Topic: The Arrival of the Kingdom of God. Category: Kingdom> End Times>
Bible Scripture: Luke 17:20-37, Revelation 2-:10, Revelation 20:14-15 and Revelation 22:3-5.
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Expectations were high, as their Messiah was in their midst. Prophecies and scriptures about the arrival of the Kingdom of God filled their minds. According to the visions and words given to Daniel, the great prince shall stand and watch over the Jewish people. There will be great trouble, hardship and distress. But they are delivered, that is everyone found in the book of life.
At the coming of the kingdom of heaven on earth, many who are asleep in the dust shall awake. Some to everlasting life, having received the Messiah. Those who reject the Messiah, reject God, shall awake to everlasting contempt and shame. So they ask, when will the kingdom of God come?
the arrival of the kingdom of God is in jesus
Luke 17:20-37 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.”
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. 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. 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. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
there is no turning back
“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. 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.”
In response to the question of when would the kingdom of God come, Jesus talks of the arrival of the kingdom of God on earth and it’s ultimate fulfilment. In mentioning both the arrival and the fulfilment of God’s kingdom, Jesus references Himself.
For He is the great prince of heaven who had come down on earth and was standing within their midst.
In Jesus coming on earth, God’s eternal kingdom became active amongst the temporary kingdoms of this world. Jesus revealed the heart of God the Father. As Jesus is the kingdom of God ruler, He rules and reigns above it all. Even the winds obey Him. Demons flee at the mention of His name. The broken hearted are healed and the outcast included. Captives are set free and the oppressed receive freedom. Death and selfish desires are defeated. Strongholds are broken. Darkness has to flee.
the arrival of the kingdom of God on earth
Sons and daughters of God worship in Spirit and truth. Intimacy with God the Father in heaven, as His kingdom has come on earth in Jesus. That was their present reality.
Jesus then turns to His disciples and explains the future reality of God’s kingdom.
Luke 17:22-25 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. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
Earlier in Luke ‘s account of Jesus time on earth, Jesus talks about when the bridegroom or the Messiah of God’s kingdom shall be taken away from His disciples. In verse 25 of today’s text, Jesus explains that before His departure, He must suffer many things and be rejected by their generation.
Jesus is referring to His death, resurrection and ascension back into heaven. In His death, the religious cried out, crucify Him, crucify Him. The crowds that just one week before had hailed Him as king, rejected Him and watched as He willingly sacrificed His life for them.
Jesus states in verse 23 that God’s kingdom is not determined by circumstances. Nor is it limited to a time or place.
jesus is coming back
The time of the final fulfilment of the arrival of the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven cannot be predicted. For Jesus will come at the appointed time of God the Father. He is waiting for all who will come to Him to come and for the gospel to preached to ends of the earth.
In verse 24 Jesus explains about His return. What we refer to as His second coming. That day when the fullness of God’s kingdom is complete. When Jesus rules and reigns over heaven and earth. Where the two spheres have become one and evil is totally eliminated.
But before that time comes, people will say to look to a particular region. Jesus warns, do not go after them.
For the whole earth will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power, majesty and glory. His coming will shine from one end under heaven to the other end. The whole earth from the north, the south, the east and west, will see Him.
No one will foresee the coming of the Son of Man, but all will see Him. Every knew will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is King.
Those who pierced Him will mourn and those who received Him will rejoice. His angels will gather His elect from one end of heaven to the other. It will be a day of great celebration for all who have received Him. For those who chose to give their allegiance to anything other than Jesus, they will come under judgement.
the sign of the arrival of the kingdom of God
Jesus continues in Luke 17:26-30 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. 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. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
Jesus refers to the days of Noah and Lot. In both those times in history, humanity was at its worst. People chose to align themselves with pure evil and as a result came under God’s judgement of evil. They were not just indifferent to eternity, but both generations blatantly, knowingly mocked God and His people. Yet God in His grace and mercy provided a way out for the people living in those days, yet they still refused to receive it.
Only Noah, his family and the animals that entered the ark were saved from the great flood upon the earth. In the days of Lot, only Lot and his two daughters chose to heed the angel’s warning and escaped the city before it was destroyed.
Jesus is reminding His disciples throughout the ages that in both Noah’s and Lot’s day, the people not only chose to totally align themselves with evil, but mocked God and His people. The same will happen in the day of the Son of Man returning.
an eternal kingdom of eternal life
Luke 17:31-33 “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. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
Until that day of the Son of Man, Jesus urges, do not look back like Lot’s wife. Lot’s wife looked intently with pleasure toward the evil of Sodom. For in her heart she had given her allegiance to it. She chose to be one with evil.
Even tho physically she was leaving Sodom with Lot, her heart was not with God or His salvation. Even knowing and seeing Sodom coming under judgement as evil, Lot’s wife chose to remain aligned with it. As a result she was turned into a pillar of salt.
Each one has a choice. A choice that has eternal consequences. Who or what one chooses to give their allegiance to and worship is a matter of life and death.
To find eternal life and salvation is to receive Jesus’ sacrifice of His life, death and resurrection.
The kingdom of God is not just escaping judgement. It is an eternal kingdom of life everlasting. God’s kingdom is the embodiment of the King and reflects God’s character. It is only accessed by receiving the king and giving total allegiance to God.
Jesus declares that once a person has given their allegiance to God, there is no turning back.
When Jesus returns amongst those who are physically alive on earth, there will be those who have rejected Him and those who have received Him. Jesus explains.
those who are taken
Luke 17:34-36 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.”
At the arrival of the kingdom of God there will be two people at the same location, doing the exact same thing, yet one will be taken and the other left behind. The one that will be taken is the one who has said yes to God, yes to Jesus. They are taken up to be with God and dwell together for all eternity. Together with all those who have received God, received Jesus throughout the ages. From every tribe, tongue and nation who have received Him, we shall rule and reign, as kings and priests to our God.
Jesus concludes His response on the arrival of the Kingdom of God in verse 37.
Luke 17:37 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.”
Jesus responds to the disciples question of where will the fullness of God’s kingdom take place. Those who have rejected Jesus, rejected God will be gathered together on earth. They will come under the judgement of the evil they have chosen to align themselves with. Entering into an eternal death and darkness.
the arrival of the kingdom of God and evil totally eliminated
Revelation 20:10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Revelation 20:14-15 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
This is in complete contrast to all those who have received the king and His kingdom.
Revelation 22:3-5 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
SERMON CATEGORIES
unsearchable mysteries> son of man> love of God> hope and healing> know God> truth> power> end times> experience God> life> success in life> kingdom> the miracles of the wilderness journey>
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