THE SEVEN SEALED BOOK
and a different pre-trib rapture view
To the Church,
the Body of Christ, of which I am most grateful to be a part.
The Olivet Discourse pertains to both Church Age Christians and Last Days' Israelites.
PROPOSITION K
The Olivet Discourse is a talk Jesus had with His disciples on the Mount of Olives concerning some bad things that were going to be taking place, especially in connection with His return. Of the four Gospel accounts, this discourse is found in all but John's account. Part of the reason for this may be that, though John was actually present when Jesus spoke these words (Mk. 13:3-4), he was also given The Revelation! As it turns out, God inspired the other Gospel writers to give an account of Jesus' discourse, but John to give an account of The Revelation. Since both the Olivet Discourse and The Revelation concern things that were going to be happening, it should not surprise us to find paralleling information between the two, like that which we looked at in the previous proposition. Nor should it surprise us that one holds keys to unlocking the mysteries of the other and vice-versa. This will be important to remember.
Turning our attention now to the present proposition, realize that many scholars (who also believe in a pre-trib rapture) put forth an interpretation that has the entire Olivet Discourse pertaining only to Israelites. I just have to disagree and encourage patience and the closest attention be given as we examine this (my longest proposition), for it is foundational to a correct understanding of the timing of the rapture.
To begin, it cannot be dismissed that some 2000 years of world history continues to connect with and substantiate what Jesus said in the opening of His discourse. We do not have to look to events yet future to find fulfillment of what He warned was going to be happening. It has been fulfilled and is being fulfilled even now in our day. The continued fulfilling of what Jesus said about deceivers and false Christs, about wars and rumors of wars, about famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, and about the persecution and martyrdom His followers would face is remarkable. Things could have turned out a lot differently, but they have not (see Appendix #3). Just a little sidebar---atheists, agnostics, and non-Christians should take note! And, don't forget the parallels pointed out in the previous proposition. If the things of which Jesus warned connect with the first four seals, understanding all of this would seem to be pivotal (if not altogether necessary) to a correct understanding of The Revelation.
Also, does it not seem appropriate, even obligatory, that in such a talk with His disciples, Jesus would warn them of things they and His Church would be facing? He was speaking these things to the pillars of His Church the very week He was to be crucified! Early in the Church Age, our brothers and sisters in Christ might not have made all the connections, but now we have the perspective of retrospect. As we say of hindsight, it is 20/20, and some 2000 years of hindsight has confirmed to my satisfaction that Jesus did indeed speak of things very relevant to the Church. Think about it: What He said for openers has fit every century of the Church Age, if not every decade, if not every year. The more one becomes aware of what all is happening in this world, the more it seems that what He said fits every day!
So, concerning Jesus' Olivet Discourse, just what pertains to Church Age Christians, and what pertains to Last Days' Israelites? Or, what is here that these should understand as pertaining more to themselves? I am here reminded of Paul's words in II Timothy 2:
​
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
​
What follows represents the best way I, as a workman, have found to rightly divide Jesus' Olivet Discourse. Realize that in Matthew's two chapter account (specifically chapter 25), Jesus teaches some things in parables that neither Mark nor Luke record (see Appendix #4). For the purpose of this proposition, our focus will be on what all three do give an account of, as recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. These accounts parallel in a big way, which is very helpful and needs to be highly regarded.
Now, there is a saying to the effect that the simplest way is usually the most correct. Whether this is so with the way that I would divide Jesus' discourse, it is a very simple way when understood. To better organize things and help our focus, let's begin by pulling out the central portion of His discourse, as illustrated below:
​
THE OLIVET DISCOURSE
(as a whole)
THE OLIVET DISCOURSE
(with the central portion pulled out)
As can be seen, when the central portion is pulled out, the result is a division into three sections. I believe Jesus' discourse can be rightly divided in this way. My reason for doing this with the central portion (now a section) is because it is so easy to distinguish it as pertaining exclusively to Israelites. We will start here and then consider the rest of the discourse from this basis. Going a step further, since Matthew and Mark's accounts of this section are equally as easy to distinguish as pertaining to LAST DAYS' Israelites, this is how I will label it. The central section of which I am speaking is similar in each account and is not broken up in any way. Below, I have indicated where this section occurs in each account. Time to get your Bible out!
​
FOR LAST DAYS' ISRAELITES
(the central section)
Each of these parallel accounts supports that Jesus has Last Days' Israelites here in view and that they will need to be braced for some extremely tough times. Note the opening verse(s) of each respective account of this section and what I have highlighted, which shows the agreement, even though some content varies:
​
MATTHEW 24
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
​
MARK 13
14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
​
LUKE 21
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains...
​
Double checking the fit of Luke's account of this section, many scholars believe that Jesus' words here pertain wholly to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. But, though there are some differences in the wording of his account, key elements are verbatim, or so very similar, that it must pertain to the same part of Jesus' address and at least equally as much to Daniel's 70th Week. For a further confirmation of this, compare verse 24 of Luke's account with Revelation 11:2, which is an accepted Daniel's 70th Week reference.
Backing up now to the beginning of Jesus' discourse, the accounts of what He said before the central section reflect what He wanted His Church to be prepared for, even as the Church Age was about to dawn. The following shows that section from each account, and it too is not broken up in any way:
​
FOR CHURCH AGE CHRISTIANS
(before the central section)
Like with the central section, these parallel accounts of the first section open very similarly and, from a worldwide perspective, everything Jesus here said fits exactly what Christians throughout the Church Age have witnessed to come to pass and what would represent fitting instructions for any generation of the Church. Following is how the opening of each respective account of this section reads, and again, to show the agreement:
​
MATTHEW 24
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
​
MARK 13
5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:
6 For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
​
LUKE 21
8 And He said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
​
In review of where we are at so far, in the central section of His discourse, Jesus warned of what HIS NATION needed to expect and gave instructions for ISRAELITES concerning what they would go through in the LAST DAYS. Similarly, before this central section, in His opening, Jesus warned of what HIS CHURCH needed to expect and gave instructions for CHRISTIANS concerning what they would go through in the CHURCH AGE.
This brings us to what Jesus said after the central section. In my view, what He says in this last section relates to the ending of the Church Age, which certainly concerns Church Age Christians, but also Last Days' Israelites. The opening paragraph of this section in Matthew's account has been the subject of much debate, and we will be focusing upon it in a big way during propositions T, U, and V. Presently, be mindful that I interpret the tribulation Jesus spoke of in this section (Matt. 24:29 and Mk. 13:24) to be that of the Church Age, the tribulation of which He spoke as He began His discourse. The following shows that last section of each account, and again, it too is not broken up in any way:
​
FOR LAST DAYS' ISRAELITES AND CHURCH AGE CHRISTIANS
(after the central section)
As with the other two sections, the parallel accounts of this section also open very similarly, and I submit that everything Jesus says in this part of His discourse relates to the very day of the closing of the Church Age, which is brought to pass by the rapture. Following is how the opening of each respective account of this section reads, and once again, to show the agreement:
​
MATTHEW 24
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
​
MARK 13
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
​
LUKE 21
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
​
If you have been comparing the foregoing with your Bible, you may have already noticed that the next verse after each of the above references is about an appearance of Christ. This is something that certainly deserves very close attention. I would here like to draw attention to that verse (and the one following it) from Matthew's account and especially the two words I have emphasized:
​
MATTHEW 24
30 And then shall appear THE SIGN of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
​
Based partly upon Jesus' use of the words "the sign" in verse 30, I submit that these verses pertain to a sign appearance that He is going to make at the time of the rapture. Because His manifestation at this time will be "with power and great glory," most at once interpret this to be of His Second Advent. However, because of His choice of words and other evidences, I also submit that His coming at this time will be as a sign for those in Israel's hemisphere, and especially for "all the tribes" (vs. 30), of which 12,000 from each tribe will be converted and sealed (Rev. 7:4-8). Of course, Christ's Second Advent will also be with power and great glory! It just needs to be realized that the next time Jesus is seen by anyone---even if it be at the time of a sign appearance---He will be seen with power and great glory! I think of Paul's testimony in Acts 26:12-15 concerning his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Because His brightness at that time was "above the brightness of the sun" (vs. 13), we have a pretty good indication of what the brightness level will be of His Sign Appearance when He returns for the Church!
Though Jesus' words in Matthew 24:31 easily fit the event of the rapture, defenders of the common pre-trib view typically interpret verse 30 to be of His Second Advent and the gathering together of "His elect" in verse 31 to be the re-gathering of dispersed Israelites to their homeland. Yet, according to the undisputed account of His Second Advent, given in Revelation 19:11-21, the first order of business at that time will not be the re-gathering of Israelites at all, but the Battle of Armageddon. And after this, Satan will be bound and Christ will begin His Millennial Reign.
By a normal understanding that doesn't stretch Scripture, it will be at the beginning of Christ's Reign that the Israelites will be re-gathered to their homeland as they migrate there under the supervision of the Lord (see Isaiah 11:11-12, 15-16; 35:8-10; 43:5-7; 49:22-23; 51:11; 60:9; Jeremiah 23:5-8; Ezekiel 20:40-44; 34:11-16; 37:21-25; Hosea 3:4-5; Amos 9:11-15; and Zechariah 8:3-8). I see no suggestion in these scriptures (or any other) of a re-gathering of the Israelites in a miraculous way by the angels, but rather, by other means (e.g., Isa. 11:15-16; 49:22-23; Jer. 23:7-8). While it is questionable what the need might even be to suddenly re-gather the Israelites to their homeland in a way that sounds like the rapture, it is certainly not hard to understand the need to gather the Church to Heaven in such a manner!
Again, we will be focusing more fully upon the opening paragraph of this section in Matthew's account during propositions T, U, and V. Presently, I would just like to re-emphasize that the sign event of which Jesus is here speaking---if this indeed relates to the rapture---will be of immense importance to both Last Days' Israelites and Church Age Christians, as it will affect both in the biggest way! Moving on for now, Jesus continues by making tie-ins to this event, some related more to Israelites and some related more to Christians. The following tie-in supports that this sign event is not His Second Advent, but precedes it. Continuing in Matthew's account, without skipping any verses, notice the parable that He gives (and my explanatory notes in parentheses):
​
MATTHEW 24
32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things (which would include the appearance of "the sign of the Son of man in heaven"), know that it (His Second Advent) IS NEAR, even at the doors.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.
​
Consider the assurance that this parable will hold for Last Days' Israelites who will be left behind at the rapture. What Jesus is saying is that after the things of which He has just warned, and especially the sign event of verses 29-31, His Second Advent will be "near, even at the doors" (vs. 33). Reinforcing this, in Luke's corresponding account, He says, "then look up, and lift up your heads; for your (the Israelites') redemption draweth nigh" (Lk. 21:28-33, esp. vs. 28).
Immediately after His parable of the fig tree, Jesus continues with words that further support that "the sign" event of which He is speaking will include the rapture of the Church. The next verses in Matthew's account read thus:
​
MATTHEW 24
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of Heaven, but My Father only.
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, UNTIL THE DAY THAT NOE ENTERED INTO THE ARK,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
​
Just like the world of Noah's day was not expecting the flood until it was too late, so will it be on the day of the rapture. But, as Noah and his family entered safely into the ark before the time of God's judgment began, so will the Church enter safely into Heaven before the time of God's future judgment begins. Jesus is not illustrating how the days will be just before His Second Advent, for His return at that time will be at the end of Daniel's 70th Week, even after the angels have already begun to pour out the vials of God's wrath upon the earth (Rev. 16). The world at that time will certainly not be going about their normal activities of "eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage" (vs. 38). Rather, these activities represent a carefree state of mind that is like that of our world today. And, this is what the mentality of the world will be like just before the rapture---which could take place today!
Continuing with the next verses of Matthew's account, Jesus keeps pointing out that the world is not going to be prepared for what all will happen on the day of His Sign Appearance, as the following vivid picture of the rapture shows:
​
MATTHEW 24
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 WATCH THEREFORE: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
​
This thing of the one being "taken" is exactly what it will be like when the angels gather the Church at the rapture (vs. 31). Those of us who "are alive and remain" will be "caught up" by the angels "to meet the Lord in the air" (I Thess. 4:17). I guess I've been a little conditioned to it, but I can't think of any word that quite captures what this experience will be like for those of us who "are alive and remain" than the word RAPTURE!
In regard to the last several verses, Jesus likens the sudden and unexpected event of His coming at this time to that of the coming of a thief. Continuing still in Matthew's account:
​
MATTHEW 24
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known IN WHAT WATCH THE THIEF WOULD COME, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour AS YE THINK NOT the Son of man cometh.
​
Note that what Jesus here says will fit the event of His Sign Appearance, but not that of His Second Advent. Why? At the time of His Second Advent, the beast (or Antichrist) and those in league with him will be expecting Christ's return and will even be gathered to make war with Him (Rev. 19:19). It is at the time of the rapture and the beginning of the last days' Day of the Lord judgment that Christ will come as a thief. It will be at a time when the world is not expecting Him---at a time just like our present time! Notice how the corresponding section from Luke's account reinforces this:
​
LUKE 21
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
35 FOR AS A SNARE SHALL IT COME on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
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.
​
Moreover, the corresponding section from Mark's account also reinforces and compliments the foregoing. Consider:
​
MARK 13
32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in Heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to HIS SERVANTS, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
35 WATCH YE THEREFORE: for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping.
37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, WATCH.
​
Something quite revealing here is Jesus' reference to "His servants" and what He says of Himself and them in verse 34. His servants would be His disciples and all of His followers of the Church Age. This should irrefutably establish that in His Olivet Discourse, Jesus had His Church in mind too! Before He took His "far journey" Jesus gave a special "work" to each of His disciples and by extension, to everyone who would become a part of His Church. That work is summed up in His Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20).
In review, Jesus' Olivet Discourse can be divided---rightly I believe---into three sections. The central section pertains to Last Days' Israelites and is yet to be fulfilled, as it relates to Daniel's 70th Week. The opening section pertains to Church Age Christians and will continue to be fulfilled throughout the Church Age, of which we are a part. Finally, the closing section pertains to both Last Days' Israelites and Church Age Christians, as it relates to the very day of Christ's Sign Appearance and the rapture. There is NOTHING in this last section that doesn't relate TO THE VERY DAY that the rapture will occur. This statement is not only consistent with Matthew, Mark, and Luke's accounts, but is reinforced by each. While it is needless to stress that this event pertains to the Church, it may be needful to stress once more that it also pertains to Last Days' Israelites, because the day that the Church is gone, the focus will be brought to bear upon them, and it will be a time of the greatest tribulation that has ever been.
As stated earlier, many scholars believe that Jesus' Olivet Discourse pertains only to Israelites and deny that He spoke of anything in it pertaining to the Church or the rapture. Again, I just have to disagree and submit that there are more and better reasons to believe otherwise, including how things continue to come together relating to the rapture, as will be seen. You be the judge. For those who are seeing the evidence as I do, there is much to take heed to in Jesus' Olivet Discourse, some especially for Last Days' Israelites, some especially for Church Age Christians, and some for both, not to mention the lost.​
​