Hold tightExperience Jesus

Is The Church In The Tribulation (The Rapture Isn't A Secret—Pt 2) [#14] | Matt. 24 | Matthew Maher

Revelation

Matthew Maher

February 8, 2026

•

54:27

Few doctrines generate more confusion than the rapture — not because Scripture is unclear, but because different passages are often flattened into a single event. In Part 2 of this teaching, we return to the passages people struggle with most: Matthew 24. The “elect.” The last trumpet. The restrainer. Israel and the Church. Rather than avoiding these texts, we place them in their proper context and allow Scripture to interpret Scripture. In this message, we explore: • Why Matthew 24 describes the Second Coming, not the rapture • Who the “elect” are — and why context matters • Why the “last trumpet” is not the same trumpet everywhere • What must be removed before the Antichrist is revealed • How salvation continues during the Tribulation • Why distinguishing Israel and the Church is foundational to biblical prophecy • Why imminence matters for how believers live today This doctrine was never meant to divide the Church. It was meant to anchor hope, fuel holiness, and produce urgency. Key Scriptures: Matthew 24, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4–5, 2 Thessalonians 2, Daniel 9 Thank you for watching a Landmark video. Please subscribe and tap or click the bell icon to turn notifications on so you're alerted when we go live or upload a new video. Sermon Notes: https://notes.subsplash.com/fill-in/view?page=rJ-a1hyI-x Visit our website to stay up-to-date on everything we do: http://thelandmark.church/ Follow us on social media to stay engaged: Instagram: @thelandmark.church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelandmark.church X: @thelandmark_ TikTok: @thelandmark.church Listen to our sermons: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3oMO0TF2OWF0JSzU8nOZ2m?si=ac45dc5fc2464d3b Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/landmark-sermons/id1724233354 Watch live here on Youtube. Gathering times: Sunday at 9:00am & 11:00am Wednesday at 6:30pm Landmark Church 300 E. 8th Street Ocean City, NJ 08226

  1. What is the difference between the rapture and the Second Coming, and why does Scripture treat them as distinct events? (Suggested texts:1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Matthew 24:29–31; Revelation 19:11–16)
  2. Why is Matthew 24 not describing the rapture, and how does audience and context shape that conclusion? (Suggested texts: Matthew 24:15–31; Mark 13; Luke 21:20–24)
  3. Who are the “elect” in Matthew 24, and why can’t we assume the term always refers to the Church? (Suggested texts: Matthew 24:22, 24, 31; Isaiah 45:4; Ephesians 1:4; Revelation 7:9–14)
  4. How does understanding Israel and the Church as distinct help make sense of prophecy, especially Daniel 9 and Revelation? (Suggested texts: Daniel 9:24–27; Jeremiah 30:7; Ephesians 3:1–6; Revelation 6–18)
  5. Why does imminence matter for how Christians live, and how does it shape watchfulness and hope? (Suggested texts: Matthew 24:42–44; Titus 2:11–13; James 5:8–9)
  6. Why is the rapture meant to be a comfort for believers rather than a source of fear or division? (Suggested texts: 1 Thessalonians 4:18; John 14:1–3; Romans 8:1)
  7. How should Christians respond today if we believe Christ could come at any moment? (Suggested texts: 1 John 3:2–3; 2 Peter 3:11–14; Luke 12:35–40)

Continue Watching

Currently Playing

The Beast Who Is Marked: Satan’s Counterfeit Christ | Revelation 13:1-10 [#37] | Matthew Maher

The Beast Who Is Marked: Satan’s Counterfeit Christ | Revelation 13:1-10 [#37] | Matthew Maher
Currently Playing

The War For Israel: Hated by Hell, Held by Heaven | Revelation 12:13–17 [#36] | Matthew Maher

The War For Israel: Hated by Hell, Held by Heaven | Revelation 12:13–17 [#36] | Matthew Maher
Currently Playing

The War In Heaven: Satan's Future Expulsion | Revelation 12:7–12 [#35] | Matthew Maher

Revelation

Matthew Maher

The War In Heaven: Satan's Future Expulsion | Revelation 12:7–12 [#35] | Matthew Maher
Currently Playing

The War Behind the World: The Dragon, Woman, and Child | Revelation 12:1-6 [#34] | Matthew Maher

Revelation

Matthew Maher

The War Behind the World: The Dragon, Woman, and Child | Revelation 12:1-6 [#34] | Matthew Maher
Currently Playing

The Last Kingdom Is Coming (The Seventh Trumpet) | Revelation 11:15-19 [#33] | Matthew Maher

The Last Kingdom Is Coming (The Seventh Trumpet) | Revelation 11:15-19 [#33] | Matthew Maher
Currently Playing

The Two Witnesses of the Tribulation | Revelation 11:3-14 [#32] | Matthew Maher | Landmark Church

Revelation

Matthew Maher

The Two Witnesses of the Tribulation | Revelation 11:3-14 [#32] | Matthew Maher | Landmark Church
Currently Playing

The Tribulation Temple, the Timetable, and the Testimony | Revelation 11:1–3 [#31] | Matthew Maher

Revelation

Matthew Maher

The Tribulation Temple, the Timetable, and the Testimony | Revelation 11:1–3 [#31] | Matthew Maher
Currently Playing

When The Word Consumes You (The Mystery of God) | Revelation 10:1-11 [#30] | Matthew Maher

Revelation

Matthew Maher

When The Word Consumes You (The Mystery of God) | Revelation 10:1-11 [#30] | Matthew Maher
Currently Playing

When Man Refuses To Answer To Heaven (Sixth Trumpet | Second Woe) | Rev. 9:13-21 [#29] | Matt Maher

Revelation

Matthew Maher

When Man Refuses To Answer To Heaven (Sixth Trumpet | Second Woe) | Rev. 9:13-21 [#29] | Matt Maher
Currently Playing

When Hell Answers to Heaven (The Fifth Trumpet | First Woe) | Revelation 9:1-12 [#28] | M. Maher

Revelation

Matthew Maher

When Hell Answers to Heaven (The Fifth Trumpet | First Woe) | Revelation 9:1-12 [#28] | M. Maher

Sermon Notes

Matthew 24 describes the return of the King, not the removal of the Bride.

Matthew 24:31

And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

The last trumpet for the Church is not the last trumpet on earth.

2 Thessalonians 2:6-8

And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

You cannot have the Antichrist revealed until the Restrainer is removed.

The absence of the Church does not mean the absence of salvation.

Daniel 9:24

“Seventy weeks are determined for your people and your city…”

The Church did not replace Israel, fulfill Israel, or erase Israel.

You cannot be watching for Christ if you’re watching for Antichrist.

Additional Scriptures Referenced: Matthew 24:15–31; Ephesians 1:4-5; Revelation 7:3, 13:7, 14:12; 1 Corinthians 15:51–52; Revelation 8–11; Deuteronomy 30:4, Isaiah 11:11–12, Ezekiel 34:12; Isaiah 11; Zechariah 12–14; Revelation 19–20; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Galatians 3:28;

Galatians 6:16

View Sermon Note

Meet the Speaker

Matthew Maher

Pastor / Elder

About the Speaker

Join the Mission and Give

Give to support the mission of Landmark and help reach people with the gospel.

Ways to Give

Sermons

More Sermons & Content

Previous
Next

We Are Here To... | Matthew Maher | Sermon Moment | Landmark Church

We Are Here To... | Matthew Maher | Sermon Moment | Landmark Church

The Kingdom Is Already Yours | Matthew 5: 1-4 | Nick Johnson | Landmark Church

The Kingdom Is Already Yours | Matthew 5: 1-4 | Nick Johnson | Landmark Church

The Witness of God - Matthew Maher | Coastal Christian Ocean City

The Witness of God - Matthew Maher | Coastal Christian Ocean City

Equality At Creation, But Different Equity | Matthew Maher

Equality At Creation, But Different Equity | Matthew Maher

Kings and Kingdoms (Part 4): The Insurrection at the Capitol (Daniel 7 Review) | Matthew Maher

Kings and Kingdoms (Part 4): The Insurrection at the Capitol (Daniel 7 Review) | Matthew Maher

Psalm 9: When A Nation Forgets God | Matthew Maher | Landmark Church

Psalms

Matthew Maher

Psalm 9: When A Nation Forgets God | Matthew Maher | Landmark Church

Our Team

Meet the People Behind the Message

Discover the pastors and leaders who faithfully share God’s Word and serve our church.

Meet the Team
People sitting in a hospital or church setting, listening attentively in a group session together.Smiling bald man in brown blazer and blue sweater against grey background, religious organization staff.Smiling man in a black blazer and gray shirt sitting against a gray background.Women sitting in meeting at church or hospital, engaged and attentive with papers and whiteboard.People sitting at a table with laptops in a church or hospital setting, engaged.