This passage of scripture in the Gospel of Matthew is part of the discourse Jesus had with His disciples on the Mount of Olives. He was describing to them what will take place during the 7-years reign of the Anti-Christ. This 7-years period will start after the Rapture has happened. First, let’s comment on the passage.
1) Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (Matthew 24:15).
Jesus was referring to the prophecy of Daniel (Daniel 9:27) in which the Anti-Christ will defile the Temple in Jerusalem. That Temple does not exist yet but will be built by the Jews after the Rapture.
2) For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be (Matthew 24:21).
During the first half of the 7-years, there will be relative peace in Israel. However, in the middle of the 7-years the Anti-Christ will enter the Jerusalem Temple and defile it by placing an image in the Temple, and forcing the Jews to worship it. Moreover, he will force the Jews to stop offering sacrifices in the Temple (Daniel 9:27). The Jews will not comply with his wishes which results in him launching a severe persecution against them. This period of great tribulation will last the whole second half of the 7-years period.
During this time of great tribulation, Jesus advise the Jews who live in Jerusalem to flee the city (Matthew 24:16-20).
3) And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened (Matthew 24:22).
The tribulation will be so severe that will prompt Jesus to return from heaven to Jerusalem a little bit earlier than planned. Although there will be Gentile believers (tribulation saints) during that time, the elect are Jews who have come to believe in Jesus as their Messiah. Their survival is very important to Jesus as they have to be present in Jerusalem to welcome Him back from heaven (Matthew 23:39). Their number will comprise only one-third of the current Jewish population as two-third of the population will be killed (Zechariah 13:8-9).
Jesus warn the elect to be aware of false Christs and false prophets out to deceive them during that tumultuous time (Matthew 24:23-28).
4) Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the power of the heavens will be shaken (Matthew 24:29).
These signs in the sky will be in display when Jesus returns in His second coming.
5) And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other (Matthew 24:31).
The gathering of the elect from all over the world to Jerusalem is because the Jews are scattered far and wide due to the great tribulation at that time. Jesus their Messiah has an important appointment with them when He arrives in Jerusalem.
Remarks
Here are the reasons why this passage is not a reference to the time the Rapture occurs.
The key to understanding this passage is this: there are actually two great tribulations. This one in Matthew is the great tribulation to prepare the Jews for their Messiah’s second coming.
The other great tribulation mentioned in Revelation 7:14 is to prepare the Church for the Rapture. This one occurs when the 6th Seal opens by the Lamb of God (Revelation 6:12-17; 7:9-17).
We are presently living in the time of the 5th Seal. Please refer to pages 25-36; 221 of my book End Times Scenario for further explanation. The 6th Seal will be opened soon or may already be opened [I will share more on this in future articles].
Even though they occur at different times, notice that there are some similarities surrounding the event of the two great tribulations.
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