BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 49

Is the End Near?

Luke 17:22-37

Prophecy is fascinating. It also can become addictive. Many years ago I got caught up in reading about the end times, especially through the writings of Hal Lindsey and others. At that time they had the whole rest of history mapped out in easy to understand steps. They very carefully explained the role modern weapons played in the end time events. While I still have an interest in knowing what the Bible has to say, I have come to the point where I can accept the words out of the mouth of Jesus in Matthew 25:36 where He speaks of the fact that the only being in the whole universe who knows when it will all come to a climax is God the Father. Jesus emphasized this in the Acts 1 when He told the disciples not to worry about what was to come but to get on with the task of sharing the gospel once they had received power from the Holy Spirit.

What in a way brought me back to reality was a radio broadcast that I heard. In that message the announcer was explaining how the Pope was going to fulfill prophecy by the things he was planning to do. The only problem with what program presented was that the pope had been dead about six weeks when that particular installment was aired. Having said all of this I do believe that there signs all around us pointing to the possibility that the time is very short until the return of Christ.

Even though Christ may not return in our life time, it is important for the Church to always be prepared as if this is the last day. Because people are dying without Jesus Christ every moment there needs to be a sense of urgency in the sharing of the gospel. Sadly, we often act as the people to whom Peter was writing who said that nothing is changed over all these years so what is the rush. If Jesus has not returned in all this time many have the attitude that He is not coming at all. This is dangerous position for the church to take. We are called to be watchmen warning people of the impending disaster.

Luke 17:20-21

The passage in Luke 17 beginning in verse 20 is a panorama is the rest of history from the time of Christ to His return. His discourse begins in response to a question put to Him by the Pharisees. They had no interest in the coming kingdom but trying to demean Jesus. What they actually meant was, why should we believe that you are the coming Messiah when all you have is a lowly group of followers who would not be able to defeat if the smallest force of the Roman army. His response was to indicate that those who were hostile towards Him as they were would never have the experience of having the kingdom of God within them. They had rejected the opportunity to know Him or His Father by their total disregard for His teachings.

The second point He made went against all they believed the Messiah would be. They were expecting a king who come and sit on the throne of David and release them from the oppression they felt under the rule of the Romans. Jesus indicated that the kingdom that He was setting up was to be a spiritual one in which God was to rule in the hearts of men.

1. What were the Pharisees seeking with their question? (To destroy Jesus’ credibility with the people.)

2. Why would the question be valid one concerning the coming kingdom? (It did not appear that Jesus had much of an army.)

3. What kind of kingdom did they expect? (A descendant of David restoring the kingdom.)

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4. What had Jesus done to give an indication He might be the Messiah? (He had done just the opposite of what they expected.)

5. What kind of kingdom was Jesus talking about? (The reign of God in the hearts of the people.)

6. How had the Pharisees missed the working of God in their hearts?

Luke 17:22

The Pharisees were not alone in thinking that Jesus was about to establish an earthly kingdom. In Acts 1:6 they asked Him, “Lord is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel? Jesus had to remind them once again it was not for them to know when the final events were going to occur. They were to wait for empowering of the Holy Spirit and then they were to preach the gospel in all places. Acts 1:7-8. As He had told them in John, He was going away.

In His absence they were going to face difficult times in their lifetime. There would be times when they would long for the days of having Him leading, teaching and protecting them from the perils to come. He indicated to them that physically He would no longer be their for them.

1. What did the disciples expect to happen?

2. Why was it important for Jesus to once again as He had done in John 13:33 share that He was not going to be with them much longer? (It would destroy in notion that He was about to set up an earthly kingdom?

3. How does this verse in Luke compare with what was said in Acts 1:7-8?

4. What would make the disciples long for the days when Jesus had walked with them on this earth?

Luke 17:23-24

Jesus told the disciples that between the time of His departure and His return there would be false messiahs deceiving many people. The disciples were warned they would come and to follow them. They of all people should have been able to spot those teaching false doctrine. Unlike the false teachers, Jesus will return when least expected. In the same way that the lightning is seen over a wide area everyone will know when He returns.

1. What was the warning Jesus gave to His disciples?

2. What do false messiahs try to do?

3. What makes a man or woman a false prophet?

4. What will show the prophet for who He is? (Jesus proclamation concerning His own return.)

5. How can you be careful that you do not be deceived by false prophets? (By knowing the teachings of Jesus.)

Luke 17:25

Jesus then returned to the present. Once again He spoke of suffering at the hands of His enemies and the rejection He would experience by those who had followed Him around and had benefited from His ministry. They would turn their backs on Him and be part of the crowd that demanded His death.

1. Why did Jesus again speak of His suffering and rejection? (To keep the disciples focused on the events that were about to take place right before their eyes. After all was over they would remember that Jesus had told them everything that would occur.)

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2. How could those who seemed to receive what Jesus said and watched Him heal many people turn against Him?

3. Why is the generation in which we are living rejecting Jesus?

4. If they art not on what are they turning their backs and why? (It is more about the church rather than Jesus.)

Luke 17:26-27

It is interesting that Jesus used two different examples to show what was happening at the time God brought judgment on them. The first described conditions existing during the one hundred twenty years that God waited on the people to repent before He brought the flood on them. He did not talk about how evil they were but the fact that they were living a life wrapped up in their own interests.

There is no indication that they worshipped God during that whole time. Because they were totally living a godless life they did not heed the warning that Noah gave them of impending doom. When disaster came upon them it was sudden and unexpected in the same way that there will be many who will be caught by surprise by the coming of Christ.

1. Why did Jesus use the time of Noah as an example of His own return? (The same conditions will be in existence when He returns.)

2. What was wrong with what was taking place in during the time of Noah? (On the surface nothing. These practices on their own are not evil. The problem was all of their activities were done excluding God.)

3. In what ways do we go about our lives excluding God?

4. What can we expect by living that way?

Luke 17:28-29

The second example of judgment came during the time of Lot to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. In Luke only Sodom was mentioned because it was the home of Lot. Although the narrative found in Genesis 18 and 19 is familiar Ezekiel provided some of the underlying reasons that Sodom was destroyed which fit in with the words of Jesus. He said, “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom; she and her daughter had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me.” (Ezekiel 16:49-50)

Because of their sins, the day Lot left God brought judgment upon them in the form of fire and brim-stone.

1. How much was the climate in which Lot found himself like that of Noah’s day?

2. What was the normal day of a Sodomite like? (See Ezekiel 16:49-50)

3. What was similar in the way that God dealt with both of them? (It was sudden.)

4. In what way were the people without excuse? (Both had been warned of the impending doom.)

5. In what ways has God warned us of those who continue to reject Him?

6. Why was both Noah and Sodom spared? (They were righteous men.)

Luke 17:30-32

Jesus said that His coming would be just like what happened to the people described above. When Jesus comes man is not to think about the things of this life. He needs to be ready for the arrival of Christ. At that time everything else is meaningless. Jesus gave the example of Lot’s wife who was unable to turn loose of the way of life found in Sodom and paid for that attraction to the past that she paid for it with her life.

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1. Why had Jesus told the stories? (His return would be just as sudden.)

2. Why did He talk of not going to retrieve things?

3. Who did not follow the advice given by Jesus?

4. What was the consequences of her actions?

5. What do you think you would do if given warning that you had a short time to remain on this earth?

Luke 17:33

If this life is more important than one’s relationship with Father then eventually he will face judgment and loss of eternal life. Conversely, those who only live to please God will have eternal life. Paul said best in Galatians 2:20 when he wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I live , but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

1. In what ways do we live that would show others that this world is more important to me than the next?

2. What does it mean to lose your life to gain it?

3. How do you interpret Gal. 2:20?

4. How does it parallel what Jesus said in Luke 17:33?

5. What are you willing to give up to gain eternal life?

Luke 17:34-36

Jesus presents three scenarios showing what will happen at the end of time that reinforce what He had just said. When He returns there will be:

• Two in bed one will be taken the other left behind.

• Two women grinding and one will be taken the other left.

• Two men in the field one will be taken

The term used for what has just been said is the “Rapture” It is the point when all followers will be taken off the earth to meet Jesus when He appears the first time. The second will be when He begins His thousand year reign on the earth.

1. What picture is painted by the three incidences?

2. What is the term now used to described that event?

3. What does the word rapture mean?

4. What are you doing to guarantee that you will be part of the “Being taken away?”

5. Why is important to understand what going to happen at the end of time?

Luke 17:37

The disciples wanted to know where all of this was going to occur. They were probably as they would later want to know when. Jesus responded by quoting a proverb which meant that when everything was ready then the events would come to fruition.

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1. Why were the disciples concerned? (They still believed that the kingdom would come into being in their lifetime.)

2. How did Jesus answer them?

3. What did He mean by using the proverb? (When everything was accomplished then the events described would occur.

4. What is to be our concern? (Living a life for Christ and not worrying what is God’s perview.)

• Remember that “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs are the kingdom of God.” (Mt. 5:3)

• Study Galatians 2:20 to see if it fits who you are.

• Be careful not to get caught up in prophecies contrary to what the Bible says.

• Be on guard so that no matter when the day of the rapture you will not be left behind.

Many today live as if there will be judgment day ahead. They continue going about working, marrying etc. ignoring God. It is the responsibility of the church to teach the Scriptures so people will have a clear understanding of the relationship they need to have with God. If we become true followers of Christ we will not have to worry about what the future may hold for us. We can be assured that if the Lord were to return this night that we would be received into our eternal home with Him.

The Bible is full of warnings of what is to come. It is also full of promises of the hope that God has for all of us. Let us heed the warnings as real. This should give us a sense of urgency to reach out to those who are lost.