Rapture or Judgment? - Matthew 24:36-44

What You Read

On February 7th you read for your devotions & . Tonight we are going to look at and see if we understand this passages context. Pay close attention to this passage!

Using F.I.R.E.

Pastor Ken created the method of F.I.R.E. in order to understand a passage.

The letter F stands for familiarity.

This is when you read the text and ask questions to better understand the passage. read, ask questions, and become familiar with the passage

The letter I stands for interpretation.

This is when you try to understand the meaning of the text. You answer the questions you asked which interprets the author’s intent for this passage. simply explain the passage

The letter R stands for relationship.

This is when you look to see the relationship of this passage with other passages. how does this single passage relate to it’s context, book, and entire Bible

The letter E stands for employment.

What is the timeless truth in this passage. How can we take that truth and employ it in our everyday lives?how can I employ the timeless truth from this passage?

Books in My Library I Recommend!

Wiersbe: The Bible Exposition Commentary

Walvoord & Zuck: The Bible Knowledge Commentary

Jeremiah: The Jeremiah Study Bible

MacArthur: MacArthur Study Bible

Set On F.I.R.E.

I want you to only do the 2nd & 3rd step in the F.I.R.E. method:

I = This is when you try to understand the meaning of the text (explain what the author’s intent for this passage is.)

R = how does this single passage relate to it’s context, book, and entire Bible

briefly walk through each step of F.I.R.E. on tonight’s passage. Feel free to use any resource you want - but if you use a resource simply cite it.

Toby Mac, Tait, & Kevin Max

Before we work on this passage - I want to share a famous song on this passage preformed by DC Talk.

Set On F.I.R.E.

I want you to only do the second step in the F.I.R.E. method - This is when you try to understand the meaning of the text (explain what the author’s intent for this passage is.)

These two steps (I & R) are interwoven in this passage - so I will let you combine both into one...

What do I mean - explain the context of this passage and what this passage is all about. That is your mission!

I = This is when you try to understand the meaning of the text (explain what the author’s intent for this passage is.)

R = how does this single passage relate to it’s context, book, and entire Bible. I want you to focus mainly on the context in this step!

What do I mean - explain the context and what this passage is all about.

Pastor Kenny’s F.I.R.E.

Understand that Chapter 24:3 - 25 is the Olivet Discourse. This sermon is about the tribulation and return of Jesus to judge the world. It is all about Judgement.

Understand that Chapter 24:3 - 25 is the Olivet Discourse. This sermon is about the tribulation and return of Jesus to judge the world. It is all about Judgement.

Jesus is saying these things, so the people who experience the Tribulation will know what to expect. Remember, His audience was Jewish - and Israel will be the center-point of the Tribulation.

In our context (27-31), Jesus has just returned to judge the world - and the people will morn! This is referring to Armageddon (; ) Also notice that in Jesus refers to His return to fight at Armageddon as being a thief in the night. It is not the rapture but His return to judge!

; )

Be ready during the tribulation for Jesus will come when you least expect it!

Relationship

This

Relationshup

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

The New King James Version Chapter 24

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be

The New King James Version Chapter 24

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Matthew 24:36–37 NKJV

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Matthew 24:36–37 NKJV

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Only the Father knows when Jesus will return to set up His physical Kingdom.

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

It will be a surprise to the wicked - just like the flood was a surprise to the wicked in Noah’s time!

Remember, this whole passage is written for those going through the Tribulation - trying to prepare those who will go through it!

38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Robertson writes,

38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Word Pictures in the New Testament Matthew 24:37

In Noah’s day there was plenty of warning, but utter unpreparedness. Most people are either indifferent about the second coming or have fanciful schemes or programs about it.

“In Noah’s day there was plenty of warning, but utter unpreparedness. Most people are either indifferent about the second coming or have fanciful schemes or programs about it.”

Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.

40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Twenty-One: The King’s Return—Part 1 (Matthew 24:1–44)

The verb “taken” in Matthew 24:39–41 means “taken away in judgment.” Do not apply these verses to the Rapture of the church when believers are caught up in the air to meet the Lord. During the Tribulation, a division will take place: Some people will perish in judgment (be taken away), while others will remain to enter into the kingdom. The use of “took them all away” in Matthew 24:39 makes this clear.

Wiersbe writes,

40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

“The verb “taken” in means “taken away in judgment.” Do not apply these verses to the Rapture of the church when believers are caught up in the air to meet the Lord. During the Tribulation, a division will take place: Some people will perish in judgment (be taken away), while others will remain to enter into the kingdom. The use of “took them all away” in makes this clear.”

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 90). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Zuck adds

[just like in] “Noah’s day, the individuals who will be “taken” are the wicked whom the Lord will take away in judgment (cf. ). The individuals “left” are believers who will be privileged to be on the earth to populate the kingdom of Jesus Christ in physical bodies. As the wicked were taken away in judgment and Noah was left on the earth, so the wicked will be judged and removed when Christ returns and the righteous will be left behind to become His subjects in the kingdom.”

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 24:36–41 (Mark 13:32–33; Luke 17:26–37)

Noah’s day, the individuals who will be “taken” are the wicked whom the Lord will take away in judgment (cf. Luke 17:37). The individuals “left” are believers who will be privileged to be on the earth to populate the kingdom of Jesus Christ in physical bodies. As the wicked were taken away in judgment and Noah was left on the earth, so the wicked will be judged and removed when Christ returns and the righteous will be left behind to become His subjects in the kingdom.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 24:36–41 (Mark 13:32–33; Luke 17:26–37)

Noah’s day, the individuals who will be “taken” are the wicked whom the Lord will take away in judgment (cf. Luke 17:37). The individuals “left” are believers who will be privileged to be on the earth to populate the kingdom of Jesus Christ in physical bodies. As the wicked were taken away in judgment and Noah was left on the earth, so the wicked will be judged and removed when Christ returns and the righteous will be left behind to become His subjects in the kingdom.

As it was in Noah’s day, so it will be before the glorious coming of the Lord. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Analogous to Noah’s day, the individuals who will be “taken” are the wicked whom the Lord will take away in judgment (cf. ). The individuals “left” are believers who will be privileged to be on the earth to populate the kingdom of Jesus Christ in physical bodies. As the wicked were taken away in judgment and Noah was left on the earth, so the wicked will be judged and removed when Christ returns and the righteous will be left behind to become His subjects in the kingdom.

Barbieri, L. A., Jr. (1985). Matthew. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 79). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

In the parallel passage in , Jesus says

34 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.” 37 And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?” So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”

37 And they answered and said to Him, (AL)“Where, Lord?”

The visual Jesus used of eagles gathered together is clear - they are gathering around a dead body to eat! Hopefully this text is not talking about Raptured saints!

So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”

Jesus could be referring to which says

“29 From there it spies out the prey; Its eyes observe from afar. 30 Its young ones suck up blood; And where the slain are, there it is.”

Job 39:29–30 NKJV

29 From there it spies out the prey; Its eyes observe from afar. 30 Its young ones suck up blood; And where the slain are, there it is.”

43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

The New King James Version Chapter 24

43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Walvoord sums this passage up better than I ever could. He writes

Walvoord sums this passage up better than I ever could. He writes

“The limits of the Tribulation period are known to God, for the Seventieth Week of Daniel will have a definite starting time and a definite ending time. But the people living then will only know in generalities the limits of the time. Therefore watchfulness is important. If a person knows the approximate time a thief may come to break into his house, he takes precautions and prepares accordingly. Likewise believers in the Tribulation, who will be looking forward to the coming of the Lord of glory, should be alert. They will know generally, from the signs of the end, when He will return, but they will not know the exact time.”

Barbieri, L. A., Jr. (1985). Matthew. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 79). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Why This Passage?

I picked this passage to study because “I don’t care” how you feel about a passage - I want to know what the “Author intended” the passage to mean.

Songs have been written - movies have been made - all on this passage! However, you cannot worship in spirit and truth if the passage used is twisted and misused!

Always understand the context of a passage - never thrust your own ideas onto scripture!