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The Waters Prevailed upon the Earth

By Chris McCann
March 19, 2020

Mountains in the Bible spiritually represent kingdoms. Satan’s rule over this world is likened to seven kingdoms (or mountains) in the book of Revelation:

Revelation 17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

This is why, in the flood account we’re told that the waters (wrath of God) prevailed over the highest hills (Satan’s kingdom of this world) for 5 months:

Genesis 7:18 And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.

19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.

20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.

24 And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.

The 150 days, or 5 months identifies with the 5 months of torment mentioned in Revelation chapter 9. 5 months is a figurative number used to describe the entire prolonged judgment period, which we know has lasted for several years already.

The Lord’s emphasis on the waters prevailing over the mountains indicates that the Word of God which reveals the final judgment of mankind is victorious over all the enemies of God (Satan and the nations of the world) throughout the prolonged judgment day period of time.

Interestingly, we also read this in the next chapter of Genesis:

Genesis 8:3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.

4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.

These verses are also referencing a 5 month period of time. We know that the flood began on the 17th day of the 2nd month of Noah’s 600th year (Genesis 7:11), and the ark came to rest upon the mountains of Ararat on the 17th day of the 7th month which would have been exactly 5 months later.

Once again the spiritual picture God is painting is that of Christ (typified by the ark) and His elect (typified by those within the ark) being lifted above the kingdoms of this world (the mountains they rest upon) while the world experiences the wrath of God (the waters). We also find that the mention of Ararat ties in with God’s judgment of Babylon (another type and figure used to represent the nations of the world) in the book of Jeremiah. It should be mentioned that Babylon is also likened to a mountain in the same passage:

Jeremiah 51:24 And I will render unto BABYLON and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD.

25 Behold, I am against thee, O destroying MOUNTAIN, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt MOUNTAIN.

27 Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of ARARET, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers.

God speaks of raising up the nations against Babylon, including the kingdom of “Araret”-these nations will come against Babylon as “rough caterpillars”. The Hebrew word (#3218) translated as caterpillar is also translated as cankerworm. Strong’s indicates that it refers to creatures who lick up, or devour, and says it refers to young locusts. Of course, the idea of locusts being in view-along with the mentioning of Araret strongly connects the Scripture in Genesis 8 which tells us that after 5 months the ark rested on the mountain of Araret, with these verses in Revelation chapter 9:

Revelation 9:3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.