There is something Jesus said about the last days that most people have heard but few truly understand:
“For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:37-39, ESV)
Jesus compared the days before His return to the days of Noah. The warning is clear: people will be going about life as usual, oblivious to the judgment about to come. They will be focused on their daily routines—eating, drinking, marrying—unconcerned with God’s call to repentance. Then, suddenly, the door of mercy to escape God’s judgment will close.
This passage raises an urgent question: How close are we to those days now?
The Corruption of Noah’s World
The world in Noah’s time was not only wicked—it was entirely consumed by evil. Genesis gives us a glimpse of the spiritual and moral condition of humanity before the flood:
“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.” (Genesis 6:5-6, ESV)
Think about that: every thought of every heart was only evil—all the time. Sin did not merely exist; it spread unrestrained, unchecked, and all-consuming. The corruption grew so severe that it grieved God.
To understand how widespread this evil had become, consider the timeline. The flood came 1,656 years after God created Adam. As people lived for centuries and had many children, the earth became densely populated. Yet in all those years and among all those people, only one man—Noah—found favor with God.
That should make us pause. Are we nearing that level of moral decay today?
The Deception of False Hope
Many believe the world is improving—that society is progressing toward peace, unity, and moral enlightenment. Even churches embrace the idea that humanity is evolving into something better. But this belief contradicts both history and Scripture.
The Bible teaches that, apart from God, human nature does not improve. Sin is a disease that corrupts everything it touches. Pride and selfishness do not create a better world; they destroy it. Left unchecked, sin leads to destruction—just as it did in Noah’s day.
Scripture warns that, rather than becoming a utopia, the world will descend into deeper rebellion against God until Jesus returns. The apostle Paul described the last days like this:
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5, ESV)
Does that sound familiar? We are watching this unfold in real-time. The world is rushing toward destruction, yet most people are oblivious—just as they were in Noah’s day.
God’s Patience and the Rescue of the Righteous
Despite the coming judgment, there is hope. God does not act in haste, and He does not destroy the righteous with the wicked. This principle is clear in Genesis 18, where Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah. He pleaded with God to spare the cities if even ten righteous people could be found. The Lord agreed:
“For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” (Genesis 18:32, ESV)
God’s mercy is great. He does not desire the destruction of sinners but longs for them to repent. His patience is why the world continues as it does.
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, ESV)
The reason Jesus has not yet returned is not because He is indifferent, but because He is merciful. He is waiting for more people to turn to Him.
Living with Urgency and Purpose
As Christians, God calls us to walk by faith, not to fear the increasing darkness. Paul put it this way:
“So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:6-7, ESV)
Yes, the world is moving toward the days of Noah. Yes, sin is increasing. But we are not without hope. We know the end of the story. Jesus will return, and those who belong to Him will be with Him forever.
In the meantime, we have a mission. The Holy Spirit works through us to bring others into the Kingdom. Every soul that turns to Christ is a victory, a homecoming worth celebrating. As long as we are here, our job is not to despair but to be light in the darkness.
The world will not get better—but God’s Kingdom will grow.
Are You Ready?
The days of Noah are here, and the warning signs are all around us. Jesus told us these things would happen, not to frighten us but to prepare us.
The rains came, and God shut the door to the ark. The same will be true when Jesus returns. Jesus will come and gather His Church in the rapture. This mirrors the gathering of animals into the Ark. God brought them in before shutting the door. In the last days, he will gather prepared Christians in the rapture, and the Ark will represent the Wedding Feast (Revelation 19:7-9) after the door closes.
The parable of the ten virgins illustrates this moment. Many will not be ready for the rapture, and Jesus will lock them out of the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. Once the door shuts, the Wedding Feast begins in Heaven, and God’s judgment unfolds on earth through the Great Tribulation.
Revelation 7:14 tells us that God will save many out of the Great Tribulation. Among them will be those who failed to prepare for the rapture—the virgins without oil. Will you be one of them, or will you be ready? Will you be among them, or will you be ready?
Today is the day of salvation. Tomorrow is not promised.
So the question is: Are you ready?
Are you living each day with the awareness that Christ could return at any moment? Are you helping others come to salvation while there is still time?
Be ready. Stay faithful. And keep your eyes on the sky.
Other Resources:
Signs of the Times
Warnings: Be Ready!
Read all of our Principles for Christian Living in the Last Days
Read the Bible Online – We recommend:
The ESV (English Standard Version) for reading
The NASB (New American Standard Bible) for in-depth study
