Day 176: Luke 17:20–36

As the lightning flashes from horizon to horizon and lights up the sky, so the Son of Man will be in His day (v. 24).

Let’s emphasize a few facts concerning the end of the age and Christ’s return:

1. Christians will long for Christ’s return before the world ever sees it. Luke 17:22 intimates that one of the signs of His return will be a heightened longing. Christ is most assuredly returning, but not as soon as believers may hope as they look upon the tragic state of the earth. I experience that longing every time I watch a documentary on a starving, suffering people group or hear a horrific report of violence and victimization. My only answer is to pray, “O, Lord Jesus, come quickly!” I don’t doubt that you also have overwhelming moments when you deeply long for Christ to return and right all wrongs.

2. Many will come claiming to be Christ. In Luke 17:23, Jesus warned that as the end of time hastens, the incidence of false-messiah claims will increase. But the sheer visibility of Christ’s return is enough reason why believers should never be susceptible to this kind of deception. When Christ returns, people won’t have to read about it in the paper. Every eye will see Him. Any rumor of His return is automatically false. When He comes back, the whole world will know it.

3. The world will display dramatic increases in depravity. One key word characterizing the hastening conclusion of this age is increase. God’s Word describes end-time events like birth pains (see Matt. 24:8), meaning the evidences increase in frequency and strength. Matthew’s version plainly characterizes the end of the age as marked by the increase of wickedness. “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold” (Matt. 24:12).

Luke 17:25–28 states that the time of Christ’s return will be like that of Noah or Lot. The Old Testament lends some important insight into the condition of the societies surrounding both of these men. I believe the end of time will parallel the days of Noah and Lot in many ways, but among them will be dramatic increase in perversity. Can anyone deny that we are living at a time of dramatic escalation in sexual sin? I believe our society is presently being sexually assaulted by the devil. I am convinced based on multiple characteristics of the last days that they have already begun. However, I’m certainly not date-setting Christ’s return. Luke 12:40 makes it plain that forecasting a time of Christ’s return is a waste of time. Jesus said, “the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” So if we’re going to be, like Noah, righteous people surrounded by a sea of unrighteousness, we have no other recourse than to radically refuse to cooperate and proactively choose to fight back. If we’re going to be victorious in a latter-day society, we must become far more defensive and offensive in our warfare.

4. The latter days will show a notable increase in violence and cataclysmic events. Luke 21:10 tells us “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” Luke 21:12, 16 and Matthew 24:9 warn of the escalation in the persecution and martyrdom of Christians. Those of us who live in the United States like to think persecution and martyrdom are not characteristic of our generation of believers, but we are mistaken. Parts of our body are suffering terribly in many areas of the world.

Had enough bad news for now?

Me too! There’s good news, too!

5. The worldwide witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ will increase. Ours is such a God of mercy! He will not judge the wickedness of the earth until the testimony of His Son has reached every nation. Jesus said, “The gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matt. 24:14).

What kind of simultaneous increase does this prophecy necessitate? An increase in missionaries! Dr. Jerry Rankin of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board told me that the number of people surrendering to foreign missions is increasing so dramatically, it can be explained no other way than as God fulfilling prophecy. Rejoice in the fact that there will be a soul harvest that no man can count of every tribe, tongue, and nation (see Rev. 7:9)!

6. The activity of the Holy Spirit will increase. Acts 2:17 proclaims, “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” I believe God was hinting at an insatiable appetite to know and share God’s Word! Beloved, your love for Scripture is evidence of that harvest. We haven’t simply “wised up” in this generation by getting into God’s Word. It’s the outpouring of the Holy Spirit! Unprecedented numbers of people are becoming armed with the sword of the Spirit because we’re entering an unprecedented spiritual war!

I’m so grateful to live during this awesome season on the kingdom calendar. In some ways we live in the worst of times to date. But in other ways we live in the best of times. The winds of true worship are blowing. The Spirit of God is moving. I don’t want to hold on to my church pew and sing, “I shall not be moved.” I want to move with Him!

Don’t you?