Hi @Carson,
Thank you for starting the discussion on Matt 24:36-44, a verse that I have seen used in support of pre-tribulation rapture of the church.
In the beginning of Matt 24, the disciples ask two questions - 1) What will be the sign of Jesus’ coming and 2) What will be the timing of the end of the age? I find it interesting that as opposed to a secret rapture of the church, Jesus says his coming will be as visible as lightning (Matt 24:27) and it will happen after the gospel of the kingdom is proclaimed to the whole world as a testimony to the nations (Matt 24:13-14). Though his coming is visible, it is also described as the coming of a thief in the night (Matt 24:43, 2 Peter 3:10, 1 Thess 5:2). Jesus then compares his coming to that of the days of Noah, to emphasize that he is coming at an unexpected day and hour and his judgment will catch the final generation unprepared like the flood did in Noah’s time (Matt 24:44). The idea of ‘thief in the night’ does not appear to convey secrecy of Jesus’s coming as much as unexpectancy.
However, I have seen other interpretations of this chapter. There are several reasons for it -
One reason is that if God rescued godly people in the day of Noah from his wrath, he would do so again for all believers (Gen 7:1). The church is not considered a target of God’s wrath (Rom 5:9-10) and God’s wrath is unleashed right at the beginning in Revelation, starting in chapter 5. Also, the church (ekklesia) is not mentioned or pictured on earth in Revelation chapters 4-19 when the wrath of God is loosed. If the church is left on earth, it would have to face the consequences of God’s wrath (Rev 6:15-16), contrary to the promises of protection from God’s wrath (1 Thess 5:9).
If the coming of Jesus has to be like a thief in the night i.e without warning, but Jesus comes after the Antichrist is revealed, and after the great tribulation, then Jesus’ coming would no longer be a surprise to the church. So, to retain the suddenness of Jesus’ coming, it is argued that Jesus will come secretly to rapture the church. 2 Thess 2:6-7 is another verse used to support the idea of rapture. If the church is taken away secretly, it is argued that the restrainer of the lawless one (Holy Spirit who resides in believers) will be mostly out of the way allowing the lawless one (Antichrist) to be revealed.
Finally, Daniel’s prophecy that Jesus refers to in Matt 24:15 is part of God’s plan for Israel, not the church (Dan 9:27). This is another reason the church is out of the picture for those who take the rapture view. Paul too in the new testament shares a mystery about Israel turning to God after the fullness of Gentiles come in at the end of age. (Rom 11: 25-27). What makes Israel suddenly turn to Christ? Would there be a significant event like the rapture of the church that causes Israel to come to Christ at the end of age?
I also wanted to mention that Thomas Ice in his article, “A brief history of rapture” has references from the early church period with teachings that support rapture and it stands in contradiction to Ben Witherington’s explanation that rapture idea started only in the nineteenth century.
There is so much to discuss here, and if I have to delve into any greater depth at this point, I would need further study. Hopefully, this post helps understand some of the reasons for the pre-trib rapture view. I am not able to provide a proper reference for this pre-tribulation view as what I have shared comes mostly from teachings I heard in churches I attended.