This seems to be one of the most common objections to a pre-tribulation rapture that since it is not clearly seen in Matthew 24 therefore it is post tribulation (immediately after the tribulation-v29-30 Although this is not a rapture- note #2 here). This portion of scripture is commonly referred to as the ‘Olivet discourse’ since Christ “sat upon the mount of Olives” as he spake to his disciples (v3). Now a student of scripture must also consider the accounts found in Mark 13 and Luke 21 as they seek to rightly divide the word of truth.
Now our post-trib brethren make a few mistakes here which they perpetuate through the simple. The first mistake is that they assume Christ revealed everything relevant here in this chapter. The second mistake is that they assume the disciples understood clearly a distinction between Israel and the church- or those who must endure and those who can escape while it will be very clear that they did not understand although Christ spoke of both groups of people.
There are those that can escape (Church):
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
(All these things includes the beginning of sorrows:
Luke 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Matt.24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.)
Rev. 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
And those that must endure (Israel):
1 Thessalonians 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Matt.24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Jeremiah 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. (Rev.7:14 came out of great tribulation)
Deut. 4:30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;
Luke 21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
Daniel.10:14, 12:1 “…what shall befall thy people in the latter days”
Daniel 9:27 "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city..."
The other error comes from a lack of understanding the mystery of Godliness (1 Tim.3:16) which was not fully revealed to the disciples in Matthew 24. The mystery of the church was not made known to them at this point. Jesus himself said he had many things to say unto them which they were not able to bear (Jn 16:12), but would eventually be made know unto the sons of men by the Spirit (Eph.3:3-5), who would guide them into all truth (Jn.16:13).
Jn.16:12-13 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Eph.3:4-6 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Since Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles (Rom.11:13, 15:16) where the 12 apostles were primarily sent to the 12 tribes of Israel (Gal.2:7-8) it is understood why he would primarily reveal this mystery (2 Pt.3:15-16). So let us consider all the relevant information the Holy Ghost provides us.
It should not be a surprise to the diligent student of scripture that the disciples did not understand many things in Matthew 24 that we would think they did. Consider these:
Lk.18:31-4 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
Lk.9:44-5 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
Mk.9:9-10 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.
Jn.20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. (v9) For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
Mt.16:21-2 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
For further study on the rapture in Matt.24 you can see here:
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