We Live in the Time of the End
“”But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.”” (Da. 12:4 NAS)
We certainly live at a time when many are going back and forth. We live in a time when men are boasting of the increase of our knowledge, much of which is at the touch of our fingertips via computer. Man has delved deep into the microscopic world discovering insight into the workings of our physical existence. Man has also delved into the macroscopic, exploring by telescope the magnitude and magnificence of the universe. As we consider the words of this verse and consider the many prophesies of this ancient book that are now history, can we come to any other conclusion than we are living in the end times?
If we are indeed living in the last days it is imperative that we understand those important revelations that Christ gave His Church for these days in which we live. Repeatedly Jesus warns us about false teachers and false teachings. The Apostles likewise warn us of false teaching and false teachers. It is evidenced in the letters to the Churches that even early on in Church history false teachings were permeating the Church leading some astray from the truth.
The Pre-Tribulation Rapture
“1 ¶ I solemnly charge you in the presence of god and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” (2Ti 4:1-4 NAS)
Some people are surprised (some in total disbelief) when I point out the fact that the concept of a pre-tribulation rapture was first presented only about 180 years ago. This is relatively recent considering that the events of the New Testament took place about 2000 years ago. Over the last 180 years the pre- tribulation rapture theory has grown in popularity until it has become the dominate end time doctrine in our western culture. In spite of its popularity controversy still exists. Theologian’s beliefs concerning the rapture of the Church are categorized as pre, mid, or post-tribulation. I will deal with some of their logic later, but first and foremost I want us to look at what Jesus taught. If you can accept the clear reading of Scripture in these passages, I believe you would need to read no further than this chapter to settle the controversy and be confident as to the timing of the rapture of the Church in relation to the great tribulation.
When Will These Things Be?
Chapter 24 of the Book of Matthew begins at the site of the Temple. As Jesus and His disciples are leaving the temple they begin to talk about the structure. From what I can ascertain from the scripture and historical records, the Temple was a magnificent structure. In response to the disciples pointing out some of the features of the Temple, Jesus makes the statement that it is destined for destruction and not one stone will be left upon another in its destruction.
Upon arriving at a more private setting (the Mount of Olives), the disciple question Jesus. When will these things be? What will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?
Matthew, Mark, and Luke record Jesus’ answer to these questions. Matthew covers it in the most detail, so that is where we will begin. Although there never seems to be enough detail to totally satisfy human curiosity, I believe it is sufficient to support and maintain our faith as we approach that day. It certainly is clear concerning the timing of the rapture in relation to the great tribulation.
The purpose of God’s Word is not to merely satisfy our human curiosity. God reveals to us, as his children, what we need to know. It is His purpose to equip us with the truth so that our faith does not fail and we will be able to stand firm in times of testing and trials. That is why Jesus answers came in the form of a teaching session, with instructions and warnings, not merely just facts.
“4 ¶ And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 “And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for [those things] must take place, but [that] is not yet the end. 7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 “But all these things are [merely] the beginning of birth pangs. 9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name. 10 “And at that time many will fall away and will deliver up one another and hate one another. 11 “And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many. 12 “And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. 13 “But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved. 14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.” (Mt 24:4-14 NAS)
Verse 4: “See that no one misleads you.”
Verse 5: Because there will be false Messiahs, and they will mislead many.
Verse 6: Don’t be frightened when bad things happen. There will be wars and rumors of wars. They will happen, but this is not the end.
Verse 7: There will be wars, conflicts, famines, and earthquakes.
Verse 8: But these are just the beginnings of birth pains.
Verse 9: Because of my Name (Jesus) they will cause you trouble (tribulation), hate you, and even kill you.
Verse 10: Because of this trouble some people will fall away from the truth, betraying and hating some of you.
Verse 11: And false prophets will arise and mislead many.
Verse: 12: People’s love will grow cold because lawlessness is increased.
Verse 13: Salvation comes at the end for those who have endured or persevered to the end.
Verse 14: The end will not come until this gospel is preached to the whole world, every nation, and then the end will come.
Jesus has in verses 4 through 14 revealed to us events, some of which are now history, leading up until the end of time. He has revealed conditions, attitudes, and reactions. He has shown his people what they will have to endure. Most importantly He shows that the purpose of God and the Church will persevere and accomplish the task of preaching the Gospel to the whole world before the end comes, and those who endure (or are faithful) will be saved.
Therefore
Verse 15 begins with the word “therefore”, signifying that we need to look a little closer at some details in light of the revelation we have just received. Verse 15 brings us back to the setting in which the questions were raised, the Temple in Jerusalem. It appears like Jesus is answering the first question here concerning the destruction of the Temple. The sign given by Daniel (the abomination of desolation) becomes the signal for God’s people to flee Jerusalem.
“15 “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; 17 let him who is on the housetop not go down to get the things out that are in his house; 18 and let him who is in the field not turn back to get his cloak. 19 “But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babes in those days! 20 “But pray that your flight may not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath; 21 for then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall. 22 “And unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days shall be cut short. 23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There [He is,’] do not believe [him.] 24 “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25 “Behold, I have told you in advance. 26 “If therefore they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go forth, [or,] ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe [them.] 27 “For just as the lightning comes from the east, and flashes even to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. 29 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken, 30 and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. 31 “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” (Mt 24:15-31 NAS)
The Great Tribulation
By the time we start reading verse 21 and the description of great tribulation, a conflict arises, because this is the verse which inspired the theological event The Great Tribulation. I call it a theological event because Scripture does not refer to a seven year period as The Great Tribulation. What is referred to here is tribulation so great that the world to this point had not seen it and it will not see tribulation to this extent again. So severe is the tribulation that if it would not be cut short no life would have been saved. These verses beginning with verse 15 could easily be linked to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. We could easily through the records of history see fulfillment through verse 26. Yet questions arise in our minds whether there was ever tribulation greater than this before this time as described in verse 21. Or has there been tribulation greater than this after 70 AD? Will the tribulations of the last days be greater than this?
Verse 27: For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.
Obviously this did not take place in 70 AD. And when we read of the vultures gathering where the corpse is we seem to be reading of that last great battle where the armies of the nations come up against Jerusalem. Obviously we are way beyond the time period of the destruction of the temple. Jesus has highlighted certain events but He has not reveal time and dates. We have similar situations in the prophets. For example; When Jesus read Isaiah 61 as he was beginning His ministry, Jesus declared that it was fulfill in their hearing. Yet if we continued to read beyond the place he stopped we read prophesy that is yet unfulfilled.
Are these verses beginning with verse 15 speaking of a 70 AD event, or an end time event? Or could it be possible that the events of the end time will unfold similarly to the 70 AD event? I’m not sure. What I am sure about is that He has not yet returned in the manner described in the verses beginning in verse 27. What is clear in the passage is that prior to Christ’s return there will be tribulation (or trouble). Because in verse 29 it declares that immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened and the moon not shed its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of heaven will be shaken, and the sign of Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.
And now we reach the verse we have all been waiting for. “And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” (Mt 24:31 NAS)
With a clarity that can’t be mistaken we have a description of our gathering together to meet our Lord. Jesus through these verses has answered the questioning of his disciple when they asked, “When will you return and what will be the sign of your coming.” Jesus did not give them a date stamp as to the actual day, but he revealed his coming in relation to the events that would be enfolding throughout history. Jesus gave enough description of that time so that we would clearly recognize it when we got there.
It is very significant that three times in the dialogue to this point we have been warned about false Messiahs, false prophets, and false teachings. Any teaching that conflicts with these scriptures is false. He has told us in advance that false Christs, prophets, and teachers will come. We need to be diligently aware of the things that are meant to distract us from the words of our Lord.
So I will point out the obvious that should have removed the controversy about the timing of the rapture long ago. Jesus sends forth His angels to gather his elect from the four winds, all of them from one end of the sky to the other one. This takes place after the tribulation, after the nations see him coming in the clouds. This is the rapture of the Saints as described in Thessalonians. This is the event recorded in Mark13:27. This is the event recorded in Luke21:28. The scripture is consistent. Theologians and scholars aren’t.
Simply Put
Could it really be as simple as I have declared here? Yes it is. This is the clear reading of scripture. People make it more complicated and they want to know more. And if it is simply a matter of wanting to know more we should seek God, learn more, and yet continue to rest in the simple explanation and assurance that He has granted us. God is not opposed to us seeking understanding and guidance, for He has encouraged us to do just that. It is when we ignore the obvious and seek the truth through man’s logic and opinions that we get into trouble. Pride enters in. We then tend to lean toward our own logic and understanding. We insist that every detail make sense from our personal perspective. We listen to too many voices, until we cannot recognize God’s voice any more. We elevate men and ideas rather than waiting for God to elevate them. I could go on and on, but I think you should get the idea by now.
But We Want To Know More
I am aware of many of the objections there are to the simple truth I have just presented to you. I could just tell you to ignore all those ideas, accept the clear reading of scripture and move on. This would be good advice and if you took it you would be free from some of that worldly wisdom that so easily interferes with that wisdom that is from above. But I know that it is not quite that simple for most people. We as people have been programmed from birth to think different ways. It is not easy for us to let God just hit the delete button and reprogram us. Because of this I would like to move on to explore more of God’s Word in relation to this subject. Hopefully disarming some of the tools that have been used to help us accept the wisdom of the world, and at the same time helping to enable the tools God would use to conform us to the image of His Son Jesus Christ.
The simple explanation for the timing of the rapture of the Church places it at the time of Christ’s return and appearing in the clouds for everyone to see. I want us to look at some of the major points that have been proposed that accommodate the more pleasant version of end times that has the Church removed from the earth before any really bad stuff happens.