Always Be Ready: Matthew 24: 40-44
“40) Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41) Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.” Matthew 24:40-41
This is frustrating! We get all the way through the chronology of end time events in Matthew 24:4-31 and Jesus gives no clear mention of a rapture, then suddenly in His conclusion or final wrap He includes these two verses. There shall be two men working in a field and one is taken and one will be left. There will be two women grinding at a mill and one will be taken and one left. It certainly sounds like a description of a rapture. But when does it happen?
The reader is left perplexed. Though this sounds like 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, it has no time attached in the context. Does it happen at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of tribulation? We are left scratching our heads.
It appears like a normal work day for the four people in the parable. They were going about buisness as usual and suddenly one was taken and one was left. Jesus follows this warning with the next three verses. They deserve special attention:
““42) Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 43) But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44) For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” (Matthew 24:42-44)
These three verses are often used to support the doctrine of the Imminent Return of Christ. That means Jesus can return at any time without warning or notice. The day and hour of His return is a mystery. Jesus wants His people to live in a constant state of readiness. He wants us to stay alert.
So, when is the rapture going to happen? When will one be taken and another left? Even after a careful study of Matthew 24, it remains a mystery. Jesus leaves us with the admonition to be alert and always ready. It could happen at any moment!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
