Luke 17:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"Do not heed the claims of those who assert My presence in a specific location, for My return will be radiant and magnificent. It will not be limited to any particular site; rather, just as lightning is visible from one end of the sky to the other, so will My return be unmistakable and evident to all. Thus, resist the allure of deceitful messiahs."

He will descend from heaven at the culmination of the age, not in obscurity or secrecy, but adorned with divine splendor, as He proclaimed, stating that His arrival would be akin to lightning. Indeed, He was born of a woman in the flesh to fulfill the purpose set for our benefit, and for this reason, He humbled Himself, confining His glory and no longer exhibiting the fullness of the Godhead, as the time and necessity of this divine plan called for His lowliness.

Matthew elaborated on this matter in chapter twenty-four, where he states, "Then if any man shall say unto you, Behold, here is Christ, or there, believe not. For false Christs and false prophets shall arise." The passage further clarifies this concept.

Simultaneously, He conveyed to His disciples the truth about His return during the judgment of the unfaithful, which would follow His rejection by the people of His time. These moments will be challenging for Christ's followers, who will long for the days they spent with the Son of Man to return. They will be disturbed by deceptive claims: Christ is here or there. However, in that day, His presence will be markedly different from what it is now. He will come like lightning, not in a mortal form, but in divine judgment, stretching from one end of heaven to the other—wherever the rebellious are scattered and upon whom judgment will fall. This day of reckoning will surprise people in their complacency, just as it did in the days of Noah and Lot.

Several of the teachings presented by Luke appear within Christ's significant prophetic discourse regarding the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the culmination of the age, which He delivered to His apostles shortly before His Passion. It is quite possible that Jesus addressed this theme on multiple occasions, leading to some statements being reiterated. Furthermore, the gospel writers may have augmented the accounts they related, incorporating additional sayings of Christ that He delivered in different contexts and at various times.

This period of suffering will heighten the anticipation of the Messiah among the Jewish people, leading many to take advantage of this hope. Deceptive messiahs and false prophets will emerge, performing misleading signs and wonders that closely resemble the authentic miracles. Such resemblance may even lead some of my followers to be misled. However, do not place your trust in them! Remain vigilant! I assure you that I have forewarned you of all these things.

Deceptive Christs will emerge, employing charm and intimidation to draw followers to their side; however, they must remain firmly rooted in their faith in their Savior and King, enduring all trials for His glory, for those who persevere until the end shall be redeemed. While the return of the Lord and the conclusion of time are known only to God, certain indicators exist that can help us discern the proximity of these monumental occurrences. At that time, the sun and moon will be obscured, the stars will plummet like autumn leaves, and the celestial forces will be disturbed. A significant disruption of the world’s order will ensue, and then Christ will dispatch His angels with trumpets to assemble His elect from the four corners of the earth.

After briefly announcing the commencement of His kingdom to the Pharisees, the Lord provided His disciples with deeper insights into the divine mysteries. He highlighted the judgement that He would bring upon the Jewish nation for rejecting their Messiah, alongside a reference to His return, illustrating how the two events—the destruction of Jerusalem and the culmination of the age—bear striking similarities. His glorious revelation will not occur when, following His departure, they yearn to witness their Lord with their physical eyes during times of great tribulation and sorrow, nor when the false prophets and dreamers mislead them regarding the establishment of the Messiah's earthly reign.