KINGDOM COMING (3): DELAY DOES NOT MEAN CANCELLATION

(Luke 17:25-28)
August 7, 2016
Intro For an HS composition class the teacher gave for an exam. The
subject was What? That sent most people into an hour-long frenzy. But one
guy finished in 1 minute. His composition said, So what? Thats the
ultimate expression of indifference, isnt it? So what?
Incredibly, that was the reaction Jesus got from most people. After all the
miracles, the amazing preaching, the undefeated record in encounters with
His detractors what was the final verdict of the nation of Israel? So what?
He didnt fit their mold, so they turned away. But in doing so, they sealed their
own fate. Apathy led to destruction. Thats the theme of our message today.
Jesus has emphasized to the Pharisees that His kingdom has a spiritual
dimension that they are missing. But having made that point, Jesus turned to
His disciples to reassure them that the kingdom also has a physical dimension.
Its not coming immediately, like they think. But it will come and He goes on
to give 8 characteristics of that coming kingdom tied to His second coming.
We looked at 3 last week:
I.
Jesus Coming is Desired by True Believers (22)
II.
Jesus Coming is Not Yet to the Disciples (22b)
III.
Jesus Coming Will Be Unmistakable (23-24)
Now they would be thinking, If thats true, why not now?
IV.

Jesus Coming Is Delayed By Rejection (25)

Why Jerusalem now: v. 25: But first (before any coming kingdom) he must
suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. Theyre saying, I
wonder what He means by that? And what Hes telling them is that
everything is delayed by rejection. If that sounds ominous, it is particularly
for that generation of Jewish people. BUT in the long run, nothing thwarts
Gods perfect plans. The human setback is used by God to forward the plan
He has had all along. All of that is tied up in that little verse. So lets unpack
it further. It contains bad news, but it also contains good news!
A. Bad News

The bad news is expressed succinctly in Jn 1:11: He came to his own; and
his own people did not receive him. Thats a sad verse bc beginning with
Abe, God created a nation -- Israel and revealed Himself thru them for the
next 2,000 years, promising blessing if they obeyed His commands but trouble
if they would not. He delivered them from slavery in Egypt, in a wonderful
preview of salvation, and established them in the land of Canaan. He gave
them judges and then kings to rule over them. And there were a few bright
spots, like during Davids reign. But, by and large, the Israelites entangled
themselves in the idolatrous gods of the surrounding people, resulting in God
delivering them into captivity in Assyria and Babylon by 600 BC.
But Gods covenant with Abe was unconditional and Gods faithful to His
Word. During their captivity in Babylon, God gave prophetic visions thru
Daniel promising an everlasting kingdom. A key prophecy in that regard is
found in Daniel 9:24-27. It plays big time into what Jesus says in Lu 17:25
But first he must suffer . . . and be rejected. Must! . It is necessary. Why
is it necessary? Two reasons. Because that is the means of paying the penalty
for sin and because it has been prophesied. Where? Several places, but
especially Daniel 9:24-27 -- one of the most pivotal prophecies in the OT.
In summary, Gabriel tells Daniel in 9:24 that God has determined to make an
end to sin and transgression by the end of 490 years. Hes predicting a 490
year window to finalize His kingdom. This window will start with a decree to
rebuild Jerusalem which historically was one of two decrees made by the
Persian Artaxerxes I one in 458 BC letting Ezra go back to start temple
worship again, and a second in 445 BC that is more specific about rebuilding
Jerusalem and is the more likely of the two, but either is possible. With that
edict, Gods timeclock for Israel began.
Further, God prophesies Messiah will come at the end of 483 years, but He
will be cut off killed. Why? Rejection. His own people did not receive
Him. It was prophesied, and I think Luke tells us the day it became official.
Look at Jesus entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday in Luke 19:41, And when
he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, Would that you,
even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! (the things
promised in Dan 9:24). But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the
days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around
you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to
the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one
stone upon another in you. Jesus is here predicting what the Romans will do
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to Jerusalem 40 years later in AD 70. They destroyed the city. Why? Because
Israel as a nation rejected their Messiah. Gods time clock for them stopped at
483 years 7 years short of the time allotted to bring in the kingdom. In other
words, rejection led to an indefinite delay in finishing things up a delay
during which the Jews have been persecuted and dispersed among the nations.
And why did all this happen? Lu 19:44: because you did not know the time
of your visitation. They missed their Messiah. The most privileged
generation in the history of mankind rejected their only hope. Instead of the
coronation day it could have been Palm Sunday was rejection day. They said,
So what? And with that the clock stopped. What a human tragedy.
Now Romans 9-11 and others make clear God is not done with Israel. Hell
never break His promise in Gen 15. But Israels on hold until God takes the
church out of the world, ends the times of the Gentiles, and starts the time
clock for Israel again and Daniels 7 yrs of tribulation plays out until Israel
finally turns to Jesus in repentance and restoration. Until then, the kingdoms
on hold. Thats the bad news for Israel.
B. Good News
Now, the good news amidst the bad. V. 25: But first he must suffer many
things and be rejected by this generation. It doesnt look like good news
But first he must suffer. But its the best news ever given to mankind. The
bad news is also good news! Its like what Joseph said to his brothers in Gen
50:20 when they fear he will kill them for betraying him after their father,
Jacob, has died. Joseph responds: 20 As for you, you meant evil against me,
but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept
alive, as they are today. So what Jesus generation meant for evil against
Him, God meant for good to bring many people eternal life. By His death He
became a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). His own people killed Him that
through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is,
the devil (Heb 2:14). Their rejection became our redemption. Seven
hundred years before, Isaiah knew why He would suffer: Yet it was the will
of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an
offering for guilt, (paying for sin in His death), he shall see his offspring; he
shall prolong his days; (Resurrection -- 700 years before it happened and all
so that) the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (Isa 53:10).

What they intended for evil; God intended for good. II Cor 5:21, For our
sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become
the righteousness of God. Without this there could be no kingdom no end to
sin no eternal life no coming in Glory no nothing. Not without this. But
Gods eternal purposes are never thwarted. The plan is delayed, but not
denied. No man and no devil can ever thwart Gods perfect intentions. Thats
good news, is it not? Gods ways are not our ways; they are way better.
Little Billy used to hang around the local market where older boys would
tease him. Tell him he was two bricks shy of a load or two pickles short of a
barrel. Theyd offer Billy his choice between a nickel and a dime. Billy would
always take the nickel; it was bigger. One day the owner said, Billy, those
boys are making fun of you. Dont you know a dime is worth more than a
nickel? Billy grinned: Sure I know a dime is worth more. But if I took the
dime theyd quit asking me to choose. It would ruin their fun! So far Ive
gotten $20 off those guys. Billys way was better.
Gods ways are always better, Beloved. He turned rejection into redemption.
I think this is why Jesus said in Mt 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is
like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great
value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Why a pearl, not a
diamond? Because of all the precious stones, the pearl is the most humble in
origin. It begins with a wound and is created by Gods healing process. And
so Gods kingdom is built upon Jesus death and resurrection. He died as a
Savior and He was raised as a King ready to inaugurate His kingdom when
the Father says, Now! Are you in? I hope youre in!
V.

Jesus Coming is Unexpected in Its Timing (26-28)

26

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of
Man. 27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in
marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and
destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lotthey were
eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. Jesus coming
is unexpected in its timing. For many, it will be unexpected. Period!
In Noahs time people were eating, drinking and marrying. Same with Lot,
with business added. So anything wrong with eating, drinking, marrying,
doing business? No! The point is they thought those activities would continue
forever. As it was it would always be! There was no sense that judgment was
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coming. So when the flood came and when fire fell, the people were
absolutely unprepared. And Jesus says in v. 30, so will it be on the day when
the Son of Man is revealed. Surprise!
Peter warned about this in II Pet 3:3, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers
will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.
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They will say, Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the
fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of
creation (the 2nd coming is a myth). If they were already saying that 30 years
after Jesus, no wonder we hear it today, right? Its been 2,000 years. The idea
that Jesus is going to return to this earth bodily in glory and dominion is
preposterous to most people a myth, a fairytale, a religious boogeyman.
But Peter goes on: II Pet 3:8, 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved,
that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one
day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but
is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should
reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. This is a
potent reminder, isnt it? In God time, its been two days since Jesus first
coming. Two days! Not literally, of course, but God doesnt measure time like
we do. Just because the promise is old doesnt mean its invalid. Delay doesnt
mean cancellation! Jesus is coming just as clearly as He did the 1st time. But
like a thief, you dont know when. I dont, you dont, no one does. His
coming will be unexpected in its timing. The rhythm of normal life will be
dramatically interrupted when He comes crashing in. Hes coming again.
History, of course, is littered with people who thought they knew when based
on some secret code they found in the Bible. Hippolytus of Rome predicted
AD 500 based on the dimensions of the ark! Didnt happen. William Miller
predicted 1844 didnt happen. Charles Taze Russell, founder of JWs
predicted 1874 didnt happen. Herbert W. Armstrong 1936, then 1943,
then 1972, then 1975 before giving up predictions. Harold Camping 9/6/94,
5/21/11, 10/21/11 before issuing a public apology. Jack Van Impe 2012 last
of several before he gave up. Many predictions are still out there (F. Kenton
Beshore 2021, Jeanne Dixon, 2020). No one knows!
Jesus will come when we least expect it. You say, Dont passages like Joel
2:3-31, Luke 21:25, and Matt 24:29 predict signs in the heavens that show
He is coming? Yes, they do. But listen to Mark 13:24 which clarifies that
those things are so close as to be part of the event. 24 But in those days, after
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that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,
25
and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will
be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with
great power and glory. Those arent timelines, theyre accompanying signs!
If anyone tells you they know when Jesus is coming again, move on. No one
knows. Jesus Himself didnt know: Mt 24:36 But concerning that day and
hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father
only. Thats amazing! Living thru His human nature, even Jesus did not
know the time of His 2nd coming. Who could be so bold as to think they have
figured out what He didnt know? In multiple parables, Jesus ended by
warning for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect (Mt
24:44). That tells me when someone does make a prediction, you can almost
be sure it wont be on that date. It will be at a time you do not expect.
That hasnt kept people from trying. The disciples kept trying. On the day
Jesus ascended back to the Father in Acts 1, they are asking if now is the time
He will bring the kingdom. He replies in Acts 1:7, It is not for you to know
times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. If it wasnt
for them to know, why would we think its for us to know. Itll be unexpected.
Conc Why has God left us in the dark as to the exact time of Jesus return?
Heres why so that we will expect it any time and be ready any time. That
was the point many parables. Just because it hasnt happened yet, dont think
it wont. Dont be scoffers. Its only been two days in God time. Dont be
indifferent about Gods plans. That is a path that leads to destruction.
In C. S. Lewis Screwtape Letters, the head devil tells his nephew demon, It
is not wickedness but indifference we are after. He cautions the imp to keep
his patient comfortable at all costs. Dont let him think about anything of
importance. Encourage him to think about his lunch plans. Then he
concludes by saying, I, the devil, will always see to it that there are bad
people. Your job, my dear Wormwood, is to provide me with people who do
not care. Listen, Beloved, Jesus is coming again. Your indifference cant
stop that. But it can lead to your eternal destruction. Are you ready?
Churchill once described at enemy by saying, He occasionally stumbled
over the truth but hastily picked himself up and hurried on as if nothing had
happened. Dont treat Jesus truth as though nothing has happened! What
weve heard this morning is truth from the lips of Jesus Himself. The question
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now is will we pick ourselves up, divert ourselves with lunch plans and say,
So what? to His message or will we humble ourselves in repentance
before the One who will soon rule the universe? The choice is ours. Lets pray.