Luke17 verses 22-37 (excluding verse 25). Is it about Christ’s 2nd coming or the rapture?

In Luke 17:20-37, Jesus answers the Pharisees’ question on “when the kingdom of God should come”. Rather than addressing the time feature, Jesus chooses to focus his response on the manner of his second coming.

The Scriptures seem to present the topic of the second coming from two different perspectives, which at a first glance may appear contradictory:

1. The kingdom comes “not with observation” (verse 20) and the kingdom “comes as a thief in the night” (2 Thessalonians 5:2) when he comes to gather his saints (Mark 13:27).

2. He comes as the lightening (Luke 17:24); he comes “with a great sound of trumpet” (Matthew 24:31); and he “comes with ten thousands of his saints” (Jude 14).

These Scriptures can be harmonized when we understand that Jesus’ second presence includes a work of preparation for the setting-up his kingdom. Initially, the world is unaware of the signs of his presence, but these signs can be discerned by watchful Christians. A special work of separation (the wheat and the tares parable) will take place and Jesus will have a final reckoning with his servants. Hence the words “one will be taken and one shall be left” (verse 34) indicate that some will be privileged to be led out of the worldly systems with their impending destruction to a condition of enlightenment and protection.

Thus Jesus gives the sign: “as it was in the days of Noah, so will be in the days of the Son of Man” (Luke 17:26) and “likewise as it was in the days of Lot” (verse 28). Some faithful ones will be like Noah, a preacher of righteousness, who take heed to the signs of trouble ahead and prepare their salvation. Others, less diligent, are like Lot, who have to be pulled out of the impending destruction in the last minute. Like in the parable of the ten virgins, we must strive to be of the wise class.

Jesus hints that the second coming is most of all a lesson on personal preparation, watchfulness and character development rather than a sensationalism of instant phenomena in the sky.  The scriptures of 1 Thessalonians 4 are symbols and are not referring to a literal “rapture.” (The word “rapture” is not even found in the Bible.) The voice of an archangel, the trump, and the clouds foretell the shattering of church and social orders.

There will be an impending disaster upon the world, a time of “great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world” (Matthew 24:21), but the purpose of this trouble and of Jesus’ second coming is to destroy the evil structures of the present evil world and establish God’s kingdom on earth. Jesus and his Church will bring about the “times of restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21) and the blessing of all the families of the earth.

How will I know of the second coming of Jesus?

In the “Lord’s Great Prophesy” of Matthew 24 & Luke 21, our Lord outlined both the historical events that would lead up to his return as well as the signs that would indicate he was here. He also referred to the book of Daniel in Matthew 24:15. Hence, more corroborating prophecies about Jesus’s return may be found in Daniel. The following are some highlights of Jesus’s second presence:

1.  The nation of Israel restored.  Matthew 24:32, “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near……Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all these things take place.”  The fig tree is symbolic of the nation of Israel.  The nation of Israel was cast off by our Lord at his first coming, and the passage indicates they will be regathered and restored at his second coming.  (See Jeremiah 24:4-7.) 

2.  Jerusalem no longer occupied. “Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled,” Luke 21:24. The capital of Israel, Jerusalem, is now in the hands of the Jews after centuries of foreign occupation.

3.  A time of trouble never before seen.  “For then will be great tribulation such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.  And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.”  Matthew 24:21-22   With the advent of the nuclear age, man is now in the position to completely destroy himself. Thank God we are promised that this will not be permitted although the trouble will be unparalleled in human history.

4. Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased. The events of Daniel 12:4 take place when Michael the archangel stands up in the time of the end. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 also mentions “the voice of the archangel” which is heard at the time of Jesus’s return.  Thus, Thessalonians links the prophecy of Daniel with the return of the Lord. Two signs of Jesus’s return would be great knowledge and travel. Remarkably, no other time in human history has seen exponential increases in knowledge. Today, mankind’s knowledge doubles every five years.  Additionally, man’s ability to travel, traverse the globe, and venture into space is astounding.

5.  Most humans will not have any faith in God.   Luke 18:8 says, “Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?”  We live in a time when blind creedalism steeped in superstition and arrogant higher learning reject the Bible. People want concrete evidence. Or people behave according to “what feels right.” (See also 2 Timothy 3:1-8.)

 As was said, these are just a few highlights.