ENCOUNTERS on THE WAY TO THE CROSS..      	 Pastor Bob Chroninger 
Trinity C.U.  4-5-98 p.m.    		Luke 17:20 - 37       	A:\LUK17-20 
       Today is called the "Triumphant Entry".  The Pharisees had already
       agreed to find a way to kill Jesus. (Jn.11:47-54)  And now they are 
       demanding that He tell them when the Kingdom of God should come. 
       Jesus gives a series of "revelations"... 
I.  THE KINGDOM of GOD IS WITHIN YOU ! 
  A. It Does Not Come With Observation... 
    1. Just by watching... you can't see it happen ! 
    2. Like John 3.. being born again.. the coming of the Spirit... 
  B. It Is Within You... Inside You.. in your heart... 
    1. You... Who?
  C. It Is For Now.. The Church Age.. 21.. the "Age of Grace" 
    1. It is the dispensation of the grace of God..  Eph.3:2; Col.1:24,25
    2. It was prophesied by prophets of old..  1Pet.1:10 
    3. It was a special relationship when Jesus was there... 22 
	- they would long to see one of those days... but couldn't 
  D. It Is Counterfeited Often... 23  Many deceivers 
    1. Saying... "see here He is... etc." 
    2. Don't go after them.. Mexican... said God was going to speak on
       Television... etc.

II.  THE KINGDOM of GOD IS COMING ONE DAY...   24 
  A. It Will Be Observable... 
    1. Just as the lightning flashes... 
    2. Just so shall be the coming of the Son of Man in His day 
  B. It Will Fulfill O.T. Prophecies... The Jews believed Messiah... 
    1. Would deliver them from oppression 
    2. Would restore paradise 
    3. Would reign in power and glory 
 ** And I Believe He Will... God's Word is "yea & amen";  Not one "jot or 
    tittle" will pass away.. Mt.5:18

III.  THE KING MUST SUFFER FIRST... 25 
  A. He Must Suffer Many Things... 
    1. That Too was predicted... Is.53; Ps.22; Zech.12:10 (Jn.19:36,37) 
  B. He Must Be Rejected.. (by this generation) 
    1. Look how they rejected Noah... called a "preacher of righteousness" 
	- No one believed him; they continued as before (27).. 
	- But judgment was imminent. 
    2. Look at Lot..(28).. "vexed his righteous soul" 2Pe.2:7,8
	- they ate, drank, bought, sold, planted & built.. 
	- Life was going on just as usual... 
	- But judgment was imminent (29) Lot was delivered & judgment fell 

IV.  THE KING WILL COME... 
 ** The next time we see Jesus... Heb.9:28 
  A. In the Air.. to take His waiting Bride (the Church) to Father's House 
    1. Just like the wedding customs of that day...
    2. And I believe... before the Tribulation.. 1Thes.4:13-18 
  B. To the Earth.. in "power and great glory.. Mt.24:30; Luke 21:27 
    1. The climax of this Tribulation period.. Daniel's 70th week 
    2. Casting the anti-Christ & false prophet into the "lake of fire" 
    3. Binding Satan.. for the 1000 year period.. 
    4. Establishing His Kingdom on Earth...
 ** So Shall It Be When The Son of Man is Revealed...  (30) 
	THERE WILL BE DESTRUCTION...(32); SEPARATION...(34-36); 
	JUDGMENT (37) for SOME... AND REWARD... for OTHERS. 
FOLKS... THE KING IS COMING... ARE YOU READY? WATCHING? DOING?