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Bible Study (Luke 17:37) What does it mean?

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destiny

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...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. Luke 17:37

What exactly does that mean?
 
destiny said:
...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. Luke 17:37

What exactly does that mean?


I found this on studylight.org commentaries.

Hope this helps.




The Adam Clarke Commentary
Chapter 17

Verse 37. Where, Lord?
In what place shall all these dreadful evils fall? The answer our Lord gives in a figure, the application of which they are to make themselves. Where the dead carcass is, there will be the birds of prey-where the sin is, there will the punishment be. See Clarke on Matthew 24:28.

Thither will the eagles (or vultures) be gathered together. The jackal or chakal is a devourer of dead bodies; and the vulture is not less so: it is very remarkable how suddenly these birds appear after the death of an animal in the open field, though a single one may not have been seen on the spot for a long period before. The following chapter seems to be a continuation of this discourse: at least it is likely they were spoken on the same occasion. Both contain truths which the reader should carefully ponder, and receive in the spirit of prayer and faith, that he may not come into the same condemnation into which these have fallen.
source: http://www.studylight.org/com/acc/view.cgi?book=lu&chapter=17&verse=37#Lu17_37



Barnes' Notes on the New Testament

[Luke 17]Verse 37.
See Barnes "Matthew 24:26".
Where, Lord? Where, or in what direction, shall these calamities come? The answer implies that it would be where there is the most guilt and wickedness. Eagles flock where there is prey. So, said he, these armies will flock to the place where there is the most wickedness; and by this their thoughts were directed at once to Jerusalem, the place of eminent wickedness, and the place, therefore, where these calamities might be expected to begin.
{z} "Wheresoever the body is" Job 39:30; Matthew 24:28
source: http://www.studylight.org/com/bnn/view.cgi?book=lu&chapter=17&verse=37#Lu17_37


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Thanks, Relic! I'll look at it closer sometime tonight, but I'm not clicking with those interpretations so far. I'm going to do some searching later and see what I can come up with. I'll keep praying for the Lord to reveal it to me in a way that witnesses to my spirit.
 
The Coming of the Kingdom

20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed,
21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.â€Â

22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.
23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them.
24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.
25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
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 Lotâ€â€they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building,
29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them allâ€â€
30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back.
32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.
34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.â€Â
37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?†He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.â€Â


Jamie, I think that when they ask "Where, Lord?" they are speaking about the Kingdom of God, and so the corpse to me is the Gospel of Christ being lifted upon the cross for us, and eagles are believers who have come to Him for salvation.

Eagles are birds of prey that instinctively know when something is dead, and that instinct drives them to flock to it for the sake of life...for nourishment. We are seeing more eagles around lately, as well as vultures, because there are many Spring baby carcasses around right now...it's amazing how they come very quickly after something has died. We are flocking to Christ for our Life...for the safety and salvation of His Kingdom alone. Our lifeline is to feed on Jesus, and we rely on nothing else in this life but God in order to be able to do it.

The passage shows, in contrast, that many will go on their merry way taking comfort and security in this world, as in the days of Noah, but will not be saved from the wrath to come. I just caught this while I was reading, and it was probably clear to others, but Lot's wife is mentioned as one who was seeking safety in wordly things...she wanted to preserve her own life, and looked back instead of moving ahead to safety through obedience to God's plan. She was turned to salt, a preservative! wow. I never understood why she was turned to salt until just now...Jesus made it plain.

Anyway, this is such an interesting verse, and I appreciate you drawing our attention to it today. I am looking forward to see what others think. The Lord bless you.
Anyway, typically the 'birds' are false teachers preying, but I don't think so in this case.
 
Thanks Lovely.. I will sit down and study and seek God on these things tonight. I have found that the NIV uses the word Vultures instead of Eagles... to me a vulture is the opposite of an Eagle, so that creates a big difference in meaning.
I do trust the KJV moreso than the NIV but I'll try to see which version the Greek uses.
 
...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. Luke 17:37

What exactly does that mean?
Lk 17:37 relates to two times.

One direct reference was contemporary to Jesus and His audience at His First Coming. Israel was about to die as a nation, as the officials of Israel were about to legally concede Abraham's inheritance to Caesar. Ancient Rome ruled Jerusalem; the city of Peace, the place of God's temple, the threshing floor bought from Araunah, the City of David and 'future' place of God's feet. Israel was lifeless but for their Messiah's presence; and though He walked in their midst, Israel did not recognize their God. Jerusalem was about to die and the vultures were gathered above; the vultures being Rome and the corrupt Jewish officials.

Another direct reference relates to Jerusalem just before Christ's Second Coming, just before the Son of Man coming on the clouds (related passage in Mat 24:28-30). At that [or this very] time, vultures are again present over a lifeless Jerusalem. Arabs lay claim to parts of Israel - Gaza, the West bank, Eastern Jerusalem, and the Temple mount; where a pagan temple has replaced Solomon's Temple. Israel is alive as a nation, but they are spiritually dead for the most part. That is they are without a saving knowledge of God's Christ. Revived Rome, the Arab nations, and many of Israel's current officials are the vultures waiting to eat the flesh of God's chosen people. "for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months." (Rev 11:2).

I might add that in the Middle East it was thought a disgrace and dishonor to allow the flesh of a dead man to be eaten by birds. So will be the thought to disgrace the bodies of the two witnesses who are not given a burial (Rev 11:8-10).

Concerning those gathered together against Christ at His Second Coming, "Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, 'Come, assemble for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great' " (Rev 19:17-18).
 
Maybe it could also be taken obliquely to apply to some of the excesses of the free market economy! :) (but there is the Canadian in me speaking now...)

Blessings.
 
A study on Eagles show that they will pluck out their feathers, beak and talons as a renewal. This also represents us as we are renewed by Gods Spirit and allow Him to perfect us daily until His coming as we shed the old man and renew the Spiritual inner man. As you see in those verses as one is taken, but the other left behind means that when Jesus returns not everyone will go with him, but only those who have accepted Him as their personal Lord and Savior.

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
 
A study on Eagles show that they will pluck out their feathers, beak and talons as a renewal. This also represents us as we are renewed by Gods Spirit and allow Him to perfect us daily until His coming as we shed the old man and renew the Spiritual inner man. As you see in those verses as one is taken, but the other left behind means that when Jesus returns not everyone will go with him, but only those who have accepted Him as their personal Lord and Savior.

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

At one church I attended we would sing the verse Isaiah 40.31.

Blessings.
 
destiny

Considering the verses before I think it means "wherever the body is".

So if the person is a believer their body will be where the Lord tells them to be and they will be safe on the wings of the eagle.
If the person is an unbeliever their body will not be safe with the Lord and will be devoured by that bird of prey.

The eagle will find them no matter where they are.
 
Luke 17:37 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.

This is the direct conclusion of non believers taken in death as a flood at the battle of Armagedon. Is this the one third of all mankind killed in Rev_9:15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

Those left in the field, etc. that physically endured until the end (Mat 10:22) will enter the thousand year reign of Christ. The one taken from the field will await judgment at the great white throne.
 
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