Dear John,
I have been reading the discussion about the true meaning of "carcass"
in Matthew 24:28. I don't know that I can resolve the question, but I do
think I can add some Scriptural insight that thus far doesn't appear to have
been really considered. Following is a brief study that I prepared on this
subject.Let The Scripture Speak
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which
is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom
teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things
with spiritual."Scriptural Definitions
1. Carcass.....as used in Matthew 24:27-28
A. Translated from the Greek word "ptoma"
1. Occurs only five times in the NT
2. Translated as:
a. Corpse 1 time
b. Carcass 1 time
c. Dead body 3 times
B. From the way this word is used in the NT, it
should be obvious that it refers to a dead body
or dead bodies. This can be determined from
the Scriptures even without consulting a lexicon.
C. Further, the context proceeds from the
"abomination of desolation" [which occurs at
mid-trib] in Matthew 24:15 right to the end of the
Trib in verse 28. What happens at the end of the
Trib? Armageddon! Revelation 19:17-18 and
Ezekiel 39:17-20. The Word of God is it's own
interpreter if God's people would just pay
attention to it!2. Body.....as used in Luke 17:37
A. Translated from the Greek word "soma"
1. Occurs 147 times in the NT
2. Translated as:
a. body 145 times
b. slave 1 time
c. bodily 1 time
B. From the way this word is used in the NT, it is
obvious that most of the time it refers to warm
bodies; that is, to a living person or persons,
even though on occasion it does refer to a dead
body. It is used several times to refer to the
church as the "body of Christ."
C. When we look at the context in which Luke
17:37 is set, the passage obviously does not
mean the same thing and is not teaching the
same truth as the passage in Matthew 24:28.
The context is not the same, the words "carcass"
and "body" are not translated from the same
Greek words and they do not have the same
meaning, and it can be determined from the
context that even the time periods under
consideration are two different periods of time.3. Eagle.....as used in Matthew 24:28, Luke 17:37,
Revelation 4:7, and Revelation 12:14.
A. Translated from the Greek word "aetos"
1. Occurs only four times in the NT
2. Always translated as "eagle"
B. An "eagle" is a ravenous bird, but is sometimes
used symbolically in the Scriptures. Several
times in the OT it symbolically refers to God's
people, probably because of it's majestic
appearance and graceful flight.
C. In the two different passages referred to in this
study, it is obvious from the context that the
word "eagle" is being used in a different way in
each passage.4. Conclusion
A. After a careful study of these words and the
context in which they occur, it becomes obvious
that the word "carcass" in Matthew 24:28, and
the word "eagle" in the same passage, are
referring to the dead bodies of those killed at the
end of the Trib; Armageddon, and to the ravenous
birds which shall eat their bodies. But.....
B. The words "body" and "eagle" in Luke 17:37 in
their context are referring to the rapture of
God's people just before the Trib as clearly
predicted in Isaiah 40:31,
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall
renew their strength; they shall mount up
with wings as eagles....."Let God's Word interpret God's Word and keep human opinion out of it,
and there will not be so many mistakes and so much confusion. It really
doesn't matter what I think, what so and so thinks, or the opinion of she,
he, him, or them. What matters is what God's Word actually and literally
says and teaches. Think about it!May God add His blessings to His Word.
Pastor F. M. Riley
3305-D Clark Lane PMB 147
Columbia, MO 65202
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Thanks, Pastor Riley.
John