I am hoping to get comments from those who read this blog concerning a statement by Jesus. It appears to be a riddle that is not readily solved. I’m interested in your opinions. When describing His coming in the Olivet discourse, Jesus said this; “For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together “ (Matthew 24 : 28). Luke’s Gospel records a similar comment from Jesus when talking to the Pharisees who had asked Him when the kingdom of God would come. (Luke 17:20). “I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed; the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together; the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field; the one taken and the other left. And they answered and said to Him, ‘where Lord?’ So He said to them, ‘wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together’.” (Luke 17:33-37). It’s the underlined scripture above that I’m interested in. Obvious is the fact that Jesus is using the metaphor of eagles (carrion eaters) being drawn to corpses (dead flesh) to illustrate a connection to the day of His coming. He said this to both His apostles on the Mount of Olives, and earlier to curious Pharisees. The question is, how is this metaphor related to the events surrounding His coming ? What was Jesus trying to tell them them at that time, and now, us ?
A couple of Scriptures related to eagles that may help; Exodus 19:4, Revelation 12:14. If your link or notification doesn’t provide for comments, go to the main blog site and use the “comment” link following this post. Jim’s Eschatological Info – “What I say to you I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:37) (eschatontrails.com) All of us together with the help of the Holy Spirit should be able to solve this. Keep studying. Maranatha!
Are the eagles God’s protection?
I don’t think so. God doesn’t need protection. What I suspect is that eagles here refer to angels. Consider the following : “the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels….So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from the just….And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heaven to the other” (Matthew 13:39, 13:49, 24:31).
Mathew 24:28 Jesus will be in the air! the sky.
Certainly, Jesus returns and we meet Him in the sky (air). But, I think, what Jesus meant here is more specific then that.