It Starts As An Ordinary Day…

1. Context: Responding to Jesus
2. Important Definitions
   1. Kingdom of God
      1. Jewish expectations varied
      2. The reality
      3. It will come in stages
   2. Son of Man (Ezek. 2:1, 3; Dan. 7:13; Matt. 8:20; 11:19; Mk. 8:31; 16:42; Lk. 7:34; 19:10)
3. Jesus Responds to the Pharisees’ Misunderstanding (Lk. 17:20-21)
   1. The kingdom is already, but not yet
   2. The Kingdom of God is not an outward, observable entity (v. 20)
   3. The Kingdom of God was already present in Jesus & was actively being rejected (v. 21)
4. Jesus Alerts His Disciples (Lk. 17:22-37)
   1. Be watchful in light of Jesus’ sudden & unexpected return
   2. The delay before the Son of Man returns will include rejection (vv. 22-25)
   3. The days leading up to coming of the Son of Man (vv. 26-30)
      1. Compared to the days of Noah & Lot (Gen. 6 & 19)
         1. Life will proceed normally (vv. 27a, 28a)
         2. God’s judgment came suddenly & without warning (vv. 27b, 29a)
         3. Crucial to be ‘in/with the family’
   4. The day of the Son of Man’s coming (vv. 24, 30-37)
      1. A time of God’s judgment
      2. Cosmic visibility
      3. Judgment will be total & swift
   5. Instructions on vigilance (vv. 31-37)
      1. Embrace the kingdom today
      2. The critical maxim (v. 33)
      3. Judgment will accompany the coming of the Son of Man (vv. 34-35)
      4. Where? Where the corpse is, there the vultures will be (v. 37)
5. Application
   1. Stay alert & don’t waste time trying to figure out when Jesus will return
   2. Don’t travel heavy
   3. Don’t be fooled by those who think they ‘know’

20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

22 He said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, & you will not see it. 23 They will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes & lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. 25 But first he must suffer many things & be rejected by this generation. 26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating & drinking & marrying & being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, & the flood came & destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot - they were eating & drinking, buying & selling, planting & building, 29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire & sulphur rained from heaven & destroyed them all — 30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, & likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken & the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken & the other left.” 37 They said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” (Luke 17:20-37)

1. Context: Responding to Jesus
   • “The preceding section [Lk. 17:1-19] dealt with forgiveness, faith, & gratitude - responses to the presence of God in the midst of God’s people.” (Alan Culpepper, The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary Vol. VIII, Luke John, p. 273)
   • “This section [Lk. 17:20-37] turns to the nature of the Kingdom & warnings to the disciples as they await its coming.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 273)
   • “[Luke 17:20-37] Is a remarkable section, found only in Luke…This is the clearest account in the Gospels of…Jesus’ second coming, uncomplicated by any link with the destruction of the temple…” (R. T. France, Teach the Text: Luke, p. 528)
2. Important Definitions
   1. Kingdom of God
      1. Jewish expectations varied
         • “Jewish expectation held that the kingdom would come as part of the day of the Lord & that cosmic signs would welcome its arrival. The kingdom's coming tended to be portrayed in two ways. Some treated its arrival in prophetic terms, which meant that it would come within the normal movement of history. God would raise up a Messiah from the seed of David or from some other origin to deliver the nation. Others spoke in more apocalyptically oriented imagery about a figure who would come from above with heavenly signs & great power. The Old Testament used both sets of images. Thus, a question about the kingdom's coming was a natural one. If the later history of the Pharisees is any guide, they tended to downplay the more apocalyptic side of this imagery but still anticipated God's powerful deliverance one day in the future.” (Darrell Bock, The NIV Application Commentary: Luke, pp. 450-1)
         • “The Pharisees express the misunderstanding that the kingdom of God denotes a specific, identifiable future event...Jesus' reply refuses to allow God's kingship to be tied down in that way. It is not the sort of future happening whose timing can be calculated by looking for signs & Preparatory events.” (R. T. France, Op cit, p. 523)
         • “When Jesus is asked by the Pharisees about the kingdom of God…undoubtedly underlying their question was the popular belief about the kingdom, that is, the hope for a political redeemer through whom God would bless & exalt Israel above the nations.” (Craig Evans, Understanding the Bible: Luke, 251)
      2. The reality
         • The Kingdom of God is a realm in which God rules & to which those who trust him belong (Lk. 6:20; 11:20; 17:20-1)
      3. It will come in stages
         • “For Luke, the kingdom comes in stages. Some of its blessings come now with Jesus - the offer for forgiveness, the initial defeat of Satan in Jesus ministry & at the cross, & the provision of the Spirit after his ascension. This expression of kingdom presence manifests itself in the church community…But another phase of kingdom authority is future...Jesus addresses…[that aspect] in verses 22-37. That kingdom phase does not come with signs & represents the completion of the kingdom program of God. God will then show his power, his saints will be vindicated, & justice will be accomplished. It will be a period of joy or despair, depending on how one is related to the Lord. In the interim, we are called to lose our lives & to offer ourselves to the Lord's service in ways that honor him. Many go on with life as if the Lord will never return, but we must serve him with an awareness that he will return at any moment, a day that means disaster for those who do not know him.” (Darrell Bock, Op cit, p. 456)
   2. Son of Man (Ezek. 2:1, 3; Dan. 7:13; Matt. 8:20; 11:19; Mk. 8:31; 16:42; Lk. 7:34; 19:10; Jn. 3:14; 6:53)
      • “This title [son of man] was used in the OT in two different ways, first, to refer to a mere human being (see esp. Ezekiel, where it is used over 90 times referring to Ezekiel), & second, to refer to the son of man in Dan. 7:13, who is a divine being dwelling in heaven with the Ancient of Days. When people heard Jesus use the term ‘son of man’ for himself, they had to decide which type of ‘son of man’ he was. Technically he was both, but it took faith to believe he was like the ‘son of man’ in Daniel. At the end of Jesus’ ministry, when he claimed to be this heavenly ‘son of man’ predicted in Daniel’s vision, his opponents said he had committed blasphemy.” (ESV Study Bible, Dan. 7:13 note)
      • “In view of Jesus’ persistent use of ‘the Son of Man’ as a self-designation, it cannot now refer to a figure other than himself.” (R. T. France, Op cit, p. 523)
3. Jesus Responds to the Pharisees’ Misunderstanding (Lk. 17:20-21)
   • “The Pharisees apparently desire to know the cosmic signs preceding the coming of the kingdom so that they can be sure not to miss it. Jesus replies that the kingdom will not come in ways that can be observed (a phrase that translates a Greek word paratērēsis that occurs only here in the entire Bible). In light of vv. 21–37, Jesus apparently means that the arrival of the kingdom of God will not be accompanied by spectacular signs in the heavens but rather that the kingdom will come quietly, evident only in the change in people’s lives.” (ESV Study Bible note)
   • “The Pharisees ask Jesus about the coming of the kingdom, & Jesus responds that they do not understand the nature of the kingdom.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 273)
   • “The Pharisees were looking for the re-establishment of the old Davidic kingdom so they ask Jesus when the kingdom would come. Jesus replied, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed…’ The kingdom was standing in their midst in the person & work of Christ! They thought that their careful, cultured expertise in observing every phenomenon would assure them of seeing the kingdom before others did. The problem was not due to any lack of signs. Jesus had done numerous miracles. But recognizing Jesus as Messiah, seeing the kingdom, was a matter of inner revelation & divine sight.” (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: Luke, p. 622)
   1. The kingdom is already, but not yet
      • “...vv. 20-21 begins with a question posed by the Pharisees: When will the kingdom of God come?...These sayings hold the tension between the present reality of the kingdom where Jesus is present & the coming fulfillment of the kingdom when the Son of Man comes.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 273)
   2. The Kingdom of God is not an outward, observable entity (v. 20)
      • “Jesus…rejects the Pharisees' preoccupation with the timing of the kingdom’s coming. The Pharisees have not understood the nature of the kingdom. Apocalyptic prophets & writers purported to reveal the signs that would precede the cataclysmic coming of God's reign on earth & God's vindication of the faithful Israelites. Jesus cut the ground from beneath any such speculations: ‘The kingdom of God is not coming with things can be observed.’” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, pp. 273-4)
      • Something observable “(Gk. parateresis). The empirical observation of astronomical or physical phenomena - the movements of planets & signs of illness, or changes in the weather…The coming of the kingdom is discerned by faith, not by empirical observation.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 274)
      • “To the Pharisees’ question, Jesus responds…Not only will the coming of the Kingdom not be preceded by observable signs, but also such phenomena will not even accompany the coming of the kingdom. So, when the kingdom does come, others will not say ‘Here it is’ or ‘There it is.’ Indeed, the kingdom is already among you.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 274)
      • “It is possible that the Pharisees not only ask when the kingdom will come, but what signs will accompany its arrival.” (Darrell Bock, Op cit, p. 450)
      • “Jesus begins his reply by noting that the kingdom does not come with signs to be observed…[He] is challenging the idea that the kingdom's coming is marked with some cosmic display. The Pharisees' expectations needed changing. They will not need to point here & there & announce that they have found it, because the kingdom is ‘in their midst’ or ‘within their reach.’ Jesus' point is that the kingdom's hope is present in his presence. All efforts to determine where it might be located or a waste of energy, given its proximity.” (Darrell Bock, Op cit, p. 451)
   3. The Kingdom of God was already present in Jesus & was actively being rejected (v. 21)
      • “...verse 21 teaches that the initial manifestation of the kingdom has come with Jesus' ministry. The Pharisees do not need to look for the kingdom’s coming in the sky, because it is already here in him! If they would just consider all the evidence all around them that portrays the presence of God's delivering power, they would not be wondering where to look. As Luke has said in various ways, the time of fulfillment is present in Jesus ( 4:16-30; 7:22-28; 9:1-6; 10:18; 11:20; 16:16).” (Darrell Bock, Op cit, p. 452)
      • “Whereas the kingdom of God is ‘among them,’ suggesting a present reality, there yet remains a futuristic dimension…the return of Jesus, the Son of Man. It is with this return that vv. 22-37 are concerned.” (Craig Evans, Op cit, 252)
      • “The kingdom of God…is in the midst of you, in the person of Jesus & in the reign of God manifested in those who are already following Jesus.” (ESV Study Bible note)
4. Jesus Alerts His Disciples (Lk. 17:22-37)
   1. Themes
      1. Be watchful in light of Jesus’ sudden & unexpected return
         • “Curiosity about where history is headed can be a fascinating topic. It does not take long to see how interested many are in the future. The popularity of astrology & the fascination in figuring out biblical prophecy can testify to the power of trying to determine what the future holds. But this text is serious in claiming that such exercises in the end are speculative enterprises. In fact, Jesus does not give any eschatological text so we can figure out when he will return. The texts exist to exhort us to keep watch, to call us to faithfulness, to indicate that the end will be difficult for many, & to remind us that we are all accountable to the God who will one day manifest his awesome power in judgment. Jesus' only intent is to make clear an end is coming & to reveal its general outlines so his saints will stay alert.” (Darrell Bock, Op cit, p. 455-6)
         • “[vv. 22-37] contains admonitions for watchfulness because the Son of Man will come suddenly & unexpectedly.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 274)
      2. ‘Days of the Son of Man’ leitmotif
         • “Verses 22-37…form a carefully structured rhetorical unit that warns of the urgency of decisive action & preparation for the coming of the Son of Man. The leitmotif of the unit is ‘the days of the Son of Man.’ This leitmotif echoes the prophetic warnings about the coming ‘day of the Lord’ (Isa. 13:6; Ezek. 30:1-4; Joel 1:15; 2:1; Amos 5:18; Zeph. 1:14-16; Zech. 14:1).” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 274)
           • “A leitmotif is a short, recurring musical theme or repeating artistic phrase that is associated with a specific person, place, idea, or situation.”
         1. Leitmotif in film & media
            • In movie soundtracks, a leitmotif acts as a sonic ‘name tag’ for a character. A famous example is ‘The Imperial March,’ which plays in Star Wars whenever Darth Vader appears.
         2. Leitmotif in literature & art
            • Broadly speaking, a leitmotif can be a recurring theme, image, or idea that runs through a novel or an artist's body of work.
   2. The delay before the Son of Man returns will include rejection (vv. 22-25)
      • “The plural ‘days’ [v. 22] is used here to focus attention on the distress that Jesus' followers will experience. Singling out ‘one of the days of the Son of Man’ is a way of heightening the disciples’ longing for even a taste of deliverance. The force of the opening statement is to warn the disciples of the coming distress. Their suffering or persecution will be so severe that they will long for deliverance & yet their deliverance will not come.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 274)
      • “In vv. 22-25, there will be a delay. Jesus will not return for a long time. In the meantime the disciples are to be vigilant, waiting with expectation, but not fooled by those who say, ‘There’ or ‘Here.’ The people who rejected Jesus are very much like those who will be living when Jesus returns.” (Craig Evans, Op cit, 252-3)
      • “One of the days probably means they will long to see a day when Jesus has already returned to the earth & is with them again, but some take it to mean they will long for the time when Jesus was with them on earth. You will not see it because he will no longer be on earth & will not yet have returned.” (ESV Study Bible note)
      • “Verse 25…anchors this apocalyptic discourse in the context of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem, where he will be arrested & killed.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 275)
   3. The days leading up to coming of the Son of Man (vv. 26-30)
      1. Compared to the days of Noah & Lot (Gen. 6 & 19) - there were no warnings or signs for them
         1. Life will proceed normally (vv. 27a, 28a)
            • “A general comparison between the events is signaled…life will proceed normally prior to the coming of the Son of Man, just as it did in the days of Noah & Lot…The lists [of activities] describe ordinary activities & noticeably refrain from characterizing the wickedness of the antediluvian [pre-flood] people or of Sodom & Gomorrah.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 275)
            • “Eating & drinking is not a description of specific evils in the days of Noah & Lot. It means, rather, that life went on as normal, & people were caught unprepared.” (ESV Study Bible note)
         2. God’s judgment came suddenly & without warning (vv. 27b, 29a)
            • “These people are compared to the people in the days of Noah…life went on as usual…These unprepared people…perished when the day of judgment came upon them.” (Craig Evans, Op cit, 253)
            • “The principal points of comparison in [vv. 26-30] are the sudden judgment that brings the ordinary activities of life to an end & the impossibility of escaping God's judgment.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 276)
         3. Crucial to be ‘in/with the family’ (e.g. Noah’s family –symbolizing God’s people)
            • “The two examples [Noah/Lot] are parallel…Life went on…then judgment came. For one it was the flood, for the other fire & sulfur. But to be outside the family [e.g. Noah’s family] that day was to face instant judgment.” (Darrell Bock, Luke, p. 291)
            • Luke “wants to teach the right way to interpret Christian life…Luke 17:33 urges [us] “to be ready…to leave everything when the Parousia arrives…The reality of the eschatological coming of the Son [motivates] the faithful to have a behavior contrary to conduct…focused exclusively on the worldly reality. The advice not to get attached to goods, the critical attitude regarding wealth throughout the Gospel has now found the eschatological motivation in Luke 17:33: to be ready for the coming of Christ which could happen at any time.” (Iulian Faraoanu, “Day of the Son of Man & its anticipation (Luke 17:26-30),” International Letters of Social & Humanistic Sciences, Vol. 67 (2016) p. 8)
   4. The day of the Son of Man’s coming (vv. 24, 30-37)
      1. A time of God’s judgment
         • “Jesus compares the nature of the Messianic judgment to the flood in the days of Noah (Gen. 7) & to the days of Lot at Sodom & Gomorrah (Gen. 19), two great periods of judgment against humanity. Just as they did then, people will engage in the affairs of life with little attention to God…Both comparisons picture the absolute finality of God's judgment. The days of the Son of Man will be like those ancient days of judgment. The idea that there is a second chance on the judgment day is a myth as far as the Bible is concerned.” (Darrell Bock, Op cit, p. 452)
         • “[The day when the Son of Man] will be revealed seems to take the place of the general Jewish expectation of a climactic ‘day of the Lord’ when evil is defeated & God’s people are vindicated.” (R. T. France, Op cit, p. 523)
      2. Cosmic visibility
         • “...[T]he disciples should not be deceived by apocalyptic hysteria. When the Son of Man comes he will not appear in just one locale, here or there; it will be like a flash of lightning that is visible everywhere.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 275)
         • “Jesus indicates that the expected day of the Son of Man's coming in power is a day [his disciples] will long for but will not see. That is, the powerful display of that day is still coming. The days of the authoritative manifestation of the Messiah are not yet here. Even though many are saying, ‘here it is,’ or ‘there it is,’ Jesus warns them not to follow such claims. When the Son of Man comes, it will be visible & obvious, like lightning flashing across the sky. One crucial event must proceed all of this…the suffering of the Son of Man.” (Darrell Bock, Op cit, p. 452)
         • “When [the Son of Man comes], we will not need to work hard to figure that out. It will be as visible to all as lightning in the sky. The important thing is to be ready & to be on the correct side. The authority of the Son of Man in his return is a good reason to respond to [his] call…now, before that day arrives.” (Darrell Bock, Op cit, p. 456
         • “In Luke 17:22-37, the return of the Son of Man to earth will take place instantly & in a way that is obvious to all (17:24). It will come after the Son of Man suffers (17:25).” (Darrell Bock, A Theology of Luke’s Gospel & Acts, p. 401)
         • “Believers should not follow people who claim that Jesus has come in a secret or hidden way, for he will come in a way that is dramatic and visible to all.” (ESV Study Bible note)
         • “The coming of the kingdom, inaugurated by Christ’s return, will be as bright, unmistakable, & sudden as lightning; just as lightning lights up the sky, all will see it.” (ESV Study Bible note)
      3. Judgment will be total & swift
         • “To underscore how total & swift the judgment will be, Jesus notes that people will not have time to grab things out of their houses to take with them as they attempt to flee. Nor can workers in the field go home to recover possessions. There will be no time to look back or retrace steps. That is why Jesus urges the disciples to remember Lot's wife…If the world is not careful, they will not be prepared for the Judgment when it comes, being too tied to the things of earth to hear the voice of God.” (Darrell Bock, Op cit, pp. 452-3)
   5. Instructions on vigilance (vv. 31-37)
      1. Embrace the kingdom today
         • “The imminence of the Son of Man's coming…makes decisive action imperative. Only those who seize the present moment to embrace the kingdom will be spared when the Son of Man comes. The urgency of the moment is driven home by further similitudes of disaster that evoke elements of the preceding analogies. As it was in the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah there will not be time for any concern other than the preservation of life.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 276)
      2. The critical maxim (v. 33)
         • “Let go of the world’s possession, so we can put our trust in Jesus.” (R. Kent Hughes, Op cit, p. 624)
         • “Persons who spend their lives seeking security will ultimately lose their lives, while those who lose their lives (metaphorically) in the pursuit of God's kingdom, bringing release to the captives, sight to the blind, & freedom to the oppressed, will save their lives.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 277)
         • Luke “wants to teach the right way to interpret Christian life…Luke 17:33 urges [us] ‘to be ready…to leave everything when the Parousia arrives…The reality of the eschatological coming of the Son [motivates] the faithful to have a behavior contrary to conduct… focused exclusively on the worldly reality. The advice not to get attached to goods, the critical attitude regarding wealth throughout the Gospel has now found the eschatological motivation in Luke 17:33: to be ready for the coming of Christ which could happen at any time.” (Iulian Faraoanu, “Day of the Son of Man & its anticipation (Luke 17:26-30),” International Letters of Social & Humanistic Sciences, Vol. 67 (2016) p. 8)
      3. Judgment will accompany the coming of the Son of Man (vv. 34-35)
         • “The examples in v. 31 emphasize that there will be time for nothing but decisive action to save one's life. The point of [vv. 34-35] illustrates the judgment that will accompany the coming of the Son of Man.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 277)
         • “There has been a growth industry in writing books based on passages like this one. ‘One will be taken, & the other left’; some have assumed that being ‘taken’ in this sense means being snatched up to ‘heaven’ to be with God, leaving the others behind to survive in a frightening world from which all the true believers have been removed. That's not what the passage means, though; it's actually the other way around. The people who are taken are the ones in danger; they are being taken away by hostile forces, taken away to their doom.” (N. T. Wright, Luke For Everyone, p. 155)
      4. Where? Where the corpse is, there the vultures will be (v. 37)
         • “It probably means simply that, just as people from far away can see vultures circling high in the air, Christ’s return in judgment will be visible & predictable. A similar view is that the vultures suggest the widespread death that will accompany the return of Christ to judge those who have rejected his kingdom. In either case, it will be impossible for people not to see & recognize the return of Christ.” (ESV Study Bible note)
5. Application
   1. Stay alert & don’t waste time trying to figure out when Jesus will return
      • “Jesus does not give any eschatological text so we can figure out when he will return. The text exists to exhort us to keep watch, to call us to faithfulness, to indicate that the end will be difficult for many, & to remind us that we are all accountable to the God who will one day manifest his awesome power in judgment. Jesus' only intent is to make clear an end is coming & to reveal its general outline so his saints will stay alert.” (Darrell Bock, Op cit, p. 455-6)
   2. Don’t travel heavy
      • “Philosophies of progress…want to convince you that earth is your home, & they will try to persuade you that earth can be made into heaven.” (C. S. Lewis, Weight of Glory, pp. 7-8)
   3. Don’t be fooled by those who think they ‘know’

Appendix

Rapture & the ‘days of Noah’ Luke 17:26-37 (Matt. 24:37-44)

Some evangelical Christians argue, based on these passages, that the "one taken" is raptured to be with Christ, while the "one left" is left behind (not raptured) to face tribulation. Others argue that, based on the "days of Noah" analogy, the "one left" is preserved like Noah's family, while the "one taken" is swept away as people outside Noah's family were destroyed by the flood at Noah's time. So, which is it? Is it better to ‘be taken’ or to be ‘left behind’?

• “The context of the ‘left behind’ passage in both Matthew & Luke includes a comparison with Noah & the great flood (Matt 24:37-39; Lk 17:26-37). As in the days before the flood when people were living life as usual, so it will be when the Son of Man returns. He will come at a time when people are unaware &, like those during the days of Noah, they will be swept [taken] away. It is clear from the Genesis account that the flood was brought upon the earth to judge its rebellious inhabitants. Similarly, the Son of Man will return when people least expect. Some will be taken away like those [taken/swept away] in the flood but others will be left behind & experience salvation similar to that of Noah and his family.” (Benjamin Merkle, "Who Will Be Left Behind? Rethinking the Meaning of Matt 24:40-41 & Lk 17:34-35," Westminster Theological Journal, Vol. 72 (2010) p. 174)
• “The…Matt 24 & Luke 17 passages…demonstrate that the sayings of Jesus concerning one being taken away & one being left behind are couched in a prophecy that stresses God's judgment. Similar to the days of Noah, Lot, & the destruction of Jerusalem, so it will be when the Son of Man returns. Many, because they are unprepared, will be taken away to destruction, whereas those left behind will receive grace & salvation.” (Benjamin Merkle, Op cit, p. 174)
• “There is little doubt that Matthew views those who were killed by the flood as being "taken away. ‘For as in those days before the flood they were eating & drinking, marrying & giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, & they did not understand until the flood came & took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. (Matt 24:38-39 NASB). Matt. 24:39 states that the flood came & "took away" (ήρεν) the people. Although this verb is different from the "taken" (παραλαμβάνεται) in vv. 40 & 41, the proximity of these phrases strongly suggests that they are parallel. Supporting this view Gundry notes, "But Matthew's parallelistic insertion of ήρεν [‘taken’] in 24:39, where judgment is in view, makes the ‘taking’ judgmental in his gospel. Hence, being ‘left’ means being spared from, instead of exposed to, judgment." (Benjamin Merkle, Op. cit., p. 177)
• In Luke’s account “‘One will be taken’ in judgment. Since judgment is the sole emphasis in the total passage this must be the meaning here. ‘The other will be left’ to the happy union with the returning Son of Man.” (Summers, Luke, p. 205)
• “This…is confirmed by the OT reference to Noah & the flood. Genesis 7:23 states, "He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground…Only Noah was left (LXX, κατελείφθη), & those who were with him in the ark [of Noah]." In this text…being left behind is contrasted with being killed or judged by God. The people on earth were taken by God & thus blotted out. But Noah & his family were left behind & received God's mercy.” (Benjamin Merkle, Op. cit., p. 178)

The question

Jesus compares His coming to the days of Noah & Lot. In the two examples that follow (two in the field, two at the mill, two in a bed), who is "taken" & who is "left"?

A different question: is reading B a pretribulation rapture?

Not necessarily. Pretribulationists themselves hold three positions on these verses:

• Judgment: Walvoord, Feinberg, Showers, Ryrie, Geisler. Matt 24:29-31 is already the posttrib Second Coming, so vv. 36-44 cannot be a separate rapture.
• Believers gathered at the Second Coming: Glasscock (Moody Gospel Commentary, 1997, pp. 476-77). Burer (Dallas) finds the salvation imagery strongest without committing to a pretrib rapture.
• Pretrib rapture: John Hart (Moody Bible Institute). He argues that peri de in v. 36 marks a new event, that paralambanō echoes John 14:3, and that "left" is not language God uses of believers.

Scholars who changed their minds

• R. T. France: salvation (TNTC, 1985) → judgment (NICNT, 2007).
• Robert Gundry: rapture (The Church and the Tribulation, 1973, p. 138) → judgment (Matthew commentary, 1994, p. 494).

Bottom line

Evangelical scholars are divided. Neither reading is a consensus, and the split does not follow the pre/post-trib line. What all sides share is the point Jesus draws: "Watch therefore" (Matt 24:42), because the hour is unknown.

Compiled from B. L. Merkle, "Who Will Be Left Behind?" WTJ 72 (2010): 169-79, and J. F. Hart, "A Defense of the Pretribulational Rapture in Matthew 24:36-44." Both argue a side; page numbers come from their footnotes. Verify against the original works before citing.

Ask one person to pray at the beginning of your meeting.

Check-in

Check in with each other about how everyone is doing.

Bible Reading: Luke 17:20-37

Sermon Summary:

When Jesus returns will we be ready, or more importantly, ask yourself, ‘will I be ready?’ One thing that won’t help us be ready is if we merely focus on ‘when’ he will return or what ‘signs’ might precede his return. What he warns his followers of is for them to be watchful & faithful, & to live in this manner in the mundane, ordinary days of life. Prior to Jesus’ return everyone will be eating, drinking, marrying, going to work & school, & planting & building. What are we to be aware of as we do these things? That if we aren’t careful, they can tether us to earth in such a way that we are not ready for his return. So, don’t focus on knowing when Jesus will return, but focus on living today in relationship with him so when he returns you will embrace him & leave all temporary things behind.

Discussion:

1. Many Christians spend time trying to figure out when Jesus will return & what might happen beforehand. Why do you think they do that? What’s in it for them? If you had such a focus & were alive in Jesus’ day, what do you think he would say to you?
2. Read Gen. 6:1-7 & 19:1-10. Prior to God’s judgment in both cases, what kind of evil was going on? Why didn’t Jesus point to these things in Luke 17, but rather focused on the ordinary daily lives of his followers? Why the different emphases?
3. How easy is it for you to be distracted from living for Jesus in your ordinary day? Is that distraction sometimes connected to your hand being too tightly attached to ‘things’ or being worried about the life your future self will live? If so, speak about that to your group.
4. It needs to be pointed out that the things listed in vv. 27 & 28 are not inherently evil. But it also must be acknowledged that those non-evil things can also entangle us in the affairs of this life in unhealthy ways. What habits have you built into your daily life that help you remain focused on Jesus?
5. Talk about the help you’ve personally received by regularly attending & participating in church, & by being with other believers in order to keep your eyes on Jesus.

End with Prayer.

• Pray for a heart that longs for Jesus’ return.
• Pray for one another’s concerns.

This week's set list:

Praise – Elevation Worship

The Joy – The Belonging Co.

Revelation Song + Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me + 'Tis So Sweet

'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus (Trust In Jesus)