Hi Pera,
I admire your freedom in the Lord to be courageous and stand up for his truths...I pray the Lord give that kind of courage when and if I need it someday.
As for the question of "What about the flood?", I'm assuming they are referring to the many people who were seemingly given the "choice" to get on the ark...except for you are right...it wasn't in God's plan for the "many" to get in the Ark at that time, but only the "few". I think Ray has said somewhere, that it is part of God's plan that man go against His will, for a time. Most of mankind is naturally against God because they are carnal:
Romans 8:7
because the carnal mind is enmity(hostile) against God, for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can it be.
All the things in the Old Testament happened literally, but more importantly they happened as examples or types to show a deeper spiritual truth or message:
1 Corinthians 10:11
Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.Noah and his family equaled 8. The number 8 represents new beginnings. 8 people compared to the many who stayed outside of the ark. This is a type of the Elect who are in the Kingdom of God, and the many who will be outside of the Kingdom of God....for a time....The Elect and Christ usher in the Kingdom of God and begin a new age of judgment in the spiritual Lake of Fire.
This is God's plan: many called, few chosen. Few are chosen to be Priests and Kings with Christ. That's just the way God has done it. Those who died in the flood still await their judgment during which time they will be purged of their carnal minds and thus will no longer be "against" God.
Notice they died in a flood...baptized with water...First the natural, then the spiritual...they will still need the baptism into Christ:
Mark 1:8
I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.Romans 6:3-4
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
There is yet a spiritual baptism into Christ for those who died in the flood. It's not over for them. Before Jesus' death and resurrection, no one was baptized into Christ...there is still the many, a whole slew of people throughout history, who have yet to be baptized into Christ, who is our consuming fire.
Luke 3:16
J
ohn answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.The Elect are the only ones baptized with fire, while in the flesh. But God will bring everyone through this baptism and they will come out the other end in "newness of life". But each man in his order, first Christ, then the firstfruits, then the rest of the harvest of humanity.
Hope this helps and doesn't confuse you more....I tend to want to say WAY too much, which is why I think the Lord doesn't let me talk to too many people...
It's far better, methinks, to keep it simple as you did, and if a seed has been planted, and the Lord wills, they will come back to ask more questions.
Peace,
Diana