Matthew 24 For Dummies - Part 5

The Gathering of the Elect

To review earlier blogs you can click here:  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.

The context for Matthew 24 is the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.  But I admit there are some ideas that make it easy to read the future into this passage.  It’s easy to read this into the text because of the proliferation of media that promotes such a view.  But so far I’ve tried to show that a careful exegesis retains the “reader relevance” principle.

Matthew 24:1-35 stands as a unified whole, all portraying events that occurred in the generation of the to whom Jesus spoke.  But note verse 31:

“And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:31, ESV)

I would assume that if there is a game changer, it is this verse.  Every Dispensational scholar teaches us that this is the “rapture” of the Church. Storms argues that “The ‘gathering together’ (v. 31) of God’s elect is not a reference to the end-time harvest (far less to the ‘rapture’) but to the global growth of the Church that is on-going throughout this present age. It includes both the gathering of the saints into local assemblies or churches (Heb. 10: 25; James 2: 2) and the universal assembling of the saints into the body of Christ, the universal Church (see Matt. 22: 7-13).”[1]  He does that by explaining “angels” in its generic sense as messengers and the trumpet representing the Jewish Jubilee – the Year of favor equating to redemption, forgiveness and freedom.  It would seem that Kenneth Gentry would agree.

He says it is the “poetic imagery: the destruction of the temple trumpets in the ultimate Jubilee Year.”[2] There is an understanding within Matthew 24 that affirms: With the death of the Temple system is replaced with the life-giving Gospel message, open to the whole world, providing release from the captives of sin.  If this is correct then verse 31 is occurring presently in our time.  Matthew 24:31 isn’t just the demise of the Old Testament system of religion; it is, at the same time, the fulfillment of the Old Testament hope of salvation.

So, Matthew 24 is essentially answering the question, “When we will know Christ is ruling?”  The answer is twofold: the death of Israel’s religion and the birth of the Gospel.  Or stated otherwise ‘when you see the vultures gathered at the corpse (v28) and you see God’s elect gathered into His Body (v31) through the preaching of the Gospel – this indicates that Christ has come to His Throne.

If Jesus was answering the question, “When will the Second Advent be”; then He is really confused because in answer to that issue He said, ““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, ESV).   But the sign of His coming to the Throne and judging Israel is very clear.

So of what significance is this passage to present day New Covenant believers?  I think there is one key application.  Notice Matthew 24:25 (ESV), “See, I have told you beforehand.”  And again, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35, ESV).  Heaven and earth refer metaphorically to the place heaven and earth meet, i.e., the Temple.  That will pass away.  But the encouragement in this passage to us today, in spite of its historic fulfillment, is that we can be certain that God’s Word, His promise and plans are guaranteed.

The position that I’ve tried to summarize has a clear flow of thought.  I’ve entitled these blogs: Matthew 24 for Dummies.  With tongue-in-cheek I suggest I am not smart enough to be a dispensationalist.  The skill and dexterity it takes to hold to a futuristic view of Matthew 24 is mind-boggling.  The view I've attempted to posit, I think, best represents sound exegesis and is relatively simple to follow.  Matthew 24 is really Christological.  Sam Storms gives a great one sentence summary: “The temple is dethroned. Jesus is enthroned.”[3]

As promised here are some books and websites that have helped me in this pursuit.   I have no original thoughts. I offer them because when I was a dispensationalist I wasn't aware that there was a lucid, biblically sound alternative to viewpoint that dominates the landscape.

A. Mahabir, Joseph, No Future Millennium, Colonsay House, Dundurn ON, 1991
B. Hoekema, Anthony A., The Bible and the Future, William B. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, MI, 1979
C. Venema, Cornelis P., Christ and the Future, The Banner of Truth Trust, Carlisle, PA, 2008
D.  Sproul, R.C., The Last Days According to Jesus, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI, 1998
E. Riddlebarger, Kim, A Case for Amillennialism, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI, 2003
F. Hanegraaff, Hank, The Apocalypse Code: Find Out What the Bible REALLY Says About the End Times... and Why It Matters Today, Thomas Nelson, Nashville TN, 2007
G, Storms, Sam,  Kingdom Come: The Amillennial Alternative, Christian Focus Publications, Ross-Shire, Scotland, 2013

Some of the above authors don't see an entire fulfillment of everything in Matthew 24, nor in the New Testament.  There is a modified view as explained by Storms: "In conclusion, my argument that Matthew 24: 4-31 refers immediately and primarily to the events leading up to and including the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 does not necessarily exclude the possibility that the end of the age is, at least indirectly, also in view. It may well be that future events associated with the second advent of Christ at the end of the age are prefigured by the destruction of the temple and the city in 70."[4]

Riddlebarger brings this conclusion: "The nation of Israel was cut off and left desolate, the Jews dispersed into all the earth, and only now have they returned to their ancient home. The city of Jerusalem was destroyed, as was Herod's magnificent temple, by Rome's army in A.D. 70; not one stone was left upon another.  It was a time of tribulation unsurpassed in Israel's history."[5]

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[1] Storms, Sam (2013-04-30). Kingdom Come: The Amillennial Alternative (Kindle Locations 4559-4562). Christian Focus Publications. Kindle Edition.

[2] http://www.allthingsfulfilled.com/does-matthew-2431-present-a-dilemma-for-partial-preterist-kenneth-gentry/

[3] Storms, Sam (2013-04-30). Kingdom Come: The Amillennial Alternative (Kindle Location 4705). Christian Focus Publications. Kindle Edition.

[4] Storms, Sam (2013-04-30). Kingdom Come: The Amillennial Alternative (Kindle Locations 4680-4683). Christian Focus Publications. Kindle Edition.

[5] Riddlebarger, Kim, A Case for Amillennialism, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI, 2003, Page 178