Be Ye Doers. . . Of The Word!

When you read the words "THE FLOOD" what usually comes to mind? Do you think of a local flood or the worldwide flood of Noah's day? The general thought is the worldwide flood that took place in the days of Noah.

What would you say if I told you that some people try to convince us that the Noahic flood was only a local flood? Henry H. Halley, author of Halley's Handbook teaches such a view. On page 77 of said Handbook we read, "... The whole race, except Noah and his family, were destroyed. To destroy the race it was necessary for the Flood to cover only so much of the earth as was inhabited... Most likely the race had not spread far outside the Euphrates basin."

Another proponent of the "Local Flood" theory is Dr. Bernard Ramm. Dr. Ramm is quoted as saying. "If one wishes to retain a universal flood, it must be understood that a series of stupendous miracles is required. Further, one cannot beg off with pious statements that God can do anything." I agree totally with Dr. Ramm. If we are going to believe in the worldwide flood, we are also going to have to believe in the fact that several miracles took place. We should also be able to explain how these miracles took place if the Bible gives us any indication.

Have you ever thought how a flood of worldwide magnitude would change the Earth?

Antediluvian World

The word Antediluvian means "The World That Then Was" or we could say The World That Was Before The Flood. The world was much different before the Noahic flood. It is essential that we understand how different the world was before we can appreciate the tremendous power of the flood.

In Genesis 1:6-7 we read, "And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so." The word firmament means the expanse of the sky. God separated the waters below the sky from the waters above the sky. In other words there was a layer of water above the earth, however, remember it did not rain until the Noahic flood. This layer of water was suspended above the earth like a canopy. This may account for the long life span of the patriarchs who lived prior to the flood. It is also very possible that this layer of water could have reflected many of the sun's ultra-violet rays (U.V. rays), therefore, slowing the aging process down considerably. This in no way proves that there is no God. It simply shows how Almighty God established a system to sustain life for hundreds of years.

This water canopy may have also been responsible for an almost perfect utopian climate which would have made the Earth's temperature vary only a few degrees from the equator to the poles. Such a system would be ideal for creatures of any type. It would support life in any given area.

In scientific tests using replicas of such a system, the temperature only varied about ten degrees from the equator to the poles. If the average temperature were 75º at the equator it would be 65º at the poles. With this type of system, the sun would not cause the temperature to change as fast or as frequently, so there would not have been the constant battle of FRONTS. The climate would not only be warn but would not consist of vary many, if any, violent wind storms.

How Deep Was The Water?

Henry Halley, Dr. Ramm and various individuals would have us to believe the Flood was local and not worldwide. Is this theory supported by Scripture?

What would happen if your house were flooded and you were going to scoop the water out with a bucket? Would you scoop the water from one room to the next and pile it up in that room? NO! This is impossible. Water seeks its own level If we are to believe that a massive amount of water covered the Earth and remained in one local area, then we really can believe in miracles.

How long was the water upon the Earth? Genesis 7:11, "In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened." From that day it rained upon the Earth forty days and forty nights. (Genesis 7:12) Genesis 7:17 reads, "...and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth." Then read Genesis 7:24, "And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days."

I hope you see in which direction we are sailing with this. If the flood had not been worldwide, the water would have sought out its own level. It would not have remained upon the Earth for one hundred and fifty days. Nor would Noah's Ark have been suspended above the Earth for any significant period of time.

One last thought before we move on. In Genesis 8:14, we find the month and day in which the water was dried up from the Earth. It was the second month, the seventh and twentieth day of the month. This puts the water upon the Earth for a time of one year and ten days. How many local floods have you seen, or even heard, that would float a ship that size for almost a year? The above Scriptures "PULL THE PLUG" on the local flood theory.

No Neighbors

If the flood had only been a local flood as some would have us believe, then why did God command Noah to build an Ark? Why not just have Noah and his family relocate to an area where there were no people. The flood would not have to extend to nor disturb that area. Would not have this been easier than spending all those years building an Ark?

The Rainbow

In Genesis 9:8-17 we find a promise from God to man. In this promise, God says He would never destroy the Earth with a flood again. If the Noahic Flood had only been a local flood, would God not have made a promise that He has not kept? If the flood of Noah's day was only a local flood, God has long since flooded the Earth with local floods which He Himself said He would not do.

It is true that in Genesis 9:15 God's promise was He would not destroy all flesh with a flood. Even if we stretch our imaginations to say that the Noahic flood was local, and that floods today are local just as the flood was then, how do we justify the Ark being built and floating for nearly a year? Also, how do we justify God commanding Noah to build an Ark instead of moving to a safe area?

When the local flood theory is immersed in the "SEA" of Scriptures, the theory "JUST DOESN'T HOLD WATER"!