How do you ignore the clear time line in the tribulation, in light of this scripture: Mt 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
For those that know there is a very clear time line in the tribulation.
A section of Scripture that has perplexed many interpreters and caused a multitude of speculations and differing opinions is Matthew 24. In this brief study we will examine this prophecy (and the parallel chapters-Mark 13 and Luke 21) in order to dispel the many common misconceptions regarding its teaching. If one is careful not to impose one's eschatological presuppositions upon the text and follows standard historical-grammatical procedures of interpretation, the confusion surrounding this great prophecy will dissipate.
A Brief Survey of Common Interpretations of Matthew 24
Before we examine Matthew 24, we will briefly consider the variety of opinions related to Jesus' discourse. (1) One opinion that is very common today is that Matthew 24 (and Mark 13) has nothing to say about the destruction of the Jewish Temple in A.D. 70, but rather speaks solely of signs that portend the Second Advent. This view is popular among old-style dispensationalists who argue that the Olivet Discourse is directed to Jewish disciples who are representatives of the converted Israel of the last days. In other words, the passage is directed to Jewish converts who will live in the far distant future (e.g., 2,000 years). Such interpreters argue that only the Luke 21 discourse (written to a Gentile audience) applies to the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem in A.D. 70. As we consider this passage, we will see that such an interpretation is arbitrary, imposed on the text, and violates the perspicuity of Scripture as well as standard Protestant methods of interpretation.
(2) Another very common interpretation is that Jesus in the Olivet Discourse intertwines predictions regarding two entirely different events: the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and the second bodily coming of Christ at the end of human history. Godet writes: "Matthew combines in the answer of Jesus the two subjects indicated in the question as Matthew has expressed it, and he unites them in so intimate a way that all attempts to separate them in the text from Chrysostem to Ebrard and Meyer have broken down." (1) Hendriksen writes: "The prophetic material found in this sixth discourse has reference not only to events near at hand (see, for example, verse 16) but also to those stretching far into the future, as is clear from 24:14, 29-31....By the process of prophetic foreshortening, by means of which before one's eyes the widely separated mountain peaks of historic events merge and are seen as one...two momentous events are here intertwined, namely, a. the judgment upon Jerusalem (its fall in the year A.D. 70), and b. the final judgment at the close of world's history." (2) This view is held by the vast majority of commentators (e.g., John Calvin, David Dickson, Matthew Henry, James Moffat, William Manson, R. C. H. Lenski, William Hendriksen, R. V. G. Tasker, David Hill, etc.). Indeed, it is so common one could call it the standard evangelical interpretation. Therefore, when one disagrees with this interpretation eyebrows are raised. Given the widespread acceptance of this view in the church we must only depart from it on the basis of solid exegetical evidence. (This evidence will be presented shortly.)
(3) Some interpreters view the Olivet Discourse as a type of the tribulation that will occur immediately prior to the end of history. In other words the signs that precede the destruction of Jerusalem will also precede the second coming. Similarly, some interpreters think of the discourse as having a double fulfillment. Our Lord's words (we are told) apply simultaneously to the generation that witnessed the destruction of the temple (A.D. 70) and a future generation that witness the second coming of Christ. (This view is sometimes combined with view number 2.)
(4) It is not uncommon to find modernist interpreters who argue that in Matthew 24 Christ predicted the destruction of Jerusalem, the second coming and the end of the world. These interpreters teach that Jesus believed that all these things would occur within one generation (Mt. 24:34) and thus conclude that Christ was wrong when He predicted the second coming and the end of the world. This view, which is based on an anti-supernaturalistic bias and a misunderstanding of key sections of the text, must be rejected.
(5) There are interpreters who teach that Jesus did indeed predict that the second coming and end of the world would occur within the generation then living (i.e., by A.D. 70); and, that therefore the rapture, second coming, bodily resurrection and final judgment have already taken place. Those who adhere to such a view often label themselves full or consistent preterists. However, since this view involves an unbiblical view of the timing and nature of such crucial doctrines as the second coming, the general resurrection, the last judgment, the glorified bodies of believers and the final state, it properly has been designated as heretical and dangerous. Orthodox theologians and exegetes describe this heresy as "hyper-preterism" (Kenneth L. Gentry), "Hymenaenism" (Andrew Sandlin) or "pantelism" (Jonathan Seriah). Hyper-preterists must redefine a number of very clear, confessional, established doctrines in orders for them to fit into their unbiblical paradigm.
(5) There are interpreters who teach that Jesus did indeed predict that the second coming and end of the world would occur within the generation then living (i.e., by A.D. 70);
This above interpretation is Incorrect & Impossible�for the Lord Jesus says ~ and it is Written�
Mat 24:34 ~ Verily I say unto you, [ This generation ] shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mar 13:30 ~ Verily I say unto you, that [ this generation ] shall not pass, till all these things be done.
Luke ~ 21:32 ~ Verily I say unto you, [ This generation ] shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
*** We LIVING Now Are This GENERATION � Gentiles �
Romans 11:25-28
25~ For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, [[[ until the fulness of the ( Gentiles ) be come in. ]]]
26~ And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27~ For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
28~ As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.
29~ For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
30~ For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31~ Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32~ For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
33~ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
34~ For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
35~ Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
36~ For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
*** Everybody THINKS they Know something Other than what the WORD says�and They will do there darndest to Say Other than...Please LORD...Come Quickly LORD Jesus�xo
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Notice verse eight follows verse seven when the harvest is coming in which is about to pour out upon this country, you will see a move of the Spirit of God as was never before, and the religious will say it is of Satan, but watch your mouth for he will soon come, and he is not Satan he is the king of Kings
����� Jesus {See Rev 1:10,18} said to John in Rev 1:19: �Write what you have seen, what is now {Rev chapters 2 & 3} and *WHAT WILL TAKE PLACE LATER*.� {Rev chapters 6-22}� Events that will occur on the Last Day are recorded in Rev 6:12-17; Rev 11:15-19; Rev 14:14-20; Rev 16:17-21; Rev 19:1-21 & Rev 20:9b-15.� Question: How many words in Revelation, chapters 6-22 are devoted to a rapture before the beginning of the Great Tribulation??� Answer: *ZERO*!!
In Rev 4:1 Jesus invited John to come up to Heaven in AD 96 so that he could write what he saw.� Rev 4:1b: Jesus said to John in AD 96, �Come up here, and I will show you *WHAT MUST TAKE PLACE.�� Unfortunately, there are some pre-tribbers who teach that Rev 4:1 actually proves a *CONCEALED* rapture of the church saints before the beginning of the Great Tribulation; which shows a *NEW LOW in honest Bible exegesis. How many words in the Olivet discourse are devoted to a rapture before the Great Tribulation?� Answer: *ZERO*!!
Rev 22:16,18,19: Jesus says, �I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give *YOU* {The Greek for YOU is plural} this testimony {ALL OF REVELATION} *FOR* the CHURCHES.� This contradicts the ridiculous pre-trib idea that Revelation, chapters 4-19, was not written *FOR* the CHURCHES!
The word �CHURCH�is also not mentioned in 9 books of the NT: John, Mark, Luke, 2 Tim, 1 John, 2 John, 1 Peter, 2 Peter and Jude; and is not mentioned in the first 15 chapters of Romans and yet every word in all these NT books are �FOR THE CHURCHES�.....
�I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book.� If anyone *ADDS* anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.� And if anyone *TAKES WORDS AWAY* from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city which are described in this book.�
The word �CHURCH�is also not mentioned in 9 books of the NT: John, Mark, Luke, 2 Tim, 1 John, 2 John, 1 Peter, 2 Peter and Jude; and is not mentioned in the first 15 chapters of Romans and yet every word in all these NT books are �FOR THE CHURCHES�.....
*** Of course you failed to mention the word "church" IS listed 80 times in 79 verses from Mat 16:18 - Rev 3:4...
2 x in Matthew...16 x 1 CR...18 x ACTS...4 x Romans ...1 x 2 CR...etc...etc...etc...:bouncy:...
Prophet...just because some people Disagree & Don't BUY the Post Trib is NO reason to start Tearing the LORDS Book of WORD (Jesus) apart to Stand Proud...:winksmile:...xo
IS THE 1,000 YEAR FIRST RESURRECTION IN REVELATION 20:4-6 FOR THE 24 ELDERS ON THRONES AND MARTYRS ONLY??
Jesus promised to 12 Apostles who followed Him {Including Paul?} that they would be given 12 THRONES and the authority to JUDGE in Matthew 19:28 & Luke 22:30. In Revelation 4:4 Before the beginning of the Great Tribulation John saw exactly 24 thrones surrounding God's Throne in Heaven. The other 12 thrones were most likely given to 12 prominent OT Elders such as Abraham, Joseph and Isaiah. One of these 24 Elders speaks in Rev 7:13-17 and after the 7TH angel sounds the 7TH and Last Trumpet in Rev 11:15 ONLY the 24 Elders state in Rev 11:16-18: �The time has come for JUDGING the dead and for rewarding your saints.�
It is completely obvious that the 1,000 year reign mentioned in Revelation 20:4-6 is for 24 ELDERS on Thrones and MARTYRS ONLY according to God's Word in Revelation 20:4,5b,6a:
"I saw Thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to JUDGE and I saw the SOULS:rolleyes: of those who had been beheaded {Or martyred} because of their testimony for Jesus {NT Martyrs} and because of the Word of God {OT Martyrs}. They:rolleyes: had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands {**TRIBULATION MARTYRS**}. THEY {THE 24 ELDERS & MARTYRS} came to life and reigned with Christ for 1,000 years... This is the FIRST RESURRECTION... Blessed and holy are those who have part in the FIRST RESURRECTION.' {Which includes THE TRIBULATION MARTYRS!!}
And so the First Resurrection **INCLUDES** the *TRIBULATION MARTYRS*. IF the First Resurrection is a rapture **BEFORE** the Tribulation it certainly can not **INCLUDE** the *TRIBULATION MARTYRS*!!!!
The pre-tribbers believe there will be 2 Resurrections. They believe the First Resurrection is for Church Saints only and will occur in just 1 day just **BEFORE** the beginning of the Great Tribulation. They also believe that the Second Resurrection is for OT saints and Tribulation saints and will take place on the Last Day of the Great Tribulation. However, this is impossible since God's Word clearly states in Rev 20:4 above that the Tribulation saints will be *INCLUDED* in the 1,000 year *First Resurrection*!!
Rev 20:5a: �The rest of the dead {Those saints who are not martyrs or the 24 Elders on Thrones} did not come to life until the 1,000 years were ENDED.� Which, of course, would be the SECOND RESURRECTION at the 2nd Coming of Jesus. There are only TWO RESURRECTIONS for all saints mentioned in Rev 20:4-6: The FIRST RESURRECTION is for Martyrs and the 24 Elders only and INCLUDES the Tribulation Martyrs. And therefore the SECOND RESURRECTION must come on the Last Day of the Great Tribulation and must include all saints {Both OT & NT} who are not martyrs or the 24 Elders on thrones.
The Heavenly rewards for the faithful and courageous *MARTYRS* is one of the most important central themes in the book of Revelation. For they will reign with Jesus in Heaven during the 1,000 years before His 2nd Coming; and according to Revelation 7:14-17: "They are before the Throne of God and God will spread His tent over them. They will receive White Robes washed in the blood of the Lamb. Never again will they hunger or thirst and God Himself will wipe every tear from their eyes. Jesus will be their Shepherd and will lead them to springs of Living Water.":applause::angel:
FOR EXAMPLE: Let us suppose that the SECOND RESURRECTION takes place on April 5th, 2015; then the continuous 1,000 year FIRST RESURRECTION for MARTYRS AND 24 ELDERS ONLY would take place from April 5th, AD 1015 to April 5th, 2015. The 24 Elders and all of the OT & NT saints martyred before April 5th, 1015 were awakened to reign with Jesus in Heaven and every Martyr martyred after April 5th, 1015 were and will be immediately awakened to reign with Jesus in the continuous 1,000 year FIRST RESURRECTION to be completed on April 5th, 2015 at the SECOND RESURRECTION when "The rest of the dead come to life when the thousand years are ENDED." {Rev 20:5a}
Rev 20:4b �I saw the *SOULS of those who had been martyred because of their testimony for Jesus... they came to life and reigned with Christ for 1,000 years. The Martyrs SOULS will only get their New Heavenly bodies when the 1,000 years are ENDED at the 2nd Coming of Jesus.
This seems to contradict John 6:40: Jesus says, �EVERYONE who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life and I will raise him up at the LAST DAY.� However, the LAST DAY RESURRECTION could last 1,000 years for in 2 Pet 3:8 we read: �With the Lord a DAY is like 1,000 years, and 1,000 years are like a DAY!!
WILL THE RESURRECTION OF THE CHURCH SAINTS OCCUR ON THE SAME LAST DAY AS THE RESURRECTION OF THE LOST??
John 6:40� Jesus says, �For my Father�s will is that EVERYONE who looks to the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I will raise him:rolleyes: up at the *LAST DAY*!��
John 6:44: Jesus says, �No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him:rolleyes: up at the *LAST DAY!�
Pre-tribbers believe that the *LAST DAY* mentioned 6 times in John 6:39,40,44,54;11:24,12:48 refers to a CONCEALED RESURRECTION 7 years *BEFORE THE LAST DAY*.� However, John 12:48 shows that the lost will also be condemned on that same *LAST DAY*!�
*WHEN WILL THE LOST BE JUDGED AND SENT TO HELL*?
John 12:48: Jesus says, �There is a Judge for the one who rejects Me and does not accept My words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the *LAST DAY*!!��
2 Thess 1:1,6-10:� �To the *CHURCH* of the Thessalonians�God is just; He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you:rolleyes: and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well.� This will happen *WHEN* the Lord Jesus is *REVEALED* {See I Peter 1:13} from heaven in blazing fire�.� He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.� They will be punished with everlasting *DESTRUCTION* and shut out from the presence of the Lord *ON THE DAY HE COMES* to be glorified in His holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes **YOU**:rolleyes:, because you believed our testimony to you!"
Matt 25:31-34,41:� Jesus says, �*WHEN* the Son of Man comes in His glory,{On the Last Day} and all the angels with Him {See Matt 24:29-31}, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory.� All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another��He will put His sheep on His right and the goats on the left. *THEN the King {Jesus} will say to those on His right, �Come you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world... *THEN He will say to those on His left, �Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire!���
John 5:28,29:� Jesus says, �Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming {The Last Day} when *ALL* {Both OT & NT Saints} who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out�those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.��
Daniel 12:1b,2,7b:� �There will be a time of distress {The Great Tribulation} such as not happened from the beginning of nations until then.� But at that time {The Last Day} your people--*EVERYONE* whose name is found written in the Book {Both OT & NT Saints}�will be delivered.� Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt�It will be for a time. times and half a time {1260 days-Rev 12:6,14, or 42� {30-day} months-Rev 13:5-{Not 7 years} *ALL* these things will be *COMPLETED.":applause:��
The pre-tribbers wrongly believe that the OT saints will receive their eternal perfect heavenly bodies 7 years AFTER the Church saints. However, in Hebrews 11:39,40 we read �These {OT super saints mentioned in Heb 11:4-38} were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that ONLY TOGETHER WITH US {NT Saints} would they {OT Saints} be made perfect!�:applause::angel::peace:
