Luke 17:26-36

Luke 17:26-36

26 “And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 “It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; 29 but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31 “On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. 32 “Remember Lot’s wife. 33 “Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 “I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 “There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. 36 [“Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.”] 37 And answering they said to Him, “Where, Lord?” And He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered.”

The second coming of Christ is the most transformational event in the history of Earth.  Christ’s first coming was only known to a small group of people.  His family and a few Shepherds were the only ones who knew Messiah had been born.  By the time He was crucified, there were significantly more followers and people who knew Him, but He was hardly recognized as a global influence.  Since His ascension into heaven, He has become “known” around the globe.  History has clearly been marked by the first coming of Christ.  However, the second coming will be and even greater revelation.  Jesus has just finished discussing the already and not yet aspects of the kingdom.  He now reveals the unmistakable circumstances that will surround the second coming of Christ.  The world from that point forward will never be the same.

THE YEARS PRIOR TO THE SECOND COMING: The years leading up to the second coming of Christ will be like the years prior to the flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.  People will be going about the business of life as if everything was normal.  People will be eating, drinking, getting married, buying, selling, planting and building.  The population of Earth will be living as if everything were normal in the years that lead up to the second coming of Christ.  When we study the second coming of Christ in Scripture, we generally divide it into two events: the rapture of the church and the revelation of Jesus.  In the rapture, believers are taken to meet Jesus in the clouds.  In the revelation, Jesus returns to Earth to reign as eternal King.  Some say the rapture and the revelation are simultaneous events that follow a period of tribulation on earth.  I defend the position that the rapture precedes a seven-year period of tribulation on Earth after which the revelation of Jesus will occur.  It seems most likely that the description of “normal life” refers to the years prior to the rapture of the church.  However, they could also refer to the years prior to the revelation of Christ.  There are problems and benefits to both options.  However, the point on which all can agree is that people will be living their lives out in a normal fashion in the years prior to the second coming.  This, like the flood and the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah, will take the world by surprise.  It is not that there will not be warnings of the coming judgment but a lack of concern about the coming judgment. 

THE DAYS PRIOR TO THE SECOND COMING: The days immediately prior to the second coming will be torturous.  The Bible describes plagues falling on the earth in a manner similar to the plagues of Egypt.  Persecution will be at an all time high on the nation of Israel and all who refuse to worship anti-Christ.  There will be wars raging and judgment from God pounding the planet in a manner we have never experienced.  The only hope of survival will be in running to the mountains and hiding in caves.  Jesus warns the population of that day to run and not look back.  Any hesitation in this flight for life will likely end in death.  No matter how difficult things may same in our lives today; we can be assured of the truth that it will get far worse before it gets amazingly better.  Justice will be served in this world and it will be catastrophic.

THE SECONDS PRIOR TO THE SECOND COMING: Instants prior to the second coming of Christ large segments of the population will be snatched away.  The scene described in this passage could be used to describe the rapture of the church.  However, I believe that this text is describing an event that will happen about seven years after the rapture of the church that we could call the judgment of the nations.  When Jesus returns to set up His kingdom on the earth, it will initially only be made up of believers.  The unbelievers will be snatched away in a super-natural way and be killed.  There will be two people in the same bed or the same field, one will be taken and the other left.  The disciples ask Jesus where they will be taken, and Jesus responds by saying their bodies will consumed by the birds of the air.  When this event occurs, it will be too late for anyone who has not believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Believer will rule and reign with Christ for all eternity.  Unbeliever will be killed, their flesh eaten by buzzards and they will spend eternity separated from God, condemned to hell.

APPLICATION: Don’t allow the normalcy of life lull us into a daze where we forget the return of Christ.  When the righteous suffer and the evil prosper; remember the judgment of the Lord Jesus is coming.  No matter how terrible life on earth may become, God is still in control.  Always be prepared and waiting for the return of Christ.