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| Subject: Re: two in the field, one taken, one left | |
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Author: CRM admin |
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Date Posted: 20:56:40 11/22/06 Wed In reply to: Dan Newberry 's message, "two in the field, one taken, one left" on 14:53:05 11/21/06 Tue Brother Dan, Thank you for your posting. We too have come to believe that the literal interpretation has to do with the Second Coming. See the article: The Return Of The Lord Some teach a "partial rapture" and use Matthew 24:40 as their argument. I believe you are referring to our use of Matthew 24:40 in the Partial Rapture article. We wrote the article to refute the partial rapture theory, using the very same verses that the "partial rapture" teachers use, to show the opposite of what they teach; that even if applied to the rapture of the church, all the true believers would still be raptured. We argue that not all of the "professing" church are "saved" and thus not all professing Christians will be raptured but only the true Believers shall be-- those who are born again of God's Spirit. But since using this passage can cause a bit of confusion, we have since removed it from the article. There are some who teach a dual application regarding Matthew 24. And others who apply it to the Rapture such as in the article: http://www.swordofthelord.com/archives/WhatHappenRapture.htm Still others will contend that Matthew 24 and Luke 17 are very different in their meaning-- that Matthew 24 speaks of the Rapture of the saints and that Luke 17 speaks of the judgment at the end of the Tribulation period. What I would add is that the Lord speaks in Matthew 24 on the Mount of Olives and in Luke 17, He is in the region of Samaria and Galilee. These are two separate addresses given by our Savior. There are some differences in the two addresses but we believe that Matthew 24 applies to the end of the Tribulation period because it parallels the same address in Luke 21. Dispensationalism in its fullness is a monster subject to teach online but we do believe as you do-- that Matthew 24 is addressing the time of the End. The prophecies will come to pass on their own and we will not know exactly how they fit into the entire picture until they come to pass. As Habakkuk 2:3 says: For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Thank you for your insight and thoughts. God bless you and you are more than welcome to post here anytime. >I believe that the reference we see to two in the >field (one taken, one left) is not actually a >reference to the rapture. While I do believe in a >pre-trib rapture, I think that Matthew 24:40-41 and >Luke 17:34-35 refer to the gathering at the end of the >tribulation. Here, the elect, which at this time will >be comprised of the saved Jews and saved Gentiles who >come to Christ during the tribulation will be set >apart. > >But the order of the gatherings seems to indicate that >the unrighteous will be gathered first, and destroyed. > Regarding "one taken, one left," In Luke 17:37, the >apostles ask "where Lord?" (meaning 'where will those >who are taken be placed?'), and Jesus answers: >"Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be >gathered together." "Eagles" is literally translated >from the Greek as vultures or buzzards, meaning birds >which will eat dead bodies. So the ones taken may >well be the ones whose bodies are destroyed and fed to >the birds. > >In Matthew 24:15, we see a reference to the >abomination that causes desolation standing in the >temple, something which we understand to mean the >antichrist standing in the temple, which is supposed >to happen about the middle of the tribulation. Jesus >is telling us in Matthew 24 the sequence of events of >the end of the age. There is no reason to assume that >He is speaking of these events out of sequence. So it >is *after* the abomination that causes desolation >standing in the holy place (as well as other obvious >references to the great tribulation) that we see the >reference to the one taken, one left. > >So I do not believe that the one taken, one left >passage refers to the rapture. If it does, us >pre-tribbers are in trouble! :) I am a firm believer >in the pre-trib rapture, and might post on that matter >later one. > >Yet, for the reasons mentioned, I think that the 'one >being taken' is being taken away to destruction. >Here's more evidence I might use: > >In Matthew 13 Christ is telling the parable of the >wheat and tares. 13:30 Let both grow together until >the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to >the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and >bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the >wheat into my barn. > >So we see here that Jesus mentions that the tares are >being gathered first and burned, then the wheat is >gathered. True, it could be reading into the verse to >suggest that Christ is telling us the tares will be >gathered and dealt with first, but this is the way it >is written. I think if He were going to gather the >wheat (the elect) first, He would have told the >parable that way--rather than confuse us. > >Anyway, food for thought of course. It's possible I'm >off base here, but this is my current understanding of >the "one taken, one left" passage. > >Dan [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |