*Luke 17:20-37
Jesus instructs his disciples on the sudden arrival of the Kingdom of God, the importance of perseverance, and vigilance in preparation for the end times.
- Question on the Kingdom:
- The Pharisees ask Jesus when the kingdom of God will come.
- Jesus responds that the kingdom isn’t something observable; instead, it’s already among them.
- Teaching to the Disciples:
- Jesus tells his disciples that the days are coming when they will long to see the “days of the Son of Man,” but won’t see them immediately.
- He cautions them not to follow those who claim to have seen him or point to specific locations.
- Comparison to Lightning:
- He explains that when the Son of Man comes, it will be as visible and sudden as lightning flashing across the sky.
- Before that, the Son of Man must endure suffering and rejection by the current generation.
- Comparisons to Noah and Lot:
- Jesus compares the days leading up to his return to the time of Noah, when people were living their lives as usual until the flood came.
- He also compares it to Lot‘s time in Sodom, when people were living their normal lives until fire and sulfur destroyed the city.
- He emphasizes that his return will be equally sudden, with no time to prepare.
- Call for Readiness:
- Jesus warns that on that day, those on their rooftops or in the fields shouldn’t go back to retrieve belongings.
- He urges his followers to remember Lot’s wife, who looked back and turned into a pillar of salt.
- He teaches that those who try to preserve their lives will lose them, but those who are willing to let go will find life.
- Separation of People:
- Jesus illustrates that on that day, people will be separated even in close relationships.
- He describes how two people may be in one bed, or two women grinding grain together, and one will be taken while the other is left.
- Question of Timing and Location:
- The disciples ask where all of this will happen.
- Jesus responds, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather,” implying that the signs will be clear and unmistakable.
17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
17:22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
17:23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.
17:24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
17:25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
17:27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
17:31 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.
17:32 Remember Lot’s wife.
17:33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
17:34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
17:35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
17:36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
17:37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.