"Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 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. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife." (Luke 17:28-32)

The days of Noah were days of chaos. The wickedness of man was great and every imagination of their hearts was evil continually. (Gen. 6:5). In our text here in Matthew, we see that people were not troubled or concerned about the warning of coming destruction and judgment.

Day by day Noah labored on the ark; night by night he preached to a careless world. But he won not a single convert outside the members of his immediate family. He was simply ignored. People went about their business. They planned meals and marriages as nonchalantly as though there were no such man as Noah, no such person as God, and no such prospect as judgment. Jesus men- tioned their "eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage." (Matthew 24:38).

Today, we are living, I believe, in the last days. There is chaos and confusion world-wide. The war between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah has the world on the verge of World War III. Israel is fighting for survival against great odds. Hamas and Hezbollah are being funded and equipped by Iran and Syria. The UN is unable to do anything and world leaders are not sure what to do. There is now a cease fire – but the conflict is far from over.

Remember it was Hezbollah who was behind the attack on our soldiers where 241 were killed in an act of terrorism in 1983 in Beirut.

Hezbollah has always hated Israel and the United States. Ac- cording to Heritage Foundation Middle East expert James Phillips, since Iran founded the violent gang in 1982, its primary objective has been to spread their blood-soaked brand of "revolution," to mobilize Lebanese Shiites and to sponsor "terrorist surrogates" to attack Israel and the U.S.

This conflict will not end until the radical Muslim terrorists destroy Israel and America or else they are destroyed – or the Lord comes back to rule this earth. Our world is a world in chaos.

I. DECLINE

The days of Noah were days of spiritual decline. There were only a handful of believers on earth – Noah and his family. The descendants of Cain were scornful of God. They had created a society which emphasized the material things of life. By Noah’s day, secularism had so completely taken over that it controlled the arts and sciences, philosophy, education and technology. They ignored God and were filled with pride.

Even in our churches today we see a spiritual decline. We have mainline churches such as the Presbyterians and Methodist debating on whether to ordain homosexuals to the ministry.

The Episcopal Church has even ordained a homosexual to be a bishop. He left his family and now lives with his male companion! Paul said that in the last days men would have "a form of godliness, but denying the power…" (II Timothy 3:5).

He also said in II Timothy 4:1, "…in the latter times some shall depart from the faith…" Many churches no longer believe the Bible is the Word of God. Paul says they are "reprobate concerning the faith."

The word "reprobate" means men whose moral sense is perverted and whose minds are clouded with their own speculations. They are traitors to the faith. They deny most of the cardinal doctrines of the Bible. Men who are supposed to be preaching the Word of God are now attacking the Word of God. In their pride, they think they are able to correct the Word of God.

Even in our churches today we see the truth Paul spoke about in II Timothy 3:4, "…lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God." We had rather play than pray and as a result our nation is becoming a secular nation. We have, as Israel did, forgotten God "days without number."

II. DECEPTION

The days of Noah were days of strong delusion. In His Olivet discourse, Jesus made an interesting comment on "the days of Noah." He said that in Noah’s day people "did not know" until the flood came and swept them away (Matthew 24:39).

There were many things the people of Noah’s day did know. They prided themselves on their technology, their mechanical and industrial arts, their culture, their craftsmanship, and their means of entertainment.

They had eaten of the tree of knowledge and were rich and increased with good, and felt they had need of nothing but they "did not know" the most important things of life. Despite the preaching of Noah, they were unable to discern spiritual truths and remained blinded to coming judg- ment.

Their "strong delusion" was materialism. They were "eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage" right up to the day Noah went into the Ark and the judgment fell.

Today, we are able to send men into outer space and set up space stations. We can transplant hearts. The Bible says in the last days "…knowledge shall be increased." We have more educated men devoid of wisdom than in any other generation. We are willingly ignorant of God and His Word and ways. As a result, the storm clouds of God’s judgment are hanging over America.

Paul said "…in the last days perilous times shall come." The word "perilous" means hazardous, dangerous, and desperate – exposed to danger. We now live on the brink of a nuclear holocaust! Two nations that hate us – North Korea and Iran are developing nuclear weapons and Iran will have the ability to reach America with missiles – maybe Korea also.

We have in the last 20 years come from a time when we felt the enemy could not touch us to a time when we have already experienced a terrorist attack, and more are now being planned right here in America. All our military might cannot save us – only God can do that. Surely these are perilous times.

In Lebanon, there is a TV station run by Hezbollah. One clip says, "We prefer death over American guarantees". A film for children speaks of Jews turning into apes and pigs. Lebanese students say, "We should fight the Jews and burn them like Hitler. Israel should be wiped off the map." To these students, Israel is the little Satan and we are the big Satan. Cal Thomas writes:

Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo warned that British Muslims could soon form a state within Britain. Dr. Sookhdeo, a former Muslim, said, "In a decade, you will see parts of English cities which are controlled by Muslim clerics and which follow, not the common law, but aspects of Muslim Shari law."

Dr. Walid Phares is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. He was born in Lebanon. He was asked about the future collapse of the West. He said, "The collapse of the West has already started." Liberals in America and the UN are always urging us to negotiate with the terrorists.

But God never told Israel to negotiate with the heathen – their enemies – they were to completely destroy them. The only thing terrorists and terrorists’ nations like North Korea, Iran, and Syria understand is strength – power. We are losing the war against the terrorists because we are trying to be politically correct and work through the corrupt UN.

The latest upheaval in the Middle East may subside but the objectives of those whose aim is Israel’s destruction will not. The enemies of Israel, Europe and America believe this is all-out war. The question is do we understand the temper of the times?

In John 15:18-19, we read, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."

The Muslim Bible is the Koran. The Koran is a harsh, cruel, uncompassionate book and Islam is a product of that book. The Koran tolerates no other religion but Islam.

All other religions are false and evil. According to the Koranic outlook, the only good and righteous government is an Islamic government and all other governments are evil and should be overthrown.

All non-Muslims are infidels, idolaters who should be destroyed without pity. According to the Koran, holy war against the infidel is every Muslim’s religious duty.

In the Quran, Muslims are told in Sura 9:5:

"Fight and slay the pagan [i.e. infidels] wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem of war."

What are Muslims supposed to do to the people who resist Islam? Sura 5:33 says:

"Their punishment is . . . execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from the opposite sides, or exile from the land."

Jesus tells us to love our enemies – Muhammad tells Muslims to kill us! The goal of Bin Laden and millions of Muslims is to kill all Jews and Christians.

We are living in dangerous days. Hezbollah stated we welcome war with America!

IV. DEMONIC

We are living in demonic days. In I Timothy 4:1, we read "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving head to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."

The demon is the most common agent of Satan to be met in the Gospels. There are evidently countless hosts of demons. In one instance a legion of them held captive a single individual (Mark 5:1-9).

Demons can cause dumbness, blindness, and insanity as well as suicidal mania (Matthew 9:32, 33; 12:22; Luke 8:26-35; Mark 9:22). They have a craving to embody themselves in the bodies of human beings and once allowed entrance, "possess" their victim, causing havoc in his life.

Demons lead people into all forms of religious delusion and demon-inspired worship (I Cor. 10:20-21). Demons are called "Unclean spirits." They lead people into all kinds of immorality and perversion. Dr. John Phillips says, "Demons seem to be totally depraved beings who love sin and delight in leading people into sin."

In Noah’s day there was a great outbreak of Satanism and demon activity. The same is true as the coming of our Lord draws near. Demons hate humans and want to possess them and eventually destroy their lives. In Mark, Chapter five, we see this. The demon-possessed man was separated from his family and out of his mind.

How do you explain people who will kill women and children and cut the heads off innocent people? I believe it’s because they are possessed by demons. In Daniel 10 we see where nations are controlled by demons. Jesus said Satan has come to steal and kill. (John 10:10).

V. DELIVERANCE

In Noah’s day, he preached for at least 120 years. Some may have been amused. Some may have said, "I will consider this matter later." Some probably said, "Noah is crazy; imagine water falling from the sky."

Noah was building a massive ark, and that was no secret. He preached, but people showed little interest. (V. 36-42).

"Eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage" are the sensual aspects of everyday life, however. Their daily lives had degenerated to the point where sensual pursuits were all they cared for.

Their philosophy of life was precisely what the apostle Paul said is to be expected of someone who has no hope of resurrection: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!" (I Cor. 15:32). They utterly neglected all spiritual duties. They were so caught up with appeasing their sensual appetites that those appetites in effect became the god they worshipped.

But the day Noah warned about came – God’s judgment fell on the earth. But Noah and his family were delivered (Genesis 7:1, 7).