The Timing of Noah’s Ark Discovery :: By Dale V. Nobbman

I find the timing of the potential confirmation of Noah’s Ark discovery here in 2026 to be of fascinating interest in relation to the pre-tribulation viewpoint held by most Christians about the timing of the future ‘Rapture of the Church’ from Earth by Jesus Christ himself.  The Bible tells us that no one but God the Father knows the exact timing of the ‘snatching away’ of Christians, both dead and living, from the earth to meet Jesus Christ in the air prior to the awful and horrific anti-Christ-dominated seven-year Great Tribulation period detailed in the Bible.

At this point, all signs point to this potential Noah’s Ark discovery matching up with the biblical description of Noah’s Ark.  From its location in the mountains of Ararat, to the detailed physical dimensions of the boat built with gopher wood, the ground-penetrating anomalies discovered by today’s technology, the higher carbon readings within the outline of the apparent manmade structure, artifacts found in the surrounding area, and early drilling tests ruling out a natural rock formation.

Now we wait for drilling samples to be taken to labs for further testing and confirmation of facts connecting this structure to Noah’s Ark.  We wait with anticipation for the ‘Gopher’ camera to penetrate the apparent interior spaces, giving us a look around into those areas resembling corridors and stalls on three levels, just as the Bible tells us that the Ark had three levels.  The rover’s name ‘Gopher’ is perfect for exploring this potential boat by Noah.

The confirmation, or not, of this particular boat-like formation as being Noah’s Ark will not shake the faith of Christians, who believe by faith that the Bible is God’s Word to us and infallible in its accuracy.  However, the confirmation of this being Noah’s Ark could certainly rattle the minds and convictions of non-believers’ thoughts about what the Bible has to say about world history, Jesus Christ, and everything else biblical in nature.  I want to point out that various accounts of a historical flood story have been found to exist in at least 200 worldwide cultures, adding credence to a worldwide flood having taken place at some point in time.

If the biblical ‘Flood’ story is proven to be true, then what the Bible has to say about Jesus Christ is true as well, and that will likely scare many non-believers to the core, to realize they have been living in sin all their lives.  It is true we are all sinners from birth due to the ‘curse of Adam’ handed down to all humanity through the ages.  It is just that Christians have realized their sinfulness at some point in their lives and have asked for forgiveness through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus died for us on a cross as the ‘one time’ sacrifice to make us righteous with God the Father, allowing us to go to heaven to spend eternity with Jesus Christ, and all our Christian family members, friends, and Christian saints from down through history.

In conclusion, let me add a personal opinion about the potential confirmation of the discovery of Noah’s Ark at this particular point in time.  As I have said in a previous article, I am not a date setter as to future events.  I do not know exactly when the ‘Rapture’ will take place; it would be foolish of me to predict exactly when, when the Bible makes it clear no one knows the time for sure.

But let me share a thought with you which some of you may find interesting.  The Bible uses many round-figure numbers when it comes to major biblical events.  Most biblical and other scholars believe the year of Jesus’ ascension into heaven, 40 days after his resurrection, to be in May of 30 A.D.  Jesus was 33 years old at the time of His crucifixion.  He began a three-year ministry when he was 30 years old.  Jesus was most likely born in December of 5 B.C. or early in 4 B.C., before the death of Herod later in 4 B.C., and many scholars believe Jesus died in April of 30 A.D.  Keep in mind that 1 B.C. to 1 A.D. counts as just one year.  There was no zero year.

The increasing frequency and intensity of biblical ‘signs of the times’ seem to be pointing to a sooner rather than later rapture of Christians.  Keeping biblical round numbers in mind, what better time (in my human thinking) for Jesus to return for Christians than in 2030, exactly 2,000 years from the time of His ascension into Heaven in May of 30 A.D.  God the Father only knows!

If the identity of Noah’s Ark is confirmed later this year, could it be that God the Father is now unveiling the Ark to us in order to give unrepentant sinners a few more short years to repent and be saved before condemnation comes upon the earth during the Great Tribulation years.  Just like the Ark saved Noah and his immediate family from the condemnation that came upon the earth and all other human life at the time of the Great Flood, the Ark is a symbol of Jesus Christ and how he can save all who believe in Him from the next earthly condemnation.

The door of opportunity for salvation is still open—enter into salvation through the one and only door available to us—Jesus Christ!  Jesus saves all who will believe in Him with His shed blood.  Jesus, the Lamb of God, took our rightful place on the cross and replaced it with His grace!

God the Father is not willing for anyone to perish (Matthew 18:14).

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

“Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that (they) turn from (their) ways and live?” (Ezekiel 18:23).

“So, if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11).

“And this is the will of Him (God the Father) who sent Me (Jesus), that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day” (John 6:39).

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

 

The Cross in the Crosshairs :: By Joe Hawkins

Christian Persecution Is Rising Around the World

I was recently having a conversation with someone who is churched, but certainly biblically illiterate. We were discussing the growing deception and the groundwork being laid for the beast system infrastructure. When I referenced the beast system, this person began talking in terms as though he would be here when this system is in full force. The conversation then turned to the timing of the Rapture. Now this is one of the frustrations I deal with on a daily basis. People provide their interpretation of Scripture that is based on either 1.) their feelings and emotions or 2.) someone else’s flawed interpretation.

As the conversation turned to the timing of the Rapture, this person basically rejected the idea of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture based on his idea that Christians must be “tested by fire.” He thinks that Christians have it easy and have not suffered enough persecution to warrant being rescued from the wrath to come.

I know! Does he not see what is going on around the world? Has he not read history? It’s mind-boggling that someone could be so blind to the reality of what is happening… but should I be surprised? How many Christians just bury their heads in the sand and don’t concern themselves with what is going on around the world? In fact, I believe most don’t concern themselves with what is going on in their own backyard.

I penned an article roughly two years ago titled, Not Appointed to Wrath, but Not Immune to Persecution. In this article, I lay out the fact that we, as the body of Christ, have and will suffer persecution for our testimony in Jesus, BUT we are not appointed to the wrath that is reserved for an unbelieving world.

Now the purpose of this short article is to provide some stats that would indicate Christians are actually suffering persecution on a global scale.

THE CHURCH THAT SUFFERS

Before we talk about the persecuted church around the world today, I want to take you back nearly 2,000 years to a church that Jesus Himself addressed: Smyrna. Jesus did not rebuke this church. He looked at this suffering church and said, “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty.”

Think about those words: “I know.”

Jesus knew every threat. He knew every loss. He knew every family that had suffered because they belonged to Him. He knew what it cost them to confess the name of Christ.

And then He told them something that probably wasn’t what they wanted to hear: “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer.”

Jesus did not promise that the suffering would stop. He promised something greater: He would be faithful to them in the middle of it.

And then came His command: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

We read those words today from the comfort of our cushioned chairs, in air-conditioned churches, and with the freedom to gather publicly (at least here in the Western world). But for the believers in Smyrna, those words were not theoretical. Following Jesus could cost them their livelihood, their freedom, and even their lives.

Smyrna may be ancient history, but the persecuted church is not.

Right now, across the world, there are believers gathering secretly because publicly worshiping Jesus could put them in danger. There are pastors who know that preaching Christ could lead to imprisonment… or death. There are Christians who have lost homes, jobs, family relationships, and freedom because they refuse to deny Jesus Christ.

For millions of Christians, persecution is not something they read about in church history. It is their daily reality.

According to the 2026 Open Doors World Watch List, more than 388 million Christians experience high levels of persecution or discrimination because of their faith. That is roughly 1 in 7 Christians worldwide. The rate is about 1 in 5 in Africa and 2 in 5 in Asia.

Below are the top 10 countries on this watchlist:

https://www.opendoors.org/persecution/countries

We are going to explore a few of these on the top 10 and even some that fall outside. Due to the nature of what has been going in Nigeria over the past few year, I felt it appropriate to start there.

NIGERIA

Open Doors ranks Nigeria #7 on its 2026 World Watch List and describes it as having been the world’s most violent place for Christians for several years.

According to a September 2026 report from Equipping the Persecuted, 4,216 Christians were killed in Nigeria between January 1 and September 8, 2026. That works out to approximately: 16.8 Christians every day or One Christian every 86 minutes.

IRAN

Open Doors reports that Christian converts from Islam are particularly vulnerable. House churches are be raided, believers arrested and interrogated, and Christian activity prosecuted under national-security accusations. Following recent Iran-Israel conflict, Open Doors reports authorities increasingly portrayed evangelical converts as potential Western collaborators or spies.

ISLAMIST EXTREMISM

The newest Pew Research Center analysis, published in September 2026, estimates that there are now about 5.5 million Muslims in the United States, compared with approximately 2.4 million in 2007. That’s more than a doubling in less than two decades. The number of American mosques also increased from roughly 1,200 in 2000 to nearly 2,800 in 2020.

The most important implication of Islam’s growth in America isn’t political—it is spiritual. Millions of Muslims now live within reach of American churches that believe Jesus commanded them to make disciples of all nations.

This is at odds with Islam and is a perceived threat. What do you think this quiet (not-so-quiet anymore) infiltration of Islam into America means? As the rise of Islamic influence continues, will we also see persecution of Christians commence on our home soil? Let’s look at how many countries are Muslim-majority on the 2026 World Watch List:

Somalia — #2
Yemen — #3
Sudan — #4
Syria — #6
Nigeria — #7
Pakistan — #8
Libya — #9
Iran — #10

Muslim-majority countries represent 80% of the top ten.

Conclusion

In just a short period of time, I’ve proven that Christian persecution is not just limited to small pockets. In fact, roughly 15% of Christians suffer some level of persecution. Now let’s put this to the test of Scripture. As a follower of Christ, will we experience persecution for our faith? Paul answers this question in his second letter to Timothy: “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). More importantly, Jesus addresses this in John 15:18-20:

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”

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