The Day of the Lord Part 4
Matthew 24:36-40 Now, concerning that day and hour no one is aware, neither the messengers of the heavens, nor the Son; except the Father only." For even as the days of Noah, thus shall be the presence of the Son of Mankind." For as they were in those days before the deluge, masticating {chewing} and drinking and marrying and taking in marriage until the day on which Noah entered into the ark, and did not know till the deluge came and takes them all away, thus shall be the presence of the Son of Mankind." Then two shall be in the field; one is taken along and one left: two grinding at the millstone; one is taken along and one left. {CLV}
Luke 17:26-27 And according as it occurred in the days of Noah, thus will it be in the days of the Son of Mankind also." They ate, they drank, they married, they took out in marriage, until the day on which Noah entered into the ark, and the deluge came and destroys them all." {CLV}
Jesus is comparing his return to what happened back in the days of Noah. Back in those days before the deluge came, the people of the day where eating and drinking and marrying, right up until they where all taken away by the flood. That is to say that back then and the time just before his return, people will be going about there daily lives as normal. There will even be marriages going on, people will be enjoying life. That is how it is going to be when the Lord returns. Most of the world will be eating and drinking and getting married, right up until He returns. Back in the days of Noah most people would have either not known that the deluge was coming, or if they had heard that it was coming, they would have not believed that it was coming. They would have probably thought that Noah was mad to build the ark.
There are some important differences however to what happened in Noah's day and what is going to happen when the Lord returns. In Noah's day he and his family entered the ark and the flood came and took away all those that where not on the ark. However there will not be a destructive flood when the Lord returns. It is also important to remember what was covered earlier, the Chosen are gathered from all over the earth, that is they are all gathered together. Thus just as Noah and his family where secured away on the ark, the chosen are gathered.
After this one is taken and one is left. Those that where taken in Noah's day are the ones that were destroyed by the deluge. In Noah's day all those not on the ark were destroyed, however this is not the case here, for all those not gathered are not destroyed. Indeed one is taken and one is left, that is one is left alive. Taken here referring to their life being taken away, there spirit being taken away. For when the spirit is taken from the body, the person is dead.
Luke 17:28-30 Likewise, according as it occurred in the days of Lot, they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built." Yet on the day in which Lot came out from Sodom, fire and sulphur rains from heaven and destroys them all." In accord with these will it be on the day in which the Son of Mankind is unveiled. {CLV}
What happens when the Lord returns, will be in accord with, in agreement with what happen to Sodom. All those in Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities where destroyed by fire and sulphur except for Lot and his two daughters, for even his wife was killed when she looked back. That is on the Day of His return it will be accord with what a happen to Sodom, that is they will all be destroyed, however there will be no raining down of fire or sulphur. The ones that will be destroyed will be the evil wicked ones and those who do not believe in the evangel of Christ. It is only those that are chosen who are gathered, that is a person may believe in the evangel but if they are not chosen they are not gathered.
Luke 17:31-33 In that day, he who shall be on the housetop and his gear in his house, let him not be descending to pick it up. And let the one in the field likewise not turn back to that behind him." Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever should be seeking to procure his soul will be destroying it, yet whoever should be destroying it will cause it to live."
On the day of Jesus Christ’s return no one should try go back to get their material possessions or try to save their own lives, this would be pointless. In the east houses had flat roofs, where one could rest or eat. Thus if you are on your housetop {at home}, or out in the fields {working}, you should not try to save your material possessions or save ourselves. Then there is the warning “Remember Lot’s wife”.
After being warn not to look back, or stop in any part of the basin, lot’s wife did look back. It is at this point she died by becoming a monument of salt. Why did God not want Lot or his family to look back? Looking back, meant that the person was thinking of their life they had left behind. It meant the person was clinging to those things that God was destroying.
This is a warning not to do as Lot’s wife did, not to cling to the things that will be destroyed by the fire. Whosoever should be seeking to procure his soul will be destroying it, yet whoever should be destroying it will cause it to live." That is the one who is destroying his soul, by obeying and following God will cause it to live. And answering, they, the disciples are saying to Him, "Where, Lord?”, as in no doubt “where they where taken“, He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the vultures also will be assembled."
You should not be in love with the world, as everything in the world is destined to be destroyed in the fire of God. That is not to say that you can not enjoy material items which are destined to be destroyed. However proper perspective is needed, because none of this will last.
1 John 2:15-17 Be not loving the world, neither that which is in the world. If ever anyone is loving the world, the love of the Father is not in him, for everything that is in the world, the desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and the ostentation of living, is not of the Father, but is of the world." And the world is passing by, and its desire, yet he who is doing the will of God is remaining for the eon." {CLV}
Be not loving the world, for if you love the world, the love of the Father is not in you. “For everything that is in the world, the desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and the ostentation of living, is not of the Father, but is of the world." That is talking about the desire of the flesh and the eyes. The evil sinful desires that full up every part of peoples daily lives. It is certainly not talking about love that is in the world. The world is passing by, and it’s end is near.
James 4:4-6 Adulterers and adulteresses! Are you not aware that the friendship of this world is enmity with God? Whosoever, then should intend to be a friend of the world is constituted an enemy of God." Or are you supposing that the scripture is saying this for naught? Is the spirit which dwells in us longing to envy? Yet greater is the grace He is giving. Wherefore He is saying, God "the proud is resisting, yet to the humble He is giving grace." {CLV}
Those who love the world, those who are friends of the world, are adulterers, and enemies of God. That is those who love the sinful, evil ways of the world, are enemies of God, they are adulterers and adulteresses! The proud are resisting of the grace yet the humble He is giving grace.
2 Peter 2:4-9 For if God...spares not the ancient world, but guards Noah, an eighth, a herald of righteousness, bringing a deluge on the world of the irreverent;" and condemns the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, reducing them to cinders by an overthrow, having placed them as an example for those about to be irreverent:" and rescues the just man, Lot, harried by the behavior of the dissolute in their wantonness" (for the just man dwelling among them, in observing and hearing from day to day, tormented his just soul by their lawless acts), the Lord is acquainted with the rescue of the devout out of trial, yet is keeping the unjust for chastening in the day of judging, {CLV}
The Delude in Noah’s day and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah are an example for those about to be irreverent. While those who just like Lot will be rescued out of trial, the unjust will be kept for chastening in the day of judgement. Some translations use punishment, instead of chastening, but there is no actual punishment for sins coming to the unjust, for Christ paid the ultimate price for everyone’s sins. Chastening meaning discipline, not never ending punishment.
Jude 1:5 Now I am intending to remind you, you who once are aware of all, that the Lord, when saving the people out of the land of Egypt, secondly destroys those who believe not." {CLV}
Jude 1:7 As Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities about them in like manner to these committing ultra-prostitution, and coming away after other flesh, are lying before us, a specimen, experiencing the justice of fire eonian." {CLV}
The chastening and justice of fire are experienced only for an eon {age}. This is not forever, but is for a period of time.
Matthew 6:19-20 Do not hoard for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and corrosion are causing them to disappear, and where thieves are tunneling and stealing." Yet hoard for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor corrosion are causing them to disappear, and where thieves are not tunneling nor stealing;" {CLV}
Hoard for yourselves treasures in heaven, be not hoarding for yourself treasures on the earth. For the treasures on the earth do not last, because they can be destroyed over time, corrosion, or they can be destroyed quickly, floods, earthquakes or they can be stolen. Ultimately all treasures on the earth will be destroyed on the Day of the Lord. None of these things can happen to treasures in heaven.
Luke 17:34-37 I am saying to you, in this night there will be two on one couch; the one shall be taken along and the other shall be left." There will be two grinding at the same place; the one shall be taken along, yet the other shall be left." And answering, they are saying to Him, "Where, Lord? Yet He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the vultures also will be assembled." {CLV}
Back in Lot's day he had to leave the city, then actual fire rained down and destroyed them all. However if actual fire rained down the couch or bed as some translations have it would be destroyed and there would be no one left on the couch. Thus there is no actual fire raining down, one is taken away, that is they die, the other one is left alive even if they are grinding at the same place or seating on the same couch or in the same bed.
2 Thessalonians 1
2 Thessalonians 1:3-5 We ought to be thanking God always concerning you, brethren, according as it is meet; seeing that your faith is flourishing and the love of each one of you all for one another is increasing, so that we ourselves glory in you in the ecclesias of God, for your endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions with which you are bearing -" a display of the just judging of God, to deem you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering also, {CLV}
The brethren’s endurance and faith in All their persecutions and the afflictions with which they are bearing are a display of the just judging of God, to deem them worthy of the kingdom of God.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 if so be that it is just of God to repay affliction to those afflicting you, and to you who are being afflicted, ease, with us, at the unveiling of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His powerful messengers, in flaming fire, dealing out vengeance to those who are not acquainted with God and those who are not obeying the evangel of our Lord Jesus Christ" who shall incur the justice of eonian extermination from the face of the Lord, and from the glory of His strength" whenever He may be coming to be glorified in His saints and to be marveled at in all who believe (seeing that our testimony to you was believed) in that day. {CLV}
When the Lord is unveiled, when he returns, his angles will be dealing out vengeance to those who are not acquainted with God and those who are not obeying the evangel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Those who are not acquainted with the Lord will incur the justice of eonian extermination from the face of the Lord. This however is not forever, but for a period of time. The spiritual fire that they experience after the judgement will purify them. This is covered in the Judgement Series.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 For which we are always praying also concerning you, that our God should be counting you worthy of the calling, and should be fulfilling every delight of goodness and work of faith in power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, in accord with the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." {CLV}
On that Day Jesus Christ will be glorified in His saints.
Watch!
Matthew 24:42-44 Be watching, then, for you are not aware on what day your Lord is coming." Now that be knowing, for if the householder were aware in what watch the thief is coming, he would watch, and would not let his house be tunneled into." Therefore you also become ready, for in an hour which you are not supposing, the Son of Mankind is coming." {CLV}
Luke 12:37-40 Happy are those slaves, whom the Lord, coming, will be finding watching. Verily, I am saying to you that He will be girding Himself about and causing them to recline, and, coming by, will be serving them." And if He should be coming in the second watch, and if in the third watch, and should be finding them thus, happy are those slaves." Now this you know, that if the householder were aware at what hour the thief is coming, he would watch and would not let his house be tunneled into." You also become ready, then, for, in an hour which you are not supposing, the Son of Mankind is coming." {CLV}
These verses are directed at Believers. These are the ones that should be watching for His return. The word “Thief” here is used to indicate that it will be a surprise. His return will be sudden, and unexpected, with no indication beforehand that he is about to return. Many believers will not be watching for his return. Many Christians are to busy in there lives, to caught up in there own affairs, to be watching for the return of the Lord. They will not be ready for his return, and as you will see later, those who are not ready will not be going with the Lord.