When attempting to learn Biblical truth, it is always considered wise to discern the context (big picture) of many verses as well as the over all theme. From this can truths be learned and doctrine formed. Unfortunately, doctrine is most often created first, followed by bits and pieces of scripture to shore up a leaky thought.
I may come back and address that thought ^ after a bit...
The passage in question is lifted from a larger section of Matthew 24. Specifically verses 26 to 31. This passage describes the harvesting of humanity and its spiritual destination or destiny. While verse 31 tells us that the elect (those who belong to Christ) will be gathered by ANGELS, verse 28 tells us where the others will go. The 'others' (most often quoted by rapture apologists as evidence) are gathered by some sort of demonic entities (called vultures or eagles) and taken to a place of destruction or death (NOT HEAVEN).
Unfortunately, learning this tidbit from the Bible requires READING from scripture rather than dictating to it.
I have read it, and studied it thoroughly.
Here's what I've said in many past posts:
--
EVERYTHING in Matthew 24 [+25] is describing things
FOLLOWING "
our Rapture"
--"the beginning of birth PANG
S" (
Matt24:4-8 / Mk13:5-8 / Lk21:8-11) are
equivalent the SEALS of Rev6
--"the Day of the Lord"
earthly-located-time-period of JUDGMENTs unfolding
upon the earth *ARRIVES* like... the INITIAL "birth PANG
[SINGULAR]" that COMES UPON a woman... per 1Th5:
2-3 (
SAME THING that JESUS had spoken of, per the above entry ^ )
--Paul told the Thessalonians (2Th2:
2) not to be persuaded by anyone trying to convince them "that the Day of the Lord
*IS PRESENT [PERFECT indicative]*" (though that idea was a PERFECTLY *REASONABLE* thing for them to be persuaded WAS TRUE [
tho it wasn't], BECAUSE of their
PRESENT and ONGOING, *
very negative* circumstances
they already ONGOINGLY *endure*
per 2Th1:4 ["persecution
S and tribulation
S ye endure"])
--Paul went on to tell them, "
3 that day [the time-period
from the IMMEDIATELY-PRECEDING verse,
in v.2! (grammatically-speaking)] will
NOT be present, if not shall have come
THE DEPARTURE *FIRST* [
ONE THING *FIRST*--the noun-event
of v.1! (Paul had JUST SPOKEN OF!--and which EXPLAINS the "definite article"!)]
and [
distinctly] the man of sin BE REVEALED..." (he is "REVEALED" at the
START of the 7-yr period [2Th2:
8a,9a (
parallel Dan9:27a[26b], and Matt24:4/Mk13:5 [G5100 - tis - 'A CERTAIN ONE'] and Rev6:2 [SEAL #1])],
NOT at its MIDDLE [2Th2:
4],
NOR at its END [2Th2:8
b])...
... and he REPEATS this
SEQUENCE 3x in this context (which also agrees with the
SAME SEQUENCE found in his first letter, 1Th4 & 5, as well as the
SAME SEQUENCE found in other *related* passages... Such as Rev5:
9 showing the 24 elders saying, "hast redeemed
US... out-of
EVERY..."
*before* the FIRST SEAL is opened, when Jesus WILL "
STAND to JUDGE" Isa3:13, Rev5:6 [Lam2:3-4 parallel language to that of 2Th2:7b-8a, etc...])
[
23 of 24 total mss available for Rev5:
9 translate it as
"US," whereas the other ONE
leaves it BLANK / UNTRANSLATED]
People who justify the RCC doctrine of rapture cannot or will not be able to read and understand because their minds have been blocked from knowing the truth.
Generally speaking, the RCC does
not hold to "rapture doctrine," and certainly not "pre-trib," but more akin to what y'all are presenting (that Matt24:29-31 is the gathering of the Church).
They are persuaded by the Great Deception and cannot believe anything except the lies they've been fed.
"by
the Great Deception"... which passage of Scripture are you obtaining that phrase from... so I can ascertain what you mean by it? Just curious.
Continue to believe the rapture if you insist upon it. The day will come when you will learn you've been following error.
that's me, hollering from the choir loft...
Yes, I do believe Scripture tells us of [
our] "Rapture [/SNATCH / CAUGHT UP/-AWAY /
harpazo /
harpagēsometha ]" (but that Matt24 does NOT cover *
that* Subject, whatsoever).