Think of the last days in light of this. In other places the disciples asked Jesus questions. Here he speaks to the public as a result of a demanding question by the Pharisees. People in Israel felt that when the Messiah came he would set up his kingdom and destroy all other nations as he ruled on this throne. They misinterpreted Old Testament scriptures and missed the point of sin. Other nations were enemies. We have nations we consider enemies of the U.S. They also consider us their enemy. There are Christians in every nation, but every nation is an enemy of God. That’s why Jesus told us to pray thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. The Pharisees wanted all other nations destroyed but did not want to deal with their own sin. Jesus answered them but spoke first of the days before the coming of the son of God.
Luke 17:20 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.
When will the kingdom come? The Pharisees wanted to know what to look for and when they should really be concerned about it. First God will take his people out in the rapture and then clean up Jerusalem. The Jews don’t get a free ticket just because they are Jews. Jesus cut no slack in speaking to the Pharisees. At one time he told them they were of their father the devil. This was all because of their sin.
Jesus said The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. It won’t be observable when it happens. Jesus will clean house first. That’s why there are seven years of tribulation when the wrath of God will be poured out. After the Battle of Armageddon Jesus will set up his kingdom.
There will only be 12,000 Jews from each of the 12 tribes in the millennial kingdom. Man wants a free ticket but this comes only through Jesus Christ. He said the kingdom of God is within you. The Samaritan woman told Jesus that the Jews said God must be worshipped in the temple at Jerusalem but the Samaritans believed he was worshipped on the mountain. Jesus told her that God is worshipped in spirit and in truth. He can be worshipped anywhere.
As soon as Adam and Eve sinned everything became the enemy of God. Animals became the enemy of men. The ground is against us. The bugs are awful. These are the curses of sin and have to be dealt with. Why it takes seven years is God’s business. What he does with each judgement will back the devil in a corner. Afterward Satan will be bound and cast into the bottomless pit for 1,000 years. Later on he will be cast into the lake of fire forever.
Jesus said 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. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. Plainly put, the day will come when people will beg for one more chance to hear a message from God or a song about the Lord, but Jesus said he won’t be around. Once the trumpet sounds the age of grace is closed. If Jesus comes tonight we won’t be missed that much for a while. Then people will want to go back to the time we were here but it will be too late. I’d love to hear mom and dad’s voice again, but it won’t happen in this lifetime. Imagine that same type of feeling if a person is lost and they desire one more day of the Son of Man. The two witnesses who preach in Revelation will preach the gospel of the kingdom to the Jews and the 144,000 will be saved. The day of the Gentile–us–is now.
Verse 24 states 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. We’ve all seen lightning in the sky. Sky to ground lightning is powerful. That’s how quick and spectacular and powerful the coming of Christ will be. When it happens the Bible says one will be taken and the other left. Two working, two sleeping….one taken, one left. A bolt of lightning comes quick and that’s how Jesus will come.
Before that happens verse 25 says But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. Jesus will suffer. The first time he came it was for us–to die for sin. Those who are ready–they’ve been saved–he’ll take with him in the rapture. When he appears the Bible says we shall be like him. These present days are scary but they should also excite us to know that Jesus is coming soon.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 