Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 21:40 (Spring 2008)
Article: Should Pretribulationists Reconsider the Rapture in Matthew 24:36–44?
Author: John F. Hart

JOTGES 21:40 (Spring 2008) p. 45

Should Pretribulationists Reconsider the Rapture
in Matthew 24:36–44?

Part 2 of 3

John F. Hart

Professor of Bible

Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, IL

I. Introduction

The first article in this series proposed that Jesus answered in reverse order the two questions posed by the disciples on the Mount of Olives (Matt 24:3).1 As recorded by the apostle Matthew, the two questions introduce a purposeful chiastic structure that lends interpretive help to the discourse. The second question (“What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” v 3b) is answered in vv 4–35.2 In vv 4–28, the Lord surveyed the future seventieth seven (week) of Daniel, i.e., the seven-year tribulation period or the eschatological day of the Lord. This conclusion is drawn from the Lord’s statement that “all these things

JOTGES 21:40 (Spring 2008) p. 46

(described in vv 4–7) are merely the beginning of birth pangs” (v 8). “Birth pangs” (ōdin) is a technical term drawn from the Old and New Testaments, designating a broad period of eschatological woes that is identified as the day of the Lord and precedes the Second Coming of Christ.

The phrase, “immediately [eutheōs] after the tribulation,” helps establish the eschatological emphasis of the 4–28 unit and eliminates any interval between v 28 and the Second Coming of Christ in vv 29–31. The design of the fig tree parable (vv 32–35) is to set forth in illustration the nearness of the Lord’s return to the signs of the tribulation. “In terms of the disciples’ question in 24:3, the ‘sign’ is the tree’s spring budding and blossoming, and Jesus’ coming is the summer bearing of fruit.”You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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