Troublesome Topic: PHASE 5.3  DEATH CAME TO EVERYONE ON LAND BEFORE DAY 150

WHAT DID THE HUMANS OUTSIDE THE ARK EXPERIENCE?

The Biblical text tells us of the overtopping of the highest hills in order to assure us that none of the recipients of God’s judgment survived it. That statement does not make clear whether there were people still alive outside the ark at that point or not.

Before I start this next small section, please realize that I am not assuming there were people still alive outside the ark. What I am saying is that if there were any still alive, this is what they would have been experiencing.

During this great judgment from God, the most fortunate were the ones that died quickly on the first day of the flood event, not the ones that survived for a while. For those that survived, there was much anxiety, stress, and hardship of body, mind and soul. The relentless natural disasters could drive a person mad. At some point they had to have asked themselves, “Was Noah right? Is this punishment from God?”

FOOD SHORTAGES BECAME CRITICAL

By this stage in the flood event, the shortage of food was a life or death issue.  Some of the people who survived the multitude of natural disasters were dying of starvation! What’s more, a people inclined toward violence would have resorted to violence even more during times of shortage. So even if someone could get their hands on some food, they might not be able to keep it long enough to get it home.

If they could find any food, where would they cook it? Inside? Probably not. Outside, in the rain. Probably not. They probably ate whatever food they could find raw.

The only fresh water available was from the rain. Although it was hard to find something to catch the water in, they could survive by cupping their hands and drinking from their hands. One can survive much longer if he has water but no food, than in the opposite situation. That is why there might have been a few people left alive by this stage of the flood event. Just a few.

THEY ONLY PROLONGED THEIR SUFFERING

Any ruthless leaders who may have survived this long probably used their goons to provide them protection, food, etc. and to move them to the highest ground as the waters rose. This looked like the game we call “king of the hill,” but it was no game, it was survival, and they never knew who their enemies were.

By continuing their ruthless behavior and forcing others to obey their will, they positioned themselves in ways that enabled them to live a bit longer than most other people. In their attempt to escape the judgment of God, they actually suffered longer than those who died earlier. Thus they received a portion of the anguish they had caused others.

They shook their puny fists at God, angry at him for stopping them from having a little fun, and accusing him of being unjust. “I didn’t do anything to deserve this great a punishment.  God is the one that is wrong here. I’m right and he’s wrong.”

GONE

Shortly after their last exclamations of defiance, their lives were snuffed out.

The next lesson in this study is PHASE 5.4  WHAT ABOUT MATTHEW 24:38 -39?