Matthew24:28

His return, i.e. the manifestation of His great power, will not be invisible, but visible. When it happens you will see it; like lightning, it will be evident to all at that moment, regardless of where they are. The reference to vultures drives home the same point. The fact that there is a dead carcass somewhere can be known by the vultures circling overhead. When Jesus returns it will not be a secret thing that leaves the unbelievers scratching their collective noggins; it will be obvious to all. Everyone will know exactly what happened, and know what it means.

This begs the question, “What will be the purpose of His coming?” Will it be to whisk away the believers so they do not have to endure what modern eschatologists call the “Great Tribulation,” or will it be to show His power by judging the nations? The word “arrival” used in verse 27 points toward the latter. First there will be signs of His power, but these demonstrations will only be to get people’s attention so they know that the powerful King has arrived on the scene. The true purpose will be to use His authority to act as judge over all nations by punishing and rewarding everyone according to what they have done (see Mt 16:27).

All this contradicts the modern teaching of a “secret rapture” which supposedly will happen without any warning and people will not know what is going on. According to the “secret rapture” idea, the believers will all suddenly disappear leaving cars without drivers, planes without pilots, and other such problems. According to the Pre-trib rapture theory, this will happen prior to 7 years of intense, world-wide persecution. The Post-Trib theory places this event after 7 years of “Great Tribulation,” while the Mid-Trib theory places it in the middle.  It is a “modern” teaching because this idea did not surface until 1827 or 1830 depending on who you credit for its origin (John Darby 1827, or Margaret MacDonald 1830). Before that no one heard the kind of teaching about prophecy which we hear today.

In verses 27 and 28 Jesus was saying, “When it happens you will know it, for it will be obvious.” The disciples were continually waiting for Jesus to fulfill His purpose and usher in a new era, which they would have called the age of the Messiah. He demonstrated His power over various things, such as sickness, death and the demonic world. But they knew He had come for a bigger purpose than just those demonstrations of power. They knew His power was going to be used to accomplish what no one else could accomplish; they hoped it would be used to kick the Romans out of their country.