The Lord Jesus Christ gave the following parable about his second coming.
The Parable Of The Dead Body
Luke 17:37 “Where, Lord?” they asked. He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.” (NIV)
So, what exactly did the Lord Jesus Christ mean by this parable? Whose “dead body” is he referring to? And what is the significance of “vultures” in this parable?
There is a parallel prophecy about the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Book of Revelation. We can use this parallel prophecy to interpret the parable of the dead body.
In fact, the parable of the dead body has a lot to do with Apostle John’s vision of the “two witnesses” of the Book of Revelation.
Revelation 11:3 “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
The Two Witnesses And The Body Of Christ
You see, the “two witnesses” will be the “body of Christ” in the last days. Let me explain.
In Apostle John’s vision, the two witnesses are two lampstands standing before God.
Revelation 11:4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
The Bible used a lampstand to symbolize a church.
Revelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
Therefore, the two witnesses are churches or congregations because they are “two lampstands”.
And, we understand that “the church” is the body of Christ.
Ephesians 5:23 … Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
Hence, the “two witnesses” or the “two lampstands” will be the body of Christ of the last days.
In fact, the two witnesses are what the Lord Jesus Christ was referring to in the parable of the dead body. Because the two witnesses represent the body of Christ.
Birds of Prey: Vultures Or Eagles
Now, let’s look at the symbology of the “vultures.
The Greek word ἀετοί (aetoi) was translated as “vultures” or “eagles” in English versions of the Bible.
Luke 17:37 “Where, Lord?” they asked. He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”
But in the original Greek word, ἀετοί (aetoi) means birds of prey.
Depending on which version of the Bible you are reading, you will see either eagles or vultures as the translation for the original Greek word ἀετοί (aetoi).
Therefore, we are not going to look for the meaning of eagles or vultures to interpret this parable. Instead, we’re going to use the meaning of the original Greek word of ἀετοί (aetoi) which means “birds of prey”.
God’s Inheritance
Now, there’s a verse in the Bible that refers to God’s inheritance as being a speckled bird of prey.
Jeremiah 12:9 Is not My inheritance to Me like a speckled bird of prey with other birds of prey circling against her?
The Bible tells us that God’s inheritance is Mount Zion.
Psalm 74:2 Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed— This Mount Zion where You have dwelt.
Moreover, Mount Zion is the high place of the tribe of Judah.
Psalm78:68 But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved.
And in another verse, he called Israel His inheritance.
Joel 3:2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning My people, My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations as they divided up My land.
Hence, Israel is also God’s inheritance. This makes sense because Judah is also part of the nation of Israel as a whole.
Psalm 114:2 Judah became His sanctuary, And Israel His dominion.
In fact, Israel and Judah are the two witnesses.
So, if God called his people a speckled bird of prey. Therefore, the other birds of prey have to be in the same category as God’s people.
Jeremiah 12:9 Is not My inheritance to Me like a speckled bird of prey with other birds of prey circling against her?
Therefore, these “birds of prey” who are circling against her have to be religious people and entities.
The Two Witnesses Killed
Additionally, the Bible referred to the two witnesses as prophets.
Revelation 11:10 …because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
And guess who is responsible for killing the two witnesses? It is the beast with the “false prophet” calling the shots.
Revelation 11:7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
The false prophet is the beast who comes out of the earth. Therefore, the false prophet is a religious entity. He is considered a bird of prey.
Revelation 19:20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
The false prophet along with the beast will kill the two witnesses according to the following prophecy.
Revelation 11:7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
Dead Body
The birds of prey will gather around the two witnesses’ dead bodies.
Revelation 11:8And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
These visions of the Apostle John concerning the two witnesses are what Jesus Christ is referring to when he gave us this parable.
Luke 17:37 “Where, Lord?” they asked. He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”
The killing of the “body” of Christ is a sign that we need to look out for.
And the “body” of Christ will be the two witnesses.
Therefore, when we see the two witnesses persecuted and killed, then the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is at hand.
The Second Coming Of The Lord Jesus Christ
In fact, the Lord Jesus Christ will come the second time to resurrect the two witnesses during the “first resurrection”.
The two witnesses will be resurrected by the Lord Jesus Christ according to the following prophecy.
Revelation 11:11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.
Conclusion
In summary, the parable of the dead body is about the “two witnesses” (body of Christ). And the beast and the false prophet (birds of prey) will kill the two witnesses.
Then, the two witnesses will be resurrected at the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As believers of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, we will be taking part in this event if we hang on to our faith. We will be the two witnesses — Judah and Israel.
May God bless you all!
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