Is the epidemic of homosexuality an end times sign?
By Dr. David R. Reagan Founder & Director, Lamb & Lion Ministries
One of the many signs that we are living in the end times is the epidemic of homosexuality that is sweeping the world today.
Jesus said He would return at a time when society resembled "the days of Noah" (Matthew 24:37). The Old Testament tells us that in the time of Noah "the earth was corrupt in God's sight" (Genesis 6:11). The New Testament reveals in stark detail the nature of that corruption.
The Nature of Noah's Age
The description of Noah's society is found in chapter one of Romans. Paul writes that the society was characterized first of all by the rejection of God and the worship of Man (Romans 1:18-25). Because of this stubborn and foolish rejection of their Creator, God "gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity," and there was an outbreak of sexual immorality (Romans 1:24).
When they still refused to repent, God "gave them over to degrading passions," and there followed an epidemic of homosexuality in which "women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural" and men likewise "abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another" (Romans 1:26-27).
Notice the progression here. Man begins to worship himself, his own knowledge, and cleverness. As Man begins to worship himself, God is set aside, together with His moral laws. The result is an outbreak of sexual immorality. This leads ultimately to an epidemic of homosexuality, one of the final signs of the moral collapse of any society.
Does this sound familiar? It should. It is a vivid description of the moral decline which the world has experienced in this century. We have gone full circle. The society of Noah has reappeared, and it is characterized by the kind of ungodliness and wickedness which provokes the wrath of God (Romans 1:18).
The Biblical Viewpoint
There are those who argue that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality. That is sheer nonsense. Homosexuality is condemned as a sin against God in both the Old and New Testaments. It was one of the sins for which the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed (Genesis 19). It was specifically singled out in the Mosaic Law as "an abomination" (Leviticus 18:22). In fact, the Mosaic Law prescribed the death penalty for such activity (Leviticus 20:13).
In the New Testament Paul specifically condemns homosexual activity. He says it is unrighteousness and that it will keep one from inheriting the kingdom of God: "Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
In his first letter to Timothy, Paul again refers to the sin of homosexuality. He classifies homosexuals with those who are "lawless and rebellious," "ungodly," "unholy and profane" (1 Timothy 1:9-10).
The Humanist Viewpoint
Many humanist Christian leaders have tried to explain away these scriptures. In the process, they have endorsed homosexuality as an "alternative lifestyle," and they have tried to justify the ordination of practicing homosexuals.
These religious leaders are caught up in spiritual darkness. They are the type referred to by Paul when he wrote: "Though they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them" (Romans 1:32).
These deluded leaders usually argue that the Old Testament expresses superstition about homosexuality and that the New Testament expresses Paul's personal prejudice. These arguments, of course, reveal a rejection of Scripture as being inspired by the Holy Spirit.
They then add insult to injury by asserting that homosexuality could not be all that bad because Jesus never condemned it. What a pitiful argument! That's like saying there is nothing wrong with child molestation, incest, or bestiality because Jesus never specifically condemned these sexual perversions.
The Viewpoint of Jesus
The fact is that Jesus had a lot to say about sexual morality, and what He had to say clearly rules out homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle before God.
In Matthew 19 Jesus taught that all sexual unions must be judged in reference to God's original intention and not in terms of human opinion and desire. And Jesus proceeded to point out that God's original intention was that "a man shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh" (Matthew 19:5).
In other words, Jesus clearly taught that the only moral sexual relationship is the one that occurs within marriage.
