THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

160“Then He said to His disciples, "The time is coming when you will long to see oneof the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it’” (v. 22).Oppressed by temptations and tribulations Christians will, like the Pharisees, desire to seecataclysmic events that would usher in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus shows here that those greatphysical, cataclysmic disorders and cosmic signs shall surely come take place but not now.Persecuted Christians throughout history have always cried out to God, "How long?" (Rev 6:10),but the end is not yet.GREAT PHYSICAL CATACLYSMIC DISORDERS (17:23-24)Scripture is clear that the Second Coming of Christ will be an event that all people shallsee and recognize instantly:” Men will tell you, 'There He is!' or 'Here He is!' Do not go running off afterthem. For the Son of Man in His day will be like the lightning, which flashesand lights up the sky from one end to the other” (vv. 23-24).We are not to leave our work in order to pursue predictions of Christ’s second Coming(v. 23).Christ’s coming will be sudden, unexpected and public (v. 24; 12:40).Of the precise day and hour of that advent we know nothing. But whenever it may takeplace, one thing at least is clear—it will come on the Church and the world suddenly,instantaneously, and without previous notice. The whole tenor of Scripture points this way. Itshall be "at an hour when you do not expect Him" (Mt 24:44). It shall come "like a thief in thenight." (1 Th 5:2).Unlike the First Advent, the Second Advent, will be seen by everyone and "all the tribesof the earth shall mourn for Him" (Mt 24:30). The Second Advent will be bad news for the vastmajority of mankind; but it will not be the kind of news any man will be able to ignore.SUFFERING AND REJECTION (17:25)Jesus repeatedly foretold His coming death which has to occur before His glorious return:“ But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation” (v. 25).