We Must Enjoy God’s Reign in Our Lives (Present), While Simultaneously Watching and Waiting for the Lord’s Return (Future)!

We Must Enjoy God’s Reign in Our Lives (Present), While Simultaneously Watching and Waiting for the Lord’s Return (Future)!

 

 

 

 

“Then He said to His 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. People will tell you, “There He is!” or “Here He is!” Do not go running off after them. For the Son of Man in His day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation’” (Luke 17:22–25).

 

 

(1)    When I read today’s passage, Luke 17:22–25, in both the Korean Bible and the Greek New Testament, the very first thought that came to my mind was: “Why did Jesus speak to the Pharisees about the Kingdom of God (vv. 20–21) and then immediately speak to His disciples about ‘the days of the Son of Man’ (His Second Coming)?”

 

(a)    “Luke 17:20–21 and 17:22–25 are closely connected as a single spiritual flow concerning the beginning and the consummation of the Kingdom of God. Through these two passages, Jesus explains the tension between the ‘Already’ and the ‘Not Yet’ of God’s Kingdom” (Internt):

 

1.       From the Beginning of the Kingdom’s Reign to the Consummation of History

 

Verses 20–21 (Present): To the Pharisees, Jesus declares that the Kingdom of God had already come among them with His first coming, manifested through His divine reign.

 

Verses 22–25 (Future): To His disciples, He teaches that the Kingdom does not end with His first coming but will one day be visibly and fully consummated through “the day of the Son of Man” (His Second Coming).

 

2.       A Deepened Lesson Through a Change of Audience

 

To the Pharisees (vv. 20–21): Jesus urges those whose spiritual eyes are darkened and who cannot recognize the Messiah standing before them to receive God’s present reign.

 

To the Disciples (vv. 22–25): To those who have already begun experiencing the Kingdom, He prepares them to endure the coming time of suffering and to wait properly for the future glory that is yet to come.

 

3.       Providing a Standard of Discernment (Protection from Deception)

 

The Inner Beginning (vv. 20–21): The Kingdom of God does not arrive in a visibly observable way such that people can say, “Here it is!” or “There it is!”

 

The Universal Consummation (vv. 22–25): Therefore, if someone later says, “The Christ is here” or “He is there,” and attempts to lure believers to some secret location, they must not follow.  The true day of consummation will come like lightning, unmistakable to everyone at once.

 

4.       The Necessary Prerequisite for Glory (v. 25)

 

The final conclusion connecting these two passages is Jesus’ suffering.

 

Before the Kingdom that has already come can be consummated throughout the world like a flash of lightning, Jesus must first suffer on the cross and be rejected.  This reveals the redemptive necessity within God’s plan of salvation.

 

This teaching instructs believers today that we are to enjoy God’s reign in our lives now (the present) while at the same time remaining spiritually alert as we await the Lord’s return (the future) (Internet).

(2)    If the Kingdom of God has already come among us through Jesus’ first coming as His reign, and if it will one day be visibly completed through the day of the Son of Man (His Second Coming)—what should we, as Jesus’ disciples who believe this, do in order to wait properly through the coming times of suffering and for the future glory?

 

(a)    Although Luke 17:22–30 and the broader context of Scripture can be summarized in four ways—

 

(1) Avoid falling into the trap of ordinary worldly living (spiritual alertness),

(2) Discern false gospels and date-setting end-time teachings (reject deception),

(3) Accept suffering as a normal part of discipleship (the theology of the cross), and

(4) Press forward without looking back (breaking attachment to the world) (Internet)—

 

today’s passage, Luke 17:22–25, may be summarized in three key attitudes (Internet):

 

1.       “Do Not Go After Them or Follow Them” — Spiritual Discernment and Perseverance (vv. 22–23)

 

Background of the Passage: During times of suffering, the disciples will experience intense spiritual longing and loneliness, “desiring to see one of the days of the Son of Man” but not seeing it (v. 22).  At such times, people will attempt to deceive them with false salvation and counterfeit gospels, saying, “Look, there He is!” or “Look, here He is!”

 

The Proper Attitude: Jesus sternly commands, “Do not go after them or follow them” (v. 23).  When suffering is prolonged and the Lord’s presence seems distant, believers must not be driven by impatience into trusting human solutions, mysticism, or false teachings. Instead, they must patiently hold fast to the true gospel and persevere in the truth until the end.

 

2.       “Like a Flash of Lightning” — Confidence and Peace (v. 24)

 

Background of the Passage: The coming of the Son of Man will be “like lightning, which flashes from one end of the sky to the other” (v. 24).  In other words, Christ’s return will not be a secret event known only to a select few. It will be obvious, glorious, and universally visible.

 

The Proper Attitude: The disciples have no reason to be anxious about the future glory.  When the true Lord returns, no one will need to struggle to identify Him.  Everyone will know.  Therefore, believers should abandon the fear of, “What if I miss the Lord’s coming?” and instead rest in the certainty of His glorious return, living in peace and confident expectation.

 

3.       “He Must First Suffer Many Things” — Accepting the Necessity of Suffering (v. 25)

 

Background of the Passage: Immediately after speaking about His glorious return, Jesus says: “But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation” (v. 25).  Before the day of glory can come, the suffering of the cross must come first. This is the divine pattern of redemptive history.

 

The Proper Attitude: If Jesus, the Head of the Church, suffered and was rejected, then suffering will naturally come into the lives of His disciples who live under His reign and await His return.  Therefore, disciples must abandon a prosperity-centered faith that seeks only glory.  Instead, they should accept the trials, hardships, and rejection that come from following Christ as a normal part of the Christian life and face them courageously.

 

In summary, the proper waiting described in Luke 17:22–25 is: A life that refuses to be shaken by false temptations in the midst of suffering (vv. 22–23), trusts in the certain glory of Christ’s return (v. 24), and quietly endures the cross-shaped sufferings of today that precede future glory (v. 25) (Internet).

 

(i)        How Can We Avoid Being Shaken When We Are Tempted by False Salvation and False Gospels in the Midst of Suffering?

 

a.       Accepting the Word’s Prediction of Spiritual Thirst and Suffering as Normal

 

Scriptural Basis (v. 22): Jesus told His 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.”

Application: When spiritual dryness or difficult circumstances come upon us, we should not panic and ask, “Why has God abandoned me?”  Instead, we should remember that the Lord already foretold that such seasons of spiritual longing would come.  When we accept suffering itself as a normal part of the life of faith, we are able to keep our hearts steady and centered.

 

b.       Immediately Obeying the Command, “Do Not Go After Them or Follow Them”

 

Scriptural Basis (v. 23): When people say, “Look, there He is!” or “Look, here He is!” Jesus’ instruction is unmistakably clear: “Do not go after them or follow them.”

 

Application: As suffering deepens, we may become attracted to teachings that claim, “If you go here, you will be healed,” or “If you receive this special revelation, you can escape your suffering.”  Such teachings often appear secretive and extraordinary.  At such times, we must reject them firmly by refusing even to entertain them. It is safest not to listen to or engage with mystical teachings that go beyond Scripture or messages that manipulate people through fear.

 

c.       Trusting in the Universality and Certainty of the Truth Already Given

 

Scriptural Basis (v. 24): Jesus said that His return would be “like lightning that flashes from one end of the sky to the other.”

 

Application: The true gospel and true salvation are never secretive or hidden.  They are clear and openly revealed for all to see.  Therefore, do not be deceived by claims of a “secret gospel known only to a select few.”  The only way to overcome falsehood is to stand firmly upon the written Word of God that has already been publicly given to us and upon the true gospel faithfully proclaimed in the church.

 

Summary:

The secret to remaining steadfast during times of suffering is not to wander in search of new spiritual knowledge, but rather to remember the Lord’s warnings already given in Scripture (v. 22), close our ears to false voices (v. 23), and trust only the clear and unmistakable truth of God’s Word, which shines like lightning (v. 24). (Internet source)

(ii)        Since the Suffering of the Cross Must Come Before the Day of Glory, How Should We, as Jesus’ Disciples, Accept and Courageously Face the Trials and Rejection That Come with Following Him?

 

a.       Abandoning the False Illusion of “Glory Without Suffering”

 

Recognizing the Principle: Immediately after promising His glorious return (v. 24), Jesus declared that He must first suffer and be rejected (v. 25).

 

The Secret of Courage: If the path walked by Jesus, our Head, was the path of the cross, then it is entirely normal for trials to come into the lives of His disciples who live under His lordship.  We must abandon the misconception that says, “If I truly believe in Jesus, why am I suffering?”  When we recognize suffering as a necessary stage on the road to glory, spiritual resilience grows within us, enabling us to face hardship with courage.

 

b.       Experiencing Deep Union with the Lord in Places of Rejection

 

The Comfort of the Passage: Jesus was not welcomed by the world; rather, He was “rejected by this generation” (v. 25).

 

The Secret of Courage: There are times when we feel isolated because of our faith or unfairly rejected in a world governed by selfish values.  Rather than becoming discouraged, we should realize, “I am sharing in the very place of rejection that my Lord experienced.”  Through our trials we come to understand the heart of Christ more deeply, and the place of suffering becomes the very place where we experience the closest fellowship with Him.

 

c.       Comparing the Temporary Nature of Suffering with the Certainty of Glory

 

The Order of Redemptive History: In this passage, suffering comes first (v. 25), followed by the day of the Son of Man, shining like lightning across the heavens (v. 24).  Suffering is therefore not the destination but merely the pathway leading to glory.

The Secret of Courage: The trials and rejection we experience in this life are not eternal; they will come to an end.  The glory that is to come, however, will be perfect and everlasting.  We need the spiritual perspective that measures present suffering against the certainty and magnitude of future glory, enabling us to regard today’s trials lightly and face them courageously.

 

Summary:

The disciple’s way of facing suffering is not to flee from it, but rather to accept the principle that “No Cross, No Crown” (v. 25), encounter the Lord in places of rejection, and endure the present by fixing one’s eyes on the eternal glory that will come like lightning (v. 24). (Internet source)

 

(iii)       As Jesus’ disciples, what should we do to endure every trial through a faith shaped by the cross while looking forward to the eternal glory that will come like lightning (v. 24)?

 

a.       Begin Each Day by Visualizing the Day of Glory

 

Scriptural Focus (v. 24): The day of the Son of Man will arrive as clearly and overwhelmingly as lightning that illuminates the entire sky from one end to the other.

 

How to Practice This: Every morning when you wake up, consciously declare: “Today could be the day when the Lord returns in glory and is revealed to the whole world.”  Remind yourself that the pressures of work, family struggles, and health concerns that burden you today are nothing more than a passing mist when compared with the lightning-like glory of Christ.  Confess this truth aloud and expand your spiritual vision.

 

b.       Fix Your Eyes on the Cross of Jesus Whenever Suffering Comes

 

Scriptural Focus (v. 25): In order to bring us the brilliant glory described in verse 24, Jesus first “suffered many things and was rejected by this generation.”

 

How to Practice This: When disappointment comes through life’s hardships or through the betrayal of others, immediately turn your gaze away from your own sense of injustice and look to Jesus, who was rejected before you (Heb. 12:2).  Remember, “The Lord walked this path first and secured the victory for me.”  Then go directly to prayer and quietly take up the cross that has been entrusted to you.

 

c.       Continue Sharing the Present Joy of God’s Kingdom Even in the Midst of Suffering

 

The Connection in Context (vv. 21, 24): A disciple who truly believes in the future glory that will come like lightning (v. 24) can also enjoy the reality of God’s Kingdom already present within him or her (v. 21), even during times of suffering.

 

How to Practice This: People in the world often respond to suffering with despair and complaint.  Disciples, however, can give thanks even in suffering because their future glory is secure.  In unfair and difficult circumstances, we should instead demonstrate the love of Christ, show kindness to others, and reveal through our lives the reason for our hope.  This is one of the most powerful ways to overcome suffering through a faith shaped by the cross.

 

Summary: The secret to overcoming suffering while looking toward the lightning-like glory to come is to confess the certainty of future glory every day (v. 24), depend upon Jesus who suffered first for us (v. 25), and boldly live out God’s present reign in our daily lives (v. 21) (Internet).