The Rapture part 4

Next our next few verse can be very confusing when you simply read them because there written in a prophetic language known as Apocalyptic Language.

 

Matthew 24:29 " Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

 

Now reading this literally makes a very scary scene. However, I will show that this is just a pronouncement of the destruction of Jerusalem. They way I will do this is by showing how this language has been used before in the OT to show the judgment and downfall of other nations.

 

First let’s compare Isaiah prophecy of the downfall of Babylon.

 

Isaiah 13:10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not give their light; The sun will be darkened in its going forth, And the moon will not cause its light to shine. See Isa. 13:19-20

 

Ezekiel talk about the downfall of Egypt.

 

Ezekiel 32:7 When I put out your light, I will cover the heavens, and make its stars dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, And the moon shall not give her light.  8 All the bright lights of the heavens I will make dark over you, And bring darkness upon your land,' Says the Lord GOD.

 

Now using the whole council of God we can see that our verse in Mat. is simply describing the downfall of the Jewish nation just as the this language was used to describe the downfall of these other nations. Also the word immediately shows that this was happening immediately after the tribulations of those days.

 

Matthew 24:30 "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

 

Now if not looked at carefully this verse can be misunderstood as well. What important to note is that it does not say that son of man will appear in heaven but that sign of the sign of the son would appear. This sign of Jesus coming by way of judgment by means of Roman army. No where in this verse does indicate that Jesus was literally going to come and this goes hand in with what Jesus told the Jews at his trial in,

 

Matthew 26:64  Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."

 

Here we have Jesus sitting and coming at the same time. This shows us that that Jesus was remain in heaven and that the destruction of Jerusalem was yet another sign showing that He was at the right hand of God will full power over His kingdom. Now this phrase coming on the clouds of heaven with power is another phrase that we can see use in OT on how the Lord would come upon a nation by means of earthy force.

 

Isaiah 19:1 The burden against Egypt. Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud, And will come into Egypt; The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst.  2 "I will set Egyptians against Egyptians; Everyone will fight against his brother, And everyone against his neighbor, City against city, kingdom against kingdom.  

 

Here we see the Lord was going to come to come into Egypt on swift cloud. But how did he come? Was it a literal coming? No, He came into Egypt by setting Egyptian against Egyptian and kingdom against kingdom. The Lord was the power behind this but he did it from heaven. Just like in the book of Matthew. The Lord was the power behind the Roman army but his coming on clouds was by means of the Roman army.

 

Matthew 24:31 "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 heaven to the other.

 

Now if you were to read this verse by itself it would be easy to think that this is talking about 2nd coming. However, in context in cannot be talking about that and this is why it important especial when looking at symbolic language to keep in context. These types of symbols like the trumpet and the four winds are used in other places symbolically as well. The other difficulty with this verse has to do with the word angle because this word simply means messenger and it can mean a heavenly messenger or an earthy messenger.

 

But again, since the context of our verses has to with things on the earth the most logical approach to the verse to me is that is referring to God people or messengers taking the gospel throughout the world. The term four winds usually used to describe the entirety of the world.

 

If I am wrong and the word angel is referring to the heavenly messengers they I would have to say this is simply stating that the God’s angels played some part in helping the Christians escape this siege and be gathered together at places of safety so that not one Christian died.

 

What ever meaning you may apply to this passage I know for fact the cannot mean the second coming of Jesus and the end of time and the reason I can say this with great confidence is because of the next few verses.

 

 

Matthew 24:32 Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.  33 "So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near -- at the doors! 34 "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

 

Jesus makes it very easy for understand that all things He just said would happen in their lifetime in their generation. Just as you can look at tree the starts growing leaves you can know that summer is near in the same exact way those living during that day could know without a doubt when the destruction of Jerusalem was near. Now 2 more points I want to make that ties all this together are the 2 phrases “these things” and “those days”

 

This is very important because Jesus just said that all these things he just spoke about were to take place in their generation. Real quickly notice how this term is used over and over again,

 

Matthew 23:36  "Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

 

Matthew 24:2  "Do you not see all these things? Referring to the buildings of the temple.

 

Matthew 24:3  "Tell us, when will these things be?

 

Matthew 24:6  See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass

 

Matthew 24:8 "All these are the beginning of sorrows.

 

Luke 21:26 "men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth

 

Luke 21:31 "So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

 

This shows without doubt that these signs had to take place in the 1st century and that these signs were all fulfilled in the 1st century and have absolutely nothing to do with the end of the world. Finally our phrase “those days” is also used within these verse as well.

 

Matthew 24:19  19 "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

 

Matthew 24:22   22 "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.

 

Matthew 24:29 " Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened …

Please note that these things that were to happen in their generation was going to be happing in those days.

 

Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

 

Jesus is just reaffirming that His words are truth and everything He said would come to pass. No so far only one topic has been answered by Jesus and that was When would Jerusalem be destroyed and what would be the signs. Next Jesus is going to answer the next topic of when he would come and bring an end to world and what signs can they look for.

 

Matthew 24:36  But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

 

Here a major transition from what Jesus had just been talking about and the word “but” show that now Jesus is talking about something completely different. We just point out that the previous verses were talking about those days plural and that there were signs of when those things were taken place. But notice this verse now focusing in on that day and hour. Jesus spoke many times to his disciples about that day,

 

Matthew 12:36  "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

 

Matthew 10:15 "Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

 

John 12:48 "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him -- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

 

John 6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

 

These are just a few verses out many that show that the final judgment and end of the world will happen on the last day. Also Jesus point out that only the farther knows when that day will occur. The angles don’t know and Mark account tells us that Jesus doesn’t know, So when someone tells you that that know when Jesus is coming again you can know for sure that they are wrong because only the Father knows.

 

Matthew 24:37 "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  38 "For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,  39 "and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

 

Again we can see the Jesus is talking about something different here than before. Before there all kinds of tribulations and horrible things going on but Jesus says here when he comes which is referring to his second coming is going to be like it was in Noah’s day. Everyone’s one is going to be doing their own thing. There going to eating, drinking and marrying. Notice this is peaceful setting and life is going on as normal. But just like the flood began unexpectedly and took the people so will be Jesus’ second coming. This is why Peter tells us,

 

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

 

Just as the flood came upon the people’s of Noah’s day unexpectedly so will Jesus come again without any signs showing His second coming. Also important to note that in verse 1 – 34 Jesus talks about how they would be able to escape the destruction and flee to the mountains but when Jesus comes there will be no place to escape to. Those of Noah’s could have climbed the highest mountain and still they would have died in the flood.  Just like is Noah’s day many have been warned that Jesus is going to come but they fail to take heed to the warnings which will end costing them their soul. Next Jesus gives us an illustration.

 

Matthew 24:40 "Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.  41 "Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.

 

Those who teach the rapture theory will say this shows the rapture as the teach at but it does no such thing. Again, keeping things in context and using the whole council of God I have already shown earlier lessons that both the just and the unjust will raised and judged on the same day and in context we are talking about the finally coming of Jesus with the earth will be destroyed. Jesus is just giving an illustration that life is going to be going as normal but when comes suddenly without any signs those there are prepared and have lived a faithful live will be taken up to be with the Lord as this one man and one women but the unprepared will be left behind with all sinners who will be judged and spend eternity in hell and this on that day.

 

Matthew 24:42 "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.  43 "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.  44 "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 

 

Here Jesus main point that we see expressed many time through out the scriptures and that is watch that is t make sure that you are ready for Lord at anytime. Once again he emphasizing that are no signs of when Christ will come again but we must always be ready for his return at any given hour.

 

Matthew 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?  46 "Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.  47 "Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.  48 "But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,'  49 "and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,  50 "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,  51 "and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

Once again Jesus is driving his point home, but this time He add that a faithful servant is one that remain faithful until He comes again. Some will have the attitude that Jesus is not coming anytime soon so I am going sow my wild oats engage in all kind of sin and then later on back right with him again. Jesus warns against this kind of behavior because no knows when he will come again and you certainly don’t want to caught up sin when he comes again or he will send us where the rest of the sinners are where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

So now Jesus has answered his disciples questions. He taught them about the things that must take place before the destruction of Jerusalem occurred and taught them that the real sign that would bring about the Jerusalem’s destruction was the Roman arm surrounding the city. The Jesus answer the question of when he would come and the end of the world would come. He let them know that are no signs leading up to his return and that he come at any moment like a thief in the night.

 

So as you can see there is no room for the false claims that rapture theory teaches on Mat 24. Now in Mat 25. Jesus expounds even more about his second coming and the end of the world and how important it is that we as Christians remain watchful and ready for Jesus return at any given time.

 

In Mat. 25:1 – 13 Jesus tells the parable of the Wise and foolish virgins. There 10 virgins in all who were waiting for the bridegroom. 5 of them were prepared will full lamps the other 5 were unprepared as they had no oil for the lamps. Because the bridegroom was delayed in coming it was late and 5 foolish virgins had leave and try and find some oil for the lamps but while they were gone the bridegroom came and the 5 prepared virgins were allowed to go into the wedding with him but the 5 foolish ones found locked out from the wedding. Jesus concludes this parable by saying.

 

Matthew 25:13 "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

 

Again the idea here is to continual prepared like wise virgins so that when Jesus comes you will invited to be with him heaven. In similar vein Jesus give another parable about the talents in verses 14 – 30. In this parable He stresses the idea of Christians being faithful and using their ability they have for the Lord and if they don’t use what that have been blessed and they hide it and do nothing then they will not make it to heaven either. That’s  what happens in the parable 2 men take the talent their master gives them and they double it by the time their master comes again. But one man dug a hole and hide his talent and tried to give it back to his master and this was his response.

 

Matthew 25:26 "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.  27 'So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.  28 'Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.  29 'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.  30 'And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

 

This teaches us not be lazy servants of God or else we face the consequences and again this parable is dealing with the end of time. Finally the rest of the chapter deals with what is going to take place when Jesus comes again. Lets us read these verses.

 

Matthew 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.  32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.  33 "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.  34 "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  35 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;  36 'I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'  37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  38 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  39 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'  40 "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'  41 "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:  42 'for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;  43 'I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'  44 "Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?'  45 "Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'  46 "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

 

Again, we are left with the picture of when Jesus returns that there will be a great separation between the sinner and the saint and this will happen at the same time. As the very last verse indicated eternity in heaven and in hell will happen at the same time.

 

I hope this lesson has been helpful and has show without a doubt that the rapture theory is wrong because there are no signs that lead up to Jesus second coming and the end of the world.