(Luke 17:26-27)---"ELEMENTS THAT MARK THE LAST DAYS"

Intro:   This is a graphic description of the days of Noah.  The activities described are not sinful, they simply indicate a culture where no thought was given to God or the consequences of one’s activity.)  Jesus is teaching us the truth that the last days will resemble the days just prior to the flood which destroyed the world in Noah’s day.  He tells us this so that we might be able to discern the times and know that the end is near.  Tonight, I would like to say that there are forces in operation today similar to those active in the days of Noah.  There are 4 elements active now that were active then.  These 4 elements remind us that we are in the last days and that we have a mission to accomplish before we leave this world.  Let’s look together at these four elements that mark the last days.

(1)--AN ACCELERATION OF SINFULNESS
    A. A lack of spiritual separation-- (Gen. 6:4-"The sons of God mingled with the daughters of men")
                           God’s demand is total separation from liberalism, false religion and the like – (2 Cor. 6:17-"be                                                
                           ye separte saith the Lord").

    B.  A lack of moral standards--(Gen. 6:5–"every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually")  That sounds just like todays world.  Anything goes! (MTV-internet-drug abuse-premarital sex!)

    C.  A Lack of Spiritual Discernment – Men are blind to the truth...And Jesus said "If the blind lead the blind, shall they not both fall into the ditch?"

 (2)--AN APPROACHING STORM
 (Gen. 6:7) – A flood was coming, and men weren’t ready for it.  Today, the rapture and the great tribulation are on the horizon and man is still unprepared to meet God.  We have seismographs to measure "earthshaking events", but this world is headed toward judgment not realizing the magnitude and force of the storm it faces!  ( Hellfire, The terrible calamities of the tribulation period, facing God.)  There is a storm coming and men must be warned; and like as in Noahs day they will still not heed the warning!

(3)--AN ACTIVE SAVIOR
According to Gen. 6:5-6,  God was busy in Noah’s day.  He was observing and cataloging the activity and condition if the world.  And today, he still sees everything that happens, in the world and in the mind and heart of man!  Back then, God was disturbed by what He saw...and He is still disturbed by sin!   Keep in mind that God was working in Noah’s world, and we must always remember that regardless of how bad the world gets, God is always doing His work.  

 (4)--AN ABLE SPOKESMAN
Noah was God’s mouthpiece in that day!  (2 Pet. 2:5; 1 Pet. 3:20; Gen.6:3)  He preached the coming judgment for 120 years without a single convert.  Yet, he preached on!  	Even though God had predetermined to destroy the entire world, through Noah, we see Him still reaching out to sinners.  We are God’s spokesmen in this day! (Matt. 28:20-"Go and teach all nations...")   We are to GO and TELL.  We are not guaranteed any results, we are just commanded to do it.  When Noah got in that Ark, and he began to hear the cries of the OUTSIDERS, he could rest with the assurance that he had done what God had commanded him to do.  And today, the heart of a genuine Christian gains rest by fulfilling the command of God!

Conc:  These are the last days!  Look around, anyone can see that we are here!  Daniel said just before the end that "many would run to and fro, and knowledge would be increased".  "They builded and they planted until the flood came, and took them ALL away!"  ARE YOU BEING GOD'S SPOKESMAN???