he declares that the state of the world will
be as in the days of Noah. Paul warns us that we may look for wickedness to increase
as the end draws near: “The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some
shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”
1 Timothy 4:1. The apostle says that “in the last days perilous times shall come.” 2
Timothy 3:1. And he gives a startling list of sins that will be found among those who
have a form of godliness.
As the time of their probation was closing, the antediluvians gave themselves up to
exciting amusements and festivities. Those who possessed influence and power were
bent on keeping the minds of the people engrossed with mirth and pleasure, lest any
should be impressed by the last solemn warning. Do we not see the same repeated in
our day? While God’s servants are giving the message that the end of all things is at
hand, the world is absorbed in amusements and pleasure seeking. There is a constant
round of excitement that causes indifference to God and prevents the people from
being impressed by the truths which alone can save them from the coming destruction.
In Noah’s day philosophers declared that it was impossible for the world to be
destroyed by water; so now there are men of science who endeavor to show that the
world cannot be destroyed by fire—that this would be inconsistent with the laws of
nature. But the God of nature, the Maker and Controller of her laws, can use the works
of his hands to serve his own purpose.
When great and wise men had proved to their satisfaction that it was impossible
for the world to be destroyed by water, when
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the fears of the people were quieted, when all regarded Noah’s prophecy as a delusion,
and looked upon him as a fanatic—then it was that God’s time had come. “The
fountains of the great deep” were “broken up, and the windows of heaven were
opened,” and the scoffers were overwhelmed in the waters of the Flood. With all
their boasted philosophy, men found too late that their wisdom was foolishness, that
the Lawgiver is greater than the laws of nature, and that Omnipotence is at no loss
for means to accomplish his purposes. “As it was in the days of Noah,” “even thus
shall it be in the days when the Son of man is revealed.” Luke 17:26, 30. “The
day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall
pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth
also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10. When the
reasoning of philosophy has banished the fear of God’s judgments; when religious
teachers are pointing forward to long ages of peace and prosperity, and the world are
absorbed in their rounds of business and pleasure, planting and building, feasting and
merrymaking, rejecting God’s warnings and mocking his messengers—then it is that
sudden destruction cometh upon them, and they shall not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:3.
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Chap. 8 - After the Flood
The waters rose fifteen cubits above the highest mountains. It often seemed to the
family within the ark that they must perish, as for five long months their boat was
tossed about, apparently at the mercy of wind and wave. It was a trying ordeal; but
Noah’s faith did not waver, for he had the assurance that the divine hand was upon the
helm.
As the waters began to subside, the Lord caused the ark to drift into a spot
protected by a group of mountains that had been preserved by his power. These
mountains were but a little distance apart, and the ark moved about in this quiet
haven, and was no longer driven upon the boundless ocean. This gave great relief
to the weary, tempest-tossed voyagers.
Noah and his family anxiously waited for the decrease of the waters, for they
longed to go forth again upon the earth. Forty days after the tops of the mountains
became visible, they sent out a raven, a bird of quick scent, to discover whether
the earth had become dry. This bird, finding nothing but water, continued to fly
to and from the ark. Seven days later a dove was sent forth, which, finding no
footing, returned to the ark. Noah waited seven days longer, and again sent forth the
dove. When she returned at evening with an olive leaf in her mouth, there was great
rejoicing. Later “Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the
face of the ground was dry.” Still he waited patiently within the ark. As he had entered
at God’s command, he waited for special directions to depart.
At last an angel descended from heaven, opened the massive door, and bade the
patriarch and his household go forth upon the earth and take with them every living
thing. In the joy of their release Noah did not forget him by whose gracious care they
had been preserved. His first act after leaving the ark was