Signs of the End? : Luke 17:37 : What Jesus Did! : HEARTLIGHT®

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Signs of the End? - Luke 17:37

The followers asked Jesus, "Where will this be, Lord?" Jesus answered, "People can always find a dead body by looking for the vultures." (ERV) Full Text

Key Thought

There will be signs that these things (mentioned in the previous verses discussing Jesus' return) are about to happen. The sign of vultures in the sky alert the onlooker that something has died nearby. Well, what are these signs? Luke 17 reveals the signs Jesus has given: 1) Some will say he has already returned; 2) the Son of Man (Jesus) will have suffered terribly (i.e., gone to the cross); 3) people will be going about their daily lives. Well, if those are Jesus' signs, then it sounds like just about any ordinary time after Jesus has been crucified. Yes, I believe that is the point. We must be ready all the time at any time. From the day of Pentecost when the first people became Christians until today, we have been in the last days. Jesus stands close to the edge of time and when the Father says "Now!" Jesus will visibly and undeniably step back into our world and claim his disciples and take them home to his Father in heaven. Throughout this discussion, Jesus has repeatedly warned his disciples to always be ready. He says it again in this passage in a slightly different way, but with an equally clear message: "My coming is always near. Any time that looks like a normal day could be my time to come!"

Today's Prayer

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Father, make my heart ready for the time of Jesus' return. Give me passion each day to live for you and your Kingdom as if it were my last day. Make me ready for the coming of my Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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Today's Verses in Context

It will be the same when the Son of Man comes again as it was when Noah lived. In the time of Noah, people were eating, drinking, and getting married even on the day when Noah entered the boat. Then the flood came and killed all the people. It will be the same as during the time of Lot when God destroyed Sodom. Those people were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, and building houses for themselves. The people were doing these things even on the day when Lot left town. Then fire and sulphur rained down from the sky and killed them all. This is exactly how it will be when the Son of Man comes again. "On that day, if a man is on his roof, he will not have time to go inside and get his things. If a man is in the field, he cannot go back home. Remember what happened to Lot's wife ? The person that tries to save his life will lose it. But the person that gives his life away will save it. At the time when I come again, there may be two people sleeping in one room. One person will be taken and the other person will be left. There may be two women working together. One woman will be taken and the other woman will be left." The followers asked Jesus, "Where will this be, Lord?" Jesus answered, "People can always find a dead body by looking for the vultures. "

— Luke 17:26-37 (ERV)

Comments on "Signs of the End?":

Then Peter stood up with the other eleven apostles. He spoke loudly so that all the people could hear. He said, "My Jewish brothers and all of you who live in Jerusalem, listen to me. I will tell you something you need to know. Listen carefully. These men are not drunk like you think; it is only nine o'clock in the morning! But Joel the prophet wrote about the things you see happening here today. This is what Joel wrote: 'God says: In the last days, I will pour out (give) my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will have special dreams. At that time, I will pour out (give) my Spirit on my servants, men and women, and they will prophesy. I will show amazing things in the sky above. I will give proofs on the earth below. There will be blood, fire, and thick smoke.
Acts 2:14-19 (ERV)

Now, brothers and sisters, we don't need to write to you about times and dates. You know very well that the day the Lord comes again will be {a surprise} like a thief who comes at night. People will say, "We have peace and we are safe." At that time destruction will come to them quickly. Destruction will come like the pains of a woman who is having a baby. And those people will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not living in darkness (sin). And so that day will not surprise you like a thief. You are all people who belong to the light (goodness). You belong to the day. We don't belong to the night or to darkness (evil). So we should not be like other people. We should not be sleeping. We should be awake and have self-control. People who sleep, sleep at night. People who get drunk, get drunk at night. But we belong to the day (goodness), so we should control ourselves. We should wear faith and love to protect us. And the hope of salvation should be our helmet. God did not choose us to suffer his anger. God chose us to have salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus died for us so that we can live together with him. It is not important if we are alive or dead {when Jesus comes}. So encourage each other and make each other stronger {in faith}. And you are doing that now.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (ERV)

"No person knows when that day or time will be. The Son and the angels in heaven don't know when that day or time will be. Only the Father knows.
Matthew 24:36 (ERV)

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