Water Baptism, Noah's Ark, and the Day of Christ


But with thee will I establish my covenant;  GENESIS 6:18a


For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.  ISAIAH 54:10


so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  ST MATTHEW 24:39c


Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.  ST LUKE 17:30


when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah,  1 PETER 3:20b


But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store,  2 PETER 3:7abc


 


Water baptism is likened to 'entering into an ark' made ready for the Day of Christ.  The Day of Christ is at hand, and all nations of the earth are commanded to repent from sin and put faith, believe, in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob through the blood of his Son.  The kindness of the Lord will not depart from the house of Israel as revealed in his covenant faithfulness found coming in the first resurrection of the dead.  In light of that Day, Israel is called to repent of covenant unfaithfulness, and believe that atonement has been made for the transgressions of the holy covenant according to the Father and the Son's work on the cross of Calvary.


In light of the Day of the LORD, nations are to prepare themselves for God's wrath coming upon the face of the earth; this is done through the administration of righteous laws within nations' governments.  God will separate whole nations according to each of their dealings with 'scattered Israel' in the 'sea of the nations'.  For, according to God's covenants of promise with Israel, he plans on gathering once again Israel into their land for the manifestation of His judgments towards the end of this age.


The wrath of God will come upon the earth, and God is making ready 'ark's of the LORD' as refuges of his presence in the midst of evil and wickedness.  Obedience to the gospel of Christ is found in :


                -- repentance from sin and transgression


                -- water baptism in the name of the LORD


                -- partaking of the Lord's supper with other saints of the most high God


                -- ready to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost from the Holy Ghost, and


                -- ready to receive the baptism of fire from the resurrected Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.


                -- a proving of one's own ministry received of from the LORD through stewardship of the word.


                -- excellent devotion to Jesus in prayer, the holy scriptures, and the fellowship of the saints.


                -- living a holy life in the fear of the Lord


                -- keeping sound doctrine


                -- a readiness to receive from both jew and gentile apostolic ministries throughout the earth.