Matthew 24:27-28. “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”
In the present world situation, where violence abounds as in Noah’s day, and perversion seeks to rule as in Lot’s day, many Christians are crying for the Lord’s return according to His promise. The verses quoted above contain important information.
- No man knows when lightning will strike. Likewise no man knows the day or hour of the Lord’s return.
- When lightning strikes it illuminates the whole sky from east to west. Likewise the moment of the Lord’s return will not fail to make its impression on all mankind. The Lord warned against following people out into the desert, or anywhere else the deceivers announced, as though Christ has business with a minority.
But perplexity reigns when reading about the carcass and the eagles. The Lord’s parabolic meaning must be ascertained. No one doubts the amazing ability of eagles and vultures to sense dead bodies from afar. But what did the Lord mean by the “carcass”? Who is represented by the dead body? In terms of the then present situation, the Jewish nation was the dead body, and the Roman armies were the eagles.
Our Lord’s assessment of the situation may be clearly seen from His own words –
Luke 17:26-30 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 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.
- “Until the day”, “the same day”. This accords with the suddenness of the lightning strike, taking men by surprise.
- “The flood came”, “it rained fire”. Judgment came as rapidly as eagles sensing the “dead body”.
- Judgment didn’t come until adequate warning had been given. Noah was a “preacher of righteousness”, and Lot “vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds”. 2 Peter 2:5-8.
Jesus gave this proverbial answer, the meaning of which is that sin courts and draws to itself punishment and destruction just as a carcass draws eagles and vultures. Applying his words, we learn that the corruption of the antediluvians drew upon them the devastation of the flood, and the crimes of the Sodomites called down upon them the fires from heaven, and the unbelief of the Jews of Christ’s day caused the destruction of Jerusalem and the death of the nation, so also the wickedness of the men of these last times will result in the end of the present world as we know it, and the beginning of something new.
- As with Noah and Lot, so also John the Baptist, the Lord, and the Apostles were teachers of righteousness.
- The nation showed no sign of repentance, in fact they crucified the One who brought them untold blessing.
- As Noah and Lot were rescued from the imminent disasters of flood and fire, so also the Christians of Jerusalem and Judaea were saved by responding to the Lord’s warnings. “When the Christians removed from Jerusalem, and went to Pella, being directed by a divine oracle, then came on the siege of Jerusalem.” (Eusebius. Ecclesiastical History. l. 3. c. 5.)
- Adequate warning will be given to this world before the end.
- The Lord said to Abraham, “The iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete,” (Genesis 15:16) so likewise the sins of this world are not yet complete, otherwise judgment would have already happened. Only God knows when the time is right, on behalf of His elect, and also in respect of the world.
These notes are based on the text of Matthew 24:27-28, quoted at the beginning of the article. There are many other passages needing careful attention when focusing on the Lord’s return.