The Amazing Ship which Noah Built

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Enoch111

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Skeptics (including the mainstream media) scoff at the account of the Genesis Flood and Noah’s Ark, and would sooner believe pagan legends about it than the Bible. But Christians have every reason to fully accept the Bible record as factual and historical. What Noah built was truly an amazing ship, equivalent to modern wooden ships such as 20th century schooners. According to chronologer Martin Anstey, the date of the Flood was AH (Anno Homini or the Year of Man) 1,656, which would be 2,348 years before Christ, or about 4,367 years ago.

Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD (Genesis 6:8) which means that Noah was justified by grace through faith. But he was also a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5), which means that he was calling on all the wicked to repent and turn to the LORD while God was longsuffering for 120 years. However, his preaching fell on deaf ears, and only he and his family (a total of eight souls) were saved out of the worldwide catastrophic Flood, which destroyed everything on earth other than the occupants of the Ark, which God commanded him to build.

God gave Noah the following instructions in order to build his amazing ship, and that was a long time ago:
Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. (Genesis 6:14-16)

Many have tried to determine the meaning of gopher (Heb גֹ֔פֶר (go·fer) wood, but no one really knows. Some have suggested cypress, but that is only conjecture. Whatever it was, since God selected that wood for Noah, it must have been the perfect wood to build a huge wooden ship which would be subject to tremendous forces and would remain on water for about one year.

God also told Noah to coat the Ark with pitch, both inside and outside. The Hebrew word is בַּכֹּֽפֶר (bak·ko·fer) which means “pitch”. Pitch is a very viscous resin which resembles coal tar, bitumen, or asphalt, and can be derived from plants (such as pine trees). It was a sealant meant to make the Ark watertight, and that is exactly how it functioned for Noah and all the occupants of the Ark. We need to bear in mind that God was overseeing this project, therefore there could not be any mistakes.

The dimensions of the Ark are given in cubits, and according to the information available on ancient measurements, the Hebrew long cubit of 20.4 inches must have been used by Noah. This is confirmed by Ark Encounter, where a replica of Noah’s Ark has been built in Kentucky according to that cubit. How Long Is a Cubit?.

Which means that the Ark was 510 feet long (nearly 1 ½ football fields long), 85 feet wide (slightly over half the width of a football field), and 51 feet high (higher than a five-storey house), or to round off the dimensions 500 x 85 x 50. This was bigger than the longest known wooden ship (or schooner) -- the Wyoming (1909-1924). While we do not know the shape of the ark, it had the dimensions of a true cargo ship (Noah’s Ark). Then we are told that a window of a cubit height (1.84 feet) was to be built as a skylight on the roof of the ark (presumably extending right across the roof), with a door on the side, and three storeys or levels within the Ark. The volume of the Ark was about 2.2 million cubit feet. We do not know if Noah hired any workers, or whether it was just him and his sons who did the work (which is more likely, since Noah was surrounded by evil men who would be scoffing at his supposedly fanciful project and his preaching).

Noah’s job was to save only air-breathing land animals, reptiles, and flying creatures (no fish, marine animals, or amphibians), as well as take in all the food suitable for his family and all the living creatures, in sufficient quantities to last for about 370 days:
And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. Of fowls [birds or flying creatures] after their kind, and of cattle [ הַבְּהֵמָה֙ (hab·be·he·mah) = animals] after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind [reptiles and other creeping things], two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.

Estimates for the number of creatures within the Ark vary considerably from less than 1,000 to over 100, 000. The Genesis Flood by Whitcomb and Morris gives an estimate of 35,000. No one really knows. Some say “every sort” (each kind) means genus, others say it means family, others believe it means species. What we do know is that all the creatures survived after spending a whole year on the Ark.

Noah’s Ark came to eventually rest on Mount Ararat (which is presently at the extreme eastern border of Turkey, and called Agri Dagh).
There is a picture of a geological formation which was supposedly identified as Noah’s Ark by Turkish army captain Lihan Durupinar in 1959. Most scholars have dismissed it as simply a natural rock formation. And Ararat is about 10,000 feet above this site. Other reports of the discovery of Noah’s Ark have not been widely accepted either.

The spiritual significance of the Ark is important, since it is a type of Christ. We see this in 1 Peter 3:20,21:
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Some interpret this as though the water of baptism saves us. But since Noah and his family were safe from the waters of the Flood while within the Ark, the meaning is that just as the Ark was immersed in water and the occupants were safe within, Christians are baptized into Christ and are safe within Christ. Only those people who are *in Christ* will be safe from (and saved from) God s wrath, which will be manifested in the near future. And only those who have been justified by grace through faith, and deemed righteous (as Noah was deemed righteous) will be in Christ. So Noah’s Ark is in fact another presentation of the Gospel.
 
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Windmillcharge

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But Christians have every reason to fully accept the Bible record as factual and historical.
Yes for two simple reasons.
1, the bible says so.
2. Jesus said so.
But it does get complicated, as a belief in Noah automaticly requires a belief in a recent creation and that puts a stopper on a belief in evolution.

As for where the Ark is I recommend a geologist view of ararat see:-https://answersingenesis.org/noahs-ark/noahs-ark-found/noahs-ark-mount-ararat/
 

Enoch111

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As for where the Ark is I recommend a geologist view of ararat see:-https://answersingenesis.org/noahs-ark/noahs-ark-found/noahs-ark-mount-ararat/
I have looked at all the evidence (including the above) but there is nothing definitive about the discovery of the Ark.
 
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Stranger

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The spiritual significance of the Ark is important, since it is a type of Christ. We see this in 1 Peter 3:20,21:
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Some interpret this as though the water of baptism saves us. But since Noah and his family were safe from the waters of the Flood while within the Ark, the meaning is that just as the Ark was immersed in water and the occupants were safe within, Christians are baptized into Christ and are safe within Christ. Only those people who are *in Christ* will be safe from (and saved from) God s wrath, which will be manifested in the near future. And only those who have been justified by grace through faith, and deemed righteous (as Noah was deemed righteous) will be in Christ. So Noah’s Ark is in fact another presentation of the Gospel.

The ark did save Noah and his family, and it can be viewed as a type of Christ. But the verses in (Peter) here are not saying that. They say Noah and his family were saved by water.

How were they saved by water? Because the water destroyed the world. Washed away the evil of the world. Which in a figure is what water baptism does for us.

Quantrill
 
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Enoch111

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How were they saved by water? Because the water destroyed the world. Washed away the evil of the world. Which in a figure is what water baptism does for us.
I don't believe that is the thought at all. What I have stated is also presented by others. Here's John Gill's commentary:

...and as the ark, when Noah and his family were shut up in it by God, represented a burial, and they seemed, as it were, to be buried in it, it was a lively emblem of baptism, which is expressed by a burial, Romans 6:4 and as they in the ark had the great deep broke up under them, and the windows of heaven opened over them, pouring out waters upon them, they were, as it were, immersed in, and were covered with water, this fitly figured baptism by immersion;... it saves not as a cause, for it has no causal influence on, nor is it essential to salvation. Christ only is the cause and author of eternal salvation; and as those only that were in the ark were saved by water, so those only that are in Christ, and that are baptized into Christ, and into his death, are saved by baptism; not everyone that is baptized, but he that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved, Mark 16:16,...
 
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Stranger

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I don't believe that is the thought at all. What I have stated is also presented by others. Here's John Gill's commentary:

...and as the ark, when Noah and his family were shut up in it by God, represented a burial, and they seemed, as it were, to be buried in it, it was a lively emblem of baptism, which is expressed by a burial, Romans 6:4 and as they in the ark had the great deep broke up under them, and the windows of heaven opened over them, pouring out waters upon them, they were, as it were, immersed in, and were covered with water, this fitly figured baptism by immersion;... it saves not as a cause, for it has no causal influence on, nor is it essential to salvation. Christ only is the cause and author of eternal salvation; and as those only that were in the ark were saved by water, so those only that are in Christ, and that are baptized into Christ, and into his death, are saved by baptism; not everyone that is baptized, but he that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved, Mark 16:16,...

Well, the Scripture is clear that it was the water that saved Noah and his family. Not the ark in (1 Peter 3:20-21). They were not immersed in water, the world was. They remained above the water.

I believe baptism does play a role in our salvation. Not getting us from an unbelieving state, on the road to hell, and to a saved state going to Heaven. That occurs by faith alone. But the water baptism gives a cleansing affect to our conscience before God. It affects our walk of salvation while we are Christians here.

With all due respect to John Gill,(Rom. 6:4) is not addressing water baptism. It is addressing the baptism of the Spirit.

Stranger
 
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Enoch111

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With all due respect to John Gill,(Rom. 6:4) is not addressing water baptism. It is addressing the baptism of the Spirit.
Not really. It is speaking about the symbolic (thus the word "likeness") death, burial, and resurrection of the saint through water baptism by immersion.

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Peter calls water baptism the Anti-type (ἀντίτυπον = the like figure) to the water of the Flood (the Type). And while it rained torrentially during the Flood, the Ark was indeed immersed in water, but salvation was WITHIN the Ark.
 

Stranger

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Not really. It is speaking about the symbolic (thus the word "likeness") death, burial, and resurrection of the saint through water baptism by immersion.

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Peter calls water baptism the Anti-type (ἀντίτυπον = the like figure) to the water of the Flood (the Type). And while it rained torrentially during the Flood, the Ark was indeed immersed in water, but salvation was WITHIN the Ark.

No, it is not symbolic. It is what has really occurred. It is the place the Spirit has brought us when we were born-again. If it is symbolic then we cannot be required to walk in 'newness of life'. (Rom. 6:4) We 'were baptized into his death'. (6:3) We 'are buried with him'. (6:4) Therefore, 'we also should walk in newness of life'. (6:4)

This is the baptism of the Spirit. Not water. If this is water baptism and symbolic only, then you have no power to walk in the newness of life.

You do recognize there is a difference between water and Spirit baptism?

Stranger
 

Taken

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...about 4,367 years ago.

worldwide catastrophic Flood, which destroyed everything on earth other than the occupants of the Ark, which God commanded him to build.{/QUOTE]

Agree.

Dry Land, (Earth) not yet broken apart.

Interesting Topic.

God Bless,
Taken
 
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Enoch111

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Interesting thread :)
A lot of Christians may not be aware Ark Encounter. A Christian group has built a replica of Noah's Ark in norther Kentucky, between Cincinnati and Lexington. They are using it for evangelism. Here is a picture from their web site Exhibits

1702-FullSizeArk.jpg


Ark Encounter is an all-wood, life-size Noah’s Ark in northern Kentucky built to the dimensions provided in the Bible.

The Ark’s Door
One of God’s specific instructions for Noah was to build a door in the side of the Ark. Noah and his family entered this door to be saved from the Flood. Everyone outside of the Ark perished.

Another Door
Noah’s family entered the Ark’s door to escape the physical destruction of the Flood. God has provided another “door” to save people from the coming eternal judgment. Jesus Christ said, “I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7). In that culture the shepherd really was the door to the pen—they would rest in the entryway, ensuring that the sheep would be kept safe. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is the door through which we must enter to be saved from our sin.
 
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Enoch111

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You do recognize there is a difference between water and Spirit baptism?
Absolutely. and Peter is referring to water baptism by immersion as prefigured in Noah's Ark being deluged with water.
 

Stranger

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Absolutely. and Peter is referring to water baptism by immersion as prefigured in Noah's Ark being deluged with water.

Noah's ark was not immersed or it would have sank. And, (Rom. 6) is not talking about water baptism. It is talking about the baptism of the Spirit.

Stranger
 
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Enoch111

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Noah's ark was not immersed or it would have sank. And, (Rom. 6) is not talking about water baptism. It is talking about the baptism of the Spirit.
What do you think happened while it rained heavily for 40 days and 40 nights? That was a literal baptism of the Ark.
 

Taken

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Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD (Genesis 6:8) which means that Noah was justified by grace through faith.

Agree. And nothing has changed, regarding the Lords, finding of grace in a man, and justifying that man with the Lords Grace.


... and only he and his family (a total of eight souls) were saved out of the worldwide catastrophic Flood, which destroyed everything on earth other than the occupants of the Ark,

Regarding "souls of mankind"....Agree 8 Saved.
(Many souls of animals were also saved ;))

HOW they were SAVED, "spiritually" no doubt was through the Grace and Power of the Lord.

HOW they were SAVED, "physically" no doubt was through the Power of the Lord, and Naoh's Obedience to Follow the Lords "Direction".


Gods Warning....To Flood the earth.
Gods Warning....To destroy what was "ON" the earth WITH the earth.
Build an Ark......Noah complied.
Enter the Ark.....Noah complied.
Gods Warning...Comes to Pass
Gods Revealing..Everything ON Earth destroyed.
Gods Saving.......The Ark "LIFTED ABOVE" the Earth.

Gen 7



    • [17] And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up {B]the ark, [/B]and it {B]was lift up above the earth[/B].
The FLOOD was a FORESHADOW.
(As Was Water Baptism a FORESHADOW)

Cleanse WITH WATER, the earth, your body, your dishes, your car.....a momentary FIX....and then it gets DIRTY AGAIN.

A permanent FIRE PURIFICATION is foretold.
Those PURIFIED with the INDWELLING Holy Spirit, have already acknowledged the WARNING, and Obeyed the Lord in receiving His Grace, His Spirit, His Salvation and are Justified, to be "LIFTED UP ABOVE" the Earth,
(As in the days of Noah)...When the Lord shall against Destroy the Earth, with the Earth
...being with FIRE, not Water.

1 Thes 4



    • [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
God Bless,
Taken

 

CoreIssue

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1 Peter 3:20-21
20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,
21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
 

Stranger

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What do you think happened while it rained heavily for 40 days and 40 nights? That was a literal baptism of the Ark.

Yes, it was a baptism in that Noah and his family were saved by the water. Glad you agree. How were they saved by water? The water destroyed the world.

Stranger
 

Stranger

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1 Peter 3:20-21
20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,
21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

So, how were they saved by water?

Stranger
 

Enoch111

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21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
This verse can be easily misunderstood (and Catholics believe it means that the water of baptism saves). But that is not so.

1. "It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ": The Bible says that Christ rose again FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION, and believing on the finished work of Christ means believing that He died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and rose again from the dead according to the Scriptures. Thus we are saved by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

2. Before a sinner is saved he/she must obey the Gospel, which means repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And Jesus said that repentance is for the remission of sins, not baptism. When our sins are remitted (forgiven) we have "a clear conscience toward God". At the same time we receive the baptism WITH the Holy Spirit (the gift of the Holy Spirit), and it is the Holy Spirit who regenerates the sinner and makes him a saint.

3. After a sinner is saved, he/she must be baptized by immersion in water as commanded by Christ. And the water of the Flood (particularly the torrential rains which fell for 40 days and 40 nights) was a type of Christian baptism. Thus Christian baptism is called the antitype (Gk antitupos = "the like figure") and must follow conversion. The Flood indirectly saved the Ark and its occupants by allowing them to float above the water for 370 days.

4. There is no question that Noah's Ark is a type of Christ. All those who are in Christ are safe from the wrath of God, just as Noah and his family were safe during the Deluge. So we have two *types* in this narrative.