Chapter
Verse

Luke 17:28

ESV Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot — they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building,
NIV "It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building.
NASB It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, and they were building;
CSB It will be the same as it was in the days of Lot: People went on eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building.
NLT And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business — eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building —
KJV Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
NKJV Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;

What does Luke 17:28 mean?

Jesus has compared the days before His second coming with the time before the flood. In both cases, people eat, drink, and marry. They live normal lives and plan for their futures. The emphasis of this point is on how people do not suspect the coming judgment (Luke 17:26–27).

Now, He compares the coming time of judgment to the days before God destroyed Sodom. Again, they will be living as if nothing is going to happen. "Eating and drinking" are normal, everyday activities but are also associated with celebration. "Buying and selling" are also normal, but suggest the people have a desire for riches of the world. "Planting and building" describe people who expect to be around for a long time. All these together reveal people who are intensely involved in earthly affairs; no one is thinking about God.

Revelation 18 records the fall of the economic systems of Babylon at the end of the tribulation. In the context of all that will be lost, we see what the trading ships carry:
"cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls." (Revelation 18:12–13)
Like the rich fool, the people of Sodom and the people of Babylon only think of the worldly wealth and ease their work earns them. They don't realize they will die and their earthly lives will mean nothing (Luke 12:13–20). "So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:21).
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