THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

163I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and theother left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and theother left" (vv. 34-35).Some of the later manuscripts add:“Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left” (v. 36).It is clear that one person may go to judgment and condemnation, the other to salvation,reward and blessing. The visible Church shall no longer be a mixed body. The wheat and thetares shall no longer grow side by side. The angels shall gather together the godly, that they maybe rewarded; and leave the wicked behind to be punished.JESUS REFUSES TO SATISFY THE CURIOUS (17:37)In response to the disciples’ question, Jesus explains that these things will take placewherever there are people to whom the event pertains:"Where, Lord?" they asked.He replied, "Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather" (v. 37).This enigmatic statement is difficult of understanding. Even the word "eagles" is stoutlymaintained by some to be "vultures," and other scholars, as in the English Revised Version(1885), insist on translating it "eagles."Just as a dead body draws vultures, so humanity that is morally dead will inevitably drawupon them the judgment of God. It is remarkable how suddenly these birds appear after the deathof an animal in the open field, though a single one may not have been seen on the spot for a longperiod before. And as F. F. Bruce wrote,"Where there is a situation ripe for divine judgment, the executors of that judgmentwill unerringly find it out, just like vultures find the carrion."1Jesus was not speaking of just any situation ripe for judgment, but when at last, when thatfinal day of grace expires, God shall summon all people to the judgment of the Great WhiteThrone.