Raging flood waters cause much damage, and bring great hardship to all who are in its path. Everything not securely anchored is carried away, and most often is never fully recovered. Whole houses, automobiles, farmland, and worst of all, the lives that are lost. But, as we will see, there is a flood that we read about in the word of God that is far more destructive than a natural flood of rainwater. Not many people are aware of it because they can’t see it, and they can’t see it because they don’t read and think about the written word of the Lord.
But there is protection from this flood of evil that is sweeping across the land, as the prophet Isaiah tells us, for those who fear the Lord. “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” (Isaiah 59:19)
“The Spirit of the LORD.” In the New Testament we are told that the comforter is the “Spirit of truth”, which is the spirit of the Lord. (John 14:16-17) The standard that is lifted up against the enemy is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The truth brings to nothing all the powers of darkness, exposing the lies and confusion, and takes away the cloak of religion that the enemy hides behind. But until “the man of sin” is revealed, he will continue to deceive, destroy, and carry away captive unwary souls with his overwhelming flood of false doctrine.
“And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.” (Revelation 12:15)
The serpent is Satan. Not an individual, but a smooth, beguiling spirit that invades the minds of unsuspecting multitudes that are devoid of truth and easy to persuade. His mouth is the collective voice of the deceived who speak contrary to God’s eternal word. A flood of growing magnitude.
The woman represents the true church, the faithful bride of Christ. She has the “Spirit of truth” abiding in her heart and cannot be swept away by all the lies and confusion. This enrages Satan, which can be seen when the standard of truth is raised up against his false doctrine. His ministers, who seem to be ministers of righteousness, (2 Corinthians 11:15) double their efforts, but cannot prevail against the gospel of Jesus Christ and his church.
“But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24:37)
The coming of Christ brings to light the hidden things of darkness. “The spirit of his mouth” (2 Thessalonians 2:8), which is “the spirit of truth” (John 14:17), was promised to all “that love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8) The revelation of Jesus Christ by his word does the same for us that he did for his disciples. “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.” (Luke 24:45)
We understand that Jesus reminds us of the terrible flood in Noah’s day to show us another terrible flood in our day. This flood of false doctrine divides, confuses, opposes the truth, supports spirit worship, and masquerades as the Holy Ghost, convincing the deceived that all is well. Satan uses the name of Jesus as a cover to hide his lies.
But none of this can harm those who hear, understand, and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. “And the earth helped the woman,” (God’s elect) “and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.” (Revelation 12:16)
In Jeremiah’s day, the people of the earth joyfully swallowed up the lies of Satan. “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” (Jeremiah 5:31) The answer is clear, they will be carried away by the very thing they trusted in, the commandments of men.
The same is true today. The time has come that Paul spoke of two thousand years ago. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4) They eagerly swallow the lies and fables of Satan’s ministers.
“For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24:38-39)
Has he come to you and opened your eyes?
