Post-trib rapture

Good job; Gina. It doesn't change my mind yet, but it offers food for thought.

 

Though I certainly do not endorse all at the site, I found Not Deceived Network's Post Tribulationem to be quite interesting.

 

I have a question for the theologians/scholars. If it has been asked, please forgive me.

Where does Matthew 24 fit in with the pre-trib stance? It seems to support what Gina is saying.

 

Just to make sure people see my question, I'm bumping it up. Hope I didn't violate any rules.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mr. Curtis:
I have a question for the theologians/scholars. If it has been asked, please forgive me.

Where does Matthew 24 fit in with the pre-trib stance? It seems to support what Gina is saying.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


One would think, wouldn't they?

 

Originally posted by Mr. Curtis:
Where does Matthew 24 fit in with the pre-trib stance? It seems to support what Gina is saying.

In this chapter Jesus is speaking to the Jewish nation. It has nothing to do with the church as it will be already gone, and the gospel will be back in the hands of the Jews. Pay attention that it says that the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world. Many misrepresent that as the message of the church will be spread all over the world, but it is not. It is the message of the kingdom, which has to do with the Jews. Paul tells us that the gospel of the church is already preached all over the world: Col 1:23 "If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven;" When it speaks of one being taken and the other left, many mistake that as the rapture, but it is not. The rapture has already happened. It is speaking of those who will be delivered up to be afflicted or killed. That is why they must head for the mountains where God has a place to protect them. Many scholars believe it is the Rose Red City, Petra. Realize that the Jews had the message of salvation at one time, but they refused to spread it to the world, so it was taken from them and given to the Gentiles. We preach Christ crucified. When we are gone the Jews will be in charge of the message once again, but they will preach the return of Jesus and His kingdom. Of course when He returns we will be with Him. I hope this makes sense and helps.

 

Well, it is very convenient for pretribs to dismiss Matthew 24 because it doesn't support their theory. How can a sane Christian dismiss Matthew 24???

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jaco:
In this chapter Jesus is speaking to the Jewish nation. It has nothing to do with the church as it will be already gone, and the gospel will be back in the hands of the Jews. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If I may be so bold - hogwash. How does Matt 24 begin?

Matthew 24:1-4 (ESV)
Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. [2] But he answered them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."
[3] As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us,when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?" [4] And Jesus answered them, "See that no one leads you astray.

Jesus is speaking to his disciples, not the Jewish nation, although much of what he says will befall the Jews. But the warning for alertness is in the immediate context of his believers. Matt 24 deals primarily with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

As Matthew Henry stated:

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> INTRODUCTION TO MATTHEW CHAPTER 24

Christ’s preaching was mostly practical; but, in this chapter, we have a prophetical discourse, a prediction of things to come; such however as had a practical tendency, and was intended, not to gratify the curiosity of his disciples, but to guide their consciences and conversations, and it is therefore concluded with a practical application. The church has always had particular prophecies, besides general promises, both for direction and for encouragement to believers; but it is observable, Christ preached this prophetical sermon in the close of his ministry, as the Apocalypse is the last book of the New Testament, and the prophetical books of the Old Testament are placed last, to intimate to us, that we must be well grounded in plain truths and duties, and those must first be well digested, before we dive into those things that are dark and difficult; many run themselves into confusion by beginning their Bible at the wrong end. Now, in this chapter, we have,

I. The occasion of this discourse, #Mt 24:1-3.

II. The discourse itself, in which we have,

1. The prophecy of divers events, especially referring to the destruction of Jerusalem, and the utter ruin of the Jewish church and nation, which were not hastening on, and were completed about forty years after; the prefaces to that destruction, the concomitants and consequences of it; yet looking further, to Christ’s coming at the end of time, and the consummation of all things, of which that was a type and figure, #Mt 24:4-31.

2. The practical application of this prophecy for the awakening and quickening of his disciples to prepare for these great and awful things, #Mt 24:32-51.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>