The time when God will rule in people's lives
20 Then some Pharisees asked Jesus a question. ‘When will the kingdom of God come here on earth?’
Jesus replied, ‘When God comes to rule in his kingdom, people will not see it with their eyes. 21 Nobody will say, “Look everyone! God is ruling in this place,” or “Look! God is ruling in that place.” No, it is not like that. God's kingdom has already come among you.’
22 Jesus said to his disciples, ‘The time will soon come when you want to see me, the Son of Man, return to the earth. But you will not see that day. 23 Some people will say to you, “Look, there he is!” or “Here he is!” But do not go out with them to look. 24 When lightning shines, it quickly makes the whole of the sky light from one side to the other. It will be like that on the day when the Son of Man returns. 25 But before this happens, the people of today will refuse to accept me. Because of that, I will suffer very much.
17:25Jesus calls himself the Son of Man in verses 22-30.
26 Remember what happened when Noah was alive. It will be like that when the Son of Man returns to the earth. 27 In Noah's time, people were eating their meals every day. Men and women continued to marry. They continued to do all this until the day when Noah went into his boat. Then it rained for a long time and there was deep water everywhere. The water killed all the people.
28 The same kind of thing happened when Lot was alive. People in the city of Sodom were eating their meals every day. They were buying and selling things. They were planting their seeds and they were building their houses. 29 But one day God caused fire and burning stones to pour down from the sky. That was the day that Lot went away from Sodom. But all the people who remained in Sodom died.
30 It will happen quickly like that, on the day when I, the Son of Man, show myself clearly. 31 On that day, a person who is up on the roof of his house must not go back down into the house. He must not get his things that are inside the house to take with him. In the same way, people that are working outside in their fields must not go back to their homes. 32 Remember what happened to Lot's wife.
17:32See Genesis 19:26. Before God destroyed Sodom, Lot and his wife ran away from the city. But Lot's wife looked back at the city. She became a pillar made from salt. 33 Whoever wants to keep his own life safe will lose it. But whoever agrees to lose his life will have true life. 34 I tell you this. At that time, two people will be sleeping in one bed. God will take one of them away but he will leave the other one behind. 35 Two women will be preparing food together in the same place. God will take one of them away but he will leave the other one behind.’ 36
17:36Verse 36 does not come in most copies of the Bible.
37 Jesus' disciples asked him, ‘ Lord, where will this happen?’
Jesus replied, ‘If a dead body is lying somewhere, vultures will come together in that place.’
17:37Jesus did not give them a clear answer. He says that there will be signs when the day arrives for God to judge people.
