Matthew 24:28 and the Eagles

[AKJVReader]

Matthew 24:28: "For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together." (Authorized King James Version).

Eagles eat dead things like road kill and even dead people. They are hunters, but they are also scavengers.
When carrion birds gather, it is a sign that can be seen from miles away.

Compare the verse to (Revelation 19:17-21): (an eagle is a fowl)
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

This is describing the aftermath of Armageddon.

See the verse before Matthew 24:28:
"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." (Matthew 24:27).

When the Son of man comes like lightning, his enemies will become dead bodies. And then the eagles (fowls, vultures etc) will come and eat the dead bodies.

 

[Codger]

Matthew 24:28: "For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together." (Authorized King James Version).

Eagles eat dead things like road kill and even dead people. They are hunters, but they are also scavengers. When carrion birds gather, it is a sign that can be seen from miles away.

No that is not true eagles do not eat dead things. Most translations use the word "Vulture" which is correct. It can mean either.

Compare the verse to (Revelation 19:17-21): (an eagle is a fowl)
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

This is describing the aftermath of Armageddon.

Don't think so. This is describing in pictorial and symbolic language the destruction of Rome and its armies because that is who the book was written to - the Christians who lived under the heels of Rome. This was in a time frame of 93AD - when Domitian began killing Christians - until the empire (symbolically called Babylon was destroyed) somewhere around 410 to 476AD.

"That being said, the "Fall of Rome" is normally either dated to the Sack of Rome by Alaric the Goth on August 24th A.D. 410, or the resignation of the last Roman Emperor of the Western Empire, Romulus Agustus, on September 4th, A.D. 476."

See the verse before Matthew 24:28:
"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." (Matthew 24:27).

Luke corrects this error in translation.

Luke 17:24 (KJV)
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.

No east to west here.

Since when does the lightning shine from east to west? About all storms originate in the west. But the rays of the morning sun flash over the mountaintops at sunrise [east to west]. Lightning can also be a bright light - the sun. Lightning is seen for just a few miles, but the morning rays of the sun are seen all over the world. However, I will accept Luke's version of the event.

When the Son of man comes like lightning, his enemies will become dead bodies. And then the eagles (fowls, vultures etc) will come and eat the dead bodies.

Rome is destroyed completely.

 

[AKJVReader]

When the Son of man comes like lightning, his enemies will become dead bodies. And then the eagles (fowls, vultures etc) will come and eat the dead bodies.

Rome is destroyed completely.

It says: "When the Son of man comes" this must mean Jesus as no other name exists here.

No that is not true eagles do not eat dead things.

Eagles do eat dead things! And if they are vultures here they are similar to eagles anyway.

Luke 17:24 (KJV)
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.

This does not contradict Matthew 24:27 at all. Matthew 24:27 is not an error in translation.

 

[Elijah674]

It says: "When the Son of man comes" this must mean Jesus as no other name exists here.



Eagles do eat dead things! And if they are vultures here they are similar to eagles anyway.



This does not contradict Matthew 24:27 at all. Matthew 24:27 is not an error in translation.

Good post. But the eagles (vultures) will not live as 'i' see it past the Second coming of Christ. (that to me is just an metapore)

And you did mean verse 28?

--Elijah

 

[Mike]

I'd like to help this along instead of moving another thread to A&T. Since this is the Bible Study Forum, let's not make statements that another person is wrong. Instead, let's take the time to suggest what we are seeing differently and offer our interpretation as our "perspective" rather than "the correct one".

Thank you, Elijah, for holding to this approach. As with any Bible study, we move forward by helping each other to "see"; not dismissing them.

I'm trying to encourage positive discussion, so be encouraged.

Oh, and be blessed.

 

[Sam21]

Matt 24:28 is just a simple statement that Jesus made to explain that where ever a believer was that the angels would find them and gather them at the gathering of the believers when Christ returns. In the natural it is amazing how quickly a vulture will find a dead body. The point Jesus was making that at the return of Christ we are not to go looking for Him because wheresoever we are the angels will find us.

 

[Codger]

It says: "When the Son of man comes" this must mean Jesus as no other name exists here.

No question about that.

Eagles do eat dead things! And if they are vultures here they are similar to eagles anyway.

You better google that I did - I checked my information before posting.

This does not contradict Matthew 24:27 at all. Matthew 24:27 is not an error in translation.

Probably an error in perception. Why do you think God gave us four Gospels all of Eyewitness. Well - except Luke who never knew Jesus, but rather Luke wrote Peter's memoirs. Like I say - Luke sreightens out the problem with Matthew. No problem there.

 

[warhorse]

Matthew 24:28: "For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together." (Authorized King James Version).

Eagles eat dead things like road kill and even dead people. They are hunters, but they are also scavengers.
When carrion birds gather, it is a sign that can be seen from miles away.

Compare the verse to (Revelation 19:17-21): (an eagle is a fowl)
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

This is describing the aftermath of Armageddon.

See the verse before Matthew 24:28:
"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." (Matthew 24:27).

When the Son of man comes like lightning, his enemies will become dead bodies. And then the eagles (fowls, vultures etc) will come and eat the dead bodies.

Yes and this is also the wedding feast...

 

[Sam21]

Yes and this is also the wedding feast...

Luke 17:34-37 is speaking of the same thing as Matt 24:28 two men shall be in the field, the one shall be taken and the other left and they answered and said unto Him, WHERE Lord, and He said unto them,wheresoever the body is there will the eagles be gathered together...this place in scripture is simply saying that where ever we may be that Christ will send the angles to find us at His return. The bodies are the saints and the eagles finding them are the angels. Sigh!

 

[reba]

Luke 17:34-37 is speaking of the same thing as Matt 24:28 two men shall be in the field, the one shall be taken and the other left and they answered and said unto Him, WHERE Lord, and He said unto them,wheresoever the body is there will the eagles be gathered together...this place in scripture is simply saying that where ever we may be that Christ will send the angles to find us at His return. The bodies are the saints and the eagles finding them are the angels. Sigh!

Sam, are you being sarcastic ? If not how do you get angels from eagles?

 

[AKJVReader]

Instead, let's take the time to suggest what we are seeing differently and offer our interpretation as our "perspective" rather than "the correct one".

Mike, i thought that you could give us your opinion, do you agree with the posts i posted above?

I'm trying to encourage positive discussion, so be encouraged.

The discussion was positive until you said it wasn't, it was just that i stated that eagles eat dead things and someone else didn't think they did.

 

[warhorse]

Luke 17:34-37 is speaking of the same thing as Matt 24:28 two men shall be in the field, the one shall be taken and the other left and they answered and said unto Him, WHERE Lord, and He said unto them,wheresoever the body is there will the eagles be gathered together...this place in scripture is simply saying that where ever we may be that Christ will send the angles to find us at His return. The bodies are the saints and the eagles finding them are the angels. Sigh!

With respect, i disagree.

 

[Sinthesis]

Several of these gathered around Jerusalem in 70AD.

Just saying...

 

[Hitch]

There ya go being realistic again....

 

[sdktlk]

[FONT=Georgia, serif]In the Lord's discourse in Matthew 24 He covers many things, inclusive of what He terms "great [/FONT] [FONT=Georgia, serif]tribulation." He also speaks and says,[/FONT] "For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be [FONT=Georgia, serif]gathered together[/FONT]." (Mat 24:28)

[FONT=Georgia, serif]Carcase - G4430 ptōma From the alternate of G4098; a ruin, that is, (specifically) lifeless body[/FONT] [FONT=Georgia, serif]([/FONT]corpse, carrion): - dead body, carcase, corpse.

[FONT=Georgia, serif]With the Lord pointing out a dead body here then the more appropriate word would be vulture[/FONT] [FONT=Georgia, serif]rather and eagle. As has been pointed out G105 [/FONT]aetos can be interpreted either vulture or eagle.

[FONT=Georgia, serif]The Lord's discourse in Luke 17, though He again covers many things, He does not make mention of [/FONT] [FONT=Georgia, serif]"great tribulation."[/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia, serif]In His words to the disciples in Luke He begins to speak of a "gathering" also, as He says, "I tell you, in that night there shall be two in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 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."(Luk 17:34)[/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia, serif]Body - G4983 sōma From G4982; the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively: - bodily, body, slave.[/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia, serif]With the Lord here speaking of, not a carcase, but a body, as a sound whole, the word eagle would be the most appropriate.[/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia, serif]We would note that that the disciples ask the Lord where these persons who are being gathered would be taken and He said, "Wheresoever the body (as a sound whole) is, thither will the eagles (those persons who are being gathered) be gathered together."[/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia, serif]In Matthew the Lord Jesus makes reference to a "dead body" and says that those ones (vultures) that feed on dead flesh will be gathered together there.[/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia, serif]In Luke He says that the ones taken (eagles) will be brought together into a "living body" as a sound [/FONT] [FONT=Georgia, serif]whole[/FONT].

 

[Sam21]

No offense meant to anyone, but this is one of the most simple clear descriptions of something in the bible, for crying out loud folks, Jesus was just telling the disciples that where ever a saint was that they would be found and gathered(Jesus said that the angels did the gathering). Remember that in that time in order to find Jesus you HAD TO GO somewhere, Jesus was emphatic that at his second coming that no one was to go anywhere because He would come through the sky like lightening and send the angels to gather the saints. Jesus point was not to go looking for Him because He would find them,"where ever the bodies, the vultures or eagels will be gathered". Where ever the saints were the angels would find them. Jesus constantly used natural things to explain spiritual things, remember the parable about the yeast and the disciples thought he was speaking of bread? Jesus said to them(in my words) IT IS NOT ABOUT BREAD. In this case it is not about eagles or vultures finding bodies(sigh)it is about the angels of God finding the saints at the return of Christ...context,context,context! Just read what Jesus was speaking of and why the disciples said WHERE LORD?

 

[sdktlk]

[FONT=Georgia, serif]In the Lord's discourse in Matthew 24 He covers many things, inclusive of what He terms "great [/FONT] [FONT=Georgia, serif]tribulation." He also speaks and says,[/FONT] "For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be [FONT=Georgia, serif]gathered together[/FONT]." (Mat 24:28)

[FONT=Georgia, serif]Carcase - G4430 ptōma From the alternate of G4098; a ruin, that is, (specifically) lifeless body[/FONT] [FONT=Georgia, serif]([/FONT]corpse, carrion): - dead body, carcase, corpse.

[FONT=Georgia, serif]With the Lord pointing out a dead body here then the more appropriate word would be vulture[/FONT] [FONT=Georgia, serif]rather and eagle. As has been pointed out G105 [/FONT]aetos can be interpreted either vulture or eagle.

[FONT=Georgia, serif]The Lord's discourse in Luke 17, though He again covers many things, He does not make mention of [/FONT] [FONT=Georgia, serif]"great tribulation."[/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia, serif]In His words to the disciples in Luke He begins to speak of a "gathering" also, as He says, "I tell you, in that night there shall be two in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 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."(Luk 17:34)[/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia, serif]Body - G4983 sōma From G4982; the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively: - bodily, body, slave.[/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia, serif]With the Lord here speaking of, not a carcase, but a body, as a sound whole, the word eagle would be the most appropriate.[/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia, serif]We would note that that the disciples ask the Lord where these persons who are being gathered would be taken and He said, "Wheresoever the body (as a sound whole) is, thither will the eagles (those persons who are being gathered) be gathered together."[/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia, serif]In Matthew the Lord Jesus makes reference to a "dead body" and says that those ones (vultures) that feed on dead flesh will be gathered together there.[/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia, serif]In Luke He says that the ones taken (eagles) will be brought together into a "living body" as a sound [/FONT] [FONT=Georgia, serif]whole[/FONT].

Just paying it forward. ;)