"In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights."
"And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first [month], the first [day] of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry. And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried. And God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee." Genesis 7:11-12; 8:13-16.

For those that believe in long ages for our planet, such as team leader Wang Yang, a Florida State University geologist, the find was puzzling, as ScienceDaily explains: "That fossil evidence from the rock desert and cold, treeless steppes that now comprise Earth's highest land mass suggests a literally groundbreaking possibility: Major tectonic changes on the Tibetan Plateau may have caused it to attain its towering present-day elevations - rendering it inhospitable to the plants and animals that once thrived there - as recently as 2-3 million years ago, not millions of years earlier than that, as geologists have generally believed. The new evidence calls into question the validity of methods commonly used by scientists to reconstruct the past elevations of the region." [See here images of the lowest dry spots on earth.]

Two to three million years ago is still far more time than the Bible allows for earth history - and far more time than catastrophic geology requires to account for earth's landscape. However, it's a virtual "moment" in old-earthers' chronology of earth history, especially considering previous explanations for the Himalayas have ranged in the tens of millions of years. Creationists, based on ample evidence, rely on catastrophic models of geology that can account for thick layers of sediment - laid down over short periods of time with lots of water carving and washing earth's features in the past six thousand years.

In this case, the lake deposit was probably formed by a post-Flood lake. Water had accumulated on the Himalayan-Tibetan Plateau, which was uplifted by catastrophic plate tectonics at the end of the Flood. AiG's Dr. Andrew Snelling explains that during this rapid uplift, "[C]ontinuing rainfall erosion would have been severe, so sedimentation would have been rapid enough to bury these plants and animals to produce the fossils - all post-Flood." And all of this - including the catastrophic plate tectonics - would have been just over four thousand years ago.[AiG, July 2008]

The Flood in the days of Noah began in the Jewish 10th month, November 2349 BC, on the 17th day and Noah and his family did not set foot on the post Flood earth until on the 27th day of the 2nd month, December 2348 BC, just over a year later.

James Ussher, who studied these dates quite a bit, dates the events from the day Noah entered the ark on Sunday, December 7, 2349 BC to Thursday, December 18, 2348 BC when Noah and his family left the vessel of their rescue. If perhaps not exact, these dates are nevertheless a good approximation of the years involved according to biblical reckoning.

Even though geologists today, are doubters of anything out of the ordinary, they don't seem to want to draw conclusions from the experience of a) the sudden appearance of the island of Surtsey, off the coast of Iceland on Friday November 8, 1963 and how life germinated there within a rather short time, b) the rapid changes brought on by the Mt. St. Helens eruption on Sunday May 18, 1980, c) and other, lesser known sudden flood models. When the fountains of the deep opened, these were features existing during pre-Flood times. The water of these `fountains' are now in the oceans of the world.

When asked, `If there was such a flood, where is the evidence?'

You can answer then, `The fossil record is the graveyard of the pre-Flood world.'

The Bible teaches, the great Flood occurred because of most of mankind rejecting their Maker and engaging in perpetual sinning. Similarly today, the world is steeped in sin, but the next judgment will be by fire, not water. Agree or not, Bible prophecy points unerringly to a world and its history which will soon experience the judgments of God shortly before the Second Coming of Christ.

A reasonable and thoughtful feasibility study concludes that the number of clean animals was relatively small and overall, only representatives of each kind with a highly adaptable gene pool of air breathing animals needed to be taken. The author concludes that a biblical "kind" is not limited to a specie or genus, it may go as high as the `family' types. The test would be which "kinds" could mate with each other. Cases of cross `genus' mating are known. There was only one horse, donkey, zebra kind. One dog, fox, wolf kind and so on. Various species derived in post-flood times from a large adaptable gene pool. Of the larger animals needed to be present only one juvenile pair. On the subject of germs, the author concludes that today's harmful germs may not have been always harmful. Pre-flood they may have lived in a different environment and only later adapted to creature hosts in a harmful way to the creatures. Much more on this subject can be read at this AiG website.

An overview of the terrain and the fossilized/petrified ark sunk in mud.
On the rugged Plateau the smooth oval form in rear center contrasts with gullied terrain around it. `Prow' points toward peaks of Agri-Tendueruk area. Turkish soldiers, who escorted the expedition, dynamited a section of the object's thick-packed-earth side. Small bits of wood but no large chunks were found in the rim. Of course one would have to look for petrified wood, not intact wood fibers.

"However, the Armenians call this place `The Place of Descent'; for the ark being saved in that place, its remains are shewn there by the inhabitants to this day." [Josephus, Antiquities, Bk. I, ch. III, Sec. 5][500]

Obviously, his remarks indicate that the site had been visited over a long period of time during ancient times.

The apparent drawing of a Babel like tower on one of the commemorative stones near the ark site.[The shadow is the camera of a photographer.]

Question: What convinces you at CIAS that this is the site where Noah's ark rests?

Answer: Several points come to mind. Among the finds in the area was a commemorative stone showing a drawn `Tower of Babel' like structure as we had them in our children books. Now, I tend to think that these were made by visitors during the Christian era, a good many years before our time and that is why we find such images. What it does tell me, is that this very site was regarded as the `Ark Site' long before the prejudices of our time. In addition the several other finds which were made and which we feature are sufficient reasons, that this is the site.

Question: But haven't these finds been debunked?

Answer: Yes, people debunk everything that crosses one's own ideas. They deny the samples and measurements and so on. They also deny common sense in some cases and they would probably have denied that God would destroy the pre-flood world had they lived in those times.

National Geography apparently is planning an expedition to 18854 foot (5137 meters) Mt. Ararat in eastern Turkey to try and locate the Ark of Noah. The words,

"And the ark rested in the 7th month, on the 17th day, upon the mountains of Ararat." Genesis 8:4.

seem to indicate that the ark came to be grounded somewhere in the mountain range called Ararat. Today's Mt. Ararat is an intrusive volcano which must have erupted at the site after the Flood. In 1848, a massive Mt. St. Helen like eruption blew away the north-east side of the volcano. On the basis of Mr. Wyatt's [1000] first hand knowledge from living in the Hawaiian Islands convinced him, if the ark would have rested on the mountain, it would have been destroyed at that time. For this reason alone those who intend to find the ark remains on the top of this peak will be disappointed.

It was the discoverer Ron Wyatt who had, on the basis of some 1975 experiments with a model ship in a mountain stream, discovered how such man made objects behave when drifting toward an artificial, lonely mountain peak he molded in open water. He tried various `mountainous' configurations and floated the ship model toward them. What he learned was that a ship approaching a simple peak extending out of the water would cause it to simply float around it, not approaching and certainly not landing on it. This phenomena was governed by the natural laws of the "lateral displacement" of obstructed gas or liquid flow.

"He continued this experiment with several shapes with the same result each time. That is, until he built a "crescent-shaped" formation with the crescent facing down-flow. When the model ark accelerated around this "crescent-shape" mountain,, he saw that it was pulled into the area within the crescent by the "eddy" effect, where it then gently floated within that area.

With this bit of information, Ron felt like the ark would have had to have landed on such a location. The laws of hydrodynamics and water action and reaction were the same then and now. If the ark had approached a mountain peak extending out of the water, the water displacement around the mountain would have carried the ark with it.

The study of water as a fluid, with its unique properties, and the study of hydrodynamics (fluid mechanics) and wave causation and motion is a most involved and complicated science. The actions and reactions of water and an object floating on that water cannot possibly be studied in depth here -- but some simple rules must be understood.

If your ship on the open sea approaches a mountain extending out of the ocean, only one of two things can happen.

1) the ship will be carried around the mountain with the lateral water displacement,or
2) the waves can be of such force and direction that they carry the ship right into the side of the mountain, with such force that the ship would break into pieces.

But it would NOT come to rest on that steep mountain side. It just wouldn't happen. And if that mountain peak were directly under the ship and the waters slowly descended, the ship STILL wouldn't land on the mountainside (such as on Mt. Ararat). The water displacement and movement around the underwater mountain would still cause the ship to be removed from the mass (of the mountain) with the water.

The necessary criteria for a ship to land on a mountainside as sea waters descend would involve a process by which the water displacement would trap the ship within an area, such as an eddy could do. At least, that's what Ron believed and still believes."

The September 5, 1960 `Life Magazine' article of the U-2 spy plane photos read like this:

"While routinely examining aerial photos of his country, a Turkish army captain suddenly gaped at the picture shown above. There, on a mountain 20 miles south of Mt. Ararat, the biblical landfall of Noah's Ark, was a boat-shaped form about 500 feet long.[1100] The captain passed on the word. Soon an expedition including American scientists set out for the site.

At 7,000 feet, in the midst of crevasses and landslide debris, the explorers found a clear, grassy area shaped like a ship and rimmed with steep, packed-earth sides. Its dimensions are close to those given in Genesis: 'The length of the ark shall be 300 cubits, the breadth of it 50 cubits, and the height of it 30 cubits,' that is, 450x75x45 feet. A quick two-day survey revealed no sign that the object was man made. Yet a scientist in the group says, `nothing in nature could create such a symmetrical shape. A thorough excavation may be made another year to solve the mystery'."

The splayed, 186 foot wide remains of the `Nu'hun Gemisi', Turkish for `Noah's Ship', allowed Wyatt to calculate that the ship would have measured almost 86 feet wide, 51 ½ feet high and 515 feet long. Not until 1977 was he able to travel to the site which is located near the village of `Dogubeyazit' near the Iranian border. On this visit, having obtained all necessary permits, he was shown several very large anchor stones several of which had 8 crosses carved in its surface. In a very ancient looking grave yard he was shown tombstones showing a simple rendition of a three story ship. He photographed these but when toward the end of his stay the locals tried to rob him and he had to flee he lost some of these images.

A very ancient house with thick stone walls and a spread out area of stone fences seemed to Ron that this could have been the site of Noah's post Flood home. In the summer they would have lived in tents and in the winter in a protective stone house as local people still do today. Not far behind the ruins of this `house' was a park like hilly area. In the middle of the hill he photographed a 12x12x12 foot, sqarish, altar like stone pile. The evidence in the surrounding rock fenced area showed signs of preparing animals for sacrifice, all of which Ron documented at the time.

While all indicators seem to confirm that the ark has been found, we do not know where it was constructed. Remains of what appears to be mineralized wood, even laminated wood with nails, have been found but its origin can hardly be determined. While hurricanes can be devastating, they are no match to the Noachian Flood which was driven more by simultaneous tectonic upheavals which wiped out any Pre-Flood landmarks.

The story of Noah and the Flood was kept alive as folklore in a number of cultures. In Sanskrit, we are told, the name `Manu' is very likely derived from Noah (MaNU=Noah?).

News of the 1978 earthquake in the area of the ark remains prompted Ron to return to the location in 1979. He found `evenly spaced indentations on the ark like object, which looked like decaying rib timbers. The earthquake had also cracked the remains of the ark from "stem to stern" and Ron, having government permits, was able to take samples from deep within. He also took samples of material outside of the object for comparison. Galbraith Labs in Knoxville, Tennessee tested the samples and determined the outside sample contained 1.88% carbon; but the one from inside the crack yielded a 4.95% carbon, an amount that was consistent with the presence of prior living matter, such as decayed or petrified wood. Hopefully, in time, more data will show this pattern better. The lab results also showed a surprisingly high iron content.

Quite a ways up the mountainside, Ron and his guide found the very interesting section of earth measuring 120 x 40 feet, which was rimmed by what appeared to be petrified wood, and within its perimeter was a massive amount of strange looking "rock". This "rock" was quite heavy and tinged green in places, and therefore Ron believed it to be some type of metal. He had an idea as to what the wood perimeter was but perhaps a lab analysis of the "rock" material would help confirm his idea. Ron suspected that the `metallic (84.14% manganese dioxide)' remains above the site was actually a portion of the bottom of the ship which had sunk into the mud as the flood waters subsided. When the earth was dried, this section was firmly embedded in the ground, and as the ark was swept down the mountainside, this portion was ripped away.

Since the boat shaped object is located in a mud-flow which contains remnants of volcanic rock, Ron believed this mud-flow was actually a deteriorated lava flow [1500]. The boat shaped object looked exactly like a ship wreck, but it was impaled on a very large outcropping of limestone directly through from the western side to its mid-section. To Ron, it looked as if the ship had been transported down the mountainside by the lava flow (which covered the ship) and, sliding sideways, it was impaled on this large outcropping of limestone which caused it to be "racked", exactly like a car, that it literally wrapped around a `telephone pole'.

The strange looking "rock" he found within this perimeter was very similar in appearance to "rock" he found just below the lower section of the ship's tip - a broken off section.

He theorized that this was ballast material placed in the hull of the Ark, and when the portion of the bottom was ripped off, a large amount of ballast fell out. Other ballast which remained in the intact portion of the ark was now falling out from the broken off lower section.

Mr. Wyatt's last trip to Turkey was in 1984. Since then Turkish scientists confirmed Ron's metal detecting outlines above the interior of the `ark'. But even today, the doubting `Thomases' are still not seeing the light and want to find the ark on the Greater Mt. Ararat itself. Whatever the object is sticking out of the snow - is it a ship? Or is it a barn? Or is it the first, old Hyatt Regency Hotel?

Subsequent investigations showed that the `ark' site was a much venerated place and had been visited anciently by many people, some of whom were buried there. Today the site is fenced in and protected by the Turkish government.

Top - stern
Bottom - bow
Intrusive rock - A,12-14;
Rib timbers - A,1-10;
Rivets - A,1-22;

We believe enough evidence has been found to affirm that the remains of the Ark of Noah have been located. Therefore, we believe now that the Flood (and the Exodus Account) are new pillars upon which we can rely and which validate the Old Testament historical aspects against everything that has been said before on this topic. History has come full circle, the pendulum swings now the other way.

Finding several large, industrial size, mineralized metal alloy rivet like fasteners with a washer at the site of the `Ark of Noah' in southern Turkey, has been an eye opener for those who saw the reports. These rivets with their washer measure about 5 inches in diameter. Here is what was found.

Following the biblical account closely, the ark was built from pre-Flood materials. Since that world vanished we cannot determine today where around the globe the ark was constructed and how far it drifted during the ca. 140 day period it was afloat (Gen. 7:11 & 8:4). We can also deduce that the long life attributed to the pre-Flood patriarchs lend itself wonderfully in learning the science of all there was to learn in their time. When the plans for building this big ship were made, we ought not to be surprised that the need for rivet like connectors was clearly recognized and a given in order to hold the mighty planks of wood together. Producing glue by burning bones and boiling hide was also easily within the realm of experimental discoveries among the workmen of Noah. Since they could produce metal implements, they probably also could produce metals of varying degrees of hardness, by accident or after time by design, to be used as tools, nails, flat irons, joints, rivets, metal wedges, cooking pots and perhaps metal crucibles to name a few. While in science as understood today, only real evidence can be used to postulate such points made just now, we are happy to say, that ancient, various metals containing objects were found in the vicinity of the ark. Because of their composition, these are not easily explained as natural occurring finds, but must have been man made. As of now no scientific excavation of the ark has taken place, only random finds from likely spots have been preserved so far. We think we know at least one main expectation of the Turkish government with respect to which archaeological team would be allowed to dig there.

Hello, I.R., a New Zealand man interested in boats and biblical stuff, phoned me and asked if I could calculate the distance between two GPS locations that he recorded in eastern Turkey, shortly after the GPS error was removed from the satellite transmission.

The numbers he got were ...

Top:

North 39 deg 26.395 decimal
East 044 deg 14.017

Bottom:

North 39 deg 26.475
East 044 deg 14.108

The answer popped up on the computer screen and he said, "157 metres."
So I asked what is that in feet and he changed the program to show feet, and he said, "516 feet."
Then the number 20.623 inches per cubit came to mind, so I got him to alter the program once more.
The answer that popped up on the screen .... 300 cubits.

I then directed one of the computers there to `www.anchorstone.com' and found the 1959 aerial photograph of Noah's ark.

With my experience with GPS, I would put the error at less than 2 meters.

The official recorded elevation measurements were:

Have a merry Christmas, from K.P.

Note: According to the biblical record, the ark of Noah was to be 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide and 30 cubits in height (Genesis 6:15). The length of this cubit was understood to be the Egyptian royal cubit which has been determined to be 20.623 inches in length. This makes sense also in light of Moses having been the man who put together the `toledoth' of Genesis. Measuring the remains of Noah's ark gave 515 feet in length, 138 feet wide after the ark had decayed enough for it to fall apart in such a way that the rib timbers fell by their own weight to their respective sides and the bow and stern falling and each of these producing the additional length and width measurements obtained. The original size in feet was 508 feet in length, 85 feet 9 inches in width and 51 feet 5 inches in height. The interior substructure of what remains of the posts has been estimated to reach from 12 feet in the front to 25 feet in the middle and 8 feet at the rear. The numbers thought to account for what could be discerned from the surface are from front to rear: 12, 16, 22, 25, 21, 16, 13, 8 - in regular intervals. As the remains of the ark indicate, the ship was not built like a box but in regular ship shape, so to speak.

Numbers like that, as well as site artifacts, speak for themselves. They are concrete evidence that something important may be discovered at the location. Something which promises to provide the long sought answers to what happened in those long gone days otherwise only known from the biblical record. The data provided above are better data than mute fossils could ever provide even though such were found at Noah's ark site too and we shall discuss them. We have actual, physical size measurements in close agreement with the biblical record.

Organic derived remains discovered included petrified wood with what appear to be nails, evidence of wood glue apparently used to glue flat wood together, fossilized finger bones, most closely matching those of human fingers, which by comparison are larger than fingers humans have today. Items which appear to be fossilized fruits of the size of a cantaloupe, and miscellaneous bones. How these relate to the ark itself may be more difficult to determine, but they appear to have been buried within the confines of the ark since the time the ship landed or very close to it. Why human appearing bones were found at the location may not be obvious today.

The chemical analysis of a rivet revealed 21.1% Silicon, 8.67% Iron, 8.51% Aluminum, 2.52% Potassium, 2.55% Calcium, 2.48% Sodium, 1.61% Titanium, 1.33% Magnesium, 0.47% Phosphorous, 0.17% Manganese and 0.13% Carbon. All other elements were less than 0.1%. The low Carbon content makes it non-organic.

That after some 4400 years this array of metals was still detected is quite a surprise and shows the antiquity of the material from a time when anything that looked like metal containing rock was molten down and made into desired implements.

"The Possible Oxide Composition Location 2 of a "Rivet".
Note: When an object undergoes the process of fossilization, as its material decays it is replaced by material in the surrounding soil or water. The analysis revealed exactly what would be expected to be found in a fossilized metal washer and rivet (non-living matter) attached to a piece of fossilized wood (once living matter, See below).

The calculated numbers obtained were:

45.20% SiO₂
15.84% Al₂O₃
10.02% Fe₂O₃
03.97% CaO
03.44% Na₂O
03.00% K₂O
02.93% TiO₂
01.98% MgO
01.23% P₂O₅
00.30% MnO₂

In the days of Noah a double curse was resting upon the earth in consequence of Adam's transgression and of the murder committed by Cain.[2500] Yet this had not greatly changed the face of nature. There were evident tokens of decay, but the earth was still rich and beautiful in the gifts of God's providence. The hills were crowned with majestic trees supporting the fruit-laden branches of the vine. The vast, gardenlike plains were clothed with verdure, and sweet with the fragrance of a thousand flowers. The fruits of the earth were in great variety, and almost without limit. The trees far surpassed in size, beauty, and perfect proportion any now to be found; their wood was of fine grain and hard substance, closely resembling stone, and hardly less enduring.[2510] Gold, silver, and precious stones existed in abundance.

The human race yet retained much of its early vigor. But a few generations had passed since Adam had access to the tree which was to prolong life; and man's existence was still measured by centuries. Had that long-lived people, with their rare powers to plan and execute, devoted themselves to the service of God, they would have made their Creator's name a praise in the earth, and would have answered the purpose for which He gave them life. But they failed to do this. There were many giants, men of great stature and strength, renowned for wisdom, skillful in devising the most cunning and wonderful works; but their guilt in giving loose rein to iniquity was in proportion to their skill and mental ability.

God bestowed upon these antediluvians many and rich gifts; but they used His bounties to glorify themselves, and turned them into a curse by fixing their affections upon the gifts instead of the Giver. They employed the gold and silver, the precious stones and the choice wood, in the construction of habitations for themselves, and endeavored to excel one another in beautifying their dwellings with the most skillful workmanship. They sought only to gratify the desires of their own proud hearts, and reveled in scenes of pleasure and wickedness. Not desiring to retain God in their knowledge, they soon came to deny His existence. They adored nature in place of the God of nature. They glorified human genius, worshiped the works of their own hands, and taught their children to bow down to graven images.

In the green fields and under the shadow of the goodly trees they set up the altars of their idols. Extensive groves, that retained their foliage throughout the year, were dedicated to the worship of false gods. With these groves were connected beautiful gardens, their long, winding avenues overhung with fruit-bearing trees of all descriptions, adorned with statuary, and furnished with all that could delight the senses or minister to the voluptuous desires of the people, and thus allure them to participate in the idolatrous worship.

Men put God out of their knowledge and worshiped the creatures of their own imagination; and as the result, they became more and more debased. The psalmist describes the effect produced upon the worshiper by the adoration of idols. He says, "They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them." Psalm 115:8. It is a law of the human mind that by beholding we become changed. Man will rise no higher than his conceptions of truth, purity, and holiness. If the mind is never exalted above the level of humanity, if it is not uplifted by faith to contemplate infinite wisdom and love, the man will be constantly sinking lower and lower. The worshipers of false gods clothed their deities with human attributes and passions, and thus their standard of character was degraded to the likeness of sinful humanity. They were defiled in consequence. "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. . . . The earth also was corrupt before God; and the earth was filled with violence." Gen. 6:5,11. God had given men His commandments as a rule of life, but His law was transgressed, and every conceivable sin was the result. The wickedness of men was open and daring, justice was trampled in the dust, and the cries of the oppressed reached unto heaven.

Polygamy had been early introduced, contrary to the divine arrangement at the beginning. The Lord gave to Adam one wife, showing His order in that respect. But after the Fall, men chose to follow their own sinful desires; and as the result, crime and wretchedness rapidly increased. Neither the marriage relation nor the rights of property were respected. Whoever coveted the wives or the possessions of his neighbor, took them by force, and men exulted in their deeds of violence. They delighted in destroying the life of animals; and the use of flesh for food rendered them still more cruel and bloodthirsty, until they came to regard human life with astonishing indifference.

The world was in its infancy; yet iniquity had become so deep and widespread that God could no longer bear with it; and He said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth." He declared that His Spirit should not always strive with the guilty race. If they did not cease to pollute with their sins the world and its rich treasures, He would blot them from His creation, and would destroy the things with which He had delighted to bless them; He would sweep away the beasts of the field, and the vegetation which furnished such an abundant supply of food, and would transform the fair earth into one vast scene of desolation and ruin.

The 120 Year Countdown

Amid the prevailing corruption, Methuselah, Noah, and many others labored to keep alive the knowledge of the true God and to stay the tide of moral evil. A hundred and twenty years before the Flood, the Lord by a holy angel declared to Noah His purpose, and directed him to build an ark. While building the ark he was to preach that God would bring a flood of water upon the earth to destroy the wicked. Those who would believe the message, and would prepare for that event by repentance and reformation, should find pardon and be saved. Enoch had repeated to his children what God had shown him in regard to the Flood, and Methuselah and his sons, who lived to hear the preaching of Noah, assisted in building the ark. God gave Noah the exact dimensions of the ark and explicit directions in regard to its construction in every particular. Human wisdom could not have devised a structure of so great strength and durability. God was the designer, and Noah the master builder. It was constructed like the hull of a ship, that it might float upon the water, but in some respects it more nearly resembled a house. It was three stories high, with but one door, which was in the side. The light was admitted at the top, and the different apartments were so arranged that all were lighted. (Gen. 6:15,16) The material employed in the construction of the ark was the cypress, or gopher wood, which would be untouched by decay for hundreds of years. The building of this immense structure was a slow and laborious process. On account of the great size of the trees and the nature of the wood, much more labor was required then than now to prepare timber, even with the greater strength which men then possessed. All that man could do was done to render the work perfect, yet the ark could not of itself have withstood the storm which was to come upon the earth. God alone could preserve His servants upon the tempestuous waters.

"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." Hebrews 11:7. While Noah was giving his warning message to the world, his works testified of his sincerity. It was thus that his faith was perfected and made evident. He gave the world an example of believing just what God says. All that he possessed, he invested in the ark. As he began to construct that immense boat on dry ground, multitudes came from every direction to see the strange sight and to hear the earnest, fervent words of the singular preacher. Every blow struck upon the ark was a witness to the people.

Many at first appeared to receive the warning; yet they did not turn to God with true repentance. They were unwilling to renounce their sins. During the time that elapsed before the coming of the Flood, their faith was tested, and they failed to endure the trial. Overcome by the prevailing unbelief, they finally joined their former associates in rejecting the solemn message. Some were deeply convicted, and would have heeded the words of warning; but there were so many to jest and ridicule, that they partook of the same spirit, resisted the invitations of mercy, and were soon among the boldest and most defiant scoffers; for none are so reckless and go to such lengths in sin as do those who have once had light, but have resisted the convicting Spirit of God.

The men of that generation were not all, in the fullest acceptation of the term, idolaters. Many professed to be worshipers of God. They claimed that their idols were representations of the Deity, and that through them the people could obtain a clearer conception of the divine Being. This class were foremost in rejecting the preaching of Noah. As they endeavored to represent God by material objects, their minds were blinded to His majesty and power; they ceased to realize the holiness of His character, or the sacred, unchanging nature of His requirements. As sin became general, it appeared less and less sinful, and they finally declared that the divine law was no longer in force; that it was contrary to the character of God to punish transgression; and they denied that His judgments were to be visited upon the earth. Had the men of that generation obeyed the divine law, they would have recognized the voice of God in the warning of His servant; but their minds had become so blinded by rejection of light that they really believed Noah's message to be a delusion.

It was not multitudes or majorities that were on the side of right. The world was arrayed against God's justice and His laws, and Noah was regarded as a fanatic. Satan, when tempting Eve to disobey God, said to her, "Ye shall not surely die." Genesis 3:4. Great men, worldly, honored, and wise men, repeated the same. "The threatenings of God," they said, "are for the purpose of intimidating, and will never be verified. You need not be alarmed. Such an event as the destruction of the world by the God who made it, and the punishment of the beings He has created, will never take place. Be at peace; fear not. Noah is a wild fanatic." The world made merry at the folly of the deluded old man. Instead of humbling the heart before God, they continued their disobedience and wickedness, the same as though God had not spoken to them through His servant.

But Noah stood like a rock amid the tempest. Surrounded by popular contempt and ridicule, he distinguished himself by his holy integrity and unwavering faithfulness. A power attended his words, for it was the voice of God to man through His servant. Connection with God made him strong in the strength of infinite power, while for one hundred and twenty years his solemn voice fell upon the ears of that generation in regard to events, which, so far as human wisdom could judge, were impossible.

Pre-Flood Scientists Declared A Flood As Impossible

The world before the Flood reasoned that for centuries the laws of nature had been fixed. The recurring seasons had come in their order. Heretofore rain had never fallen; the earth had been watered by a mist or dew, Genesis 3:8.[2605] The rivers had never yet passed their boundaries, but had borne their waters safely to the sea. Fixed decrees had kept the waters from overflowing their banks. But these reasoners did not recognize the hand of Him who had stayed the waters, saying, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further." Job 38:7-11.

As time passed on, with no apparent change in nature, men whose hearts had at times trembled with fear, began to be reassured. They reasoned, as many reason now, that nature is above the God of nature, and that her laws are so firmly established that God Himself could not change them. Reasoning that if the message of Noah were correct, nature would be turned out of her course, they made that message, in the minds of the world, a delusion--a grand deception. They manifested their contempt for the warning of God by doing just as they had done before the warning was given. They continued their festivities and their gluttonous feasts; they ate and drank, planted and builded, laying their plans in reference to advantages they hoped to gain in the future; and they went to greater lengths in wickedness, and in defiant disregard of God's requirements, to testify that they had no fear of the Infinite One. They asserted that if there were any truth in what Noah had said, the men of renown--the wise, the prudent, the great men--would understand the matter.

Had the antediluvians believed the warning, and repented of their evil deeds, the Lord would have turned aside His wrath, as He afterward did from Nineveh, Jonah 3:9,10. But by their obstinate resistance to the reproofs of conscience and the warnings of God's prophet, that generation filled up the measure of their iniquity, and became ripe for destruction.

The period of their probation was about to expire. Noah had faithfully followed the instructions which he had received from God. The ark was finished in every part as the Lord had directed, and was stored with food for man and beast. And now the servant of God made his last solemn appeal to the people. With an agony of desire that words cannot express, he entreated them to seek a refuge while it might be found. Again they rejected his words, and raised their voices in jest and scoffing. Suddenly a silence fell upon the mocking throng. Beasts of every description, the fiercest as well as the most gentle, were seen coming from mountain and forest and quietly making their way toward the ark. A noise as of a rushing wind was heard, and lo, birds were flocking from all directions, their numbers darkening the heavens, and in perfect order they passed to the ark. Animals obeyed the command of God, while men were disobedient. Guided by holy angels, they "went in two and two unto Noah into the ark," and the clean beasts by sevens.[2680] The world looked on in wonder, some in fear. Philosophers were called upon to account for the singular occurrence, but in vain. It was a mystery which they could not fathom. But men had become so hardened by their persistent rejection of light that even this scene produced but a momentary impression. As the doomed race beheld the sun shining in its glory, and the earth clad in almost Eden beauty, they banished their rising fears by boisterous merriment, and by their deeds of violence they seemed to invite upon themselves the visitation of the already awakened wrath of God.

God commanded Noah, "Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation." Noah's warnings had been rejected by the world, but his influence and example resulted in blessings to his family. As a reward for his faithfulness and integrity, God saved all the members of his family with him. What encouragement to parental fidelity!

After 120 years of Noah preaching about the need to repent and make things right with God, only his family was saved. All his preaching may seem to us as a failure, however, it teaches us that God does not regard numbers but what is in the heart of man only. We recall, when Enoch was 365 years old, God took him, for he was just.

The 7 Day Countdown

Mercy had ceased its pleadings for the guilty race. The beasts of the field and the birds of the air had entered the place of refuge. Noah and his household were within the ark, "and the Lord shut him in." A flash of dazzling light was seen, and a cloud of glory more vivid than the lightning descended from heaven and hovered before the entrance of the ark. The massive door, which it was impossible for those within to close, was slowly swung to its place by unseen hands. Noah was shut in, and the rejecters of God's mercy were shut out. The seal of Heaven was on that door; God had shut it, and God alone could open it. [2700] So when Christ shall cease His intercession for guilty men, before His coming in the clouds of heaven, the door of mercy will be shut. Then divine grace will no longer restrain the wicked, and Satan will have full control of those who have rejected mercy. They will endeavor to destroy God's people; but as Noah was shut into the ark, so the righteous will be shielded by divine power.

For seven days after Noah and his family entered the ark, there appeared no sign of the coming storm. During this period their faith was tested. It was a time of triumph to the world without. The apparent delay confirmed them in the belief that Noah's message was a delusion, and that the Flood would never come.[2720] Notwithstanding the solemn scenes which they had witnessed--the beasts and birds entering the ark, and the angel of God closing the door--they still continued their sport and revelry, even making a jest of these signal manifestations of God's power. They gathered in crowds about the ark, deriding its inmates with a daring violence which they had never ventured upon before.

But upon the eighth day dark clouds overspread the heavens. There followed the muttering of thunder and the flash of lightning. Soon large drops of rain began to fall. The world had never witnessed anything like this, and the hearts of men were struck with fear. We learn now the last words and thoughts of the people, Gen. 5:29; 6:5. All were secretly inquiring, "Can it be that Noah was in the right, and that the world is doomed to destruction?" Darker and darker grew the heavens, and faster came the falling rain. The beasts were roaming about in the wildest terror, and their discordant cries seemed to moan out their own destiny and the fate of man. Then "the fountains of the great deep" were "broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened." Water appeared to come from the clouds in mighty cataracts. Rivers broke away from their boundaries, and overflowed the valleys. Jets of water burst from the earth with indescribable force, throwing massive rocks hundreds of feet into the air, and these, in falling, buried themselves deep in the ground.

How the Impossible Happened On Schedule

The people first beheld the destruction of the works of their own hands. Their splendid buildings, and the beautiful gardens and groves where they had placed their idols, were destroyed by lightning from heaven, and the ruins were scattered far and wide.[2800] The altars on which human sacrifices had been offered were torn down, and the worshipers were made to tremble at the power of the living God, and to know that it was their corruption and idolatry which had called down their destruction.

As the violence of the storm increased, trees, buildings, rocks, and earth were hurled in every direction. The terror of man and beast was beyond description. Above the roar of the tempest was heard the wailing of a people that had despised the authority of God. Satan himself, who was compelled to remain in the midst of the warring elements, feared for his own existence. He had delighted to control so powerful a race, and desired them to live to practice their abominations and continue their rebellion against the Ruler of heaven. He now uttered imprecations against God, charging Him with injustice and cruelty. Many of the people, like Satan, blasphemed God, and had they been able, they would have torn Him from the throne of power. Others were frantic with fear, stretching their hands toward the ark and pleading for admittance. But their entreaties were in vain. Conscience was at last aroused to know that there is a God who ruleth in the heavens. They called upon Him earnestly, but His ear was not open to their cry. In that terrible hour they saw that the transgression of God's law had caused their ruin. Yet while, through fear of punishment, they acknowledged their sin, they felt no true contrition, no abhorrence of evil. They would have returned to their defiance of Heaven, had the judgment been removed. So when God's judgments shall fall upon the earth before its deluge by fire, the impenitent will know just where and what their sin is--the despising of His holy law. Yet they will have no more true repentance than did the old-world sinners.

Some in their desperation endeavored to break into the ark, but the firm-made structure withstood their efforts. Some clung to the ark until they were borne away by the surging waters, or their hold was broken by collision with rocks and trees. The massive ark trembled in every fiber as it was beaten by the merciless winds and flung from billow to billow. The cries of the beasts within expressed their fear and pain. But amid the warring elements it continued to ride safely. Angels that excel in strength were commissioned to preserve it.

The beasts, exposed to the tempest, rushed toward man, as though expecting help from him. Some of the people bound their children and themselves upon powerful animals, knowing that these were tenacious of life, and would climb to the highest points to escape the rising waters. Some fastened themselves to lofty trees on the summit of hills or mountains; but the trees were uprooted, and with their burden of living beings were hurled into the seething billows. One spot after another that promised safety was abandoned. As the waters rose higher and higher, the people fled for refuge to the loftiest mountains. Often man and beast would struggle together for a foothold, until both were swept away.

From the highest peaks men looked abroad upon a shoreless ocean.[2900] The solemn warnings of God's servant no longer seemed a subject for ridicule and scorning. How those doomed sinners longed for the opportunities which they had slighted! How they pleaded for one hour's probation, one more privilege of mercy, one call from the lips of Noah! But the sweet voice of mercy was no more to be heard by them. Love, no less than justice, demanded that God's judgments should put a check on sin. The avenging waters swept over the last retreat, and the despisers of God perished in the black depths.

"By the word of God . . . the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." 2 Peter 3:5-7. Another storm is coming. The earth will again be swept by the desolating wrath of God, and sin and sinners will be destroyed.

Countdown To Our Civilizations End

The sins that called for vengeance upon the antediluvian world exist today. The fear of God is banished from the hearts of men, and His law is treated with indifference and contempt. The intense worldliness of that generation is equaled by that of the generation now living. Said Christ, "As in the days that were before the Flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the Flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matthew 24:38, 39. God did not condemn the antediluvians for eating and drinking; He had given them the fruits of the earth in great abundance to supply their physical wants. Their sin consisted in taking these gifts without gratitude to the Giver, and debasing themselves by indulging appetite without restraint. It was lawful for them to marry. Marriage was in God's order; it was one of the first institutions which He established. He gave special directions concerning this ordinance, clothing it with sanctity and beauty; but these directions were forgotten, and marriage was perverted and made to minister to passion.

A similar condition of things exists now. That which is lawful in itself is carried to excess. Appetite is indulged without restraint. Professed followers of Christ are today eating and drinking with the drunken, while their names stand in honored church records. Intemperance benumbs the moral and spiritual powers and prepares the way for indulgence of the lower passions. Multitudes feel under no moral obligation to curb their sensual desires, and they become the slaves of lust. Men are living for the pleasures of sense; for this world and this life alone. Extravagance pervades all circles of society. Integrity is sacrificed for luxury and display. They that make haste to be rich pervert justice and oppress the poor, and "slaves and souls of men" are still bought and sold. Fraud and bribery and theft stalk unrebuked in high places and in low. The issues of the press teem with records of murder--crimes so cold-blooded and causeless that it seems as though every instinct of humanity were blotted out. And these atrocities have become of so common occurrence that they hardly elicit a comment or awaken surprise. The spirit of anarchy is permeating all nations, and the outbreaks that from time to time excite the horror of the world are but indications of the pent-up fires of passion and lawlessness that, having once escaped control, will fill the earth with woe and desolation. The picture which Inspiration has given of the antediluvian world represents too truly the condition to which modern society is fast hastening. Even now, in the present century, and in professedly Christian lands, there are crimes daily perpetrated as black and terrible as those for which the old-world sinners were destroyed.

Before the Flood God sent Noah to warn the world, that the people might be led to repentance, and thus escape the threatened destruction. As the time of Christ's second appearing draws near, the Lord sends His servants with a warning to the world to prepare for that great event. Multitudes have been living in transgression of God's law, and now He in mercy calls them to obey its sacred precepts. All who will put away their sins by repentance toward God and faith in Christ are offered pardon. But many feel that it requires too great a sacrifice to put away sin. Because their life does not harmonize with the pure principles of God's moral government, they reject His warnings and deny the authority of His law.

Of the vast population of the earth before the Flood, only eight souls believed and obeyed God's word through Noah. For a hundred and twenty years the preacher of righteousness warned the world of the coming destruction, but his message was rejected and despised (Genesis 6:3; 2.Peter 2:5). So it will be now. Before the Lawgiver shall come to punish the disobedient, transgressors are warned to repent, and return to their allegiance; but with the majority these warnings will be in vain. Says the apostle Peter, "There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning." 2 Peter 3:3, 4. Do we not hear these very words repeated, not merely by the openly ungodly, but by many who occupy the pulpits of our land? "There is no cause for alarm," they cry. "Before Christ shall come, all the world is to be converted, and righteousness is to reign for a thousand years. Peace, peace! all things continue as they were from the beginning. Let none be disturbed by the exciting message of these alarmists." But this doctrine of the millennium does not harmonize with the teachings of Christ and His apostles. Jesus asked the significant question, "When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:8. And, as we have seen, He declares that the state of the world will be as in the days of Noah. Paul warns us that we may look for wickedness to increase as the end draws near: "The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." 1 Timothy 4:1. The apostle says that "in the last days perilous times shall come." 2 Timothy 3:1. And he gives a startling list of sins that will be found among those who have a form of godliness.

As the time of their probation was closing, the antediluvians gave themselves up to exciting amusements and festivities. Those who possessed influence and power were bent on keeping the minds of the people engrossed with mirth and pleasure, lest any should be impressed by the last solemn warning. Do we not see the same repeated in our day? While God's servants are giving the message that the end of all things is at hand, the world is absorbed in amusements and pleasure seeking. There is a constant round of excitement that causes indifference to God and prevents the people from being impressed by the truths which alone can save them from the coming destruction.

In Noah's day philosophers declared that it was impossible for the world to be destroyed by water; so now there are men of science who endeavor to show that the world cannot be destroyed by fire--that this would be inconsistent with the laws of nature. But the God of nature, the Maker and Controller of her laws, can use the works of His hands to serve His own purpose.

When great and wise men had proved to their satisfaction that it was impossible for the world to be destroyed by water, when the fears of the people were quieted, when all regarded Noah's prophecy as a delusion, and looked upon him as a fanatic--then it was that God's time had come. "The fountains of the great deep" were "broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened," and the scoffers were overwhelmed in the waters of the Flood. With all their boasted philosophy, men found too late that their wisdom was foolishness, that the Lawgiver is greater than the laws of nature, and that Omnipotence is at no loss for means to accomplish His purposes. "As it was in the days of Noah," "even thus shall it be in the days when the Son of man is revealed." Luke 17:26, 30. "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10. When the reasoning of philosophy has banished the fear of God's judgments; when religious teachers are pointing forward to long ages of peace and prosperity, and the world are absorbed in their rounds of business and pleasure, planting and building, feasting and merrymaking, rejecting God's warnings and mocking His messengers--then it is that sudden destruction cometh upon them, and they shall not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:3. [EGW, Patriarchs and Prophets, Chapter 7; It is remarkable how the author described the appearance of the ark about a hundred years ago, especially since in her days they did not yet have freighters or container ships as we do today. In her days ships still had the older style sailboat shape. To see more click Ch. 11, 50, 51, 59, 73.]

[005] Genesis 7:7 states that Noah entered into the ark and seven days later the Flood started but verse 13 states that "on the very day [when the rain began] Noah ... entered the ark" meaning apparently that filling it with all its passengers occurred over a period of seven days. However, sometimes Hebrew authors, explain something in more detail and then go back again to the start of an event and continue from there. So, it may not be all that clear that Noah was not in the ark for those seven days.

[0010] See the professional and informative Tas Walker's website.
These stages are found in Genesis itself:
(1) inundatory "windows of the heavens were opened and the rain was upon the earth 40 days and nights" (Gen. 7:11b,12);
(2) eruptive "the same day were all the fountains of the great deep were broken up" (Gen. 7:11);
(3) ascending "the waters increased" (Gen. 7:17);
(4) zenithic "the flood was 40 days upon the earth ... and the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth and all the high hills ... were covered 15 cubits upward ... and the mountains were covered" (Gen. 7:17,19);
(5) recessive "the fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped ... and the waters returned from off the earth continually" (Gen. 8:2,3);
(6) abative "and after the end of the 150 days the waters were abated" (Gen. 8:3);
(7) dispersive "and the waters decreased continually until the 10th month ...the tops of the mountains were seen" (Gen. 8:5).

[0500] According to Young's Concordance, "Armenia, according to tradition, was settled by Haik, son of Togarnah, and grandson of Japhet (Gen. 10:3); it is noticed in Scripture under the names Togarnath and Ararat. The country, afterwards divided into Lesser and Greater Armenia, was frequently invaded by the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Medes and Persians and for many years remained in subjection to one or other of these empires. The accounts given by Greek and Roman writers are at variance with those of the Armenian historians. M. ST. Martin has investigated the subject with diligence, and upon his work the following chronological table is based:
In BC 2107, Haik, fleeing from Belus king of Assyria, settles in Armenia, and becomes its first ruler;
1827: accession of Aram, who carries his arms into Asia Minor and founds Mazaca , i.e. Cæsareia of Cappadocia.
1725: Armenia becomes subject to Assyria.
743: Baroïr renders it independent.
565: accession of Tigranes, who restores it to its ancient position.
323: on the death of Alexander it falls under the sway of Greek governors.
317: under Ardoates it throws off the Grecian yoke.
149: Valarsaces or Wagharshag I., founds the dynasty of the Arsacidæ.
34: Anthony leads its sovereign captive to Alexandria.
30: on the death of Anthony, Artaxes expels the Romans, and is crowned king.
In AD 16: Vonones, king of the Parthians, seeks shelter in Armenia, and is made king.
18: Germanicus makes Zeno king under the name of Artaxias.
62: Tiridates king, by order of Nero.
115: invaded and conquered by Trajan.
232: subjected by Ardashir, king of Persia.
276: Tiridates is converted to Christianity by Gregory (not a pope. Caius was Pope then).
387: Armenia divided between the Romans and the Persians.
428: end of the kingdom of the Arsacidæ. (2.Kings 19:37; Isaiah 37, 38.)

[1000] While Ron Wyatt was not a trained archaeologist and may have presented some things not quite correct or skillfully to support his views, we allow him some mistakes but think his main discovery is not significantly enough discredited by it. After all, if trained archaeologists can make mistakes, do we from then on doubt everything they found? What if they made big chronological errors without `seeing' their error, what then? At any rate our question is, `How can scientists ignore the abundant evidence on earth, yet believe so much about so little on Mars?'

[1100] Reports of additional [at least 2] boat like shapes of smaller sizes near the `ark' site lead some to dismiss the whole area as anything but natural formations. While we know of only one ark and there probably was only one ark, we may want to consider that smaller vessels may have been constructed some time after the flood by the survivors for transportation and before mud flows did their work. [No, I was not able to check if these `boat' like features are photoshop enhancements.]

[1500] According to a recent (2005) visitor to the site, his group thought the soil around the ark was not of (recent) igneous/lava origin but regular mud from occasional flooding. We are not sure how qualified this observation is but would add that the process of decay in that area would be quite rapid and thorough and we should not expect to find the timbers themselves but only the minerals which replaced them. That would mean, someone taking a soil sample for analysis, would need to have an adequate number of well chosen samples for comparison purposes.

[2500] Cain chose to ignore God's instructions on how to sacrifice unto the Lord. Choosing his own way, Cain rebelled against God. Having slighted God's instructions, it was a shorter route to disobey other laws of God - he murdered his own brother. Breaking the 6th commandment, he also coveted, stole from God and he broke the Sabbath, etc. He broke all of God's laws at once, James 2:10. This principle was in place forever. God then put a mark on Cain's forhead, Gen. 4:15. He had declared himself as operating under the rules of the snake, under Satan. He lived now only by his own wits and imaginations. The Spirit of God was surplanted in his heart by the spirit which always tends to evil, cause misery and problems. His merchandise was now only second hand, it consisted only of works. A lost person, as denizen of this world, has nothing other laid out ahead than buying and selling. Such a person's interests revolve around what he can get of the presence of sin, since for certain he will exist only for a season, Hebr. 11:25. "His time is short," like the devils time is short, Rev. 12:12. Cain's mark on his forehead was based on the truth that he went after rulers other than God. His mind was merely horizontally oriented. He had chosen to exalt self and opposition to the divine influence. He would be lost.

[2510] October 8, 2009, CNN/WND reported that 20 or more giant dinosaur footprints were found high in the French Jura mountains where they border on Switzerland. Visitors went for years on the nature foot path through the grassy and soily area without noticing. It takes a trained eye to realize that these almost 1.5 meter diameter prints are footprints, hardened like in a cast, surviving since post Flood times. Of course the officials date them to be some 150 million years old because their geology text book assigns those ages to the area. Those books need radical revision. Man finds the right things, but then misinterprets all the evidence. The fossil record is the testimony, the graveyard, to the Great Flood and its aftermath.
October 2009: Reports surfaced that the remains of a giant sea Plesiosaurus are being excavated in the so-called Jurassic layer on the English coast. Its crocodile like head is supposed to measure some 8 feet, the largest skull found so far. Reports similar to this are not rare.

[2605] The claim that no rain had fallen until the Flood, is lately being challenged on technical, supposedly scientific grounds. But as we know, none of these scientists where there to see it, do measurements, observations or could ask the people. Genesis 2:5 is pre-fall and plainly states that up to that time it had not yet rained. That means that Moses, the editor of Genesis, had this information from a later period. Genesis 3:8 is a record just after the fall. At that time we are told that the Lord was walking in the cool of the day ... It does not say anything about moisture directly but we may understand today such a cooling of the day is not in conflict with the idea that moisture was present to produce it. This together with the information that during the Flood itself, the breaking up of the fountains of the deep (Gen. 7:11) is mentioned, may be a hint to help us understand how the forested lands received moisture. Their sources of water were not solely depending on fog or morning mist. Most likely rivers and creeks were plentyful and never far away like they can be today. That is a strong hint, that up to the time of the Flood no rain had occurred. What this writer would like to point out is that, when Noah constructed the ark, and while working on the project warned the people of a coming Flood, they did not pay attention to him, because such a phenomena was unknown to them. Their continued long ages may also argue for the fact that environmental changes up to that time were initially slow and accelerated more significantly after the Flood event. Climatologists of today, may not be quite correct to project today's data into that period of time. - Therefore, I contend that no rain fell until the time of the Flood.

[2680] It seems that this account of the event does not rule out that examples of each kind of creature entered the ark, i.e. one `dog/wolf' kind etc. We may also assume that the creatures coming were juvenile kinds which probably would hibernate, those who can, for most of the time, thus requiring less feeding. All these possibilities seem not to be contradicted by this writers opinion. This account also teaches that only clean meats may be eaten if vegetables are not available. Meat today, even clean meat, is suspect of many poisons (animals are vaccinated) and the like and do not eat it, if possible at all.

[2700] Noah was not like Cain, he was like Abel. When the world was judged at the Flood, he build the ark for 120 years (Hebr. 11:7) and then he was sealed in the ark for seven days before the waters arrived, Gen. 7:4,10. His period of testing and trial. Those who were not in the ark were destroyed by the catastrophic power of the water which forms now the oceans. Only those eight people inside the ark survived the Flood. All his working on the ark was in cooperation with God, and so God protected his ship from destruction. God could have `raptured' Noah out of the calamities, he could have spoken the ark into existence. Instead, he asked Noah to get a saw, cut wood, get a hammer and some nails and construction began. At the end of the convulsions in nature, Noah sent out the dove and the raven in seven days interval, once more emphasizing the seven day weekly cycle and with it the sanctity of God's holy Sabbath. It is God's rest, and the dove was looking for a place to rest, for an olive twig as a sign of peace.

[2720] These are reactions of those who believed the spiritualistic delusions of Satan. They were in the majority in numbers, wealth and successes in constructing their edifices. That teaches us never to regard these things as decisive evidence if one is led by God or not. Only by looking in the Word of God and comparing the beliefs, the faith, doctrines and its fruits can truth be discerned. Fruits are those of the spirit which does not fight the Word of God in any respect. Their idols and images were precursors of Baal. How Baal worship can be recognized is shown here.

[2800] See possible evidence of pre-Flood monuments by clicking here.

[2900] The evidence of the world wide Flood is persuasive and not undocumented. Atlases may show how the mighty rivers of our age, once had their channels and mouths open into the sea in places now under the oceans. That is true for the Elbe River where it flows into the North Sea as well as the Indus River whose channel and mouth extends over 100 km into the Arabian Sea to a depth of 800-1000 meters. That is true for most of the big rivers on all continents. Much if not all of the pre-Flood civilization lies now under the oceans or is covered up with massive amounts of rocks and soil.