Is Matthew 24 the rapture ?
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S
You are right. The same Greek word is translation body in other verses but it does mean carcase.
Nevertheless I don't think that is the point. The point is how vultures gather in the sky because of the presence of a carcase. If you insist on the literal death of the carcase in order to interpret his meaning you would need to also insist on the literal vulture. Are those left turned into vultures literally? Of course not, he is trying to use a sign in nature to answer a question as to Where those who are taken will go. And the best answer seems to be "They will gather in the sky" Like what it looks like when birds gather in the sky because they have found a carcase. It is something in nature that he points to and says... "Like That"
Nevertheless I don't think that is the point. The point is how vultures gather in the sky because of the presence of a carcase. If you insist on the literal death of the carcase in order to interpret his meaning you would need to also insist on the literal vulture. Are those left turned into vultures literally? Of course not, he is trying to use a sign in nature to answer a question as to Where those who are taken will go. And the best answer seems to be "They will gather in the sky" Like what it looks like when birds gather in the sky because they have found a carcase. It is something in nature that he points to and says... "Like That"
One major item to compare is what's being taught. The gospel of the kingdom vs the gospel of the grace of God...
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Paul states that the gospel that he preached, the gospel of the grace of God, has gone out into all the world, been preached to every creature under heaven, and to all nations and yet, the end has not come.
The gospel of the kingdom will be preached during the tribulation as the return of Jesus as King is at hand.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Paul states that the gospel that he preached, the gospel of the grace of God, has gone out into all the world, been preached to every creature under heaven, and to all nations and yet, the end has not come.
The gospel of the kingdom will be preached during the tribulation as the return of Jesus as King is at hand.
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Well think about it since when does Jesus ever say something to antone for the sake of them just being there? God's plan for salvation is perfectly calculated everything Jesus spoke andf to whom it was spoken to was already calculated in he only spoke what father said to.
We who are his church are also his disciples he reveals and gives the hidden secrets and truth to his church so the fact he gave this to them who were there and also were his disciples was because it was symbolic of the church
We who are his church are also his disciples he reveals and gives the hidden secrets and truth to his church so the fact he gave this to them who were there and also were his disciples was because it was symbolic of the church
I'm not so sure about that...
since Jesus said "body"... and if He meant a person's "physical body" would be "THERE [G1563]"... then it would make sense (to me, anyway) for them to ask "where Lord?" (of other ppl besides themselves, i.e. the lost/not saved... not of themselves/the saved)...
...and if Jesus was indeed speaking of the point in time of His Second Coming to the earth Rev19 [and not our Rapture IN THE AIR], as I see this passage, then we (now having the full Scripture to view) can AT LEAST see that (AT THAT POINT IN TIME, Rev19:21) there will be, as it says, "all the birds shall gorge on their flesh." Now, I AGREE that the souls of the persons (having died [unsaved] at this point--Rev19:21 "SLAIN") will surely be in "sheol/hell/torments/etc"... but their BODIES don't do anything but lie there (who's going to take time "bury" that many ppl/bodies at such a point in time??--hence, the "birds" gorging on their flesh)... until the much LATER GWTj, see.
That's how I see it.
since Jesus said "body"... and if He meant a person's "physical body" would be "THERE [G1563]"... then it would make sense (to me, anyway) for them to ask "where Lord?" (of other ppl besides themselves, i.e. the lost/not saved... not of themselves/the saved)...
...and if Jesus was indeed speaking of the point in time of His Second Coming to the earth Rev19 [and not our Rapture IN THE AIR], as I see this passage, then we (now having the full Scripture to view) can AT LEAST see that (AT THAT POINT IN TIME, Rev19:21) there will be, as it says, "all the birds shall gorge on their flesh." Now, I AGREE that the souls of the persons (having died [unsaved] at this point--Rev19:21 "SLAIN") will surely be in "sheol/hell/torments/etc"... but their BODIES don't do anything but lie there (who's going to take time "bury" that many ppl/bodies at such a point in time??--hence, the "birds" gorging on their flesh)... until the much LATER GWTj, see.
That's how I see it.
S
The Gospel of the Kingdom is the same as the Gospel that Paul preached. What church do you attend? Who teaches this?
If you are referring to Col 1:23
23If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
I doubt you will find any credible scholarly commentaries that suggest that Paul meant that everyone had already heard the gospel. He simply meant it had been sent by God to the whole world to hear.
Here are quotes from just three of the easily accessible commentaries in BibleHub.
To every creature which is under heaven - A Hebraism for the whole human race, and particularly referring to the two grand divisions of mankind, the Jews and Gentiles; to both of these the Gospel had been preached, and to each, salvation by Christ had been equally offered. And as none had been excluded from the offers of mercy, and Jesus Christ had tasted death for every man, and the Jews and Gentiles, in their great corporate capacity, had all been invited to believe the Gospel; therefore, the apostle concludes that the Gospel was preached to every creature under heaven, as being offered without restrictions or limitations to these two grand divisions of mankind, including the whole human race.
(1) That it was designed to be preached to every creature, or that the commission to make it known embraced everyone, and that, so far as the provisions of the gospel are concerned, it may be said that it was a system proclaimed to all mankind; see Mark 16:15. If a vast army, or the inhabitants of a distant province, were in rebellion against a government, and a proclamation of pardon were issued, it would not be improper to say that it was made to every one of them, though, as a matter of fact, it might not be true that everyone in the remote parts of the army or province had actually heard of it.
1. To whom it was preached: To every creature under heaven (v. 23), that is, it was ordered to be preached to every creature, Mk. 16:15. It may be preached to every creature; for the gospel excludes none who do not exclude themselves. More or less it has been or will be preached to every nation, though many have sinned away the light of it and perhaps some have never yet enjoyed it.
If you are referring to Col 1:23
23If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
I doubt you will find any credible scholarly commentaries that suggest that Paul meant that everyone had already heard the gospel. He simply meant it had been sent by God to the whole world to hear.
Here are quotes from just three of the easily accessible commentaries in BibleHub.
To every creature which is under heaven - A Hebraism for the whole human race, and particularly referring to the two grand divisions of mankind, the Jews and Gentiles; to both of these the Gospel had been preached, and to each, salvation by Christ had been equally offered. And as none had been excluded from the offers of mercy, and Jesus Christ had tasted death for every man, and the Jews and Gentiles, in their great corporate capacity, had all been invited to believe the Gospel; therefore, the apostle concludes that the Gospel was preached to every creature under heaven, as being offered without restrictions or limitations to these two grand divisions of mankind, including the whole human race.
(1) That it was designed to be preached to every creature, or that the commission to make it known embraced everyone, and that, so far as the provisions of the gospel are concerned, it may be said that it was a system proclaimed to all mankind; see Mark 16:15. If a vast army, or the inhabitants of a distant province, were in rebellion against a government, and a proclamation of pardon were issued, it would not be improper to say that it was made to every one of them, though, as a matter of fact, it might not be true that everyone in the remote parts of the army or province had actually heard of it.
1. To whom it was preached: To every creature under heaven (v. 23), that is, it was ordered to be preached to every creature, Mk. 16:15. It may be preached to every creature; for the gospel excludes none who do not exclude themselves. More or less it has been or will be preached to every nation, though many have sinned away the light of it and perhaps some have never yet enjoyed it.
S
If Jesus was talking about the birds eating the dead body it would be important for us to contemplate what that meant. But I believe he was talking about them gathering in the sky and not their landing on the body on the ground. The sky gathering was his point. The body is not visible to the human observer. We look up and see the vultures gathering in a point in the sky. Why are they gathering, because there is a body on the ground it is assumed. But where will those that are taken go? "It is like when the vultures gather in the sky when there is a body" Oh.. ok... like the rapture? Probably. or... "Oh.. ok.. like the woman is at the millstone and she gets sucked up through the air and lands in a battlefield and slammed down on the ground with the other dead soldiers and then bird come and eat her flesh? " Probably not. LOL
The two passages use the same wording, "in all the world." Dance around the clear meaning if you want, but I believe every word of God. I do not put my trust in commentaries, that's for sure.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Colossians 1
5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Colossians 1
5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
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S
Maybe it has been fulfilled today. I used to wonder about the North Sentinelese and whether they still need to be reached, but maybe John Chau's efforts were considered reaching them even though they never actually have been communicated with, they killed him to quickly to establish any communication. But maybe their act of murder counts against them as a rejection.
And if it has been fulfilled then the end might be very near. We must live like it will be tomorrow. The offer has been extended to all the world but not every person has heard. It is possible that some in every nation have been reached. We must be getting close to that.
And if it has been fulfilled then the end might be very near. We must live like it will be tomorrow. The offer has been extended to all the world but not every person has heard. It is possible that some in every nation have been reached. We must be getting close to that.