Matthew 24:29‑30 says: >*“Immediately after the tribulation of those days… then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”* Pre‑tribulationists believe Jesus will rapture the church before the Great Tribulation. I’d like to understand how pre‑tribulation interpreters reconcile this verse with their view of Christ’s return because it seems Jesus returns after the Great Tribulation and not before.

Jesus said the gospel needs to be preached to the whole world (ends of the earth) first before the end of this age, however during the time (70-100AD) when preterists believe most of the end time prophecies were fulfilled, the gospel was not preached to the ends of the earth i.e. South America, South East Asia, Africa, North America. Our age is the age when the gospel has been preached to all corners of the world. >And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.(Mathew 24:14) How do preterists respond to this?

Do preterists interpret the generation referenced in Mathew 24:34 as a future generation or the generation Jesus was addressing during this sermon, this is because most preterists justify eschatological events as history using this verse as primary basis. >"Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.(Mathew 24:34)"

Is the "Western Wall" a part of the temple wall that Jesus said would Not have one stone left upon another and if so was he referring ahead to a later time because the chapter is about the end of the age. Therefore, Jesus may have been referring to a time yet to come when the Western Wall would have every stone no longer upon another stone?

90% of Christians believe in pre-tribulation rapture. Nevertheless in Matthew 24 verses 15 to 31 we read: *when ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place .......... let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains ......... for then shall be **great tribulation** such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be .......... immediately **after the tribulation** of those days ......... shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven .......... and he shall send his angels .......... and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other...........* Is Matthew 24 verses 15 to 31 a proof of post-tribulation rapture because if the rapture happens before **the great tribulation** who will the angels gather *from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other* **after the great tribulation**?

Jesus seemed to be focused on the destruction of Jerusalem when discussing end times. The Revelation clearly says these events would take place SOON. If we connect what Jesus said in the gospels to Revelation, it seems that the old “Adamic” creation, from Abel to Zechariah, was judged and done away with after the Resurrection. Jesus said he was the first born of the new creation. So it seems the end of the old creation culminated at the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD. Would this be an accurate interpretation of events?

**CLARIFICATION:** For those who believe there will be an event in the "end times" in which believers will be "taken up" to meet Jesus "in the clouds", and that there is yet to be a "Great Tribulation", I am curious which scriptures (primarily) are used to support the view that the rapture will happen prior to the tribulation, as opposed to after the tribulation. **REASON FOR THE QUESTION:** I am studying Matthew 24 in preparation for a sermon next Sunday, and came across the following passages (from the NASB): > "...the disciples came to Him privately, saying, 'Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age? And Jesus answered and said to them...' (from v.3-4) > > "'...they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you... At that time many will fall away...'" (from v.9-10) > > "'For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.'" (v.21) > > "'But immediately after the tribulation of those days... they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds... And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.'" (from v.29-31) Based on these passages, it sounds like the disciples asked what signs would indicate the "end of the age", and in response, Jesus described a "great tribulation" after which He would "come on the clouds" and "gather His elect". I am assuming that both "camps" (Pre-Trib. and Post-Trib.) would have an interpretation of this passage, but it got me thinking... if there was a "Rapture" before the great tribulation, why wouldn't Jesus just say something like "when you notice people disappearing, you'll know the end is here!" In other words, Jesus is answering their question, but seems to be glossing over the most obvious "sign of the end of the age", which happens before everything else (in the Pre-Trib view.) I haven't studied the Pre-Trib. vs. Post-Trib. debate extensively, and was wondering if someone could summarize the arguments from scripture in favor of the "Pre-Trib" view. (I am aware that any passage *can* be interpreted any number of ways, but I am specifically looking for the most clear and convincing passages that support this doctrine.) Thanks!

Some Christians hold that the Second Coming of Jesus is yet to come, and some hold it has already happened (certain kinds of preterism). Would holding that Jesus in the Olivet discourse (Matthew 24:30, "They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.") was prophesying an event that has already happened (say, associated with the siege of Jerusalem and destruction of the Second Temple) be considered heretical by the Catholic Church?