“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see al these things you know that he is near, at the very gates.” Matt. 24:52-53
Matthew 24 and other apocalyptic literature have been applied with specificity to every generation. The signs are said to obvious and unfolding in each generation. But, if they can said to occur in each generation, that would make them unreliable. If the trees blossomed in every season, they’d be lousy sign of the coming of summer. Furthermore, we end up with different interpretations of those signs depending on the time and culture of those interpreting them. They could be something completely different in another culture and another time. These passages cannot mean whatever we want them to mean…they were specific to the culture in which they were spoken.
Jesus then likens the suddenness of His coming to the days of Noah, and Lot(Luke 17).
“For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” Matt. 24:37-39
Those who were taken away in Noah’s day were taken away in judgment. To the Jewish mind, Noah’s flood was a clear picture of utter destruction.(1) In the days of Noah, people carried on with normal life and did not listen to Noah’s warnings about a coming flood. In the same way, Jesus is telling them that people will carry on with normal life and not listen to the warnings of coming judgment.
This could possibly, depending on who you see as being taken away, be read as a passage supporting the rapture, but only if one reads it with a presupposition of such a belief. The phrase “taken away” applies to those who died in the destruction, not those who were spared. Furthermore, when it is placed in its context, we realize that Jesus is saying that life would be going on as normal on the day He comes in judgment. The ark, in many ways, symbolizes Jesus. Those who are in Jesus will be spared..those who continue to cling to the Old Covenant will die.
We see this in the next analogy Jesus uses that has also been said to describe the rapture. But, put it in its historical context and it’s an entirely different understanding.
Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 24:40-41
Jesus was describing the arbitrary manner in which the Romans would seize and/or kill the Jews. They would literally cut one farmer in half in the field and leave the other standing; or seize one woman who was grinding grain, and leave the other woman. He was referring to its suddenness as they went about their normal routines. To the Jews listening to Jesus, they would have though it to be a blessing to be left behind. It meant they were still alive!! They were spared from the destruction.
One clear indication that the event Jesus is referring to is in verse 34.
“Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.”
He had just said the same thing immediately before they left for the Mount of Olives.
“On you may come all the righteous blood shed one auth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.” Matt 23:35-36
Jesus bookended the signs He gave them with a firm declaration that it would occur within their own lifetimes. These aren’t the only times He condemned this generation and spoke of judgment upon this generation.
1. This generation never responded correctly to God(Matt. 11:16-19, Lk 7:31-34)
2. This generation was called wicked, adulterous, sinful, unbelieving, perverse, warped, and crooked.(Lk 9:41, 11:29; Mk 8:38, 9:19; Matt. 17:17; Phil. 2:15)
3. Even the men of Ninevah would have condemned this generation.(Matt. 12:41; Lk 11:32)
Earlier, Jesus had told them that “there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (Matt. 16:28) Then, during His trial, He told Caiaphas that he would see Him “coming on the clouds of heaven.”(Matt. 26:64) Clearly, Jesus is saying that what He is prophesying will happen to this generation…the one listening to Him on Mt. Olivet.
Because of our misunderstanding of such statements of Jesus, C.S. Lewis considered these to be the most embarrassing verses of the Bible. Others also have used them to discredit Jesus and Christianity.
“Say what you like, the apocalyptic beliefs of the first Christians have been proved to be false. It is clear from the New Testament that they all expected the Second Coming in their own lifetime. And, worse still, they had a reason, and one which you will find very embarrassing. Their Master had told them so. He shared, and indeed created, their delusion. He said in so many words, ‘this generation shall not pass till all these things be done.’ And He was wrong. He clearly knew no more about the end of the world than anyone else.” (3)
Jesus is not a liar, nor is He a false prophet. Though we have been confused and have heard multiple interpretations of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, His original listeners had no such difficulty understanding what He was saying.
Matthew 24 ends with an exhortation that is repeated throughout the New Testament…keep watch. It would have been tempting to become complacent in the 40 years between the cross and the fulfillment of Matthew 24. Peter tells us that some people were mocking Jesus’ prophecy…
“Where is this coming he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:4)
Jesus wanted them to be fully aware of the events that unfolded as the Old Covenant came to its end. Matthew 24 is Jesus’ warning to the disciples that the end of the Old Covenant, and the judgment against Jerusalem, was coming…it would happen in their generation. He told them of the signs and encouraged them to stay watchful and alert…be ready. They remained watchful and alert. As a result, they recognized the signs as they unfolded, heeded His counsel, and, though 1.1 million Jews were killed in the destruction of Jerusalem, not one single Christian died in the destruction of Jerusalem.
We do not need to be wasting our time looking for these signs to occur. They already have. We can use our energy instead to advance the Kingdom He inaugurated…to be among those messengers sent out to gather His elect from the four winds.
Endnotes:
1. Welton, Jonathan. (2012). Raptureless. p. 81,
2. DeMar, Gary. (1999). Last Days Madness. (Powder Springs, CO: American Vision). p. 48.