Just this week, The Daily Mail - a news org from the UK - published something I've already been following for a few years now. The headline: "Noah's Ark Resting Place '100% Confirmed' after 4,300 Years"...
I've thought a lot about what exactly would happen if this site - which, for the record, I believe IS INDEED the location where Noah's Ark came to rest - was confirmed to be the landing of Noah's Ark with 100% irrefutable evidence...
I've often thought it would be met one of two ways by the evolution-peddling, scientific and academic class who rule our papers and classrooms today.
[1] Ridicule and doubt - - - "You don't mean to tell me you still believe in that 'cute' story of Noah's Ark, do you? And if it did exist, you certainly don't think it would still be a structure in existence today, do you?"
And of course - - - [2] Ignore it completely (their favorite play).
For those of you who may not know, the Durupinar Site has consistently been the place of intrigue for those looking for Noah's Ark. It's named after the gentleman who first spotted it from above - Turkish Army Captain Ilhan Durupinar, who noticed it in 1959 while studying aerial photos from a NATO mapping flight over the mountains of Ararat in modern-day Turkey. (Notice Genesis 8:4 says the ark rested "upon the mountains of Ararat" - plural.)
It is a boat-shaped, ridge-like structure measuring roughly 515 to 538 feet long (depending on who's holding the tape measure). That lines up remarkably well with the 300 cubits described in Genesis 6:15, using the royal cubit of the ancient world.
However, one of the greatest roadblocks for those looking to poke around this site has been the Turkish government themselves. But a big-time breakthrough happened on that front over the last 5 years - - - they have seemingly softened on the idea of allowing soil scientists with ground-penetrating radar, core-drilling equipment, and other implements to come and do what they do in order to determine if this is indeed a man-made structure.
The breakthroughs of what they found have been nothing short of extraordinary. Right angles underneath the ground - which is impossible unless it's man-made. Possible chambers and corridors. A thick underground layer dividing into three parts (Genesis 6:16 - "with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it"). And drill holes that have yet to hit the solid bedrock or limestone the skeptics said it was all along.
Add to that what explorers have reported over the years: metal fragments (that could have been braces, nails, and/or hinges), and of course, what the team believes is wood, petrified under the earth - sort of salvaged away from the elements by mud that has slid over the structure for a few thousand years. Even drogue stones have been found in a nearby village - - - these are huge, heavy, fashioned stones that would have been tied to both sides of the ark to help keep it stable during the tumultuous waves the ark was designed to withstand. And you’ll never guess what this village is called by the old-time locals: “The Village of Eight.” Hmmmm…. That sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
Now, let's get to the meat of the message...
I believe God has allowed us to find this magnificent structure just before the time of Christ's return because I believe that He, in His great mercy, is wanting to sound ONE LAST MAJOR WARNING to the world.
Peter tells us this world is willingly ignorant of the flood - meaning they're stupid on purpose.
That's 2 Peter 3:5-6. There's enough evidence in the soil on the earth, in the diverse people groups who each have their own worldwide, cataclysmic flood story - - - neat fact: in Chinese, a strong pictographic language, the word for "boat" is made by joining three symbols together: a vessel, the number 8, and people.
This world doesn't want to remember the flood. They want to pretend it never existed. Why? Because Noah, the ark, and the flood account remind mankind they are beholden to God for their actions.
The Bible teaches this over and over again - - - that God will one day bring every deed into judgment (Ecclesiastes 12:14). One day, every human will stand before Him and give an account for their life.
They also must remember this: God still metes out punishment for wicked nations - and for that matter, a wicked world - in the here and now.
Down here on the earth is where populaces are judged for their collective wickedness - not in Eternity. That's where individuals are judged.
Furthermore, Peter also tells us in his epistle that God is once again reserving this world for another cataclysmic event - a judging by fire. "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 3:7)
I love what finding the ark means to our world today. It adds yet another layer to what our Savior taught about the end times and the Days of Noah. "And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man." (Luke 17:26)
I believe it's yet another super-sign given from God that the end is indeed very near. If you are a student of the Bible, you'll already know that the HUGEST super-sign was the nation of Israel getting back to her land.
Now we're likely stacking indisputable confirmation that the flood of Noah did, in fact, happen. Christians have always known this - - - at least those who believe the Book did anyway - - - now it's about to play out for the whole world to see this amazing scene unfold.
Will it convince many? Nah… I truly hope so, but probably not.
Why?
Because the same dark, rebellious spirit that kept those who perished off the ark the first time is still very much present in the hearts of mankind today.
Sadly, it's to their own destruction. Friends, judgment is coming! The signs given by God in His Word are telling us He’s about to kick off a great season of wrath against the rebellious citizens of this vile, wicked world.
Won't you let this latest super-sign of Christ's impending return speak to your heart while we're still living in the age of Grace?
I sure hope so…
“…behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation…” (2 Corinthians 6:2b)