Conclusion Of When The Son Of Man Is Revealed

Jesus is not saying that people in Noah's day and in Lot's day were destroyed simply because they pursued the normal activities of eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting and building. Even Noah and Lot and their families did these things. But the others went about such daily activities without paying any attention to God's will, and it was for this reason that they were destroyed. For the same reason people will be destroyed when Christ is revealed during the great tribulation on this system of things.

Emphasizing the importance of responding quickly to the evidence of his future presence in Kingdom power, Jesus adds: "On that day let the person that is on the housetop but whose movable things are in the house not come down to pick these up, and the person out in the field, let him likewise not return to the things behind. Remember the wife of Lot."

When the evidence of Christ's presence appears, people cannot let attachment to their material possessions hinder them from taking prompt action. On her way out of Sodom, Lot's wife apparently looked back longingly for the things left behind, and she became a pillar of salt.

Continuing his description of the situation that would exist during his future presence, Jesus tells his disciples: " In that night two men will be in one bed; the one will be taken along, but the other will be abandoned. There will be two women grinding at the same mill; the one will be taken along, but the other will be abandoned."

Being taken along corresponds to Noah's entering with his family into the ark and the angels' taking Lot and his family out of Sodom. It means salvation. On the other hand, being abandoned means suffering destruction. At this point, the disciples ask: "Where, Lord?"

"Where the body is, there also the eagles will be gathered together," Jesus answers. Those "taken along" for salvation are like farsighted eagles in that they gather together to "the body." The body has reference to the true Christ at his invisible presence in Kingdom power and to the spiritual feast that Jehovah provides. Luke 17:20-37; Genesis 19:26.

Next time: The Need For Prayer And For Humility

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991