We are familiar with the cartoon picture, perhaps of Noah holding a placard which says, "The end is nigh" and a crowd standing around laughing about a boat being built some 200 miles from land.
But Jesus said about these people, "They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the flood came and took them all away." [ Matthew 24:38-39 ] Jesus wants the flood to be a solemn reminder to us all that one day He will come again to judge the unbelievers but to save those who trust in Him just like those who believed Noah and got on board the Ark.