Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

In my opiniion, Jesus was speaking of His sudden, unexpected return in glory at the close of the present age, which could occur at any time, and for which Christians of any era should thus be in a state of continual spiritual readiness.

August 19 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Appelt Supporter

Luke 17:22-37 predicts the future, but not just one event. The topic began when Pharisees questioned Jesus when the kingdom would come, 17:20-21, to which Jesus answered, that it would not come with normal observation. The kingdom Jesus referred to existed in their midst by His presence. 

Starting in Luke 17:22, the Lord confides with His disciples what will happen, events that lead to the coming of His kingdom. The first thing He covers is His sudden, glorious appearing, as startling as a flash of lightning that illumines the whole sky. This celestial sign is sufficient. They were not to go after self-styled Messiahs who will deceive many, Luke 17:22-24. 

Then Jesus backtracks to events prior to this, one being His imminent suffering and rejection, which culminated in His death on the cross, Luke 17:25. 

Most say the following section, Luke 17:26-36, continues the description of His coming in glory. But another perspective is to see it as three events before that, actually in reverse order chronologically. 

The first describes the end of the 7-year Tribulation period in general, Luke 17:26-30, when normal everyday life will be suddenly interrupted by the series of judgments before the coming of the Lord. 

The second, Luke 17:31-33 speaks of the dreadful event, “in that day,” in the middle of the Tribulation when the Abomination of Desolation occurs that Jesus warns about in Matthew 24:15-22. Jesus speaks of the urgency of that moment to not loiter or linger.

The third, “in that night,” describes the Rapture that takes place just before the Tribulation, Luke 17:34-36, when Jesus comes for His people to deliver them from the wrath to come. The rest of the people will be left to go through the Tribulation.

The reason for interpreting this as the Rapture is by comparing this with Matthew 24:36-44, which speaks of an event unrelated to the previous description of the spectacular events and signs, Matthew 24:29-35. In fact, in Greek, Matthew 24:36 begins with “peri de,” “concerning,” a common way of changing the subject, just as in Luke, Jesus makes the subtle change from “in that day” to “in that night.” 

Matthew and Luke both refer to something that is first experienced, the Rapture. Both use “taken” which means “receive,” and “left” which means “abandoned,” which fits the Rapture. The proof in Matthew of this being the Rapture is by the parables that follow, about being ready for the Lord’s return for His own, Matthew 24:45-25:30. Then the Lord’s coming in glory and judgment, as a separate event, follows in Matthew 25:31-46.

The outline of the different events of Luke 17:22-37 is:
1. The glorious coming of the Lord, Luke 17:22-24.
2. Events leading to the glorious coming, Luke 17:25-33.
a. Suffering and death of Jesus, Luke 17:25.
b. The 7-year Tribulation, Luke 17:26-30.
c. The Abomination of Desolation, in the middle of the Tribulation, Luke 17:31-33.
d. Rapture just before the Tribulation, Luke 17:34-36.
3. The scene of terrible judgment after His glorious coming, Luke 17:37.

7 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Daniel Veler Supporter

Your question: What event was Jesus predicting in Luke 17:22-37?

Here are the verses you’re referring to. Let’s break it down verse by verse:

In verse 22, Christ said this: “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.'”

Christ was telling his Apostles that after he leaves this earth, they will desire the days when they will see him again as they were then. But they would not be able to because he was going to be with the Father and would not be seen again until his return. This is why, in the next verse, he cautions them against those who say the following: “And they shall say to you, 'See here'; or, 'See there': go not after them, nor follow them.” 

There have been a lot of those who have claimed to be Christ through the years. Christ is telling them and us that these things will happen. But he tells them not to believe them. He will not come like that, as it states in the next verse: “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.” 

Then he tells them, before he leaves, the following will happen: “But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.”

The things that Christ would suffer first would be crucifixion, and his generation would reject him. This is the meaning of verses 22-25.

Then Christ tells them the following in verses 26-27: “And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all."

Christ is showing them that life will go on as normal right up to his coming. People will be eating and drinking, they’ll be in marriages, and those given in marriage right up to the end. Then the destruction will come. 

I hope this has given you an understanding of what you are asking.

7 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College & Dallas Seminary graduate, Pentair

Jesus was predicting His return to earth to gather believers everywhere. That's His second coming (1 Th 4:13-5:11 SEE THESE VERSES).
Luke 17:27 = 1 Thes 5:1-3; Luke 17:34 = 1 Thes 4:16,17

August 21 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report