Synoptic Gospel Differences Reveal Multiple End-Times Groups
Multiple end-times groups are hidden in the differences & inconsistencies between the three synoptic gospels. By extrapolating a meaningful pattern from these differences, one can see that Luke is addressed to the raptured Bride, Mark is addressed to the lukewarm who are left behind, and Matthew is addressed to the Jewish remnant. The order of Matthew-Mark-Luke is thus reversed, recalling Jesus’ words, “the first will be last and the last will be first”. Generally, Luke portrays little to no physical suffering, Mark has more physical persecution/beheading, and Matthew portrays the worst suffering. The following table lists many of these differences, and the interpretation.
For mobile users the format is Topic/Verses – Luke, Mark, Matthew.
| Luke | Mark | Matthew | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jesus’ robe color (Luke 23:11; Mark 15:17; Matt 27:28) |
White/Gorgeous Implies the radiant and beautiful bride, dressed in white and unharmed. |
Purple Bruised; suffers persecution |
Scarlet Blood-soaked clothes, foreshadowing the most intense persecution |
| Jesus’ crown of thorns (N/A; Mark 15:17; Matt 27:29) |
The crown of thorns is not mentioned, implying an avoidance of physical persecution for the bride. | The crown of thorns is mentioned, foreshadowing the physical persecution for those left behind. | The crown of thorns is mentioned. Also, the Matthew account of the abuse during and before the crucifixion is the most graphic and detailed. This all hints that the persecution will be the worst for the Jewish remnant. |
| “Watch, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass” (Luke 21:36; N/A; N/A) |
Mentioned. The bride is accounted worthy to escape “all these things”, i.e. the coming tribulation. |
Missing. | Missing. |
| “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching.” (Luke 12:37; N/A; N/A) |
Mentioned. The bride constitutes the group attentively watching for the return of her Bridegroom. |
Missing. | Missing. |
| The “no one knows the day or the hour” verse (N/A; Mark 13:32; Matthew 24:36) |
Totally missing from Luke, suggesting that the bride who is faithfully watching will know the time of His return. | Mentioned. This group doesn’t know the time of the rapture, because they’re not watching. |
Mentioned. The Jews aren’t looking for Jesus at all. |
| John the Baptist’s beheading (N/A; Mark 6:26-28; Matt 14:9-12) |
Only a very brief mention. | A detailed account behind the story of his beheading is given, foreshadowing the Tribulation beheading of martyrs. | A detailed account behind the story of his beheading is given. |
| Jesus’ last words (Luke 23:46; Mark 15:34; Matt 27:46) |
“Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit” The bride goes directly to the Father in the rapture. |
“My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken* Me?” A direct foreshadowing of the anguish of having been left behind. (*forsaken is G1459, which means “to leave behind”!) |
“My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken* Me” Unbelieving Jews are also left behind. (*forsaken is G1459, which means “to leave behind”!) |
| The Olivet Discourse (Luke 21:12-18; Mark 13:9-13; Matt 24:9-13) |
“..they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons” and “Ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake, but there shall not a hair of your head perish.” The bride experiences comparatively light persecution and escapes death via the rapture. Note also that only in this gospel is the “abomination of desolation” omitted, hinting that the bride will not see the Antichrist. |
“..they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten” and “Ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake, but he that shall endure unto the end…shall be saved.” Those in this group face more physical persecution – “ye shall be beaten” – and must hold fast to the faith unto death (or a possible second rapture.) |
“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake”, “but he that shall endure unto the end…shall be saved.” The remnant Jews face a deadlier persecution. Note also that here they are hated by all nations (i.e. goyim), rather than by all men. This confirms a Jewish intended audience. |
| Disciples’ question that prompts the Olivet Discourse (Luke 21:7; Mark 13:4; Matt 24:3) |
“what will be the sign when these things are about to happen?” The bride gets raptured when these things are about to happen, i.e. prior to the Tribulation period. |
“what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” It is suggested here that this group will witness much of the Tribulation be accomplished/fulfilled. |
“when will these things happen? And what is the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” The remnant Jews will witness Jesus’ 2nd coming and the final end of the age. |
| Parable of the Mustard Seed (Luke 13:18-19; Mark 4:30-32; Matt 13:31-32) |
The seed is planted in his garden. This group goes into the garden, which symbolizes Heaven. Birds come and perch in its branches. These are the fruitful wild olive branches, i.e. Gentiles. |
The seed is planted. This group appears to not have a special assigned place. Birds come and perch in its shade. Members of this group are not branches, since they were “cut off” because they didn’t bear fruit, per John 15:2. |
The seed is planted in his field. The remnant Jews inherit the world/earth. (A few verses later Jesus identifies the field as the world). Birds come and perch in its branches. Jews are the natural branches. |
| The demon-possessed boy (Luke 9:38; Mark 9:17; Matt 17:15) |
“Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.” Here the boy is referred to – uniquely to this gospel – as his “only child”. A special status is thus suggested for this group. |
“Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit.” Here the boy is referred to merely as “my son”. Moreover, unlike in Luke, in this account he is described as having a “deaf spirit” (a few verses down), suggesting this group suffers from spiritual deafness. |
“Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and suffering greatly: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.” This account seems to point directly to the historic suffering of the Jewish people and their tendency to fall into judgment. |
| Jesus’ response to question about marriage (Luke 20:35-38; Mark 12:24-27; Matt 22:29-32) |
Jesus’ does not admonish the questioners. He also says in His response: “are considered worthy to take part in the resurrection and are God’s children” and are “equal to the angels”. This hints at the bride. | Jesus admonishes the questioners, saying they “don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God” and “have you not read.” This hints at the condition of the lukewarm who have not bothered to read their Bibles or seek God. Also, Jesus says “they will be like the angels” (not equal to), and doesn’t mention God’s children at all. This all implies a lesser status. | Jesus says they’re in error and that they “don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God”. This hints that the Jews have been in error about Jesus and in their interpretation of Scripture. Also, while Luke & Mark refer to God speaking to Moses as God speaking “to him”, here in Matthew Jesus describes it as “what God said to you”, further confirming its intended Jewish audience. |
| Rooster crowing (Luke 22:34; Mark 14:30; Matt 26:34) |
The rooster will crow “this day” The bride never sees the night, i.e. the Great Tribulation. “…the night cometh, when no man can work.” (John 9:4-5); “The day of the LORD will be darkness, not light.” (Amos 5:18) |
The rooster will crow “this day, even in this night” This group will see the beginning of the night – the first half of the Great Tribulation period. |
The rooster will crow “this night” The remnant Jews will go through the full night – the full Great Tribulation period. |
| Empty Tomb (Luke 24; Mark 12:24-27; Matt 22:29-32) |
The women “found not the body of the Lord Jesus”, pointing to the Body of Christ – the church – being gone. They see two men in clothes that “gleamed like lightning”, hinting at those who are clothed with the Lord (His righteousness). | The women see a man in a long, white garment, recalling the white clothes given to those martyred during the Tribulation (Rev 6:10-11). | As the women arrive, there is a “great earthquake” as the angel of the Lord “descends from heaven”, whose face was like lightning and whose clothes were “white as snow” This is all imagery associated with Jesus and His 2nd coming (see Zech 14:4, Rev 1:14), hinting at what the Jewish remnant will witness. |
| Jesus’ Ascension (Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Matt 22:29-32) |
Jesus is carried up into heaven. This hints at a bride being carried over the threshold. |
Jesus is received up into heaven. As guests are received at a wedding reception. |
No mention of Jesus’ ascension! The Jewish remnant does not go to Heaven, but remains on Earth for the Millennial Kingdom. |
| “There be some standing here who will not taste death before…” (Luke 9:27; Mark 9:1; Matt 16:28) |
“…they see the kingdom of God.” The bride won’t die but will be raptured and then see Heaven. |
“…they see the kingdom of God has come with power.” Members of this group will witness the armies of Heaven coming to make war against the Antichrist and his armies (see Rev 19). |
“…they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom.” The Jewish remnant will witness Jesus coming to Jerusalem as the King of the Earth (see Zech 14) |
| The last verse of each Gospel (Luke 24:53; Mark 16:20; Matthew 28:20) |
“And [they] were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.” The bride is found in Heaven, praising God. |
“And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.“ The Tribulation saints are busy spreading the gospel. Supernatural signs and miracles are happening, and the Lord has not utterly forsaken them. |
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” The Jewish remnant remain on and inherit the earth/world until its end, 1000 years after the 2nd coming. Jesus is “with them”, as He is reigning from Jerusalem. |
| Parable of the Tenants (Luke 20:9-16; Mark 12:1-9; Matt 21:33-41) |
The servants are treated shamefully and beaten, but there is no killing. | The servants are beaten and killed. | The servants are beaten and killed. |
| The Abomination that causes Desolation (Luke 21:20; Mark 13:14; Matt 24:15) Note: I believe this has to do with the mark of the beast technology! |
Not mentioned at all. The bride is already gone when it is rolled out. | Mentioned.
(Study the relevant prophecy – Daniel 12:11-12 – which possibly points to a second rapture!) |
Mentioned. |
| Corresponding harvest | Barley Barley is prepared by throwing it “in the air” with a winnowing fork, recalling the rapture imagery of 1 Thessalonians 4:17. |
Wheat Wheat has a hard outer shell and is prepared by going over it with a tribulum on a threshing floor. These hard-hearted souls won’t seek the Lord without tribulation. |
Figs Figs are gathered at harvest time. The Jewish remnant will be gathered prior to the Battle of Armageddon. |
Extra:
- The word ‘tribulation’ (Strong’s 2347 – thlipsis) is used in Mark and Matthew but is not found at all in Luke!
- In Revelation, the harlot who is drunk on the blood of the saints is arrayed in purple and scarlet, but not white. Purple and scarlet are the colors of Jesus’ robe in Mark and Matthew!
- God loves puns, and it’s no coincidence that the Mark group is the first that will have to refuse the ‘Mark’ of the Beast.
Additionally, there is a clear pattern in the Mark & Matthew groups that emphasizes neglect of Bible study, spiritual deafness/blindness, hardness of heart, and lacking understanding. This is easily noticeable if you count the number of times these notions are mentioned across the 3 synoptic gospels – specifically, in cases where Jesus admonishes or is grieved over it:
| Luke | Mark | Matthew | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lacking understanding | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Neglecting reading the word of God | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Hardness/distance of heart | 0 | 8 | 3 |
| Specific accounts of making the deaf hear or the blind see | 1 | 4 | 3 |
What do we take away from all this?
Three important passages can help us understand why some will escape in the rapture, while the others will be left behind: Luke 21:34-36, Titus 2:11-14 and 1 Thessalonians 5:3-9.
Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
It is the Bride who heeds these warnings. It is the Bride who is watching for Jesus’ coming as it approaches. And it is the Bride who follows the instructions to pray and invest in ones relationship with God while going through the process of sanctification. We are to be focused on Him rather than let daily life worry us or allow ourselves to use things like drugs, alcohol, entertainment, or sex to distract us. We use the term “sleeping church” because this group includes people who are numbing themselves with worldliness. Titus 2 reflects this same caution when Paul writes that we should “deny ungodliness and worldly lusts”. Instead, we must replace those idols and addictions in our life with righteousness and godliness. Living “soberly” means avoiding “surfeiting and drunkenness”. Verse 6 in 1 Thessalonians summarizes this perfectly: “let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober”.
The Escape will wake up those who are sleeping and is described as a “snare” to everyone who is left behind. We are told many times to watch so that we are not caught in this snare. The Escape is a reward for those who are truly living for Christ. All in the sleeping church will be saved from Hell, but their unbelief, preoccupation with the world, unrepentance may cause them to miss out on the reward of being “accounted worthy” to “escape all things that shall come to pass” which is referring to the Tribulation as Jesus described in Luke 21:10-33. Their fate will instead be as it is written in Luke 12:46: “The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.“
…He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. – Hebrews 11:6
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. – Proverbs 25:2
Please share this brief study with anyone who will listen. The time is extremely short!
Special thanks to these people for helping contribute to this list:
- Rhonda
- Laura @ God a Minute