Does Matthew 24 Refer to the Rapture or to Jesus’ Second Coming?
| By: Dr. Renald Showers; ©2005 |
| What is the “abomination of desolation”? Who are the “elect”? Dr. Showers explains. |
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Does Matthew 24 Refer to the Rapture or to Jesus’ Second Coming?
Many, many sincere Christians, many of whom I have great respect, believe that the Rapture is being presented in Matthew 24; and they believe it’s being presented two places in Matthew 24. Does Matthew 24 refer to the Rapture? Let me give you some background.
The Abomination of Desolation
In Matthew 24:15, Jesus refers to the abomination of desolation which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet back in Daniel 9:27.
Now, when you read Daniel 9:27, we are told there that the abomination of desolation will take place precisely in the middle of the seven-year Tribulation period—or on the basis of Daniel 9:27 you could call it the 70th week of Daniel 9, right in the middle of that 70th week of Daniel 9. In other words, the abomination of desolation will take place before the second three and a half years of that seven-year period of time.
Then, after saying the abomination of desolation will take place, Jesus warns the Jews who will be living in Israel at that time. He says, “When you see that abomination of desolation taking place,… then those who are in Judea should flee to the mountains.” They should get out of there as fast as they can. He tells them why in verse 21: “for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world till this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened [literally “should be cut off”], there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be [cut off].”
What He is saying here is this: when the abomination of desolation takes place—in the middle of that seven-year period of time—that will be the starting point of what Jesus calls “the great Tribulation.”
So the Great Tribulation will begin in the middle of the 70th week of Daniel 9 or, if you prefer, in the middle of the seven-year Tribulation period. And Jesus clearly indicates here in verses 21 and 22 that that Great Tribulation will be the unparalleled time of trouble in all of world history, the likes of which He said have not been since the beginning of the world, nor will ever be again in all of history. This will be the unparalleled time of trouble for planet Earth. Who Are “The Elect” Jesus Refers to in Matthew 24:31?
I’m convinced this is referring to the elect of Israel and not to the Church elect or Church saints. The whole context of Matthew 24 is a Jewish context, not a Church context. Jesus, as we see in verse 15, speaking ahead of time to Jews of that future Tribulation period, said, “When you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in your holy place.”
Well, who had the holy place? The Gentiles? No, the people of Israel did. That’s a reference to a temple of God in Israel. He said, “When you see the abomination of desolation… standing in your holy place, then let them which be in Judea [these are Jews living in their own land of Israel] flee into the mountains. Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house,” etc.
And then, in verse 20, He says to them that they really ought to be concerned that their flight not be on the Sabbath day: “But pray that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day.” He’s talking here about Jews and how this will affect Jews. The whole context is a Jewish context.
And so I take it that the elect here are Jewish people whom He will gather together through His holy angels from the four winds, really the idea is from all four directions, under the heavens here on planet Earth back to their homeland of Israel in conjunction with His Second Coming.
Observation about the perspective (point of view) when the questions were asked about His coming in Matt. 24:
When the disciples asked, “what shall be the sign of thy coming?” the perspective (point of view) of the disciples was, they are on earth and Jesus Christ will be coming down from heaven. It is the same perspective during the rapture. We are on earth and Jesus Christ from heaven will come for us.
Let us try to change the perspective. IF the disciples were asking about the millennial reign of Christ. The perspective would be different.
In the Millennial Reign, the disciples are in heaven and they will return to earth together with Christ to reign. So based on that perspective, the right question of the disciples may have been, “Lord, when are we going to return to earth?” or “Lord, when are we going to reign?”. But they did not ask those kinds of question.
If the context of Matt 24 is about the millennial reign, it is not necessary for the disciples to ask for a sign because they will be together with Jesus Christ when He comes to earth.
If the disciples were really asking for a sign of the coming for the Millennial Reign, which is the right question to ask? What shall be the sign of THY coming? Or what shall be the sign of OUR coming?
So different perspective requires different way of questioning. Jesus Christ and the disciples should be in the same perspective or else there will be misunderstanding. If you look at the whole chapter of Matt 24, there is no hint of misunderstanding. No follow up question by the disciples. Which means their question was perfectly addressed by Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is a master teacher. He does not complicate things.
May the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth.
Very good point.
Thank you for making this simple and clear. When reading Matthew 24, it just made sense, it too was simple and clear. Now when I get to a certain part of revelation, I stop. I get totally confused. It’s straight forward until a point. Maybe God will give more revelation on that… thanks again.
Observation on Matt 24:30-31 if it is the coming of Christ for the Millennial Reign (touch-down) or It is the Rapture, the coming in the clouds (no touch-down)
(Matt 24:3 [KJV]) And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? The disciples asked 3 questions and one of the questions was “what shall be the sign of thy coming?”
For now, let us focus on that question about “the coming”. Then Jesus answered about His coming. These are the verses in Matt 24 where Jesus specifically mentioned about His coming:
(Matt 24:27 [KJV])
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
(Matt 24:30 [KJV])
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
(Matt 24:31 [KJV])
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
(Matt 24:37 [KJV])
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matt 24:39 [KJV])
And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
(Matt 24:42 [KJV])
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
(Matt 24:44 [KJV])
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Based on those verses, which coming was Jesus referring to?
– His Coming in the Clouds (for His Saints or to get His Saints), no touch-down or is it
– His Coming (with His Saints) for the Millennial Reign (touched down – Olive Mount)
Please consider these simple valid questions.
If Jesus Christ was answering both coming in the Millennial Reign and the Rapture, it will confuse the disciples, it will also confuse us. Jesus Christ is a master teacher. He does not complicate things.
May the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth.
Observation about the perspective (point of view) when the questions were asked about His coming in Matt. 24:
When the disciples asked, “what shall be the sign of thy coming?” the perspective (point of view) of the disciples was, they are on earth and Jesus Christ will be coming down from heaven. It is the same perspective during the rapture. We are on earth and Jesus Christ from heaven will come for us.
Let us try to change the perspective. IF the disciples were asking about the millennial reign of Christ. The perspective would be different.
In the Millennial Reign, the disciples are in heaven and they will return to earth together with Christ to reign. So based on that perspective, the right question of the disciples may have been, “Lord, when are we going to return to earth?” or “Lord, when are we going to reign?”. But they did not ask those kinds of question.
If the context of Matt 24 is about the millennial reign, it is not necessary for the disciples to ask for a sign because they will be together with Jesus Christ when He comes to earth.
If the disciples were really asking for a sign of the coming for the Millennial Reign, which is the right question to ask? What shall be the sign of THY coming? Or what shall be the sign of OUR coming?
So different perspective requires different way of questioning. Jesus Christ and the disciples should be in the same perspective or else there will be misunderstanding. If you look at the whole chapter of Matt 24, there is no hint of misunderstanding. No follow up question by the disciples. Which means their question was perfectly addressed by Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is a master teacher. He does not complicate things.
May the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth.
________
Observation on Matt 24:30-31 if it is the coming of Christ for the Millennial Reign (touch-down) or It is the Rapture, the coming in the clouds (no touch-down)
(Matt 24:3 [KJV]) And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? The disciples asked 3 questions and one of the questions was “what shall be the sign of thy coming?”
For now, let us focus on that question about “the coming”. Then Jesus answered about His coming. These are the verses in Matt 24 where Jesus specifically mentioned about His coming:
(Matt 24:27 [KJV])
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
(Matt 24:30 [KJV])
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
(Matt 24:31 [KJV])
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
(Matt 24:37 [KJV])
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matt 24:39 [KJV])
And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
(Matt 24:42 [KJV])
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
(Matt 24:44 [KJV])
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Based on those verses, which coming was Jesus referring to?
– His Coming in the Clouds (for His Saints or to get His Saints), no touch-down or is it
– His Coming (with His Saints) for the Millennial Reign (touched down – Olive Mount)
Please consider these simple valid questions.
If Jesus Christ was answering both coming in the Millennial Reign and the Rapture, it will confuse the disciples, it will also confuse us. Jesus Christ is a master teacher. He does not complicate things.
May the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth.
___
Observation: The destruction of the temple triggers the question ofthe disciples in Matt. 24.
(Matt 24:1 [KJV]) And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
(Matt 24:2 [KJV]) And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
(Matt 24:3 [KJV]) And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
In Matt 24, it is about the destruction of the temple as foretold by Jesus Christ.
In the parallel Gospels:
(Luke 21:5 [KJV]) And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
(Luke 21:6 [KJV]) As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
(Luke 21:7 [KJV]) And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
In MARK:
(Mark 13:1 [KJV]) And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
(Mark 13:2 [KJV]) And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
(Mark 13:3 [KJV]) And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
What triggers the whole conversation in Matt 24 is when Jesus talked about the destruction of the temple.
In the Millennial Reign of Christ, the temple will be rebuild, not destroyed. Jesus did not mention about the rebuilding, He was talking about the destruction. And it will happen during the Abomination of Desolation.
Events in the coming for the Millennial Reign:
– Rev. 19:11-14 – Rides in White Horse w/ the armies of Heaven – To Make War
– Rev. 19:15 – Rule with the Rod of Iron
– Zech 14:4 – Touch down on Earth (Mount of Olives)
– Zech 14:5 – Reign with His Saints
These events were not mentioned in Matt. 24. By observation, the coming in Matt 24 is not the Millennial Reign of Christ.
May the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth.
___
After the Resurrection (First Fruit) – Jesus Christ, the next rapture and resurrection is after the tribulation (after the 1st half of the 7-year) then the next rapture and resurrection will be after the Millennial Reign of Christ
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Matthew is addressed to ALL not just jews. Because in Mark 13 which is the parallel Gospel of Matthew 24.
(Mark 13:37 [KJV])
And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
May the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth.
____
The word “ELECT” mentioned in Matt. 24 is referring to all believers regardless of nation or race.
(Col 3:11 [KJV])
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
(Col 3:12 [KJV])
Put on therefore, as the ELECT of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Yes, Israel were called elect in the Old Testament based on the Old Covenant. But the old covenant (1st) is being replace by the new covenant (2nd)
(Heb 8:7 [KJV])
For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
In the new covenant (New Testament), the elect are now referring to all believers of Christ regardless of nation or race. In the end times, the New Covenant is in effect not the old.
Matthew 24 is written in the New Testament (New Covenant). It is appropriate to look for the meaning the word “elect” in the same testament.
May the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth.
___
The great tribulation is different from God’s wrath. If you interchange it, it will cause Bible inconsistency.
(Rev 7:13 [KJV]) And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? (Rev 7:14 [KJV]) And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Here it is clear that the believers of Christ experienced the great tribulation, because they came out of great tribulation. If we changed it to God’s wrath, it will now read “…this are they which came out of God’s wrath” but these are believers of Christ. It will now conflict with 1 Thess: 5:9 where believers are not appointed unto wrath.
The Bible is consistent that when it says wrath it did not mean tribulation or great tribulation and when it says tribulation, it did not mean God’s wrath.
May the Holy Spirit guide us all.