I have read numerous interpretations of the meaning of the phrase Days of Noah. Most of them focus on Matthew 24:38.
38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
“Oh, it has to be about the Rapture because life is existing like normal, then, boom, the Rapture comes and we’re taken away.”
(I used to believe that, by the way!)
There are other interpretations that go back to the flood passage in Genesis and say it’s talking of the wickedness of those times and the return of the Nephilim.
(I used to believe that, too.)
Why did it take me till now to get this?
What’s the Context Here?
Chapter 24 is! Read all of it!
The disciples are asking about Jesus’ return and the sign of His coming. In v.29-31 Jesus is speaking specifically of His return. All will see the sign of the Son of Man in the heavens, then He Himself will follow.
The fig tree parable v.32-35 is next, with the whole point of it being v.33.
33 so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.
All what things?
Everything He’s been listing in this chapter so far! These things will all precede His return of v.29-31.
Next comes our passage of v.36-41.
Matthew 24:36-41
36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.
38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.
41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
The context Jesus is giving is mentioned in v.36 and v.39.
- 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
- 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
My paraphrase: “No one knows when I’m coming so BE READY, BE ON ALERT!”
WE FOCUS ON V.38…
38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
…BUT V.39 IS THE KEY!
39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Just as the flood took away all the unbelievers, so, too, will Jesus AT HIS RETURN take away all unbelievers – to their PUNISHMENT!
Look at the verses that follow.
40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.
41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
These taken are NOT us in the Rapture!! Don’t forget the context of Matthew 24. Jesus is speaking to His Jewish disciples about a Jewish time frame (Daniel’s 70th Week). The Church is not on earth then. We left in the Rapture seven years prior!
These taken are those who were not ready, who either rejected Jesus outright or ‘believers’ who were not faithful until the end.
(This concept of Tribulation believers enduring and being ready and on alert – obviously, outside our Church Age — is mentioned over and over again on this site.)
Moving on in Matthew 24, next comes v.42.
42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
See what I mean!!
Next comes a parable in v.43-51.
And what is the theme of the parable?
The same exact theme we’ve been talking about. It clarifies that you do NOT want to be one of the ones TAKEN!
Check it out.
43 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.44 For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
Faithful Slave
45 “Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?46 Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. 47 Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
The faithful slave is left behind to enter the Kingdom!
Unfaithful Slave
48 But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; 50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, 51 and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The evil slave is taken — and not to heaven!
You want further proof? Read Matthew 25. What’s the theme or focus of these Second Coming judgment parables? (Now check out Kingdom of God for a visual on this.)
Same exact concept in Luke 17.
24 For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day. 25 But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
Destruction for those not ready.
28 It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building;
29 but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.
Again, destruction for those not ready.
30 It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
31 On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife.33 Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
V.33 is the key. (Read Synoptic Gospels. The concept of v.33 is taught by Jesus in Matthew, Mark, and Luke regarding this non-Church time frame.)
34 I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left.
35 There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left.36 [Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.”] 37 And answering they *said to Him, “Where, Lord?” And He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered.”
Again, not heaven.
Check out Days of Noah II for an answer to the question:
“Well, if they’ll know the Tribulation is exactly seven years, how can they not know the day nor hour of Jesus’ return?”
Thanks for reading!