it encourages me that Jesus loves His bride the church. He isn't going to let anything stop Him from gathering us to Himself when the Father says its time. Angels do not have full knowledge of God's plans - 1Peter 1:11-13 When Jesus was on the earth, he is saying he did not have access to that information. In Matthew 24, these verses are in reference to what it will be like at the coming of the Son to earth to rule, about that day. I've bolded the words. the unbelievers are likely not going to be aware of the day count because of not having read the bible, or had free access to bibles under the reign of antiChrist. When Jesus returns, is it a good thing or a bad thing to be left? Those left will be able to enter the kingdom, those taken are those taken because of judgement. Sheep and goats of the nations that survive the tribulation. The disciples knew nothing about the rapture at the time Jesus said this to them. The questions they had were about Israel. They wanted to know when the kingdom would come. Jesus is answering them about an event that they knew would come, the rule of the Lord promised in the old testament prophets. as for me, i'm standing on the imminent return of the Lord. if it doesn't happen today, I will still hope for His wonderful face each and every day until I die or He calls me upward along with you :flyup: Matthew 24:36 “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. In the book of Daniel, "Son of Man" is a title given to the one to whom an everlasting dominion and kingdom would be given. This kingdom gets established when Jesus returns to rule at the end of Daniel's 70th week. This kingdom is what the disciples wanted to know about when they asked Jesus what would be the sign of His coming and the end of the age. Jesus answered their question. They wanted God's kingdom established. In contrast, Jesus tells them in John 14:1-3 that He would bring them to Himself following preparing a place for them. He said to them that He was going away and He would bring them to the place where He would be going to when He left. Jesus was not talking to them about setting up a home on earth to be with Him. This is the first mention hinting at what would be clarified to us in Paul's teaching years later - 1Thes 4:13-18, 1Cor 15:50-58. In Matthew 24, Jesus is talking about events related to the 70th week and second coming to earth, events about earth happenings. In John 14:2-3 He is talking about taking the church to heaven. He has been working on a place in heaven for the church to dwell with Him. Matthew 24:3 New King James Version (NKJV) Daniel 7:12-14 New King James Version (NKJV) 13 “I was watching in the night visions, When Jesus comes to earth to rule, its the taken out ones who are not worthy to enter the kingdom. Being taken out is a bad thing to have happen to a person. When Jesus calls the church to meet Him in the air at the rapture, it is a good thing to be among the taken. Matthew 13:40-42 New King James Version (NKJV) Matthew 13:47-48 New King James Version (NKJV) It may be that there is time before the Lord calls us home to heaven, but I don't know that, so continue to look forward to His call each day, when He has arrived at the AIR port to pick us up and bring us home to the place He has prepared for us. Jesus said, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Very good! Very encouraging. 
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
12 As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.
40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
The Parable of the Dragnet
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.
