Chapter 13

Door of Decision

"Don't worry about the birds and animals going into the ark." The priest was not a good speaker but most people liked him. His popularity arose from his compromises—he allowed people to be temple members while living any way they pleased. He didn't want to put forth the effort to bring his own life in line with God's law, so he sought to bring the law of God down to his level.⁷⁴

He had been shocked the night before when he learned that some of his leaders planned to enter the ark. He'd stopped that, of course. A few half-truths, a sordid tale or two, and the group "became more sensible."

"Noah's using circus tricks to deceive you," he continued. "I don't know what he's up to, but I'll wager he plans to gain a fortune off his 'converts.'"

He raised his hands over his head, and looked up, as though he were entering a trance. For several minutes he spewed forth a barrage of guttural sounds that no one understood.

The crowd hushed as a supernatural atmosphere impregnated the air.

The priest lowered his arms, covered his face with his hands, and bowed his head. After many moments of silence he once again faced his audience.

"I've just had a vision from the great god," he shouted. An audible gasp prattled about as the people strained to hear. The priest smiled. "God says he loves you. He would never hurt you no matter what you do. He told me that Noah is a false prophet trying to lead you away from the one true faith."⁷⁵

His eyes blazed as he began to shout, spitting saliva onto those in the front. "This is what our god says. He continued: 'Look around you at the beautiful earth I have given you. Where do you see any evidence of decay? There isn't any! And there won't be any decay for thousands of years.'" The cleric's eyes burned as he shouted: "There won't be any flood! God has never sent rain in the past, and He never will!"

Great applause rose from the monstrous assembly.

"I guess he told Noah a thing or two," bubbled one woman to her friend. "The whole thing did seem rather absurd anyway, don't you think? Whoever heard of 'rain?' Ha!"

Noah and his family became more urgent in their appeals, still moving about in the crowd, looking for someone—anyone—sympathetic enough to actually go into the ark. If they could find even one or two who would enter the ark, they'd feel their work had counted for something!

"Yes, I believe there'll be a flood," proclaimed a tall thin man, about 200 years old.

Shem's face beamed. "Well, come into the ark then. We have plenty of room."

"Oh no," he frowned, "not now." He looked at Shem and turned away—as if the younger man had suddenly developed leprosy, "The flood's coming all right," he confessed, "but not in my day."

"We should get ready for the flood, shouldn't we dear?" A slight red-headed woman spoke with Noah's wife. Her husband gazed at a nearby scantily clad, gorgeous brunette. His wife jerked his arm, recalling him to reality.

"What? Oh! Yes, dear," he responded obediently, but glanced toward the brunette again.

"We're leaving for home first thing tomorrow," she chirped. "We should be back within the month."

"But that'll be too late," gasped Noah's wife. "The door will close any day now."

"Your husband's gotten you all upset, dear." The redhead condescended to pat the older woman on the shoulder. "Maybe you'd better go lie down. At any rate," she continued non-stop, "we just couldn't go without our things. We'll see you in a few weeks."

She headed for her shelter, towing her husband behind.

"What? Where? . . ." he sputtered.

"We're going home, Dear," she sighed. "We've got to get our things back here so we can live in the ark with Noah and his family."

Not far away Ham's wife talked with a young man. "Go into the ark?" he gasped. "And miss all the fun of life? Uh-uh. Maybe when I get older."

"Me neither," shrugged his female companion. "After we've had a few kids, maybe . . . when we get old—like Noah and his wife." She straightened her hair while admiring herself in the new polished bronze mirror her husband had just bought her. "There's too much to live for now. We're not ready to get mixed up in some cultist religion."

"I've got to look after my elderly parents," remarked one middle-aged man.

"If I join the flood church, I might lose my job," said another.

"The way I look at it," explained an intellectual, "there's not enough water on the earth—in all the seas, rivers, and lakes—to cover the world with a flood."

"But God has water stored in the atmosphere," countered Noah, "and more in underground cisterns. Believe me when I say, God can cause a disastrous flood whenever He decides to do it."⁷⁶

The man didn't answer, but merely batted his hand at Noah and walked away.

Everyone had some "good" excuse for not entering the ark right now. They wanted to wait for the rain to fall; they desired other family members to enter with them; they needed to discuss it with their pastor; they thought they should pray about it first; they felt they ought to compare Noah's teachings with the beliefs of other flood religions; they had to consult the stars . . . anything to keep from going in NOW!

Noah hung his head. He and his family stood together at the foot of the ramp. "We haven't much time," he told them. "Just a few minutes ago God gave me a message."

"He did?" Shem seemed excited.

"What is it, Father?" asked Ham. "Will God give us a little more time to win converts."

"I didn't see anything," Noah went on, as though they hadn't interrupted. "But I heard a Voice . . . the same Voice Who talked with me at the Garden Gate 120 years ago. I could never mistake it." He paused, sadness squeezing tears from his eyes as he looked over the milling throng—now depleted somewhat as people prepared to attend the evening orgy.

"He said. . . ." The words stuck in his throat, but he quickly regained control. "He said: 'Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.'⁷⁷ It's time . . . time to go into the ark . . . time to shut the door."

"Can't we have a few more minutes?" begged Japheth. "I'm sure this final vision will encourage someone to join us."

"All the world has heard the warning,"⁷⁸ Noah sighed. "They didn't believe the Word of God when we explained it to them. They didn't believe the power of God when the animals came. They didn't believe the mercy of God in providing the ark to save them from the flood." He wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of his sleeve. "If they haven't believed before, they'll never believe the visions of an aging carpenter now." Noah started up the ramp. "Let's get in there before God shuts us out too!"

Eight heartsick people hurried up the ramp and into the ark. They stopped just inside the door, and turned for a last look at the people they'd tried so hard to save. Noah felt he had to make one more call, to give them one more chance. He loved those people. He wanted them all to live.

"You've heard me preach hundreds of times." He could hardly speak, and the noisy people quieted, sensing that his message might have some importance. "God has given you many signs that what I've preached is true—the intolerable evil of a world filled with criminals; the preaching of Enoch; Methuselah, my beloved grandfather, dying just as we finished the ark; the animals listening to God when He called them into the ark—and they came without any human guidance.⁷⁹

"God gave all these signs for your benefit . . . to assure you that what I told you was true. A flood is coming. The world will be destroyed. Only those who come into the ark will be saved.

"Only moments ago God spoke to me again . . . for the first time in 120 years. He said, 'Go into the ark, you and your whole family.' It's time to come into the ark. The door will shut, and anyone who fails to enter before the door closes will die in the flood.

"This is God's last sign!" Noah emphasized each word as his voice grew stronger. "The world as we know it will soon end! The flood will burst upon us, and only those inside the ark will survive!"

A rustle of voices flapped about the throng. Everyone sensed the solemnity of the moment. God's Holy Spirit pressed Noah's message upon all who heard him.

"Listen to me and use your eyes as well!" he called in a loud voice. "My family and I have already entered the ark. We don't care what people say about us. We don't care about our financial losses. We don't care how uncomfortable the ark may be. We believe that this is the only way to save our lives.

"And you too can save your lives. Why don't you come and join us? There's room in here for all of you. Leave your sinful world behind! Come into the ark! Come! . . . come and be saved!"

Noah felt torn with the agony of the moment. So many friends and relatives still stood in the crowd . . . outside! "You, Nephew," he shouted to a young man standing near the ramp. "You've been with me ever since I built the first model. Come, m'lad. Come with your family into the ark?"

"Thanks, Uncle Noah. But no thanks," he replied, backing away lest others classify him as one of those people. "My friends would call me a fanatic if I went into the ark. Besides, my daughter's getting married next week. I wouldn't want to miss her wedding."

"Those people you call friends and your daughter's entire wedding party will soon be dead if they don't come into the ark!" cried Noah. "Come on in. Bring them all with you."

"Somehow, I feel that Noah is right," whined a woman who stood nearby. "We really should go into the ark."

"Don't be silly," replied her husband in disgust. "How could Noah be right and all the world be wrong. There won't be any flood! Come on now or we'll be late for the luncheon with our friends."

People began to shout insults. "You're not our judge?" called one heckler. "We never asked you to point out our crimes."

The laughter from his "joke" encouraged others to jest.

"Where's your flood, Noah?" mocked another.

"Can't you find a way to float your boat?" shouted a third.

"How you going to close the door, Noah?" shouted a voice from back in the crowd. "Takes a dozen strong men to lift it. You got only eight. And half of them are weak little women!"

Thunderous applause, hoots, and laughter.

Suddenly, a brilliant light appeared . . . high in the sky above the ark . . . an Aurora Borealis of shimmering glory among the cumulus clouds.

The hoots and howls evolved into "Oooo!"s and "Ahhh!"s. Pulses quickened. Adrenalin flowed in massive doses through dilating arteries. Judgment day had come!

Some wanted to flee from the dazzling radiance that descended out of the sky. Others wanted to run into the ark . . . to get inside before it was too late. But no one moved. Stark terror paralyzed the cowards; nagging doubts restrained the convicted.

The brilliant flare outshone the noonday sun. It streaked to the side of the ark, and hovered before the massive door panel that leaned against the hull.

For many minutes the light-form lingered beside the door, while Noah continued to plead: "Come in now. There's still time. The Light won't prevent you from entering. If you don't come now you'll be lost."

Anyone who had wanted to escape could have dashed up the ramp to safety.

The bands of tension tightened as each person began to realize the eternal importance of this moment: Each had the power—right now—to decide between life or death. If they chose life, they'd have to bear the humiliation of those who scoffed at Noah's work. If they chose death . . . unthinkable!

"This is it," cried a man who'd helped Noah for many years. "If we don't go in now, we'll be lost!"

"Don't be foolish," jeered his companion. "Noah's just playing another trick on us."

Many believed that Noah had preached the truth. They knew that, whatever the light-form, it would soon shut the door. And those who'd worked on the ark, knew full well that once the door closed, no one could get in—or out.

The light-being moved upward . . . slowly. The great door shuddered, and began to rise. Without any human help, the huge panel ascended . . . slowly . . . requiring several minutes to reach the height of ten cubits—the level of the ark's en-trance. It floated beside the opening for many minutes more.

The eight people standing just inside the doorway continued their incessant pleading to those outside: "Come in! Run! There's still time! Join us here . . . in the ark!" They would have gone out and dragged people in if they could. But they knew such efforts would be useless.

Noah and his family felt frantic. Their loved ones and friends still stood outside. The door would soon close. Wouldn't someone accept their pleas for salvation? "Won't you please come?" they kept up the cry while the light-form lingered. "Come into the ark . . . be saved!"

The light-form's slow movement appeared to have nothing to do with the size or weight of the door. Instead, it seemed reluctant to shut anyone out.

Even now, while the door hung suspended in space, while Noah and his family appealed for the sons of men to enter, hundreds—even thousands—could have stampeded up the ramp and found refuge in the ark. God refused to close the door until all who desired to obey Him had ample opportunity to enter.

But no one moved. No one had the "nerve" to make the short dash up the incline to safety.

At last, when everyone had been given more-than-reasonable time to go in, the light-form made its final move. The massive door swung—as if on giant hinges—until its hull side faced out. The frenzied pleading of those inside the ark increased. They waved their hands and shouted, "Hurry! Hurry!"

The ramp disintegrated; the door slid sideways over the opening and slipped into place with an audible "thump!"—causing every eye to blink—and putting a permanent stopper on the human voices calling from within. Probation for the sons of men had ended. They would never again hear the voice of Noah.

The bright being shot heavenward at amazing speed, and disappeared from sight within seconds.⁸⁰

NOTES

74. "As in Noah's day, . . . many will resist God's warnings and array themselves against his law because their sinful life cannot harmonize with the pure principles of God's moral government. They consider it too hard work to reform their lives, therefore they endeavor to make the law of God meet their low standard of morals." The Signs of the Times, 1/3/1878.

75. "The class who professed to acknowledge God were the ones who took the lead in rejecting the preaching of Noah and through their influence lead others to reject it." Manuscript Releases, Vol. 10, p. 372.

76. "The men of Noah's time, in their philosophy and worldly wisdom, thought God could not destroy the world with a flood, for the waters of the ocean could not be sufficient for this. But God made the philosophy and science of men foolishness when the time had fully come to execute his word. The inspired pen describes the earth as standing out of the water and in the water. God had his weapons concealed in the bowels of the earth to compass her destruction." The Signs of the Times, 1/3/1878.

77. Genesis 7:1.

78. "Noah gave the message of the Lord to the large population upon the earth—he gave it by voice and then showed his faith by his works, in building the ark." Manuscript Releases, Vol. 19, p. 386.

79. "The animal creation was obedient to the drawing of God, while man, possessing reasoning power, was closing every avenue of the soul so the Spirit of God might not be entertained. . . ." Manuscript Releases, Vol. 19, p. 387.

80. "An angel is seen by the scoffing multitude descending from Heaven, clothed with brightness like the lightning. He closes that massive outer door, and then takes his course upward to Heaven again." The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 1, p. 72.

Chapter 14