Matthew 24:40 Is the rapture secret?

[GWH]

Matthew 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Why are there so many different opinions about the rapture. Here is a warning directly from Jesus. it sounds scary but in reality it is a comforting warning:

[Luk 21:8-19, 25-27 KJV] 8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. 9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end [is] not by and by. 10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. 12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute [you], delivering [you] up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14 Settle [it] therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and [some] of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19 In your patience possess ye your souls. ... 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

This link has a pretty good study about the subject.

TOJ #142: Christ’s second coming will be visible and instantaneous. [MT 24:27-28//MK 13:26//LK 21:27] The connection with judgment is found in Hebrews 9:27-28. The reference to vultures could be literal, or it might signify the arrival of hell’s angels to collect the demonic souls who remain behind after Believers are raptured (the next TOJ).

TOJ #143: Believers living at the time of the end will be raptured. [MT 24:31&40-41//LK 17:30-35] “Raptured” means translated to heaven without experiencing death. Paul also mentioned this phenomenon (in 1CR 15:51 & 1THS 4:17).

TOJ #144: Only God the Father knows when the end will come. [MT 24:36//MK 13:32] Some people might find it disconcerting that Jesus could be mistaken or ignorant about the exact time salvation history will end, but they should realize that He was human (1TM 2:5) and had finite capabilities, which is the reason His moral perfection qualified Him to be Messiah (HB 2:17-18, 4:15, 5:7-9). If Jesus did not know, Believers in Him certainly should not be concerned with the date {ACTS 1:7}. (See TOJ #57.)

TOJ #145: The omega event will be unexpected. [MT 24:27&37-39//LK 17:24&26-27, LK 12:39-40, 17:28-29] Paul also taught this (in 1THS 5:2-6). Thus, the need for the next TOJ.

TOJ #146: Be prepared. [MT 24:42-44//MK 13:33-37, LK 12:35-40, 21:34-36] This is the explicit significance of the previous TOJ, and how to be ready is explained in the next one. Readiness is signified by oil in the Parable of the Ten Virgins. {MT 25:1-13}

TOJ #147: Readiness consists of being good stewards of God’s gifts. [MT 24:45-51] In the Parable of the Ten Virgins, readiness is signified by having lamp oil, which might symbolize good deeds (JM 2:17, EPH 2:10) {MT 25:1-13, LK 12:35}, and in the Parable of the Talents, the monetary talents represent any resource, ability or opportunity a person possesses. {MT 25:14-30//LK 19:12-27} The “more” that is given to the person who does well with what he/she “has” may include temporal blessings, but it certainly refers to blessings in heaven.

 

[Iconoclast]

Nope. The one taken is taken by Christ and is a similar word for rapture/harpazo. LEFT means to reject and leave to die. That would be those left to suffer God's judgment.

Thank you for your response. Your quotes about the word Apostasy while accurate do not make the case about the rapture.The events in Mt.24 took place by 70ad. Those events have taken place already. No rapture was involved. In the Parallel passage found in Luke it is clear... Luke17:
26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
32 Remember Lot's wife.
33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
King James Version (KJV)

Those taken were taken in judgment

 

[Iconoclast]

Mt24:39
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

 

[ewq1938]

Those taken were taken in judgment

That's not what the word means. They are taken/accepted by Christ. Matthew 24 is not about AD70 either. None of the OD has yet happened.

 

[ewq1938]

Mt24:39
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Wrong verse and wrong Greek word. This is not about the one taken.

 

[Psalm1]

Strewth, three posts from you and none of them is coherent.

Matt.24 has nothing to do with the Resurrection so it is not talking about a pre or post trib rapture.

There is only one group of people Jesus does not know and that is unbelievers. Being a carnal believer does not make you an unbeliever. Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit irrespective of whether they walk by means of the Spirit or their flesh. Naughty children are disciplined, not disowned.

Those taken in Matt.24:40-41 are unbelievers removed from the earth at the coming of Christ just like the unbelievers were removed from the earth on the day the flood came. You would have Christ return to rule over unbelievers only? Makes no sense.

You are all over the place and I'm not interested in playing leap frog with you.

Lol
It is like the verses are over your head.
But stop blaming me for his word.
That's what I am forcing you to deny.
Nothing I posted is addressed.
Who is playing around?
You yourself demonstrated you can not debate at all.
Typical unlearned postribber

 

[Psalm1]

Strewth, three posts from you and none of them is coherent.

Matt.24 has nothing to do with the Resurrection so it is not talking about a pre or post trib rapture.

There is only one group of people Jesus does not know and that is unbelievers. Being a carnal believer does not make you an unbeliever. Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit irrespective of whether they walk by means of the Spirit or their flesh. Naughty children are disciplined, not disowned.

Those taken in Matt.24:40-41 are unbelievers removed from the earth at the coming of Christ just like the unbelievers were removed from the earth on the day the flood came. You would have Christ return to rule over unbelievers only? Makes no sense.

You are all over the place and I'm not interested in playing leap frog with you.

BTW
Acts chapter 1 and Rev 14, and Rev 19 have no resurrection.( but are all comings.)
But your doctrine produces one at Rev 19 that is not there.
So again you have no idea what you are talking about.

 

[sawdust]

Typical unlearned postribber

I'm not a postribber so you're off in lala land somewhere.

So again you have no idea what you are talking about.

No, you're the one who has no idea of what I'm saying.

I have no intention of addressing your comments because you are all over the place and these last two posts show you are not even understanding what I'm saying. We were not even discussing Acts 1, Rev. 14 or Rev 19.

You make far too many erroneous assumptions for me to waste my time with you.

Have a good one mate.

 

[Psalm1]

I'm not a postribber so you're off in lala land somewhere.



No, you're the one who has no idea of what I'm saying.

I have no intention of addressing your comments because you are all over the place and these last two posts show you are not even understanding what I'm saying. We were not even discussing Acts 1, Rev. 14 or Rev 19.

You make far too many erroneous assumptions for me to waste my time with you.

Have a good one mate.

Too bad the bible is reduced to false assumptions in your land.

The facts stand
The components of Jesus stand.
I only report what is in the Bible.
What you do with scripture clearly presented or any post is up to you.

I as here for concept vs concept.
Sorry that is over your head.

"I'm not a postribber so you're off in lala land somewhere. "
BTW. Only postribbers make that ridiculous claim, of "one coming", and are unable to defend it

 

[Iconoclast]

Wrong verse and wrong Greek word. This is not about the one taken.

In the day of Noah, those taken were taken in judgment, they were taken away. Stop with your in the greek nonsense.
38 for as they were, in the days before the flood, eating, and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, till the day Noah entered into the ark,
39 and they did not know till the flood came and took all away; so shall be also the presence of the Son of Man.
40 Then two men shall be in the field, the one is received, and the one is left;

 

[ewq1938]

In the day of Noah, those taken were taken in judgment, they were taken away. Stop with your in the greek nonsense.

LOL!. We are talking about manuscripts written in Greek. Nonsense? That's all yours. What is written in the Greek matters!

40 Then two men shall be in the field, the one is received, and the one is left;

At least the translation you used knows Greek. The word does mean to be accepted. It in no way means to die or die in judgment, quite the opposite.

 

[Psalm1]

They cannot defend a debunked doctrine so they leave red "Xes" and run off.

 

[Iconoclast]

LOL!. We are talking about manuscripts written in Greek. Nonsense? That's all yours. What is written in the Greek matters!



At least the translation you used knows Greek. The word does mean to be accepted. It in no way means to die or die in judgment, quite the opposite.

So your suggestion is that the flood came and accepted them???
[ 7,,G3880, paralambano ]
besides its meaning "to receive," denotes "to take to (or with) oneself," of "taking" a wife, e.g., Matthew 1:20, Matthew 1:24; of "taking" a person or persons with one, e.g., Matthew 2:13-Matthew 2:14, Matthew 2:20-Matthew 2:21; Matthew 4:5, Matthew 4:8; of demons, Matthew 12:45; of Christ and His disciples, Matthew 17:1; Matthew 20:17; Mark 9:2; Mark 10:32; Mark 14:33; of witnesses, Matthew 18:16; of the removal of persons from the earth in judgment, when "the Son of Man is revealed," Matthew 24:40-Matthew 24:41; Luke 17:34-Luke 17:35 (cp. the means of the removal of corruption, in Luke 17:37); of the "taking" of Christ by the soldiers for scourging, Matthew 27:27, RV, and to crucifixion, John 19:16; See also Acts 15:39; Acts 16:33; Acts 21:24, Acts 21:26, Acts 21:32; Acts 23:18. See RECEIVE.

 

[Iconoclast]

Mounce;

39 andkai they knewginōskō nothingou untilheōs theho floodkataklysmos cameerchomai andkai tookairō them allhapas away, sohoutōs willeimi ·kai theho comingparousia of theho Sonhyios ofho Mananthrōpos be. 40 At that timetote twodyo men will beeimi inen theho fieldagros; one heis will be taken paralambanō andkai the otherheis leftaphiēmi. 41 Twodyo women will be grindingalēthō aten theho millmylos; one heis will be takenparalambanō andkai the otherheis leftaphiēmi. 42 Thereforeoun be alertgrēgoreō, becausehoti you do notou knowoida on whatpoios dayhēmera ·ho yourhymeis Lordkyrios will come

 

[ewq1938]

So your suggestion is that the flood came and accepted them???

No. You again are confusing different Greek words.

 

[Iconoclast]

No. You again are confusing different Greek words.

I looked it up on vines nt dictionary and Mounces interlinear. Does he have it wrong?

Took them all away (142)(airo) literally refers to lifting or carrying something up or away (in this case the entire race except for Noah and his family - 8 souls left to multiply and repopulate planet earth). Luke 17:27+ helps us understand "took them all away" for Jesus declared that "the flood came and destroyed (apollumi) them all." This description does not fit with the Rapture, for those who are caught up at this time will not be saved but lost forever!.

 

[Iconoclast]

Criswell - The context of the passage would seem to indicate that the judgment of Christ's return and not the rapture of the church is in view. The "one taken" (Mt 24:40, 41) is taken in judgment; the one remaining is blessed to enter with the Lord into kingdom blessings. Indeed, the rapture of believers (1Th 4:13-18), it would seem, is not discussed in Matthew 24-25. (Believer's Study Bible)

As discussed, some writers interpret Jesus' comparison of the last days with the days of Noah and those taken as believers who are raptured and those left as unbelievers who will be judged. However if one reads the Luke version of those who are taken, Jesus says "the flood came and destroyed them all." (Lk 17:27+). Jesus goes on to further emphasize the danger of destruction by comparing the last days to the days of Lot (Lk 17:28, 29+). In view of this clear teaching, it is surprising to see a number of writers interpret those taken as those who are saved rather than as those who will be destroyed!

 

[Iconoclast]

As discussed, some writers interpret Jesus' comparison of the last days with the days of Noah and those taken as believers who are raptured and those left as unbelievers who will be judged. However if one reads the Luke version of those who are taken, Jesus says "the flood came and destroyed them all." (Lk 17:27+). Jesus goes on to further emphasize the danger of destruction by comparing the last days to the days of Lot (Lk 17:28, 29+). In view of this clear teaching, it is surprising to see a number of writers interpret those taken as those who are saved rather than as those who will be destroyed!

 

[Iconoclast]

One will be taken - Although paralambano means to take to one's self and to seize for one's own possession, and is usually used in a good sense (eg Jn 14:3), in Mt 24:40 the context is not good so that this is clearly not a proof text to support the Rapture of the saints as some commentators state! The one… taken will be taken to judgment and eternal punishment (Second Death). The one… left will enter into the blessings of the Millennial Kingdom. When Noah entered the ark who was left on the earth after the flood? The believers were the only ones to survive the flood (the ones not taken) Only those in the ark were safe, which is a beautiful metaphor for believers today who are IN CHRIST, eternally secure "in the Ark" so to speak!

 

[ewq1938]

I looked it up on vines nt dictionary and Mounces interlinear. Does he have it wrong?

YOU are the one getting it wrong all the time when you confuse paralambanō (taken) with airo (took). The two verses are contexually different. The one taken is not the same people the flood takes to their deaths.