One Shall Be Taken, and The Other Left

By Arthur J Licursi with portions taken from the writings of Cornelius Stam

"Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour you Lord doth come" (Matt.24:40-42).

The above passage has been interpreted by most Christians so as to apply to our Lord's coming for the members of His Body, at the rapture of the Church. It is said that the two will be working in the field; when one will be taken to heaven and the other “left behind” to go through the day of God's wrath. Then so also with two women who may be grinding side by side at the mill: one will be caught up to be with the Lord and the other left behind. This is an erroneous interpretation. It is inconsistent interpretation of these Scriptures when viewed in the context of Matthew 24 and of the Bible as a whole.

First, for context sake, we must note that Jesus of Nazareth is not addressing Gentiles, but rather as most always, He is speaking to Jews concerning “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. He instructed His disciples to do the same. Matthew 10:5-6 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: ⁶ But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Actually, this passage in Matthew 24 cannot have anything to do with the rapture of “the body of Christ” to be with Christ. The fact is our Lord's coming for the members of His Body was not revealed by Jesus of Nazareth. But, it was kept secret and first revealed by the risen and glorified Lord to and through the Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul (1Cor.15:51-58; 1Thes. 4:15-18). In fact Paul is the only writer who writes of “the catching away” or rapture of “the body of Christ.”

As we look closer at Matthew 24 itself it will become more evident that the passage cannot refer to the rapture. While it is true that the passage says: "The one shall be taken, and the other left,” we must then ask…taken to where and how the one will be taken; what will be the destiny of the one who is left behind?

Jesus continues here in Matthew 24:28 to give us the answers we seek “For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.” This would be consistent with Jesus’ words “as in the days that were before the flood.”

“For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, ³⁹ And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Matthew 24:38-39.

Jesus liken the time He is speaking of to Noah’s day so let’s look at it. Those who were taken away in Noah’s day were taken where? Those taken by the flood died and their carcasses were “taken away” as they were eaten by the birds. Then following the flood, the eagles gathered to eat the carcasses. Jesus says, similarly, this is what follows “…the tribulation of those days…” (Matt 24:29) that He is addressing in Matthew 24.

It is evident from the verses immediately preceding, that the coming of Christ to earth to judge and reign in His Millennial kingdom is the subject of Jesus’ dissertation. Jesus likens it to what happened “in the days of Noah.” The people ate and drank, married and gave away again in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, "and knew not until the flood came and took them all away.” These people were not "taken away" to glory; they were "taken away" in judgment.

Since Matthew 24:40-41 are a continuation of this Noahic illustration, it is evident that the two "taken away" are taken away in judgment at our Lord's return to earth to reign in the Millennium, while the two who are "left" are the survivors of the Tribulation period; they are left to enter into His Millennial reign on earth.

This interpretation then is consistent with the whole context in which we find this passage. Much confusion would be avoided if the truth of the rapture of “the Body of Christ” to be with the Lord were recognized to be what it is: a divine secret first revealed to Paul concerning “the Church” of this present “dispensation of the grace of God,” called “the Body of Christ” (Eph 1:22b-23a).

Thus, Paul also says the “the body of Christ” is destined for heaven, our home. Philippians 3:20 (NASB) For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; Yet, the destiny of Israel is to inherit “the land” on the physical planet earth as promised to Abraham as an “everlasting inheritance.”

And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. Genesis 17:8 (KJV)

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