January 24, 2016
Evening Service

Luke 17:20-37

 

            This morning we looked at what Jesus taught concerning offences, forgiveness, and faithfulness.  Probably some things that we know about, but some still have problems with.  It’s always good to remind, and in reminding, we remember the penalties.  Such as a millstone hanged around our necks, and thrown into the lake, if we don’t work on not committing offences.  We will always have something to work on in our lives, until we are changed from this corruptible, to the incorruptible, from mortal, to immortality, at the resurrection.

            This evening the topic is ( when the kingdom of God should come.)  This is tricky.  The answer Jesus gives at this time is not as explanatory as what He gives later.  He answers the question (Luk 21:7  And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?  He answers these questions in Luke 21; Matt. 24; and Mk. 13.  This question of ( when the kingdom of God should come ) is a little different, with different signs.  Let’s look.

 

Luk 17:20-37  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:  (21)  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. 

·         Now there is the answer.  We might think, “this is too simple.”  Well the gospel is simple, and for simple people.

·         Then He makes the statement.

(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. 

·         You’re going to miss Me when I’m gone.  You will long to see one day, as it was when I was with you.

(23)  And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.  (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. 

·         Now this is another time.  This is when He returns.

(25)  But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. 

·         We know of this persecution. 

Now it’s kind of difficult to know if the Lord is talking about His return at the resurrection, or the destruction of Jerusalem, in AD. 70.  BUT THESE EXAMPLES HOLD TRUE IN EACH CASE.

(26)  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.  (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. 

·         The days of the Son of Man, are the days shortly before His return for His followers, or a climatic event about to happen.  I think mostly, of His return for the saints.

·         This same profound destruction will be on the world, and those that are not living for the Lord, nor ready for His return.

·         It’s not like the world, and careless Christians, haven’t been, and aren’t being warned all the time, every day almost. 

·         We saw in the parable of the Rich Man, and Poor Man, that the Rich Man said “send someone from the dead to my family, and warn them not to come to this place.”  But Abraham replied, “they have Moses, and the Prophets, let them hear them.” 
The ones today are hearing of the Lord’s coming from all angles, radio, tv., church, you name it, but it is not causing people to rush to the Lord, nor be faithful to His church.

·         Noah, himself, was a preacher of righteousness, for 30 years, and only his immediate family was saved from the flood.   He warned, but no one listened.

 

 

ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION:

(28)  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;  (29)  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.  (30)  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 

·         This example is going to be so traumatic.  Just as it was in the days of Lot.  People are going to be about the daily activities, and then all of a sudden the church is taken out of this world, and the only thing left is destruction.  Satan will run rampant, the world will be a turmoil, without the Holy Ghost, and the church to hold it together.  The people left behind will then know that it was all true, but too late.

(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. 

·         Now this portion would lead me to believe He is talking about the destruction of Jerusalem in AD. 70, by the Roman general Titus.

(32)  Remember Lot's wife.  

·         Don’t look back, and regret leaving your earthly possessions.  “For where your treasure is, that is where your heart will be also.”  Leave the earthly things behind when you begin following the Lord, and look only forward, not backward.

(33)  Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. 

·         Meaning his worldly possessions, he will lose his life eventually.  But if one is willing to start anew, and not worry, or care for his earthly goods, he will save his life.

(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.  (35)  Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  (36)  Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 

·         The words in italics are added by the translators to bring meaning to the sentence, but they are usually not needed.  Read it like this,  without them.

·         The meaning, not all in the same household are going to be sold out to God.  

(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.

·         Jesus has been speaking of coming calamities, so where the dead are gathered that is where the Eagles, will gather to feed.

 

ALMIGHTY GOD, WE UNDERSTAND, THAT WHETHER YOU ARE SPEAKING OF THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM, OR YOUR SECOND RETURN, THERE WILL BE THOSE NOT READY FOR YOUR COMING.  HELP US TO REMAIN FAITHFULL, AND HOLD FORTH YOUR WORD OF SALVATION.  AMEN.