The Tribulation And The Rapture
Timing Of The Rapture – 3 of 5
THE TRIBULATION AND THE RAPTURE
We have thus far seen from four separate and distinct Biblical paths that the Rapture must be the last day of this world’s existence. It must be a simultaneous event with the resurrection of all humanity and with Judgment Day. But the Bible has more to say about this. Let us now look at this question from another viewpoint.
In Matthew 24 Christ gives to us an outline of the signs of events that must take place just before the end of the world. He declares in Matther 24:21-31:
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you. Lo, here is the Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert, go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 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. For wheresoever the carcass isk there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 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. 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.
When we examine these verses, we shall see that the Rapture not only immediately follows the final tribulation believers must endure, but that it is simultaneous with the end of the world. Thus it must be simultaneous with Judgment Day.
In verses 21 and 22 God speaks of an increasingly great tribulation which must come upon the earth. For the sake of the elect this tribulation will be shortened. We will not discuss at this time the implication of this tribulation, but we do know it must come. No other passage in the Bible speaks more plainly of it.
We should ascertain who the elect are who are spoken of in verse 22. God uses this word “elect,” which is the Greek “eklektos,” some twenty-three times in the New Testament. Some would teach that the “elect” refers only to believing Jews on the ground that Matthew 24 relates only to the Nation of Israel, not to the Gentiles. If we would follow this procedure, declaring Matthew 24 is only for the Jews inasmuch as Jesus was speaking to the disciples who were Jews, we could then logically argue the John 3 has no reference to Gentiles because Christ was speaking to Nicodemus, who was a Jew. On that basis, only Jews are to be born again, to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Likewise the book of Romans has no import for us today because it as addressed to the church at Rome. And Isaiah and Jeremiah have no interest for Gentiles because these prophets were sent primarily to Israel.
On this basis then, only certain books of the Bible are to be considered pertinent and authoritative for the New Testament believers.
We immediately sense the error of this line of Biblical interpretation. The Bible says that all Scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for teaching, etc. All the Bible is to be studied and obeyed. Matthew 24 is to be read and studied by Gentiles as well as Jews, as carefully as John 3 or any other part of the Bible. The fact is, when we read Matthew 24 carefully, we see that God is discussing the whole world. In verse 14 He speaks of the Gospel going to every nation. In verses 28-31 He speaks of His return in power and great glory. He does not return to Jews only. He returns to the whole world. Therefore the warnings of Matthew 24 are to the whole world. The statement of Matthew 24 is as important to Gentiles as I Thessalonians 4:14 or any other passage of the Bible.
Returning now to the word “elect” found in Matthew 24:22, we find that in the King James Bible it is translated as “chosen” or as “elect.” Examining the twenty-three places where “eklektos” is used, we see very quickly that the Bible is speaking of those who are elected of God to be believers. This can be seen in such passages as: Matthew 20:16 — So the last shall be first, and the first last; for many be called, but few chosen. Revelation 17:14 — These shall make was with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall over- come them: for He is Lord of lords and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. Romans 8:33 — Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Colossians 3:12 — Put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Titus 1:1 — Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, accord- ing to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth, which is after godliness.
Since the believers are the elect, and since Matthew 24:22 teaches that the tribulation will be shortened for the sake of the elect, we already see that the believers will be present through the tribulation. Thus, on the basis of this verse alone, we would have trouble with a doctrine that teaches that the Rapture will occur before this tribulation.
Returning to Matthew 24 we see that God gives us a very careful chronology covering the relationship of the tribulation to the return of Christ. In Matthew 24:29 God declares:
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken; 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.
This tells us very emphatically that the last event that occurs before the return of Christ is the tribulation spoken of in Matthew 24:21,22. The language “immediately after” does not allow for any passage of time between the tribulation and the events spoken of in verses 29-31.
When we look carefully at the events that immediately follow the tribulation, we see that the sun is darkened and the moon does not give its light. This indicates that it is the end of time. The sun and the moon regulate the passage of time. Now time is no more, for Christ has returned. It is the last day of this world’s existence. Then we read that the stars begin to fall from heaven. This is language of Judgment Day and the destruction of this universe. God gives us further amplification of this even in Revelation 6:12-17, where He declares:
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and the chief captains and the mighty men and every bondman and every free man hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him the sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?”
This can only be language of Judgment Day. We are not surprised to read of the collapse of the universe. In II Peter 3:10-13 we read:
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Thus we see that one fact stands out. This universe will be destroyed when Christ comes again. It must be destroyed because it is under the curse of sin. The viruses, earthquakes, tornadoes and famines experienced are present because mankind has rebelled against God. Therefore, not only was man cursed, but the universe over which man ruled was also cursed. We read in Romans 8:20-22:
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God, for we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
The creation looks with eager longing at the revealing of the sons of glory (the believers) because it is at that time that the universe will be made free from the curse. Immediately after the unsaved have been judged and removed into Hill, the redemption of this earth, its destruction and recreation as new heavens and a new earth must take place.
Therefore, we are not surprised to read that the stars are falling from heaven, and the heaven is being rolled up when Christ returns. From Matthew 24:29 we know that this is immediately following the tribulation. Any system of teaching which suggests that following the tribulation Christ will return to this sin-cursed earth to set up an earthly throne is offering an impossible suggestion. The return of Christ immediatly following the tribulation signals the end of the present universe.
We might note the conduct of the unsaved immediately after the tribulation at the time the universe is collapsing and Christ comes in power and great glory. In Matthew 24:30 we read that all the tribes of earth mourn. In Revelation 12:8,9 we read that all the peoples are in abject terror, calling to the mountains to hide them and the hills to crush them. No wonder they are in great terror. It is the great day of the wrath of the Lamb. It is Judgment Day, at which time they must give an account of their sins and receive the righteous condemnation of God as payment for their sins.
But now let us look more carefully at Matthew 24:31, for there God reveals the first thing that Christ will do when He comes in great power and glory. And as we look at this verse more carefully, let us note how parallel in language it is to I Thessalonains 4:16,17, which speaks of the Rapture.
First we read in the Matthew account that Christ will send His angels. I Thessalonians 4:16 speaks of the sound of the trumpet. Christ then speaks in Matthew 24 of gathering the elect from the four winds under heaven. I Thessalonians 4:17 speaks of those who are alive being caught up to be with Christ. As we saw earlier, the elect are the believers who are being raptured from all over the earth. The phrase “under heaven” could simply be translated “under the sky.” In any case these are the believers living on the earth whose commonwealth is in Heaven (Philippians 3:20)
So we see that there is parallel language in Matthew 24:31 and I Thessalonians 4:16,17 concerning angel activity, the sound of the trumpet at Christ’s return, and the rapture of believers.
Thus in our study of Matthew 24 we can see very clearly that God`s timetable for the rapture of believers is at the end of time. It is immediately after the great tribulation and coincides with Judgment Day. How marvelous God is in giving so many proofs concerning the timing of the Rapture.
Thus far we have found five very plain and distinctive paths revealing that the Rapture will be at the end of time. Let us now look at a sixth path found in the Bible.
Continued in RAP4.TXT