THE TERRORIST ATTACKS IN THE USA IN 2001
READ: GENESIS 6:1-8 TEXT: MATTHEW 24:36-39
As it was in the days/Noah…so shall it be in the days of the coming of the Son of Man
Before we commence our message, we wish to convey our deepest
condolences to all who lost loved ones in these atrocities in the USA.
As a Christian people, we have been praying for all concerned - the
bereaved - the injured and their families - that God Himself, the
"God/all comfort" would esp. draw near & give "the oil of joy for
mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness"
What has happened in NY/Washington etc.,, this week
has shocked/numbed many people. I think it was the intensity of the
whole thing. We live in a world used to violence. We might go further
and say we live in a world which glories in violence - we have all
seen/heard of the "blockbuster" movies/books which have glorified the
idea of world-wide terror groups threatening this and that and the
special effect outfits of Hollywood ensure that there is plenty of fire
and explosions. Not all these movies carry any restrictions re: viewing
by children. But what makes the World Trade Centre instances different:
This was for real. Real airplanes with real people were really
hijacked. Three of them were deliberately/dramatically rammed into
buildings where thousands/real people worked and in the aftermath,
hundreds of real emergency crew members were also really killed. All of
a sudden…we realise that this violence which is glorified on
wide screens etc., is not so glorious when it really comes to the
streets/NY.
In the aftermath, every possible expert has been called upon to
comment. We have Middle East watchers with their analysis. We have
Building Engineers with their views and experts of the American psyche
etc., No doubt, they have their part to play in helping us to come to
some kind of understanding. But the worry is that the One who has a
complete understanding on the why's/wherefore's - with no mere educated
guesses - has not been consulted at all. I refer to the Author of this
Book: Almighty God.
Christians believe that the Bible is completely up to date. We
believe that it has something to say on Tuesday's atrocities. There are
no specific prophecies in this Book that such individual acts would
take place. That is for the Notradamus type sensationalists who pander
to curiosity seekers. But the Bible is still on the ball. Even though I
watched the TV in numbed silence, I was not in the least
surprised by what I saw. Those who ask the question: "How could this
happen?" should get hold of the Bible and start to read. The Bible
tells us that events such as these will come to pass. What happened in
America is only a sample (pretty dramatic!) of what lies ahead.
In our passage, the Lord Jesus speaks of the events which will precede
His coming again. v36 very clearly dissuades the idea of sensational
date setting…but we do have a few clues of what it will be like.
The Lord Jesus said: (text) Reference to the OT historical account of
Noah and clearly there is a parallel being drawn. As it was…so
shall it be. We need to see what it was like in the days of Noah and
compare them with the events/last days: 4 main thoughts:
1) THE DAYS OF NOAH WERE MARKED BY INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM - SO TOO THESE DAYS:
A/ Gen 6:11 "the earth … filled/violence" i.e. whole
earth (not local) was filled with terrorism. Same word (Heb) is
translated cruelty See: Psalm 74:20 Dark places/earth/full of
cruelty
B/ These men/violence came from illicit marriages (v1-2) Exact meaning
(v2) is debatable… but the result/unions was a race/giants (v4)
either physical giants or really infamous people (v4) Whatever…
emphasising here the extreme wickedness of the people: v5 is very
sobering. Wickedness/man was great in the earth (and note: every
imagination of man's heart…etc.,) We say: "Who could've thought
up/planned out Tuesday's bombing?" Answer: Look in the mirror!
Universal words/pertain to all men at all time. Similar words: Jeremiah
17:9/Matthew 7:22ff Do you believe that you are capable of such
wickedness? If "No" - then you do not know the wickedness of your own
heart. Dark side to us all. Story of Hazael: 2 Kings 8:11-15
C/ So great/universal was this terrorism - not only from the words "in
the earth" but from the fact that the flood was world wide. Universal
punishment for universal sin (v13) Who can tell what cruelty took place
at this time? This race/giants with their weaponry. Fair enough…
nothing sophisticated (but only by today's standards) but we are just
speaking about the time it takes to kill many people. Same desire/same
results. Large scale, international murder then also.
D/ When I turn to Bible prophecy esp. as it relates to events/Last
Days…2 Timothy 3:1/2 Peter 3:3 Blood/Lust Could quite easily
strike again. Perhaps the ease of it all especially frightens us. Hard
to stop Suicide Bombers. Increase in crime and plenty of murders etc.,
2) THE DAYS OF NOAH WERE ALSO MARKED BY A FEELING OF NORMALITY - SO TOO THESE DAYS:
A/ Stark contrast…almost a contradiction! Jesus said of Noah's
day: Matthew 24:38 Normal events. Life, despite the violence,
went on. International terrorism has been around a long time. Bombs all
over the world. Hijackings universally. Muggings/rapes/assaults/riots/
intimidation/threats everywhere…but shops still open for
business. People still trade/travel etc., Still marry and plan children
and organise life as usual.
B/ Soon, we will practically forget what happened in USA. Big now! But
give it time…horrible memory Life will go on. The Stock market
will recover etc.,
C/ Such normality belies reality/wickedness that abounds. A big
disadvantage is that such wickedness is not recognised as such. Live in
a day when: Isaiah 5:20. It really takes something sick/massive to
qualify as being wicked today. If only we knew the whole story! In the
last days…life will go on as usual. There will be (as there is
now) great carelessness about the things/God. I would say that there
were people who prayed on Tuesday who never really prayed before! Why
not? People who escaped miraculously and yet put it down to "Pure Luck"
D/ In such situations, God will not be mocked. God has a
controversy with a world that has forgotten Him. As he did with Noah's
Day - so too with ours: Galatians 6:7 But first:
3) THE DAYS OF NOAH WERE MARKED BY FAITHFUL GOSPEL PREACHING - SO TOO THESE DAYS:
Whole world in Noah's day was wicked. Genesis 6:5 is true of every man.
Only thing that prevents you and I from mass murder is the grace of
God. God restrains us from headlong sin. Noah himself came under
the condemnation (v5) but something wonderful happened: v8 and
consequently v7 Noah got saved! Noah found peace with God through
repentance and faith. A changed man.
A/ Noah did something as a believer …he became a preacher of
righteousness 2 Peter 2:5 Unpopular! He rebuked sin. Work/Preacher is
set out in 2 Timothy 4:2 Preached salvation…but only conditional
on forsaking sin and fleeing in faith from sin to God. Preached his own
experience.
B/ Noah didn't only preach. God revealed something to Noah: Coming
Judgement (Genesis 5:21/27) God told Noah to do build an ark
(6:14) and Noah did so: Hebrews 11:7 Can you picture the
flak/agro Noah had in this? Butt of many jokes. People mocked/sneered
at him. But still he preached verbally the word and demonstrated his
faith by building the ark. People had a chance to be saved.
Do you know how long he preached? 120 years (Genesis 6:3) Open airs
etc., Preached the coming of the wrath/Offended God and preached mercy
for those who would enter the ark.
C/ This ark is a picture of Jesus Christ. One who died/took wrath upon
Himself (Substitute) for sinners. Offers salvation freely for all who
will come. As then so now…
D/ Today, we preach not the shadow (Cp Noah) but the substance. We
preach the Cross looking back. Interpreting an actual historical event,
fully explained by the NT. Many of us doing it.
E/ Even though times/perilous…yet right up to the
last…God's men will offer mercy to all who will avail of it:
Matthew 24:14 Never been a better time to come to Christ than now! On
the eve of these black awful days. 2,000 years ago, Jesus said: "I come
quickly" How nearer is that event.
4) THE DAYS OF NOAH ENDED IN A WORLD WIDE DESTRUCTION - SO TOO THESE DAYS:
A/ Though Noah preached/built the ark (despite the jeers/arguments) yet
only 8 people saved. His own family. Whatever the degree of
opposition…even his most understanding/sympathetic
supporter was lost…if they did not enter into the ark. Right up
to the last…people cavorted etc., and soon God shut the door
(Genesis 7:16) and all left outside were lost. Damned.
B/ Sometime (Matthew 24:36) God will finish this world off again. Not
by water…but by fire (2 Peter 3:5-7/v10) Suddenly (out/blue -
just like Tuesday) wrath of God will come and all unsaved lost. Appeal.
Will you be ready? Are you born again? In the ark? (Christ?) If
not…why not?
THE END
Cork Free Presbyterian Church, 10 Briarscourt
(Annex) Shanakiel, Cork, Ireland