Ark Encounter Upcoming Event (May 19–20), and What Is the Meaning of ‘One Taken and One Left’?

Dr. Alan Kurschner began the show by announcing that Eschatos Ministries is sponsoring a Bible prophecy event at the Ark Encounter, which includes the experience of the Ark Encounter itself on May 19–20. Click here for more information. Dr. Kurschner then shifted to the topic of the show on the meaning of "one will be taken and one left." In the last decade the following mantra has been heard: "I want to be left behind!" This slogan comes from the interpreter who believes the one who is taken in Matthew 24 is taken to judgment and the one who is left behind is righteous and enters the kingdom immediately on earth. (37) For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (38) For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, (39) and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (40) Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. (41) Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. (Matt 24:37–41 ESV) Amillennialists, posttribulationalists, and many pretribulationists argue that the ones who are taken, are taken to judgment, and the ones who are left, are left for deliverance. This interpretation, however, violates the natural reading of the passage. Specifically, this interpretation views those who are taken are the ones taken for judgment after the battle of Armageddon, and those who are left are those who survive the day of the Lord and enter the millennial kingdom. Their argument relates mainly to the Noahic illustration in verses 37–39. They contend the judgment of “the flood came and took them [the wicked] all away” parallels the event of “one will be taken.” But identifying “the wicked” with “those who will be taken” is mistaken for the following reasons: First, the domestic and agricultural illustrations in verses 40–41 parallel the Noahic illustration, so they are not intended to illustrate the illustration of the Noah illustration in verses 37–39. Rather, verses 40–41 intend to illustrate the climax of the Olivet Discourse, which is the gathering of God’s people at the parousia (Matt 24:30–31). At the separation when the parousia begins in verse 31, who is being taken? It is God’s elect, which is the whole point of invoking the illustration in the first place. Second, the other interpretation breaks the parallelism of the illustrations. Instead, Noah’s family being delivered is described first (“the day when Noah entered the ark,” v. 38), then the judgment upon the ungodly is described second (“the flood came and swept them all away,” v. 39). To preserve the parallel, a man in the field and a woman grinding at the mill is first described as taken (delivered), then the other man in the field and other woman grinding at the mill are left (judgment). Third, some translations render the action of the flood illustration in verse 39 as, “the flood came and took them [the wicked] all away.” The rendering “took” is unfortunate because unsuspecting readers may assume it is the same “taken” used in verses 40–41. There are two different Greek terms behind the English, containing nearly opposite meanings. The English Standard Version recognizes this and accordingly replaces “took” with “swept away” (“and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man,” Matt 24:39 ESV). The Greek term in verse 39 is airō, which in this particular context of the judgment-flood illustration means to “take away, remove.” In contrast, the Greek term in verses 40–41 is paralambanō, carrying the sense of intimate receiving. Some claim paralambanō does not always carry the sense of receiving in a positive sense. This is true,