Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. – Genesis 6:8 NKJV.

When will the end of the world occur? For many Ukrainians the end of the world is already upon them. For a couple of thousand Ukrainians, they have already left this world for the next because of the Russian onslaught targeting civilians. Genocide does appear to be what is currently ongoing in Ukraine.

The end of the world scenarios are of a couple of types. One is from the actions of human beings. A full-blown nuclear exchange would probably make it happen. Of course, the madman Putin has indicated the possible use of nukes. I think he might use tactical nukes, but is even he crazy enough to fire off a nuke at the United States or other western countries that have nuclear capability? I doubt it, but only God knows.

The second end of the world scenario will come from God Himself, and it is described in detail in the Biblical book of Revelation. The question is what will trigger the return of Jesus in the sky rapturing believers to go with Him to Heaven and the beginning of the Tribulation?

The end of the world has occurred once before in the past and we have a record of the causal reason for it. Here is what we are told in Genesis 6:6-8, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.’ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” I do not think that it is quite that bad on Planet Earth right now, but if we are honest with ourselves, we know it is getting closer.

There is one thing that we do see in this Biblical record that is encouraging for those of us who believe there will be a rapture - a rapture where believers will be taken from this world prior to the horrific Tribulation. What we see here is that God did protect and safeguard the only people on earth at that time who were not wicked evil people. “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”

Who are the people on this earth today who are similar to Noah and His family? Believers! Those who have believed upon Jesus Christ and been “born again – John 3:16).” Who are those today like those who perished in the Noahic flood? All those who do not know Jesus as their Savior. As we are told in Romans 3:23, “for  all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” And we are told this in James 2:10, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”

All of us would perish if not for God’s gift. What is God’s gift? Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came down from the glories of Heaven to walk upon this earth for some 30 years. Jesus who was tempted at all points without sin so He could become the perfect once for all sacrifice for all sins past, present, and future for those that believe upon Him. Receive the gift! “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).”