Journal: Pneumatikos
Volume: PNEUMATIKOS 15:1 (Spring 2024)
Article: Jesus And The Rapture Part 1: Matthew 24:40–41 Reconsidered
Author: Andrew Woods

Pneumatikos 15:1 (Spring 2024) p. 1

Jesus And The Rapture Part 1: Matthew 24:40–41 Reconsidered

Andrew Woods

Sugar Land Bible Church
Chafer Theological Seminary
Sugar Land, Texas, USA

Keywords: rapture, Olivet discourse, Son of Man, second advent, flood, Noah, judgment, sheep and goat judgment, seventieth week, Daniel, Matthew, Jesus, upper room discourse

Abstract: Is the doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture authentically biblical? Many seek to answer this question by turning to the ultimate authority in all doctrinal matters, Jesus Christ. Did Jesus believe in and teach about the rapture? This two-part series maintains that He did. Unfortunately, many seek to discover Christ’s rapture teaching in the wrong place, which is Matthew 24:40–41. The first article in this two-part series contends that the rapture cannot be found here, given Matthew’s overall argument, the exegetical details of Matthew 24:40–41, and the inadequacy of the pro-rapture arguments concerning the passage. However, the second article will contend that John 14:1–4 represents far more fruitful ground for understanding Christ’s rapture teaching. This will be demonstrated through an examination of the position of the upper room discourse in John’s Gospel, the exegetical details of John 14:1–4, and by answering the anti-rapture arguments concerning the interpretation of the passage.

Pneumatikos 15:1 (Spring 2024) p. 2

Introduction

Did Jesus ever refer to the rapture? When this question is asked, two passages usually come to mind: Matthew 24:40–41 and John 14:1–4. The purpose of these articles is to show that although Christ did not refer to the rapture in Matthew 24:40–41, He did refer to the rapture in John 14:1–4. This first article is an examination of Matthew 24:40–41 as a potential rapture passage. This article seeks to dissuade readers from connecting Christ’s statement in Matthew 24:40–41 to the rapture through an examination of the role of the Olivet discourse in Matthew’s overall argument, through an examination of the textual details within and surrounding Matthew 24:40–41, and by noting the inadequacy of the arguments for a rapture i...