Jesus likened His Second Coming to the flood in Noah's day and the volcanic destruction of Sodom.  Interestingly, although both these Old Testament accounts have been ridiculed by some people, Jesus describes them as real events (linking them with the real people whose genealogy is known) to explain how the world will be when He returns.

The flood was announced for a long time as Noah built the ark, although his countrymen mocked him and refused to believe Noah's message (2 Peter 2:5).  They were getting on with their lives as though they were in control of their destiny, and they did not need God.  When the flood came, they were unprepared for an event that had not even entered their minds (Hebrews 11:7).  It was the same in Sodom.  People were just focussing on themselves, their marriages, families, social customs and their businesses; but without any thought of God.  They had no idea that He could and would intervene to destroy the wicked and save the righteous (Genesis 19:23-25).  When He did, it was sudden and inescapable.

Many people have still not changed in their attitude towards Jesus since the time Peter wrote: "They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of ungodly men." (2 Peter 3:4-7).

Jude, the half-brother of the Lord Jesus, saw the catastrophic destruction of Sodom as being a tangible example of God’s judgement to come: “In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.”  (Jude 1:7).  That is why the gospel message of salvation from destruction is still essential and urgent.  Jude continues, “…save others by snatching them from the fire” (Jude 1:23).  For the church to bask in God's loving grace and have no care for those who are wilfully careless of Christ's return would be an eternal scandal.  So let us take a fresh view of our responsibility to seize the opportunities the Lord gives us to share the good news that Jesus is God's appointed Saviour with our friends and colleagues before it is too late (Acts 4:12).