Ah the famous Matthew 24, the most famous chapter of eschatology that is usually completely mis-interpreted. The chapter where Jesus is speaking to those in Israel when the Tribulation starts from verses 4-35. Then he switches over and talks to the church from verses 36-51. People get all turned around because they think that some versus apply to them when they really don't. The key to decode the first 35 verses is to really understand the first 5 seals of Revelation. Then put yourself in Israel at the time the first seal is opened. Understand what is happening from the four horsemen as it relates to you living securely in your land. It's a perfect overlay. Otherwise you get really confused about your role and where you are during the Tribulation. The clues are many: 1) What people group rejected Jesus when he came the first time? What people group are still looking for their Messiah? (first horseman) 2) What people group will not be part of WW3? Because they are under a 7 year peace treaty (ironically from the person they think is their Messiah). Second horseman. 3) What people group are not affected by the inflation or the world wide famine? Third and fourth horsemen. 4) Here is the real trick for the 5th seal. What people group is raised up to go out and preach the gospel to all the world once the Tribulation begins? It's a very trick question. You really have to study Revelation well. Or you can just assume it's the same group as the preceding questions. Then you get to verse 15 and you have even more obvious clues: 5) Abomination of Desolation spoken of in Daniel. This is definitely a book that was speaking to the people group from the old testament. 6) He tells those who are living in Judea (not Switzerland) to flee. 7) He tells them to pray that it is not on the Sabbath, because everything shuts down in Israel on that day. Which would make escaping the Anti-Christ much more difficult. 8) Again he warns them not to fall for people who call themselves the Messiah. 9) Then the crowning verse 30- Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will rejoice when they finally see the King come back! All of us will be over-joyed at the fact that we made it through and now we are saved. Wait, it doesn't say that. Read it again. "And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds." That doesn't sound like a bunch joyful Christians finally relieved to see their King. That sounds more like a people group who rejected the Messiah when he first came and now they are fulfilling Zech 12:10-14 when they finally have their eyes open and realize that Christ is their savior. So I wonder where all the Christians are if, they are not part of this passage. Go read verses 36-51 and you will see what happens to us.

@Sean C the pre tribulation raputure is nothing more than a small percentage opinion of Western christanity. It doesn't even date back that far. And you must have missed the part where I said Christ's return would be both terrible and great. I never said it would be all sunshine and lollipops. Revelation states that Christ robe will be covered in blood. The tribulation will be a time of terrible suffering for all of us. But there is much more to Revelation than the Anti-Christ and the seals. There are also the thrumpets and bowls. Those are clearly Gods judgments on man and the earth. But they all escalate. This implies God still giving man a chance to repent and turn back to him. Yes, Christ is the cloud rider, and the Jewish people will recognize him. But that implies Christ will likely initially come in the form they will know. So, it is not likely he will initially appear in human form. More likely, Christ will come as a pillar of fire or a collum of smoke. A form all jews would recognize from the Old Testament. But that is my speculation. Anyhow, getting back to my point. We are supposed to look forward to the return of Christ. It is God who grants the anti-christ a temporary crown. Revelation is Exodus on a much, much BIGGER scale. God loves all his children, even the most sinful, and thus, with Revelation, he is giving them all one last chance before wiping evil from the world. That's why all the judgments continue to escalate instead of God just getting rid of all evil suddenly. I have no doubt that you are a very well studied and intelligent man. But if you read Revelation and your focus is all on the negative and not the return of christ, which is literally what "Revelation" means, the revealing. Then you're reading the book wrong. There was never a promise to avoid pain and suffering for Christ followers in this world. It was almost always the opposite, in fact. I just don't want to see you or others lose your faith when you're not Raptured. Have a great night.