PARABLE of TALENTS: Proof Jesus mentioned the Rapture, not His Second Coming in Matthew 24

Many Bible scholars and prophecy teachers believe the rapture is not found anywhere in Matthew 24, and that Matthew 24 was only meant for the Jews and/or Israel.  They believe the appearing of the sign of the Son of Man  and the gathering together of His elect is His physical return or second coming to the earth instead.  If you have read my book or my blog post, “The Readiness Rapture,” you know I have already proved with scripture that Christ told us about both events, the rapture and the second coming.  If that isn’t enough, you may want to know that He also gave us more proof in the parable of talents, which is a summery of both events, found in the conclusion of His answer to His disciple’s question, about the sign of His coming and the end of the age. 

Matthew 24:3 –As He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?
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As I stated in my book, it’s important to read both, chapters 24 & 25 to understand His complete answer to His disciple’s question about the sign of His coming and the end of the age.  The sign of the Son of Man appearing is the rapture, when He sends His angels to gather together His elect from the four winds (north, east, south & west).  Then in chapter 25 He spoke two more parables.  In fact, the Parable of Talents is the only parable in this series that mentions His second coming, when He returns for the judgment of the nations.  All of the other parables He mentioned before the parable of talents relate to the sign of His coming and being ready, which contain several clues about the Judgment Seat of Christ, with the only exception being the parable of the fig tree, which provides a general time frame as for when this event will occur.
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Matthew 24:30-31 –Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then 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. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
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Again, we must read both chapters to see and understand the big picture.  One important aspect I discovered after studying both chapters, is that verse #31 is key in both of them.
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Matthew 24:31 = Rapture / Gathering of His elect / End of the times of the Gentiles
Matthew 25:31 = Second Coming / Judgment of the nations / Armageddon / End of the age
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Notice also, these are clearly two separate events/judgments as highlighted in the passage below.
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2 Timothy 4:1 –I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
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So now that we have established that these are two separate judgments, the Judgment Seat of Christ must occur before the judgment of the nations, which is precisely how Christ laid them out when He answered His disciple’s question, which is also in accordance with scripture.
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2 Peter 4:17-18 –For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God, and if it begins first with us, what shall the end be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
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I believe this is undeniable proof that Jesus told us about the rapture, even though, there was no such thing up until that time.  Some believers don’t believe in the rapture still today, simply because the word “rapture” is not found in God’s Word; but neither is the word “trinity” found in God’s Word, yet we don’t deny God in three persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Yes it’s true that neither Christ nor Paul called this event the rapture, because there simply wasn’t a simple term then to describe this previously unknown future event. So they each said a phase that described it instead (Matt. 24:30-31 and 1 Thes. 4:16-17). This glorious future event is now very well known as we eagerly wait for its fulfillment, and today we simply call it the rapture to keep it short and simple.  Now I’m going to post the parable of talents in its entirety.  Then I will add my interpretation, commentary and break it all down.
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The Parable of Talents:
Matthew 25:14 – “
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”
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MY INTERPRETATION:
(1) Man traveling into a far country (vs. 14) = Christ ascending back to heaven
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(2) The servant given 5 talents doubled them (vs. 16) = Great producing servant / will rule over many things / enters the joy of the Lord (vs. 20-21)
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(3) Servant given 2 talents also doubled them (vs. 17) = Small producing servant / will also rule over many things / enters the joy of the Lord (vs.22-23)
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(4) Servant given 1 talent buried it (vs. 24-30) = Not ready / lukewarm = suffers loss / had talent taken away / is cast into outer darkness / least of Christ’s brethren / will be left to go thru hour of trial / will be martyred
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(5) Entering the joy of the Lord (vs. 21 & 23) = Rapture / wedding supper of the Lord
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(6) Servant cast into outer darkness = Left with the unbelievers in this dark world / lukewarm / spit out of Jesus mouth / foolish virgin
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(7) Sheep on His right = believers who fall away before the gathering of His elect / tribulation survivor / ministered to least of Jesus brothers (martyrs) / mortal during the millennium and will be ruled over by Christ and His returning saints
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(8) Goats on His left = unbelievers / everlasting punishment / did not minister to the least of His brethren (martyrs) / will be killed during Armageddon / cast into lake of fire / the previously dead unbelievers will be judged 1000 years later at the Great White Throne Judgment
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(9) Least of these my brethren = buried talent in the earth = lukewarm = suffers loss = one in the field who was left = foolish virgin / enters hour of temptation (martyr) = saints who will be overcome (killed) by the beast
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(10) Kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world = millennial kingdom when the sheep will be ruled over by Christ and His returning saints
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Here’s something else that is very interesting.  Notice that Jesus left as a (Man) going on a long journey (vs. 14), but when He appeared He was their (Lord – vs. 19), and when He returned to judge the nations He was the (King – vs. 34)…Ascension/Rapture/Second coming.  It’s often said, a  picture paints a thousand words, but nothing compares to Jesus’ word pictures.
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The parable of talents gives us a summery of the entire age of grace.  This final parable is the only parable Christ used to answer the last part of His disciple’s question about the end of the age.  All of the previous parables before it provide hidden clues about the (sign) of His coming, the gathering of His elect (rapture) and/or the Judgment Seat of Christ.  Then in the final parable in this series, the Lord of those servants first returns to reward His faithful servants before He returns with His angels to judge the nations.  The gathering of His elect can only be the rapture, not the second coming or judgment of the nations.  In the end (Matt. 25:31) the Lord returns with His angels to judge the nations.  His servants will be returning with Him then and they will be like the angels (Matt. 22:30, Mark 12:25).
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Jesus laid it all out so beautifully.  He told us about both events.  The rapture and His second coming are easily seen, if we will only read both chapters.  Unlike the other rapture theories that have holes that are filled with assumptions and misconceptions, the Readiness Rapture theory fills those holes by applying more scripture.  Lets take a brief look at some of these holes.
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One common misconception is the so-called seven year tribulation.  It’s not biblical.  Yes, Daniel’s 70th week is a period of seven years, no problem there.  However, the great tribulation only lasts 42 months, 1260 days, and/or a time, times and a half time (3 1/2 yrs.).  This time of tribulation only begins after the abomination of desolation, which is the mid-point of Daniel’s 70th week.  Jesus called the time before the abomination of desolation the time of sorrows or birth pains.
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Modern scholars have divided up this so-called seven year tribulation so that they could pinpoint their prediction of when they believe the rapture will occur.  This is where they began adding the prefixes (pre-, mid- & post-) to the word tribulation, in order to support their different rapture theories.  They say the first half of Daniel’s 70th week is the tribulation, and the second half is the great tribulation.  Why not just take Jesus at His word?  Jesus mentioned both tribulation and great tribulation as one and the same, and both mentions come after the abomination of desolation (Matt. 24:15, 21 & 29).
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Another misconception is that the so-called seven year tribulation is God’s wrath.  Many try to use this as another way to prove Christians will be raptured before the tribulation or before anything bad happens.  However, the great tribulation is not God’s wrath.  God’s Word tells us that this is Satan’s wrath and that he will be angry because he’ll know that his time is short.  Revelation chapter 12  mentions the 1260 days and that it is Satan’s wrath.
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Revelation 12:12 – “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe unto the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short.
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Then when you ask them who are the saints that are overcome by the beast in Rev. 13, they say these are the Christians who will get saved after the rapture.  This assumption is not supported by scripture either.  Scripture says today is the day of salvation.  The righteous shall live by faith, not by sight.  Once the Son of Man appears and sends His angels to gather His elect, it’s game over for unbelievers from that point on.  That will also be the end of the times of the Gentiles (Romans 11:25), and then God will save (protect) the nation of Israel.  The saints being killed after the rapture are the lukewarm that Jesus spits out of His mouth, for they won’t be ready and will need to be purified (Dan. 11:35, Rev. 6:9-11, 13:7, 14:13, 20:4).  The lukewarm are also the foolish virgins in another parable, and are the slothful or unprofitable servant in the parable of talents.
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Quick Review of the Rewards for Cold, Hot & Lukewarm Servants:
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So the hot (ready) will be taken, the lukewarm (not ready) will be left at the gathering of His elect (rapture).  This only leaves the cold, and if you remember, they will fall away before He comes, and the cold will be His sheep during the judgment of the nations (second coming).  They are called sheep because they received Him once upon a time, so they still belong to Him.  They may be weak in faith, but He is strong to save them, and He must also keep His promise to save all who call on His name.  Unlike the lukewarm who will be killed (martyred) during the hour of trial (Rev. 3:10), the cold will have to remain all the way through the second coming and even God’s wrath, as these will be the men who will want to die, but death will flee from them (Rev. 9:6).  They will be protected, just as God will protect the remnant of Israel, and both will re-populate the earth during the millennial kingdom.  But the goats (unbelievers) who hate God and never believed will be killed (Armageddon).  The unbelievers who died before Christ returns will be judged at the second resurrection (great white throne judgment) after the millennium.
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So there it is, the Judgment Seat of Christ (rapture), followed by the Judgment of the nations or the rest of the world (second coming).  It may never be popular, but there are no holes in the Readiness Rapture theory.  Noah’s message wasn’t well received either, but we all know that judgment is coming again, soon and very soon.  I hope He finds you ready when He suddenly appears.

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Thank you for visiting my blog.  Feel free to share this with friends and your comments are welcome below as well.  My mission is to prepare as many as possible for the soon return of our Lord and Savior.  To God be the glory.

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