Christians — After the Rapture
by Arlen Chitwood
This book is based on the things dealt with in four consecutive, interrelated parables forming part of the Olivet Discourse, as seen in Matthew’s gospel (24:40-25:30).
This discourse followed Christ cursing the fruitless fig tree (typifying fruitless Israel) and His subsequent announcement that the proffered kingdom would be taken from Israel and “given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matt. 21:19, 33-43).
Then, immediately before giving this discourse, Christ singled out the Scribes and Pharisees, dealt with them in accord with their actions, and left the house of Israel “desolate” (Matt. 23:1-39).
With the proffered kingdom taken from Israel and the house left desolate, the Jewish people would NOW have to await their Messiah “in the way of thy judgments” (Isa. 26:8; Matt. 23:38, 39; 24:4-39)
And, with a new recipient of the kingdom about to be called into existence (Acts 2:1, 2), one could ONLY expect this new entity to be dealt with in this discourse — an entity previously introduced relative to the kingdom in Matt. 13:1-35 [cf. 12:14-45]; 16:17-19; 21:43.
And, that is EXACTLY how the discourse is structured.
The first part of the discourse is given over to Israel, during and following the Tribulation, concluding with the parable of the fig tree and the days of Noah (Matt. 24:4-39). The concluding parable of the fig tree and the days of Noah (vv. 32-39) present the SAME word picture from TWO different vantage points — one parabolic, the other typical. And both present overall word pictures of that previously seen in vv. 4-31.
THEN, four consecutive parables follow, providing a complete parabolic word picture of actions surrounding this new entity about to be brought into existence to be the recipient of the proffered kingdom.
These four consecutive parables (Matt. 24:40-25:30) have to do with the new recipient of the kingdom — the one new man “in Christ” — both during and following the dispensation which was about to begin (the present dispensation). But, the emphasis in all four parables is upon events following this dispensation, following the rapture, when the actions of those comprising this new man — the actions of Christians — come under review, by Christ Himself, at His judgment seat.
And that revealed in these four parables is what this book is about.