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The content of Matthew 24 is mostly about the Tribulation. It is always possible for the things in the chapter to be in order. I think the order of events is the rapture, then the seven year tribulation followed by the second coming of Christ. The rapture and the second coming of Christ are not the same event. Calling the rapture part one of the second coming is does not work since Christ does not come down at the rapture. We go up to meet him in the air.

The question from Matthew 24:3 What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Matt 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Matt 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Matt 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Matt 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The “abomination of desolation” takes place in the seven-year tribulation. In verses 16-20, Israel is told to flee because they missed the opportunity to escape the in the rapture because of unbelief. The second coming would come after the tribulation.

I see two possible interpretations of verses 40 and 41, the rapture or the second coming of Christ. I cannot eliminate the second coming interpretation by using your arguments about context.

Matt 24 is not chronological whereas Revelation is. Matt 24 is not chronological because Jesus is talking to the Jews who's main concern will be the events after the rapture because so many of them will not be saved when Jesus comes for his saints.

After describing the horrific events of Daniel's 70th week - the 7-year tribulation - (Matt 24:4-35), he then warns those Jews who will listen about being ready for the rapture so they won't have to go trough the tribulation (Matt. 24:36-44).

The rapture and the second coming of Christ are not the same event.

That's right. They are the first part and the second part of Jesus second coming.

Calling the rapture part one of the second coming is does not work since Christ does not come down at the rapture.

Christ certainly comes down from Heaven in the rapture - coming for his own. In the first part of his second coming, he comes FOR his saints. (He just doesn't touch down on the earth.) What does scripture call it?

COMING of the Son of man (Matt. 24:37, 39); watch therefore for you do not know what hour your Lord COMES (v.42); and again, therefore be ready for in an hour you don't think so, the Son of Man COMES

That's the rapture Baby - nobody except the Father knows the day or the hour, but anyone paying attention will know the EXACT time of the second part of his second coming WITH his saints (the end of Daniel's seventieth week, Armageddon, and the establishment of his rule on earth).

Compare scripture with scripture. Let scripture (not the flesh) interpret scripture. What does 1 Thessalonians say?

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the COMING of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will DESCEND FROM HEAVEN with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

1 Thess. 4:15-17.

That is an exact, detailed description of the first part of the Lord's second coming - the "great catching up" AKA the "rapture".

Erase your blackboard my FRiend and let the Lord write it out for you - he knows a heck of a lot more about this stuff that you or anyone else does.