AS IT WAS…(Some adapted content from various sources)

As it was in the days of Noah…

We will read

From Luke Chapter 17…

Luke 17:26-30 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

(27) They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

(28) Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

(29) But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

(30) Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

Our Lord tells of the end times of plaet earth.

Of the end of the world as we know it.

He says that these days to come will be “as it was in the days of Noah” and “as it was in the days of Lot”.

So we’re going to look at some of these evident signs…

One such sign is WICKEDNESS.

As it was in the days of Noah and Lot – WICKEDNESS prevailed.

Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

As it was in the days of Noah and Lot… people were obsessed with worldly gain, and fleshly, worldly pleasures, living just for the things of this world.

As it was in the days of Noah and Lot… The most shameless lifestyles were acceptable, including sodomy.

Anarchy prevailed, lawlessness, and violence.

Genesis 6:11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

A SINFUL CULTURE took over.

A culture feasting on violence – that calls good evil, and evil good. Sounds familiar?

And the wicked opposed those who held fast God’s standard and truth.

We are to expect the same to happen again.

As it was in the days of Noah and Lot there was a widespread SPIRITUAL DECLINE.

There’s a steady decline in the number of people who profess to be Christians.

Less than one percent of young adults hold to a biblical worldview (Barna, 2009).

Even of those who claim to be Christian, many do not believe many of the most fundamental Bible teachings.

The Bible foretells such a time of apostasy and the rise of an END TIMES COUNTERFEIT CHURCH.

A global religion that will be called Christian – but it will be ANTICHRIST.

Rome has disguised itself and has masked its lies, but it has never denied them. It has merely repackaged them.

People like Rick Warren – here laughing along with the perverted man Elton John – is one example of this falling away.

We are seeing signs of a perverted brand of "Christianity" that unifies, and moves to partner even with other religions that actually deny the Saviour.

Satan has masterminded all this.

He has a deliberate plan. His mantra – his message – is COEXIST. Let’s all go along to get along…

This master plan includes a religious UNITY.

The devil’s desire is to unite the world under the Antichrist (Revelation 13:3; 12:9).

Many are held spellbound in his grip, as public perception and public opinion is manipulated. A social engineering is drawing multitudes into deception…

And the devil is the ultimate PUPPET MASTER who pulls the strings.

The Babylon, mystery religion is framing a NEW WORLD ORDER.

Like a gigantic octopus its tentacles reach widely across all media spreading its control of the state, its godless philosophies, and lies, such as evolution, and euthanasia…

The scaremongering of supposed manmade climate change and how many has to save the planet. It is a global propaganda campaign.

We see an increasing GLOBALISATION intruding into many aspects of our lives.

Globalism is everywhere… We see a Global Governance, a One World Police

Force, Global Education for the masses, a New Economic Order.

We see an emerging one world global village. A global framework. Global dominion is taking control, and it will lead to Global tyranny.

There is a move globally to a worship of Mother Earth, rather than the Creator God.

There is a praising of a common religious faith based on worship of the earth and nature, which rejects belief in the Biblical Transcendent, Personal God.

There’s a GLOBAL WAR ON CHRISTIAN VALUES.

Truth speech is banned.

The radicals are taking charge of the curriculum in our education systems.

Bible believing Christianity is called hate and intolerance.

Meantime, there’s a definite BRAIN WASHING going on against Christianity.

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

There‘s a planned, step-by-step attempt to "wash" Christian worldview and beliefs and Biblical values from people’s minds and replace it with a godless ideology. These things are being replaced with a new way of thinking that will support a

totalitarian agenda. All the while the mockers in the media make fun of Christians.

The prophet Jeremiah said it well:

Jeremiah 23:36Ye have perverted the words of the living God.

We need authentic Christianity. The old-time Gospel faith that saves a sin bound soul and heals the broken hearted. Only Christ can do that. Faith in Christ. Faith in the Book. Faith in His ever amazing, saving grace.

As it was in the days of Noah and Lot, God gave WARNING…

As it was in the days of Noah and Lot, God gave lost sinners time to repent.

Yet most people will not repent from their evil. It will be too late for them to escape divine judgments.

Noah was a “PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS” (2 Peter 2:5).

Noah preached the righteous judgments of God, by warning that God was about to destroy the world for its sinful wickedness.

Yet the people ignored God’s warnings. The people had forgotten God.

As it was in the days of Noah and Lot, we can expect that people will scoff at believers and at the Word of God.

Only Noah and his family (eight souls) escaped God’s judgment of the Flood.

As it was in the days of Noah and Lot God provided a WAY OF ESCAPE to His people, before He poured out His judgment on the wicked.

As it was in the days of Noah and Lot, there was no security for pretend believers whose hearts were still devoted to the things of this world.

REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE.

Luke 17:32 Remember Lot's wife.

Lot’s wife acted as those believers who only have a show of godliness, but are still spiritually dead.

She lost her life at the last moment.

Genesis 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

She looked back. She hankered after what she had left behind. The world had a grip on her heart.

The Lord Jesus warned that shortly before His second coming to the earth there will be a great tribulation, such as never seen before.

Meantime,

THERE ARE TWO KINGDOMS.

THE WORLD IS AT WAR with Christians.

As it was in the days of Noah and Lot, we are to BE SEPARATED FROM THIS PRESENT EVIL WORLD according to the will of God.

Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

SANCTIFICATION is the act of being SET APART FROM SIN AND UNCLEANNESS AND being SET APART FOR GOD'S SERVICE.

It’s important that we have a distinguishing line between the world.

We are called to a separation from religious apostasy, and worldly associations.

Psalms 4:3But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

God has set His people apart to grow in holiness and faith.

Noah was separated.Lot was separated.

Remember Lot’s wife. She wasn’t.

God wants us to be a separated people.

We see many churches of our day are sick. They are not separated from the world. They are falling for a deadly compromise. They are falling away.

The real church has a history of blood shed from martyrs who would not bend.

God's standards of truth do not change.

God’s truth applied will act as a restraining wall against the evil floodtide of corruption that is covering the earth.

What will you do?

There are two kingdoms.

Who is your king?

Satan’s kingdom wants total domination.

What will you do?

Will you swallow the lie?

Or will you determine to be one who is set apart? One who will walk worthy?

1 Thessalonians 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

As it was in the days of Noah and Lot…

We see the signs all around us. Our Lord is coming soon.

Matthew 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

He is close… even at the doors…

If you are a real Christian, the Spirit of God is in you.

As God’s people we overcome the spirit of the world.

As God’s people we determine to follow the mind and spirit of Christ Himself.

As it was in the days of Noah and Lot, sin prevailed…

History is repeating itself.

God’s wrath will be poured out.

God has called you to HIS kingdom.

May we never forget, that…

WE ARE WAGED IN A WAR. And every day the soul destroying propaganda of our committed enemy assails our senses every which way.

There’s A RISING HOSTILITY against Christians. We can be sure that the persecution of Christians will increase and intensify…

The word says, He that is spiritual JUDGES all things (1 Corinthians 2:15).

Are you spiritual?

Do we care enough – do we love people enough, to tell them the truth…

There is much need of RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT. In other words, DISCERNMENT…

There is much need, a crying need, of exhorting people to Biblical separation and holiness.

Much need to call people back to the truth of the Bible.

Our absolute and sure guide for truth and direction in such days is the Bible.

THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD is the final and complete revelation given to believers by the Holy Spirit.

This must be our sure guide and undeviating standard. Here we have God’s sure commands.

Hebrews 3:13

But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

As it was in the days of Noah and Lot…

Even WITHIN the professing churches we are seeing a trend for DILUTED TRUTH… It’s where truth is subtly mixed with dangerous error. Preachers seem biased to smooth talk, tolerance and fairy floss.

IN AN AGE OF ITCHING EARS, people just seem to want to imitate the secular world. And preachers seem to be more and more obsessed with the size of their church, than with the substance of the church.

THE CHURCH is reinventing itself, and has lost all semblance of what it is meant to be; the pillar and ground of the truth.

God has purposed that His church be Holy, A glorious church, purified, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.

As it was in the days of Noah and of Lot, there’s a scarcity of those who hold fast that which is godly and soundly biblical.

There’s increasing new age philosophies, interfaith dialogue and cooperation.

It’s all part of the plan for a global transformation. Everything gets sacrificed on the altar to the all consuming goal of an artificial UNITY.

THE COUNTERFEIT CHURCH is being built, by stealth. The enemy is forging an alliance with his dark kingdom and the compromised church.

He is intent on mind control, mind changing… The church HAS LOST ITS DISCERNMENT and its RESISTANCE.

We are witnessing A STRUGGLE between BIBLICAL versus CULTURAL CHRISTIANITY.

Many yield to the pressure of being ‘GENERATIONALLY RELEVANT’ to such a degree that they dismiss Biblical absolutes…

Really, it’s treason.

THE DEVIL’S MARKETING CAMPAIGN is enticing…

He is constantly massaging the truth, and manipulating minds…

This rising evil is his deliberate plan.

It’s his intent – his strategy – to worldlify the church and weaken it. To corrupt it, and its message. To conform it…

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

(2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The ecumenical movement has done much damage and left much of the church in ruin.

We are not called to be merging or emerging but TO BE SEPARATE.

We need a RESTORATION. A REFORMATION. A REFINING. A RESISTANCE.

God is faithful, and unchanging.

He TRANSFORMS us.

DON’T BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD.

Some will say well it’s ok to be a little bit worldly…

As someone has put it: There’s no such thing as A LITTLE BIT PREGNANT. There is no such thing as a little bit pregnant— either, you are, or you’re not.

Likewise, there’s no such thing as A MILD FORM OF CANCER; it’s CANCER.

If you don’t get rid of it… If you don’t deal with it, it gets you.

And we have to deal with these things today. If we don’t, it’s bye-bye church…

God will remove the candlestick… He will snuff its light out…

There is a woeful loss of discernment going on. And watered down preaching prevails.

The church has become Passive, Pampered, and Powerless. A politically correct approach has taken over, and brought liberalism.

The devil is a master at BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION. Conditioning the masses to accept an anti-Christian bias, and a bias to accept untruths.

A COMPROMISING MIXTURE has taken over, and a worldly Conformity and Coldness has set in… And we – the faithful – must withstand this.

We must hold fast to a Bible-believing standpoint, and against false teachings and doubtful things.

Preachers have become too afraid to offend anyone; not that this should be our aim, as such.

Yet, most of all, we do not want to offend GOD, by compromising Bible truth.

The Lord Jesus Christ didn't pull any punches when it came to exposing falsehoods. Yet He always extended grace and forgiveness to those who would seek it.

When John Wycliffe's first English Bible became available around 1390, a virtual war on Biblical Christianity began.

In the years ahead, thousands of faithful martyrs were tortured and killed by

Europe's corrupt Catholic hierarchy for owning the new Bible and spreading God's Word.

Our anchor and foundation is God's unchanging Word. And obeying His commands,

We need a Biblical Transformation by Biblical Truth.

We will decide.

We will not unite with the world.

As in Nehemiah’s day the wall of protection was broken down.

The wall had to be rebuilt.

So to, WE MUST REBUILD.,.

We will build up the walls of separation and protection around our family.

Our Lord refused to compromise with the truth.

As it was in the days of Noah and Lot…

We are called to come unto God. To not be conformed.

To be NON-CONFORMISTS.

To be separated. A separated people.

God has put a difference between the holy and the unholy. He calls us to a consecration, and a transformation…

…the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

One day JUDGMENT will fall.

When Jesus is revealed…

Are you ready?

As it was in the days of Noah. As it was in the days of Lot….

Luke 17:26

And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

These are the signs we saw way back then, and we are seeing again.

Our Lord is even at the doors.

Flee from the wrath to come.

Let me quickly recap where we have come through this message…

Here are the signs we are seeing today, alike to the culture and times of Noah and of Lot…

WICKEDNESS prevailedA SINFUL CULTURE

We see A SPIRITUAL DECLINEA COUNTERFEIT CHURCHA GLOBAL WAR ON CHRISTIAN VALUES

God gave WARNING…

God provided a WAY OF ESCAPE for His own peopleYet not all heeded the warning.REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE

THERE ARE TWO KINGDOMSWE ARE WAGED IN A WARThere’s A STRUGGLE between BIBLICAL versus CULTURAL CHRISTIANITYLet us not fall for A COMPROMISING MIXTURE

But let us rather hold fast THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD as our sure guide.

One day JUDGMENT will fall.

Are you ready?

Flee compromised Churchainity.Flee from the wrath to come.Find your sure and certain refuge only in Christ.