The Bible tells the vivid story of Noah’s ark and the great flood in Genesis 6–8. Before the world was destroyed by the unprecedented flood, Noah built a great ark according to God’s command and took refuge with his family and each living creature in it.
The Bible prophesies that as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the end of the age when God judges the earth and brings the last disaster. This is why we must remember the history of Noah.
God Commanded Noah to Build the Ark
After Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, the population of the earth gradually increased. The more they grew in number, the more corrupt and sinful the world became. God saw that every inclination of man’s heart was evil, thus He was determined to destroy the world.
During this time, Noah, the 10th generation of Adam, was the only righteous man who walked with God (Ge 6:9). God told Noah that He would destroy the evil world by a great flood, and showed him how to receive salvation. God commanded him to make an ark of cypress wood and gave specific measurements and instructions on how to build it. According to God’s word, Noah completed building the ark. It was a giant cubical wooden ship: 300 cubits (450 feet) long, 50 cubits (75 feet) wide, and 30 cubits (45 feet) high.
The Great Flood and Salvation in the Days of Noah
After Noah completed the ark, God said that in seven days he would send rain on the earth for 40 days and 49 nights to wipe everything from the face of the earth. God also commanded Noah to take his family and every kind of animal into the ark. After Noah did all that God commanded him, God shut the door of the ark (Ge 7:1–9, 13–16) and seven days later, it started to rain.
This event took place on the 17th day of the second month in the 600th year of Noah’s life. It did not stop raining for 40 days and the whole earth was flooded. The birds, livestock, wild animals, and all of mankind that had the breath of life perished. Noah, who obeyed God’s word, his seven family members and all the animals that were brought into the ark were the only ones who were saved.
On the 17th day of the seventh month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. On the 1st day of the tenth month, about 2 1/2 months later, the tops of the mountains became visible. After 40 days, Noah sent out a raven to explore the land; seven days later, he sent out a dove. When the dove returned with a fresh olive leaf in its beak, he knew that the water had receded from the earth. The dove did not return after he sent it out seven days after he received the olive leaf.
On the 1st day of the first month of the following year, Noah removed the covering from the ark and saw that the ground was dry. By the 27th day of the second month, the earth was completely dry. Noah came out of the ark along with his family and the animals; they had been in the ark for more than a year.
He then built an altar to God and took some of all the clean animals and birds to sacrifice burnt offerings on it. God was pleased with Noah’s sacrifice and blessed both him and his sons with many children. Before the flood, they could only eat fruits and vegetables; however, after the flood, all living animals were given to them as food. God told Noah and his sons that He would never again destroy all living things by a flood. As the sign of this promise, He set a rainbow in the clouds.
The Last Judgment and Zion, the Ark of Salvation
The flood in the days of Noah is evidence that God is deeply involved in the history of mankind, and the message of salvation as well.
Many verses in the Bible warn about the Last Judgment that is to come on the earth. Jesus prophesied about the end of the world, saying, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (Mt 24:37–39; Lk 17:26–27). Apostle Peter also wrote about Judgment Day, reminding us of the Flood in the days of Noah (2 Pe 3:3–13). This means that what happened in the days of Noah shows us prophetically what will take place in the last days.
Noah built an ark in obedience to God’s word so he could receive salvation. This shows us that before the Last Judgment comes, those who obey God’s word will be saved by dwelling in the spiritual ark. The Bible testifies that Zion is the spiritual ark we must flee to before the great destruction comes.
“Raise the signal to go to Zion! Flee for safety without delay! For I am bringing disaster from the north, even terrible destruction.” Jer 4:6
The Bible also prophesied that in the last days, many nations would come to Zion, just as all kinds of animals entered Noah’s ark and were saved.
In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains . . . peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Mic 4:1–2
Then, what does Zion specifically refer to? The prophet Isaiah prophesied that Zion would be the place where God’s feasts are kept.
“Look upon Zion, the city of our festivals . . . For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us . . . the sins of those who dwell there will be forgiven.” Isa 33:20–24
Today, the only church that fully keeps God’s feasts of the New Covenant is the World Mission Society Church of God. As prophesied in the book of Micah, many peoples from all over the world are coming to the Church of God to learn the truth of the New Covenant. Therefore, the Church of God is Zion, the refuge of salvation that mankind must know and enter to escape the last disaster.
The book of Hebrews records about the Flood in the days of Noah: “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family” (Heb 11:7). Today, too, those who fear God and dwell in Zion with faith will be saved.