Reversed Rapture
“Then two will be in the field. The one is taken away and the one is left.” Matthew 24:40
Is Taken Away – Ignoring the context makes for great Hollywood movies and bestselling books. Maybe that’s why it is so appealing to forget what Jesus says just before this auspicious verse. But if we don’t pay attention, our theology will be confused and we might have expectations that are entirely off the mark.
Matthew 24 is a discourse on the end times. Jesus describes some of the signs, but He uses a crucial Old Testament story to set the stage. It is the story of Noah. “Just like the days of Noah,” says the Lord. That should give us all the clues we need to understand the context. What was it like in the days of Noah? People believed things were pretty much normal. They didn’t give a second thought to the idea of judgment. In fact, even though it took Noah one hundred years to build the ark, no one worried about the implications of that vessel. They didn’t see it coming until the rains started, and then it was too late.
Here’s the crucial question about the days of Noah: Who was taken away? Guess what? It wasn’t Noah. He remained, safe and secure inside the ark. Those who were taken away were the ones who were lost in the Flood. They were no more. Noah floated above the storm. All the rest vanished, swallowed up in judgment. In Greek, it is paralambano, to take from.
Now apply this context to the lessons Jesus teaches in Matthew 24. Two are in the field. One is taken. Two are at the mill. One is taken. If we believe the mythology of bestsellers, comic books and movies, we will think that the righteous will be whisked away, instantaneously translated to heaven while the dumbfounded world stares at empty chairs. But that’s not what happened in Noah’s day. The righteous stayed put, right here on the earth, riding out the storm. It was the unrighteous who were taken away.
By paying attention to the Hebrew idea of salvation, we won’t follow the masses proclaiming spiritual evaporation. The Hebrew idea is rescue in the midst of trouble. It is not escape. Salvation is God showing up with reinforcements so that I am able to fulfill His mission. Salvation is not evacuation to the beach of the heavenly sea so that I can lounge in a comfortable chair while angelic creatures bring me refreshing nectar. If you want that kind of salvation, go talk to Mohammed. Hebrew salvation is Spirit-provided power, courage and endurance right here in the place where “thy will be done.” Our preoccupation with getting to heaven lets us ignore the “days of Noah” lesson. We need to stop looking for a way out and start doing the will of the Father where we are. When judgment comes, the obstacles will be removed and the earth will be restored – just as it was when the ark came to rest after the storm.
It’s hard to give up the fantasy that if we just wait a little longer, God will snatch us out of this mess. It’s hard, but it’s not impossible. If we are going to be consistent with the divine mission, we will realize that escape is not a godly option. “If this cup cannot pass from me,” is the option of the follower of the Way. But be comforted. He is with you. And if Jesus is here, why would I want to run to the beach?
Topical Index: Rapture
