Willie Martin
22752 Arapaho Rd.
Justin, Texas 76247
(940) 648-8030
Mr. Reed Benson
% Watchman Outreach Ministries
RR1, Box 218E
Schell City, Missouri 64783
Dear Mr. Benson:
I read your little booklet “Defending The Global Flood,” with some interest. But I must disagree with your suppositions, because there is no way that the flood was world wide, and the Scriptures clearly show that. Therefore, I present you with this little study that I have put together over the years for my people. As you will see from what is presented the Flood was anything but a worldwide event. It, was in fact, confined to a relatively small geographic area in or around the middle east. Probably in the center of Asia.
Scientific investigation has proven that the world has suffered from prehistoric disasters. Flood and storms, seismic disturbances and meteoric deposits have all contributed their part. The difficulty has been to place these cataclysmic events in their accurate relation to each other. The Bible tells the story of the order of these happenings.
The second verse of the first chapter of Genesis tells of a cataclysm, resulting in world-wide chaos, when the earth became void and without form. Here is recorded a condition that only titanic forces of cosmic destruction could produce. Again, just before the birth of Noah, vast meteoric deposits brought blight and sterility over a certain portion of the earth’s surface. These terrible conditions brought forth the prophecy from Lamech concerning Noah,
“This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed.” (Genesis 5:29)
The Flood restored fertility to the soil.
Moses, in recording the Flood, states the actual events of an historic happening as he tells the story. His chronology is perfect. He records events, day by day and month by month for a period of one year. Many have failed to note the duration of the Flood, and fewer still have noted the accuracy of the account.
The summons came for Noah to enter the ark which he had completed. On the 17th day of the second month in the 600th hear of his life, the Flood began. It continued earth for forty days. But the waters were upon the earth for one year.
“For yet seven days, and I WILL CAUSE IT TO RAIN UPON THE EARTH FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.” (Genesis 7:4)
“And THE RAIN WAS UPON THE EARTH FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS.” (Genesis 7:12)
“And THE FLOOD WAS FORTY DAYS UPON THE EARTH; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.” (Genesis 7:17)
“And it came to pass AT THE END OF FORTY DAYS, that NOAH OPENED THE WINDOW OF THE ARK which he had made.” (Genesis 8:6)
The Flood began with the fountains of the Great Deep breaking up and the windows of heaven, or the woven work of heaven, being opened. Thus is given the record of the breaking up of the canopy which was above the firmament. This great volume of water how began to fall.
“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.” (Genesis 7:11)
Was Noah’s Flood Universal?
For years the controversy has raged about whether Noah's flood was universal, or was it confined to a certain geographical location. This is a study to present our view about the flood as related in the Scriptures. We will use the Bible, and see if it has anything to say about it's scope.
The common claim, among most denominations, who still preach the Bible; and who more or less try to stay with the Scriptures as they read it and study it. Is that there was a world wide drowning of men, about 4300 to 4500 years ago.
That there was a flood called Noah's flood that drowned all the men upon the earth at that time in the world's history, except for his wife, his sons and their families. This is the common teaching among most Protestant Denominations, the Catholic Church. Some Fundamentalists groups and some Pentecostal groups do not teach this. Then there are many people outside of the church who don't know one way or the other, and could really care less.
Some of them think this is nonsense, they think the Bible story is a myth. Some say that is not important anyway. Then there is the great, vast bulk of the population, know so little about the Bible, they don't know if there might have been a flood or not.
Those who do study the Bible, and are willing to go through the Scriptures and see what the Bible actually teaches about where was the flood in Noah's time. First of all let us look at the Book of Genesis.
It is amazing how people can read a verse of scripture, and think to themselves: Yes that's right. Then they put their brain in neutral and simply become brain dead. They will study no further; they have found the truth; and God help the person who disagrees with them.
Such is the case when a discussion comes up concerning Noah's flood. Many read Genesis 6:13-17:
"And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them WITH THE EARTH...And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die."
These are the verses most generally used when defending the destruction of the entire earth by Noah's flood. Now first off we know that the earth was not destroyed. Yet, if one is to believe that the flood was universal, they must also believe that the entire world was destroyed at that time. Because that is what is says "I will destroy them WITH THE EARTH."
By this one verse we know that the flood was not universal. But let's go on because those who believe in the entire world being flooded will not be content with this verse. But one can just see them beginning to foam at the mouth, and wish to destroy me, and accuse me of trying to destroy God's Word. And nothing could be further from the truth. I simply believe in reading and "UNDERSTANDING" all of God's Word and not present some stupid argument that the atheists and other non-believers can latch upon like a dog on a bone.
First. Let's look at what Strong's Concordance has to say about the word earth. I suppose you all will accept that Strong's is an authority. If you do not, then there is nothing which can be used as an authority for anything. Strong's relates:
In the Old Testament the following is used almost every time. #127: soil; country, earth, ground, husband, land. #776: a land; common, country, earth, field, ground, land, nations, way, wilderness, world. In the following one is used only once and the other only a few times. #2789: a piece of pottery; earth; sherd, stone. #6083: dust; clay, earth, mud: ashes; dust; earth; ground, mortar; powder; rubbish.
In the New Testament the following is used almost every time: #1093: soil; region; country; earth; ground; land; world. Once as #3625: Part of the globe; the Roman Empire; Once as #1919: worldly; in earth; terrestrial. Once as #2709: The ground; subterranean, under the earth. Once as #3749: earten-ware; of earth; earthen.
"And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth: and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. {Well so far so good. Everything is going to die and everything is covered, but in the next verse it says} Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered." (Genesis 7:17-20)
There are two possibilities of this specific verse. First of all 15 cubits is believed by most Bible scholars to equal approx. 22 ˝ feet. In other words a foot and a half for each cubit. Now, if this means 22 ˝ feet above the highest hill then the earth was covered. If it means 22 ˝ feet above the location of the Ark or where the Ark was built. Then you are in trouble, the water would not have been deep enough to cover the entire planet.
But let's go on and read some other verses:
"And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died." (Genesis 7:21-22)
So far everything that we have read, is quite familiar to those who teach about the flood. And it does sound pretty complete. It sounds pretty complete as far as the destruction of everything outside of the Ark. And of course, we know, from the contents of the scriptures that all of the animals and people inside the Ark did not die.
The real question is, after reading and studying God's Word and trying to find out about the flood. Which must be understood in order to understand history a little better. When God said in His Word - The Earth - did He mean the planet earth? Or did He mean the Land? Did He mean the planet earth, which would mean the entire earth? Or did He actually mean the land which was being spoken about?
Turn to Genesis 4:11-14 where in speaking about Cain we read:
"And now art thou cursed FROM THE EARTH...And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH..."
It is clear that Cain was only being driven out from the place where he was, to another place. But Cain said to the Lord "thou hast driven me out this day FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH." If we used just that phrase one could easily say that Cain was removed off of the earth entirely.
Because it says from the face of the earth. But then the scriptures show that Cain clearly understood what had happened.
"And from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth."
Here we have two things pointed out to us.
ONE: That the scriptures are only concerned with a certain geographical area of the world. Cain knew this, otherwise he would not have made the proviso statement: "from thy face shall I be hid." This clearly shows that when Cain moved out of that specific geographical area, that God was no longer concerned with him, and he would be, in effect, hidden from God's eyes.
SECOND: That Cain clearly knew that he was being driven from one area of the earth to another. And not literally from off the earth entirely, the planet earth, but from the land wherein he had dwelt. And that he would sill be on the planet earth.
AFTER THE FLOOD: Genesis 11:1:
"And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech."
Now that's what it says. It says that "the whole earth was of one language and one speech." Trying to interpret this in the same manner as the previous verses to mean a world wide flood.
We would have to assume that it meant that every person on the earth spoke one language. Because that is what it says.
"And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there."
Now they must be the people of all the earth. So if we follow the same line of interpretation we would have to assume all of the living people on the face of the earth spoke one language and they all came and dwelt in the land of Shinar.
Archaeologists and sciences can provide no record of all the people of the earth living in the land of Shinar, about 2400 years before the birth of Christ. But let's go on and read some more.
This is the story of the angel bringing Lot out before the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah:
"The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." (Genesis 19:23)
We know from the story that those who were inside these cities on the plain were wicked. God destroyed those two cities, Lot and his two daughters and his wife went out and his wife died and was turned into a pillar of salt. And as some translations say, turned into a pillar of ashes. Leaving Lot and his two daughters alive.
When we read verses 30 and 31 listen to what is said:
"And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him...And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and THERE IS NOT A MAN IN THE EARTH to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth."
There is not a man in the earth. When one interprets this in the same manor as he might interpret the others. You would have to assume, with the limited knowledge that we have hear, that what she means is that all the rest of humanity has died. That there are no other men alive.
Because she said "THERE IS NOT A MAN IN THE EARTH" to come into us in like manner. And of course you know the rest of the story. That the girls went ahead and got pregnant by their father, because they "thought" all the rest of the men on earth had died. Yet in verse 30 we know there "were" others alive because Lot "feared to dwell in Zoar."
If there were no others alive but him and his two daughters what did he have to fear. Of course those who don't want to accept what is being presented will cry out: "He was afraid of the animals."
But the scriptures don't say that. And if one believes in a universal flood, then they have to believe that if there were animals that frightened Lot, the scriptures would say so. At any rate, here, the universal flood advocates will be forced to admit, all mankind was once again destroyed except Lot and his two daughters.
As we continue on to Genesis 41 we find that Joseph is in Egypt, and we are coming up to the time of the famine.
"And the seven years of plenteous-ness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and THE DEARTH WAS IN ALL LANDS; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread."
Following the same line of reasoning that has been followed before. That would mean that all the rest of the world was suffering from a famine or a dearth or drought, whatever turns you on; except for the land of Egypt. Verses 55-57:
"And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, God unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. And THE FAMINE WAS OVER ALL THE FACE OF THE EARTH: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxes sore in the land of Egypt. And ALL COUNTRIES CAME INTO EGYPT to Joseph for to buy corn; BECAUSE THAT THE FAMINE WAS SO SORE IN ALL LANDS."
We are arriving at a time when secular history is very specific, and we can study the ancient writings and get a pretty good idea of what was happening in those days. Of course, prior to the flood, we recognize that there are few actual written records available and thus are limited in our knowledge of that time in history.
But, if we follow the same reasoning as on the previous verses, the plain teaching of these scriptures, and if we interpret them in the same manner as the advocates of a universal flood do, this very definitely means that ALL OF THE REST OF THE WORLD WAS HAVING A FAMINE. Right?
This would mean that the Americas, England, Australia, China, New Zealand and etc., were suffering from a famine or dearth. And that they all came to Egypt to purchase food. Which would have been impossible because the Scriptures does not even recognize China or the rest of the world at this point in time.
From the knowledge that we have gained from history and archeology in the last thousand years of this time, after the flood, does not indicate that we have any knowledge of people from Asia, the Americas, the Eskimos, or anybody else from the opposite side of the earth going to Egypt to buy food. In fact, if one will study closely they will see that the only people involved in this famine was Egypt and the lands immediately surrounding Egypt.
If you will obtain a map of that portion of the earth, you will clearly see, that everything we have talked about so far, has been a relatively small geographic area in the Middle East.
But, yet many still teach that the flood was over all the earth. Now we have read that the famine at the time of Joseph was over all of the earth. Yet there is no record of it in our secular history, of people coming into Egypt from the other parts of the earth to buy food.
So far, to briefly relate what has transpired:
1). We have a flood which has covered all the earth;
2). We have a fire which the survivors have stated
specifically, that there were no other men left on the earth;
3). We also have a famine which was, a famine over
ALL THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
Do we, have, in truth, three things which has either destroyed all of the populations of the earth or most of them. In fact, the last one leaves us to believe that all of the people on earth, who did not go to Egypt died.
Therefore, everyone on earth died of the famine except for those in Egypt and the few fortunate enough to be able to get to Egypt to get food.
Now turn to the Tenth Chapter of Exodus where we will look at the plagues of Egypt, a story most know quite well. Exodus 10:14-15:
"And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such. For THEY COVERED THE FACE OF THE WHOLE EARTH..."
Here, we have yet another plague which covered the face of the whole earth.
"...so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, {where?} through all the land of Egypt."
Yet the phraseology or terminology is identical to what we have read before. They covered all the face of the whole earth.
In Ezekiel 39 all of the Israelites were killed. Did you know that all of the Israelites were dead in Ezekiel's day? Well Ezekiel the prophet said so. Talking about this end of the age battle, he said:
"And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: SO FELL THEY ALL BY THE SWORD."
Thus Ezekiel is telling us that all of the Israelites had fallen by the sword.
As we said earlier, we am not trying to be frivolous about this thing. I am simply trying to show you that when the Bible talks about something happening over all of an area or all of something or over all of the earth; that it does not necessarily mean that every single solitary person on every inch of the entire planet was involved. Because if it did we have already had more than four total destructions or almost total destructions.
Turn to Ezra we will show you, after we state the point, we will show you THE LOCATION OF THE FLOOD ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE!
"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven HATH GIVEN ME ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE EARTH..."
Now we are arriving down to a point in history where we can easily verify the things that have happened in the scriptures according to secular written history.
There is no way for us to know what Cyrus was thinking or what God Almighty was thinking when He put it in His Word. But we know from secular history that Cyrus's kingdom never extended more than a thousand miles from his capital city.
He had a tremendous kingdom; But the Bible says that God had given him "all the kingdoms of the earth." Yet we know, and no minister tries to prove to us, that Cyrus ruled over China or North America or South America, or even over Africa.
They know better. They know just how foolish such teaching would be. Because it would not take long for their flock to realize that he was teaching a falsehood.
Turn to Daniel. You know that Daniel was a high official in the Babylonian Kingdom, and after he and the others has shown their protection and favor of God. Daniel 6:24:
"And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den."
Darius was so pleased with the actions of God and His apparent protection of Daniel that this was what he did. Then, in verse 25:
"Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that DWELL IN ALL THE EARTH..."
That is what is says. God's Word says;
"Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, THAT DWELL IN ALL THE EARTH; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel."
What was he talking about? Of course, when Darius wrote to all the people on the earth, he was writing to all the people IN HIS KINGDOM! And his kingdom, we know from secular history and from God's Word was rather limited compared to the entire planet.
It covered an area contained in that small geographical area, where all of the Bible talks about. It did not exceed beyond it. Not a single bit of the previous history has gone outside that small geographical area of the Middle East.
Now turn to the New Testament to the book of Luke, where we read the reason that Joseph and Mary came to Bethlehem. Luke 2:1-3:
"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that ALL THE WORLD SHOULD BE TAXED. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And ALL went to be taxed, EVERY ONE INTO HIS OWN CITY."
You see what happens if one interprets the scriptures the same way all the way through the Bible. Now we have Caesar Augustus ruling over ALL OF THE WORLD. Which is absolutely not true.
He never ruled over Germany. He never ruled over all of the British Isles. He never ruled over the Americas. He never ruled over Japan.
Also, the people on the other continents could not come to their cities, because they did not originate in Palestine, or where the king had influence.
He never ruled over Asia, nor any of the other countries of the world. Do you not see how silly those who would have us believe that the flood was universal?
Because according to the way they interpret the scriptures they would have all the Indians in North and South America going into their cities to be taxed. They would have all the Chinese going into their cities to be taxed. They would have all the Japanese going into their cities.
Countries that never knew Rome existed for hundreds or thousands of years later. They would have you believe that. Because right here in the scriptures it says "ALL WENT TO BE TAXED, EVERY ONE TO HIS OWN CITY." It is clear that this scripture is not talking about the entire planet earth, it is talking, once again, about a certain geographical location in the Middle East.
For another point turn to the book of Acts. Did you know that if all of the people did not die in the famine in Egypt, that they are going to die in another famine, which is related in Acts.
"And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth THROUGHOUT ALL THE WORLD: WHICH CAME TO PASS IN THE DAYS OF CLAUDIUS CAESAR." (Acts 11:27-28)
Now we are down to about 1900 years ago, where we have excellent written secular history, and no one; not even the most ardent universal flood advocates would dare to declare that all the world had a great dearth or famine. Yet if one interprets these scriptures in the same way, then there must have been a famine over all the world, the entire planet 1900 years ago. And secular history failed to mention such a catastrophe.
To not park your brains at the door when you enter church. To think for yourselves and not to believe everything that someone tells you.
Search out the scriptures, think and reason, not just pat your self on the back and think what wonderful knowledge you have. That you have all the truth, and no one else has any. That is false. NO ONE, NOT ME, NOT YOU - NO ONE HAS ALL THE TRUTH EXCEPT ALMIGHTY GOD.
We are laying a foundation, so that you will fully understand what we are presenting, that it the interpretation is not true, that when the Bible says all the earth, it is talking about the entire planet.
THE ENTIRE BIBLE ONLY ENCOMPASSES ONE SMALL GEOGRAPHICAL AREA OF THE SCRIPTURES WHEN IT IS SPEAKING HISTORICALLY. It is only when it is speaking prophetically that it is speaking about other parts of the world, and then it is only concerned with the Children of Israel. And we don't mean the Jews when we say that for they are no part of Israel. They are mostly of Japheth, Esau, and Khazars.
Turn to the Second Book of Peter. For we will now look at verses which are quite often referred to when the universal flood advocates talk of the flood again. And remember as we read these verses also, that so far, that the history written down in the Word of God still has not moved outside of the area of one small geographical portion of the Middle East.
All the way from the Book of Genesis to 2 Peter we have been talking about one geographical location. Peter is referring to the flood:
"For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly." (2 Peter 2:4-6)
God brought in the flood upon the world of the ungodly. And we would state that this doesn't necessarily mean all the world, the entire planet. First of all you must remember and understand the principle that God operates upon. Which is, that sin is the transgression of the Law. And where there is no Law there is no transgression.
God does not destroy even peoples unless they have the Law and violate it. And you can read this far in the Holy Scriptures and you will not find definite and conclusive evidence that God's Law was ever preached beyond the confines of that small geographical area of the world.
God's Law, as far as the scriptures relates had not gone out to the other parts of the planet. So the flood was brought in upon the ungodly.
Again this does not necessarily mean all the world - the entire planet. As we have already shown quite clearly, we believe. Of course there will be skeptics, such as one of the thieves which was crucified next to Christ. Who railed and mocked Him as they died.
"For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old {notice he was talking about people being destroyed who were 'WILLINGLY' ignorant, and definitely disobeying the Word of the Lord}, and THE EARTH standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished." (2 Peter 3:5-6)
But this does not necessarily prove a world or planet wide flood. Now make no misunderstanding, we know these can not be used to preach or teach a limited flood, but the universal flood advocates almost always use them and so we must recognize they are there.
Turn to Joshua, who we believe will show you the bounds of Noah's flood. You must understand that this was happening to Joshua approx. 500 years AFTER Shem.
So we are talking about a period of time which was 500 years after one of Noah's sons who was actually in the Ark during the flood. We are not talking about Joshua doing something a 1000 or 2000 years after the flood. But only about 500 years after it. He has called all the people of Israel together. He's old and knows he is going to die.
"Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem {a city between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River - this is where this event took place}, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, YOUR FATHERS DWELT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FLOOD in old time, even Terah the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods." (Joshua 24:1-2)
Now we have read, in part, the Bible through several times and never realized what is being presented here. Every time I read it I always thought in terms of time. Your fathers dwelt BEFORE the flood. But that is not what it is saying, is it? It says "Your fathers dwelt on the OTHER SIDE OF THE FLOOD." And then it gives the names of their fathers. "Terah, the father of Abraham." If you think about it for a minute it will dawn upon you that Terah didn't live BEFORE the flood. Terah lived just before Abraham, long AFTER the flood.
Yet the scriptures says that Terah lived "on the other side of the flood." Now if you will read this several times and "THINK" use your heads you will realize that Joshua is not talking about "time." HE IS TALKING ABOUT GEOGRAPHY!
He is telling them "WHERE THEY LIVED," not WHEN they lived! Now listen carefully to what he says: "...and I took your father Abraham FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FLOOD, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac."
Turn to Genesis 11 and we will show you where Terah, Nachor and Abraham lived. Genesis 11:10:
"These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years AFTER THE FLOOD."
Then it goes down and gives all of the descendants of Shem. And two hundred and twelve years after the flood we read in verse 24:
"And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah."
Yet in Joshua 24, Joshua says, "your fathers even Terah," which Genesis 11 said was born two hundred and twelve years AFTER THE FLOOD, “LIVED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FLOOD." And then it talks about bringing Abraham.
"And Terah took Abram {Abraham} his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran." (Genesis 11:31-32)
Joshua said in Joshua 24:3:
"And I {Almighty God} took your father Abraham FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FLOOD..."
Now it is very apparent that Abraham did not live BEFORE the flood. So if God brought Abraham FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FLOOD, what is He talking about.
Well he is telling us that he, Joshua, standing at Shechem is on one side of where the flood was; and Abraham living in Ur of the Chaldees was living on the other side of the flood. And there is no doubt that he is talking about the flood of Noah.
So if you wish to know where the Flood of Noah was, then get you a good map of that part of the world in old times and look between Ur of Chaldees and Shechem and you will see the geographical area of the flood.
Now the scriptures tell us to have a second witness. So we will turn to a well known verse for this second witness. I believe that God has laughed at those who espouse a universal flood, and has revealed its location in one of the best known verses in the Bible, as a jest. To see if we would search out the truth for ourselves. Or would we grope in blindness.
"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served THAT WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FLOOD {Not 'BEFORE' the flood, but 'ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FLOOD'}, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)
Most ministers will read this and say "Well I don't know what you people are going to do, but I am going to serve the Lord."
Yet right here in that very commonly used verse is the double or second witness that Joshua knew he stood on one side of the flood, and that Abraham was born and raised on THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FLOOD. We realize this is a futile effort for most Christians because they do not want to know the truth. Because they would rather believe a lie than the truth. God said this was so:
"A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so..." (Jeremiah 5:31-32)
This is one of the reasons that Hosea declared:
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: {why?}: BECAUSE THOU HAST REJECTED KNOWLEDGE..." (Hosea 6:4)
And if you will read the scriptures carefully and honestly you will see God destroyed the old world because the people were mixing with other races.