Is the Current Pandemic a Sign of the Times? (Part Three)

They say that eschatology (the study of future things) is not "practical" or "profitable". I beg to differ (strongly)! After explaining the proper order of coming future things in 1 Thessalonians 4-5 Paul exhorts us to put on "as a helmet the hope of salvation" (1 Thess. 5:8). Paul is not talking about the hope of salvation from the penalty of sin because all believers already have this. Paul went on to say in verse 9, "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ". In context Paul is thinking about the Day of the Lord judgment just addressed previously in the chapter. Our HOPE of salvation (deliverance) in this context is from the time of wrath that is to come upon the world in the Day of the Lord judgment. The helmet is a picture of protection for the MIND. Knowing the proper order of future things is a stabilizing and strengthening reality in the mind and heart of believers. "FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS!"

The proper order of future things is this:

Rapture of the Church
7-year Tribulation Period
Second Coming
Kingdom

The "last days" in reference to the Church Age is distinct from the "last days" in reference to Israel. The last days of the Church Age has no specific timeline markers other than the GENERAL trend of growing apostasy. In contrast the last days in relation to Israel (the 7-year Tribulation) has very specific timeline markers.

Matthew 24-25 is known as "The Olivet Discourse". It is essentially Christ's prophetic discourse. This discourse is the seedbed for the key prophetic themes developed in the rest of the New Testament. Everything in terms of the prophetic future builds on this portion of Scripture as given by Jesus. In my view both the Rapture and the Second Coming are grounded in this passage.

The key MARKER to properly understanding Matthew 24 is found in verse 36. There we have a most important transitional phrase as found in the Greek phrase “peri de”. Note that Paul used this exact transitional phrase in 1 Thess. 5:1 in transitioning from the Rapture in 1 Thess. 4 to dealing with the Day of the Lord in 1 Thess. 5. Consistently when this phrase is used it denotes a transition from one subject to another – albeit often a related subject.

"Peri de is a frequent device for introducing a change from one subject to another phase of the same subject or from one subject to another." – (Robert Thomas, Imminence in the NT – p. 193-94)

This major transitional marker ("peri de") signals that the “coming” mentioned in Matthew 24:37 is a different phase of Christ’s coming (i.e., the pretribulation rapture) than that which is referenced in Matthew 24:27-31 (i.e., the second coming). The special term for Christ’s “coming” is the Greek word “parousia”. It simply means “presence”. It is found four times in Matthew 24 (v. 3, 27, 37, 39). It is used in reference to the Second Coming in verses 3 and 27 and in reference to the Rapture in verses 37 and 39. However, note the distinctive transition “peri de” as found in verse 36. The NKJV and the NASB both translate this phrase as “But of” and the HCSB translates it as "Now concerning".

Matthew 24:4-35 deals with Day of the Lord events that climax in the Second Coming. These events relate to the fulfillment of the 70th week of Daniel as seen in the fact that Jesus connects them with Daniel’s prophecy in Matt. 24:15. Israel is the central player in this context. The entire section of Matthew 24:4-35 deals with observable signs and by them how one will be able to KNOW the nearness of Christ’s Second Coming.

v. 15 “when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel”
v. 21 “then there will be great tribulation, such has not been”
v. 32 “…puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.”
v. 33 “when you see all these things, know that it is near – at the doors!”

Within the context of the Day of the Lord (also known as the 70th week of Daniel) there will be all kinds of SIGNS indicating the nearness of the Lord’s return. It will not be hidden. These clear signs will make the Second Coming very predictable.

However, the time leading up to the Day of the Lord (where we live in the Church Age) has NO SIGNS. This period prior to the day of the Lord will culminate in the aspect of Christ’s coming (the rapture) which comes as a thief in the night. This aspect of Christ’s coming has no forewarning or signs. It takes the world by total surprise.

v. 36 “But of [peri de] that day and hour no one knows…”
v. 39 “and did not know until…so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
v. 42 “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”
v. 43 “if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come”
v. 44 “be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Break down of Matthew 24.

*Matthew 24:4-35 – Deals with sign-events related to the Tribulation Period climaxing in the Second Coming.

*Matthew 24:36 TRANSITIONAL MARKER [peri de]

*Matthew 24:36-51 Deals with the “life as normal” period leading up to the surprise coming of the Rapture that ushers in the Day of the Lord.

"The pretribulation rapture is the best exegetical and theological interpretation of Matthew 24:36-44. Other rapture theories do not do justice to the transitional nature of verse 36, to the nature of the Noah illustration, or the imminence resident in the passage as illustrated in the thief imagery and the very “to be alert” (gregoreo). It should be acknowledged that Jesus was the originator of the pretribulation rapture teaching (both in the Olivet Discourse and John 14:1-3), and that Paul, Peter, and John were dependent upon the Discourse for much of their teaching about the rapture." – (John F. Hart, Evidence for the Rapture – p. 65)

The current pandemic is not a "sign of the times" because Christ's whole point is that what characterizes the time leading up to the Rapture is NO SIGNS! If there is any "sign" leading up to the Rapture it is that life continues on as normal with no thought for God. Hence the scoffers say, "Where is the promise of His coming?" (2 Pet. 3:4). Only God knows the outcome of this present crisis in terms of world affairs, but I don't believe it is a SPECIFIC END TIMES SIGN. Rather, I see the Bible predicting a time as in the days of Noah when people are eating, drinking, marrying, and given in marriage UNTIL judgment came crashing down (cf. Lk. 17:27). I see life returning to "normal" as in the days of Lot when the people ate, drank, bought, sold, planted, and built UNTIL the day it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all (cf. Lk. 17:28-29).

The "pre-rapture signs" (better trends) are growing apostasy and "life as normal" with no thought for God. I expect the present crisis to pass and the world to return to the TRENDS Jesus predicted that will result in the Day of the Lord judgment taking the world by total SURPRISE as a thief in the night. But I also believe that the "trigger" for the last day's judgment is the RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH!

Maranatha (Our Lord Comes!). Perhaps Today! Live Ready!

Luke 21:34–36 (NKJV)
34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.
35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”