When Christ Returns
E.A. Johnston warns that we are living in the perilous last days marked by violence and moral decay, urging believers to remain vigilant and hopeful for Christ's imminent return.
In this prophetic sermon, E.A. Johnston explores Jesus' teaching in Luke 17 about the last days before His return, drawing vivid parallels between biblical times and today's world. Johnston highlights the increasing violence and moral decay, urging believers to remain spiritually vigilant and hopeful. This message challenges the church to awaken from spiritual dullness and focus on the coming of Christ with anticipation.
Full Transcript
I believe, friends, that we are living in the last days before Christ's return. Society grows more evil as the church seems powerless to do anything about it. It's as if a gray fog has descended upon us and encompasses us, and we can't find our way out as we trip over our own feet.
The church and society stumble along together while one drags the other lower and lower. The Gospel of Luke in chapter 17 can speak to us today about Christ's return. Jesus is speaking here about the day when the Son of Man is revealed, and he likens it to two other ages that form a crossroad as a sign of his imminent return.
Let's begin this chapter by reading verse 26. And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man. We must ask ourselves, what does the Bible have to say about the days of Noah? Well, let's look at Genesis 6.11. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
Is this not the time in which we live, friends? Blood fills the streets through violence in the land. Jesus said his return would be at a time when the earth was like the days of Noah, a time of violence. Now, look at verse 28.
Likewise also, as it was in the days of Lot, we must ask ourselves, what does the Bible have to say about the days of Lot? Well, in Genesis 19 and in verses 4 and 5, it reads, But before they laid down the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, and they called unto Lot and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them. This describes a day where the entire populace of a city was overrun with homosexuals who demanded sex with men as they gathered in a large mob. Go visit any pride parade, and you will soon see things that would make Sodom blush.
The days of Lot were a day of sexual perversion. Is this not the world climate today, where just about every world government has legalized sodomy and promotes it? I never thought I'd live to see such a day as the one in which we live, friends. There is a crossroad here in our text in Luke that has two ages meeting at an intersection of historical proportions.
We are living in the days of Noah and the days of Lot, and this is what Jesus has to say about it in verse 30. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. When Christ returns, it will be a day of violence and sexual perversion in the land.
Is this not our day in which we live? What are we doing about it? I fear the gray fog that has engulfed us has dulled our senses and robbed us of our vision, as we're focused as fast on the things of this world when we as believers should be looking up toward the sky with our hand cupped to our ear to hear the trumpet blast announcing his return. Let us pray.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Current societal decline mirrors biblical last days
- Church and society stumbling together into moral darkness
- The 'gray fog' dulling believers' spiritual vision
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II
- Jesus' teaching in Luke 17 about the days of Noah and Lot
- The days of Noah characterized by corruption and violence
- The days of Lot marked by sexual perversion
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III
- Modern parallels to Noah and Lot's days in today's world
- Christ's return will coincide with widespread violence and immorality
- Call for believers to remain alert and focused on Christ's coming
Key Quotes
“We are living in the days of Noah and the days of Lot, and this is what Jesus has to say about it in verse 30.” — E.A. Johnston
“There is a crossroad here in our text in Luke that has two ages meeting at an intersection of historical proportions.” — E.A. Johnston
“I fear the gray fog that has engulfed us has dulled our senses and robbed us of our vision.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Stay spiritually alert and avoid being distracted by worldly concerns.
- Recognize the signs of the times as a call to deepen faith and readiness.
- Encourage the church to be a light in a darkening world by living holy lives.