There is no reason to conclude that all who died in the Flood will be eternally separted from God.
We must remember that in the Old Testament we have a very literal imposing of physical death for those who sin (and that is still in effect today).
Consider the babes in the womb, the newborns, and the young children, would we think they will be eternally separated from God? God has every right to, but, the fact of the matter is that even for those listed in the "Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11), we see that God's grace was and had to be bestowed to them as well.
The reconciliation is therefore understanding the Biblical Doctrine of Grace, which is bestowed to men prior to the Cross. David, for example, was a great candidate for Hell, being a lying adulterous murderer, yet he died at peace with God, believing in his heart that he would be reunited with the child that died.
And we better pay attention to Prophets, right? lol
So this is what I would suggest: God has and always will judge men according to their response to the revelation He provides them. We see this principle taught by Paul, so let's consider what he is saying:
Romans 1:18-21
King James Version (KJV)
[SUP]18 [/SUP]For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
[SUP]19 [/SUP]Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
[SUP]20 [/SUP]For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
[SUP]21 [/SUP]Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
No commentary needed, right?
Now let's get specific concerning whether those who have not received direct revelation (from the Prophets or the Word of God):
Romans 2:9-15
King James Version (KJV)
[SUP]9 [/SUP]Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
[SUP]10 [/SUP]But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
[SUP]11 [/SUP]For there is no respect of persons with God.
[SUP]12 [/SUP]For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
[SUP]13 [/SUP](For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
[SUP]14 [/SUP]For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
[SUP]15 [/SUP]Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another)
Again, no commentary needed.
So in regards to the OP, we can conclude that it is reasonable that those who had not the ability to understand the three types of revelation God provides all men (the internal witness, the testimony of Creation, and direct revelation (the Word of God through Prophets or Scripture)), w can safely assume that the grace bestowed to every Old Testament Saint who did sin against God directly in violation of the revelation they had...would be bestowed upon babes in the womb and young children, not to mention the mentally infirm.
So we can speculate that they were not resigned to eternal separation from, God.
Then we consider that while God destroyed all men and women, we will still see a principle of judgment in regards to their response to the revelation they were provided which could cause us to expect grace in that judgment.
I would not be dogmatic about the adults, but, I think that there will be those who forfeited their lives through sin, though perhaps not on an eternal basis, but, as most Old Testament teachings are, on a physical level.
Paul wrote of the deaths of believers here:
1 Corinthians 11:26-30
King James Version (KJV)
[SUP]26 [/SUP]For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
[SUP]27 [/SUP]Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
[SUP]28 [/SUP]But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
[SUP]29 [/SUP]For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
[SUP]30 [/SUP]For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
While it could be argued those who partake unworthily are unbelievers, I take the position that this speaks of God's children in sin, and that there is a line where the sinning Christian can lose his life.
The wages of sin is death, and that will never change. But, the grace of God extends to those worthy of death, and we can find many examples of sinning believers who were not cast away, though they sinned.
The grace of God is a consistent theme throughout Scripture, and for the person that thinks that on a temporal level they have earned salvation through grace, I would remind them that salvation is wholly of Holy God, and that salvation is a gift.
God bless.