One Shall Be Taken & The Other Left

There are some texts in the Bible that are hard to understand. On the surface, they seem to contradict the basic theme of scripture. Matt. 24:40-42 is one of those texts. Let’s look at it together. (Read text)

It is a familiar text. Many other denominations use this text to prove their theory of the secret rapture. That is what happens when we try to build a doctrine on just one verse. The secret rapture is completely unscriptural. The coming spoken of in Matt. 24 is Jesus’ second coming. It is always (without exception) the literal, visible appearing of Christ. It is made plain in I Thes. 4:16-17. It doesn’t sound like a secret to me, does it to you?

In (Rev. 1:7) there is a shout & a trumpet & every eye shall see Him.

Isa 28:10 tell us to study precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little. (Compare verse to verse.) When we do, we find there are no contradictions & all the pieces of the puzzle fit together perfectly.

I heard a sermon on this subject years ago. Barbara even took notes. But we have moved twice since then & she hasn’t been able to find her notes. Neither of us can remember exactly how it was explained; so we researched the subject for ourselves. Have you ever done that? There is a real blessing when you have to dig to find an answer for yourself.

This morning we are going to do just that. So let’s get started.

Let’s turn to verse 40 in Matt. 24, the statement “shall be taken” is from the Greek word (Para la bano) which means to be taken to oneself. As in receiving to oneself. This same Greek word is used in Matt. 17:1, where Jesus is taking to Himself or taking with Him, (pause) Peter, James & John (pause) & with them ascending the mount of transfiguration.

In John 14:3, the Greek word, Para la bano, is used again, this time it translated as the word, receive, with Jesus receiving to Himself the waiting disciples. This is the very same word.

The word (taken) in Vs 40 is translated as the word, gather. It is described as the angels gather the elect. Read verse 31. This happens when Jesus returns not before.

The contrast is Verse 39 (let’s read 38-39). Here the word “took” is from the Greek word “airo” which means to carry off or to remove. In Noah’s day it was the wicked that who was left outside the Ark. But Noah & his family were gathered inside the Ark (Para-la-bano). What Jesus meant by being taken & being left is made clear by the context, those who are left are the evil servants.

Remember when the word,

Para la bano (Para-la-ban-yo) is used, it is translated as,

Taken = Receiving to one self or to gather.

But when the word,

Airo is used, it is translated as,

Taken which means = to carry off or remove.

Verse 40 - One shall be (Noah & his family were) taken (Para la bano) received by Jesus! The other (people outside the Ark were) left (Airo) not taken.

Taken & Not taken.

Remember in I Thes. 4:16-17 the coming of Jesus is far from being a secret. Jesus returns with a shout & a trumpet & every eye will see Him. Also the flood of Noah, I imagine there were thundering & lightening. The flood was not a secret happening. Read Vs 37.

Instead of continuing in their normal lives after a supposed secret rapture, they are cut into pieces & are given their reward with the hypocrites. (Read Vs 48-51).

Verse 42, watch therefore... the admonitions to “take heed” & “to watch” constitute the recurring theme of the chapter. To illustrate the importance of remaining alert, Jesus spoke six parables.

The Porter (Mark 13:34-37).

The Master of the House (Matt. 24:43-44).

The Faithful & Unfaithful Servants

(Matt. 24:45-51).

The Ten Virgins (Matt. 25:1-13).

The Talents (Matt. 25:14-30).

The Sheep & The Goats (Matt. 25:31-46).

From the pages of the Desire of Ages, page 633, “Christians are not to await the Lord’s return in idle expectancy. While waiting & watching they are to be vigilant in purifying their own souls by obedience to the truth. It is their privilege ‘not only to look for but to hasten the coming of the day of God’”. This writing repeats 3 admonitions - Take heed - Watch

& Be ready.

How do we hasten the coming of the Day of God? In the Desire of Ages on the same page 633 it says “when the day arrives Christ does not tell us that all the world will converted, but that this ‘this gospel of the kingdom shall preached in all the world for a witness; then shall the end come.’”

“The crisis is stealing gradually upon us. The sun shines in the heavens passing over its usual round, and the heavens still declare the glory of God. Men are still eating and drinking, planting and building, marrying, and giving in marriage. Merchants are still buying and selling. Men are jostling one against another, contending for the highest place. Pleasure lovers are still crowding to theaters, horse races, gambling hells. The highest excitement prevails, yet probation’s hour is fast closing, and every case is about to be eternally decided. Satan sees that his time is short. He has set all his agencies at work that men may be deceived, deluded, occupied and entranced, until the day of probation shall be ended, and the door of mercy be forever shut.”

The crisis is stealing upon us as we go about our daily round of activities. He who sincerely looks for the coming of Jesus will be ready whenever the Lord may appear.

I want to be in that group that is taken. The group that is received by the Lord. Don’t you?

Then take heed - Watch & Be Ready!