Luke 17 The coming of the Kingdom Part 2 Sudden Judgement, Urgent Readiness
Notes
Transcript
Text - Luke 17:20-37
Subject - Kingdom
Theme - The coming Kingdom
Thesis - The kingdom of God is already present in Christ but will be fully revealed in the future, requiring vigilance and readiness for His return.
Principle - Be ready and live faithfully, because Christ’s return will come suddenly and decisively, bringing judgment and salvation.
Last time as we began this section, we looked at Jesus’ teaching in Luke 17:20-25, where He corrected the Pharisees’ misunderstanding of the kingdom of God.
They expected a powerful, visible kingdom that would overthrow Rome, but Jesus told them the kingdom was already in their midst—present in Him.
His first coming was not about political power but about establishing a spiritual kingdom in the hearts of those who believe.
The implication of this is as Jesus was saying, the kingdom is already here, but it is not yet fully realized.
One day, Jesus will return in a sudden and unmistakable way—like lightning flashing across the sky.
But before that, He first had to suffer and be rejected, pointing to His death on the cross.
His sacrifice secured the way for sinners to enter the kingdom, but His second coming will bring final judgment.
Building upon this foundation, we will now continue as Jesus gives two warnings from history.
the days of Noah and the days of Lot—
These are examples of how people can be caught unprepared for God’s judgment and meant to spur us on to understand tthat what Jesus is really desiring from us is complete devotion.
So as we continue, the question remains: Are we living in readiness for Christ’s return, or are we too caught up in the temporary things of this world?
Let’s return to our passage in 17:20-37 so that we might better understand how to be ready and live faithfully, because Christ’s return will come suddenly and decisively, bringing judgment and salvation.
20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” 22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— 30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.” 37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”
Lessons from the Days of Noah and Lot (Luke 17:26-30)
Lessons from the Days of Noah and Lot (Luke 17:26-30)
Verse 26 Jesus picks up with the example of Noah.
This is specifically expanding upon what Jesus referenced in verse 22.
22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.
The term "Son of Man" is primarily associated with Jesus in the New Testament.
He uses the term approximately 80 times to refer to Himself.
This title emphasizes both His divinity and humanity.
It connects Him to Adam, the first man, while highlighting His role as the 'last Adam' who brings life."
In his discussion of the resurrection of the dead, Paul depicts Adam and Christ as representative figures of humanity
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
Paul is saying that Adam was the “first man,” in whom all die;
in contrast, Christ, the last Adam, gives life, and in Him all will be made alive.
Paul also appeals to Adam in Rom 5:14
14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
Paul said Adam was a “type” of the one to come (Christ).
In the cultural context - when Jesus used this phrase, those of His Jewish audience that new scriptre would have recognized it is as a reference to the seventh chapter of Daniel.
Daniel was given a vision of the future — specifically of the Second Coming.
Daniel writes
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
This is the first reference to the Messiah as the Son of Man.
One day, Jesus will be enthroned as ruler over the entire earth, and his kingdom will never be destroyed.
The "Days of the Son of Man" as Jesus is using it here refers to a future time described by Jesus, characterized by his return and divine judgment.
Jesus warned his disciples that they would long to see these days but would not, cautioning against following false claims of the Son of Man's presence.
We need to understand all o fthis because the phrase is a reference to the Second Coming of Christ.
The second coming of Christ will involve judgment.
Jesus is his disciples, and us today about the need to be ready for the last days and illustrates it by using the examples of Noah and Lot.
What happened in the days of Noah?
We all know the story of Noah and the Ark but we often get lost in all of the cute little animals entering the ark.
Grab Noah toy from cry room.
That’s the nice part - but we forget the deeper reality is far more sobering.
Noah was told by God that rain was coming and that he was to build the ark.
Luke, Volumes 1 & 2 The Example of Noah
It must have taken Noah years to build his enormous ark.
How ridiculous it must have seemed for him to build such a large craft so far from any body of water.
No one paid any attention to what Noah was doing, or if they did, it was only for the purpose of ridicule.
God sent a catastrophic global flood that killed every man, woman and child on earth except for Noah and the 7 members of his family.
Every creature except what Noah brought on the ark was killed.
Complete and total judgment upon the earth.
The day of the son of man will be a day of judgment, the connection is clear.
When Jesus described the events that will surround His second coming, He said, “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.
They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:26–27).
The people who died never saw it coming.
They just went about their lives, never stopping to think that judgment was coming.
They were carrying on the events of their lives without a single thought of the judgment of God.
It is not that the people weren’t aware either.
Noah is described as “a herald of righteousness”
5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;
The word herald informs us that while building the ark, Noah also had spent years warning his friends and neighbors what the Holy God was about to do.
No one listened.
The depravity and ungodly lifestyles of the entire world at that time were enough to cause the Lord to “regret that He had made man” (Genesis 6:6).
Similarly, in Lot’s day, the people of Sodom lived in extreme wickedness, ignoring God’s warnings.
4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.”
Notice - all the people to the last man.
The people were going about their daily lives, not at all worried about anything other than themselves.
While the judgment with Noah, God delayed as Noah built the Ark, Sodom was destroyed without warning.
The days of both Noah and Lot were filled with unspeakable evil.
So judgment came. .
The days surrounding the return of Jesus will be the same.
We see evidence of that around us today.
People will be living life as usual when Jesus returns.
Many, unfortunately, with no thought about Him at all, many with a complete rejection of God.
Until the time of Christ's return, many people will be prosperous, feel secure, and be unprepared for His return.
Will you be ready when the time comes?
Because when Christ returns, peoples hearts and priorities will be fully displayed.
The Call to Lose One’s Life for Christ (Luke 17:31-33)
The Call to Lose One’s Life for Christ (Luke 17:31-33)
31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back.
This is a challenge to not cling to earthly security but to cling to Christ.
When Jesus comes on that day, His coming will disclose where people’s hearts are.
When judgment comes, no one will have time to run back inside and get their belongings.
There will be not time to try again.
The only thing that can be saved on the day of judgment is someone’s soul, and the only souls that will be saved are ones that have been joined to Jesus by faith.
We must remember Lot’s wife, Jesus says.
32 Remember Lot’s wife.
What did lot’s wife do?
She looked back.
Jesus already referenced the destruction of Sodom, but some were saved.
The story of Lot and his wife is found in Genesis 19.
God had determined to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness (Genesis 18:16–33),
Two angels warned Abraham’s nephew Lot to evacuate the city so he and his family would not be destroyed.
At dawn the next day, the angels hurried Lot and his family out of Sodom so they would not be destroyed with the city.
When Lot hesitated, “the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them.
As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, ‘Flee for your lives!
Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain!
Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!’”
But, in disobedience to the angel’s command, “Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt”
Lot’s wife looked back because her heart was still tied to the world.
Jesus’ warning is clear: a divided heart cannot follow Him fully.
I can guarantee we all struggle with this in some fashion so some degree.
We have have divided loyalties because we are all imperfect sinful people.
Yes we have a new heart, given by God if we had trusted in Christ.
However that new heart still resides within sinful flesh.
Divided loyalties.
It is a dangerous thing if we are not aware of it.
Even more so dangerous when we are aware of it and look back anyways.
JC Ryle said
Lot's wife is meant to be a beacon and a warning to all professing Christians.
It may be feared that many will be found like her in the day of Christ's second advent.
There are many in the present day who go a certain length in religion.
They conform to the outward ways of Christian relatives and friends.
They speak the "language of Canaan."
They use all the outward ordinances of religion.
But all this time their souls are not right in the sight of God.
The world is in their hearts, and their hearts are in the world.
And by and bye, in the day of sifting, their unsoundness will be exposed to all the world.
Their Christianity will prove rotten at the core. The case of Lot's wife will not stand alone.
Let us remember Lot's wife, and resolve to be real in our religion.
Let us not profess to serve Christ for no higher motive than to please husbands, or wives, or masters, or ministers.
A mere formal religion like this will never save our souls. Let us serve Christ for His own sake.
Let us never rest until we have the true grace of God in our hearts, and have no desire to look back to the world.
33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.
I don’t know about you but I am certainly thankful for the Lord’s mercy each time I know that I have looked back.
Hopefully those moments spur us forward.
Push us to crucify our sinful flesh - lose our life as Jesus puts it.
This is the ultimate paradox of life - to live is to die, to die is to live.
To live to self is to die to Savior.
To die to self is to live to Savior!
The grim reality of God’s judgment is that it brings separation.
Which is what Jesus reiterates in verse 34.
People who are appear close, working or sleeping side by side will be separated based upon their belief in Christ.
There are a couple of ways to interpret this, some interpret it to mean some are taken to glory - as in a rapture - the carrying of a person to another place or sphere of existence.
The other, considering that this passage is primarily about judgment, is that one person is taken away to judgment and the other is spared.
Either way, the point is that God will make a noticeable division in the human race.
Those who are saved, and those who will face judgment.
They disciples ask an odd questions at the end of this section - where Lord?
Perhaps they were asking where the judgment would take place.
Perhaps they were asking where people would be taken to.
Jesus response helps us to know the answer - I believe they were asking where the judgment would take place.
What Jesus says is perhaps best understood as a proverb about spiritual life and death.
The place where people are spiritually dead is the place where the forces of judgment will gather, much the way that vultures circle around a carcass.
Jesus used this image as a warning.
He forces us to ask: Am I still dead in my sins, or have I found new life in Jesus Christ?
Are the vultures circling above me?
What we all need to take away from this passage is as sense of urgency.
Jesus has promised that He will return, and when He does, it will be sudden, unmistakable, and final.
The kingdom is already here in the hearts of believers, but we still await its full realization.
In the meantime, Jesus calls us to be faithful—to live with urgency, holiness, and gospel witness.
We should not focus on the question of when He will return, but whether we are ready.
Are you living today in light of His coming kingdom?
Are being a faithful ambassador for Christ to the world around you?
I pray that we can all really truly grasp this truth today.
That we must each be ready and live faithfully, because Christ’s return will come suddenly and decisively, bringing judgment and salvation.
Once we understand this, we will never live the same way again.
We cannot just go about our business as usual.
This means honestly and earnestly praying for people we know who need to know Christ.
This means loving those people for Jesus and talking to them about the gospel.
Not letting it wait until tomorrow.
What will happen on the day of judgment?
What will happen to your husband or wife, to the people who work at your office,
What will happen to the kid who sits next to you in class, or to the neighbor who lives next door.
Will they be lost when the time comes, or will they find safety in Jesus Christ?
English Standard Version Chapter 17
Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
