36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 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. 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. 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.
There are many who say this is talking about the Rapture, but many others who say it's not. What do you think?
Please forgive me, I need to break things down to get a grasp on them. The old Who, What, When, Where and Why works well. And the principle of the testimony of two or three witnesses.
I agree that Matthew chapter 24 is speaking to those who go through the tribulation and the sheep and goat judgement at the end of the great tribulation found in Mathew 25:31-46. Luke 21 speaks to the church and the rapture. I had this wrong for many years until learning inductive Bible study method in which we allow the text to speak for itself.
First where is Matt. 24 happening? To gain perspective we must understand the individuals looking at the topic, and their position. Establish the position of each and you establish who they are. I know that sounds confusing. But if I were to say a group of parents were concerned with the new playground equipment. That general statement tells you only that parents are concerned. Now if you say a group of moms had safety concerns of the new playground equipment, we gain perspective and better understand the context.
So, the Jews who are going through the tribulation is laid out in Matthew 24. Matthew 24:9 alludes to the tribulation, but it is only a hint of what's to come because without the other verses that follow it could mean anything. However, verses 16-18 are specifically geographic, speaking of Judea. Verse 20 tells them to pray that it won't be on the sabbath. The sabbath is not a problem for a gentile church but for Jews living in Israel today it is a huge problem. Therefore, we now have context Jews in Judea.
Luke 21 goes through the same list of disasters but in verse 12 it establishes this group of people would be persecuted before these things and persecuted for what, "My name's sake." Verse 17 reiterates this again it is for "My name's sake." Verses 24 states what will happen at the destruction of Jerusalem and that it will be controlled by the gentiles until their time is complete.
Matthew 24 Verses 20 thru 23 is in reference to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Little known fact is that because of these verses, very few Christians were killed or even present at its destruction, but a multitude of Jews who did not believe in Jesus were killed. Luke 21:25-28 talks of Christ coming back to Earth in the power and the clouds of Heaven it does not say he touches down. It does say look up for our redemption comes. Verse 36 specifically, “pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” So these people are persecuted for “My name’s sake” specifically those who are called by the name of Jesus Christ, Christians. And from a pre-trib. position Christians are the ones who will escape the things to come. Isa. 26:19-20, Joel 2:15-17
So the Church in Luke 21 and the nation of Israel in Matthew 24 perspective. Luke 21 before the tribulation. Matthew 24 during and just after the tribulation and the great tribulation. Specifically let's look at Matthew 24:15 narrows it down, to the abomination of desolation spoken of in Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11 & 2nd Th. 2:4 giving the time of 1,290 days. The midpoint of the tribulation begins the great tribulation. And in Verse 29 it states, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days" Stating the end of the Great Tribulation has happened. Then verse 31 is clear the angles gather the elect the tribulation saints. these people however are not the church, but believers who come out of the tribulation.
This period is expected to be 45 days long because of Daniel 12:12. says blessed is the one who makes it to the 1,335th day but the time from the midpoint of the tribulation until the end is 1,290 days. many people believe this is the sheep and goat judgement spoken of in Matthew 25:31-46. And it should not be confused with the Bema Seat of Christ spoken of in 2nd Corinthians 5:10, also spoken of in 1st Corinthians 3:11-15 a judgement unto rewards.
Does this mean we can know the exact date and time? Absolutely not, we can know when we are getting close but until Jesus shows up it is at best a guess. Specifically in both Matthew 24:36 and Luke 21:34 states that no man can know the day or hour. This is the doctrine of immanency, meaning the idea that Jesus Christ could return at any time so keep yourself ready to meet your LORD.
We have the who, Church in Luke and Israel in Matthew. The What, the Rapture, and Tribulation, Luke 21 beginning of tribulation signs and rapture; Matthew 24 tribulation/great tribulation; Matthew 25 sheep and goat judgment. The When, Luke 21 just before the tribulation; Matthew 24 through the tribulation: Matthew 25 just after the tribulation. The Where, Luke 21 globally: Matthew 24 Judea; Matthew 25 Valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2). Why, to keep us ready and waiting, so we won't let up always expecting him to show up, to warn Israel and to show both that GOD will save believers out of the tribulation. The typology of Enoch and Noah one saved from the judgement one saved through the judgement. This keeps us focused.