“The Day the Son of Man Is Revealed” Will Be Like “the Days of Noah” and “the Days of Lot”!

 

“The Day the Son of Man Is Revealed” Will Be Like “the Days of Noah” and “the Days of Lot”!

 

 

 

 

 

“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People 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. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: people were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed” (Luke 17:26–30).

 

 

 

(1)    As I read today’s passage, Luke 17:26–30, both in the Korean Bible and in the Greek New Testament, I became particularly interested in the phrase found in verse 30: “the day the Son of Man is revealed”[ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀποκαλύπτεται (hē hēmera ho huios tou anthrōpou apokalyptetai)].

 

(a)    First, I would like to consider the meaning of the title “the Son of Man” (ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου).

 

(i)        “‘The Son of Man’ (ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου) is the primary title that Jesus most frequently used to refer to Himself in the Gospels. Literally, it means ‘The Son of Man,’ and it carries three profound meanings that run throughout the entirety of Scripture” (Internet).

 

1.       Fulfillment of the Old Testament Messianic Prophecy (Daniel 7)

The most important background is the prophecy found in Daniel 7:13–14.

 

The One Coming with the Clouds of Heaven: In Daniel’s vision, “one like a son of man” comes with the clouds of heaven and receives from God everlasting dominion, glory, and a kingdom that rules over all peoples.

 

The Divine Messiah: Therefore, when Jesus used the title “Son of Man,” He was not merely referring to His humanity.  Rather, He was proclaiming Himself as the divine Messiah who would come on the clouds at the end of the age to judge and rule the world.

 

2.       His Becoming a Perfect Human Being (The Incarnation)

 

This expression also demonstrates that Jesus became a true human being, possessing flesh and blood just like ours.

 

His Humiliation and Suffering: The title “Son of Man” was often used when emphasizing Jesus’ humiliation on earth—having nowhere to lay His head—and His destiny to suffer and die for sinners (Mt. 20:28).

 

Our Representative: Because He personally experienced human suffering and weakness, He is fully qualified to sympathize with us and to save us perfectly.

 

3.       Avoiding the Jews’ Political Misunderstanding

 

At that time, when many Jews heard titles such as “Messiah (Christ)” or “Son of David,” they envisioned a political and military king who would overthrow Rome by force.

 

Jesus deliberately chose the non-political and somewhat mysterious title “Son of Man” in order to avoid such misunderstandings and to reveal that He was the Messiah who would save humanity through suffering.

 

Summary: The Three Major Characteristics of the Title “Son of Man”

 

The Suffering Son of Man: The One who had nowhere to lay His head, who would be betrayed and put to death (Mt. 8:20; Mk. 8:31).

 

The Son of Man of Ministry and Authority: The One who has authority on earth to forgive sins and who is Lord of the Sabbath (Mt. 9:6; Mk. 2:28).

 

The Son of Man of Glory and Judgment: The One who will come with the angels on the clouds on the last day to judge the world (Lk. 17:30; Mt. 24:30).

 

When Jesus called Himself “the Son of Man,” He was essentially declaring: “I am both the One who has humbled Himself to suffer for you as a man, and the heavenly King who will judge the world on the last day” (Internet).

 

(b)    Then what does the phrase “the day the Son of Man is revealed” (ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀποκαλύπτεται) mean?

 

(i)        This expression refers to the decisive moment in all of biblical history—the end of the age and the Second Coming (Parousia) of Jesus Christ.  By examining the etymology and grammatical characteristics of the key word “ἀποκαλύπτεται” (apokalyptetai, “is revealed”), we can understand more clearly what kind of day this will be (Internet source).

 

1.       The Meaning of the Key Word “Apokalyptetai” (ἀποκαλύπτεται)

 

This word comes from the verb ἀποκαλύπτω (apokalyptō), which means “to uncover,” “to unveil,” or “to reveal.”  The English word “Apocalypse” is derived from this very term.

 

The Complete Unveiling of His Hidden Divinity: At His First Coming, Jesus concealed His glory and came in the appearance of an ordinary human being.  But on that day, His true divine glory as the King of kings and Judge of all the earth will be openly and universally revealed to the entire cosmos without any concealment.

 

The Significance of the Passive Voice: Grammatically, the verb is in the passive voice.  While it is true that the Son reveals Himself, the passive construction emphasizes that, ultimately, it is the Father who, at His appointed time, causes the glory of His Son to be openly manifested before the whole world.

 

The Mystery of the Present Tense: Although this event belongs to the future, the Greek text uses the present tense.  This is a rhetorical device known as the “prophetic present,” which is used to describe a future event as though it were already happening because its fulfillment is absolutely certain and vividly assured.

 

2.       Three Spiritual Meanings of “the Day the Son of Man Is Revealed”

 

When understood in the context of Luke 17:30 and the surrounding references to the days of Noah and Lot, this day possesses three distinct characteristics.

 

①      A Day That Arrives Suddenly and Without Warning

 

The flood in Noah’s day and the rain of fire and sulfur upon Sodom came unexpectedly while people were absorbed in ordinary activities—eating, drinking, marrying, buying, selling, planting, and building.  Likewise, the day the Son of Man is revealed will come suddenly, like a thief, while the world is spiritually asleep and unsuspecting.

 

②      A Day of Complete Separation (Judgment and Salvation)

 

This will not merely be a day for observation.  It will be the day when God’s judgment and salvation are executed with decisive finality.  Scripture warns that on that day, “two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left” (Lk. 17:34).  Just as Lot’s wife looked back longingly toward the world, those whose hearts remain attached to worldly desires will not escape judgment.

 

③      A Day of Supreme Glory and Comfort for Believers

 

For the wicked, it will be a dreadful day when their sins and the judgment they wished to hide are exposed.  But for believers who have remained faithful, it will be the day when tears and suffering finally come to an end and they enter into glory with their Lord—the day of ultimate victory.

 

Summary

“The day the Son of Man is revealed” refers to the day of Christ’s Second Coming, when the divine nature and glorious authority of Jesus Christ as Judge—previously veiled during His First Coming—will be completely unveiled and openly manifested to the entire world by God Himself (Internet).

 

(2)    What were “the Days of Noah” and “the Days of Lot” like, when Jesus said that “the Day the Son of Man is revealed” (Lk. 17:30) would be like them?

 

(a)    “The Days of Noah” [ταῖς ἡμέραις Νῶε (tais hēmerais Nōe)]: These days can be summarized by four Greek words found in verse 27.

 

       (i)        The first word is “ἤσθιον” (ēsthion) — “they were eating.”

 

1.       Etymology and Grammatical Meaning

 

Root word: It comes from the basic Greek verb ἐσθίω (esthiō), meaning “to eat.”

 

Grammatical analysis: It is in the imperfect active indicative, third person plural.

 

Nuance: In Greek, the imperfect tense indicates that an action was repeatedly and continuously occurring in the past.  In other words, they did not merely eat occasionally. Rather, even while warnings of judgment surrounded them, they were “continually eating as they always had,” portraying an uninterrupted pattern of life with vivid force.

 

2.       The Deeper Meaning of This Word (A Spiritual Trap)

 

In Scripture, eating food itself is not sinful; rather, it is one of God's blessings.  However, the fact that Jesus places this word at the beginning of His description of the last days contains a sharp spiritual warning.

①      Spiritual Insensitivity and Complacency

 

Noah spent decades building the ark and warning people about the coming flood judgment.  Yet the people completely ignored his warnings and focused all their attention on physical needs and daily satisfactions—on what they would eat today.  This word exposes a spiritual numbness in which people were preoccupied with satisfying their physical appetites even though spiritual destruction was right at their doorstep.

 

②      Greed and Dissipation (The Background of Genesis 6)

 

The culture of Noah's day was not merely about eating for survival. It was characterized by greed, self-indulgence, and pleasure-seeking.  In the parallel passage of Matthew 24:38, the expression appears as “eating and drinking until the day the flood came,” dramatically portraying people who remained intoxicated with sensual pleasures even while standing on the threshold of judgment.

 

Summary

“ἤσθιον” (ēsthion) means far more than simply consuming food.  It refers to a state of spiritual insensitivity in which people mocked God's warnings of judgment and remained endlessly absorbed in bodily desires and earthly pleasures until the very last moment.

 

(ii)        The second word is “ἔπινον” (epinon) — “they were drinking.”

 

1.       Etymology and Grammatical Meaning

 

Root word: It comes from the Greek verb πίνω (pinō), meaning “to drink.”

 

Grammatical analysis: Like the previous verb, it is in the imperfect active indicative, third person plural.

 

Nuance: Just as with ἤσθιον (“they were eating”), the imperfect tense indicates a continuous and habitual activity.  Up until the very moment before the flood judgment arrived, they were “continually drinking” as a regular pattern of life.

2.       The Deeper Meaning of This Word (A Spiritual Trap)

 

Drinking water or beverages is a necessary part of human life. However, Jesus' use of this word as a sign of judgment contains a profound spiritual indictment.

 

①      Dissipation and Drunkenness (Hedonism)

 

In many biblical contexts, when “eating and drinking” is used negatively, it refers not merely to nourishment but to drunkenness and self-indulgent feasting.  The people of Noah's day lived in spiritual paralysis, intoxicated by pleasure and entertainment, with no fear of judgment and no spiritual awakening.

 

②      Attempting to Satisfy Spiritual Thirst Through Fleshly Means

 

They attempted to fill their spiritual emptiness and thirst apart from God through worldly possessions, pleasures, and stimulating cultural experiences symbolized by wine and feasting.  The Lord's warning concerns precisely this condition—a life so addicted to earthly pleasures that it can no longer hear the voice of heaven.

 

Summary and Connection

Together, the first word “ἤσθιον” (“they were eating”) and the second word “ἔπινον” (“they were drinking”) paint a vivid picture of a lifestyle centered on physical satisfaction and worldly desires apart from God—a materialistic and pleasure-driven worldview.

 

·         As I meditated on these first two words, “ἤσθιον” (“they were eating”) and “ἔπινον” (“they were drinking”), I was reminded of “the lust of the flesh” (1 Jn. 2:16).

 

a.   The Remarkable Correspondence Between the Two Passages in Greek

 

Luke 17:27: “ἤσθιον,” “ἔπινον” (ēsthion, epinon) — “they were eating,” “they were drinking.”

 

1 John 2:16: “ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῆς σαρκὸς” (hē epithymia tēs sarkos) — “the lust of the flesh.”

 

The word “epithymia” (“lust” or “desire”) refers not merely to seeking what is necessary, but to a strong craving that has gone beyond proper control.  The continual eating and drinking described in Noah's day (expressed through the imperfect tense) is the outward manifestation of the very condition that the Apostle John identifies as the lust of the flesh—a life devoted to satisfying bodily desires apart from God.

 

b.   The Spiritual Meaning Viewed Through the Lens of “the Lust of the Flesh”

 

These two words expose the true characteristics of humanity when dominated by fleshly desires.

 

①      A Life in Which Physical Satisfaction Becomes an Idol

 

The lust of the flesh causes people to neglect their spiritual needs entirely.  The people of Noah's day showed little concern for the nourishment of their souls and devoted themselves solely to satisfying their physical appetites.  As the Apostle Paul warned: “Their god is their belly ... and they set their minds on earthly things” (Phil. 3:19).  This describes a condition in which sensual gratification becomes the very purpose of life.

 

②      Spiritual Numbness Toward Coming Judgment

 

Just as intoxication dulls a person's reasoning, intoxication with fleshly desires dulls spiritual discernment.  For one hundred years, while the ark was being built and warnings were proclaimed, the people remained unable to hear the message because their hearts were captivated by their desires.  Ultimately, sinful desire renders a person spiritually insensitive.

 

③      The Contrast Between What Passes Away and What Is Eternal

 

1 John 2:17 continues: “The world is passing away, and its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”  The people of Noah's day devoted themselves to fleeting desires that would soon be swept away by the flood rather than preparing for the eternal refuge represented by the ark.

 

Conclusion

One of the greatest enemies believers must guard against in the last days is not merely external persecution, but the lust of the flesh within—the constant demand for bodily gratification and earthly satisfaction.  By pointing to the days of Noah, Jesus solemnly asks whether we, too, have become so occupied with satisfying our physical desires that we are failing to prepare for the coming day of the Son of Man.

 

(iii)       The third word is “ἐγάμουν” (egamoun) — “they were marrying.”

 

1.       Etymology and Grammatical Meaning

 

Root word: It is derived from the Greek verb γαμέω (gameō), meaning “to marry” or “to take a wife.”

 

Grammatical analysis: It is in the imperfect active indicative, third person plural.

 

Nuance: The subject is men. In other words, it indicates that the men of that time were continually taking wives and entering into marriages.  Like the preceding verbs, the imperfect tense is used, portraying how, right up until the moment the flood came, they were “busily engaged in wedding celebrations and occupied with taking wives.”

 

2.       Its Spiritual Meaning Connected with “the Lust of the Eyes”

 

Jesus was not condemning the holy institution of marriage established by God.  Rather, when viewed in connection with the background of Genesis 6, this word exposes a condition in which human lust had reached its peak.

 

①      A Life Pursuing Only Visible Beauty (Gen. 6:2)

Genesis 6:2 describes the cause of the flood judgment in these words: “The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives any they chose.”  They completely disregarded spiritual values and God's will, choosing wives primarily on the basis of physical beauty and outward attractiveness—the very essence of the lust of the eyes.

 

②      The Expansion of Relationships Without God

 

For them, marriage was not a sacred covenant established before God to build a family. Rather, it had become a means of maximizing physical pleasure and expanding personal influence in this world.  Blinded by outward splendor and worldly qualifications, they became spiritually blind to the warnings of the eternal judgment that was approaching.

 

Summary

“ἐγάμουν” (egamoun) signifies an end-times corruption in which people abandoned God's covenant and spiritual standards, continually pursuing physical unions and earthly pleasures, driven solely by visible attractiveness and sensory appeal—the lust of the eyes (Internet).

 

(i)                 The fourth and final word is “ἐγαμίζοντο” (egamizonto) — “they were being given in marriage.”

 

1.       Etymology and Grammatical Meaning

 

Root word: It comes from the Greek verb γαμίζω (gamizō), meaning “to give in marriage” or “to marry off.”

 

Grammatical analysis: It is in the imperfect passive (or middle) indicative, third person plural.

 

Nuance: In contrast to the previous verb, “they were marrying” (active voice), this verb is in the passive voice. In the context of ancient society, it describes women being given in marriage into another household, often through arrangements made by their parents.  Since it is also in the imperfect tense, it conveys that until the flood judgment was literally at the door, people continued “giving and receiving in marriage” according to the customs and social patterns of the world.

 

2.       Its Spiritual Meaning Connected with “the Pride of Life”

 

In ancient society, arranging marriages and joining families together was not merely a matter of personal relationships. It was one of the primary means by which people established security, influence, and social standing in this world.

 

①      An Attempt to Build an Eternal City on Earth

 

The people completely ignored Noah's warnings concerning the coming judgment from heaven while he was building the ark.  Instead, they strategically arranged marriages to strengthen their family lines, social prestige, and wealth.  They devoted all their energy to securing and boasting in this present life (βίος, bios), rather than preparing for eternity.

 

②      Arrogant Trust in the World's System

 

The phrase “they were being given in marriage” assumes that the social structures of this world will continue indefinitely and securely.  As the Apostle Paul warned: “While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come upon them suddenly” (1 Thess. 5:3).  They trusted in their family alliances, social status, and worldly support systems—the very essence of the pride of life—and thus reached the height of spiritual complacency and arrogance.

 

(ii)               Summary: The Portrait of the Last Days Painted by These Four Words

 

·         Jesus' description of the people of Noah's day can be summarized in one phrase: “A perfectly normal life without God.”

 

ἤσθιον (they were eating), ἔπινον (they were drinking) → The lust of the flesh: A life devoted to satisfying one's appetites and senses.

 

ἐγάμουν (they were marrying) → The lust of the eyes: A life pursuing visible beauty and earthly pleasure.

 

ἐγαμίζοντο (they were being given in marriage) → The pride of life: A life grounded in worldly security and dependence upon earthly systems.

 

The people of Noah's day were not necessarily engaged in obvious crimes when the flood came upon them. Rather, they were absorbed in what appeared to be completely ordinary daily activities.  Worldly desires numb our spiritual senses by persuading us that “this is simply how life is,” causing us to neglect preparing the Ark—Jesus Christ Himself (Internet).

 

(b)    “The Days of Lot” [ταῖς ἡμέραις Λώτ (tais hēmerais Lōt)]: These days may be summarized by six Greek words found in verse 28.

 

(i)      The first two words among these six are “ἤσθιον” (ēsthion) (“they were eating”) and “ἔπινον” (epinon) (“they were drinking”), which we have already examined in our study of “the days of Noah” (vv. 27-28).

 

·         The account of “the days of Lot,” which concerns the destruction of Sodom, also begins with these same two words: “ἤσθιον” (“they were eating”) and “ἔπινον” (“they were drinking”).  The fact that these two words appear once again at the forefront carries profound spiritual significance.  Viewed through the lens of the lust of the flesh, we can observe several important characteristics of these words in the context of Lot's day (Internet).

 

1.   The Repetition of a Sinful Lifestyle (The Same Imperfect Tense)

 

In Sodom and Gomorrah, people remained absorbed in eating and drinking right up until the moment when fire and sulfur rained down from heaven.  Many generations had passed since Noah's day, and the geographical setting was entirely different.  Yet the pattern remained exactly the same: humanity, standing on the brink of judgment, became blinded by fleshly desires and spiritually paralyzed.

 

2.   The Real Sin of Sodom Exposed by Ezekiel: “Prosperity and Complacency”

 

Ezekiel 16:49 identifies Sodom's sin from a perspective beyond the sexual immorality for which it is commonly known: “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned...”

 

Abundance of Food: For the people of Sodom, eating and drinking were not merely matters of survival. The land of Sodom was extraordinarily fertile, “like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt” (Gen. 13:10).

 

A Breeding Ground for Lust: Their daily lives, characterized by continually satisfying fleshly desires (ἤσθιον, ἔπινον) amid material abundance, eventually became the starting point for spiritual pride and extreme moral corruption.

 

3.   Summary and the Words That Follow

 

When Jesus described the days of Lot, He used these familiar words—“eating” and “drinking”—as stepping-stones leading to Sodom's more advanced expressions of worldly desire: buying (ἠγόραζον), selling (ἐπώλουν), planting (ἐφύτευον), and building (ᾠκοδόμουν).  These portray a highly materialistic way of life (Internet).

 

(ii)        The third word is “ἠγόραζον” (ēgorazon) — “they were buying.”

 

1.       Etymology and Grammatical Meaning

 

Root word: It comes from the Greek verb ἀγοράζω (agorazō), meaning “to go to the marketplace,” “to buy,” or “to purchase.”  The word derives from the ἀγορά (agora), the marketplace or public square of ancient Greece.

 

Grammatical analysis: It is in the imperfect active indicative, third person plural.

 

Nuance: As with the preceding verbs, the imperfect tense vividly portrays the people of Sodom continually buying goods and expanding their possessions right up until the moment fire and sulfur fell from heaven.

2.       Its Spiritual Meaning Connected with “the Lust of the Eyes” and Materialism

 

Jesus did not identify this activity as sinful because ordinary commerce is wrong.  Rather, this word exposes the greed of people whose souls have become captivated by earthly possessions.

 

①      Possessiveness and the Lust of the Eyes (1 Jn. 2:16)

 

The act of buying (ἠγόραζον) is closely connected with the desire to acquire things that appear more attractive, more luxurious, and more desirable.  The people of Sodom were blind to spiritual salvation and the coming judgment, yet their eyes were extraordinarily sharp when it came to worldly treasures and merchandise in the marketplace.  They filled their lives with visible possessions while remaining unaware of the nakedness of their souls.

 

②      Sodom's Intensified Materialism and Complacency

 

In Genesis 13, the Sodom that Lot chose after lifting up his eyes was described as a fertile and prosperous commercial region, “like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt.”  The people of Sodom continually purchased goods and accumulated wealth in order to build comfortable and secure lives for themselves.  For them, buying and acquiring had become not merely an activity but the very purpose of life—their functional god.

 

Summary

“ἠγόραζον” (ēgorazon) signifies the materialistic desire—the lust of the eyes—that mocks the warning of coming divine judgment and continually seeks to acquire visible wealth and possessions right up until the final moment (Internet).

 

(iii)       The fourth word is “ἐπώλουν” (epōloun) (“they were selling”).

 

1.       Etymology and Grammatical Meaning

Root form: It is derived from the Greek verb πωλέω (pōleō), meaning “to sell,” “to export,” or “to trade.” (The latter part of the English word monopoly is derived from this word.)

 

Grammatical analysis: Imperfect indicative active, third person plural.

 

Nuance: This word also appears in the imperfect tense.  This indicates that right up until the moment when the rain of sulfur and fire fell, the people of Sodom were continually preoccupied with selling goods and conducting business in order to make profits and increase their wealth.  It vividly portrays the ongoing nature of their economic greed.

 

2.       Spiritual Meaning Connected with “the Pride of Life” and “the Pursuit of Profit”

 

When the activities of buying and selling are combined, a sophisticated commercial and economic system emerges. Jesus’ mention of this word contains a sharp spiritual indictment.

 

①      The “Pride of Life” Directed Toward Profit and Accumulation (1 Jn. 2:16)

 

The essence of selling is making a profit.  The people of Sodom were obsessed with accumulating more wealth through trade and using it to boast of their power and status in the world.  Like those warned in James 4:13—who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money”—they arrogantly gloried in earthly riches while giving no thought to the uncertainty of life itself.

 

②      Materialism That Sells Even the Soul

 

The economic prosperity of Sodom and Gomorrah was directly proportional to their spiritual and moral corruption.  Revelation 18:11–13 lists the merchandise sold by the merchants of fallen Babylon, ending with “human souls.”  Likewise, the people of Sodom had fallen into complete materialism—the worship of money as a god.  If greater profit could be gained, they would spare neither conscience, neighbor, nor soul.

Summary: The Spiritual Portrait of “Buying and Selling”

 

The “buying and selling” lifestyle that Jesus condemned in the days of Lot represents a state of spiritual bankruptcy in which people were consumed with gathering and circulating earthly wealth—wealth destined to be destroyed by fire—rather than preparing eternal treasures in heaven (Internet).

 

(i)                 The fifth word is “ἐφύτευον” (ephyteuon) (“they were planting”).

 

1.       Etymology and Grammatical Meaning

 

Root form: Derived from the Greek verb φυτεύω (phyteuō), meaning “to plant trees or plants” or “to cultivate.”

 

Grammatical analysis: Imperfect indicative active, third person plural.

 

Nuance: Once again, the imperfect tense is used.  This means they were not merely planting a seed once.  Rather, right up until the moment sulfur and fire began to fall, they were continually occupied with planting trees and cultivating orchards in anticipation of future harvests and greater prosperity.

 

2.       Spiritual Meaning Connected with “the Pride of Life” and “Securing an Earthly Future”

 

Farming and planting trees require long-term effort and investment.  The Lord’s identification of this ordinary activity as a sign of judgment contains a profound spiritual accusation.

 

①      The “Pride of Life” That Seeks to Take Permanent Root on Earth (1 Jn. 2:16)

 

Planting trees signifies preparing for a long-term future and stability in this world.  The people of Sodom planted valuable vineyards and olive trees in a land that was “like the garden of the Lord” (Gen. 13:10), dreaming of a prosperous future in which their wealth would be enjoyed for generations.  Instead of placing their hope in God’s eternal kingdom, they confidently rooted their future in a worldly system that was soon to be consumed by fire.  This reveals their pride and the pride of life.

 

②      Spiritual Malnutrition That Cannot See Tomorrow’s Judgment

 

A person who plants and cultivates trees focuses on the abundant fruit that will be harvested in the future.  The people of Sodom were so occupied with anticipating earthly fruits that would satisfy their fleshly desires that they failed to bear spiritual fruit and could not see the fire of God’s wrath that was about to fall upon them.  Intoxicated by dreams of future earthly prosperity, they neglected to prepare for the salvation of their souls.

 

Summary

“ἐφύτευον” (ephyteuon) represents a materialistic confidence—the pride of life—that mocks the warning of coming judgment and seeks to establish permanent roots in this world in order to secure future wealth and stability (Internet).

 

(ii)               The sixth and final word is “ᾠκοδόμουν” (oikodomoun) (“they were building houses”).

 

1.       Etymology and Grammatical Meaning

 

Root form: Derived from the Greek verb οἰκοδομέω (oikodomeō), meaning “to build a house” or “to construct.”  It is formed from οἶκος (oikos), meaning “house,” and δέμω (demō), meaning “to build.”

 

Grammatical analysis: Imperfect indicative active, third person plural.

 

Nuance: Even this final word is consistently in the imperfect tense.  This dramatically exposes the fact that right up until sulfur and fire rained upon Sodom, the people never stopped hammering and laying bricks.  They were completely absorbed in constructing their territory and buildings upon the earth.

 

2.       The Climax of “the Pride of Life” and Humanity’s Tower of Babel

Construction is one of the most permanent and visible marks human beings leave upon the earth.  Jesus concludes His description of the days of Lot with this word because it encapsulates humanity’s pride immediately before destruction.

 

①      The “Pride of Life” That Builds an Eternal City on Earth (1 Jn. 2:16)

 

Building houses and cities is humanity’s declaration: “I will be secure here forever.”  Rather than preparing an eternal dwelling in the kingdom of heaven, the people of Sodom built impressive and sturdy structures in a city that would soon be reduced to ashes.  This was the ultimate expression of the pride of life—the desire to display wealth, power, and worldly security.

 

②      A Summary of the Days of Noah and Lot in Light of 1 John 2:16

 

The eight activities described in the days of Noah and Lot correspond perfectly with the structure of worldly desires and complete the Lord’s solemn warning:

 

ἤσθιον, ἔπινον (eating and drinking) → the lust of the flesh (satisfying bodily appetites and senses)

 

ἐγάμουν, ἠγόραζον (marrying and buying) → the lust of the eyes (expanding visible pleasures and possessions)

 

ἐγαμίζοντο, ἐπώλουν, ἐφύτευον, ᾠκοδόμουν (giving in marriage, selling, planting, and building) → the pride of life (building and boasting in earthly systems and future security)

 

Conclusion: “Until They Were All Destroyed”

The people of Sodom were not judged while committing some extraordinary religious crime.  Rather, they were judged in the midst of what appeared to be the most reasonable and normal activities of daily life—planting and building for their future.  Their real sin was not that they built houses.  Their real sin was that while building houses, they had completely erased God from their lives (Internet).

(3)    I would like to meditate on Jesus’ words, “destroyed them all” [καὶ ἀπώλεσεν πάντας (kai apōlesen pantas)], spoken in the latter half of verses 27 and 29.

 

1.       The Etymology and Deep Spiritual Meaning of “Apōlesen” (ἀπώλεσεν)

 

When this word appears in Scripture, it carries a fatal eschatological significance that goes beyond mere physical death.

 

①      Total Destruction and Loss

 

The verb ἀπόλλυμι (apollymi) refers to something being completely ruined, losing its original purpose, and becoming useless.  Human beings, created for God’s glory, became absorbed in worldly desires—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—and, under judgment, lost the very purpose of their existence, falling into eternal punishment.

 

②      The Same Word Used for the “Lost” Prodigal Son

 

Interestingly, this word shares the same root as the word used in Luke 15, where the father says concerning the prodigal son: “My son was lost (ἀπολωλώς, apolōlōs), and is found.”  Those who abandon God and become intoxicated with worldly desires ultimately become eternally “lost” before God and face judgment.

 

③      The Solemnity of “Pantas” (πάντας, “all”): Judgment Without Exception

 

Until the day Noah entered the ark and until the day Lot departed from Sodom, all who continued eating, drinking, and building were destroyed without exception.  People often think: “Surely I’ll be okay”,“Everyone else lives this way.”  Yet before God’s judgment seat, the multitudes who followed the spirit of the age will not escape. Not one person will be exempt from judgment.

 

Summary

The final destination of the worldly desires we have been considering—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is precisely this: “ἀπώλεσεν πάντας” (apōlesen pantas) — total spiritual ruin and universal destruction.  The economic systems, buildings, and family structures that people so proudly construct on earth can become ashes in a single moment before the judgment of God. Jesus concludes His warning with this powerful expression (Internet).

 

(4)    What does Jesus mean when He says, “It will be just the same on the day the Son of Man is revealed” [κατὰ τὰ αὐτὰ ἔσται ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀποκαλύπτεται] (Lk. 17:30)?

 

1.       “The Pattern of Human Desires Will Be Repeated in Exactly the Same Way”

 

The Greek phrase κατὰ τὰ αὐτὰ ἔσται (kata ta auta estai) means: “It will happen in exactly the same manner.” 

 

Jesus warns that at the end of history people will be in precisely the same spiritual condition as those in the days of Noah and Lot:

 

Intoxicated with the lust of the flesh, continually eating and drinking (ἤσθιον, ἔπινον).

 

Blinded by the lust of the eyes, marrying and buying (ἐγάμουν, ἠγόραζον). 

 

Consumed with the pride of life, giving in marriage, selling, planting, and building (ἐγαμίζοντο, ἐπώλουν, ἐφύτευον, ᾠκοδόμουν).

 

Even on the day the Lord returns, the world will still be building its own “eternal city” without God and will remain spiritually asleep.

 

2.       “When the Veil Is Removed, Total Destruction Without Exception Will Come”

 

The day when the Son of Man is revealed (apokalyptetai) will not resemble His first coming, when His glory was veiled in humility.  Rather, it will be the day when His divine majesty as King of kings and Judge of all is openly and irresistibly revealed before the entire world.

 

At that moment, humanity’s magnificent civilizations and economic empires, built upon worldly desires, will be exposed as nothing more than piles of ashes.

 

Just as the flood in Noah’s day and the rain of fire and sulfur in Lot’s day suddenly came and “destroyed them all” (ἀπώλεσεν πάντας), so too the judgment of that final day will bring complete destruction upon all who remain outside the ark and inside the spiritual Sodom of worldly desires—without a single exception.

 

3.       “A Final and Decisive ‘Day’ Will Come When Opportunity Ends”

 

Earlier, Jesus spoke of the “days” (plural) of the Son of Man, referring to an extended period of signs preceding judgment.  But in verse 30 He speaks of “the day” (ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ, dative singular).

 

This points to one specific, decisive moment when God’s judgment and separation will be executed with absolute finality.

 

Just as there came a day when the ark door was shut and a day when sulfur and fire fell upon Sodom, there will come a final moment when there will no longer be time to gather possessions, conduct business, or repent at the last minute.

 

Summary of This Meditation:

The tragic reality of the past—when people, blinded by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, enjoyed a seemingly perfect life without God and then faced total destruction (ἀπώλεσεν πάντας) without exception—will be repeated in exactly the same way (κατὰ τὰ αὐτὰ) on that final day (ἡμέρᾳ) when the Son of Man is revealed in glory.  Therefore, stay awake and be watchful (Internet).