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John MacArthur · Citado em PreceptAustin
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MacArthur says that increase our faith "was a humble, honest admission of weakness on their part. The Greek verb translated increase means “to add to,” “supplement,” “develop,” or “grow.” They were not denying that they possessed faith, but doubted that it was sufficiently strong. What Jesus demanded in this context seemed to them to be an impossible standard to live up to. It was completely contrary to what they had been taught by the religious leaders. Like the apostles, humble people are quick to recognize their own inadequacy. “Who is adequate for these things?” the apostle Paul asked rhetorically (2 Cor. 2:16; cf. 3:5). His adequacy came from a humble dependence on God’s all-sufficient grace (2 Cor. 12:9; cf. 4:7-12), which empowered him to “labor, striving according to His power, which mightily work[ed] within [him]” (Col. 1:29; cf. 1 Cor. 2:1-5; 15:10)." (See The MacArthur Commentary) Brian Bell - The demands of discipleship are great (ED: I WOULD GO SO FAR AS TO SAY THEY ARE IN FACT IMPOSSIBLE...IN RELIANCE ON OUR OWN RESOLVE, OUR NATURAL FLESHY POWER!). The disciples recognized they needed divine help to fulfill such demands. No wonder the disciples cried out to Jesus, “if we have to live like that with people, then, Lord, increase our faith!” You would expect the disciples to say, “Increase our love!” But forgiveness comes from faith in God’s Word. A grenade doesn’t ask for “more power” it just says, “pull the pin”! To make an Atomic Bomb you don’t need bigger atoms, just to split them! Allen reasons that "To relate to others on the terms laid down by Jesus is beyond human capacity. A mere man needs faith to rise above the usual patterns of human relations." (Broadman Bible Commentary – Luke-John) I would agree with Allen and add (AS WITH BELL'S COMMENT) such "infinite" forgiveness is impossible, but it is Him-possible. It is in fact really only possible as we are energized (given the desire and the power - Phil 2:13NLT+) by the Spirit to follow through and forgive.
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MacArthur - In the most vivid and sobering language indicating the seriousness of such an act against one of God's children, Jesus declared that a person who does such a thing would be better off dying a terrible death. It would be better for him, in fact, that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea. (See Matthew Commentary) Steven
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MacArthur writes that "be on your guard against the influence of the scribes and Pharisees is a caution against acting like unbelievers by both giving offense, and being indifferent to the sins of others." (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Luke 11-17) Leon Morris on rebuke him - This does not mean that he will adopt an attitude of censoriousness, for the context stresses forgiveness. It means that, though he will be compassionate, he will not be weak. He cannot be indifferent to evil, but this does not mean that he will bear a grudge. (The Gospel According to St. Luke: An Introduction and Commentary - borrow) Allen on rebuke him - "This does not mean that we are to attack him with arrogant accusations and demands for apology. Rather, we are to seek the brother out, expose the problem in its seriousness to him, and express the desire for fellowship. If his attitude is right, he will adopt the proper attitude without coercion. This teaching presupposes a desire for fellowship on his part also." (Broadman Bible Commentary – Luke-John) Mattoon - This rebuke is to be strong enough to inspire repentance. To "rebuke" does not mean to point out every sin, for Jesus also warns against being judgmental. Rebuke is always to be done in love and compassion, not in a censoring and judgmental spirit. Its purpose is to bring the sin to the attention of the offending person and restore them to fellowship with the Lord and other believers. In this passage, this refers to sin that could pull that person or others away from God, and result in the horrible judgment. When a person feels that he or she must rebuke another Christian for a sin, it is wise and essential for that person to check his or her attitudes and motivations first. He needs to take a good look at himself to make sure there are no faults in his own life that he has not made right with God or other people. (Treasures from the Scriptures) Mattoon - Unless rebuke is tied to forgiveness, it will not help the sinning person. Rebuking a fellow believer requires care. Finding fault, and expressing it effectively are delicate proceedings. People are easily offended. In a first-time confrontation, try these six steps: • 1. Appeal to the Lord in Prayer: Pray and ask the Lord for help in getting your concern across without creating antagonism or defensiveness. • 2. Approach: Approach the other person as a friend, not an adversary. • 3. Assume: Imagine the most innocent possible reason for the other's fault, not the most insidious or repulsive reason. • 4. Agreement: Make your approach a series of gradual and mutual agreements: "Could I speak to you? I'm having trouble with something. May I ask you about it?" Notice these statement are questions, not accusations. • 5. Abridge Your Words: State your case and concerns once, very clearly. Repetition becomes the pounding of a jack hammer. • 6. Appreciation: Express gratitude for the conversation, confidence in the friendship, and cordial expectations for the future. Show that you harbor no doubt that the matter has been solved. The person may not get matters right in their life after you have spoken with them. They will, however, be aware that others are watching. They may curb what they are doing, and it is possible, they may also become defensive and lash out at you. No matter how they respond, the rest is up to the Lord. (Treasures from the Scriptures) The goal of rebuking is not to "put them in their place" or to "get them," or "to get it off your chest" but to stimulate in their heart a desire to seek to repent. Be sure to do an attitude check, so that you are not rebuking them just to prove you are right and they are wrong. The goal is repentance and restoration of that person's relationship with the Lord and with others. Paul gives us the right attitude in Galatians 6:1 when he writes Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted (enticed to sin yourself!). Comment: Note the "caveat" of looking at your own heart, checking your own motives, examining your own walk with Jesus! Also take note of the verb restore, the Greek verb katartizo, which conveys the fundamental idea of putting something into its appropriate condition so it will function well. It denotes setting right what has gone wrong, restoring to a former condition, whether mending broken nets (as in Mt 4:21, Mk 1:19), setting broken bones (as in secular Greek medical writings) or healing wounded hearts. The idea is to restore the person to usefulness to the Lord. In this context, one who is spiritual is one who is gentle, which clearly is one who is filled with/controlled by the Holy Spirit thus "bearing" this fruit (Eph 5:18-note, Gal 5:23)! Gentleness is prautes which denotes the humble and gentle attitude which expresses itself, in particular, in a patient submissiveness to offense, free from malice and desire for revenge… controlled strength, the ability to bear reproaches and slights without bitterness and resentment; the ability to provide a soothing influence on someone who is in a state of anger, bitterness and resentment against life… the word indicates an obedient submissiveness to God and His will, with unwavering faith and enduring patience displaying itself in a gentle attitude and kind acts toward others, and this often in the face of opposition. "This word (repent) was the message of the Baptist, of Jesus, of Peter, of Paul, this radical change of attitude and life." (Robertson) The question arises what if they don't repent? Do we still need to forgive them? Steven
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MacArthur - Jesus’ analogy calls for a faith that grows like a tiny mustard seed does into to a large shrub (mustard plants can reach fifteen feet in height). Those who possess such a faith can do amazing things, which the Lord pictured using another analogy. (See Luke Commentary) Brian Bell applies this little faith to the preceding context (forgiveness) - What is there in a grain of mustard seed that is distinctive? Life! Faith is like a seed: it seems small and weak, but it has life in it. If it is cultivated, it will grow and release power. If you have living faith (no matter how small) you will be able to forgive your brother seven times and you will see to it that you place no stumbling block in the way of others....It’s not up to us to conjure up an increase of faith, but instead…Faith opens the way for God to act out of HIS limitless resources. Question - What do you need ripped out of your life trunk, limbs, and roots? Be pulled up by the roots. Mattoon - Jesus tells them that just a small amount of genuine faith has nuclear power. Like a tiny seed, a small amount of genuine faith in God will take root and grow. The tiniest amount of faith can accomplish miraculous things. Faith is not measured by its bigness or by its smallness. What is needed in us is a living, active faith or a faith that is in the Lord Himself and in His indwelling Holy Spirit. (Treasures from the Scriptures)
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MacArthur - Jesus was not speaking of literally moving a tree; He was speaking metaphorically. The point is that those who trust Him will receive supernatural power to do what they could not do in their own human strength (cf. Mt. 17:20; Mk 11:23; Jn 14:12-14; 2Co 12:10; Ep 6:10). Humble people are powerful people because they understand their weakness and depend completely on “Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us” (Eph. 3:20). (See Luke Commentary) NET Note on Be uprooted and be planted - The passives here are probably a circumlocution for God performing the action (the so-called divine passive,). The issue is not the amount of faith....but its presence, which can accomplish impossible things. To cause a tree to be uprooted and planted in the sea is impossible. The expression is a rhetorical idiom. It is like saying a camel can go through the eye of a needle (Luke 18:25). Would obey "is aorist, though it looks at a future event, another rhetorical touch to communicate certainty of the effect of faith." Allen - Note that faith is demonstrated by the power of the believing word. The man who has faith speaks, and the power of God is demonstrated. This accords with the Synoptic emphasis on the power of Jesus’ word and is further illustrated by statements made by Paul (Rom. 15:18-19; 1 Cor. 2:4, 4:20). The statement is not to be watered down by spiritualizing it. It simply means that the person who has the smallest possible amount of real faith becomes the instrument of God’s unlimited power. On the other hand, we must recognize that faith is not a magic by which we control God. Nor is it synonymous with presumption. We cannot use it to back God into a comer and force him to produce a sensational show which will enable us to make the headlines. (ED: SO BE CAREFUL - THIS IS NOT VALIDATING THE HERETICAL "WORD OF FAITH" MOVEMENT) (Broadman Bible Commentary – Luke-John) ILLUSTRATION - Stuck in a dead-end job and strapped for money, Kyle MacDonald came up with an improbable plan. Starting with one red paperclip, he would trade on the Internet until he exchanged it for a house. First, he traded the red paperclip for a fish-shaped pen. Next, he traded the pen for a doorknob. He traded the doorknob for a Coleman stove. He traded the Coleman stove for an electric generator and then later a snowmobile. Exactly one year and 14 trades later, MacDonald finally reached his goal. He exchanged a part in a Hollywood movie for a home in Saskatchewan, Canada.The true story of Kyle MacDonald is told in his book One Red Paperclip. Now the book is being made into a movie. Fame, fortune, a book, a movie deal, and a home — it all began with one red paperclip. Sounds incredible, doesn't it? But our Christian faith is like that red paperclip. Jesus said that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we will be able to move mountains or uproot a sycamine tree into the sea. With the Lord, nothing is impossible. We are to be a people of faith. How does that happen? (Mattoon Treasures from the Scriptures) ILLUSTRATION - A man who was buried in a tomb that requested a great mass of granite over the top of his grave when he died. He had said if there ever was a resurrection it might be certain he should never rise! The granite stone weighing tons is there…but split in two! - Before they could place that large granite stone on the grave a bird happened to drop an acorn right there. An oak tree sprang up & the living power of the acorn split the granite in two. [small & weak, but has life!] (Brian Bell) Mattoon - A Study on Faith 1. The Source of Faith is from the Word of God— Romans 10:17— So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 2. The Summons of Faith— We need faith to grow in the Lord and to obey His Word. We should desire it. We saw this in Luke 17. Luke 17:5— And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 3. Our Service and Faith—How do we work for the Lord? John 6:28-29— ... Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? [29] Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. There are thousands of ways to please the Lord, but not one of those ways is without faith. It is impossible to please the Lord without believing in Him. Hebrews 11:6— But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Faith gives us calm about our past failures and mistakes, the courage to face the present with confidence, and the future with great expectancy. Serving the Lord requires faith. 4. The Saints and Faith— Romans 5:1— Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Habakkuk 2:4— Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. 5. Standards of Faith— Faith without works is dead. James 2:17— Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. A person's faith is not judged by what he says about it, but by what he does about it. Faith with works is a force; faith without works is a farce. Our faith is to be active and a part of our lives, not just a bunch of mere words that have no impact upon us. 6. The Strength of Faith— Your faith in the Lord has tremendous power. Mark 9:23— Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Matthew 17:20— And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place: and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Doubt makes the mountains that faith can remove. Faith moves mountains or tunnels through them. If you can't move your mountains, at least climb them by faith and the grace of God. 7. Subduing Faith—Our faith in the Lord and His help enables us to put into practice the truths of Scripture. It helps us to conquer the weaknesses of our flesh. 1 John 5:4— For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 8. Smarts and Faith—Faith is needed to get wisdom and direction. James 1:5-6... If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. [6] But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Some people make the mistake of asking the Lord for faith and direction, and then they grab the steering wheel of their life. They will not yield control to the Lord. God wants us to entrust our lives to His care and control. 9. The Shield of Faith— Ephesians 6:16— Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (Treasures from the Scriptures) Luke 17:7 “Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’? KJV Luke 17:7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? Luke 13:15; 14:5; Matthew 12:11 Luke 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 17:5-10 More Faith or More Obedience? - Steven Cole Luke 17:5-10 Four Hallmarks of Humility, Part 3 - John MacArthur THE DUTY OF SLAVES The question arises as to how this next section (Lk 17:7-10) links with the previous segment. Leon
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MacArthur has a similar train of thought as Wiersbe and
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MacArthur adds that "Slaves were generally better off than freemen, who tended to be day laborers living from hand to mouth. Slaves had security, since they lived in the master’s home and he met their needs." Steven
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MacArthur - Up to this point, Luke has focused on Jesus’ coming, detailing the angelic announcement of His birth to Mary the account of His birth, the incident in the temple when He was twelve, His baptism by John, His temptation by Satan, and the first two and a half years of His ministry as Messiah, reaching its pinnacle at the transfiguration. But at this point, the whole tenor of Luke’s gospel changes. The focus is no longer on Jesus’ coming, but on His going. The Galilean ministry is over, and He is on His way for the final time to His passion in Jerusalem. Although the Lord would, in the few intervening months of His Judean ministry, make brief return visits to Galilee (e.g., Lk 17:11-37), Galilee was no longer His base of operations. Much of the material in this travelogue (cf. Lk 9:52, 57; 10:1, 38; 13:22, 33; 17:11; 18:35; 19:1, 11, 28-29) of Christ’s final journey to the cross (Lk 9:51-19:27) is unique to Luke’s gospel. Of the other gospel writers, only John records features from the months in Judea (John 7-11). (See Luke Commentary) During His life recall that Jesus went to Jerusalem on 3 other occasions: (1) Feast of Tabernacles in John 7-8 [see Jn 7:2, 14ff], (2) Feast of Dedication [see Jn 10:22-23] and (3) To Bethany [Jn 11:1] which was very near Jerusalem to raise Lazarus from the dead [Jn 11:41-44]. But here in Luke 17:11, Dr Luke is referring to Jesus' final visit to the Holy City. So keep in mind that He has already raised Lazarus from the dead and John 11:54 says "Therefore Jesus no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim (about 20 miles north of Jerusalem); and there He stayed with the disciples." It is likely that this location is the general area to which Luke is referring with the phrase between Samaria and Galilee. He was passing between Samaria and Galilee (cf John 4:4) - Jewish Pilgrimage from Galilee to Jerusalem. A popular route passed directly through Samaria. However, some pious Jews took an alternate route through Jericho to avoid Samaria.
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MacArthur points out "God doesn't dwell in that temple. God hadn't been in that temple in a long, long time. Ichabod was written on that temple long ago when the glory departed. That was an apostate temple and an apostate form of religion. And that's why Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, "“Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:21-24)...Most significantly this healed leper knew where to worship God,, i.e., where God really dwelt...which was in Jesus Christ. He was the real temple, the true temple of God (cf John 2:19-21). He recognizes that wherever the compassion of God is, that is where God is, that wherever the power of God is, that is where God is and wherever the grace of God is, that is where God is....God doesn't dwell in Jerusalem, He dwells in Jesus. And he knows it. And he also knows that God offers more than just a physical healing. That is only a temporal detail. He returns not just to be thankful for a healing but to seek what his soul really desired and needed, that is salvation. How do I know that? Because that's exactly what Jesus gave him (see Lk 17:19+)." Giving thanks (eucharisteo) to Him. And he was a Samaritan - He shows no restraint in his thanksgiving. This verb is in the present tense, signifying that the leper was overflowing with thanksgiving to Jesus, the source of the gift of healing from leprosy. Thanksgiving expresses what ought never to be absent from any of our devotions. We should always be ready to express our grateful acknowledgement to God for His past mercies. A Samaritan associating the other 9 who were presumably Jews was an association borne out of necessity for they were all untouchables and outcasts. The Samaritans were descendants of colonists whom the Assyrian kings planted in Palestine after the fall of the Northern Kingdom in 722 B.C. They were despised by the Jews because of their mixed Gentile blood and their different worship, which centered at Mount Gerizim (Jn 4:20-22). Spurgeon on he was a Samaritan - Ah, me! nine of the seed of Israel were ungrateful, and only one poor outcast Gentile was grateful to the Lord for the miracle of healing that had been wrought....One of those off-casts and out-casts that the Jews would not own, — one of the men that they said were of a mongrel breed, — only half Israelite and half idolater. “O grace, it is thy want, Into unlikeliest hearts to come!” (Luke 17 - exposition) MacArthur on Samaritans - According to John 4:9 the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans, they hated each other. Samaritans had intermarried with Gentiles and from a Jewish standpoint polluted their race, polluted their religion. They had a strange, hybrid religion on Mount Gerizim and were despised by the Jews who had no relationships with them. Surely no one would expect God to heal a Samaritan.
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MacArthur says they were all "premillennialists!" And why would they ask Jesus about the timing of the Kingdom of God? One reason of course is because He had repeatedly made reference to the Kingdom of God (Kingdom of Heaven) As with all who do not have spiritual eyes to see, the Pharisees missed the fact that the kingdom had already come in the sense that the King was present. Steven
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MacArthur summarizes this eschatological context. The point of Jesus' reply to the Pharisees is that they had wrongly interpreted the OT eschatology, especially regarding earth shaking signs. Yes, the Kingdom had come (the King was present) but it was a spiritual kingdom and not a visible kingdom and that is what the Pharisees and most of the Jews missed. John MacArthur describes what the first century Jews (not just the Pharisees but the nation as a whole) were expecting in the future for the nation of Israel. It is especially notable that they were looking for and expecting a visible Kingdom of God. "And with Jesus' repeated mentions of the Kingdom and the phrase the Kingdom of God, the Jews were hoping that He would bring in the Kingdom. Notice how several times they try to crown Him king. Why did they do this? Because they thought from His words and actions that He was the King of the visible Kingdom they were looking for. And of course they were correct that Jesus was the King, but they did not understand that first He had to be received by faith as King of their hearts, King of an invisible, internal Kingdom. And recall His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on His last week of life. Because they expected the imminent establishment of the Kingdom of God, the Jewish crowds were shouting "BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD" (Lk 19:37-note) The Jews thought that this was His coronation, and when they realized it was not, they called for His crucifixion (Lk 23:21-note)." (Bolding added) Kingdom (932)(basileia from basileus = a sovereign, king, monarch) denotes sovereignty, royal power, dominion. Basileia can also refer to the territory or people over whom a king rules. Matthew used the synonymous phrase the Kingdom of Heaven (32x) probably to appeal to the Jews who refused to say the Name of God, as an way to convey their sense of unworthiness. Observed (3907)(parateresis from para = beside + tērēsis = custody, keeping, observance) means close observation, attentive watching (as with one's eyes) or scrutiny. It was used in classic Greek of physicians carefully watching symptoms of a disease, of astronomers observing the motion of heavenly objects, or of a soldier’s surveillance of untrustworthy hostages (Liddell-Scott). In a related sense the term is used of the careful observance of rules or commandments (Moulton-Milligan).
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MacArthur explains Jesus told the disciples in the Upper Room, “Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God” (ED: HE IS REFERRING TO THE FUTURE EARTHLY KINGDOM HE WILL ESTABLISH WHEN HE RETURNS). (Mark 14:25). At the sheep and goat judgment (ED: THIS EVENT COINCIDES WITH HIS SECOND COMING AND SHOULD BE DISTINGUISHED FROM THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT 1000 YEARS LATER - Rev 20:11-15-note) “the King will say to those on His right [the sheep], ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’” (Mt. 25:34), but for those who reject Him “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when [they] see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but [they themselves] being thrown out. And they will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13:28-29). This (ED: VISIBLE ASPECT OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD) refers to our Lord’s millennial reign on earth (Rev. 20:1-6-note). (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Luke 11-17) The verb "is" (in your midst) is in the present tense signifying the Kingdom of God was present now, even as Jesus was speaking. But they could not see it! They were waiting and looking for the Kingdom of God (see the summary of their Jewish Eschatology), but it was continually present now! The Pharisees (and most of the Jews and most of fallen mankind) simply did not have their spiritual eyes opened to be able to see the Kingdom, because at present it is a spiritual Kingdom, not a visible kingdom. When Christ returns as King of kings (Rev 19:11-16-note), the invisible Kingdom of God will suddenly and forever become a visible Kingdom. In the Revelation John writes of this "visibility" BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye (REGENERATE AND UNREGENERATE) will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. (Rev 1:7-note) The phrase in your midst is not translated as accurately as it could be. A more accurate translation is the kingdom of God is within you. In fact most of the modern Bible translations have a marginal note that says "within you" (the more literal translation) and some add "within your grasp" (but I think the latter paraphrase is a bit of a stretch). Some commentaries argue that if it were translated "in you" or "within you" then it would imply that the Kingdom of God was actually present in the Pharisees, which of course it was not. John MacArthur comments on in your midst - Many translators, seeking to avoid the apparent difficulty of Jesus saying that the kingdom was inside the unbelieving Pharisees, translate the phrase in which it appears in your midst. However a different phrase, en mesō, is regularly used to communicate the idea of “in the midst of,” or “among” (e.g., Mt. 10:16; Lk 2:46; 8:7; 10:3; 22:27; 24:36; Acts 1:15; 2:22; Heb. 2:12). The apparent difficulty is easily resolved by understanding your in the broadest national sense rather than as a narrow reference to the Pharisees. As was inevitably the case, the crowd listening to the Lord’s dialogue with the Pharisees ran the gamut from the outright rejecters to the curious but uncommitted, to the true disciples of Jesus. The Lord was reinforcing the point that the spiritual kingdom is internal and not manifested by observable signs. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Luke 11-17)
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MacArthur writes that "The kingdom of which Jesus spoke is, as Paul wrote, marked by “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Ro 14:17+). It exists in the hearts of all those in whom the King lives. The wonder of wonders is that the Trinity takes up residence in the hearts of those who embrace Christ and enter the spiritual kingdom. In John 14:17 Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would indwell believers, while in John 14:23 He added, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” (Ibid) Cole sees a slightly different meaning to Jesus' explanation of the kingdom in their midst - “The kingdom of God is here in your very midst in the person of the King, and yet you have not recognized it because you wrongly expect it to be ushered in with great flourish.” It is interesting however that Cole then goes on to describe the growth of the kingdom of God alluding to Luke 13:18-19-see notes and writes "Thus the initial coming of God’s kingdom begins relatively unnoticed, like the mustard seed planted in the ground. As people yield their lives to the lordship of Jesus Christ, He begins to reign in their hearts. In that sense His kingdom is presently being established in and through His church, as the gospel is proclaimed and believed. But, this is not the final form of His kingdom. He will return personally in power and glory to judge His enemies and to rule over the whole earth, as He goes on to teach (Luke 17:22-37)." (The Present and Future Kingdom) The kingdom of God - Matthew uses the synonymous phrase the Kingdom of Heaven where "heaven" is used as a "euphemism" for the Name God which orthodox Jews would not pronounce. Thus Matthew being sensitive to the Jewish scruples, substitutes the name of the divine place for the name of the divine Person (God). Other than the Gospel of Matthew, the NT writers referred to the Kingdom of God. In simple terms this phrase defines that sphere over which God exercises supreme, sovereign authority. As discussed in Jesus' day the Kingdom of God was invisible and internal, being manifest in the hearts of believers, those who are subject His rule. Note that both Jesus (Mt 4:17+, Mt 10:7+, Lk 4:43+, Lk 8:1+, Lk 16:16+) and the apostles (Phillip in Acts 8:12+, Paul in Acts 20:25+, Acts 28:31+) focused on the preaching of the Kingdom of God. See Tony Garland's interesting analysis of The Arrival of the Kingdom of God See George Peters' article on Lk 17:21 entitled "The passage most relied on to prove the Church-Kingdom theory utterly disproves it." Background on Peters - Without a doubt the most extensive work ever written on the Kingdom of God is George N. H. Peters (a Lutheran pastor) three volume work published in 1884 and entitled "The Theocratic Kingdom." What is fascinating about his life work, which is some 2189 pages in length, is that (1) he was not a dispensationalist, (2) he approached the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures from a literal perspective and (3) he believed that the Scriptures clearly taught that God was not finished with Israel and that there would be an earthly Kingdom of God over which Jesus Christ would reign as King. Luke repeatedly alludes to the Kingdom in both his Gospel and the book of Acts. His use in the Gospel is interesting as many commentators say that Luke's Gospel is primarily directly to Gentiles. And yet Luke places great emphasis on the Kingdom of God which is indeed what the Jews of Jesus' day were looking and hoping for. For those who literally interpret Rev 20:1-10+ here is a proposed schematic... KINGDOM OF GOD PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE FROM BIBLE.ORG Here are all of Luke's uses of Kingdom (including the phrase "Kingdom of God"). Luke 1:33-note and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." Ryrie - As the Davidic Messiah, Jesus will reign over the house of Jacob, which will happen in the millennial kingdom. This promise is not now being fulfilled simply because the church is not the house of Jacob, and Christ is presently at the right hand of the Father, which is never equated with the throne of David. Luke 4:43-note But He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose." Comment: Notice that "the kingdom of God" is the main theme of Jesus' preaching. This is its first mention in Luke where it occurs 32 times (cf. Mark 1:14, 15+). The Jews understood this as the time when God would openly assume His royal power. Luke 6:20-note And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Comment: The poor in spirit are those who belong to the kingdom of God and thus they are by default believers in Messiah, those who are born again (cf John 3:3+). Luke 7:28-note "I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." MacArthur - John was greater than the OT prophets because he actually saw with his eyes and personally participated in the fulfillment of what they only prophesied (Mt 11:10, 13+; cf. 1Pe 1:10, 11+). But all believers after the cross are greater still, because they participate in the full understanding and experience of something John merely foresaw in shadowy form—the actual atoning work of Christ. Luke 8:1-note Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, Luke 8:10-note And He said, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND. Comment: Only those born again could "see" (and understand, cf John 3:3+) the mysteries (hidden from view of unregenerate men but revealed by God to His children in the faith) of this phase of the Kingdom of God in contrast to the day when the King returns and all men when then see the Kingdom of God, but only those born again will gain entry into the Millennial Kingdom. Luke 9:2-note And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. Comment: So not only Jesus but His disciples were proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God which could only be entered by grace through faith. Luke 9:11-note But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing. Luke 9:27-note But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God." (Matthew adds "until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." Mt 16:28) Comment: Jesus is referring to Peter, John, and James, who would witness the transfiguration (but not everyone agrees with this interpretation but the context favors the transfiguration which follows immediately Lk 9:28-36), which would be a "preview of coming attractions," so to speak. And so in this special, unique moment, the otherwise invisible kingdom was made visible in part to these three chosen men so that they might have a foretaste of the glories to be revealed when Jesus returned as King of kings to set up His earthly kingdom to be ruled from Jerusalem (cf Mt 24:30-note). Luke 9:60-note But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62-note But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Comment: I'm a farm boy and if you drive the tractor continually looking backwards, your furrows will be crooked. Jesus is calling him to lay aside double mindedness for no one can follow Christ with a divided heart, and thus they will miss the Kingdom of God. Luke 10:9-10-note and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 'Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.' Comment: As the disciples went out they were to emphasize the Kingdom of God because as we have noted that is what the Jews were looking for. The kingdom came near because the King was present and His message explained how to enter His Kingdom. To miss the message is to miss the Kingdom of God (then and still true today). Luke 11:2-note And He said to them, "When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. (An imperative - "let it happen" is the idea). Comment: This is a prayer most of us have prayed but probably never really understood what we were praying. To ask God for His Kingdom to come has two applications. The first is that the invisible Kingdom would come into hearts of lost around us, and in believing in Jesus, they would enter His Kingdom. This growth of the Kingdom of God by addition of new believers is depicted by the tiny mustard seed growing into a huge tree and the speck of leaven spreading throughout the flour. John MacArthur goes into greater depth and sees actually 3 ways the invisible Kingdom grows - see his sermon on this verse. Luke 11:17-18-note But He knew their thoughts and said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls."If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul....Luke 11:20-note "But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Comment: The kingdom of God was upon them because the King was present in their midst. If they had received Jesus as Redeemer and Lord, they would have entered into the invisible Kingdom of God, but in their state of self-righteousness and hardened hearts, not only did they not receive Christ, but they committed an abominable blasphemy against Him! Luke 12:31-note "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Comment: Jesus is calling for us to focus not on earthly, material things but on His kingdom, worshiping, serving and proclaiming that kingdom, the sphere where Jesus rules as King and Lord. Luke 13:18-note So He was saying, "What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it?...Luke 13:20-note And again He said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? Comment: We have already explained that just as these start small and grow big, so too would the Kingdom of God, starting in individual hearts in an invisible form today, but in the future being world wide and visible. This reminds me of Habakkuk's prophecy that "the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." (Hab 2:14-note). Luke 13:28-29-note "In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out. 29 "And they will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. Comment: For those who reject Jesus' proclamation of the Kingdom of God, there is but one alternative and that is eternal punishment. MacArthur explains "The torment of hell will not be limited to the pain of punishment, but will include the remorse, shock, and surprise of those who ended up there despite thinking they were going to heaven. The more people in hell knew about the gospel, the more profound their remorse will be; their pain will be proportional to their level of rejection. And since their rejection will be eternal and incurable, so will their sin be and the judgment of that sin." Why would the Jewish people be shocked when one minute after death they were in hell? It was because they took it for granted that they would be saved simply because they were physical children of Abraham. But unless they believed as did Abraham (Ge 15:6-note), they would not enter the Kingdom of heaven with their Jewish patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! Luke 14:15-note When one of those who were reclining at the table with Him heard this, he said to Him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!" MacArthur - This was a beatitude; a toast directed at himself and his fellow Pharisees, affirming that they will be among the blessed at the heavenly banquet in the kingdom of God. (ED: AS I LIKE TO SAY WHEN A PERSON IS DECEIVED, BY DEFINITION THEY DO NOT KNOW THEY ARE DECEIVED - THIS MAN IS NOT DECEIVED TODAY FOR HE IS IN HADES AWAITING THE FINAL GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT!) It was not only a pronouncement of blessing on themselves, but also a scornful rebuke of the Lord’s declaration that they were too proud to enter God’s kingdom (cf. Lk 14:11). His words bounced off their confidence that their Abrahamic ancestry (cf. John 8:33-59) and adherence to the traditions, regulations, and rituals would secure a place for them at God’s banquet. Not only did they fully expect to be at that heavenly feast, but also to be in the seats of honor. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Luke 11-17) Luke 16:16-note "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John (REFERRING TO THE OT); since that time (JESUS TOOK CENTER STAGE) the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it (SEE Luke 9:23-note; cf. Lk 14:26-27-note) Luke 17:20-21-note Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 21 nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst." Luke 18:16-17-note But Jesus called for them, saying, "Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." Comment: Referring to the role of faith in Jesus as the requirement to enter the Kingdom of God, invisible today, but one day in the future visible. Luke 18:24-25-note And Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! 25 "For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Comment: Wealth is like a god that obscures one's need for the true God! Luke 18:29-note And He said to them, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.” Comment: Matthew's Gospel (Mt 19:28) adds the phrase "in the regeneration" (Mt 19:28), which in simple terms refers to Jesus' earthly, millennial kingdom. MacArthur adds that "That kingdom will be the rebirth of the world; paradise regained. Those who have been granted a spiritual rebirth at salvation will participate in the rebirth of the earth; the “times of refreshing” (Acts 3:19) and the “period of restoration of all things” (v. 21). It is the kingdom about which Jesus taught the disciples for forty days between His resurrection and ascension (Acts 1:3). In that kingdom, the apostles will “sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Luke 19:11-note While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. Comment: The crowd following Jesus thought that Jesus was getting ready to set up His earthly kingdom, the kingdom that the Jews had been anticipating and for which they were fervently longing. The verb "appear" is a nautical term like a ship appearing on the horizon. Again, the majority of Jews had failed to receive His message that they must first enter the invisible Kingdom of God by grace through faith and then they would be able to enter the King's earthly kingdom. As John wrote "He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him (AS SAVIOR AND KING)." (Jn 1:11). Luke 21:10-note Then He continued by saying to them, "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, Luke 21:31-note "So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. Luke 22:16-note for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."...Lk 22:18-note for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes." Comment: O glorious day! Notice that with the phrase "until the kingdom of God comes" is a clear reference to the future visible reign of King Jesus. At that time He will eat and drink again in His millennial kingdom. What a tragedy to miss this glorious celebration by rejecting His offer of salvation! Luke 22:29-30-note and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Comment: The kingdom the Father had granted Jesus is a reference to His Messianic Kingdom (Millennium). Luke 23:42-note And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” Comment: The thief on the cross understood what the religious Jews in their pride and hard hearts simply could not see! His reference to your kingdom was a plea for forgiveness of his sins. He had seen Christ forgive those who crucified Him and so he sought personal forgiveness. Luke 23:51 -note he (Joseph - Lk 23:50) had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God; Comment: What was Joseph waiting for? Ultimately the same thing as the other Jews but his eyes had been opened to understand that it had to first be entered by faith and later would come in full bloom in the Millennium. MacArthur adds that Joseph "joins the list of righteous people whom Luke mentions, including Zacharias and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist (Lk 1:5-note), Simeon (Lk 2:25-note = "looking for the consolation of Israel"), and Anna (Lk 2:36-38-note "all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem"). According to John 19:38 Joseph was a disciple of Jesus Christ, albeit a secret one, who was afraid to make his faith in Christ known. But while many secret disciples were false disciples, and not true believers (John 12:42-43), he was a true disciple, as his actions demonstrate." (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Luke 18-24) Acts 1:3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. Comment: Jesus was "filling in the blanks" regarding the disciple's understanding of the Kingdom of God, especially the truth related to His rule over believer's hearts, which was the sphere (the "kingdom") over which He was to be King. He must have also spoke about aspects of the future Millennial kingdom as suggested by their question in Acts 1:6 where they wanted to know the specific time when this glorious Kingdom would be a reality? Acts 1:6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” Comment: The disciples still held on to the hope that now that Jesus had been crucified, He would establish His earthly kingdom. When Jesus was asked by the Pharisees about the Kingdom of God, He answered "behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst. The Pharisees and most of the Jews (including His disciples) were expecting that when the Messiah came, He would bring in a political Kingdom. But Jesus countered their belief by explaining that His first coming would make available an "internal," invisible Kingdom in the hearts of all who believed in Him. It would not be until His Second Coming that He would establish His external, visible Kingdom, a Kingdom for which His disciples had been praying for centuries (Mt 6:10-note - and unfortunately many have not fully understood for what they were praying!). As described above in Acts 1:3, even after His resurrection and shortly before He ascended Jesus had been "filling in the blanks" regarding His coming Kingdom. And in that context their question in Acts 1:6 is very significant regarding a proper understanding of the Kingdom of God. Even the ESV Study Bible comments that "The disciples...concluded from his resurrection and the promise of the Spirit that the messianic era had dawned and the final salvation of Israel was imminent." Two points are significant - (1) Jesus did not refute their understanding of the restoration of the Kingdom, but their understanding of the timing of that restoration (see Acts 1:7-8) (2) Notice the verb restore which in in Greek verb apokathistemi which means to restore to an earlier condition, to reinstate, to return to a position. They had just asked about the nation of Israel as to when it would be restored to its former position as chief of the nations in the Kingdom of God. Those who hold to the false teaching that the promises to Israel have been replaced by the Church have considerable difficulty with passages like Acts 1:6. Why? Because if Israel has been replaced by the Church, this passage would make absolutely no sense and one would think Jesus would have corrected them. In other words, the Church had not even come into existence! How could it be restored to its earlier condition? Clearly it could not be because it did not have an "earlier condition." The disciples' question is referring to the Kingdom being restored to the nation of Israel. This is another peg in the coffin of replacement theology. (See What is replacement theology / supersessionism?) MacArthur agrees writing that Jesus' answer in Acts 1:7 (He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;) "shows that the apostles’ expectation of a literal, earthly kingdom mirrored what Christ taught and what the OT predicted. Otherwise, He would have corrected them about such a crucial aspect of His teaching." Constable agrees "that Jesus did not correct the disciples for believing that the messianic kingdom would come. He only corrected their assumption that they could know when the kingdom would begin and that the kingdom would begin in a few days." Dwight
Lucas 17
MacArthur adds this comment by first asking: What kingdom? The visible (external) Kingdom of God. The apostles shared the fervent hope of their nation that Messiah would come and take up His earthly kingdom. Often Jesus had taught them prophetically about the future (Mt 13:40-50; 24, 25; Luke 12:36-40; 17:20-37; 21:5-36). The enthusiastic question they were asking Him, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" is thus perfectly understandable. After all, here was the resurrected Messiah speaking with them about His Kingdom. They knew of no reason the earthly form of the Kingdom could not be set up immediately, since the Messianic work signaling the end of the age had arrived (ED COMMENT: OR SO THEY THOUGHT, BUT THEY WERE MISTAKEN BECAUSE THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND THAT FIRST MUST COME THE Time of Jacob's Distress described in Jeremiah 30:7-note). It must be remembered that the interval between the two comings of Messiah was not explicitly taught in the Old Testament. The disciples on the road to Emmaus were greatly disappointed that Jesus had not redeemed Israel and set up the kingdom (Luke 24:21-note). Further, the apostles knew that Ezekiel 36 and Joel 2 connected the coming of the kingdom with the outpouring of the Spirit Jesus had just promised. It is understandable that they hoped the arrival of the kingdom was imminent. Surely it was for this kingdom they had hoped since they first joined Jesus. They had experienced a roller coaster ride of hope and doubt which they now felt might be over. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Acts 1-12) Acts 3:19-21 (Luke makes a definite allusion to the Kingdom quoting Peter as he addresses the Jews after he was filled with the Spirit on Pentecost) “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing (THIS REFERS TO THE COMING KINGDOM - NOTE HOW IT IS LINKED WITH THE SECOND COMING IN NEXT VERSE) may come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21 Whom heaven must receive (HIS ASCENSION AND HIS SEATING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER DURING THE CHURCH AGE, THE "DIVINE PARENTHESIS") until the period of restoration (SEE BELOW) of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. Comment: This phrase the PERIOD OF RESTORATION speaks of the coming Kingdom of Messiah. And to substantiate this premise notice that restoration is the Greek word apokatastasis (used only here in Scripture and meaning a restitution of a thing to its former condition) which is derived from the root verb apokathistemi. Apokathistemi is the same verb used by the disciples in their question to Jesus in Acts 1:6 which we have discussed above. This association is clearly no accident for both passages refer to the same period of time, the coming Kingdom of God, the time when Messiah rules and reigns from His Holy City (see Zech 14:16, 20-21-commentary) Tannehill comments that "There is a close connection between the hope expressed in 1:6 and the conditional promise of Peter in 3:19–21, indicated not only by the unusual words ‘restore’ and ‘restoration...but also by the references to "times" (kairos in Acts 1:7) and "seasons" ("times" = kairos in Acts 3:19) in both contexts. The ‘times of restoration of all that God spoke’ through the prophets include the restoration of the reign to Israel through its messianic King.” (Borrow Robert C. Tannehill, The Narrative Unity of Luke-Acts) Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. Comment: This refers not to the visible kingdom, but to the invisible kingdom, for one must first enter that kingdom by grace through faith before they could enter the visible Messianic Kingdom. Acts 14:22 (After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch- Acts 14:21) strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” Comment: In view of many tribulations perseverance would be necessary. And those who persevere to the end will be saved (Mt 24:13, Heb 3:6, 14) and enter the Kingdom. Don't misunderstand -- their perseverance would not save them, but it would be an indication that they were genuinely saved (and thus enabled to persevere by the indwelling Spirit). Acts 19:8 And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. Comment: Of course Paul was explaining to them about the invisible Kingdom which could only be entered by faith in the Messiah. The following three uses of kingdom in Acts (below) have the same sense. Paul was explaining the way of salvation. Acts 20:25 “And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. Acts 28:23 When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. Acts 28:31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered. Comment: What was Paul testifying about in Acts 28:23? What is he preaching in this verse and Acts 20:25? The Gospel by which if received and believed one enters into the Kingdom of God now and in the future when it is consummated at the return of the King of that kingdom. SCOFIELD: Kingdom Old Testament Summary I. Dominion over the Earth before the Call of Abraham. (1) Dominion over creation was given to the first man and woman (Ge 1:26-28). Through the fall this dominion was lost, Satan becoming "prince of this world" (Mt 4:8-10; Jn 14:30). Cp Heb 2:5-9 (2) After the flood, the principle of human government was established under the covenant with Noah (Gen 9:6; see Gen 9:16, note). Biblically, this is still the charter of all government. II. The Theocratic Kingdom in Israel. (See also 1Sa 8:7, note.) The call of Abraham involved, with much else, the creation of a distinctive people through whom great purposes of God toward the human race might be worked out (see Israel, Ge12:1-3; Ro 11:26, note). Among these purposes is the establishment of a worldwide kingdom. The history of the divine mediatorial rule in Israel: (1) Its establishment under Moses (Ex19:3-7; cp. Ex 3:1-10; 24:12). (2) Its administration under leader-judges (Jos 1:1-5; Jdg 2:16-18). (3) Its administration under kings (1Sa10:1,24; 16:1-13; 1Ki 9:1-5). (4) Its end at the captivity (Ezek 21:25-27; cp Je 27:6-8; Da 2:36-38) III. The Future Restoration of the Theocratic Kingdom. (1) The Davidic Covenant (2Sa 7:8-16, 16, cp Ro 1:3 "descendant of David" = Messiah]; Ps 89:3-4,20, 21,28-37). (2) The exposition of the Davidic Covenant by the prophets (Isa 1:25, 26 to Zech 12:6-8). They describe the kingdom as follows: (a) It will be Davidic, to be established under David's heir who is to be born of a virgin, therefore truly man, but also "Immanuel," "Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isa 7:13 - 14; 9:6 - 7; 11:1; Jer 23:5; Ezek 34:23 (Then I will set over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them; he will feed them himself and be their shepherd.24 "And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David will be prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken.) Ezek37:24; Hos3:4-5). (b) It will be a kingdom heavenly in origin, principle, and authority (Da 2:34, 35,44, 45), but set up on the earth, with Jerusalem as the capital (Isa 2:2-4; 4:3,5; 24:23; 33:20; 62:1-7; Jer 23:5; 31:38-40; Joel 3:1,16-17). (c) The kingdom is to be established first over regathered, restored, and converted Israel, and is then to become universal (Ps 2:6-8; 22:1-31; 24:1-10; Isa 1:2-3; 11:1,10-13; 60:12; Jer 23:5-8; 30:7-11; Ezek 20:33-40; 37:21-25; Zech 9:10; 14:16-19). (d) The moral characteristics of the kingdom are to be righteousness and peace. The meek, not the proud, will inherit the earth; longevity will be greatly increased; the knowledge of the LORD will be universal; beast-ferocity will be removed; absolute equity will be enforced; and open sin will be visited with instant judgment; whereas the enormous majority of earth's inhabitants will be saved (Ps 2:9; Isa 11:4,6 - 9; 26:9; 65:20; Zech 14:16 - 21). The N.T. (Rev 20:1 - 5) adds a detail of immense significance -the removal of Satan from the scene. It is impossible to conceive to what heights of spiritual, intellectual, and physical perfection humanity will attain in this, its coming age of righteousness and peace (Ps 72:1 -10; Isa 11:4 - 9). (e) The kingdom is to be established by power, not persuasion, and is to follow divine judgment upon the Gentile world powers (Ps 2:4-9; Isa 9:7; Da 2:35,44-45; 7:26-27; Zech 14:1 - 19). See Zech 6:11, note. (f) The restoration of Israel and the establishment of the kingdom are connected with the advent of the LORD, yet future (Deu 30:3 - 5; Ps 2:1 - 9; Zech 14:4). (g) The chastisement reserved for disobedience in the house of David (2 Sam 7:14; Ps 89:30 - 33) fell in the captivities and worldwide dispersion. Since that time, though a remnant returned under prince Zerubbabel, Jerusalem has generally been under the political authority of Gentiles. The Davidic Covenant has not been abrogated (Ps 89:33 - 37), however, but is yet to be fulfilled (Acts 15:14 - 17). Kingdom (New Testament.), Summary: Kingdom truth is developed in the N.T. in the following order: (1) The promise of the kingdom to David and his descendants, and described in the prophets (2 Sam 7:8 - 17, and notes; Zech 12:8), enters the N.T. absolutely unchanged (Luke 1:31 - 33). The King was born in Bethlehem (Mat 2:1; cp. Mic 5:2) of a virgin (Mat 1:18 - 25; cp. Isa 7:14). (2) The kingdom announced as "near" (Mat 4:17, note) by John the Baptist, by the King, and by the Twelve, was rejected by the Jews, first morally (Mat 11:20, note), and afterward officially (Mat 21:42 - 43), and the King, crowned with thorns, was crucified. (3) In anticipation of His official rejection and crucifixion, the King revealed the "secrets" of the kingdom of heaven (Mat 13:11, note) to be fulfilled in the interval between His rejection and His return in glory (Mat 13:1 - 50). (4) Afterward He announced His purpose to "build" His Church (Mat 16:18, notes; cp. Eph 3:9 -11), another "mystery" which is being fulfilled in this present age contemporaneously with "the secrets of the kingdom of heaven." The "secrets of the kingdom of heaven" and the "mystery" of the Church (Eph 3:9 - 11) occupy for the most part the same period, i.e. this present age. (5) The secrets of the kingdom will be brought to an end by the "harvest" (Mat 13:39 - 43,49 - 50) at the return of the King in glory, the Church having previously been caught up to meet Him in the air (1 Th 4:13 - 17). (6) Upon His return the King will restore the Davidic monarchy in His own Person, regather dispersed Israel, establish His power over all the earth, and reign 1000 years (Mat 24:27 - 30; Acts 15:14 - 17; Rev 20:1 - 10). And (7) the kingdom of heaven (Mat 3:2, note), thus established under David's divine Son, has for its object the restoration of the divine authority in the earth, which may be regarded as a revolted province of the great kingdom of God (Mat 6:33, note). The Kingdom Age of 1000 years constitutes the seventh dispensation (Rev 20:4, note). When Christ defeats the last enemy, death (vv. 24 - 26), then He will deliver up the kingdom to "God the Father," that "God [i.e. the triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] may be all in all" (v. 28). The eternal throne is that "of God and of the Lamb" (Rev 22:1). Luke 17:22 And He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. KJV Luke 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. SECOND COMING: LOOKING AND LONGING FOR IT when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man Luke 5:35; 13:35; Matthew 9:15; John 7:33-36; 8:21-24; 12:35; 13:33; 16:5-7; John 16:16-22; 17:11-13 Luke 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 17:20-37 The Present and Future Kingdom - Steven Cole Luke 17:22 7 Characteristics of the Coming King, Part 1 - John MacArthur Beginning in Luke 17:22-37 Jesus gives us some details that are associated with His Second Coming. However, He is not a chronological description. It is more of a general description, not a sequence. A more chronological treatment is found in Luke 21 and many other places such as the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:15ff-note). And He said to the disciples - Jesus seems to move now from addressing the Pharisees, to addressing His disciples, enumerating several characteristics of His return which precedes the establishment of His Kingdom. MacArthur adds that "the Jews were looking at the Second Coming as if it was going to be a...glorious, fulfilling celebration of Christ's return and establishment of His Kingdom...and they would be at the center of it as the sons of Abraham. However Jesus is telling His disciples that something very different...that when He comes it will be deadly, frightening, terrifying, destructive judgment. This was shocking to the Jews who had rejected Jesus, the Pharisees in particular, but I think it was also startling even to the disciples who anticipated a glorious kingdom and not a kingdom that was inaugurated with destructive judgment.(Sermon) The days will come - As discussed in this context this phrase refers to the days of the Second Coming, which naturally beg the question "When will these days come to pass?" Well, we don't have to speculate or set dates (as people still foolishly continue to do) because Jesus tells us clearly in Mark 13:32-33 But of that day or hour (SECOND COMING OF CHRIST) no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. “Take heed (BE WATCHING!), keep on the alert (STAY AWAKE); for (term of explanation - EXPLAINS WHY WE NEED TO KEEP WATCHING AND STAYING AWAKE) you do not know when the appointed time will come. Comment: Take heed and be on the alert are both commands in the present imperative, calling for this to be our lifestyle, our daily practice. And so this calls for saints to be looking continually. Jesus knows that if we are continually LOOKING for His Return, we are much more likely (enabled by His Spirit) to be LIVING for His glory (cf 1 Jn 3:3-note, 2 Pe 3:11-note). While we not know when, we do know that no prophecy needs to be fulfilled before the Rapture of the Church, the next event on God's prophetic timetable. And so the Rapture is Imminent, and could happen at any time. It could happen at any time so that every generation of Christians can live in the light of that anticipation. And when the Church is raptured, this event will almost certainly initiate the events of the Tribulation or Daniel's Seventieth Week. The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man - In context of the Kingdom of God, Jesus now moves from the "already now," invisible, internal Kingdom of God to the "not yet," external, eternal Kingdom of God which begins with His return and the establishment of the Messianic (Millennial) reign for 1000 years. These are the days of the Son of Man the disciples will long to see. He is implying that this future Kingdom would not come about in the disciples’ lifetime. Recall that in Acts 1:6 they were looking for this Kingdom, Luke recording their question to Jesus "“Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” Every true follower of Jesus Christ in every age has looked for and longed for these days of the coming of the Son of Man to set up His kingdom on earth and rule the world from His city, Jerusalem. 1 Th 1:10-note and to wait (anemeno in the present tense - as one's lifestyle) for His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come. Titus 2:11-14-note For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking (prosdechomai in the present tense - as one's lifestyle, with anticipation) for the blessed hope (NOTICE THAT IN CONTEXT LOOKING FOR JESUS MOTIVATES LIVING FOR HIM - Titus 2:12) and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus (JESUS' GLORIOUS SECOND COMING), 14 Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession (WE ARE NO LONGER OUR OWN!), zealous for good deeds. 2 Ti 4:8-note in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved (perfect tense - love Him when we were saved, with this love being ongoing) His appearing (HIS SECOND COMING). In fact the cry in Revelation 22:20-note is a reflection of this longing of all the saints of throughout all the ages... He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." In 1 Corinthians 16:22 expressed this longing with the great word Maranatha (in depth study), a cry from our heart "O Lord Come!" (Play the great old chorus "Maranatha" - it is guaranteed to stir your heart to long to see His face!) ILLUSTRATION - Dr. Joseph Stowell, the President of Moody Bible Institute, once visited a home for retarded children that was operated by a Christian friend. Noticing the children’s handprints on the windows, Dr. Stowell remarked about them to his friend. “Oh, those,” he replied. “The children here love Jesus and they’re so eager for Him to return that they lean against the windows as they look up at the sky.” That’s nct a retarded way to live! May we all imitate those simple children by making sure that we are in Christ’s present kingdom and by faithfully awaiting His soon coming future kingdom! Are we looking for His return, and do we really want to see Him come? I often greet brethren at church with the words "It could be today," and most who hear that for the first time are quizzical. What are you talking about is the look and/or question I get. And then I explain that Jesus could come back today, with the implication being are you ready to meet Him in the air? I will never forget one reaction from a Christian doctor with whom I occasionally interacted. His response was "Well, I certainly hope not! I've got too many things I want to accomplish." I am glad I was sitting down at my desk or I might have fallen down! I'm sure he saw the strange look on my face! It is worth noting that about 1 in every 20-25 New Testament verses directly or indirectly alludes to the Second Coming, to the time when the invisible Kingdom of God becomes visible because the King has arrived. So the Second Coming stirs a longing in our heart, as a Bride longs to see her groom, and motivates a desire to be found pure by Him as John describes in his first epistle... Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope (HOPE IS NOT HOPE SO BUT HOPE SURE! WHAT HOPE? HIS SECOND COMING WHEN WE WILL BE GLORIFIED LIKE HIM) fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:2-3-note) Given the NT emphasis on the Second Coming, we all need to ask ourselves as disciples, "Do I find myself frequently longing for His return and His future Kingdom on earth?" If not, then it may be that you have fallen into the trap described by John MacArthur... On the other hand, those who care little about Christ’s honor and God’s glory, who view Jesus as the means to their own personal fulfillment, have little interest in the second coming. Contemporary evangelism encourages that self-centered perspective. It makes the salvation of sinners the goal and relegates God to being merely the means to accomplishing that goal. But that is the opposite of what Scripture teaches. The glory of God is the goal of redemption, and the salvation of sinners is a means of accomplishing that goal. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Luke 11-17) Will long (1937)(epithumeo from epí = upon, used intensively + thumós = passion) (See noun epithumia) means literally passion upon and so to fix one's passion upon which could be good [Mt 13:17, Lk 22:15 used of Jesus] or bad [1Co 10:6]). Epithumeo describes a strong desire to do or secure something, in this case the Days of the Son of Man. Broadman Bible Commentary - The intense desire of a pilgrim, martyr church will be to reach the destination toward which it moves. Like the Pharisees, the disciples will also be concerned about the end of the age....The whole passage is dealing rather with the problems of a Parousia that does not occur when expected and longed for. And you will not see it - His disciples would not see it signifies that He would not return during their life. However the disciples will see it in the future when they (and you and I will) return with Jesus "following Him on white horses" (Rev 19:14-note, Rev 17:14-note) and He establishes His millennial kingdom (Rev 20:4-note). Steven
Lucas 17
MacArthur asks "How could the world seeing judgment falling all around them, how could the world hearing supernatural preachers preaching the gospel still reject? In fact, in the book of Revelation they actually shake their fist at God, curse Him because they know it’s coming from Him (Rev 16. The world goes on with its busy routines. The world goes on engulfed in its sin. The world rejects all the warnings, all the messages. Jesus said it, that ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Lk 16:31-note) One might ask why in the face of such horrendous judgment, even judgment that the world recognizes as clearly divine, why would continue to be opposed to God and His Gospel? Paul gives us a clue writing that first "they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. (THEY REJECTED THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL - cf 2 Th 1:8) And for this reason (BECAUSE THEY REJECTED THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL) God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth (GOD IS FAIR - THE POINT IS THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THE GOSPEL WHEN THEY HAD A CLEAR OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR AND HEED IT. ONLY THEN WILL THEY RECEIVE THE DELUDING INFLUENCE), but took pleasure in wickedness (THEIR EVIL ACTIONS WILL DEMONSTRATE THEIR HEART'S DEVOTION IS NOT TO GOD BUT TO SELF). (2 Th 2:10-12). So it will be also in the days of the Son of Man - Jesus finishes the comparison. The phrase days of the Son of Man refers to the time period of the end, the days that precede the return of the Son of Man, a phrase used to refer to the Messiah, based on Daniel's description in Daniel 7:13 (see notes). So just as in Noah's day "the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Ge 6:5) in the days of the Son of Man, the depth of depravity of the world will reach a new nadir, an "all time low," a veritable "abyss" (pun intended), "for all the nations (will) have drunk of the wine of the passion of her (Babylon's - cf Rev 17:1-2-note) immorality, (porneia) and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality (porneuo) with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.” (Rev 18:3-note) In the present age, Paul explains that the depth of wickedness is held in check (praise God for that truth!), explaining that "the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way." (2 Th 2:7) Mystery in the context of the NT is not like our English "mystery" (e.g., a "mystery novel") but is divine truth that is hidden but divinely revealed. In the case of the mystery of lawlessness, it is partially revealed but will not attain to its full revelation until the days of the Son of Man. Paul explains that the "Restrainer," the Holy Spirit will be "taken out of the way." In other words in this horrible time, the holy influences of the Holy Spirit which serve to hold back the flood of evil in men's hearts will be removed unleashing a "global flood" (pun intended) of wickedness the likes of which this world has never seen or experienced. And the leader of these days of lawlessness will be the Antichrist (antichristos), the "man of lawlessness" who will be revealed in the days of the Son of Man and will masquerade as the long awaited Christos or Messiah. When do these days of the Son of Man occur? These days correspond to what is commonly called the Tribulation, a seven year period during which God metes out His final judgment on the godlessness of this world. Note that this seven year period is most accurately designated as Daniel's Seventieth Week (see also exposition of Daniel 9:27-note), for the Bible never specifically calls these 7 years "Tribulation," but only refers to the last 3.5 years (synonymous with these other time phrases = 1260 days, 42 months, "middle of the week," and time, times, and half a time) as the Great Tribulation. In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus warns the world (those who have ears to hear!) when this horrible 3.5 year period will begin, giving us a very specific, unmistakable event which no one could possibly miss declaring Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION (THE ANTICHRIST) which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (AS CLEARLY DESCRIBED IN 2 Th 2:3-4-note) (let the reader understand), 16 THEN (TIME SENSITIVE WORD - WHEN IS THEN? VERSE 15 COULD NOT BE STATED MORE CLEARLY! UNLESS OF COURSE ONE TRIES TO INTERPRET IT IN A NON-LITERAL WAY AS IS COMMONLY DONE BY MANY EVANGELICAL THEOLOGIANS!) those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 “Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. 18“Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20“But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. 21 “For THEN (WHEN? CLEARLY THIS REFERS BACK TO Mt 24:15!) there will be a Great Tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will (THIS WAS NOT FULFILLED IN THE HOLOCAUST, WHICH WAS ONLY A PREVIEW OF COMING HORRORS AGAINST THE NATION OF ISRAEL WHEN 2/3'S OF THE NATION WILL PERISH - Zechariah 13:8 BUT PRAISE GOD 1/3 WILL RECEIVE THEIR MESSIAH - Zechariah 13:9!).(Mt 24:15-21-note) The days of the Son of Man - Note that this is not speaking of the Rapture of the Church which I believe will occur before the Day of the Lord begisn (See diagram below). MacArthur comments "This is telling us some very important things about people’s attitudes and life at the time when the Lord will come in judgment. This is is not looking at the Rapture of the church, but is referring to the devastating return of Christ in judgment. In the phrase days of the Son of Man notice that the word days is plural, not just the one great epoch (ED: THE ACTUAL DAY HE RETURNS) but the days and events that make up the time preceding His return, when He comes to judge the world and establish His Kingdom, and so would include that period that we call the Tribulation. During the seven year Tribulation life will be like it was in Noah’s day and like it was in Lot’s day. It is going to be circumstances like in Noah’s day and Lot’s day, judgment like in Noah’s day and Lot’s day and deliverance like in Noah’s day and Lot’s day. What am I saying? Think about it. How was it in the days of Noah and in the day of Lot? Let me just give you a little quick reminder. Genesis 6-8 records the Flood that drown the entire world, the days of Noah. There were millions of people alive at that time. Since creation people lived nearly a thousand years which was plenty of time to proliferate huge families which would fill the earth. When the great Flood came, it drowned the entire world of millions of people and spared only Noah, his wife, their three sons and three wives … eight people survived. That was it, that’s the record of Genesis 6-8. A PROPOSED TIMELINE OF THE DAY OF THE LORD THE CHURCH IS REMOVED BEFORE GOD BEGINS TO POUR OUT HIS WRATH ON THE CHRIST REJECTING WORLD. Heaven and earth fled away (Revelation 20:11-note) V Pre-Tribulation Rapture The Tribulation 70th Week of Daniel (Da 9:27-note) Jesus Returns at end of the 7 Years as King of king and Lord of lords (2) Day of Lord encompasses the Millennium 2 Pe 3:10-note Great White < Throne (1a) Day of the Lord begins > Mid-Tribulation (1b) Day of Lord begins v 1000 Years The Millennial Reign of Christ (Rev 20:4,5,6-notes v4; 5; 6) New Heaven New Earth (Rev 21:1ff-note) 3.5 Years 3.5 Years You will read descriptions in some commentaries that state the Day of the Lord follows the rapture of the church (1a) ("pre-tribulation rapture"- see discussion of when the rapture occurs) (1 Th 4:13-14-note; 1 Th 4:15-16-note; 1 Th 4:17-18-note), the event which most evangelicals feel immediately precedes the last seven years of Seventy Weeks of Daniel, popularly known as the Tribulation, although nowhere in Scripture is this seventieth week of 7 years specifically designated "the Tribulation" (let me know if you find a passage that contradicts this conclusion - remember that "the Great Tribulation" only refers to the last three and one-half years of this seven year period). The alternative inception date is Mid-Tribulation (1b). First, we must understand the basic timing of this last "Seven Year Period" (Daniel's Seventieth Week) which can be divided into two 3.5 year segments, a conclusion based upon study of Da 9:27 (see notes) and an assiduous study of the synonymous time phrases, 1260 days, 42 months, "middle of the week," and "time, times, and half a time." If these specific identical time phrases are not literal times, then we are left to our imagination to attempt to piece this together. I will place my bets on a literal interpretation of God's Word, remembering that there is absolutely no reason to interpret prophetic Scriptures any differently than one would interpret any other Scripture. To say it another way, men have proposed prophecy must be interpreted differently than other passages, but there is no statement by God Himself stating we are to interpret prophecy differently! Daniel records the following prophecy he received from the angel Gabriel in answer to fervent prayer… And he (the Antichrist) will make a firm covenant with the many (the Jews/Israel) for one week (one seven year period), but in the middle of the week (after 3.5 years) he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering (in the rebuilt Jewish temple) and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." (Da 9:27-note) The Lord Jesus quoted from Daniel 9 as He explained the timing of the events immediately preceding His triumphant return because He wanted the Jews (and all mankind) living during the tumultuous time of Daniel's Seventieth Week to have an easily identifiable event that would indubitably signal the beginning of the the Great Tribulation which represents the final outpouring of God's wrath during the last 3.5 years of the Seventieth Week of Daniel… Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION (referring to the Antichrist or some desecrating action he makes) which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet (reference to Da 9:27-note, also in Daniel 11:31, 12:11), standing in the holy place (indicates the Jewish Temple will be rebuilt, cf Re 11:1, 2- see notes Re 11:1; 11:2) (let the reader understand)… there will be a Great Tribulation, (a specific 3.5 year period synonymous with the "Time of Jacob's Distress" in Jer 30:7-note, click other synonyms) such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall… but immediately after the tribulation (the Great Tribulation) of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken, and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky (Sign = the Lord returning on the clouds), and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other." (Matthew 24:15-31-note) Now keeping in mind the timing of this dramatic event described by Daniel and Jesus, read Paul's second letter to the saints at Thessalonica where he addresses the false teaching that the persecution the Thessalonians were now experiencing was part of the great tribulation. He references the same crucial historical event as Daniel and Jesus in order to assure these fearful saints… "Now we request (plead, implore, beg of) you, brethren, with regard to the coming (parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him (Paul refers not to two events but one event - the rapture he had written about in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18-see notes 1Th 4:13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18), that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure (literally "mind") or be disturbed (frightened) (false teaching about the Rapture and the Day of the Lord appears to have had a devastating impact on the Thessalonian saints) either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy (a very specific presumably identifiable time of rebellion against God) comes first, and the man of lawlessness (the Antichrist) is revealed (apokalupto = literally has the veil removed exposing to open view what he had before hidden regarding his evil character. The aorist tense points to a definite time, a specific historical event), the son of destruction (apoleia = ruin not annihilation), who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God (which Jesus referred to as "standing in the holy place"), displaying himself as being God." (2Th 2:1-4-note) When does Paul state that the Day of the Lord will begin? First, he says "the apostasy" will occur. Then he states when and where "the man of lawlessness" will be revealed. Specifically he states that the revelation of the Antichrist must precede the Day of the LORD. Although many favor the Day of the Lord beginning at point (1a) in the above diagram (after the pre-tribulation rapture), when one compare Scripture with Scripture, there is certainly some support for considering the beginning for the Day of the Lord at the midpoint of the 7 Year period of Daniel (1b). Notice that 2 Peter 3:10 teaches that "the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up." This phrase would support the premise that the Day of the Lord is an extended period of time including the judgment of Revelation 6-19, the Millennium in Rev 20:1-10, and ending in Rev 20:11-note which describes a unique time in the universe, Peter declaring that "presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them." How did they "flee away?" 2 Peter 3:10 would be the most logical answer. And this makes wonderful sense, because after God removes the old universe in which sin occurred (even in the Millennial Kingdom - Rev 20:7-10-note), and then removes all those guilty of all the sins committed on the earth (Rev 20:11-15-note), then He will do a new thing, John describing this "new thing" writing "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away (When? 2 Peter 3:10, Rev 20:11-note), and there is no longer any sea." (Rev 21:1-note) Related Resources: 151 pages of articles on pre-tribulation rapture, - Master's Seminary Journal Overview of pre-tribulation rapture - Mark Hitchcock What is the day of the Lord? More on the Day of the Lord Lecture on Revelation, part 4 The Day of the Lord by Jeff Miller The Day of the Lord by A C Gaebelein (1907) The Day of the Lord by Tony Garland When Does the Day of the Lord Dawn? by Tony Garland Question: "What was it like in the days of Noah?" Answer: The biblical account of Noah begins in Genesis 6. Approximately 1,600 years had passed since the creation of Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:26–27). As the earth’s population exploded in number, it also exploded with evil. Long forgotten was the righteous sacrifice of Abel (Genesis 4:4) as “the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). Verses 11 and 12 say, “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.” However, “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (verse 8). 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). Jesus was pointing out that, although the people of Noah’s day were totally depraved, they were not the least bit concerned about it. They were carrying on the events of their lives without a single thought of the judgment of God. Noah is described as “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5), meaning he 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). Many scholars believe that part of the need to destroy every human being except Noah and his family was the sin mentioned in Genesis 6:1–4, when “the Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them.” As evil reproduced and overtook the world, the most merciful act God could perform was to start over. It is interesting that God allowed Noah nearly one hundred years to complete the building of the ark. Through all that time, God patiently waited (1 Peter 3:20). Scripture seems to imply that Noah preached to the people of that time about what was coming (Hebrews 11:7). They did not believe Noah and were content with their wickedness and idolatry. Their hearts were hard and their ears dull. No one repented, and no one cared to seek God. Jesus said that the world will be much the same before He returns to set up His earthly kingdom (Matthew 25:31–33). He warned us to “be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” 2 Timothy 3:1–4 gives us a clear picture of the state of the world before Jesus comes and most likely also describes the world in the days of Noah. That verse says, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” It is becoming increasingly obvious that, to understand what the world was like in the days of Noah, we only need to watch the evening news. Henry Morris -days of Noe. Many of the characteristics of the days of Noah and Lot are indeed recurring today, indicating that the return of Christ may be soon. These include the following: 1. Physical appetites (Luke 17:27) 2. Secularism (Luke 17:28) 3. Disregard of marriage (Matthew 24:38) 4. Uniformitarianism (Hebrews 11:7) 5. Disobedience (1 Peter 3:20) 6. Ungodliness (Jude 15) 7. Unbelief (2 Peter 2:5) 8. Blasphemy (Jude 15) 9. Population increase (Genesis 6:1,11) 10. Hedonism (Genesis 4:21) 11. Technology (Genesis 4:22) 12. Violence (Genesis 6:11,13) 13. Corruption (Genesis 6:12) 14. Sexual Promiscuity (Genesis 4:19; 6:2) 15. Homosexuality (Genesis 19:4,5) 16. Organized Satanic activity (Genesis 6:1-4) (Borrow The Defender's Study Bible) Luke 17:27 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. KJV Luke 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. Luke 12:19,20; 16:19-23; Deuteronomy 6:10-12; 8:12-14; 1 Samuel 25:36-38; Job 21:9-13; Isaiah 21:4; 22:12-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 Luke 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 17:20-37 The Present and Future Kingdom - Steven Cole Luke 17:25-30 7 Characteristics of the Coming King, Part 3 - John MacArthur SECOND COMING: DESTRUCTION AS IN NOAH'S DAY They were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage - There is nothing inherently evil about these activities. The point is that life was going on as usual, with no concern for their eternal destinies. So too, in the end times, there these normal human activities will be occurring. MacArthur - Now how do we define the days of Noah? Well let me just give you a simple definition. They were wicked days. In fact, in Genesis 6:5 it says that all the imagination or the intent of the hearts of man was only evil continually. They were vile. They were evil. Evil was rampant. Evil was dominant. Evil was singular. It was such a wretched and evil period of time that demon-possessed men were ravaging women (see note). It was a culture of demonic possession and it was a culture of sexual abandonment and all manner of wretchedness. So vile that God drowned the entire world. (Seven Characteristics of the Coming King, Part 3) Until - This time sensitive word indicates their normal activities continued up to the point of the day it began to rain. And keep in mind it had not yet rained on the earth. So too the world in the end times will continue, but they will not be indifferent toward God. They will be mad at God! In the Revelation of Jesus Christ (describing the events that precede and surround His Second Coming) we read "And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague *was extremely severe." (Revelation 16:21+). The day that Noah entered the ark (Ge 7:1, 7, 13+) - Notice that Noah was safe from the flood. Even so the Church of Jesus Christ will be rescued from the wrath to come (1 Th 1:10+, 1 Th 4:18+). The rapture will remove believers and then the "rain (and 100 lb hailstones) begins to fall" so to speak as the events in Revelation 6-19 begin to sequentially unfold as God unleashes His full judgment on the sin-loving, Christ-rejecting world. And the flood came and destroyed (apollumi) them all - So just as the global flood destroyed the world, so too the return of Jesus will be marked by global destruction. However, there will be people alive on earth when He returns - both Jews and Gentiles (See Daniel's 70th Week -- column on right of page). Destroyed (622)(apollumi from apo = away from or wholly + olethros = state of utter ruin <> ollumi = to destroy <> root of apollyon [Re 9:11+] = destroyer) means to destroy utterly but not to cause to cease to exist. Apollumi as it relates to men, is not the loss of being per se, but is more the loss of well-being. It means to ruin so that the person (or thing) ruined can no longer serve the purpose for which he (it) was designed (contrast the "purpose" of believers in Eph 2:10+). The Gospel promises everlasting life to the soul who believes. The failure to possess this life will result in utter ruin and eternal uselessness (but not a cessation of existence). Luke uses the verb apollumi three times in this section (Lk 17:27, 29, 33) in relationship to the Second Coming of the Lord. For those who have received Him as Savior and Lord it will be a time of joy and celebration and worship, but for those who have rejected Him, it will be a time of destruction and the beginning of a deep sense of loss of well-being, including the reality that forever one's life will have no purpose or value except to suffer eternal punishment and banishment from the presence of the glory of the Father, the Son and the Spirit (2 Th 1:9+)! THOUGHT - The choice it yours - either RECEIVE JESUS or REJECT JESUS. The consequences of your choice however are not your choice! Here are all of Luke's uses of apollumi - Lk. 4:34; Lk. 5:37; Lk. 6:9; Lk. 8:24; Lk. 9:24; Lk. 9:25; Lk. 9:56; Lk. 11:51; Lk. 13:3; Lk. 13:5; Lk. 13:33; Lk. 15:4; Lk. 15:6; Lk. 15:8; Lk. 15:9; Lk. 15:17; Lk. 15:24; Lk. 15:32; Lk. 17:27; Lk. 17:29; Lk. 17:33; Lk. 19:10; Lk. 19:47; Lk. 20:16; Lk. 21:18; Acts 5:37; Acts 27:34; Luke 17:28 “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; KJV Luke 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; Genesis 13:13+; Ge 18:20,21+; Ge 19:4-15+; Ezekiel 16:49,50; James 5:1-5 Luke 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 17:20-37 The Present and Future Kingdom - Steven Cole Luke 17:25-30 7 Characteristics of the Coming King, Part 3 - John MacArthur SECOND COMING: WARNINGS AS IN LOT'S DAY It was the same as happened in the days of Lot -- How did it happen? Suddenly! The judgment came with some warning, but then the judgment was sudden. The events of the 7 year period preceding the Lord's return will be like a series of repeated warnings to the world. For example we read in Revelation 16:9+ that "Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory." So despite these clear warnings, their hearts will be so hardened against God that they will continue in their evil ways even in the face of judgment. This is much like the men of Sodom who were blinded, but continued to try to rape the angels visiting Lot's house! (Ge 19:11-13+) MacArthur explains "In Genesis 19 you have the story of God’s destruction of the city of Sodom and another city, Gomorrah, and other cities of the plain out at the south end of the Dead Sea. They were all buried under molten lava, fire and brimstone. It was a holocaust from which only three people were delivered … Lot and his two daughters, not even his wife survived because of her sin....There’s another analogy here that is very helpful. Before the Flood, Noah is taken into safety in an ark. Before the fire and brimstone, Lot and his daughters are taken to safety on a mountain. And before the unfolding of judgment,God will rescue His own. And the ark of safety is the rapture of the church, the gathering together of His own and then the judgment begins to be poured out....Noah and his family are caught away, then comes the judgment. Lot and his daughters are caught away (in Ge 19:16+ the angels "seized" their hands and brought them out!), then comes the judgment. In the future, the redeemed and the beloved of the Lord are caught away in those marvelous Rapture passages, we have no hint of judgment, John 14:3+, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18+, 1 Corinthians 15:52+, were caught away and then comes judgment. It is a time of entire devastation. When you have the earth flooded, it is entirely devastated. When you have the area of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah buried under fire and brimstone, it is a time of entire devastation. And when the Lord Jesus comes, He will so devastate this earth that He has to reshape it. This isn’t the final new heaven and new earth, but He reconstitutes it in a Edenic like restoration, that’s why it’s called the period of restoration in Acts 3:21+. (Characteristics of the Coming King, Part 3) They were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building - Yes this is true and the description makes it sound like things were fine in the society, but these were very wicked days. MacArthur - How was it in the days of Lot? Lot lived in a city called Sodom. We have a word today called sodomy. We know exactly what that means. That is a homosexual sin. That is a vile kind of behavior drawn out of that city in the plains south of the Dead Sea. What did God do to Sodom? Buried Sodom under fire and brimstone completely. What kind of people lived in Sodom? Read Genesis 19:1-38 and you will find that when two angels came to visit Lot, the men of that city tried to rape the angels. And when God blinded the men of that city, they still tried to feel their way to smash down the door to get to those angels! That was a vile, wretched place. (Characteristics of the Coming King, Part 3) And so just as the days of Lot were filled with unspeakable evil and the judgment came, so too would those days be like in the future at the end of this age when Messiah returns to judge and destroy the wicked of this world. MacArthur adds "There’s no room in this for a post-millennial view. There’s no room in this for the world getting better and better and better and better. It is not going to get better. It didn’t get better before the judgment fell in Noah’s day and it didn’t get better before the judgment fell in Lot’s day. I don’t know how anybody can be a post-millennialist with that clear teaching of Scripture. It’s going to get worse and worse (ED: NOT BETTER AND BETTER AS THE POST-MILLENNIALISTS BELIEVE!). Evil men will grow worse and worse says the Word of God (ED: cf 2 Ti 3:13-note, cf context = "last days" 2 Ti 3:1-note). (Characteristics of the Coming King, Part 3) Steven
Lucas 17
MacArthur on housetop - In that day if you are on the housetop which in the land of Israel were the patios, the gardens. They put potted plants there and had chairs and places to recline and they enjoyed the outdoors on the patio at the top of the house. They had an outside staircase down to the ground. And the warning is, if you’re up there and you see the judgment precursors, the preliminary judgments begin to come, don’t even go down and inside to get something. Don’t do that. Just get out of there. Judgment is coming. The one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out - To go down and grab one's "stuff" reflects that to which one's heart is devoted! This is the ultimate "heart check up" beloved! Do you love the eternal things of Heaven (especially Jesus - cf 2 Ti 4:8) or the temporal trinkets on earth? That is the "divisive" question of the ages! Jesus was patently clear when He declared that “No one (GREEK WORD oudeis IS NOT RELATIVELY NO ONE, BUT ABSOLUTELY NO ONE) can (dunamai = HAS THE INHERENT ABILITY TO) serve (douleuo in present tense = CONTINUALLY SERVING AS A SLAVE, WITH ONE'S WILL TOTALLY SUBMITTED TO AND ENTWINED WITH THE WILL OF THE MASTER) two masters (TWO LORDS = kurios); for (term of explanation - JESUS EXPLAINS WHY) either he will hate the one and love (agapao) the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise (kataphroneo) the other. You (ABSOLUTELY) cannot serve (douleuo) God and wealth ("mammon" - mamonas). (Mt 6:24+) And likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back - The same principle is seen in this analogy, which is dramatically illustrated by Lot's wife, which Jesus brings up in the next verse. John MacArthur emphasizes that when that day comes, it will be revelatory...The point here is this, when Jesus comes on that day, His coming will disclose where people’s hearts are. This is a warning not to cling to the stuff of this world....In Luke 21:21 Jesus gives a similar warning “In the day when you begin to see the judgment of God on the horizon, we’re going to find out what you really love.” .... If you do go back, it demonstrates what you love. That’s why I say this is revelatory of the heart. “Love not the world neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him,” 1 John 2:15, “And all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world and the world is passing away.” (1 Jn 2:16-17) This is a warning to people to make sure that you put the value where the value ought to be. It would be normally reasonable to say if there was some hurricane coming, go down and get your stuff and get to safety, or if there was a fire sweeping your way and you’re out in a field, run to your house, get the things that are precious and save them. But there is no future for this world in this day. It’s all going to be destroyed. The whole earth is going to be transformed, reconfigured. Nothing of the past needs to be taken into the glory of the Kingdom of God. The emphasis here is not on details but on a general attitude. (Seven Characteristics of the Coming King, Part 4) Luke 17:32 “Remember Lot’s wife. KJV Luke 17:32 Remember Lot's wife. 1 Corinthians 10:6-12; Hebrews 10:38,39; 2 Peter 2:18-22 Luke 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 17:20-37 The Present and Future Kingdom - Steven Cole Luke 17:31-37 Characteristics of the Coming King, Part 4 - John MacArthur Related Passages: Genesis 19:17, 26+ When they (THE 2 ANGELS) had brought them (LOT, WIFE, 2 DAUGHTERS) outside (OF CITY OF SODOM), one said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away.”.....BUT (A TRAGIC TERM OF CONTRAST - FIGURATIVELY IT MEANS "ABOUT FACE" AND THAT IS WHAT SHE DID LITERALLY!) his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. A PILLAR OF SALT SECOND COMING: A WOMAN TO REMEMBER! Remember (keep on remembering - command present imperative see need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) Lot's wife - Jesus gives this warning as a present imperative. The idea is to keep on recollecting what Lot's wife was specifically instructed to do and how she specifically disobeyed. Her disobedience was the outward manifestation of her inner unbelief (cp Heb 3:18, 19+ where "disobedient" parallels "unbelief"). She came out physically, but her heart was still in Sodom. We should shudder to imagine how many today in America's lax style of "churchianity" have joined the church but never been joined to Jesus (Ro 7:4+). Lot's wife is an example of one attached to material things. She could not resist turning around to see what was happening to her home, and as a consequence lost everything (cp Mk 8:35,36+ Lu 14:33+). The Lord Jesus confirms the historicity of the remarkable Genesis account of Lot's wife and indirectly of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah! God's Word is true in every single detail! NET Note - The warning about Lot's wife is not to look back and long to be where one used to be. The world is being judged, and the person who delays or turns back will be destroyed. Paul explains that the mistakes and failures of the people in the Old Testament have incredible value to us if we hear and heed the warnings of their mistakes... Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY.” 8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. (1 Cor 10:6-12) "Lot's Wife's" Pillar at Mt Sodom Remember (recall, bearing in mind) (3421)(mnemoneuo from mimnesko = to recall to one's mind) means to exercise memory, call something to mind, recollect, to pay attention to something and so to be warned as here in Lk 17:32. It is notable that this Greek verb gives us our English word mnemonic which is defined as a device (such as a rhyme or acronym) used to aid recall. It follows that every time we hear of "Lot's wife" we should be warned of the deadly deception of following in her footsteps or more accurately of stopping in her footsteps, so to speak! Lot's wife - Her actions reflected her heart's desire. Do your actions reflect your heart's desire? Is it a desire which is pleasing to the Lord? Genesis 19:17,26; When they (THE ANGELS) had brought them (LOT, HIS WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS) outside, one said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away.(THE WARNING COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ANY CLEARER)” 26 But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt (SEE NOTE). Lot's wife looked back at Sodom and Gomorrah because she loved the world, she loved the things of the world more than she loved God. Jesus warned of the grave danger of a divided heart All through the Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, we find a basic principle relating to personal choice, and this principle deals with our "spiritual vision," or where the "eyes of our heart" are directed. There are really only two choices - either "Vertically" toward the Eternally Existing God or "Horizontally," toward the temporal, passing world (SEE DISCUSSION OF "Vertical Vision"). Clearly Lot's wife had chosen the temporal over the eternal and for that she was destroyed in time and will be destroyed forever in eternity. Isn't life really all about personal choice? We love to say that we defend the right of everyone to make their personal choice (e.g., a woman's right to abort her unborn child). And so yes, like Lot's wife, we all have a choice. And like Lot's wife we may even take a few steps out of "Sodom," and toward God, but tragically we turn around to gaze at what our heart truly loves and we find that it will cost us our life, and we will experience eternal punishment, forever separated from God. Paul describes this fateful, eternally significant choice in his second letter to the Thessalonians writing For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These (LIKE LOT'S WIFE, THEY CHOSE THE WORLD) will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, (2 Th 1:6-9) Jesus describes those like Lot's wife who take a few steps toward God, perhaps praying a prayer to "accept Jesus into their heart" or making a profession that "I am a Christian" (which Barna surveys show upwards to 80% of Americans affirm!) and yet as they move slowly away from "Sodom" they sense the loss and the call to count the cost, and they become like those in the parable of the seed described in Luke 8 6 "And other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 "And other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it, and choked it out. 13 "And those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. 14 "And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. Lot's wife was like the seed on the rocky soil, that took a few steps toward God and the John warns NT readers of the danger of loving this world and issues a strong command... Do not love (present imperative with a negative = Don't start this or stop doing it - see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) the world nor the things in the world. (NOW JOHN EXPLAINS WHY WE ARE NOT TO LOVE THIS WORLD) If anyone loves (present tense = as one's habitual mindset - always earthward, never heavenward) the world, the love of the Father is (absolutely) not in him (I.E., HE IS NOT A GENUINE BELIEVER). 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does (PRESENT TENSE = SPEAKS OF GENERAL DIRECTION OF YOUR LIFE, NOT OF PERFECTIO - THAT WILL ONLY BE POSSIBLE IN GLORY!) the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17+) Criswell - Lot's wife is an example of one attached to material things. She could not resist turning around to see what was happening to her home, and as a consequence lost everything (Ge 19:26+). We see a similar warning passage in the epistle to the Hebrews BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK (hupostello), MY SOUL HAS NO (Greek = absolute negation) PLEASURE (eudokeo) IN HIM. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction (apoleia = not the loss of being as in the false teaching of annihilationism, but the loss of well being, the loss of purpose for which one was created!...to glorify God and enjoy Him forever!), but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:38,39-note) Comment: What does "no pleasure" mean? As is usually the case the context gives us the key to the Biblical answer. Hebrews 10:39 says their end is destruction. John MacArthur comments that the story of Lot emphasizes we are to "Leave everything in this world behind and to point out clearly what He means, Jesus says, “Remember Lot’s wife.” What triggered this statement is probably the “don't turn back” (end of Lk 17:31) Remember Lot’s wife! Remember gives us our word mnemonic, an adjective that means something designed as a device to aid the memory. Lot’s wife was a story of a rigid salt pillar in the mind of every Jew for centuries. She is the archetypal person who was near deliverance, near salvation by escaping to the mountains but was destroyed because she looked back. She looked back because her heart was tethered to this passing world! Look at Genesis 19+ because you can’t remember Lot's wife if you don’t know who she is. Lot had settled in Sodom with his wife and his his two daughters. It was exceedingly sinful. Ge 18:20+ says "The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave," so sinful that it needed to be completely obliterated from the earth and there were not even ten righteous people in the whole area (Ge 18:32-33). Then the two men (GOD SENT TWO ANGELS TO RESCUE LOT)said to Lot, “Whom else have you here? A son-in-law, and your sons, and your daughters, and whomever you have in the city, bring them out of the place; 13 for we are about to destroy this place, because their outcry has become so great before the LORD that the LORD has sent us to destroy it.” 14 Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, and said, “Up, get out of this place, for the LORD will destroy the city.” But he appeared to his sons-in-law to be jesting.15 When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 16 But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of the LORD was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city. 17 When they had brought them outside, one said, (NOTE THE CLARITY, EVEN THE REPETITION OF GOD'S WARNING - THE COMMAND TO ESCAPE IS MENTIONED TWICE!) “Escape (COMMAND) for your life! Do not look (THE HEBREW WORD FOR "LOOK" IS NOT A PASSING, CASUAL GLANCE BUT AN INTENSE GAZE) behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away.” 18 But Lot said to them, “Oh no, my lords! 19 “Now behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your lovingkindness, which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape (COMMAND) to the mountains, for the disaster will overtake me and I will die; 20 now behold, this town is near enough to flee to, and it is small. Please, let me escape there (is it not small?) that my life may be saved.” 21 He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this request also, not to overthrow the town of which you have spoken. 22 “Hurry, escape (TWO SHARP COMMANDS!) there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the town was called Zoar (MEANS LITTLE). 23 The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven, 25 and He overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But his wife, from behind him, looked back (SAME HEBREW WORD AS IN VERSE 17 = NOT A PASSING GLANCE BUT A "PASSIONATE" GAZE, SHE LOOKED BACK "LONGINGLY," YEA, EVEN "LUSTFULLY"!"), and she became a pillar of salt. (NOTICE THAT GOD GAVE HER A CHANCE, BUT SHE CHOSE TO DIE - SHE, LIKE HER DAUGHTERS LATER, HAD ALLOWED HER THINKING TO BE INFLUENCED BY THE CULTURE OF SODOM. WHAT A WARNING TO ALL PARENTS TODAY!) 27 Now Abraham arose early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood before the LORD; 28 and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley, and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a furnace. 29 Thus it came about, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot lived. (Genesis 19:12-29+) NET NOTE - In Ge 19:29+ "remembered," means more than mental recollection. Abraham's request (Ge 18:23–32) was that the LORD not destroy the righteous with the wicked. While the requisite minimum number of righteous people (ten, v32) needed for God to spare the cities was not found, God nevertheless rescued the righteous before destroying the wicked. God showed Abraham special consideration because of the covenant relationship He had established with the patriarch (Ge 15:17-18-note). Yet the reader knows that God delivered the "righteous" (Lot's designation in 2 Pet 2:7) before destroying their world – which is what he will do again at the end of the age. God's removal of Lot before the judgment is paradigmatic (of or relating to a typical example). He typically delivers the godly before destroying their world. (ED: ANOTHER REASON A PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE IS THE MOST LOGICAL TIMING!) (MacArthur continues) Lot's wife was destroyed on the brink of safety. She came close but she could not let go of the world. She was that rocky soil that springs up for a little while but no true repentance there and it dies under pressure (Lk 8:6, 13+). She was that thorny soil, that springs up for a little while, but never bears fruit (Lk 8:7+). The love of the world’s riches choke it out (Lk 8:14+). She belonged to Sodom. Her stuff was there. Her heart was there. She looked back longingly and was destroyed with Sodom. She was a Sodomite. Her heart was there because she loved her sin. She couldn’t forsake the sins she loved. She "loved the darkness rather than the Light, for (her) deeds were evil" (John 3:19+). She loved iniquity rather than righteousness (ED: EXACT OPPOSITE OF JESUS - Heb 1:9+). (Characteristics of the Coming King, Part 4) J C Ryle's comments on Remember Lot's wife are worth remembering (pun intended!): We should observe what a solemn warning our Lord gives us against unsound profession. He says to us, in immediate connection with the description of His second advent, "Remember Lot's wife." Lot's wife went far in religious profession. She was the wife of a "righteous man." (2 Pe 2:7-8) She was connected through him with Abraham, the father of the faithful (Ge 15:6+, Ro 4:11-12+). She fled with her husband from Sodom in the day when he escaped for his life by God's command (cf Ge 19:16+). But Lot's wife was not really like her husband. Though she fled with him, she had left her heart behind her. She willfully disobeyed the strict injunction which the angel had laid upon her. She looked back towards Sodom, and was at once struck dead. She was turned into a pillar of salt, and perished in her sins. "Remember" her, says our Lord — "Remember Lot's wife." 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. We should observe, lastly, in these verses, what a dreadful separation there will be in the professing Church when Christ comes again. Our Lord describes this separation by a very striking picture. He says, "In that night there shall be two people in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left." The meaning of these expressions is clear and plain. The day of Christ's second advent shall be the day when good and evil, converted and unconverted, shall at length be divided into two distinct bodies. The visible Church shall no longer be a mixed body. The wheat and the tares shall no longer grow side by side. The good fish and the bad shall at length be sorted into two bodies. The angels shall come forth, and gather together the godly, that they may be rewarded; and leave the wicked behind to be punished. "Converted or unconverted?" will be the only subject of enquiry. It will matter nothing that people have worked together, and slept together, and lived together for many years. They will be dealt with at last according to their religion. Those members of the family who have loved Christ, will be taken up to heaven; and those who have loved the world, will be cast down to hell. Converted and unconverted shall be separated for evermore when Jesus comes again. Let us lay to heart these things. He that loves his relatives and friends is specially bound to consider them. If those whom he loves are true servants of Christ, let him know that he must cast in his lot with them, if he would not one day be parted from them forever. If those whom he loves are yet dead in trespasses and sins, let him know that he must work and pray for their conversion, lest he should be separated from them by and bye to all eternity. Life is the only time for such work. Life is fast ebbing away from us all. Partings, and separations, and the breaking up of families are at all times painful things. But all the separations that we see now are nothing compared to those which will ha seen when Christ comes again. (Luke 17 Commentary) QUESTION - Why was Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt? ANSWER - Genesis 19 tells the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot, Abraham’s nephew, lived in Sodom with his family. His daughters were engaged to local men. Lot was sitting at the gate of Sodom, the area where financial and judicial transactions took place, when two angels came into town. Lot invited them to stay with his family. After a rather exciting evening, the angels made sure Lot, his wife, and his two daughters left before God destroyed the city (Genesis 19:13). As they fled, the angels warned them, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away” (Genesis 19:17). Lot ran, his daughters close behind. “But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:26). She lagged behind. She turned and watched the flaming sulfur fall from the sky, consuming everything she valued. Then it consumed her. The Hebrew for “looked back” means more than to glance over one’s shoulder. It means “to regard, to consider, to pay attention to.” The Scriptures don’t say whether her death was a punishment for valuing her old life so much that she hesitated in obeying, or if it was a simple consequence of her reluctance to leave her life quickly. Either she identified too much with the city—and joined it—or she neglected to fully obey God’s warning, and she died. We’re fortunate to receive similar warnings. Ephesians 4:22-24 tells us to take off the old self that is ruled by sin and be renewed, putting on the new self that is in the likeness of God. Similarly, 1 John 5:16 says that willful, deliberate sin can lead to death. Lot’s wife wasn’t able to accept that. What she chose to value in her heart led her to sin, which led to her death. The Bible isn’t clear whether Lot’s wife was covered in the salt that rained down with the brimstone or if her remains were dusted with a coating of salt later. But it is interesting that she is described as a “pillar.” The Hebrew for “pillar” refers to a garrison or a deputy, that is, something set to watch over something else. The image of Lot’s wife standing watch over the Dead Sea area—where to this day no life can exist—is a poignant reminder to us not to look back or turn back from the profession of faith we have made, but to follow Christ without hesitation and abide in His love (Luke 17:32). GotQuestions.org QUESTION - What does it mean to “remember Lot’s wife” in Luke 17:32? ANSWER - In speaking to His disciples about a coming time of great destruction, Jesus mentioned what happened to Lot’s wife and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. “Remember Lot’s wife!” He said. “Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it” (Luke 17:32–33). 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), and two angels warned Abraham’s nephew Lot to evacuate the city so he and his family would not be destroyed. In Genesis 19 we read, The two [angels in the form of] men said to Lot, ‘Do you have anyone else here—sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it’” (Ge 19:12–13+). 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!’” (Genesis 19:16–17). As the family fled, “the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens” (Genesis 19:24). But, then, in disobedience to the angel’s command, “Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt” (Ge 19:26+). Lot’s wife lost her life because she “looked back.” This was more than just a glance over the shoulder; it was a look of longing that indicated reluctance to leave or a desire to return. Whatever the case, the point is she was called to desert everything to save her life, but she could not let go, and she paid for it with her life. In Judaism, Lot’s wife became a symbol for a rebellious unbeliever. Jesus cites this story in Luke 17, as He describes a future event: “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it” (Lk 17:28–33). When “the Son of Man is revealed,” it will be time for people to flee. There will be no time to take anything along. If you see the sign when you are on the roof (a rooftop deck with exterior stairs was a common feature of houses at the time), you should not even take time to go into the house to gather up your possessions. You need to get out and “don’t look back.” Lot’s wife is the example of what will happen if you do. If you try to save your life (that is, your things that your life is made up of), you will lose everything. Leave it all to save your life. The scenario is similar to a person who wakes up in the middle of the night to find the house in flames. That person might be tempted to run around and gather up valuable items, but the delay might prevent escape—all the things will be lost, as well as the person’s life. It is better to leave it all behind and get out with your life. The principle is clear, but the exact referent is more difficult to discern. The revelation of the Son of Man is the event in view in Luke 17. Mark 13:14–16 records much the same message without the mention of Lot’s wife. There, the sign is “the abomination that causes desolation” (see also Matthew 24:15–18). Finally, Jesus mentions a similar situation in Luke 21:20–21: “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.” The above passages are open to several different approaches to interpretation, centered on when this will take place. If we are correct that all of these passages describe roughly the same event(s), it would seem that “the day the Son of Man is revealed,” “the abomination that causes desolation,” and “Jerusalem surrounded by armies” all refer to the signal that it is time to flee. Outside of Luke 17, the warnings to flee are found in the context of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (see Luke 21:5–7 and Mark 13:1–4). In Matthew 24:1–3, Jesus also deals with the destruction of the temple, except there the disciples also ask specifically about “the sign of your coming and the end of the age.” So, at least some of the prophecy was fulfilled in the first century with the destruction of the temple, but that does not preclude a future, fuller fulfillment at the second coming. The wording in Luke 17, in which Jesus speaks of the revelation of the Son of Man, certainly seems to suggest the second coming (see Colossians 3:4). Jewish believers in the first century faced persecution from Rome, often at Jewish instigation. As long as Christians were considered a sect of Judaism, they enjoyed religious freedom as Jews. However, as they were denounced by Jewish leaders and no longer considered part of Judaism, the full force of Roman expectations applied to them, including the requirement to affirm the creed “Caesar is Lord” and offer sacrifices to Caesar. If Christians failed to do this, they could be punished, imprisoned, or even killed. As a result, believing Jews faced continual pressure to “go back to the temple.” The book of Hebrews encourages believing Jews to remain true to Christ and not return to the Old Covenant system of the temple, priests, and sacrifices. Hebrews explains that the Old Covenant has passed. There may have been some believing Jews in Judea who still had some attachment to the temple. In Luke 17, Jesus warns that there will come a time when they see a symbol of impending judgment, and they will need to get out of the area as quickly as possible. Just as God rained down wrath on Sodom and Gomorrah, He will judge Jerusalem. The coming wrath is no time for divided loyalties. While many believed that God would never allow the temple to be destroyed, Jewish Christians knew that the usefulness of the temple had passed and its days were numbered. They could stay on in Jerusalem and witness of the resurrected Christ, but when they saw that judgment was about to fall, they knew to get out. Eusebius in his Church History records that they did escape. By abandoning everything and getting out of the city, the Christians not only saved their lives but also gave testimony to the fact that the Old Covenant had been replaced by the New. A similar sentiment is expressed by Jesus in other contexts, although Lot’s wife is not mentioned. Jesus said, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). In context, Jesus is talking about people who want to follow Him but are hindered by their concern for other things. It is not just that they look back, but they have divided loyalties, like Lot’s wife. Jesus also used the statement “whoever wants to save his life shall lose it” in a number of different contexts (Matthew 10:39; 16:25; Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24; 17:33). Regardless of the specifics of the context, following Jesus requires turning our backs on the “life” that this world offers. Attempting to “save your life” is the same as “looking back.” Attachment to our “old life” will cause us to lose our lives, and Lot’s wife is the illustration and example that we would do well to remember.GotQuestions.org Luke 17:33 “Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. KJV Luke 17:33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it Luke 9:24,25; Matthew 10:39; 16:25; Mark 8:35-37; John 12:25; Revelation 2:10 Luke 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 17:20-37 The Present and Future Kingdom - Steven Cole Luke 17:31-37 Characteristics of the Coming King, Part 4 - John MacArthur SECOND COMING: DISCLOSES ONE'S HEART'S DESIRE What has Jesus just commanded? To remember Lot's wife. What did she love? The world. What was she seeking to keep? Her life (and worldly lifestyle)! What did she lose? Her life! Jesus explains the spiritual dynamics that were at play in the heart of Lot's wife, which every disciple needs to take care to hear and to heed. In that day, the day the Lord Jesus returns, every person who seeks to keep their life will be utterly shocked for they will find themselves forever destroyed (apollumi = eternal loss of well-being, of purpose, not loss of being, of person). One might say unless one is willing to lose his live, then he will for certain lose his life! MacArthur comments that Lot's wife above "illustrates the person who has come to the edge of salvation but looks back.. They hold on to the world, they hold on to sin, they keep what they want of this life but they will lose it forever in hell. But if you give it up, which is what lose your life means, then forever you will gain all that heaven has. If you want the best that God has prepared, then you let go of this world and its sin, you give it all up, you take your life and lose it. It’s just exactly what Jesus said in Luke 9:23–25-note,"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must (AN OBLIGATION, NECESSITY TO) deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 25 “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?" The same principle repeated (see verses from Mt 10, etc) to hate yourself, hate your mother, hate your father, hate your friends and relatives, even your money and possessions, because none of it means anything to the one who truly sells all to embrace Christ. Escape to the Savior Alone Who can save you from judgment. So when that day of judgment comes, it will be clear to everybody where hearts are. That’s why I say, it will be revelatory. It will reveal the condition of the heart. Have a prepared heart for a time of judgment. (Characteristics of the Coming King, Part 4) Whoever seeks (zeteo) to keep (peripoieomai) his life will lose (apollumi) it -- Keep > lose. Lose > keep! These paradoxes are emphasized by the Lord Jesus often in His teaching, so clearly is a truth He wants everyone to hear and heed. Jesus' sobering statement begs the question from every thoughtful reader/hearer -- What am I seeking in life? What am I desiring to possess? What am I striving for in this short span of existence on earth? Everyone who has concern for their eternal destiny needs to give serious, careful attention to these questions. And if you need some motivation, then here is the mnemonic, Remember Lot's wife! Steven
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MacArthur comments of two in one bed, presumably picturing a husband and wife - "It is the most divisive thing because you live in two completely different worlds with two completely different loves and two completely different motivations. That’s true now. Some of you experience that every day of your life because you’re alienated from your own children, you’re alienated from your own spouse, you’re alienated from your own parents, you’re alienated from the friends and the people you associate with and you’re terminally alienated, and eternally alienated because you are in Christ and they are not. You possess eternal life and they do not. And the price you’ve had to pay for your commitment to Christ is the loss of that intimacy to a very significant and serious degree." One will be taken and the other will be left - In short the return of Jesus will be divisive. We have already seen in the comparison to the days of Noah and Lot that the day of divine judgment brings division and eternal separation. So too, the day of divine judgment associated with the return of Jesus will bring a division and the logical conclusion is that the division will be between believers and non-believers. The question of course is who is taken and who is left. There is considerable disagreement among commentators as to who constitutes each group, and I will give my measured opinion. However, the most important point is not so much the identity of the taken and the left but the fact that Jesus' return will bring about a moment of division in relationships which will last for eternity. The point is that there will be an unbridgeable separation, between spouses, parents and children, friends, casual acquaintances, etc. All mankind will be radically impacted by the fact that some are taken and some are left. Regardless of their specific identities, it is crystal clear that their will be a point of separation, which for some will yield eternal good and for others will yield eternal bad. That's the main point of Jesus' words. And frankly, when one meditates on that truth as a believer, our hearts should be deeply stirred to desire to be passionate and persistent (in the Spirit) to share the Gospel clearly with EVERYONE God gives us even a small opportunity "to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence." (1 Peter 3:15). Life is short. Eternity is long. This moment of division is permanently fixed. THOUGHT - Father, fill us with a sense of urgency and with the Holy Spirit so that we might speak the word of God with boldness and proclaim the King of the Kingdom of God while today is still called today and before the night comes when no man can work. In Jesus' mighty Name. Amen.(Acts 4:31, Heb 3:13a, John 9:4) Annie Walker, an eighteen-year-old girl, saw the urgency of the hour in 1854. After reading the Lord’s words in John 9:4, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work,” she quickly penned the well-known hymn, “Work for the Night is Coming.” The night of this world is soon approaching. Christian friend, be like Ezekiel whom God set as a watchman in his day: hear the Word of God, and warn the people to turn back to God (Ezek. 33:6-8, 9)! Play this great hymn, Work For the Night is Coming asking God to may it the passion of your heart in these last days. Amen Work, for the night is coming, Work thro' the morning hours; Work while the dew is sparkling, Work 'mid springing flow'rs. Work when the day grows brighter, Under the glowing sun; Work, for the night is coming, When man's work is done. Work for the night is coming, Work thro' the sunny noon; Fill brightest hours with labor-- Rest comes sure and soon. Give every flying minute Something to keep in store; Work, for the night is coming, When man works no more. Work for the night is coming, Under the sunset skies: While their bright tints are glowing, Work, for daylight flies. Work till the last beam fadeth, Fadeth to shine no more; Work, while the night is dark'ning, When man's work is o'er. Now let's analyze the taken and the left in more detail. If we look at the examples of Noah and Lot, it seems that the ones that were left on earth were those who were saved from destruction. On the other hand, it seems the ones that were destroyed were in effect taken away from earth. If we compare Matthew's use below of the same verb for taken (paralambano), it would seem to support the premise that the one taken is destroyed and the one left is safe. Paralambano is used twice in a this parallel passage in Matthew which is also in the context of the Second Coming of Jesus (cf Mt 24:30) where Jesus says “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away (however note that they verb here is airo, not paralambano); so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 "Then there shall be two men in the field; one will be taken (paralambano), and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken (paralambano), and one will be left." (Mt 24:38-41) The ones destroyed by the flood in verse 39 are described as being taken away by the flood. It would follow logically that even though the verbs took and taken are not identical, certainly the actions are identical. And so in the Matthew version the most logical conclusion is that in Mt 24:40-41 the ones that are taken (from the field, from the grinding mill) will be taken to judgment and death. The ones left will be left to enter the blessings of the millennial kingdom. Now this still does not resolve who is taken and who is left in the Luke passage. I will mention some other commentator's interpretations below, but perhaps the safest approach is to not be dogmatic. NET Note - There is debate among commentators and scholars over the phrase one will be taken and the other left about whether one is taken for judgment or for salvation. If the imagery is patterned after the rescue of Noah from the flood and Lot from Sodom, as some suggest, the ones taken are the saved (as Noah and Lot were) and those left behind are judged. The imagery, however, is not directly tied to the identification of the two groups. Its primary purpose in context is to picture the sudden, surprising separation of the righteous and the judged (i.e., condemned) at the return of the Son of Man. Taken (3880)(paralambano from para = beside + lambano = appropriate, receive) means to receive from another, to receive alongside or to take to oneself (into close association). There are two basic ideas - to take or to receive and in this context the sense is clearly taken. In John 14:3 where Jesus refers to the Rapture paralambano means to take with one in order to carry away, but could also convey a sense close fellowship and agreement associated with the receiving to Himself. This division at the Second Coming should not be a surprise, because even His first coming brought division. Jesus clearly stated that one of the effects of His first coming would be division, especially notable in families... "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two, and two against three. "They will be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." (Luke 12:51-53-note) As alluded to in the previous verse it is clear that there is not a consensus on who is taken and who is left. Some sources like the ESV Study Bible say that the one taken means "One is caught up to be with Christ, while the other is left." On the other hand John MacArthur comments "The question arises as to what it means to be taken and left. Some have related this to the rapture, but a comparison with Matthew 24:37-41 and its illustration of God taking people away in the flood makes it clear this is judgment. In both cases then, the one taken is destroyed in judgment, while the one left behind, obviously a true believer in Jesus Christ, escapes judgment to enter the kingdom. The Lord illustrated this same principle in the parable of the wheat and tares (Matt. 13:24-30) and the analogy of the sheep and goat judgment (Matt. 25:31-46). (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Luke 11-17) Henry Morris on the other will be left - The return of the Lord, like His first coming, will entail many events stretched over a period of time. It will be initiated by the sudden translation of believers out of the unbelieving world, as described more fully in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:10. Thus the Lord frequently exhorted His disciples (including us) always to be watchful and ready for His coming (Luke 21:36), an admonition which would be pointless under any other interpretation of such Scriptures. (Borrow The Defender's Study Bible) Steven
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MacArthur - This verse appears in Matthew 24:40, it is in all the manuscripts, the ancient manuscripts in Matthew 24:40, it is not in the older manuscripts in Luke, it got imported, we understand that, that’s why it’s put in brackets here. Somebody, some scribe along the way, maybe writing it down by memory, threw the Matthew line in here in addition to what was in the original Lucan text. But it is true what it says in verse 36, is exactly what it says in Matthew 24:40, it just doesn’t belong here. Luke 17:37 And answering they said to Him, “Where, Lord?” And He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered.” KJV Luke 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. Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered Job 39:29,30; Daniel 9:26,27; Amos 9:1-4; Zechariah 13:8,9; 14:2; Matthew 24:28; 1 Thessalonians 2:16; Revelation 19:17,18 Luke 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 17:20-37 The Present and Future Kingdom - Steven Cole Luke 17:31-37 Characteristics of the Coming King, Part 4 - John MacArthur SECOND COMING: BRING JUDGMENT AND DEATH And answering they said to Him, “Where, Lord?” - Where what? He has just stated taken...left twice, so some writers think their question might be taken where? Others propose their question might refer to where would this separation, this judgment take place? Still others think the question is more general and refers to where would His return take place? Steven
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MacArthur writes "Unable to grasp the scope of the judgment Jesus described, the disciples said to Him, “Where, Lord?” Failing to comprehend that the Lord’s coming would trigger a worldwide judgment, they wanted to know the specific location of this event." Leon
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MacArthur explains the vultures - Vultures are scavengers, and will feed on the corpses of those killed in the judgments associated with the second coming. Wherever in the world the bodies of the unregenerate lie and the vultures gather will be where Christ has been in judgment. Those who fail to heed the warnings of imminent judgment and reject the Son of Man will be caught in that judgment and will not enter the millennial or the eternal kingdom.