Luke 17:24Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Prior to my humble birth in a stable and my years of lowliness, the time will come when that will change: I will return in full splendor, accompanied by a multitude of angels, and in the blink of an eye.

He will return from heaven at the end of the age, not quietly or in obscurity, but with divine majesty, as one who ‘dwells in unapproachable light.’ He declared that His return would be like a flash of lightning. Born of a woman in the flesh, He did so to accomplish the plan of salvation for our benefit, which is why He humbled Himself, took on a state of lowliness, and refrained from revealing the full glory of His divine nature: it was the necessity of this divine mission that led to His humiliation.

Those who perceive the signs of the impending judgment have certainly grasped the conclusion. How can one be unaware that like a flash of lightning, the brilliance of the eternal divine mystery, the Son of God, radiates? He states on that day, (Luke 17:24). Indeed, the day is acknowledged, but it is known to Him alone; to me, it remains unknown. The cause of the deluge, fire, and judgment is declared to stem from our sins, for God is not the author of evil; rather, our own actions will also be brought to light.

Just as lightning illuminates one side of the sky and is visible on the other, extending from the east to the west, so will the presence of the Son of Man be on His appointed day. This is echoed in Matthew, where it is stated, “As lightning comes from the east and is seen even as far as the west.” By reflecting on this passage, one can understand the meaning it conveys. In His Second Coming, He will be apparent to all creation. Matthew's Gospel provides further clarity on this matter.

Simultaneously, He conveyed to His followers the reality of His forthcoming appearance in the judgment of the unrighteous, which was to occur following His rejection by the people of His time. These will be challenging days for Christ’s believers, during which they will yearn for the return of those moments they now share with the Son of Man. They will be troubled by misleading claims: look, Christ is here, or look, Christ is there. Yet in this forthcoming revelation, He will manifest on earth in a manner distinct from His current presence. He will come like lightning, not in a human form, but in the divine judgment from heaven, illuminating from one side of heaven to the other—wherever the unfaithful are dispersed, awaiting divine retribution.

Numerous statements presented here by Luke appear in the significant prophetic discourse of Christ regarding the fall of Jerusalem and the consummation of the age, which He delivered to the apostles shortly before His Passion. It is quite plausible that Jesus addressed the same theme on more than one occasion, leading to some repetitions in His words; furthermore, the Gospel writers may have included additional sayings from Christ that were recorded by them and delivered at different times and in various contexts.

I caution you once more, do not place your faith in the false messiahs who will arise, nor should you trust those who claim to have witnessed Christ hidden in remote locations or secret chambers; do not pursue Him there. This is not the manner in which the Son of Man will return. His coming will be as swift and as all-encompassing as a flash of lightning that illuminates the entire sky; likewise, as vultures are drawn to a carcass, so too will the Son of Man draw all of humanity to Himself. This concludes the prophecies concerning Jerusalem's destruction; what follows speaks to the culmination of time and the glorious Second Coming of Christ.

Deceptive leaders will arise, employing charm and intimidation to draw followers to their cause. However, believers must remain resolute in their devotion to their Savior and endure all trials for His glory; those who persevere until the end will receive salvation. Even though the return of the Lord and the conclusion of the age are known only to God and not even to the angels, certain signs can indicate the approach of these significant moments. At that time, the sun and moon will lose their light, stars will plummet like autumn leaves, and the celestial forces will tremble. There will be a profound disruption of the existing order, after which Christ will send forth His angels with trumpets to gather the elect from all corners of the earth.

After briefly proclaiming the commencement of His kingdom on earth to the Pharisees, the Lord provided the disciples with a deeper understanding of God's divine plan. He warned them about the judgment He would bring upon the Jewish people for denying their Messiah while also foretelling His second coming. He indicated that both events—the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of times—would bear striking resemblances. His glorious return will not occur when, following His departure, the world is engulfed in distress and tribulation, and when people will wish to see Him in a physical form or when false prophets who anticipated an earthly dominion will mistakenly claim to reveal Him. The days are coming when you will yearn to witness the Son of Man, yet you will not see Him.