Scholars view on the Rapture
Here are some scholars who agree that the rapture of the church is the harvest of the earth in Rev. 14:14-16, not Rev. 4 as modern day Pre-Tribbers teach!
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible 1798-1870
Matt. 24:31
They shall gather together his elect - Elect. See the notes at Mat_24:22. The word (Elect) means Christians - the chosen of God. ... This shall be done before the living shall be changed, 1Co_15:51-52; 1Th_4:16-17.
Rev. 14: 15
For the time is come for thee to reap - That is, "the harvest which thou art to reap is ripe; the seed which thou hast sown has grown up; the earth which thou hast cultivated has produced this golden grain, and it is fit that thou shouldst now gather it in." This language is appropriately addressed to the Son of God, for all the fruits of righteousness on the earth may be regarded as the result of his culture.
For the harvest of the earth is ripe - The "harvest" in reference to the righteous - fruit of the good seed sown by the Saviour and his apostles and ministers. The time alluded to here is the end of the world, when the affairs of earth shall be about to he wound up. The design is to state that the Redeemer will then gather in a great and glorious harvest, and by this assurance to sustain the hearts of his people in times of trial and persecution.
Rev 14:16
And he that sat on the cloud - The Saviour, Rev_14:14.
Thrust in his sickle on the earth - To cut down the harvest - that is, to gather his people to himself.
And the earth was reaped - So far as the righteous were concerned. The end had come; the church was redeemed; the work contemplated was accomplished; and the results of the work of the Saviour were like a glorious harvest. Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible 1798-1870
Dr. John Gill's Exposition of the entire Bible 1690-1771
1 Thess. 4:16 and with the trump of God; called "the last trump", 1Co_15:52 because none will be blown after it, and may be the same with the seventh trumpet, Rev_11:15 and here the trump of God,
Rev 14:15 - And another angel came out of the temple,.... the mighty angels who shall descend from heaven with Christ, and who shall be employed by him as reapers, to gather in his elect from the four winds, as well as to bind up the tares in bundles, and burn them; unless a set of Gospel ministers, as before, should be intended, who either by divine revelation, or by the signs of the time being come, and observed by them, will know that the harvest, or end of the world, is come; since this angel is said to come out of the temple, the church, which had been measured, and was now opened in heaven, and from whence angels are said to come, Rev_11:1
for the time is come for thee to reap; the time of the end of the world, and of the judgment of it, which is fixed by God; and of Christ's coming to judge both quick and dead, and of the first resurrection, or the resurrection of the saints:
for the harvest of the earth is ripe: the measure of the sins of wicked men will now be filled up, and the afflictions of the saints will be accomplished in them, and the number of God's elect will be completed in the effectual calling; they will be all called, and so things will be ripe for the second coming of Christ.
Rev. 14:16
...it seems best to understand it of the Lord's wheat harvest at the end of the world, when the wheat of the earth shall be reaped, and gathered into Christ's barn, or garner, or into his and his Father's kingdom; this reaping of the earth is the removing of the saints out of it, not by death, but by the resurrection of them from the dead; for when Christ shall come in the clouds of heaven, and sit on the white cloud, or throne, the dead in him will rise first, and the living saints will be changed, and both will be caught up together, to meet the Lord in the air; so that the earth will be reaped, and be clear of them, and there will be none left in it but the wicked of the world; and what will become of them is declared in the following verses, under the representation of a vintage. Dr. John Gill's Exposition of the entire Bible 1690-1771
Jamieson, Faussett and Brown Commentary
1Co 15:52 - the last trump--at the sounding of the trumpet on the last day [VATABLUS] (Mat_24:31; 1Th_4:16).
Rev 14:15 -
harvest--the harvest crop. By the harvest-reaping the elect righteous are gathered out; ... The Son of man Himself, with a golden crown, is introduced in the harvest-gathering of the elect Jamieson, Faussett and Brown Commentary
The People's New Testament (1891) by B. W. Johnson
Mat 24:31 - With a great sound of a trumpet. Compare 1Th_4:16.
1Co 15:52 - At the last trump. See 1Th_4:16.
The trumpet shall sound. This signal for the close of all earthly things. See Mat_24:31.
Rev 14:14-16 -
I looked, and behold white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of Man. Jesus has himself said that the Son of man shall be seen coming upon the clouds of heaven (Mat_24:30). John here sees the Son of Man sitting upon a white cloud. The Savior says that his coming shall be with great power and glory. John now sees upon the head of the Son of man a golden crown. The Savior says (Mat_24:31) that he will send his angels to gather the elect. John hears an angel bid him who sat upon the cloud, to reap the earth, for its harvest was ripe.
Send forth thy sickle and reap. There is gathered first the ripened harvest of the elect of God. It is an angel that came out of the temple of God as a messenger of God, carrying to the Son the Father's command to gather the elect from the four corners of the earth. Then a longing, waiting Church, "loving the appearing of the Son of man," shall first be gathered into the heavenly garner. The ripe sheaves are gathered.
The earth was reaped. The harvest of souls is ended forever. But those who are upon the earth "shall not prevent them that are asleep." At the voice of the archangel the dead shall wake from their long sleep in the embrace of earth. Death shall be swallowed up in victory. "Blessed henceforth forever are the dead who died in the Lord. Yea, saith the Spirit, they do not rest from their labors and their works do follow them." The People's New Testament (1891) by B. W. Johnson
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Mathew 24:29-31. immediately after the tribulation of those days…
The tribulation of those days includes not only the destruction of Cityplace Jerusalem, but all the other tribulations which the church must pass through;
… but when the church's tribulation is over, her warfare accomplished, and what is behind of the sufferings of Christ filled up, then look for the end.
That he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, v. 31.
Very fitly therefore shall there be the sound of a trumpet at the last day, when the general assembly shall be called, when the praises of God shall be gloriously celebrated, when sinners shall fall as sacrifices to divine justice, and when the saints shall enter upon their eternal jubilee.
[6.] That they shall gather together his elect from the four winds. Note, At the second coming of Jesus Christ, there will be a general meeting of all the saints. .... The elect only will be gathered, the chosen remnant, who are but few in comparison with the many that are only called. This is the foundation of the saints' eternal happiness, that they are God's elect. (1)
Rev 14:14-20 -
Warnings and judgments not having produced reformation, the sins of the nations are filled up, and they become ripe for judgments, represented by a harvest, an emblem which is used to signify the gathering of the righteous, when ripe for heaven, by the mercy of God. The harvest time is when the corn is ripe; when the believers are ripe for heaven, then the wheat of the earth shall be gathered into Christ's garner. And by a vintage. The enemies of Christ and his church are not destroyed, till by their sin they are ripe for ruin, and then he will spare them no longer. The wine-press is the wrath of God, some terrible calamity, probably the sword, shedding the blood of the wicked. The patience of God towards sinners, is the greatest miracle in the world; but, though lasting, it will not be everlasting; and ripeness in sin is a sure proof of judgment at hand. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
John Wesley's Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible
Rev 14:14 - In the following verses, under the emblem of an harvest and a vintage, are signified two general visitations; first, many good men are taken from the earth by the harvest; then many sinners during the vintage. The latter is altogether a penal visitation; the former seems to be altogether gracious. Here is no reference in either to the day of judgment, but to a season which cannot be far off. And I saw a white cloud - An emblem of mercy. And on the cloud sat one like a son of man - An angel in an human shape, sent by Christ, the Lord both of the vintage and of the harvest. Having a golden crown on his head - In token of his high dignity. And a sharp sickle in his hand - The sharper the welcomer to the righteous. John Wesley's Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible
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