For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, and a time to be far from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to tear, and a time to sow;
A time to keep silent, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time for war, and a time for peace (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).
What has been, is what will be, and what has been done, is that which will be done and there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).
These are the words attributed to Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived. Prophetically, these words encapsulated the reigns of the kings of Israel that succeeded him.
The refrain of the of the kings that succeeded Solomon, is stated over and over. Israel, Judah and the kings by name, did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Judah did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (1 Kings 14:22), Nadab did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (1 Kings 15:26), Baasha did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (1 Kings 15:34), Ahab did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (1 Kings 21:20) and on and on. Israel and to a large degree, Judah, continued the cycle of apostasy. That which was, was that which was done.
The same cycle is repeated in the time of the judges. When Ehud was the judge, Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (Judges 3:12), so did Othniel and Israel when Samson judged Israel.
In both the time of the judges and the kings, Israel continued in a cycle of disobedience to God, God’s judgment on them, Israel’s crying to the Lord, Israel repenting, God sending a deliverer and Israel turning back and falling into sin again.
The same is evident from the covenant that God made with Noah after the flood. Genesis 8:22 states: “While earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will not cease.”
The New Testament is permeated with references to the Old Testament. One example is Matthew 27:37-40. The phrase “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” is a quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5.
Another, when Jesus was asked when the Kingdom of God will come in Luke 17, Jesus refers to the days of Noah and states that it will be like that when the Son of Man comes. He also refers to Lot. “ As it was in the days of Lot, they were eating and drinking and marrying, buying and selling, planting and building, until Lot went out from Sodom.
The repetition of the scripture and endorsement of Paul regarding the fact that all scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16), not only endorse the fact that history is by design, but that the historical cycles repeat itself with different role players.
However, although there was no precedent for a flood, it had not even rained up to this point, God destroys all mankind except Noah and his family who found favour in the eyes of the Lord. God struck Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone when He judged the unrighteousness of the city. This latter also an event without precedent. Just because there was no precedent, does not invalidate the reality of the events.
Today, like in the days of Noah, the Gospel is preached and people are warned of the coming judgment of the world. But just as in the days of Noah the preaching is disregarded. Even after the seals are opened in Revelation 6 and the trumpets are blown in Revelation 8 and 9. Revelation 9:21 reads “nor did they repent of their sorceries, speaking of the end times.
Mistakes will be made and repeated. The unrighteous will become more unrighteous and evil will increase at the time of the end. The indifference and willful ignorance of the Gospel will continue and history will once again repeat itself.
But just as God send His only begotten Son to die on the cross for mankind, an event without precedent, Jesus will descend from heaven with the shout of an archangel at the last trump. Then the dead in Christ will rise and those who are alive will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air. Like the flood, the rapture will be an event without precedent.
Then there will be a tribulation like there has never been before. Unless those days be shortened, no flesh will survive. Immediately after the tribulation, heaven will be opened, and the Rider on a white horse will come with the heavenly armies and cast Satan into the lake of fire and brimstone.
Then all, small and great, rich and poor will appear before the judgement seat of God. Unprecedented? In form yes, but not in substance. God judged Adam and Eve, He judged Israel, His chosen people, and He will certainly judge the sinful world.
Today, when you hear His voice, harden not your heart.
