Taken or Left?

Though it might be a bit ambitious for a short blog post, I recently had a conversation about a passage of scripture that illustrates the importance of reading and interpreting the Bible in context.  It is vital we do not vainly attempt to make the Bible support our theology but for the Bible to establish, develop and correct our theology.  While there can be several valid observations, interpretations and applications from a single text, we ought to ensure there is consistency throughout the scripture.  When we are slack to do this, it results in confusion, poor interpretations and even bad application.

If I had to pick a passage I believe is largely misunderstood and confusing to people, a common one is nestled in the response of Jesus to His disciples in Matthew 24 & 25--specifically the section that speaks of people "taken" and others left.  The questions posed by the disciples help us to understand what Jesus is talking about in His response:  when Jerusalem would be destroyed, the sign of His coming, and the end of the world (final judgment).  The response of Jesus is an answer to these questions, and all these three things involve God's judgment.  Because Jesus is speaking to Jewish believers before the church was established, the church is not primarily in view in His answers.  Note the rapture of the Church and the second coming of Christ in judgment theologically are viewed as separate events.

After Jesus spoke of the great tribulation, He said no one knows the day or hour of His return.  He said in Matthew 24:37-42:  "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. ³⁸ For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, ³⁹ and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. ⁴⁰ Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. ⁴² Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming."  Jesus pointed to the days of Noah before God judged the earth with a flood of water, and how life went on with eating, drinking and marrying.  Though Noah had warned them, some saw the parade of animals entering the ark and the door closing, they had no idea the flood would take them all away.  Jesus said in a similar way to Noah's day, people will be going about life and suddenly their lives will be taken in divine judgment.

Some believe this passage alludes to the rapture of the church, perhaps popularised by "Thief in the Night" or "Left Behind" type movies, that show everyone going about their business and suddenly driverless cars are driving off the roads and millions of people are missing.  That may be a true depiction concerning the rapture, but there are reasons why this description of Jesus does not fit with the rapture at all.  Noah and his family were saved from the flood in the ark and and were the only ones left on the earth.  The ones Jesus said were "taken" are whose lives were taken in judgment and died, so this cannot refer to the rapture, the seizing of the church to meet the LORD alive in the air.  Also, one cannot square an interpretation of an imminent rapture (pre-tribulation) with this section of Christ coming for His Church.  If this passage somehow does speak of the rapture, it suggests a post-tribulation rapture--which is inconsistent with other Scriptures that teach the rapture of the church is an imminent event.  The rapture will undoubtedly happen, but when is not as important as being included in it.

Clearly the point Jesus is making has absolutely nothing to do with the rapture, for He repeats Himself again and again:  "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming."  Readiness for Christ's coming is emphasised again in Matthew 24:44:  "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."  He warned against being like an evil servant who noticed his master delayed in returning and began to beat his fellow servants and drink to excess.  Jesus said in Matthew 24:50-51 "...the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, ⁵¹ and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  The kingdom of heaven parables that follow in chapter 25 affirm Christ's warnings of His finality of judgment, that His faithful servants ought to be watching and ready.  After the parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins, Jesus said in Matthew 25:13:  "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."

Jesus makes the point again and again that His followers ought to be looking unto Jesus because we do not know when He is coming.  At a time when we are not expecting it, our days will be spent and our lives over.  Since we do not know when Jesus is coming, this prompts us to be prepared by faithful service to our LORD and readiness to depart when our hour comes for Jesus to call us home.  The wise do not want to be found on the day of judgment to be foolish hypocrites, people who claimed to be servants of God when in truth their lives are marred by selfishness, pride, laziness and drunkenness without repentance.  Interpreting the "taken" passage as the rapture can lead to a poor application that being raptured is more important than living for Jesus and looking to Him in faith and obedience today.  When God's judgment comes, we can be sure it will be final and no one will escape it.  Will we be joyfully received into the presence of God forever because He knows us, or will we be condemned forever because we rejected Him?