Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 12/23/2011

Question
Hello Pastor Don Carpenter,

I saw your answer here: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Bible-Studies-1654/2011/11/end-time-god-reign.htm and it seems that you believe in a Pre-trib rapture. If I am correct in my assumption, then please read on because I have a question about Matthew 24 and the pre-trib rapture that has been nagging me for awhile now.

The pre-tribulation rapture seems to fit best with the Bible says. However when it comes to Matthew 24 it does not seem to fit as well.

In the beginning of the chapter Jesus talks about the destruction of the temple, then He moves on to signs that indicate the end of the age is near, and then from verse 14 and on he begins to discuss events that take place during the Tribulation as best as I can tell. For instance, he covers the event of when the Anti-Christ will defile the rebuilt temple and the Jewish people will flee into the wilderness.

Then what troubles me is when we get to this portion:   29 immediately after the distress of those days...Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."

The part that goes "and they will gather his elect from the four winds..." sounds like the rapture. Christ is calling the elect to Himself. However His coming here is clearly after the tribulation.

There are two other things that bug me about Matthew 24: who are the elect mentioned in this chapter? I have heard deniers of the pre-trib rapture say that the elect mentioned throughout this chapter is the true Church that will have to remain on earth and go through the tribulation. I have also heard the same people say that verse 13 (it says "but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.") is referring to the believers who remain loyal to God to the end of the tribulation.

So how does a rapture that takes place before the seven year Tribulation fit into Matthew 24? If you have any insight into this I would be most thankful to hear it.

Thanks,
Tressa

Answer
Hi Tressa,

Thank you for this great question.  I will answer this simply and if you need more details, just post a follow up question.  You are absolutely right that the rapture does not fit into Matthew 24 if you are going to be pre-trib.  Therefore, I do not believe that Matthew 24 is speaking of the rapture.  I believe this is the Second Coming of CHrist where Christ comes back to earth after Daniel's 70th week and sets up His kingdom.  The gathering of the elect is the cathering of those saved during the 7 years of tribulation... after the rapture.  

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don