Luke 17:20-37

Conditions in the World
Just before Jesus returns

20] And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: [21] Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. [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. [23] And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. [24] For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. [25] But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. [26] And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. [27] They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. [28] Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; [29] But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. [30] Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. [31] In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. [32] Remember Lot's wife. [33] Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. [34] I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. [35] Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. [36] Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. [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.

20] And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: [21] Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

• The Pharisees were looking for the first coming of the Messiah to set up a physical kingdom and to free them from their physical enemy, Rome. Jesus knew this and told them that the “kingdom” would not be a visible, physical kingdom (not with observation). Jesus wanted to establish a spiritual kingdom that would free people from their spiritual enemy Satan. His kingdom was to change the “inner lives” of men, not their outer condition. His kingdom would free men from their sinful lives, by changing their hearts (“the kingdom of God is within you”).

[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. [23] And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. [24] For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

• Jesus told his disciples that soon the time would come when they would desire to see Him, but would not be able. During that time others would try to make it appear that he had come back and would attempt to get them to follow them, but the disciples were not to go after them or follow them. Then Jesus makes it very plain, that when He really comes back it will be no secret, but everyone will see him like they see the lightning that shines across the heavens.

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

• Jesus now tells the disciples that before he would come back, he would have to suffer and be rejected by his own people.

[26] And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. [27] They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. [28] Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; [29] But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. [30] Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

• Now, Jesus begins to describe the condition of the world at the time when He will return. The world condition was compared by Jesus to the days of Noah, when God destroyed men because of their great wickedness by a worldwide flood. Next Jesus compares the condition of the world to Sodom which God destroyed with fire and brimstone from heaven. So the warning sign will be great wickedness in the world, just before Jesus returns the second time. Except for the condition of wickedness, the world will appear to be doing the things it has always done; eating, drinking, buying and selling, building and planting and marrying. Thus only those who know what “wickedness” is, will be ready and watching for the return of Jesus. Wickedness or sin is described by God’s Law, so only those who know God’s Law or Ten Commandments will be able to recognize “wickedness” or sin and know that the coming of Jesus is near.

[31] In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. [32] Remember Lot's wife.

• After describing how the great wickedness of the city of Sodom in Lot’s day was ended by God when He destroyed the city with fire and brimstone from heaven, Jesus now warns that there will be similar conditions again just before He returns. At that time we must be willing to “leave everything behind” and leave the wicked cities. Lot’s wife was told not to “look back,” but she looked back at the wicked city of Sodom and God took her life by turning her into a pillar of salt. We are to turn our back to sin and follow God and He will provide for our needs. Jesus was telling us with His illustration of “not returning to take our stuff,” that we must be willing to depend entirely on Him and not ourselves.

[33] Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. [34] I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. [35] Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. [36] Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. [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.

• Now Jesus attempts to tell us how serious the situation will become in the last days just before He returns. He describes how some people try to save their physical life but by doing so will lose eternal life. Other people are willing to lose their physical life but by doing so will receive eternal life. Then, using three different situations, Jesus makes it plain to us that the “issues” will concern rest (bed), food (grinding) and work (in the field) and that the lives of both men and women will be at stake (the body where the eagles (vultures) are gathered together).

• In Revelation 13:11-18 the Bible describes a power to arise in the last days just before Jesus returns, which will attempt to force men and women to worship in a certain way. It will refuse to let anyone buy or sell unless they worship that way. It will put to death anyone who refuses to worship in that certain way. This power is referred to as “the beast” and has the number 666 associated with it. This must be the “power” that Jesus is warning us against, as we compare the two Bible passages.