‘One step closer to Armageddon’: Franklin Graham preaches to thousands in London

Thousands filled ExCeL London to capacity on Saturday evening for the return of the God Loves You Tour, led by Rev. Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and Samaritan’s Purse.

With attendance exceeding 17,000, the venue reached its increased maximum capacity of 15,000, prompting security to turn away several thousand people, according to organizers.

Despite the overflow, crowds outside the venue responded by singing and clapping rather than expressing frustration. Inside, worship was led by Grammy-winning artists CeCe Winans and Michael W. Smith, along with Christian band The Afters. 

The event marked Graham’s third appearance at ExCeL London in partnership with over 550 churches across the city. Leading up to the event, more than 2,000 youth participated in Pursuit — BGEA’s series of gatherings aimed at encouraging young Christians in the U.K.

“Since I last preached here in London two years ago, the world seems to be one step closer to Armageddon,” he said. “Many people feel hopeless, and they’re asking, is the world running out of time? You can come to the One who can turn that around, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ — God’s Son.”

He concluded by citing John 3:16 and inviting attendees to put their faith in Jesus Christ. Hundreds responded, including a 16-year-old girl who commented, “Everybody is hungry for God in my generation right now, and He is moving.”

I am 90 next year and I have found the best way ever to evangelise for a person my age. It happened when I was getting my car serviced at Mazda recently. The girl at the Mazda desk had discovered my age from her records and commented that I don’t look my age. Behind me where about six or seven people waiting for the courtesy bus. All would have overheard her comment and one of two men who were together asked me how old I was. I answered I will be 90 next year and he responded “no way”. How do you do it? My response was the Holy Spirit as I have never said this before and it surprised me. I said, “At the age of 47, I discovered God loves me and it changed my life forever“. It was like the place went quiet, no one said anything and yet I knew that the Holy Spirit was doing something. I tried to lighten the moment with another comment of a worldly nature. I said, “You also have to use it or you lose it” and that I have never smoked. When we got on the bus there were two women who wanted to talk to me but the two men were sitting opposite me continued talking about their own fathers who were in nursing homes in their eighties. The simple comment as to why I am so sprightly and enjoying life is because I discovered God loves me had a profound effect. I used it again yesterday in Chemist Warehouse with a man who was with his young son. When I said, At the age of 47, I discovered God loves me and it changed my life forever“, his response was I have been thinking about God for the last two weeks. I said this is not a coincidence that we met and he agreed. I was sorry that I did not have a John’s Gospel with me. I have many in the car. I can fit two comfortably in my jeans pocket so I next time I will have them.