Luke 17:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all —

NIV: But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

NASB: but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.

CSB: But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all.

NLT: until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

KJV: But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

NKJV: but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.

The second coming of Jesus Christ will resemble the judgment against Sodom: sudden, unexpected, and unmistakable. Lot, Abraham's nephew, had wealth in his livestock, but chose to live in the sinful city of Sodom. One night, two angels arrived to warn Lot to take his family and flee before God destroyed the city (Genesis 19).

That day, the people of Sodom "were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building" (Luke 17:28). They didn't know they were going to be destroyed that night. Revelation 18 shows that the economic power of the tribulation-era Babylon will look remarkably similar.

As Lot, his wife, and his daughters ran to the hills, God "rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire" (Genesis 19:24). Jesus promises, "so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed" (Luke 17:30). During the tribulation, when the sixth angel blows his trumpet, a massive angelic army, mounted on horses with heads like lions, will destroy a third of all humanity. One of the weapons they will use is the breath of the horses: "fire and smoke and sulfur" (Revelation 9:13–19).

For centuries, the veracity of the story of Sodom and Gomorrah was doubted. Today, many archaeologists think Sodom has been found in one of two locations, one of which is the ruins of a city that wasn't destroyed by burning sulfur but by a meteor. Further investigation may give more definitive answers. Until then, the discovery gives us a jolt of confidence that God's words about Sodom are true, and so is His prophecy of coming judgment.

Luke 17:22–37 may create confusion for two reasons. The first is where to place the events in relation to the end times. Are they before the rapture or at the end of the tribulation? The second complication is the placement of Jesus' teaching. Did He deliver this message while traveling through Galilee and Samaria, or outside of Jerusalem during the final week prior to His crucifixion? Ultimately, neither question is as important as the clear message: Jesus' return will be unmistakable, and those who are not ready will suffer greatly. This passage covers similar material to Matthew 24 and Mark 13.

In his gospel, Luke has often arranged events by theme rather than by strict time order. That seems likely here with a series of teachings about living as Christ followers and ambassadors of God. Christians ought to be careful not to poison the faith of others. Faith is powerful. God's servants should not demand extravagant treatment in return. After healing ten lepers—only one of whom offers thanks—Jesus discusses the state of the world at His future second coming.

Luke 17 continues Jesus' teaching about how to live as citizens and ambassadors of the kingdom of God. Luke 15 describes God's love for the lost. Chapter 16 teaches earthly blessings are far inferior to heavenly rewards. Here, He exhorts His followers to lead well, serve humbly, give thanks, and watch for His second coming. In Luke 18, Jesus gives a series of comparisons to show how we are to approach God—as He approaches Jerusalem and the cross.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.