I am curious about Matthew 24 vs 14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” I was taught all my life that Jesus wouldn’t come back till every nation had heard the gospel. After following your website now for sometime, I believe that Jesus was talking to the nation of Israel in this chapter.
Since I now believe that the rapture will happen when the fullness of the gentiles has come in, this verse 14 must be talking about the period of the tribulation and not of the church reaching the whole world with the gospel. So reaching the whole earth with the gospel is not a prerequisite of the rapture, but of the second coming. Am I correct?
You are correct in saying that Matt. 24 and its companion passages Mark 13 and Luke 21 were intended for Israel and not the Church. Therefore it is not necessary for the Gospel to be preached to all nations before the rapture can take place. However, as Matt. 24:14 says, it must happen before the 2nd Coming. Rev. 14:6 tells us that this requirement will be met just after the beginning of the Great Tribulation:
Then I saw another angel flying in mid air and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth – to every nation, tribe, language, and people.
In Matt. 24:14 Jesus didn’t say how this prophecy would be fulfilled. Rev. 14:6 tells us it will be God Himself who sees that it happens by sending His angel to proclaim it.