The Coming of the Kingdom

Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” And He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. They will say to you, ‘Look there! Look here!’ Do not go away, and do not run after them. For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 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. 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; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 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. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.” And answering they *said to Him, “Where, Lord?” And He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered.” Luke 17:20-37

The Pharisees were questioning Jesus about the coming of the Kingdom. They obviously expected some fanfare. Jesus said, no, there is no inaugural parade. No coronation. Actually, the Kingdom is here. Now. Jesus' first advent was as an ordinary human with an extraordinary work to do. The Pharisees were thinking second advent prophecies, which they were not seeing.

Jesus understood their confusion. He knew His own disciples would hear rumors and false reports about His second advent, after He was ascended. Don't fall for it. When it happens, everyone will see. Like lightening. That is second advent. The return of Christ in glory. Before then, several things must happen: He would "suffer many things" and the Jews would reject Him.

There will not be a global alert, regarding the second advent. Just as it was in Noah's day, normal activities will continue day by day, even though those who have the Word are constantly proclaiming it. The general population is ignoring the message and going on about their business. Then the flood came, just as will the return of Jesus Christ for His own. Likewise, Lot. The citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah were only interested in satisfying their lusts, and were busily doing just that, when the fire and brimstone began to rain down.

Certain individuals will be "snatched out" of the earth, and others will remain. When Jesus returns for His own, it will be too late for unbelievers to "tie up loose ends." They'll know what has happened, because we have continually warned them about it. There will be no question in that day, where the Lord has arrived. That's where the "vultures" will be gathered. At Armageddon. The site of the great final conflict of Jesus Christ, the LORD of the Armies, against Satan and his unbelieving hordes.

There are times and seasons; dispensations, in the plan of God. All were decreed before the foundation of the earth. Israel rejected the Messiah at His first advent. He knew they would, but He provided for them and the gentiles by His perfect propitiation for all our sins. He's coming back. Some will be awaiting His return, others will be taken by surprise, because they are not interested in the Plan of God, but in their own personal and political agendas. They have been and will be continually warned. They are without excuse. His first advent is history. His second advent has been foretold, in detail. He's coming back. Be ready.