The Bible reveals two times that God has or will destroy the world. It is significant to note some similarities and differences between both events.

In the days of Noah, God determined “that every intent of the thoughts of [man’s] heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them” (Genesis 6:7). This being so, God destroyed the sinful world beneath water, except Noah and his household, who found grace in His sight (Genesis 6:8). They would rise above the water in an ark which they built by faith in the commandment of God (Hebrews 11:7). 

In like fashion, God has planned a day which He will once again destroy the world, but not by water (Genesis 9:11-13). “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with a fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up . . . the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat….” (2 Peter 3:10,12). This destruction will accompany the final judgment of mankind (cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; Hebrews 9:27). The believing will reside in heaven with God for the entirety of eternity (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) and the unbelieving and unrighteous will be cast into a lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:8).

These events are similar in several ways. Both are judgments against mankind. Both involve the destruction of the wicked. Both involve the salvation of the faithful. Both demonstrate the goodness and the severity of God (cf. Romans 11:22). Both are sudden and without warning upon those who do not believe (Matthew 24:36-39), though God is extremely longsuffering (1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:9,15). Still, only a comparative few will be saved.

These events differ in one critical way. Where the first employed water for destruction, the second will employ fire. In Noah’s day, those who were wicked were destroyed by water (Genesis 9:11). Yet, those who entered the ark of safety were “saved through water” (1 Peter 3:21). In the final judgment, the earth and the wicked will be destroyed by fire (2 Thessalonians 1:8; Revelation 20:15) and the only means of salvation will be “in Christ” (cf. Acts 4:12).

This difference is manifested in an interesting way when we consider two of the baptisms spoken of in the New Testament—water baptism and the baptism of fire.

John the Baptist said that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16) and the content reveals beyond any doubt that John is speaking of the final judgment of mankind. He says the “wheat (righteous, jlp) will be gathered into His barn (heaven, jlp) and the chaff (sinners, jlp) will be burned with unquenchable fire (hell, jlp)” (Luke 3:17).

At the same time, when Peter spoke of Noah’s salvation, he spoke of it as a type of baptism, in which we are “saved through water” (1 Peter 3:21). Jesus commanded this baptism (Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 28:19-20). The apostles obeyed by baptizing in water (Acts 2:38, 40-41; Acts 8:36-38; Acts 10:47-48, etc.). John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus by baptizing in water (John 3:23). We are taught that this baptism puts us “into Christ” (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:26-27), where we ultimately find salvation (cf. Acts 2:47).

Indeed, “for whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). To ignore the warnings found in the story of Noah regarding the impending judgment of God will result in the same inevitable fate that met those who ignored Noah’s preaching (2 Peter 2:4 ff).

Therefore, two options ultimately remain—the baptism of water into a faithful life in Christ NOW or the baptism of fire into eternal condemnation LATER. To reject the first is to accept the latter. To reject both is to accept the latter. Thus, the only rational choice is to heed the warning and “obey the gospel” today.