In the last half-century, humanity has advanced tremendously in terms of technology and science. Whether it is communication, military, medicine, etc., there have been new discoveries, new inventions in each of these fields which have made life much easier than what it was fifty years ago.
All this is good but those who are spiritually alert will agree on one thing: that along with all these advancements, there has also been a rise in evil at a very alarming rate.
In recent times, a growing number of nations including those that have a strong Christian presence are legalising evil practices such as abortion, same-sex marriage, live-in relationships.
Political corruption has become a global phenomenon giving rise to various issues like civil war, poverty, refugee crisis and various other issues. Well, if this is what we human beings can see happening everywhere in the world today, don’t forget that God has also been watching for a long time the increasing evil in all its forms.
The Bible tells us about another time in history when evil was increasing by leaps and bounds. It was during the time of Noah. We read in Genesis 6:5-6a… When the LORD saw how wicked everyone on earth was and how evil their thoughts were all the time, he was sorry that he had ever made them and put them on the earth. Kindly note, the Lord, at that time too, was watching all that was happening. But please bear in mind, all this happened at a time when there was no communication technology, no internet, no smartphones, etc; and yet, the evil present in the entire world was so much that God felt sorry for having created all of them.
One is left to wonder: If the evil of that time could make God feel so much sorry, how much sorrier He must be feeling now for having created mankind; because it has become even easier to practice and promote immorality, corruption, violence, etc. by abusing modern technology.
Now, God did not stop at only watching all that was happening. He decided to act. We are told in the following verses Genesis 6:6b-7... He was so filled with regret that he said, "I will wipe out these people I have created, and also the animals and the birds, because I am sorry that I made any of them." And to cut the story short, God did act. He sent a flood that killed and destroyed all living beings on the earth—human beings, animals, and birds. (Genesis 7:11, 17-23). Therefore, God did not only watch and decide to act – He acted.
There is also another thing that God did before He sent the destroying flood. He warned Noah about what was going to come; the reason being Noah was the only good man of his time. He lived in fellowship with God. (Genesis 6:9). This shows us the attitude of Our God towards those with whom He is pleased. He told Noah everything about the flood and also the purpose behind sending it. We find again the mention of this attitude of God in Amos 3:7… Truly the Lord GOD will do nothing He has mentioned without revealing His purposes to His servants the prophets. The fact that God always warns His people of any impending danger clearly shows that He wants them to be saved.
God not only warned Noah but He also gave Him detailed instructions as to how he must prepare himself in order to survive the flood. Noah was told to build an ark out of cedar with compartments in it and the inside and out covered with tar. (Genesis 6:14). And we are told Noah did all of this, precisely as God had commanded. (Genesis 6:22).
Finally, as per God’s instructions, Noah, his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives entered the ark with him before the flood waters arrived. (Genesis 7:7). And then the flood came as God had foretold. All existing creatures that had lived on the surface of the ground were annihilated, from humans to livestock, from crawling creatures to birds of the sky. They were wiped off the earth. Only Noah remained, along with those who were with him in the ark. (Genesis 7:23)
The story of Noah is very much relevant for our times simply because everything that happened at that time appears to be repeating once again. In fact, this is exactly what the Bible says, what has happened before will happen again. What has been done before will be done again. Whatever happens or can happen has already happened before. God makes the same thing happen again and again. (Ecclesiastes 1:9, 3:15). On the one hand, while evil has been progressively increasing, heaven on the other hand appears to be communicating to selected people, whom we call Seers about an impending chastisement (the term ‘Great Chastisement’ is commonly used) like the flood at the time of Noah and the need for God’s faithful to be prepared for it. Although these individuals have never met each other and live in different parts of the world, the prophetic messages received by them convey one and the same thing: Be warned of the Great Chastisement and be prepared for it.
Considering the recent events that have taken place all over the world, there is no doubt that the period of chastisement has already begun.
The increasing frequency of earthquakes, volcanoes, famines, hurricanes, tornados, cyclones, the social unrest, wars and refugee crisis, the recent pandemic, etc. all fall in line with what the Seers have said and also with what Jesus Himself had foretold (Matthew 24:6-12). He used the words ‘trouble of those days. ’ (Matthew 24:29). In fact, there is more yet to come. Because Jesus went on to say, "Soon after the trouble of those days, the sun will grow dark, the moon will no longer shine, the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers in space will be driven from their courses. (Matthew 24:29).
Now, just as Noah was told to prepare for the flood by building an ark, God also wants us to be prepared for the Great Chastisement. In fact, the ark in which He wants all of us to get into is none other than the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Mary Our Mother has been given a special role in these times. She has been appearing in almost every corner of the world only to urge mankind to repent and return back to her Son. However, the messages given by her in Fatima are of greater relevance for our times.
... To be continued