Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21)
The Pharisees asked Jesus a legitimate question, when? When will all these things Jesus proclaimed would come to pass? Understand, the Jews are in Roman captivity, and they are desperate to be freed. They knew the prophecy of God through Micah, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” (Micah 5:2) Well, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He proclaimed to be the Son of God, sent by God, so when was He going to Ruler in Israel? Jesus wasn't fulfilling the prophecy in the way they interpreted nor in the time they desired. Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them. For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. (Luke 17:22-24)
Jesus is warning the disciples and others listening, including us today, not to expect His day, or The Day of The Lord to come in a way that we can know when it's coming. “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." (Matthew 25:13) But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. [Genesis 6-7] Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. [Genesis 18:16-33; 19] Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. (Luke 17:25-30)
Jesus is still preparing the disciples for all of the things He will suffer, including being rejected by this generation, and many generations after, even up to now and many more to come, before His day comes. He described the world so perfectly back then, and it's the same way now. But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. (I Thessalonians 5:1-3) We get so comfortable and think things are fine the way they are, but when trouble comes we start panicking. God warned the children of Israel, and the same warning applies to us, that we should not get too comfortable with the blessings He provides while we're in this world, ...when you have eaten and are full— then beware, lest you forget the Lord... You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you (for the Lord your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the Lord your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 6:11-12, 14-15)
“In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. [Genesis 19:26] Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.” And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?” So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” (Luke 17:31-37) We can't know when The Day of The Lord is coming, but we can live prepared for when that day comes. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (I Timothy 6:7)
Even though the Jews were under Roman captivity, and many are us are in "captivity" today, we don't have to look for a day to come that God will deliver us. Jesus said, "For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” ...for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. (Romans 14:17-18) If we are saved, have accepted Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and we have ALL we need to live, until His day comes! And we won't have to live in fear and worry or panic every time something happens in this world or in our lives. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. (I Corinthians 4:20) "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. ... Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelations 2:10) AMEN
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