You’ve asked, we’ve obliged. Lets discuss The Rapture!
Its so easy to discuss this topic of the Bible, but the greatest question is, Are you ready?
Without further ado lets jump into the text.
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. Matthew 24:36
What day is Jesus talking about in verse 36? When you look back at at verse 35 it reads;
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
Furthermore when you read verse 34 it reads:
Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
The question then should be, what are all these things that verse 34 is referring to?
The answer is captured and summed up in the whole chapter 24 verse 1 through to 34.
Lets centre on verse 37 regarding 36 which talks about the day and hour which no one knows, not even the angels of heaven nor the son but the Father.
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
Looking at verse 37 for context is important especially the word “AS” which draws an important comparison that is worth noting.
What is similar between the days of Noah and the coming of the Son of Man?
Well, verse 38 and 39 articulate the comparisons well.
‘Until a certain day, the people in the days of Noah got on with their lives as if nothing was happening. They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Living everyday normal life with no expectation of a flood. They were so out of touch with Gods reality that it wasn’t even on their RADAR. Such ignorance and unawareness as if life will just continue to the beat of their drum up until Noah entered the ark.
What are people doing in these modern days? The average man lives with no expectation of the return of Christ.
As a matter of fact, some even deny the rapture and the return of Christ.
Verse 39 is very pivotal because you notice two things;
Unawareness until the day Noah entered the Ark and again Unawareness until the flood came.
Here you notice that Noah actually enters the Ark before the flood comes and yet people are still partying away unaware.
Then the flood comes and swept them all away.
When you bring it back to modern day, you realise people are busy being busy for no good reason, unaware of the changing times and seasons.
Now centre back on verse 39;
And they were oblivious, until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.
What will be? Well we don’t need to wonder
‘So will be the coming of the Son of Man like the days of Noah.’
It will be like the days of Noah , where people lived in oblivion, sold to the deception of life as usual.
The common denominator is Unawareness.
Friends, ignorance is not bliss. Instead, knowledge is power.
Rather than being afraid of the unknown, or defensive in the face of potential threats, a mindset of curiosity helps us to learn and grow through the ever changing uncertainties of life.
Due to self inflicted ignorance-unawareness, they were all swept away
Swept away due to Unawareness, just like the coming of the Son of Man.
People Unaware, living life normally because they didn’t expect the flood to really come and then being Swept away (taken away) suddenly.
Verse 40 and 41 reads:
Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
Now, when you compare the coming of the Son of Man to Noah’s time, the one swept away/ Taken away was the unaware one.
In light of this truth could it be that the one taken is the one swept away like in Noah’s time?
Or would you argue the one taken away is the one whose taken safe refuge in Jesus’ covering.
‘What are your thoughts??’
In verse 42 Jesus says;
42 “Therefore (stay awake) keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
Here Jesus tells us that even though we do not know the day or hour, BUT, we can still stay awake.
Just like Noah didn’t know the day or hour but he was ready, prepared and believed the word of the Lord.
Though we may not know in detail the day or hour, the Bible tells us there will be signs.
Therefore we ought to be ready always.
Verse 43 is another pivotal moment where it reads BUT know this….
43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
The greatest lesson here is knowing to stay awake and ready.
44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Staying awake is emphasized a great deal all through out the text for the Son of Man is coming unexpectedly.
Therefore, I urge you to Be Ready, Stay Awake and Prepare just like Noah was.
Be a Faithful and wise servant like that one of verse 45.
46: Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing what the master asked him to do when he returns.
In verse 48 the Wicked Servant who complains my master is delayed begins to beat his fellow servants.
The wicked servant eats and drinks with the drunkards but the master of that servant comes unexpectedly at an hour unknown.
50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Don’t be found like the wicked servant whose taken away and put with the hypocrites.
Just as in the day of Noah the Unaware, were taken away (swept away).
Undoubtedly, this sounds like separation from God.
The Parables are a great example of what ready and prepared ought to be.
Matthew 22 at the wedding feast is another great example. reference verse 11-14
God bless you and thank you for stopping by. Don’t forget to leave a comment and share your thoughts.
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