Why Matthew 24:37-42 is not the Rapture

When I was growing up and until very recently I always thought Matt:24-37-42 was talking about the rapture. As I have grown in my faith I have come to realise that it is not that straight forward. We have to remember that this was taught by Jesus before the church was even born. Paul said of the rapture that he was showing us a mystery, a hidden thing, a secret (1 Corinthians 15:51-54). Well then how was it a secret if Jesus had already talked about it in Matthew 24 some 20 years earlier? Surely the twelve would have taught it during that time. The rapture is something revealed exclusively by Paul, it was his breaking news (Behold I shew you a mystery, we will not all die but we shall all be changed when the dead in Christ rise and we are changed & caught up with them).

It seems also when you read the surrounding context of Matthew 24:37-42 that what is in view here is judgment and destruction, unexpected by the world, not, the rapture of the church. The world is not paying attention but those who are on the earth during that time and believe are warned that when they see Antichrist / his image stand in the holy place they had better run to the hills, this is the time of God’s wrath – lets read it.

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:)
Matthew 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Matthew 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Matthew 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Luke 17:31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
Luke 17:32 Remember Lot’s wife

What’s this event Jesus is speaking of? It must be this:
Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

So it seems that when this happens, those that believe these words will know to run because destruction is coming quickly (that which is determined (God’s Wrath) shall be poured upon the desolate), this kicks off the last 3 1/2 years of the tribulation. You may notice a further clue, Jesus said pray that your flight be not on the sabbath. Why would a Christian be concerned about that? Jesus then warned not to believe anyone that says Christ is here or there (Matt:24:23), however Christians know Christ is at the right hand of the Father and will return in the clouds but Jews are still waiting – could it be that elect Jews at this time will be reading Matthew, maybe the 144,000 will have preached this.

Then we get to the passage itself. I have done a comparison of the Greek word for ‘Taken’ from this Matthew passage (one shall be taken the other left) to the word caught up (i.e. 1 Thess. 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together) which describes the rapture. The word in Matthew is paralambanō and the word in Thessalonians is harpazo. I think you will notice as I did that the sense and way in which these words are used have a different idea and are not used to describe the same action.

Here are the other instances of paralambanō in Matthew’s Gospel:

Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take (paralambanō) the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

Matthew 2:14 When he arose, he took (paralambanō) the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

Matthew 2:20 Saying, Arise, and take (paralambanō) the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.

Matthew 2:21 And he arose, and took (paralambanō) the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

Matthew 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh (paralambanō) with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Matthew 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh (paralambanō) Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

Matthew 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take (paralambanō) with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

Matthew 20:17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took (paralambanō) the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,

Matthew 26:37 And he took (paralambanō) with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

Matthew 27:27 Then the soldiers of the governor took (paralambanō) Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.

After reading these this passage (24:40 etc) feels very different to the rapture / snatching away / being caught up

Matthew 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken (paralambanō), and the other left.

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If we compare to the rapture / harpazo it is very different – much more forceful and sudden, like a snatch:

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. (harpazo)

Matthew 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away (harpazo) that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

St. John 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force (harpazo), to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

St. John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck (harpazo) them out of my hand.

Acts 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away (harpazo) Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

2nd Corinthians 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up (harpazo) to the third heaven.

2nd Corinthians 12:4 How that he was caught up (harpazo) into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

1st Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (harpazo) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling (harpazo) them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.