This statement emphasizes the miraculous nature of events during the week immediately preceding the Flood. This divine act signified also that the time of grace for the fallen race had reached its end. As in the days of Noah the door of mercy closed a short time prior to the day of God’s visitation, so in these last days God’s people are to be warned, “Shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself” (Isa. 26:20, 21; Matt. 24:37–39; 2 Peter 3:6, 7).