MATTHEW 24

MARK 12, 13

LUKE 20, 21

DANIEL 9, 12

LUKE 17

In plain English

(Stuff not related to the rapture is in brown italics.)

(Stuff related to the rapture is in bold-faced blue or red, depending on importance.)

12:27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.

20:38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

(Prelude to show parallel Scriptures.) Jesus: “God is a God of the living.”

12:32a And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth:...

20:39 Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.

Scribes: “Wow, you're smart! Well-spoken/ well-said.”

12:34b ...And no man after that durst ask him any question.

20:40 And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.

Scribes meet their match & chill out.

12:35 And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?

20:41 And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son?

Jesus asks proverbial “I'm my own grandfather” type riddle!

12:36a For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,...

20:42 And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

''

12:36b ...till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

20:43 Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

''

12:37 David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

20:44 David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?

''

12:38a And he said unto them in his doctrine,...

20:45 Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,

Jesus changes the subject...

12:38b ...Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,

20:46a Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets,...

Rich and proud religious rulers...

12:39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:

20:46b ...and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;

...

12:40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

20:47 Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

Are bad apples, and are NOT on God's good side!

12:41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

21:1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

NOTE: Mark 12:41 shows a continuity of subject, even though Luke starts a new chapter. Moral of the story: a “new chapter” number does NOT necessarily mean a new subject matter!

12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

21:2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

More on the famous “widow's mite,”...

12:43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

21:3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

''

12:44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

21:4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

... the story of the poor widow who 'gave her all,' even though she was poor.

24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

13:1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!

21:5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,

Begin important subject: Prelude to Jesus discussing end-times, and as we shall see, timing of the rapture!

24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

13:2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

21:6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Jesus discussing the end-times and the destruction of the temple –and other so-called 'important' buildings of the time...

24:3a And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying...

13:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

21:7a And they asked him, saying...

17:20a And when he was demanded of the Pharisees,...

Disciples (Matt, Mark, & Luke) and Pharisees (Luke 17) queue up for Q & A time w/ Jesus...

24:3b ...Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

13:4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

21:7b ...Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

17:20b ...when the kingdom of God should come...

Q: “When will the world end?” – and:

Q: “What signs will precede it?”

24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

21:8a And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived:...

17:20c ...he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Translation: “Listen closely, kids...”

24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

21:8b ...for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

Translation: Many false Christs & false Messiahs run rampant!

24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

13:7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

...continuing...

Wars & rumours of wars precede, but still not the end, yet.

24:7a For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:...

13:8a For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:...

21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

''

24:7b ...and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

13:8b ...and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles:...

21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

Signs in nature / weather … and other scary stuff precede...

24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

13:8c ...these are the beginnings of sorrows.

Jesus is just “warming up.”

24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

13:9a But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake...

21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

:-(

...persecution...

)-:

13:9b ..., for a testimony against them.

21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

In the Court of Heaven, we will be called to testify against our persecutors...

13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

...but the end can't come until the Gospel is published to ALL the world.

13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate:

21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

Don't fret over how you will handle these persecutions...

13:11a ...but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

(-:

...God's “got your back” on this matter!

:-)

13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.

21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

Warning! – Faith in Jesus has a high price!

24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

13:13a And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake:...

21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

17:25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

Why will we suffer? Luke 17:25 says Jesus must suffer, and I Peter 2:21 says Jesus is our example in suffering

24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

Reprise: Many false Christs & Messiahs run rampant –as well as false prophets too.

24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Things are getting worse & more evil by this time...

21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

Reprise: You're protected...

24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

13:13b ...but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

...so, “hang in there baby!”

(-: :-)

21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

...and be patient...

24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Reminder: Like I said earlier, the world can't end until the Gospel is preached to ALL the world!

24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

13:14a But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,)...

21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

(Cf: 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.)

IMPORTANT: The “Abomination of Desolation” occurs in the 'middle' (midst) of the “week” of years –in other words, at approximately 3½ years in. See also Dan. 12:7, below. That's when things get REAL bad –and the beast breaks his 'covenant' with Israel.

E.g., The “Great Tribulation” is only in the 2^nd half of the week. The 1^st half of the week, to be sure, contains tribulation, but not comparably different than the tribulation God's saints have endured through the ages, so it's NOT the 'Great' Tribulation, then.

24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

13:14b ...then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

TRANSLATION: Time to GET OUT of Dodge!

(-; “Run, Forrest, run!”

;-)

24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

13:15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:

13:16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.

17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

17:31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

17:34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

17:35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

17:36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

TRANSLATION:

The Rapture!

Note, if you would, please, the timing:

The rapture, as we see it, is mid-week (see above for chronology), but Pre-Trib (as the 'great' Tribulation starts only when the covenant is broken.)

See Luke 17:30: The Son of Man is 'revealed':

This means when Jesus returns.

See also: Luke 17:31 lines up with Matthew 24:17-18 and Mark 13:15-16, to show my chronology is correct here.

Lastly:

See vv. 34—36, which show the apparent rapture.

Note: I had to move...

Matt. 24:18 and Mark 13:16

...up to the next boxes, but I can't

...delete this set of

...boxes. – Editor,

G.W. Watts

24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

13:17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

General warnings to the pregnant and cursing mothers...

24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

13:18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.

General warnings about cold weather, Sabbath-breaking.

24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

OK, this is where things get “really bad” … To all my Preterist peeps out there in “theology land,” NOTE: This has NOT come to pass, so Preterism is NOT correct! ;-) LOL

21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

Must've been important: Repeat of the warnings for the pregnant & nursing mothers.

21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

See Daniel 12:7 and 12:11 – We've still got another 3½ years or so ahead...

24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

Not sure of the details here, but it's “not good” times: So bad that God mercifully shortens the days, but that begs the question: Why?

If the elect were raptured, maybe this refers to the 'Tribulation Saints,' those saved after the rapture & during the tribulation?? Yes: Rev. 6:9-11

24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

13:21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:

17:22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.

17:23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.

Again – a reminder of false Christs, false Messiahs, etc.

24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

Reminder that even false prophets can sometimes do miraculous signs & wonders, and we must test the spirits.

24:25 Behold, I have told you before.

13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

Translation: “Listen closely, kids...”

24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

Again, for the thick-headed & dense!... Watch out for false Christs!

24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

17:24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

For those same thick-headed dolts:

Here are the real sign of Jesus' coming: ALL people will see Him return!

:-)

24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

17:37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

(Luke 17:37 answers the question about vv.34—36 regarding “Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left,” etc. See above...

24:29a Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,...

13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

21:25a And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon,...

OK, this is apparently the start of the last 3½ years, the “Great Tribulation.” BAD!! ...except, of course, the the saints were already raptured. :-)

24:29b ...and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

13:25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

21:25b ...and in the stars;...

''

21:25c ...and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

''

21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

''

24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Jesus' return WITH His saints –as opposed to the return FOR His saints, as the chronology, above, seems to show.

24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

Now, do the 'elect' here refer to the Tribulation saints? They sure can't refer to those who've already been raptured... But, since the 'elect' are gather from both earth AND heaven, this implies that some were raptured –and thus in heaven –when the angels 'gathered' them to return WITH Jesus in His triumphant return to earth.

UPDATE: I'm correct.

These are saints who are gathered from there 4 corners, subsequent to the rapture –as this timeline shows –but before the return – and are saved for refusing the mark, but pay with their lives; perhaps, these are the soul beneath the alter in Rev. 6:9-11:

Revelation 6:9-11(KJV)

9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

When these things “begin” to come to pass –hearkening to the earlier signs mentioned...

24:32a Now learn a parable of the fig tree;...

13:28a Now learn a parable of the fig tree;...

21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

Many believe modern-day Israel is the proverbial 'fig tree' so mentioned in this parable here...

24:32b ...When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

13:28b ...When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

''

24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

''

24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

[Note: see immediately below, where Matthew 24:34 picks back up with

13:30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

OK, fine, but “which” generation is Jesus referring to here? The one back in the day, or the modern-day one, which apparently will see these signs and then get raptured if they're saved?