Section 2 Chapter 5 – Life and death in Arzep for the same man

The first clues that the area around modern-day Arzep was connected to the post-flood story of Noah’s Ark were discovered in 1977 by Ron Wyatt.  The key find that established this link was the large tomb stones near and ancient dilapidated house or shrine.  The two large stones, now used as grave markers, were likely pieces of the control system that Noah was instructed to use to help in stabilizing the ship in rough seas.  Smaller drogue stones are used even today in some locations and for the same reason, to assist in stabilizing a sea craft in open waters.  If these large grave markers were some of those same stones used, what a fitting symbol to be included to mark the grave of a man that trusted God, which provided him control and direction in life, God was truly Noah’s anchor, what a blessed relationship they had.

Here in this designated region (modern day Arzep), God had preserved the human family and for hundreds of years, Noah and his wife and their 3 sons and their wives would begin the chore all over again to make a life for themselves. Everything and everybody was left behind. With only the resources that were stored on the ship, the reset for humanity started on the slow pace forward once again. It would be nearly impossible to imagine the details of the next 350 years of Noah’s life, however, the most important aspect was that God would continue to bless him “and God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth” (Gen.9:1).  To ensure Noah’s family of His commitment to them, God set His bow in the clouds (the rainbow) as a token of His love and mercy and commitment to bless them (and for us). It was amazing on a somewhat rainy day when we were there at the site, to see a double rainbow over the ship once again!

Eventually, frequency and radar scans would be conducted in and around the area, specifically around the house and grave sites. However, before these were conducted Wyatt could barely make out the faded petroglyphs on the grave marker stones, although he could see they were telling an incredible story.  Ron’s wife drew a sketch of the engravings which revealed a faint image of 8 people on each large stone.  Two of the figures were larger than the other six.  On one stone, one of the large figures had their head bowed and eyes closed, and their head turned away from the rest.  On the other stone, both large figures had their heads bowed and eyes closed, with heads turned away from the others. The message was clear, if these were the final resting place of Noah and his wife, Mrs. Noah was represented as dying first, as Ron could see a distinction was made between the men and the woman, Noah died at a later time.  It was also noteworthy to see that the 3 sons and their wives were depicted as being smaller in stature. This degenerative effect of the flood event would surely have been noticed after hundreds of post-flood years.

The physical evidence from the area suggests two specific occupations that would have taken precedence and utilized most of the time for the now single remaining human family on earth.  Both are just what you would expect to accommodate survival in this harsh new world.  Farming to supply food, and animal husbandry to initiate industry.  Both these occupations could be inclusive for men or woman, young or elderly and offered a degree of flexibility. Even today, it is not uncommon to see 5-or 6-year-old children out herding sheep or goats in the area (personal observation).

One important consideration to note is; there would have been a new learning curve with any post-flood endeavor, due to the detrimental changes in the environment. Before the flood event, I can imagine farming was more convenient, as nature itself was to assist and cooperate in the growing process.  The post-flood environment however, with the loss of the protective canopy would develop many extremes in weather, which would become disruptive to a normal planting and harvesting cycle. The archaeological record indicates the pre-flood planet had a more uniform temperature; this could facilitate numerous, continuous, variable growing cycles. The pre-flood world knew no such thing as regular droughts, floods, famines or any extremes in weather that we face today.

“And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: And he drank of the vine and was drunken; and he was uncovered in his tent” (Gen.9:20,21). These verses highlight the dramatic changes in the effect a post-flood environment would have on the food supply.  The fruit of the vine was apparently something that was partaken of in the perfect world that Noah and his family grew up in.  However, with greater pressure and a higher oxygen level, fermentation would be dramatically slowed, compared to its current rate.  Noah was caught off guard as the juice had ripened more quickly and spoiled, he became drunk and unconscious, and in some manner the youngest son took advantage.  Noah in his displeasure cursed his son Ham, the father of the Canaanites.

Noah would live in the region for the rest of his life and eventually die at the age of 950, he would be buried near the village of Arzep.  Not only Noah, but his wife and it appears that the sons were buried there as well. We have located 5 grave sites through frequency scans but have not marked them as such for their preservation and protection. It is hoped that at some time in the future, working with Turkish authorities, the sites will be officially recognized as historical sites and protected.  This collaboration has been in the works for many years now and we believe in God’s timing the remains of this very same man (Noah), will be presented once again to an unrighteous world, challenging the statis-quo of unbelief and unrighteousness, standing as the representative of God’s truth, to confront the evil in the world as was his mission when alive, an experience that he knew firsthand all too well.