Conditions may make this a good year for searchers. But nothing in Bible prophecy demands that the ark must have been preserved or that it would be discovered.
by Mario Seiglie
At times, those searching for Noah's
ark must think they are seeking a phantom ship. Despite the many expeditions
in recent years, no solid evidence has been presented to confirm the discovery
of the elusive ark. Lately, some explorers have claimed to have discovered
it, but the proof so far has been inconclusive. Either the supposed photographs
of the ark turn out to be blurred or the wood brought back is of questionable
antiquity. It is also quite common for the discoverers to lack corroborating
witnesses.
For those who keep up with these recent
explorations, it is hard to fathom why, with all the technology available,
these searchers still have not been able to find a huge ship on a mountain-if
it has survived the ravages of time.
Perhaps discovering Noah's ark would be
such a monumental find that it could be seen as a "trump card" from
the Creator to this mostly unbelieving world right before He decisively
intervenes in world events. It would turn current geological notions
on their head and provide convincing evidence that God does exist and
the biblical record of the Great Flood is true. If a huge boat were
found on Mt. Ararat or its environs, there is no feasible explanation
of how it got there unless a worldwide flood took place. Additionally,
the persons building it would have had to know in advance what was
coming or they wouldn't have built it, and only God could have warned
them ahead of time. Finding the ark could be a concrete proof that
God's prophecy was fulfilled just as it was recorded in Genesis 6 through
8.
This is a good reason for us to keep an
eye on the news about these searches, for if they succeed, they would
provide an important proof to buttress the Bible and prophecy. On the
other hand, we should carefully scrutinize any evidence, so charlatans
or publicity buffs claiming to have found the ark will not deceive
us.
