The Days of Noah

     There seems to be some theological confusion concerning "the second coming of Christ". Being a humble man, perhaps I am the one confused! Paul describes Christ coming again: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first" (1 Thes 4:16). That is definitely the "snatching away" which is called the rapture. Clearly that is the second coming of Christ! Many translations use "coming" rather than "descend". On the other hand, the following passages seem to describe the rapture and the destruction of the earth:

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 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 Noe 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.(Mat 24-41)

     The message begins with the heaven and earth passing away. Of course that refers to God's Words, but if we look at the context, the same idea is transmitted: Jesus compared the coming of the Son (Jesus) to be as the flood was in the days of Noah. The old earth was destroyed and replaced by a new earth. That is the same type of "refreshing" as at the end of time (Rev 21:1). Isaiah, like the apostle John, saw the new heaven and the new earth (Isa 65:17).  Perhaps Paul saw the destruction and renewal of the heavens and earth when Jesus blinded him that he could see!
     Perhaps the rapture and the second coming are the same event! That doctrine is called "post-tribulational premillennialism". That differs from what most evangelicals believe. However, that is not the discussion; what is that whenever Jesus comes the second time, it will be when times are the most evil.
     How evil was the world in Noah's day? Only eight people survived the flood! The universal flood was circa 3000 BC. The estimated population at that time was 14,000. (Colin McEvedy and Richard Jones, 1978, Atlas of World Population History, Facts on File, New York). Of course, the flood was ignored in those calculations because of unbelief by those who estimate things. For lack of numbers before the flood, let's use theirs. Eight divided by 14,000 is roughly 0.06%.
     The world population right now is estimated to be 11,000,000,000 or so people. That indicates that for those living when Jesus comes, there will be only 63,000 (or a few more) living people ascending to meet Jesus in the sky. That corresponds to Scripture:

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Mat 7:13-14)

     Can you imagine how narrow the gate to eternal life is? In the end, the Way is the same as it was as in the days of Noah: Just a few were saved even though the ark's door was open to all! The world believed Noah and His God to be foolish, and took the wide gate - the gate open to outside of Paradise. They were destroyed by water.
     The ark's gate was unguarded. The cherubim were sent on holiday when the rains came. The decision was up to every single person. Was it God's Way or the way of the world? Merely eight living souls entered the gate. Built to God's instructions, the ark's gate was straight and true. The password for entry was God's Name which is Jesus. Yes, it was by grace that the door was open to all but people chose whether to take salvation of not. Scripture says it's the same way to eternal salvation! The choice is ours!
     Few will choose wisely. Pleasure was in the world. Satan deceived the people into believing that they would not die. They looked back at the pleasure in the world, and sought its satisfaction. Like Lot's wife, they had their chance, and died! Salvation is a personal decision then and it is now. It's the same as in the days of Noah.
     God did not number those who would walk the Way up to the Gate before He closed it. His ark was designed for all who would enter. He knew the number long before the ark's construction commenced. The Designer designed the ship for those who would eventually enter. God then closed the gate because He knew the exact number who would  board the ship to salvation.
     Right now God has a room prepared for Christians in His mansion. He knew how large the mansion had to be, and the size of the City of God. It need not be a large city because few will enter in. He does expect more than in the days of Noah because there will be twelve gates instead of one. Some belief the twelve gates are for the 144,000 Jews. Perhaps in that day Judaism and Christianity will merge again using love in lieu of commandments.  Perhaps only 144,000 living persons will be all that enter. That is certainly on the same scale as my calculations! Perhaps the 63,000 will increase to 144,000 by that time! (I love to speculate.)
     My point is that few will enter the narrow Gate. We all think it will be us! I like to believe that myself, but know I don't deserve entry. No one deserves entry, but the meek will inherit that Great City.
     I have hope because I know that I don't deserve grace but that God is merciful. The race of which Paul refers are those who race for the Gate. Blindly, I run the race because I see the prize. I must obtain mercy before the Gate is closed. The Cross is the Gate and Mercy was nailed onto it. The Way to the Gate is by the Name Jesus. Any other name closes the door because there is but one Way to enter.
(Note: The twelve Gates of the City of God are not twelve ways but twelve opportunities.) I run the race quickly without looking back. I don't want to be screaming when the Gate is closed. It will be some day soon, and not on my time but His.