Luke 17
Be careful of the little children and those of all ages who believe in Jesus. Woe unto one who offends one of them. Forgiveness is continual, seven times a day. The disciples ask that their faith be increased. It is not the amount of faith that matters, but who is the object of it. We learn here that at best we are unprofitable servants; we only did our duty.
Ten lepers stood afar off and cried, "Master, have mercy on us." Jesus told them to show themselves to the priest, and on the way they were cleansed. One of the ten, realizing that he was cleansed, returned and glorified God with a loud voice. He fell down on his face at Jesus' feet, giving Him thanks. He was a Samaritan. Jesus asked if there were not ten cleansed? What happened to the nine? Only one stranger returned. Jesus told the Samaritan leper to arise and go his way, for he had been made whole.
Jesus was asked when the kingdom of God should come; He answered that the kingdom of God was in the midst of them. Wherever a Person of the Godhead is, there is the kingdom of God.
The Day of the Son of Man
Jesus told His disciples that the time would come when they would desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, but would not see it. As the lightning reaching around the globe, so shall the Son of man be in His day, but the rejection and the cross come first.
The coming of the day of the Son of man will be like it was in the day of the flood. They ate, drank and married wives, until Noah entered into the ark; then the flood came and destroyed all. Likewise, in the days of Lot, they ate, they drank, they bought and sold, they planted and builded, but the fire and brimstone came the day that Lot went out of Sodom, and all was destroyed. Nothing was said about marriage in Sodom.
So shall the days of the Son of man be. God's people will be delivered before judgment. No one, as they flee, should try to rescue anything from their home or turn back-"remember Lot's wife." One who seeks to save his life shall lose it. One who shall lose his life shall keep it.
When judgment comes, there shall be two men in one bed; one shall be taken, the other left. Two women shall be grinding; one shall be taken, the other left. Two shall be in the field, one shall be taken and one shall be left. Some are taken at night, some in the day, showing the judgment is universal (in Luke) on both Jews and Gentiles. The one taken shall be taken for judgment; he is an apostate. The one who is left will enter the kingdom on earth which is then about to begin (Matt. 13:49,50,41,4249So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:49‑50)
41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:41‑42)).
The question is raised, "Where, Lord?" He answered, "Where the body [apostate Israel] is, there the eagles [birds of prey] will be gathered together" (JND).