Structure of the Book of Revelation

GENESIS CHAPTER 7

CHRONOLOGY OF THE DELUGE

NO OF EVENT MONTH DAY GENESIS DAYS

600th year of Noah EMBARKATION INTO ARK 2 17 7:11 40 DAYS OF RAIN 3 27 7:12 WATER PREVAILED 150 DAYS (INCL 40 DAYS OF RAIN) 7 17 7:24 150 ARK RESTED ON MT ARARAT (PEAK OF FLOOD 3 DAYS) 7 17 8:4 3 MOUNTAIN TOPS BECAME VISIBLE 10 1 8:5 150 WATER RECEDED 150 DAYS TOTAL 12 17 8:3 NOAH REMOVED COVERING OF ARK GROUND DRIED UP 1 1 8:13 NOAH SENT OUT A RAVEN & DOVE 1 27 8:6 40 NOAH SENT OUT A DOVE 2ND TIME 2 4 8:10 7 NOAH SENT OUT A DOVE 3RD TIME 2 11 8:12 7 GOD SPOKE TO NOAH TO DISEMBARK 601 YEAR OF NOAH 2 27 8:15-17 6 NOAH AND ANIMALS DISEMBARKED FROM ARK 2 28 8:18-20 1 TOTAL DAYS 364

1 LUNAR YEAR = 354.36 LUNAR DAYS NOAH WAS IN THE ARK FOR 1 YEAR AND 10 DAYS = 364.36

THE ARK – THE KINGDOM OF GOD

The ark symbolized the consummated kingdom of God, the kingdom beyond the Final Judgment typified by the flood waters. The three stories of the ark corresponded to the three stories of the world – the heaven above, the earth beneath and the sphere under the earth. Hence the animals are repeatedly listed as birds of the heaven, cattle and beasts of the earth, and the creeping things of the ground (Gen. 6:7, 20; 7:23; 8:17; cf. 7:14, 21; 8:19). The narrator draws our attention to the microcosm of the ark. Like the creation, the ark had 3 tiers, the heaven, the earth and beneath the earth. It was God himself who provided the architecture of the ark, even as he provided the architecture of the tabernacle or temple (Exodus 25ff; 1 Chronicles 28:19; Hebrews 9:5 cf. Ezekiel 40ff; Revelation 21:10ff.). They were types of the eschatological heaven. By faith Abraham was “looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10).

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GENESIS CHAPTER 7

THE ARK OCCUPANTS – GLORIFIED MANKIND

The eight occupants of the ark are citizens of the recreated world that emerged from the flood. Man was to exercise dominion over the creatures and subdue the realm of nature. Ultimately, God will supernaturally accomplish the eschatological glorification of the new mankind, the new creation. Even as he supernaturally revealed the design of the ark, gathered the occupants, personally enclosed his people within the ark, guarded and guided it securely and triumphantly through the cataclysm and into the new world, so he will gather his people to their heavenly destiny.

1 Peter 3:18-22 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. And corresponding (Greek “antitupos”) to that, baptism now saves you-- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

The apostle Peter perceived that this historical event was the supernatural revelation of the death and resurrection of Christ and the spirit baptism that regenerates and saves the elect in Christ (1 Peter 3:20-21, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Matthew 3:11, John 3:5). Noah underwent a baptismal passage through the sea of death and came forth delivered from its power through faith in the redeemer, just as the redeemed people of God would be brought through the ultimate cataclysm of the Last Judgment, gathered unto God through the resurrection and the rapture. These are God’s people, recreated through glorification as the new mankind in Christ Jesus, and crowned as co-heirs to reign forever with him eternally.

SABBATH CONSECRATION

Interestingly, the ark came to rest on the seventh month, reminding us of the Sabbath consecration of the kingdom of God. Lamech had named his son, Noah saying, "This one shall give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed" (Genesis 3:28-29). The narrator used the name Noah (Hebrew Noach) in a word play for the ark coming to rest (Hebrew nuach). This is the same Hebrew word in Exodus 20:11 for God’s sabbatical rest on the seventh day of creation. Note also the 7th section of the chiastic structure of the deluge record1 when

1 Refer to Lecture notes of Genesis Chapter 6.

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GENESIS CHAPTER 7

Noah built an altar of consecration to the covenant keeping God. This is the expression of the priestly office of the holy community.2

GOD’S COVENANT OF GRACE WITH NOAH (GENESIS 3:15; 6:9, 18-20)

Genesis 6:8, 9 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.

Noah was righteous and blameless. This is the covenant of grace made with the holy covenant community in Genesis 3:15 and 4:26. The eschatological seed of the woman died for his righteousness and was blameless on his behalf. God kept his promise during the flood judgment. The fulfillment of the covenant is found in Genesis 8:1 “And God remembered (Hebrew: zakar) Noah”. The Hebrew word “zakar” is covenant vocabulary. It serves to describe the one who is mindful of his covenant commitments and proceeds to carry them out (Genesis 9:15, Exodus 2:24, 6:5, 32:13, Leviticus 26:42, 45, Psalms 98:3, 105:8, 106:45, 111:5, Luke 1:72). The deluge is one of a series of redemptive covenants, concerned particularly with a special people sanctified to the Lord, a people to bear his name as his own sanctuary community and to receive the kingdom inheritance.

GOD’S COVENANTAL GRANT TO NOAH’S COVENANT FAITHFULNESS

Ancient Near Eastern rulers often make covenantal grants to meritorious individuals for faithful service. Adam was to be granted the eschatological reward, symbolized by the tree of life if he was faithful. Noah, unlike Adam, is viewed as a covenant servant who had already demonstrated his fidelity. The covenant grant to Noah came under the Covenant of Grace. Noah was the typological representation of the messianic king’s obedience which obtained grace for his people and secured the kingdom and royal priestly blessings for himself and for his people.

2 Kline Theological Seminary, 1986], Meredith G., Kingdom Prologue, [OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2006], pp. 225-230.

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GENESIS CHAPTER 7

GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How do you feel about God’s precision in the chronology of the deluge? Does this remind you of a time or times when God’s providential precision became apparent to you in your Christian experience?

2. What kind of relationship did Noah have with God? How does Noah relate to God? How do you relate to God? Do you see any changes that are needed in your relationship with him or with the people around you?

3. How does one function as prophet, priest and king in the world today? Think of Noah, Abraham, David and others who are regenerated and their examples.

4. What do you see of the love of God in the account of the deluge? Who benefited from God’s love to Noah, his covenant servant?

GENESIS CHAPTER 8

PREP QUESTIONS

1. What was the cause of the water subsiding? (Genesis 8:1). What does this remind you of in Genesis 1:2

2. How many days did it take for the water to subside? (Genesis 8:3). How many days was the ark resting on the mountains of Ararat?

3. What did Jesus say the end time will be like before the second coming of Christ? (Matthew 24:37ff.)

4. Refer to 2 Peter 3:5-7. What does the apostle Peter think of the present world after the flood?

5. According to 2 Peter 3:10-13, how should we then live? Meditate on the implications of such a life.

GENESIS CHAPTER 7