A coupl,e of days ago I was talking to a friend at my place and the subject of "The Rapture" came up and she asked me what I thought and then pointed out that if "the rapture" had happened why was there no record of this amazing event in history. I thought "Good point". So I decided to blog it.
You will not find the word “Rapture” in the New Testament, yet you most likely have heard the words mentioned. The event, that some call “the rapture”, comes from Matthew 24 and Luke 17
Matthew 24:40,41 “Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.” Luke 17:34 adds “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.”
You may not agree but it is my opinion that Matthew 24 is talking about the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, as is Matthew 25. I don’t believe that Matthew 24:36 – 25:46 is speaking of “the end” of the world.
Some believe that Matthew 24:1-35 is talking about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple but that in Matthew 24:36 Jesus starts talking about the end of the world and subsequently all scripture from then on is concerned with the end of the world.
I disagree because in verse 36 we read “But of that day and hour…” What I have done in the past, wrongfully, is to marry this to verse 35 where we read “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away”. I now think that it would be better suited to be married to verse 42: “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”
I don’t believe that this is talking about the end of the world for the simple reason that it doesn’t make any sense. Let me give a couple of examples:
Vs 42 says: “Watch therefore for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming”. If it is the end of the world and then judgement. Why would a person keep watch? It’s unavoidable.
Vs 43-44 is a similar passage. If the master of the house had known. He would not have allowed his house to be broken into. If it is the end of the world the master of the house would not have been able to stop his house being broken into.
I believe that right through to the end of chapter 25 Jesus is warning the Jews that his second coming was coming soon. It makes sense.
Now what about Matthew 24:40-41?
It is my belief that that there are three possible ways of interpreting these passages.
The first that it speaks of the “end time” transformation of the Christian church being taken up to be with Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) My problem with this interpretation is that it appears in the scriptures that I believe were fulfilled around the time of the destruction of Jerusalem in or around 70AD
The second possible interpretation is that it did happen circa 70AD and that they were the Christians who were living around that time and they suddenly disappeared or were taken up or that they were faithful Jews who were taken up. One of the problems I see with this interpretation is that if they were faithful Christians or Jews. Why were there a lot of Christians left and why were the Apostles left behind? Why is there no record of this amazing event?
I arrived at this third interpretation when a friend and I were talking about scripture and I realized that the first two interpretations seemed at odds with the scriptures as I saw them.
A third interpretation is that it refers to the siege of Jerusalem and the taking of prisoners or the killings that went on. Luke 17:22-37 tends to put more urgency into these passages than Matthew. Luke 17:31 says that if a man is on the roof of his house and his possessions are inside the house he shouldn’t go down to get them. It says if you are in the field don’t look back. 32 says quite simply “Remember Lots wife”.
These passages seem to infer that there was something to run away from. It couldn’t be “the end” because there is no running away from it. But they could run from the approaching army. I don’t know if the invading army took some and left some.
However, we must remember that Jesus was talking to Jews and was sent only to the Jews and was bringing judgement on the Jews. Christians were not involved as Christians. That might be hard to swallow but nonetheless it’s true. The events surrounding the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem involved only the Jews. Others might have been caught up in the situation but it was only between God and His people.
You might have some other ideas. Leave a comment if you like.
