The Coming of the Kingdom
Jesus tells the Pharisees that the kingdom of God will not come with observable signs, but is already in their midst.
W20hen asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs. 21Nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst. ”
Jesus tells the disciples they will long to see the days of the Son of Man, but must not chase rumors. His day will flash like lightning, yet first he must suffer and be rejected.
22Then He said to the disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23People will tell you, ‘Look, there He is!’ or ‘Look, here He is!’ Do not go out or chase after them. 24For just as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so will be the Son of Man in His day. 25But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
Jesus compares the Son of Man’s day to the days of Noah and Lot, when ordinary eating, drinking, buying, and building continued until sudden destruction came.
26Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man: 27People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. 28It was the same in the days of Lot: People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30It will be just like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed.
On that day no one is to return for possessions, Lot’s wife is to be remembered, and life is preserved only by losing it.
31On that day, let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve his possessions. Likewise, let no one in the field return for anything he has left behind. 32Remember Lot’s wife! 33Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it.
Jesus says that two people may share the same setting, yet one will be taken and the other left.
34I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed: one will be taken and the other left. 35Two women will be grinding grain together: one will be taken and the other left.”
When the disciples ask where this will happen, Jesus answers with the picture of vultures gathered where the body lies.
37“Where, Lord?” they asked.