Bible Study series: Luke 17:20-37. This is about his one and only Second Coming. You will look in vain for a secret rapture before the Second Coming.
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I also translate to learn. The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click here:
In the next link to the original chapter, I comment more and offer the Greek text. At the bottom you will find a “Summary and Conclusion” section geared toward discipleship. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Luke 17:20-37
20 When he was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he replied to them, saying, “The kingdom of God does not come with observable signs, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or there!’ For look, the kingdom of God is among you.”
22 He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will yearn to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look there!’ or “Look here!’ But don’t leave, nor pursue it. 24 For just as flashing lightning shines from one end of the sky to the other end of the sky, so will be the Son of Man in his day. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
26 And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They were eating, drinking, marrying, and married off, until the day Noah went into the ark and the flood came and destroyed everyone. 28 Likewise, just as it happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, and building. 29 And one day Lot left Sodom, and fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed everyone. 30 And in accordance with those things it will be on the day when the Son of Man will be revealed.
31 In that day, whoever will be on the roof and his equipment is in the house, let him not come down to get them; and the one who is in the field let him likewise not turn back to the things behind him. 32 Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it; whoever loses his life shall preserve it. 34 I say to you: On that night two will be in one bed, and the one will be taken, and the other will be left behind. 35 Two women will be grinding at the same place, and one will be taken, and the other will be left.” 37 And in reply, they said to him, “Where, Lord?” And he said to them, “Where the body will be, there the vultures will also gather. (Luke 17:20-37)
Comments:
See my post:
Luke 17:22-37 and 21:34-36 Teach the Second Coming
Actually, start here:
Matt 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 and 17 in Parallel Columns Are Finally Clear
Here is a summary post:
What Jesus Really Taught about End Times
20:
“Pharisees”: You can learn more about them at this link:
Quick Reference to Jewish Groups in Gospels and Acts
They were the Watchdogs of Theology and Behavior (cf. Garland, p. 243). The problem which Jesus had with them can be summed up in Eccl. 7:16: “Be not overly righteous.” He did not quote that verse, but to him they were much too enamored with the finer points of the law, while neglecting its spirit (Luke 11:37-52; Matt. 23:1-36). Instead, he quoted this verse from Hos. 6:6: “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matt. 9:13; 12:7, ESV). Overdoing righteousness damages one’s relationship with God and others.
“kingdom of God”: Here it is the already and not-yet. The kingdom has already come in part at his First Coming, but not yet with full manifestation and glory and power until his Second Coming. Jesus is now teaching about his Second Coming.
Bible Basics about the Kingdom of God
Questions and Answers about Kingdom of God
Basic Definition of Kingdom of God
1 Introducing the Kingdom of God (begin a ten-part series)
“was coming”: the Greek is in the present tense: when the kingdom of God is coming. This tense reflects the Pharisees’ belief and wish (perhaps) that Jesus would finally manifest himself in full military might to overthrow the Romans and all Israel’s enemies. However, he is about to reveal to them that the kingdom is among or within them: in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Then this will launch a description of what the coming of the Son of Man will really be like. But since we are in a narrative, “was coming” is better.
“observable signs”: it is the noun that appears only here in the whole NT. And it means simply: observation. I add “signs” because in Luke 11:29-32 the people were asking for a sign, probably like the ones Moses performed in Exodus. Or maybe they wanted bread from heaven. Whatever the case, it had to be observable. So if you want to translate the noun simply as “by observation,” then that is okay too.
21:
“nor will they say”: They will say it, but it won’t be right. So you could translate it thus: “nor will they (correctly) say.” That’s the implication.
“among”: the Greek preposition is entos, and the Shorter Lexicon says that in Luke 17:21 (here) it may be “within you, in your hearts, or among you, in your midst.” The editors of the lexicon also say that it is an “improper preposition with the genitive,” which probably means it should be used with the dative. But here in this verse it is the genitive. So the editors seem baffled.
In any case, how should it be translated here? The kingdom is within you or among you? The translation “within you” is a problem because Jesus is addressing the Pharisees, and they are not said to have the kingdom within them. Just the opposite. In many verses he said they were not entering the kingdom and were even denounced (see, for example, Luke 11:37-54; 18:9-14). The kingdom cannot be within them. The better translation is “among you” or “in your midst.” The kingdom is standing in front of them, through the person and teaching and works of Jesus. To see the kingdom coming, look to him.
But make no mistake: today, the kingdom being among and within speaks of relationship. Are you willing to receive it? If so, then you have to receive Jesus. For now, however, his kingdom is the secret kingdom, which, as noted, is not here in full manifestation, glory and power. It is easy to miss it and him, as he truly is.
22-37:
I have a commentary on these verses, here:
Luke 17:22-37: Taken Away = Rapture?
For here and now, let me say that this entire pericope (pronounced puh-RIH-koh-pea) or section or unit is not about a separate, pretribulation rapture, because the ones taken will be destroyed because the vultures will be gathered around them, the corpses. Jesus will be revealed (v. 30) at the powerful and glorious and visible Second Coming (v. 24), at the exact moment when oblivious people lived like they did in the days of Noah and Lot (vv. 26-30). At the glorious and earth-shattering (so to speak) Second Coming, people will be taken off to judgment like the oblivious people were in the Old Testament days, or they will be rescued like Noah and Lot were. There is no intervening separate rapture. This notion has to be sneaked into this pericope. These verses tell us what the coming of the Son of Man will not be like, as much as they tell what it will be like (flashing lightning visible to all).
The ideas of In the days of Noah and Lot and Sodom are easy to explain. It means extreme and intense social degradation. Why did Jesus not say it plainly? Because everyone knew the back story. No need to spell it out and contaminate a solid teaching.
In light of that above brief comment, let’s now ask the GrowApp discipleship questions.
GrowApp for Luke 17:20-37
1. How do you prepare for the Second Coming? Does Jesus give us any clues in this passage how to live or not live your life?
2. Please read 1 John 3:2-3. How does hoping for the Second Coming purify you? What are practical steps you can take?
RELATED
11. Eyewitness Testimony in Luke’s Gospel
3. Church Fathers and Luke’s Gospel
14. Similarities among John’s Gospel and the Synoptic Gospels
1. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Introduction to Series
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND MORE
To see the bibliography, please click on this link and scroll down to the bottom. You will also find a “Summary and Conclusion” for discipleship.
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 