Luke 17:20-24

This morning, I invite you to turn with me to the book of Luke. We have reached verse 20 of chapter 17. And I’m going to look at verses 20 to 24 of chapter 17. Luke, after 17, and verses 20 to 24. And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. Neither shall they say, low here, or low there, or behold, the kingdom of God is within you. And he said under the disciples, The days will come when you. shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, see here, or see there. Go not after them, nor fall them. Or is the lightning that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineeth unto the other part under heaven, so all. also the son of man be in his day. God blessed to us his sacred and holy word this morning. I suppose if you ask the question, what is the kingdom of God like? That you would get all kinds of answers to that question. Most of those answers about the kingdom of God would be wrong. and far from what is recorded for us here in this passage of scripture because people have the wrong view of the kingdom of God. Jesus in our text gives you the true teaching concerning the kingdom of God. You know, it would be wise to carefully pay attention to what Jesus says here and evaluate our own view of the kingdom of God by what he has told us in this text. Let me begin by saying this. You should realize the kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom. You must not think of the kingdom of God as a physical and material kingdom. You notice verse 20. And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered, them and said, the kingdom of God cometh not with observation. The Jews universally expected the Messiah to come, and when he did come, they expected him to set up a kingdom on the earth. And it’s clearly taught in the Old Testament, for example, in Daniel, chapter 2, Isaiah 2, Zachari 9, and so forth. There’s plenty of information about a kingdom associated with the Messiah. They also heard Christ’s claim to be the Messiah and the proclamation that the kingdom was in hand. And so the proclamation that the kingdom of God was in hand. And so the demand of the Pharisees was, well, if you’re the Messiah, where is your kingdom? Of course, they were trying to discredit our Lord. They expected the Messiah to set up an earthly kingdom, much like that of Greece or Rome. And the expectation was that the Messiah would free them from the yoke of Rome, and that they would enjoy great liberty and peace and prosperity, and that the Lord would put down all the nations of the earth, and that they would be exulted. They didn’t believe that Jesus was Messiah, and therefore their question here was more of a gotcha question. It was for the purpose of discrediting him and his assertion that he was the Messiah. The problem is that the Pharisees had the wrong view of the kingdom of God and what the kingdom of God was like. The kingdom of God had come, but it had not come in the way they expected it to come. If today you expect Christ to establish an earthly, physical, material kingdom, then you are no different than the deluded Pharisees of Christ’s Day. And you’re in their camp, which, of course, is mistaken. Now, the dispensational, pre-millennial camp, as well as many of your post-millennialists, speak of the Messiah’s kingdom as an earthly kingdom. The kingdom of the Messiah is portrayed in the Old Testament in U’s and colors under figures and forms, which are physical and material, such as we find in Isaiah chapter 65. And these earthly things must be understood in a spiritual way. They are not literal, but spiritual in nature. Christ and his disciples in the New Testament give a symbolic, spiritual interpretation to this passage of scripture in Isaiah 65, for example. Houses and fields, physical life that extends, you know, for hundreds of years, the avoidance of mundane troubles, the wolf lying down with the lamb, the lion eating straw like an ox, and so forth, are really not about earthly existence, but are to be understood figuratively. I create new heavens and a new earth, Isaiah 6517. clearly speaks of the eternal state. For Peter mentions it in his third chapter of 2 Peter, and he says the new heavens and the new earth are not improvements to this earth in its situation, but are indeed where the righteousness of Christ will dwell forever, and it is a new heaven and new earth where it dwell with righteousness, not still sinful people, and so forth. It’s the eternal state that he mentions. So you must not think of the kingdom of God as a physical and material kingdom. Now you find the kingdom of God is within you, he tells us here in this passage of scripture. And he explains a little more in verse 21. He says neither shall they say, low here or low there, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. The kingdom of God cometh not with observation, he has told us in verse 20. Now, Jesus meant by this that the kingdom of God’s arrival and presence would not come with some type of external show as to attract the notice in the admiration of the world. You should not expect a kingdom of earthly power and glory and military conquest and distinct boundaries It is not a kingdom of earthly power and glory and military conquest and military conquest and distinct boundaries and so forth. It is not made conspicuous like the triumphs of earthly conquerors and kings like Alexander the Great or Julius Caesar. Those who expect to observe anything like this are going to be greatly disappointed. Behold, he says, the kingdom of God is within you. The kingdom of God is not confined then to certain place. So that you can say, lo, here it is, or lo there, it is only. Behold, he says, it’s a marvelous thing. Marvel at this. The kingdom of God is indeed actually within you. It’s an internal kingdom and a spiritual kingdom of which he speaks. Now you can’t fix a place then where the kingdom of God is to the exclusion of some other place. God’s kingdom is inward. It is spiritual in the hearts of God’s elect people. But the kingdom of God does not meet and drink righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. as Romans 14-17 tells us. So here’s what we should be looking for. And we want to see the kingdom of God. His righteousness in people. Is joy in peace? Is peace in people. The kingdom of God involves the dethroning of Satan’s and his power. He is the strongness. armed man that Christ unarms. Now, the putting down of the old man with its defeatful lust is what we’re talking about. In setting up a principle of grace to govern your life, it does not consist of a mere outward profession of religion. It provides an inward principle of holiness. in your soul by which you are governed. It’s produced by the Spirit of God. We sang this this morning, interestingly enough. Psalm 4513. The king’s daughter is all glorious without, within. Within. For we’re talking about these people having these graces about them. By it Christ as the king of the saints, wells and reigns. and his people. So you find the kingdom of God is within it. It doesn’t come with observation. Behold, it’s within it. Now, you should pay careful attention to this teaching. You would do well to fix your heart on the truth that Jesus has spoken and have your mind to ponder what he has said here. It will keep you. from error. Most profession Christians today are completely diluted in their expectations regarding the kingdom of God. Don’t look for signs of some kind of indications of an external kingdom being established in the earth. The preaching of the gospel will not so be so successful. that a glorious earthly kingdom will be established as the post-millennialist promote prior to the second coming of Christ. You should not expect such universal conversion that the whole world will be Christianized, so to speak. So don’t expect. expect the face of the world to be changed so that it will welcome Christ’s glorious appearance when he does come. Christ’s kingdom cometh not with observation, like a world conversion, but it is rather hidden externally because it involves the work of God. within the heart. So you should pay careful attention to this teaching. Now, we see the necessity of having the kingdom of God within you. As we read this morning, I’m going to direct your attention once again to John chapter 3 in his gospel here. Notice what Jesus says. I’m going to look at verses 3 and 5. Jesus answered and said unto him, Nicademus. Verily, verily, I say unto you, except the man be born again. He cannot see the kingdom of God. You’re not going to see it. Verse 5. Jesus answered, verily, verily, I say unto you, unto thee. Except a man be born of water and of the spirit. He cannot enter the kingdom of God. Now, these two passages are very important. A regenerate person is not only enabled to see the kingdom of God and discern the things of God, but he is translated into the kingdom of God’s dear son. They get to enter the kingdom of God. God have delivered us from the power of darkness and have translated us into the kingdom of His dear son, Colossians 11. In Matthew 311, we read that being baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire signifies the Spirit of God working like fire and purging your soul of corruption and sin. So being born of the water and of the Spirit, in verse 5 here, signifies the Spirit working like water, and cleansing your soul. Remember what Titus, Paul wrote to Titus, about the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit. And that’s what we find here. A washing of regeneration. Water and of the Spirit, it says. Otherwise, you cannot enter the Messiah’s kingdom. and have the righteousness of Christ, the peace of God, and the joy provided by the Holy Spirit. This is what we find here. Now, you must be born again. You’ll notice verse 7. He says this, marvel not that I say that ye must be born again. You cannot expect to be saved from sin without this spiritual birth. Now, what do you know of this spiritual birth this morning? Have you experienced it? Has your soul been regenerated by the Holy Spirit? Has the Spirit? Has the Spirit? created in you a clean heart and a right spirit. Have you been awakened the spiritual realities of the spirit enlightening your understanding? Are you a new, a different person than you were before because of this spiritual birth? Is Christ your king? Is he your Lord? Does he reign in your heart? Do you live in subjection to his will? These are, I think, essential questions. To answer otherwise, you’re going to perish in your sin and corruption. You must be born again. Now, you should realize the kingdom of God is, then a spiritual kingdom. Not physical or material. It is within you. We should pay careful attention to what Jesus says here. And we see the necessity of having the kingdom of God within you. These are important verses for us to carefully ponder. Now, the second part of this text back here in Luke tells us, tells us the second part of this text, The second coming of Christ will be a very dramatic and sudden event. Let’s look at verses 22 to 24. Jesus says, and he said unto his disciples, The days will come when ye shall desire see one of the days of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here, or see there, go not after them, nor follow them. Whereas the lightning that lighteth out of one part of the heaven shineeth under the other part of heaven, so shall also the son of man be in his day. We’ll long for the day when Christ is personally present. Verse 22. While in verses 20 and 21, Jesus addressed the Pharisees regarding the kingdom of God. You’ll notice that this passage is specifically addressed to the disciples of Christ. These words reminded the disciples that Jesus’ bodily presence was to be withdrawn at some point, and they would feel and mourn the loss. as he tells us in Luke 535, the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them. Then shall they fast in those days. In such circumstances, the disciples would be very naturally wishing to have Christ back with them again and to enjoy his personal presence. We too long for Christ. him to come back and his personal presence. We look forward to his second coming, our blessed hope. While Jesus Christ was on earth, the days of the Son of Man were really lightly esteemed by the Pharisees, and even his disciples didn’t fully appreciate the blessing that they had. The Pharisees spoke of them with. a sneer, desired to get rid of Christ and put him to death. The disciples didn’t expect Jesus Christ to go away, but to set up an external kingdom in which they expected positions of honor. So they had to be surprised about Jesus’ teaching on the spirituality of his kingdom and that he was going to disappear. They were in contrary to their expectations. Now this suggests that you and I are often bad judges of our present experiences. The days of which you may think very little while they are passing away in the future may be sorely missed. You regret that they are now gone and you realize you never forewerect that they are now gone. appreciated them. You know, sometimes those days of suffering and trouble were beneficial in the spiritually enlivening of your soul. But when you are delivered from them, you find your soul much more lethargic about spiritual matters. Maybe you didn’t appreciate how spiritually good this was for your soul. Now those days are past. You can’t reclaim them or go back to them, yet now you regret their loss. You may say I was really spiritually sensitive during these days. Didn’t realize it was working so well for my spiritual good. I just wanted relief. So you long for the days when Christ is personally present. Now you were warned that Christ will make no personal appearance during the siege of Jerusalem. Now this passage contains two important events that are co-mingled together, the second coming and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Our passage does not distinguish these two events very well. The parallel passages, though, in Matthew 24, and Luke 21 provide helpful outlines of the events that he’s speaking on. Now this morning, for our sake, let’s look at Luke chapter 24, verses 23 to 27, is this will help us to place this passage. Luke 24 and beginning with 23. 24. Then if any man say unto you, and you’ll notice this is in according of verse 20, it’s the time of the great tribulation. And except those days be short and no flesh should be saved. Then, you see, at that time, if any man say unto you lo, here is Christ, for there, believe it not, for there shall be saved. arise false Christ and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders inasmuch that if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Wherefore, if they say unto you, behold, he is in the desert, do not go forth, behold, he is in the desert, do not go forth, behold, he is in the secret, he is in the secret chamber, he is in the secret chamber, believe it not, for as the lightning cometh out of the east and shines under the west, so also the coming of man, so shall also the coming of man be. So this passage puts things into context for us that are found here in chapter 17, but not specified. fire. Jesus was warning the disciples that during the Roman army’s invasion of Israel, that the distresses of those days, which he calls the great tribulation, during that time, many false Christ would arise. The word then, in verse 23, indicates during the siege of Jerusalem, that people would prophesied, the Messiah would come and deliver the Jews. The Lord here carefully informed the disciples, not to expect his personal appearance during the siege of Jerusalem. Don’t be deceived by this. Besides, when he comes again, it would not be a secluded event. It wouldn’t be in that. the desert. It wouldn’t be in a secret chamber of the temple. Josephus, the Jewish historian, wrote that many impostors enticed people to follow them into the desert. And these false Christ promised to show them miraculous signs and wonders of deliverance. Josiphas also mentions a false prophet who gathered people into one of the storage chambers of the temple where they would receive miraculous signs of their deliverance. About 6,000 people responded. But the building, of course, was torched by the Roman soldiers and all the Jews there burned the death in the inferno. So you warned here that Christ was torched by the Roman soldiers and all the Jews there burned there burned the death in the inferno. will make no personal coming going to the siege of Jerusalem. Don’t expect it. You find Christ forcefully asserting that his coming would be very conspicuous. Verse 24 of Luke 17. When Jesus does come a second time, it’s not going to be a local or secret personal appearance. Contrary to the claims of these false prophets, Christ’s second event will not be shrouded in secrecy or obscurity. It will be a spectacularly obvious and universal event. There are many passages we could look up like 1st Thessalonians 4, 13 to 18. and verse 2. Thessalonians 1, 7 to 10, or Titus 2.13, or 2.13, or 2. Peter chapter 3, all of those passages will give you the same idea. The coming will be as instantaneous and unexpected and unannounced as a flash of lightning. The brightness of the sun of man’s coming will lightenounced, will lightenounced as a flash of lightning. up the heavens from the east to the west like a lightning flash and no one no one foresees his coming all eyes will see it in other words there will be no preliminary signs to indicate that is coming was good was not he will suddenly appear as he tells us as a thief in the night. So you will find Christ forcefully asserting here, his coming would be very conspicuous. Now you’re given here a timeless caution. In characterizing his coming, Jesus clearly stated it would be very noticeable. Think about this a minute. There’s nothing here about a secret rapture, is there? There’s nothing here about something secret secret. It’s bold. It’s a universal event. What impact does this revelation have upon the dispensational is that that teach us about a secret rapture? What Jesus has told us here is a general application for all ages, despite its emphasis on those turbulent days of 66 to 70 AD. Jesus flatly rejects the concept that his appearance will somehow be cloaked in secrecy. Don’t be foolishly misled by popular teaching that Jesus will secretly come and snatch away believers and the world will be, you know, wondering what happened or the teaching of the Jobo Witnesses that Jesus had come many years ago. secretly on a mountaintop with those waiting for him there. Periodically down through history, we have the sad account of Christians supposedly gathering on a mountainside secretly awaiting Christ’s appearance, as if they were going to rendezvous with the Lord. And you’re only going to be disappointed in disillusioned by this foolish notion. So don’t be deceived by the kind of teaching that is contrary to Christ’s words here in our text. So the second coming of Christ is going to be very dramatic and very sudden. Amen. So let me close this morning by saying this. You should realize the kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom. To be part of it, you must be changed. You must be changed. spiritually by the Holy Spirit. And secondly, the second coming of Christ will be a very dramatic sudden event, but it’ll be obvious. And no one will doubt it. It’s not going to be some secret thing, open and obvious and like lightning, flashing in the sky. Our Lord is going to appear. And we’re going to be a bit open and obvious. the end of the world as we know it. Let us pray this morning. We do give you thanks, Father, for your goodness and your grace and the teaching that you’ve granted us. May we take at the heart. May we understand it. May it be a blessing to us. And we pray, Lord, this morning that you would enlighten our eyes and understanding that we would not be deceived or misled by those false teachers that teach something different. Now let us stand, Lord, and let’s stand at this time and give the Lord benediction. Second Thessalonians 316 says, Now the Lord of Peace himself, give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. Amen.