Instantaneous Judgement: Luke 17:26-37
“26) And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 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. 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; 29) but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30) It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31) On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back.” Luke 17:26-31
Jesus uses two illustrations of judgement to describe His second coming. In both cases people were warned about their sinful ways, but did nothing to change or repent.
Such was the case in the days of Noah and the days of Lot. People ignored the warnings and became greedy in sinful living. They threw restraint to the wind and lived as if God did not exist. They were eating, drinking, marrying, partying, buying, selling, planting and building . It was life as usual on steroids. Everything seemed normal.
The warnings of Noah and Lot fell on deaf ears. They were mocked as lunatics, until judgement abruptly came. Then it was too late. The wicked were consumed.
From this text we discover the sober truth that the second coming of Jesus Christ will be a day of judgement on the world. It will be swift and harsh. The ungodly will be gathered and thrown into the wine press of the wrath of God. (See Revelation 14:14-20)
When it happens, it will be instantaneous just as in the days of Noah and Lot. The ungodly will perish with death and destruction.
The picture Jesus painted was one of surprise, bewilderment and chaos. It will be a time of worldwide judgement. There will be no escape for the wicked and unbelievers.
Notice verses 34-36. Many people will be standing or working together and one will be taken and another left. Many scholars do not view this as the rapture of the church, but rather the gathering of the ungodly for judgement according to Revelation 14:14-20. It is hard to argue against that view according to this context.
Don’t be double minded. Don’t be like Lots wife who wanted God and the world at the same time. When the grape clusters of the ungodly are gathered, it will happen in the flash of an eye. It will be instantaneous. There will be no escape!
I take these warnings from Jesus to heart. This warning of this judgement is woven throughout the entire Bible. The Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
Turn in your Bible and read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6. Paul was giving the same warning of events that will accompany the second coming that Jesus was painting in this context.
This is a message we seldom hear. Take a moment and replay in your mind the instantaneous nature of the flood of Noah’s day and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. That is the picture Jesus is emphasizing in this text. Something very similar is about to happen.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“26) And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 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. 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; 29) but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30) It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31) On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back.” Luke 17:26-31
Jesus uses two illustrations of judgement to describe His second coming. In both cases people were warned about their sinful ways, but did nothing to change or repent.
Such was the case in the days of Noah and the days of Lot. People ignored the warnings and became greedy in sinful living. They threw restraint to the wind and lived as if God did not exist. They were eating, drinking, marrying, partying, buying, selling, planting and building . It was life as usual on steroids. Everything seemed normal.
The warnings of Noah and Lot fell on deaf ears. They were mocked as lunatics, until judgement abruptly came. Then it was too late. The wicked were consumed.
From this text we discover the sober truth that the second coming of Jesus Christ will be a day of judgement on the world. It will be swift and harsh. The ungodly will be gathered and thrown into the wine press of the wrath of God. (See Revelation 14:14-20)
When it happens, it will be instantaneous just as in the days of Noah and Lot. The ungodly will perish with death and destruction.
The picture Jesus painted was one of surprise, bewilderment and chaos. It will be a time of worldwide judgement. There will be no escape for the wicked and unbelievers.
Notice verses 34-36. Many people will be standing or working together and one will be taken and another left. Many scholars do not view this as the rapture of the church, but rather the gathering of the ungodly for judgement according to Revelation 14:14-20. It is hard to argue against that view according to this context.
Don’t be double minded. Don’t be like Lots wife who wanted God and the world at the same time. When the grape clusters of the ungodly are gathered, it will happen in the flash of an eye. It will be instantaneous. There will be no escape!
I take these warnings from Jesus to heart. This warning of this judgement is woven throughout the entire Bible. The Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
Turn in your Bible and read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6. Paul was giving the same warning of events that will accompany the second coming that Jesus was painting in this context.
This is a message we seldom hear. Take a moment and replay in your mind the instantaneous nature of the flood of Noah’s day and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. That is the picture Jesus is emphasizing in this text. Something very similar is about to happen.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
