While pre-trib teachers and I agree that 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 is the rapture, we disagree about Matthew 24. Pre-trib teachers teach that the coming in Matthew 24 is not the rapture. They say it is strictly Armageddon, and that it takes place seven years after the pre-trib rapture. They adamantly proclaim that there are too many dissimilarities between Matthew 24 and 1 Thessalonians for them to be speaking of the same thing.
But is this really true? I have placed matching numbers next to each similarity in order to show that there are at least nine things in common within these two passages. This numbering idea first came to me by way of Cameron Fultz’s book, “Prophecy’s Architecture,” which is available at:
http://strongtowerpublishing.com/architecture.htm
Judge for yourself. Are Matthew 24 and 1 Thessalonians so different that we should conclude that they are speaking of two different comings?
Matthew 24:30-43
30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the 1 SON OF MAN COMING ON THE 2 CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT 3 TRUMPET and THEY WILL 4 GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
32 5 Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33 so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 6 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; 7 so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
42 8 Therefore, be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 43 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house 9 had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
1 Thessalonians 4:16—5:6
16 For 1 the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the 3 trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be 4 caught up together with them in the 2 clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
5:1 5 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that 7 the day of the Lord will come just like a 9 thief in the night. 3 6 While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.
4 9 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us 8 be alert and sober.
But is this really true? I have placed matching numbers next to each similarity in order to show that there are at least nine things in common within these two passages. This numbering idea first came to me by way of Cameron Fultz’s book, “Prophecy’s Architecture,” which is available at:
http://strongtowerpublishing.com/architecture.htm
Judge for yourself. Are Matthew 24 and 1 Thessalonians so different that we should conclude that they are speaking of two different comings?
Matthew 24:30-43
30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the 1 SON OF MAN COMING ON THE 2 CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT 3 TRUMPET and THEY WILL 4 GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
32 5 Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33 so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 6 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; 7 so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
42 8 Therefore, be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 43 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house 9 had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
1 Thessalonians 4:16—5:6
16 For 1 the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the 3 trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be 4 caught up together with them in the 2 clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
5:1 5 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that 7 the day of the Lord will come just like a 9 thief in the night. 3 6 While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.
4 9 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us 8 be alert and sober.
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