Lk. 17:30. By such will it also be in that day when the Son of Man is revealed.
And here the Lord points to the suddenness and unexpectedness of His coming. For just as in the days of Noah the flood came suddenly and destroyed everyone, so also will His coming be. By these examples, that is, the example of the people before the flood and the Sodomites (before the fire), it is also hinted that at the coming of the Antichrist all manner of indecent pleasures will multiply among people, that people will be dissolute and given over to criminal pleasures, as the Apostle also said that "in the last days... people will be... lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" (2 Tim. 3:1–2, 4). And it is no wonder that under the reign of the deceiver evil will flourish. For he is the haven of the malice of every sin. What else will he endeavor to instill in the wretched generation of people at that time, if not his own qualities? For from the unclean, what can become clean? And so, people will then be sunk in every sensual pleasure, just as in the days of Noah, and will not expect any misfortune, nor will they even believe it if someone speaks to them of the occurrence of any calamity, just like the people who lived in the days of Noah and in the days of Lot.
Lk. 17:31. In that day, he who will be on the housetop, and his belongings in the house, let him not come down to take them;
On that day of the coming of the Antichrist, "whoever is on the housetop," that is, on the height of virtue, let him not come down from it, let him not descend for any worldly object. For all worldly objects are called vessels for a person, serving one for virtue and another for evil deeds. Therefore, you who stand on the height of virtue, do not come down for anything worldly and do not fall from your height, but resist evil and do not grow weary.
Lk. 17:31. And whoever is in the field, let him likewise not turn back.
Likewise also he "who is in the field" should not turn back. For he who is in the field, that is, in this world cultivating virtue, must not turn back, but must press forward, as it is also said in another place: "No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).
Lk. 17:32. Remember Lot's wife.
The Lord presents the wife of Lot as an example. She, having looked back, became a pillar of salt (Gen. 19:26), that is, not having departed from wickedness, she remained in its saltiness, having become entirely wicked, and, having sunk and remained in evil, she stands as a monument of the defeat which she suffered.
Lk. 17:33. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses it will preserve it.
Then the Lord adds what also relates to the foregoing: "Whoever seeks to save his life shall lose it." Let no one, He says, during the persecution of the Antichrist try to save his life, for such a person shall lose it. But whoever gives himself over to death and to suffering in general shall be saved, not bowing before the tyrant out of love for life. Above, the Lord said that he who stands on the height of virtue should not come down from it for worldly things, should not be carried away by either gain or possessions, nor grow weak in the struggle because of them. Likewise now, extending the point further, He says: and why do I say, do not go back for your goods? No, do not abandon virtue even for the sake of outward goods, nor even for the sake of preserving your very life should you resolve to bow before the deceiver and persecutor.
The Evangelist Matthew (Matt. 24) says that the Lord spoke all of this concerning the captivity of Jerusalem, alluding to the siege by enemies and to the fact that during the invasion of the Romans one must flee from them without looking back: those on the rooftop need not go down into the house to take anything of their belongings, but must flee at once, for this is no time of tranquility in which to gather vessels; likewise, those in the field need not return home, and even one who is at home must flee. There is nothing surprising, however, if this was fulfilled at the taking of Jerusalem and will again be fulfilled at the coming of the Antichrist, especially if before the very time of the end of the world there is to be an unbearably heavy tribulation.
Lk. 17:34. I tell you, on that night two will be on one bed: one will be taken, and the other will be left;
And from this we learn that the coming of the Lord will follow unexpectedly and suddenly. For the saying that "two... will be... in one bed" shows the carefree state of people. Likewise the grinding indicates the unexpectedness of the coming. We also learn that the coming will follow at night. So the Lord says that even among the rich, resting in bed, some will be saved, and others will not. The Lord once said that the rich are saved with difficulty (Matt. 19:23–24). Now He shows that not all the rich perish, nor are all the poor saved, but even among the rich one will be taken and will be caught up "to meet the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:17), as one light in spirit and heavenly, while the other will be left below, as one condemned.
Lk. 17:35. Two will be grinding together: one will be taken, and the other will be left;
Lk. 17:36. Two shall be in the field: the one shall be taken, and the other left.
In like manner, of the poor as well, who are signified by those grinding, one will be saved and another will not. For not all the poor are righteous: some of them are thieves and cut purses. By grinding is indicated the laboriousness of the life of the poor.
Lk. 17:37. And they said to Him: Where, Lord? And He said to them: where the corpse is, there the eagles will also gather.
When the disciples asked the Lord where these would be taken, He answered: "where the corpse is, there... are the eagles also"; that is, where the Son of Man is, there are all the saints, light and soaring high, whereas sinners are heavy and therefore remain below. Just as when a dead body lies, all carrion birds flock to it, so too when the Son of Man, who died for us and was accounted as a corpse, appears from heaven, all the saints and the very Angels will be gathered together. For He will come with them in the glory of the Father and in indescribable radiance. Although He called this time night, He called it so because it is unexpected and because darkness will then envelop sinners. But upon the righteous light will shine, and they themselves will shine like the sun (Matt. 13:43).