Genesis 7
THE ARK, being a type of Christ, the sure Refuge from God’s judgment, actually has three principal aspects, or figurative applications, that are of special interest to the believer.
The Ark as a Place of Salvation
In the early part of God’s Word we have witnessed the introduction of sin through Adam’s fall, its immediate result in putting the stamp of death on all, and the passing on of a sinful nature to everyone born into the world. We have seen that man, following his own way, comes only to a hopeless state of corrupt evil. The end result of this brings God’s condemnation and pronouncement of judgment. But, with God’s holiness demanding an accounting for sins, yet He has wondrously provided a means of escape through His Son, Jesus Christ, who has borne the sins of all who trust in Him. The sinner who acknowledges his need of a Saviour and puts his trust in Jesus, is just as sure of salvation as those who believed God in Noah’s day and went into the ark for protection from dreadful judgment.
The Ark as a Refuge in the Tribulation
There are two groups of people brought before us throughout scripture—Jews and Gentiles. The Jews were God’s earthly people, but now those who are saved from among both Jews and Gentiles form the Church and are His heavenly people. They will be taken out of this world before the fury of God’s judgment falls. Shortly thereafter great wickedness will prevail, culminating in open rebellion against God. There will at that time appear a great power in the world, known as “the beast,” who will demand that all carry his identification on them— “the mark of the beast” (Rev. 13:16,1716And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:16‑17)). Jealousies rivalries, violence and opposition to God will usher in a seven-year period called “the tribulation,” when the Jewish nation will pass through great persecutions — God’s judgment on’ them for rejecting His Son as their Messiah.
In the midst of all this there will appear a remnant of Jews whose hearts will turn to God and who will refuse to submit to the beast. They will be the object of the enmity of all who hate God and will suffer greatly for the Lord’s name. But the Lord, will be to them the “Ark” to take them through the troubled period. Like Noah they will refuse to take part in the wickedness around them and will find their comfort in assurance that the Lord will be their eternal preserver. Some will actually be put to death for their faithfulness to Him, but others will be preserved, Himself the Ark of their salvation. He will carry them safely over that judgment period on into a better world, called the millennium.
But let not the unbelieving Jew to-day be deceived into thinking he may share in that earthly millennium. No, all of God’s purposes in our present day are centered in His Son as the Saviour of “whosoever will.” All Jew and Gentile alike—must come to Him today on the basis of being needy sinners, in themselves condemned and lost, but finding in Christ the way of escape, owning Him as Lord and His death on Calvary as availing personally for their sins. None who refuse the Saviour now will have a later opportunity to find an ark of safety.
ML-11/01/1964