Ages (Part III)

Lesson Content

IV The Old World: This was the world that existed from the fall of man to the destruction of mankind by flood, during Noah’s time (II Pet.2:5). In the days of Seth who was the son of Adam, men began to call themselves by the name of the Lord (not call upon the name of the Lord). Therefore they were called the sons of God. The children of Cain were called the sons of men. They were fair and skilful and able to play on musical instruments like t he harp and organ and were artificers in iron and brass (Gen.4:21,22). When the sons of God began to lose their spiritual standard, they were enticed and deceived by the beauty of the daughters of men, and they took them wives of all which they chose. The children born to them were a fallen race. The imaginations of the thoughts of their heart were evil continually (Gen.6:5). Men lived long in those days. When Methuselah, Noah and Adam died, they were 969, 950, 930 years old respectively. When God saw the earth, He found that it was corrupt and filled with violence, and all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. Therefore, it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth and it grieved Him at His heart. So God decided to destroy the earth with a flood (Gen. 6:6,7,11-13). The Lord saw that Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations and he found grace and favour in the sight of God. God told him that He was going to destroy the earth with a flood and asked him to make an ark so that he and his family might escape the destruction. Noah believed what God told him and prepared an ark. Until the day that it was finished he preached the righteousness of God and warned the people about the impending flood (II Pet.2:5; Heb.11:7). Just as the Lord had spoken to Noah, a great flood came upon the whole earth. Besides Noah and his family, a few of every variety of living creatures were also preserved inside the ark. This was how the flood came and destroyed the Old World. V The Present Evil World: After the destruction of all living beings by the flood in Noah’s days, the world continued in sin. Thus the present evil world came into existence. Just as in the days of Noah and Lot, the present world is full of sin. Men have neglected their spiritual l ife and become earthly minded and are concerned only about eating, drinknig, clothing, building

and planting and in giving and taking in marriage. People do not seek the kingdom of God or the blessings of God. That is why Jesus asks: “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Lk.18:8). These days it is hard for people to believe on the living God, His Word and His salvation. They will be scoffers walking after their own lusts, and not believing the second coming of Jesus (II Pet.3:3,4). During this period, men walk in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, abominable idolatories and so on (I Pet.4:3). Being unable to endure sound doctrine having itching ears, they turn away their ears from the truth (II Tim.4:3,4). Men have become lovers of their own selves (II Tim.3:2). In this period knowledge will be on the increase (Dan.12:4). But soon there will arise a famine for hearing the words of the Lord (Amos 8:11,12). The spirit of deep sleep will be poured upon th e people (Isa.29:10). There will be wars, earthquakes, famines and pestilences (Lk.21:9-11). The fig tree will blossom, that is, the Jews will return to their own land and prosper (Vs.29-31). Sin will be on the increase and there will be disturbances in the world. In this period, the Lord is separating a group of people, sanctifying them with His blood, Word and Spirit that they may escape the great tribulation which is to come upon this present evil world. The present earth is kept to be destroyed by fir e. Nevertheless, Jesus gave Himself to save us from this present evil world, that is, from worldliness (Gal.1:4). It is His will that all men should be saved. This present evil world will continue till the Millennial Reign begins.

Moral

In the early days when sin and corruption abounded on the earth, God saved Noah and his family and destroyed the whole earth with a flood. Even so Jesus is coming soon to gather His perfected saints together before He destroys the earth with fire. We should always watch and pray that we may be found worthy to escape the great destruction that is to come upon the world and to stand before the Son of man.