Related to Matt. 24:33-34, John MacArthur writes the following statement:
“… there is the total absense of New Testament instruction to the church as to how it should endure and conduct itself during the Tribulation.” (Matthew 24-28, TMNTC, 65).
Yes, he actually writes those words. I kid you not.
One wonders how MacArthur can overlook the vast amount of texts that are written to the Church in regards to enduring and being faithful to Jesus. How can the author of The Gospel According to Jesus suggest that the NT doesn’t instruct the church to persevere?!?! Defenders of MacArthur’s position will be quick to point out that the key word is the definite article “the” in his statement. They will suggest that MacArthur is talking about specific texts about the eschatological “Great Tribulation” that Scripture speaks of (cf. Matt. 24:21; Rev. 7:14).
I find that assertion ridiculous. Any and every text that commands Christians to endure is applicable in any and all situations. And trust me, there are many texts that suggest that type of faithfulness (cf. 1 Cor. 10:13; 2 Cor. 1:6; Eph. 6:18; 2 Tim. 2:12; Heb. 10:36). Furthermore, I would argue that within the Olivet Discourse there actually is an instruction to the church about enduring throughout the eschatological tribulation:
“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matt. 24:13)
Are we to believe that the statements that Jesus makes in the surrounding context of Matt. 24:33-34 aren’t relative to the points Jesus was making? Really?
I’m left shaking my head here…
Luke is a pastor-theologian living in northern California, serving as a co-lead pastor with his life, Dawn, at the Red Bluff Vineyard. Father of five amazing kids, when Luke isn’t hanging with his family, reading or writing theology, he moonlights as a fly fishing guide for Confluence Outfitters. He blogs regularly at LukeGeraty.com and regularly contributes to his YouTube channel.
nothing about in Revelation where is says “this calls for the patient endurance of the saints”…. ?? this guy is getting as bad as Pat. lol
To be fair to MacArthur (and that is getting harder and harder for me as time goes by), he is talking about after the RAPTURE, and he truly believes there will not be any Christians on earth during the Great Tribulation. He DOES believe in endurance and perseverance… but this sentence uses “rapture” and his theology doesn’t allow for Christians being around in the Great Tribulation period.
I know you argue it doesn’t wash, and I’m not trying to make it fit. There’s just a key word used and not knowing ALL the context, “rapture” is just a key word for a guy like that.
Daniel, although I don’t have the commentary in front of me at the moment (it’s in my newly organized office library!!!), I don’t think the word “rapture” appears in the sentence. I’ll have to double check.
I totally agree with your point… the use of “rapture” is a “key” to understanding such a ridiculous statement. When one builds their theological constructs on ideas like this (and he has several more in this section of the commentary), it’s hard to take serious.
What strikes me as crazy is that he wrote The Gospel According to Jesus which is all about endurance… ha ha. It basically put an end to the “Lordship salvation” issue…
But I guess being fair is good. 🙂