Matthew 24 (Rapture Thoughts part 3)

I am familiar with the pre trib idea that Matthew chapter 24 is "only for the Jews" however, I hope this blog posting will cause some to reconsider this notion as we compare Matthew 24 to the "rapture passages” in 1st and 2nd Thessalonians.

I saw a chart on a youtube video which I snapped with a screen save but the image was barely readable because it was so blurry. I hoped to find it at the webpage that was provided at the bottom of the chart but was unable to locate it. I will provide a link to the website at the bottom of this post and if you find you would like to try to hunt it down, you can be able to do so.

The chart compared a list of topics that are found in both sections so I shall post each topic with the verses that pertain to these things:


****************


Christ is the source of the information given 
Matthew 24:3-4  /  1 Thessalonians 4:15

Warning given: Do Not Be Deceived 
Matthew 24:4  /  2 Thessalonians 2:3


Subject of the Parousia
Matthew 24: 3, 27, 37, 39   /   1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:1


Antichrist's Temple Activity
Matthew 24: 15  /  2 Thessalonians 2:4


Opposition by Antichrist,
Matthew 24:21, 22  /  2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 & v.9


Deceiving Signs & Wonders
Matthew 24:24  /   2Thessalonians 2:9


Apostasy of Many
Matthew 24:9-12  /  2 Thessalonians 2:3


Elect, Alive, and Survive
Matthew 24:22  /  1 Thessalonians 4:15, 17


Persecution Cut Short 
Matthew 24: 22, 29-31  /  2 Thessalonians 1:6-7; & 2:8


Initiation of the Parousia
Matthew 24: 27, & v. 30  /  1 Thessalonians 4:15


Parousia Comes After Appearance of the Antichrist
Matthew 24:29-30  /  2 Thessalonians 2:8

Parousia is Seen by All
Matthew 24:27-30  /  1 Thessalonians 4:16; & 2 Thessalonians 2:8

Jesus Comes in the Clouds
Matthew 24:30   /   1 Thessalonians 4:17

Angelic Presence With Jesus as He Comes
Matthew 24:31   /    1 Thessalonians :16 ; & 2 Thessalonians 1:7

Trumpet Sounds at His Coming
Matthew 24:31   /   1 Thessalonians 4:16


Gathers His Elect
Matthew 24:31   /   1 Thessalonians 4:17 ; & 2 Thessalonians 2:1

Mentioning of Peace and Safety
Matthew 24:37-41  /   1 Thessalonians 5:3, and 6-7


Mention of "Thief in the Night" 
Matthew 24: 43   /   1 Thessalonians 5:2-3


Warning of Sudden Destruction
Matthew 24: 37-41   /   1 Thessalonians 5:2-3

The Initiation of God's Wrath
Matthew 24:29-30; and 37-39  /   1 Thessalonians 5:1-3


We Are Not in Darkness
Matthew 24:32-33  /   1 Thessalonians 5:4-5


Warning Against Setting a Date of His Returning
Matthew 24:36   /   1 Thessalonians 5:1


Warning to Be Watchful / Expectant
Matthew 24:42-51  /   1 Thessalonians 5:6


**************


I want to point out a few areas of difference in understanding between pre and post tribbers on a few of the above mentioned topics:

On the topic of Parousia, pre tribbers say this only refers to the rapture which they maintain is a separate event at a separate time from the actual coming of Jesus. This is something I still need to dig into a bit further but the person who made this chart asserts that Parousia is an event that involves both the rapture and second coming happening at the same moment in time. I will do a word study on this in the next post.

Regarding the apostasy of many mentioned above....one cannot be truly born of God and apostasize (imo from many verses in the Bible) therefore I see this as many having a very shallow belief in Jesus that did not lead to the true conversion of the Spirit which Jesus called "born of the Spirit". One can have a "said faith" without having undergone the Spiritual transformation by the power of God, which is also referred to in scripture as being sealed by God.

Regarding the word tribulation being equal with the wrath of God (by pre tribbers). Post tribbers assert tribulation is not the same as the wrath of God. This requires careful study and discernment from the Holy Spirit.


Regarding Matthew 24 only being directed to nonChristian Jews who will still be here after the rapture... the video I watched which provided me the above list was narrated by Chris White. He felt that the fact that there was so much in common between the letters to Thessalonica and Matthew 24 give indication that Paul was referring to the words of Jesus as He spoke to His disciples recorded (later? not sure of that...but they still knew of this Olivet Discourse from apostles who were in attendance and were first hand witnesses of these sayings of Jesus, and who were still alive and with them) in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. The letters written to Thessalonica were written to Gentiles who converted to Jesus, the Church, aka the Elect. Pre tribbers like to say that the word "elect" only refers to Jews, however that isn't consistent with the rest of the NT which was written to Gentiles who were called "the elect".