Genesis 7:4, Forty days. For 40 days it rained upon the earth. Forty is the biblical number for trial, testing, spiritual refinement and judgment. For example, YHVH refined Moses in the wilderness for 40 years. YHVH made the Israelites wander in the wilderness 40 years as a judgment against their sin. Yeshua fasted for 40 days in the wilderness in preparation for his earthly ministry. Similarly, the 40 days it rained on the earth is a prophetic antetype of YHVH’s final wrath being poured out upon this earth (Rev 15–16).
Similarly, YHVH’s saints will go through a time of spiritual testing and refinement prior to YHVH pouring out his wrath upon wicked mankind. This we see in the context of Revelation 11:18, which is the resurrection of the saints to meet Yeshua in the air and occurs after the seventh trump has sounded.
Moreover, according to Yeshua’s Matthew 24 prophecy, YHVH’s saints will still be on the earth during the tribulation and great tribulation period at the end of the age (Matt 24:29–31).
Genesis 7:4, 10, After seven days. Noah was a preacher of righteousness for 120 years prior to the flood (Gen 6:3; 2 Pet 2:5). He no doubt endured the mockery and persecution of those who did not believe his message about a coming flood, and the need for an ark of safety when that generation had never experienced rain or floods (Heb 11:7; 2 Pet 2:5).
In Genesis 7:4 and 10, YHVH allows Noah to experience seven more days of persecution before the rains of judgment come upon the earth after which YHVH shut Noah and his family up in the ark of safety (Gen 7:16) after which the ark “was lifted above the earth” (Gen 7:17). Yeshua likens the end times just prior to his second to the days of Noah (Matt 24:37–39). Yeshua further teaches that his saints will not only go through tribulation on this earth (Matt 24:3–22), but that his people will even go through “great tribulation” (Gr. megathlipsis, v. 21).
After this, Yeshua teaches that the saints will be lifted up above the earth to meet him in the air after the great tribulation (Matt 24:29–31), and not before it as some in the church erroneously teach and believe.
The Scriptures reveal that Noah endured another seven days of tribulation before the wrath of Elohim was poured out upon the wicked inhabitants of the earth. This may be a prophetic picture of a seven-year tribulation period the saints will have to go through before the wrath of Elohim (which is different than the tribulation period) is poured out upon this earth (See Rev 11:15–18 [compare with 1 Cor 15:51–53] and chapters 15 and 16 where the seven last plagues are called the wrath of Elohim).
The Scriptures clearly teach that YHVH’s people will not have to endure his wrath (1 Thess 1:10; 5:9), but conversely teaches that all will go through tribulation (John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Rev 7:14). Scripturally, tribulation and wrath are two different words and concepts.
Genesis 7:23–24, Only Noah. As Noah was saved in an ark of safety of YHVH’s design from his wrath against wicked man, so the righteous of today have a similar ark of safety. Yeshua is that spiritual “ark of safety” that once inside (or in spiritual relationship with) we will be spared from the judgments of Elohim (John 5:24–29 cp. Rev 11:15–18; 14:4–5 cp. 14:14–20).
