When considering the world, in Scripture, we encounter a conundrum.

Interestingly the biblical definition of the world is not what many would think when considering this present world. Jesus died for the sins of the world, because He loved the world. He obviously didn’t love our sin. His love brought Him to the cross.

But we, who accept what He did, are told after coming to Him, that we are to “love not the world or the things of the world”. We are told that we are not to be any longer “of the world”. We are told that “this world is not our home”. We are told that the world will once again be destroyed — this time by fire.

Jesus told us in His prayer for us that: John 17:23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. (NASB1995). He then adds: John 17:25 “O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; (NASB1995)

It seems that the “world” is always representative in Scripture concerning people as them being unbelievers.

Jesus prayer is for an effect on the world coming from an example of unity in the church which allows the world to understand that God the Father loves Him and us His people. Jesus here in His prayer, I believe, has asked for conditions in this world to be established, which will lead to the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy: Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. (NASB2020)

Paul tells us that the world will not escape this coming day of the Lord that Joel tells us is coming. In that day the fruit of man’s actions are fully ripened for the treading of the winepress of the wrath of the Lord. Men will have made their decision. The unity prayed for for those in Christ, when Jesus prayed His prayer will impact the world, and this result will return our Lord for a bride without spot or wrinkle, and to a world, whose sin has fully ripened.

Revelation 6:15 Then the kings of the earth, the important people, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and all the slaves and free people hid themselves in caves and among the rocks in the mountains. 16 They said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the anger of the lamb, 17 because the frightening day of their anger has come, and who is able to endure it?” (GOD’S WORD)

God is giving mankind, those outside of Christ, an opportunity to seek Him, an opportunity to turn away from this world and it’s sought after unity; from it’s quest for a peace that is false; from a hope that leaves one stranded and hopeless. Come to Him who will deliver you from the wrath that is to come, and from which there will be no escape. Hell is the wrath that Jesus came to deliver you from. Seek Him while He may yet be found.

These coming days and years could be the preparation spoken of for this coming day of the Lord of which Joel and others spoke long ago. If so we will see the effects of a world wrapped up in it’s choice for sin over Christ. Don’t be deceived God will not be mocked.

So, there was no way that any world religion would have satisfied God throughout history, nor in our own day.

Everyone included on this earth in Noah’s day must have been of the world; all of whom were out of favor, except Noah’s family. I take the meaning of that to be that there were none with contrite hearts left except Noah’s family.