And they went in.... as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in." Genesis 7:16.
Showing the laminated wood up close, together with the glue oozing out. 'Gopher' wood means 'laminated'.
Showing ribs of boat, and below up closer to the ribs.
Another angle below.
One of the large anchor stones, and how they were used to sound the depth under the ark.
Noah's ark in Holland. It is not the true size, although there is a plan to build one according to the Bible's specifications. This one sails up the river as a witness of its Christian builder.
Noah's Ark in Turkey
White building at the top right is the Noah's Ark Visitor's Centre, a Turkish government initiative, in conjunction with Ron Wyatt.
“Listen everyone, there is a flood coming.
It will be a flood of water such as you have never seen before, and everything will be destroyed. This is why I am building the boat. It will be an ark of safety for you. God has a message for every one of you, surrender to Him and repent of your sins. Unless you repent and come into the ark, you will be lost.”
John stood among the crowd listening to Noah.
The boat was being built over the road from his house. This gave him many opportunities to listen to the message of this unusual man. He only had to walk across the paddocks.
Noah fascinated John.
There was something about his sincerity, his zeal, his willingness to continue his mission despite the ridicule and opposition that came from the crowds standing around each day.
The hecklers never gave up.
“Noah, where will the water come from?”
“Tell us old man, where will you float your boat?”
“The ark will be a museum one day.”
Noah spent much time directing the building of the boat and gathering seeds, but every afternoon he spoke to the waiting crowd.
“God will provide the water. My message is to warn you that the flood will come. You must plan to come into the ark. Prepare now for that day.”
“Where will we all fit?”
“There is room for all who will trust God. Give up your sins and come and help spread the message.”
“You want us to help build the boat?”
“There is work for everyone. Go and tell your friends and family that there is not much time to prepare. They must get ready. Warn everyone of the destruction to come.”
As usual, the crowd breaks up in laughter.
But some go away deep in thought -- like John. He wonders if Noah is right. The crime rate is increasing, and maybe God will destroy sin and sinners.
“I wonder if Noah is right.”
John meanders across the paddocks, nodding to friends along the way, but not feeling like stopping to talk. When he arrives home, he finds Mary getting ready to prepare the evening meal.
“Mary, maybe Noah is right.”
“Oh John, stop tormenting yourself. Noah has no evidence for anything he says. He asks you to take his word for everything. How do you know he received his message from God?”
“But he is so zealous.”
“Zealous?”
“Yes, and he lives out his faith in spite of the ridicule. He has a lot of patience. It must be hard to keep building the boat and speaking to the crowds each day.”
“Look, some people are fanatics, and the more you oppose them, the stronger they become.”
“But that would be true if he was right too.”
“John, I’ve told you many times before, his emphasis is wrong. It’s always the flood, the flood.”
“No it’s not. He tells us about Creation, the Sabbath, the fall, sin, sacrifices, Messiah, the new earth.”
“But then he goes on about the flood again.’
“Yes, all those truths are in a setting of the flood, but that’s because the flood is so important to understa…..”
“You sound like you believe it.”
“I’m not sure. If it is true, then I want to know.”
“Well, I am tired of hearing about it. I am going to church on Sabbath. There is a new preacher that everyone is excited about. Maybe he will tell us things we want to know.”
“Who is he?”
“I don’t know, but it will be a relief to hear someone other than Noah. I wish we didn’t live so close, then I wouldn’t have to hear his voice wafting across the paddocks. It depresses me. On and on about the flood. Are you coming with me?”
“No, you can tell me about it.”
After church the next Sabbath, Mary bubbles over. As soon as she walks in the door, she says, “Oh John, that new preacher was wonderful.”
“Did he mention the flood?”
“No, not once.”
“But…..”
“Listen to me. He preached on the truth. It was so good, so spiritually uplifting.
“What truth?”
“THE truth.”
“What did he say?”
“He spoke on the fall of man and how sin came into the world through Adam’s failure to obey God. He told us the reason for sacrificing and the sacrifices, and the love of God. The love of God John.”
“Noah speaks about the love of God.”
“Huh, but Noah has always got his awful flood with it. That’s not love.”
“It is love……”
“John, this preacher gave us the love of God without that big black blotch. It was wonderful. I’m going again next week. Do you want to come?”
“I don’t know.”
“And another thing”, said Mary, “the service was so much more alive than when we used to go. Remember how the services seemed dead, well, this was much more enthusiastic. The music was up-beat, and the songs were wonderful. They make you feel so good. We clapped along with the music and singing. Everyone was so happy.”
“If there is going to be a flood, everyone should be serious, not singing to up-beat music.”
“I’m not going to talk about it any more John. I liked the service, and I am going again.”
The following Sabbath, Mary returns home from church even more excited.
“John, that man has so much depth. He went through the same material again – the fall, sin, sacrifices – but this time he spoke about the meaning of the promise that the seed of the woman would bruise the serpent’s head. Remember that promise?”
“Yes, but I’ve heard Noah speak about that.”
“Not like this man.”
“How do you know, you’ve never heard Noah tell us about the coming of the Messiah. You have never really listened to Noah.”
“I have heard him. I hear him every day, every afternoon.”
“You only hear snatches of sentences from the window. You can’t understand what he is saying from here. You’ve never been to hear him.”
“No, and I don’t want to. He frightens me.”
“He is trying to warn us.”
“Well, I hear the same things from this new preacher. Now I can go to church again and enjoy the service. Hearing about the Messiah is wonderful.”
“Of course.”
“He will do everything when He comes. He will take my penalty for sin. I don’t have to worry about anything.”
“Except a flood.”
“John stop it. I love God, you know that, but I could never find a preacher who could explain the words of Adam and Enoch so that I could understand. Now I have found someone who has a depth of spirituality that gives me hope and courage for the future.”
“What future?”
“The children are growing up. We want the best for them. There is so much to distract them and take their minds from truth.”
“Mmmmm.”
“I am going to take them to Sabbath School from now on. We’ve tried to teach them at home, but it will be good for them to go back to church. We have to be strong so we can lead them to God, don’t we John? John, are you listening to me?”
“Yes Mary.”
“You always fade away when I talk about bringing the children up for the future. Unless we show them how to live for God, they will drift away from the truth and become idolators. Do you want that? John, do you want that?”
“What Mary?”
“Do you want them to become idolaters?’
“Of course not. What gave you that idea?”
“You are going to have to make up your mind. Noah is making you into a zombie.”
“I’m going for a walk.”
“You are going to the boat again, aren’t you?”
“Yes Mary, I must.”
“If only we didn’t live so close.”
“I’ll be back in time for the evening meal.”
John is out the door and heading up the path, but he catches Mary’s last words, “If only he would forget that stupid boat.”
Suddenly there is a knock on the door. Opening it, Mary sees her neighbour from down the street.
“Ann, how lovely to see you. Come in.”
“Hi Mary. Is John going to the boat again?”
“Yes, I can’t seem to knock any sense into him. But anyway, what brings you to our door?”
“I’ve got some good news.”
“We need that around here.”
“Yes. Last night I went to hear an excellent speaker against the flood.”
‘Really. That sounds encouraging. Who is he?”
“Well, he is from the far North, and is touring everywhere to give hope to people who are worried about the flood. He spoke on the other side of town last night, and on Wednesday he will be at our own civic hall.”
“Great.”
“Yes, he is touring all over the world and giving reports of Noah and his activities….”
“Of Noah?”
“Yes. Well, people have heard rumours, and so he gives the facts, and then he gives them the scientific evidence to prove Noah wrong.”
“Is he a scientist?”
“Yes. He graduated from the largest university in the world, but he also has done graduate work in theology. I tell you Mary, this man knows his subject. He can talk about science and religion.”
“I must try and get John to come.”
“Yes, he needs to hear him. One thing he said last night was that it is scientifically impossible for so much water to cover the earth. I mean, where would it come from? Out of thin air? You’ll enjoy him. He’s funny too.”
During the next few days, Mary tries to convince John that he should at least hear the scientific evidence against a flood. Finally John consents to accompany his wife to the meeting.
The hall is packed to over-flowing. Extra seating is placed in the adjoining room to help accommodate the crowds. Mary and John catch glimpses of neighbours and friends among the mass of people.
Everyone is excited, and an air of expectancy pervades the assembly. “Wonder if Noah is here”, says someone rather loudly. Amid chuckles, a smart reply comes back, “He couldn’t fit his boat in?”
The crowd breaks into laughter, and at that moment, the speaker walks onto the platform. Picking up the mood, he says with a smirk, “Well Noah, I’m on your home ground. Are you here to defend your position?”
At this the crowd breaks into a roar of laughter, followed by loud whistles and shouting, then a round of applause, as the speaker holds out his hands in mock disappointment that Noah does not appear to put forward his case.
“He’s making fun of Noah”, whispers John to Mary.
“No, he’s not. Noah should be here to state his case.”
“He does that every day.”
“Shhhhhh”
><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
After the meeting, John is quiet. Mary talks on and on about the scientific evidence, stopping with friends now and then to chat about the ‘absolute proof’ against a flood and the falseness of Noah’s message.
On the way home, Mary continues her enthusiasm.
John remains quiet.
The weeks turn into months, and the years roll by. Soon the children are teenagers and fast becoming like the world.
Mary is well established in the little church where many new preachers continue to give sermons on the love of God, the Messiah, and other aspects of truth. She enjoys the lively service, enthusiastically singing gospel songs with other members of the congregation.
John does not attend church with Mary. He continues to go to the ‘church across the paddock’, on Sabbath and every other day of the week. Noah presents all the same truths that Mary hears, but always in the setting of present truth – the coming of the flood.
Noah’s voice echoes across the paddocks. He can pick up some of the words clearly.
“Come friends. Come… listen to …. message. It is God’s message… you – Repent. Repent people, repent. Give up …. sins and begin … do … will … God. Prepare …. come into the ark – a flood is coming.”
To John, Noah seems in greater earnestness. Is something going to happen? Is the flood about to come? He hurries across the paddocks to hear what the preacher has to say.
“Yes friends, we have studied many truths given to us by God through Adam and Enoch, and these are all truth still. But friends, at this present time there is a message into which all these truths must be set, and that is judgment!
God is about to bring a flood upon the earth, and it will affect every single person. You are now, at this very minute, preparing to receive the mark of death, or the mark of life. It is your reaction to this message of present truth that determines your destiny. It is up to you to decide.”
The crowd is quiet. Even the hecklers listen without their usual interjections.
“Many of you have heard this message for a long time. Some have been coming almost every day for years. It is time you made a decision. Hearing is not enough. You must make a stand.”
John listens deep in thought.
“There are other people who have never been here to listen to the message for this time. They have visited the ark out of curiosity, but as soon as I have risen to speak, they have left. Others haven’t even bothered to come, like the people across the paddocks. They can see the boat from their window. When the flood comes, they will have no excuse.
Even those living many miles away – they could have made the journey. I have been preaching for almost one hundred and twenty years. It is one month away. That is a long time. God has not warned you for just a few days. He is patient and long-suffering, not willing that any should perish.
God loves you. Even while you are yet sinners, God loves you. Even though you are rebelling against Him, He still loves you. It is because of this love that he has given the warning repent. Get ready. Prepare. Soon it will be too late.”
Three days later, a broadcast comes over the local news: METHUSELAH IS DEAD. Reporters pick up the story from Noah, and the news quickly spreads.
“Methuselah, the oldest living man – 969 years – passed away in his sleep during the night. Although he was almost one thousand years of age, Methuselah was a fit man, every day working on the boat with his grandson Noah, and his three great grandsons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. This is a sad passing, however, as Methuselah was a fanatic like his grandfather…. There is a rumour running around that the name of the deceased is prophetic, but we have no evidence of this….”
John runs in the front door, “Mary, Methuselah is dead.”
“Yes, I just heard it on the news. How sad. He was our closest link to Adam and creation. But at least he won’t be embarrassed when the boat can’t be put in water.”
“Mary, Methuselah means ‘after he dies, it will come’.
“No, it means ‘after he dies, it will be sent’.
“Yes Mary – the flood!”
Mary is silent a few moments as she realises the impact of her words, but quickly recovers.
“Don’t be silly John.”
But John is now very quiet. The air is heavy. Mary tries to dispel the depressing spirit with chatter about the scientific evidence, the beautiful day, the love of God.
John remains quiet.
“John, get out of this awful mood. It’s depressing.”
“Mary, I can’t.”
“John, I can’t stand this. I’ve heard about the flood of Noah for too long. I’m tired of it.”
“I feel sure there will be a flood.”
“Oh, what am I going to do with you. If only that flood would come and be all over and done with, and then maybe you’ll get out of this terrible depressing way you’ve been for the last ten or fifteen years. I’ll be glad when it’s all over.”
“Mary, soon it will be all over. I’m going to hear Noah.”
“I can’t stand it John.
As he hurries out the door, Mary calls, “John, do you hear me?
“Yes Mary”.
“I’ll give you one month to make up your mind.”
“Alright Mary”.
Mary shouts from the front door,
“One month John.”
“Yes Mary, one month.”
"And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him into the ark.... They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, ever bird of every sort. And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life." Genesis 7:7.14.15.
Get Ready - the Flood is Coming
"And the flood was forty days upon the earth (it rained 40 days and nights) , and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits up-ward did the waters prevailed; and the mountains were covered.
And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beasts, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.... " Genesis 7:17-24.