There are many details which point to Christ typically.
But before dealing with these let us look at the structure of the Ark itself.
Noah was the builder, God was the architect.
The Ark was not as most of our artist depict it.
It was a huge black box—450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.
It had a floor space of 33,000 square feet on each level, and since it had three stories, the total floor space would be approximately 100,000 square feet.
Since the ceilings were 15 feet high there were approximately 1½ million cubic feet.
Some critics have described it as impossible to house all of the animals, birds, etc. in the Ark.
Zoologists say that when we eliminate all the breeds, varieties, and sub-species we are left with a surprisingly small number of original parent species.
They believe that these are less than 100 original species of animals and less than 170 original species of birds.
There was ample accommodation in the ark for Noah and his family, animals, and birds, and many people.
Ere the hand returns to earth, the conditions which prevailed before the flood are to be reproduced:
1. Multiplication of mankind—population explosion—6:1.
2. God dealing in longsuffering with the wicked world—“Not willing that any should perish.”
3. God sending messengers to warn sinners of coming judgment.
4. God’s Spirit striving with man, and the threat that He would not always do so. 2 Thessalonians 2 tells of the time when the Spirit will be taken away.
5. God’s overtures of grace were despised and rejected—such as the condition of the world today.
6. There was a small remnant who found grace in the eyes of the Lord. The true church within the professing church.
7. Enoch miraculously translated—typifying the Rapture.
8. God’s judgment poured forth on the ungodly—Revelation 6:19.
9. Noah and his family miraculously preserved. Type of the Jewish remnant who will be preserved through the Tribulation.
The Ark, which was built by Noah, according to Divine direction is one the cleanest and most comprehensive types of the believers salvation in Christ, which is to be found in all the Scriptures.
Let us, at this time, note a few of the similarities:
1. The Ark was a Divine provision—see v.13-14.
The provision of the Ark was no afterthought with God.
Before the flood came the Ark was built.
Provision was made for Noah before the Judgment fell.
The thought of judgment by a flood was all the more incredible to the people because rain had never fallen on the world up to this time.
In the same way God provided a Savior, before sin had blighted His creation.
From eternity He had prepared to redeem a people to Himself.
Peter tells us that “the Lamb was foreordained before the foundation of the world.”
John says that Christ was “a lamb slain before the foundation of the world.”
The Ark was God’s provision for Noah and his family.
Jesus Christ is God’s provision for sinners.
2. The Ark was a refuge from Divine judgment.
Three arks mentioned in Scripture—each of them was a shelter and a place of safety:
A. The ark of bulrushes—protected Moses from the murderous designs of Pharaoh, who is a type of Satan.
B. The ark of the covenant—sheltered the two tables of stone on which were inscribed the holy law of God.
C. The ark of Noah—secured those within in from the outpouring wrath of God.
Each ark speaks of Christ, and putting the three together, we learn that the believer is sheltered from Satan’s attacks, the condemnation of the law, and from God’s wrath.
There are only three thing in the universe that can threaten or harm us.
Noah’s ark was a place of safety. It was the only place of safety.
Though God’s wrath beat upon it for 40 days and nights, Noah and his family were secure and safe.
This speaks of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only Savior of lost sinners. Acts 4:12—“Neither is there salvation in any other.”
3. The ark was a place of absolute security.
Into this ark Noah was invited to come. Ch 7:1—“Come thou and all thy house into the ark.”
This truth of security is seen from several standpoints.
4. The ark was pitched “within and without with pitch.”
It was thoroughly airtight and perfectly secure.
So in Christ the believer’s life is “hid with Christ in God”—Colossians 3:3.
5. Then we read after Noah entered the Ark that “God shut him in”—Genesis 7:16.
Having entered into the ark, God was now responsible for his preservation. God was with him in the ark.
Finally, the security of all in the Ark is seen in that after a year, Noah and all his family came forth—every beast—every creeping thing—every fowl.
There were no deaths in the Ark—John 10:28-30.
There were no births either—John 1:11-13.
6. There was only one door in the Ark.
Everyone and everything used the same door.
Likewise, there is only one way of deliverance from the wrath to come. One Savior from the Lake of Fire.
John 14:6—“I am the Way.”
John 10:9—“I am the door.”
The door was in the side of the ark—Genesis 6:16.
Pointing forward to the piercing of the Lord’s side, which was the announcement that the way to the heart of God is now open to guilty and ruined sinners.
7. The great truth of Atonement is typically presented in the Ark.
God’s instructions were that the ark was to be pitched “within and without.”—Genesis 6:14.
The word used for “pitch” is not the common Hebrew word.
Atonement was made by blood which made a covering for sin.
Connecting this truth with the typology of the Ark we can readily see that shelter from the coming wrath of God can only be found beneath the atoning blood of Christ.
Ephesians 1:7—We have redemption through his blood.
Ephesians 2:13—Made nigh through the blood.
1 Peter 1:19—We are redeemed through the precious blood of Christ.
1 John 1:7—The blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Revelation 1:5—Washed us from our sin in His own blood.