Mat.24:31 rapture to heaven, or a gathering into Christ's earthly kingdom?

[Antonio]

Many teach that the coming of Christ in Mat. 24 to gather his elect is His descent to the earth to establish God's Kingdom, rather than a descent to the sphere of the clouds to gather the elect and bring them to heaven.

...and they shall gather his elect from (out of Gr.1537) the four winds (the four corners of the earth, the earthy sphere) from (away from Gr.575) one end of the heavens to (unto Gr.2193) the other.

When we turn to Mark 13:27 we shall get more insight into this passage.

shall gather his elect from (out of Gr.1537) the four winds (earthy sphere) away from (Gr.2193) the one end of earth unto (Gr.2193) the end of the Heaven (sing).

The one end of the heavens in Matthew is explained in Mark as being the one end of the earth. The unto the other (end of the heavens) in Matthew is explained in Mark as, "the" Heaven, the abode of GOD, that the great multitude which came out of (Gr.1537) the tribulation were delivered unto (Rev.7:14; Mt.24:13,22,29-31).

After the day of the Lord's judgments, the Lord will indeed return to establish His kingdom, but before this, the elect will be saved from the persecutions of the tribulation and delivered from the wrath of God that is to come upon the earth.

Is the Greek here saying that the elect will be gathered out of the earth (the four winds) away from one end of the heavens (the earthly sphere), unto (delivered unto) the other (the heaven, the abode of God), which is in accord with the three-tiered universe of (ANE) cosmology?

 

[for_his_glory]

All the bold speaks for itself as being the last day.

The Coming of the Son of Man
Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 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.
Mat 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.

John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
John 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

1Cor 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Cor 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Cor 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

 

[n2thelight]

Many teach that the coming of Christ in Mat. 24 to gather his elect is His descent to the earth to establish God's Kingdom, rather than a descent to the sphere of the clouds to gather the elect and bring them to heaven.
When we turn to Mark 13:27 we shall get more insight into this passage.
The one end of the heavens in Matthew is explained in Mark as being the one end of the earth. The unto the other (end of the heavens) in Matthew is explained in Mark as, "the" Heaven, the abode of GOD, that the great multitude which came out of (Gr.1537) the tribulation were delivered unto (Rev.7:14; Mt.24:13,22,29-31).
After the day of the Lord's judgments, the Lord will indeed return to establish His kingdom, but before this, the elect will be saved from the persecutions of the tribulation and delivered from the wrath of God that is to come upon the earth.
Is the Greek here saying that the elect will be gathered out of the earth (the four winds) away from one end of the heavens (the earthly sphere), unto (delivered unto) the other (the heaven, the abode of God), which is in accord with the three-tiered universe of (ANE) cosmology?

 

[Charlie24]

Many teach that the coming of Christ in Mat. 24 to gather his elect is His descent to the earth to establish God's Kingdom, rather than a descent to the sphere of the clouds to gather the elect and bring them to heaven.


When we turn to Mark 13:27 we shall get more insight into this passage.


The one end of the heavens in Matthew is explained in Mark as being the one end of the earth. The unto the other (end of the heavens) in Matthew is explained in Mark as, "the" Heaven, the abode of GOD, that the great multitude which came out of (Gr.1537) the tribulation were delivered unto (Rev.7:14; Mt.24:13,22,29-31).

After the day of the Lord's judgments, the Lord will indeed return to establish His kingdom, but before this, the elect will be saved from the persecutions of the tribulation and delivered from the wrath of God that is to come upon the earth.

Is the Greek here saying that the elect will be gathered out of the earth (the four winds) away from one end of the heavens (the earthly sphere), unto (delivered unto) the other (the heaven, the abode of God), which is in accord with the three-tiered universe of (ANE) cosmology?

I won't argue over this, as it's a fruitless endeavor. Just want to show you what many of us have taken from Matt.24.

Matthew 24 is directed to Israel, it is what befalls them as the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation is explained by Christ.

The "elect" in Matt. 24:31 are Israel.

Isaiah 45:4
“For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.”

Israel is God's elect in that He chose Israel above all nations, gave them the Law of Moses in preparation for the Coming Messiah. All given to Israel for them to evangelize the world to Christ, But they failed in this calling and God turned to the Church for the evangelizing.

Paul tells us that God's calling of Israel is not subject to change, but that calling will be fulfilled.

Rom. 11:28-31
"As concerning the gospel, they (Israel) are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.

For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

"For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

Even so have these (Israel) also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy."

Isaiah 14:1
“For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.”

The main purpose of the Great Tribulation is to bring Israel to Christ. The rest of the world will be indirectly effected by this, but the focus of God is the salvation of Israel. Paul said that all of Israel will be saved.

Rom. 11:26-27
"And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins"

Matt. 24, as Christ reveals, is the beginning of bringing Israel to Himself.