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The Last Days
Are We Witnessing the End Days Right Now? Scripture Reference: Luke 17: 26-30 Written by: Velma J. Sanders
The Last Days
Are We Witnessing the End Days Right Now? Scripture Reference: Luke 17: 26-30
With clear, longdistant vision Jesus Christ tells us of events that will precede His second coming. For over 2000 years now, the Day of Salvation has shined and mankind is invited to the One who says, “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
and publicly these wicked manifestations of sin abound. Violence is on the rise within every level of society. Security measures are being taken upon our every turn. As a society we have now become so accustomed to these measures that most of us probably are desensitized to their “wrongness.”
However, the sunlight of this present day of God’s grace towards man is going down and on its horizon is another day spoken of clearly and frequently in the Bible; it is the Day of God’s Wrath. But, before God works in wrath, He graciously and mercifully offers salvation to all. To those who refuse His offer, through Jesus Christ, He gives warnings of His impending judgment.
Eternally condemned by God for its pungent sin and open rebellion, Sodom and Gomorrah are a testimony to all that would ignore God’s warnings. The destruction of these two cities, although notoriously known for their sexual sins were just as brazen in a hosts of other sins.
Although, we do not know the exact date of His return, we know from scripture that His return will be ushered in by two distinct and separate days. These are: The Days of Noah and The Days of Lot. Therefore, the question is not whether Jesus shall come again. He will. The question is: Are we witnessing, today, the days of Noah and Lot? To answer this, let us look at some of the characteristics of these two days:
The Days of Noah Genesis 6 tells us that wickedness, evilness, corruption and violence flowed from the sinful heart of man; “and the earth was filled with violence.” Because the nature of unredeemed mankind remains unchanged, even after the release of Noah and his family from the ark, it was not long until sin again manifested itself in the earth. Even now, we see these things swelling in their development as they once again seek feverishly to fill the earth. The account of Noah and the flood reveals that God not only observes the conduct of mankind, but He also judges it according to His own righteous requirements. Corruption and violence are crouched at the threshold of each door as never before. Privately
The Days of Lot
These cities glorified that which God had forbidden and they failed to recognize the seriousness of sin and its consequences. Paying no regard to the merciful warnings of imminent judgment, mankind paraded itself in transgressions. That which brought about God’s judgment in Noah’s day increased in its intensity in Lot’s day. With each successive generation, sin becomes more potent in its poison. What is shameful in one generation is tolerated in the next; and that which is tolerated is then embraced; until that which is embraced, is legalized and glorified in succeeding generations. Fools make a mock of sin. However, as Creator, God will not be mocked by His creation. When societies deliberately choose to rebel against His Word, judgment is inevitable. An open display of the same things that existed in the days of Noah and Lot are reappearing in our present day; resembling very much those former days. Comparing the destruction of Noah and Lot’s day, we notice that God, hesitant in His judging, “looks” and then “looks again.” Of course we know that God knows all things. But, before working in judgment and in wrath, He, as it were, “looks again.” As if to make sure He is really seeing the situation aright. In the case of Lot’s day, God not only looked, but it is stated, “He came down.” And
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And AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH, so shall it be in the days of the Son of Man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Also, AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF LOT; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
EVEN THUS SHALL IT BE IN THE DAY WHEN THE SON OF MAN IS REVEALED. Luke 17:26 -30 then, He judged. But, do not think that God takes delight or derives pleasure from this. Ezekiel 18 says, “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? Saith the Lord God, and not that he should return from his ways and live. For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD; wherefore, turn yourselves and live.” In closing, notice that God destroyed the entire world by a flood in Noah’s Day, but only a portion of the world did He destroy, by fire, in Lot’s Day. Not because He had run out of fire, but that His mercy and grace holds back the fire, that many might repent and be saved, turning from sin to God; by placing faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. (The complete account of Noah and Lot is found in Genesis chapters 6 – 9, and chapters 18, 19.)
Written by: Velma J. Sanders ©2012 “God’s Word, Alive!”
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