“Where will this happen, Lord?” the disciples asked. Jesus replied, “Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.” [Luke 17.37]
I think I would have had to ask the Lord to be a little more specific! What are "these signs"?
In verse 20 preceding this verse, the Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come. To this question, Jesus answered that the Kingdom was already among them.
Then in verses 22 up through 36, Jesus begins to tell His disciples about His return. The only "signs" given are vague at best with the exception of the first sign - and that is that the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by the then current generation. Following that, people will make predictions and false claims that the Son of Man is here or there - I suppose that is a sign. And then, as a sign of His arrival, it will be like lightning flashing in the sky from one end to the other.
What Jesus then said following the signs above, don't really seem to be signs as much as they are a warning that His return will be undetectable because "business as usual" is not much of an indication of anything. Pretty much, everyone will be simply living life... and apparently, loving it.
Herein could lie our greatest clue or sign - that mankind loves life. We certainly see a lot of talk about loving life today.
Father, it would certainly be helpful if we had more "signs" other than "business as usual" - help me to comprehend what it is that I must do to be keenly aware of my surroundings and the signs that Jesus will be returning.
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