Re: Neil L (24 April 2022) “Ukraine”
Neil: I would encourage you to
reconsider your view on the Matthew verse you describe as
the rapture. “Matthew 24:44 KJB states, "Therefore be
ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the
Son of man cometh." This is referring to the
Rapture.”
I believe that this sentence refers to
the “Second Advent” of our Lord at the end of Daniel’s 70th
week, not the pre-Daniel’s week rapture of the
Church. In addition to the context of this
Olivet Discourse as found in Matthew 24, Luke 21 and Mark
13, which speaks to the time of the end, the “son of
man” phrase, referring to Jesus/Yeshua is used when He is
speaking to the House of Israel (Jews), not the
Church. You may search the Pauline epistles and
confirm that the phrase is never used in association with
the Church.
This Matthew 24:44 verse speaks to the
events described in verses 40-43. It follows Matthew
13:49-50 parable which states that there will be a harvest
after the tribulation: “So shall it be at the end of the
world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked
from among the just,50 And shall cast
them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and
gnashing of teeth.” Verse 44 speaks to this angelic
removal of the wicked.
Daniel says: “I
saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son
of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the
Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.”
(Daniel 7:13)
And Matthew says: “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.” (Matthew 24:30)
Contextually, this follows verse 29 which places the time
frame “immediately after the tribulation”.
Doctrinally, the Olivet Discourse was the
Jewish Messiah speaking to Jews throughout all time,
especially tribulation Jews (Daniel’s week), about His
return to Earth. The principal purpose of Daniel’s
week is the corporate salvation of the nation of Yeshua
affirming Jews, true Israel. (Revelation 12:17, 14:12,
20:4-5)
And so, Paul says: Esaias (Isaiah) also
crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children
of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be
saved:” (Romans 9:27) For they are not all
Israel, which are of Israel: (Romans 9:6(b) and “For
this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their
sins.” (Romans 11:27)
In Christ, Greg Wilson