Look at…
Text: Luke 17:37,
Introduction: Because the Lord loved people, He used everything available to teach people.
Jesus was the master teacher.
• Thousands would gather to hang on every word He spoke.
• People traveled far and wide just to hear him teach.
• The lessons he taught spread like fire and literally changed the world.
Let us look at some of the things He used to teach to hold people’s attention.
(1) He Told Stories
Such as the Prodigal Son. This was a story of a boy who disowned his family; partied away his inheritance, came home to beg for mercy, but was surprisingly welcomed with open arms by his father who waited daily for his return.
(2) Jesus Shocked People with hyperboles
He used outrageous examples, exaggerations, or shocking statements to get people’s attention. These statements were not all meant to be taken literally, but they definitely got the point across.
For example:
• Jesus didn’t really mean we have to rip out our eyes and amputate our hands for causing us to sin (Matthew 5:29-30), or else all Christians would be blind amputees.
• He also didn’t mean that the people he was speaking to literally had logs in their eyes (Matthew 7:3-5). He was making a point.
He said outrageous things that aren’t meant to be taken literal but grab attention and communicate the point He was making.
(3) Jesus Used Crafted Memorable Sayings
That is, Jesus spoke poetically.
For example, Jesus memorably said, “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.” (Luke 6:37-38a,)
(4) Jesus Asked Questions
Rather than just tell everyone the answer, Jesus led his listeners to conclusions by asking a lot of questions.
The Lord asked 173 Questions to get people to think throughout the New Testament.
(5 Jesus Used Visual Illustrations
Jesus often used object lessons to communicate truths to his listeners.
• He washed the feet of the disciples to teach servant leadership (John 13:3–17).
• He called a little child to him to discuss childlike faith (Matthew 18:1–4).
• He described unselfish giving after watching a widow drop two small coins into the temple offering (Mark 12:41–44
• When he told the parable of the sower, there is a good chance he was standing near a field.
(6) Jesus Used Repetition
Jesus helped his listeners understand and remember his teachings by the use of frequent repetition. He taught the same major themes again and again.
For example, Jesus' spoke of his death and resurrection over and over again (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33–34), and his disciples still didn’t get it.
Sometimes people need to hear something many times over before they get it
(7) Jesus Created Experiences
It wasn’t enough for people to just listen to his teachings. Jesus gave instructions and called them to do what he said.
For example, he didn’t just teach the disciples what to do, he then sent them out to do it and report back when they were done (Luke 9:1–6, 10).
HOWEVER, in our text today the Lord is going to teach on the RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH by using Vultures.
It has been said that the only sure things in life are DEATH AND TAXES. But there's one more thing we can be sure of, and that is the judgment of God.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.
When you live in an age when people do not want to take responsibility for their actions, you can understand why some people in our society also do not believe that we are accountable to God at the Judgment.
God could not be a just God and not practice judgment.
Illus: Suppose a judge knows of a horrendous crime, but because he does not want to make anyone angry, he turns his head.
Now we would call a judge like this a crooked judge, and we would be right.
Many folks have done all kinds of evil things, and it seems they have gotten away with them. But I can assure you that is not the case - GOD IS A GOD OF JUSTICE!
A Bible-preaching church will preach about the Judgment of God, as much as they preach about the doctrines of THE RAPTURE and the Resurrection of the dead.
Why?
Because the Bible teaches all of these things and more.
WHAT IS THE JUDGMENT?
It is different things to different people.
• Perhaps the most familiar picture of the judgment of God is our arrival at the "pearly gates" immediately after we die, and then our receiving either our reward or punishment.
• Another popular idea is that all humanity will appear at one time on the Judgment Day, at which time rewards will be handed out or sentencing will take place.
The Bible shows, however, that God's judgment is not what most people assume.
Look at Hebrews 9:27, we read, "It is appointed unto once to die, but after this the judgment"
Illus: The Roman Catholic teach after death we go to a place call purgatory.
WHAT IS PURGATORY?
In Catholic doctrine, purgatory refers to the final cleansing of those who died in the State of Grace, and leaves in them only "the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven".
Illus: A common analogy is dross being removed from gold in a furnace.
The Catholics do not like to acknowledge it but history reveals for a certain price they would charge to pray for the dead.
Illus: As the story is usually told, one of the main arch villians of the Protestant Reformation was Johann Tetzel, papal seller of indulgences.
Tetzel was said to say said “As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs.”
That is not what the Bible teaches, the Bible teaches ONCE WE DIE…AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT!!!!
The time to pray for our loved ones and friends is while they are alive. BECAUSE WHEN THEY BREATHE THAT LAST BREATHE THEIR FATE HAS BEEN SEALED.
There is no place in the Bible that teaches Purgatory.
Prayers are not needed for the dead…
1) Those in heaven certainly do not need our prayers,
2) And no one can help those in hell.
Since judgment is something we all must face, shouldn't we try to understand what it is?
The Bible tells us about two judgments that SINNERS and SAINTS should be concerned about.
(1) THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT - where sinners will be judged for their sins.
Look at Revelation 20:11-15, we read, “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Illus: As a pastor I was once asked to read this passage of scriptures to an audience of Christians and sinners. I told them I could not do that because I am a Christian and when the Great White Throne Judgment tale place, I will not be here.
Notice, these last words, and whosoever was not found written in the book of life were cast into the lake of fire.”
People get confused with the book of life and the Lamb’s book.
Let me explain:
The book of life is the name of everyone who has ever been born their name is written in the book of life.
The reason everyone names are in the book of life is because God never intended for anyone to go to hell. ANYONE!!!
However, just because everyone is born and have their name in the book of life does not mean everyone is going to heaven when they die.
Those who are born if they do not accept the Lord as their Savior their name will be blotted out of the BOOK OF LIFE and as far as God is concern they no longer exist.
Those in the BOOK OF LIFE once they accepted the Lord Jesus their name are placed in the LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE.
The wonderful promise of Revelation 3:5 is that Jesus will NOT erase one’s name. Speaking to the “overcomers”—all those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb—Jesus gives His word that He will not delete their names. He affirms that, once a name is there, it is there forever. (It is what we call ETERNAL LIFE)
But everyone that is born need to accept the Lord Jesus as their Savior and their names are placed in the LAMB’S BOOK.
But at the GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT THE DEVIL, HIS ANGEL AND ALL SINNERS WILL BE CAST INTO HELL.
Look at Revelation 19:20 and the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
You can go back into the history of mankind, and you will never read of:
• Such Tragedy
• Affecting so many people
• As you find in this passage of Scripture
When the Great White Throne Judgment takes place, the final rebellion against Jesus is over.
WHO WILL BE AT THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT?
• The skeptics, the mockers, the atheists, the agnostics, the Hindus, the Moslems, the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Buddhists, the Mormons, the Unitarians, the Buddhists, the astrologers, the fortune-tellers, and all the cults will be there.
• Those that believed in living for "self," who trusted in gold and silver, idols, reincarnation, and in "just being a good person," will find themselves at the great white throne judgment, and then they are cast into the lake of fire.
• ALL THAT DID NOT DIE "IN CHRIST," who were Catholics, Protestants, Presbyterians, Methodists, Wesleyans, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Baptists, Church of God, Foursquare, Assemblies of God, Church of Christ, Seventh-Day Adventists, Pentecostals, Charismatics, and Evangelicals, and all other denominations shall be at this judgment.
All that did not come to the Lord for salvation from all over the earth, shall be before the great white throne Judgment.
The Great White Throne Judgment will be where the lost will stand before the Holy God of heaven, and give account of their sins.
This is a JUDGMENT FOR SINNERS.
(2) THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST - where Christians will be judged for their eternal rewards.
The Judgment Seat of Christ will not be a judgment for sins, Christians will be judged for their rewards. Christ has already paid the price for their sins.
The fact that a person appears at this Judgment will mean they are saved, but they now must give account to God for their TALENTS, RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES, and how they used them.
Salvation is a free gift from God, which is accepted by simple faith.
We read in Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God"
In 2 Cor. 5:10, He has appointed a time that "We must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."
Notice, it is different from the Great White Throne Judgment in that sin is not mentioned.
• Because Psalm 103:12 says, "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us"
• We read in Heb. 8:12, "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more".
• We read in Isaiah 38:17, "Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back.”
But make no mistake about it; everyone here will appear at one or the other judgment.
The Bible teaches this clearly, but still there are some who say they do not believe that God will judge the lost and send them to a Christ-less eternity.
God has never sent anyone to hell, remember every human that has ever been born has their name in the book of life, they are in hell because they set in their pew and heard the gospel and rejected the Savior who came to die for them.
It is hard to understand these people:
• They believe what the Bible teaches about God being a God of love
• But will not believe the same Bible that also teaches He is a God of Judgment.
Illus: I guess they have what we call “Buffet Religion”, that is they go through the Bible selecting what they want to select and overlooking what they want to overlook.
In this small parable, the Lord takes an earthly creature to teach us something about the Judgment of God.
WHAT CAN NATURE TEACH US ABOUT THE CERTAINTY OF THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD?
At the beginning of this sermon I promised to explain Luke 17:37. We read And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
Let me explained…
Illus: Have you ever been driving down the road and come across some road kill, and you looked up in the air and you could see the vultures circling the dead animal?
These vultures are always looking down for this kind of road kill.
And it is certain that when a man or animal is killed, those vultures will come down and devour the remains.
In Luke 17:37, Jesus quoted a familiar proverb to his audience: “…Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles (or vultures) be gathered together...”
Eagles, like vultures, are attracted to dead flesh unfit for food.
What is this parable teaching us? It is teaching us that -
I. THE JUDGMENT OF GOD IS FOR CERTAIN
Look at Job 39:27-30, we read, “Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.”
What's the point of this analogy?
It’s teaching us that a thing will happen when the necessary conditions are fulfilled.
• And when the vultures see the time is right, you can depend on them swooping down on their prey.
• Also, the return of the Lord is for certain, and when the Lord sees the time is right, He is going to swoop down and swiftly bring judgment on the ungodly.
Jesus warns his listeners not to be caught off guard when that day arrives.
Look at Luke 17:26-37, we read, “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.”
These verses tell us when the conditions of God’s judgment are upon us.
Illus: That is, the reason the Lord tells us that His coming will be like it was in the days of Noah so we can study those conditions, and once they reach a certain CONDITION, we will know that the Judgment of God is going to swiftly come down upon sinful man.
Illus: This is what the meteorologists do. They study the conditions of the wind, rain, and temperature, and every time the conditions reach a certain level, they then know what is coming. Once they study these conditions, they can come before us and give us a forecast of what to expect.
The Bible gives us the conditions of Noah’s age, and God says when the conditions reach this level again, He is going to move swiftly upon us.
This is why God said, in Luke 17:37, “And they said to him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."
THE JUDGMENT OF GOD IS CERTAIN,
But also-
II. THE JUDGMENT OF GOD IS DEVASTATING
Look at Revelation 19:11-17, we read, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;”
This passage deals with the Battle of Armageddon. This will take place before the Lord Jesus comes and sets up His kingdom on earth during the Millennium.
Lost mankind does not have anything to look forward too.
• This is why some lost folks do not want you to talk to them about salvation, they do not want to be reminded of that dreadful place they will spend eternity.
• This is why it is hard to get some lost folks to attend church, because they do not want to hear that they are doomed for eternity without Christ.
But whether folks want to hear it or not, it is the truth. At any time, the Lord may come swiftly upon them and bring His judgment.
The lost world today is laughing in sin, but if they only knew what they are going to face, perhaps very soon, they would fall on their knees and ask the Lord to forgive them for their sins.
Conclusion:
I. HIS JUDGMENT IS CERTAIN
II. HIS JUDGMENT IS DEVASTATING
God’s judgment surely will come, in God's good time!
• The thing every lost person needs to ask themselves is, “Are you willing to continue to reject Christ, and face Him at the Great White Throne Judgment?”
• The thing every lost person needs to ask themselves is, IS THE SIN IN YOUR LIFE WORTH DYING AND GOING TO AN ETERNAL HELL.
• The thing every Christian needs to ask themselves is, “Am I ready to meet the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and give account to Him for the way I have used my life, talents, resources and opportunities?”
You can be ready! I would suggest that you come and kneel down at these altars and ask the Lord to help you in your situation. And if you are sincere, HE WILL!
