Yes, dont know how many times I have read Matthew 24 BUT the topic of Matthew 24 is telling the JEW about Zechariah 14's 2nd coming !!! NOT the rapture...
So here Jesus is saying no man knows the day nor hour that the sign of the Son of Man will be seen in heaven just before the 2nd coming...

Those taken and left at the time of the 2nd coming (matthew 24:40/41)are imho http://www.wedg.millenniumweekend.org/forum/images/smilies/tongue.pngeithor those faithful saved from Armageddon's fury OR those evil ones sent to hell so that only the righteous will inherit the 1000 year kingdom... The latter has been my opinion for a long time... Jesus was saying to the Jews He did not know when he would be coming back in Glory to set up His Earthly kingdom.........

Jesus Earthly ministry was to the JEW not to the Gentile Church...... ESPECIALLY Matthew 24 !!!!!!!
Jesus was making an offer to the Jew to set up His Earthly kingdom RIGHT THEN 2000 years ago !!!
Knowing of course they would refuse... BUT He had to do so to fulfill righteousness !!!

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While I'm not saying we CAN know exactly, Revelation 3:3 does say that those watching will not be surprised...

    Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

    So if we do watch we wll know when He's coming !!!

    Thing is, we can't use Matthew 24 to say we cant know when Jesus is coming in the Rapture http://www.wedg.millenniumweekend.org/forum/images/smilies/smile.png

    Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? The 2nd coming ???

    Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understandhttp://www.wedg.millenniumweekend.org/forum/images/smilies/smile.png

    Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

    Mat 24:27 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.

     

    Lewis B