ONE SHALL BE TAKEN THE OTHER LEFT BEHIND...

Our readers should not be led by the inclusion of this picture that we believe in winged angels or some other images shown here.  We show it to illustrate what some who hold the false view of a "rapture" believe.

Unlike the silly notions of a rapture that are so trumpeted in society today, we present a Biblical view of this passage in Matthew ed.

Reply to “Truth seeker”

"Then shall two be left 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.” Matt. 24.410-41

Our Savior in giving instructions and admonitions to his disciples, used many figures by way of illustration, and to them which were not his disciples, all his saying were in parables.  Parables and dark sayings which could only be understood by those unto whom it was given by God to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.  The very parables and figures which were inexplicable to the wise and prudent of this world. Were admirably adapted to illustrate and make plain the things of the Kingdom of God to all, such as are born of God and taught by the Holy Spirit. Like the pillar of cloud which attended the children of Israel in the wilderness, which was utter darkness to their enemies and at the same time a flaming light to God's chosen people.

It was not a matter of regret or lamentation to our Savior, that the world by wisdom could not know God or by their science comprehend the things of His Spirit. For he rejoiced in spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. Because you have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them unto babes" Matthew 11.25; Luke 10.21. The inspired Apostle Paul to the Corinthians and to us. I Corinthians 1. Gives the following reasons, First, that the face of God's children should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God, and second, that "no flesh should glory in his presence" According as it is written, "he that glories, let him glory in the Lord."

All the figures, metaphors, and parables, and all the instructions contained from the 24th verse of this to the end of the 25th chapter, were addressed to the disciples who had come privately to Christ for instruction. He had just told them of the impending judgments which were soon to fall upon the devoted city of Jerusalem when the magnificent buildings of the temple should be hurled to ruin. And they came to him privately as he sat on the Mount of Olives, saying, "Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world?" Before answering these inquiries directly, our Lord warned them against impostors and delusions that they would have to encounter so strong, so plausible, and so popular that if it were possible, they would deceive the very elect. He said. "For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders. Behold, I have told you before, Wherefore they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert. Go not forth. Behold, he is in the secret chambers. believe them not. For as the lightning comes out of the east and shines even unto the West. So shall also the coming of the Son of Man be." The coming of the Son of Man, so frequently spoken of in this discourse, we think with Brother Van Meter, has reference to his coming in his mediatorial glory to reign upon his throne in Zion as to head over all things to his church. He had elsewhere informed his disciples that it was needful for them that he should go away. And he was going to his father, and to their father, and he was going to receive a Kingdom, and in return again unto them. His father had appointed him a Kingdom, and this Kingdom was that joy that was set before him, for which he was now about to endure the cross and suffer the pains of death. But he would soon return to ascend his throne and reign in righteousness as the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, our Saviour. But this coming again described as most, awfully, grand and glorious "in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." And at his coming, he should send forth his angels or messengers, (the apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers,) with a great sound of a trumpet, the same trumpet which the Prophet predicted would be blown in that city (the gospel dispensation) at the sound of which they should come, that were ready to perish from the land of Assyria, and the outcasts from the land of Egypt, and worship him in his holy mount at Jerusalem. The same "New Jerusalem" that John in vision saw "coming down from God out of heaven, adorned as a bride prepared for her husband." The generation then on the earth should not pass away until all these things of which he had spoken should be fulfilled. That is until Christ should suffer on the cross, arise in the dead, assent to His Father, receive His Kingdom, and be seen in the clouds of heaven, coming in power in all the power of heaven and earth, committed to Him in His mediatorial glory as the Son of Man and great glory, when at his regal command his subjects should be gathered from the four winds of heaven out of all the tribes of mankind, Gentiles as well as Jews. This coming suddenly to his temple, the church or Kingdom, was witnessed by many of that generation as soon as the day of Pentecost was fully come. When "suddenly" as the lightning from the east, shining even unto the West, he came by his Spirit. For the disciples were to know him no more after the flesh, or in a veil of flesh, but in spirit and in truth. "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and day. The waiting disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost, baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire, and endued with power from on high to preach the gospel to all nations beginning at Jerusalem.

The day and hour when he should thus come in all the glory of his Father was not known, but to the Father, only the angels or appointed ministers of his Word sent to minister to the heirs of salvation did not know. But they were commanded to tarry at Jerusalem until it should be made manifest. They were assured, however, that that generation should not pass away before his coming through, heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words "shall not pass away."

This day of the Lord, when he should come suddenly to his temple, the Prophet has said, shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, all that do wickedly shall be stubble. And the day that shall come burn them up, said the Lord of hosts, that he shall leave them "neither root nor branch."

The day-spring of this great and terrible, yet to all who loved the appearing of our Lord, most glorious and joyful day, was witnessed in the coming of John the Baptist. And the chosen people, who were to enter into their marriage chamber with the bridegroom, were seen coming up out of the wilderness of Judaism, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners. The law and the prophets prophesied until John, then the Kingdom of heaven was preached. The light still prevailing, and the shades of Jewish of legal darkness were being rolled back. And his ascension to his father, and in his descension on the day of Pentecost, then the Sun of Righteousness spread forth his healing wings mounted the throne of power, and like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, rejoicing as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it, and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. Hay, wood stubble, yea, all the proud and wicked shall be burned, and the man of sin shall be consumed by the spirit of his mouth and shall be destroyed with the brightness of his coming. This day shall endure until all the redeemed of the Lord shall be gathered, and the very last enemy shall be put under the feet of our triumphant conqueror.

Christ's entrance into his Kingdom and assumption of the government of the church was strikingly prefigured by Noah in building and entering into the Ark. The ark is a fit emblem of the church, while Noah and his family as clearly set forth Christ and his members. "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be" For as "in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving, and marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be." Then at the time when the coming of the Son of Man shall answer to the type of Noah going into the ark, and the flood, sweeping away the unbelieving world, 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.

To us, there seems to be a twofold application of this figure. But we will offer a few remarks on the figures and attempt to find our application.

The sovereignty of God in the election of his people is clearly demonstrated in the declaration of God himself. "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." "Therefore has He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardens." Two in the field alike. In position, locality, and employment. Yet our spiritual Noah; or anti-type of Noah takes one of the two into the ark, the Kingdom, and leaves the other as Noah left all others to perish.

Two women grinding at the mill on a perfect level as to place and employment. And one is called by grace and the other is left. The ancient method of grinding grain for making bread was first by bringing it in mortars with a pestle. Allusion is made to this custom in Proverbs 27.22. But a latter manner was by an upper, and nether millstone propelled by female slaves or servants. (See Cyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, page 809.) God's people who are "saved and called" are saved alone by grace, for they were by nature children of wrath, even as others. These figures are substantially the same as those which follow in the same connection, and in the three parables of the next chapter, the 10 virgins, the servants to whom the towns were given, and the parable of the sheep and the goats. All represent the discriminating sovereignty of God.

In the application of the figures of those in the fields, and at the mill, the separation of the subjects of the Kingdom of Christ from those who are left under the law, where they desire to be, is strikingly set forth. While the other figures in the 24th and the parables in the 25th chapter appear to be applied to those disciples of Christ to whom He was speaking and who, as servants and stewards, were left in charge of their master's goods to give to those of his household their meat and food in the season. "Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he comes, shall find so doing." That is, shall find feeding the household, and faithfully obeying the orders of his Lord. But. That if that wicked servant shall say in his heart, my Lord delays his coming, and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat, and to drink with the drunken, the Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

These impressive admonitions were peculiarly applicable to those servants of Christ. Ministers of the Word, who were at the time of Christ going away to receive His coronation and Kingdom left as stewards, and thus solemnly charged to watch and be sober until he should return. Nor can we regard the charge as less important or appropriate. To those of the present time who have received of the Lord a charge to feed the flock of God, which he has purchased with his own blood. As it was then, so it is now. Many delusions prevailed, iniquity abounded, and the love of many wax, cold, strong, and powerful temptations were held out to induce. These thoughtless servants of the Lord and stewards of the mysteries of the Gospel, indulge their carnal Passions in smiting their fellow servants, and indulge their fleshly lusts, in eating and drinking, with the drunken, and with the infatuated, intoxicated, and yet popular enemies of the Cross of Christ and become partakers of their evil deeds. Sad examples of this kind have not been lacking. Where those who once enjoyed the full fellowship of the Church and were esteemed very highly in love for their work's sake, have seemed to say, "My Lord, delays his coming," have become unwatchable, negligent, and slothful at first. And then from bad to worse. And when the hungry children have asked for bread, they have received the stone, or perhaps a Viper. And if they clamored for their wanted food, the unfaithful steward has become angry, pettish, and abusive, smiting, wounding, grieving, and offending the little ones for whom Christ died. How suddenly has the Lord appeared frequently in such cases, and cut such wicked, unfaithful servants asunder from the fellowship of the Saints, from the privileges of the House of God, like salt that has lost its savor and is therefore unfit for use, good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men? When thus. Cut asunder from their standing to their church, their portion is with hypocrites and unbelievers. Or like the prodigal among the filthy slime and in the company of dogs, sorcerers, and whoremongers. And whatsoever loves and makes a lie, they shall weep bitterly, and Nash their teeth, until God shall restore them to their home in the Church of Christ.

The coming of the Lord is not, in our understanding of it, confined to His first advent, to his church after his ascension. But as he came on the day of Pentecost, and as he came and judgment on Jerusalem, and in the destruction of the buildings, of the destruction of the Temple, so he is continually coming to His church. In all places where I record my name, I will come unto you, and I will bless you. He is still coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and will be a swift witness against such unfaithful servants or pastors who feed themselves and neglect the flock. The admonitions to the faulty angels or pastors of the churches of Asia are on point and are in perfect harmony with this part of our subject.

The angels of the churches are undoubtedly the pastors, or those answering the description of the servants whose duty it was to give to the members of the household their meat in due season, the servants by and through whom the Lord sends messages to the churches, to the Angel or messenger of the church at Ephesus, who had left his first love who holds the seven stars in his right hand? Says. "Remember therefore from when you are fallen, and repent and do the first work, or else I will come unto you quickly, and will remove thy Candlestick" (or church.) The seven candlesticks which you saw are the seven churches out of his place, except you repent. To do this would be to take the church from his pastorate, and to cut him asunder from the church, and from his portion and position therein, to mingle with the dogs and saucers. Which are without. So also in his message to every faulty Angel, the Lord said he would come quickly and deal with them according to their offices, thus virtually and substantially applying to each of them the admonitions contained in the 24th chapter of Matthew.

In conclusion, we will say to Truth Seeker, we have in this article dwelt more generally on the subject matter of the whole chapter than on the two verses on which our views were desired. Because in the two verses, if detached from their connection, we could have no views. If we should regard them as designed to be applied to the final disillusion of the world. We could conceive of no sense in which one should be taken and another left. But in its connection with the coming of our risen and exalted Saviour to set up and preside over His Kingdom and to the gathering in His into His Kingdom, His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other, we can clearly perceive the harmony of this with all other portions of the inspired Scriptures.

What we have written, we submit to the prayerful consideration of all who read. May God, by His holy and unerring spirit, seal instruction to our minds and apply the solemn admonitions of the God of the subject to our hearts, and give us the grace to keep us from defiling our garments in the present evil day for His namesake.

Elder Gilbert Beebe

Editorial

May 20, 1872