I am certain that most of you have seen the "Left Behind" movie or read some material about it. In the "Left Behind" movie those that are TAKEN (raptured) are the righteous, while the wicked are "Left Behind".
But I really think we need to take a second look at this "One Taken and The Other Left" phrase found in Matthew 24:39-41.
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
In verse 39 Jesus is saying that the flood took them all away. Now in Luke 17:26-27 speaking of the same flood event Jesus says " 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.
By comparing Matt. 24:39-41 with Luke 17:26-27 we understand that the word took or taken actually means to destroy.
Now Jesus referred to the flood of Noah's day being compared to His second coming. Genesis 7:23 states, And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and, Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.
After the wicked were taken or destroyed, who was left alive or left behind in the ark. Or we could say that Noah was not taken or destroyed by the flood, but remained alive or was left alive in the ark. Which means that Noah and His family was actually saved through the flood; not raptured out of the flood. And Jesus says in Matthew 24: 39-41 and in Luke 17:26-27 that the same thing that happened in Noah's day and Lot's day will happen at His second coming. In other words Noah was saved through the flood and in the end of time God's people will be saved through the great tribulation.
Still not convinced that the one's who are taken are destroyed and the one's who are left are saved. Let us examine some translations of Genesis 7:23 from BibleGateway.
Genesis 7:23
American Standard Version23 [a]And every living thing was [b]destroyed that was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only was left, and they that were with him in the ark.
Genesis 7:23
Christian Standard Bible23 He wiped out every living thing that was on the face of the earth, from mankind to livestock, to creatures that crawl, to the birds of the sky, and they were wiped off the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark.
Genesis 7:23
Common English Bible23 God wiped away every living thing that was on the fertile land—from human beings to livestock to crawling things to birds in the sky. They were wiped off the earth. Only Noah and those with him in the ark were left.
Genesis 7:23
Complete Jewish Bible23 He wiped out every living thing on the surface of the ground — not only human beings, but livestock, creeping animals and birds in the air. They were wiped out from the earth; only Noach was left, along with those who were with him in the ark.
Genesis 7:23
Contemporary English Version22-23 The Lord destroyed everything that breathed. Nothing was left alive except Noah and the others in the boat.
Genesis 7:23
Easy-to-Read Version23 In this way God wiped the earth clean—he destroyed every living thing on the earth—every human, every animal, everything that crawls, and every bird. All that was left was Noah and his family and the animals that were with him in the boat.
Genesis 7:23
Evangelical Heritage Version23 Every living thing that was on the face of the earth was wiped out, including mankind, livestock, creeping things, and birds of the sky. They all were wiped off the earth. Only Noah was left, as well as those who were with him in the ark.
Look up Genesis 7:23 in Biblegateway and you will see that some translations say that Noah remained alive, while others say that Noah was left alive. By this we know that those in Noah's day that were left behind after the flood destroyed or took or wiped out the wicked, are actually those who remained alive or those who were left alive.
Still not convinced that those who are taken are destroyed and those those who are left behind are saved. The word taken is usually associated with war, destruction and death, while the word left or remain is associated with being left alive.
Judges 1:8 Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.
Numbers 21:25,35 And Israel took all these cities.... v35 So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive.
Judges 4:16 And all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.
2 Kings 10:11, 14 So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.
Nehemiah 1:2,3 And I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity...v3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity.
Joshua 8:8,21,22 And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the Lord....v21 And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.
v22 ...They smote them. so that they let none of them remain or escape.
Joshua 10:28,32,33,35,37,39 And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain.....v32 And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that that were therein.....v33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had LEFT him none REMAINING. v35 And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day...v37 And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he LEFT none REMAINING...v39 And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he LEFT none REMAINING...
Isaiah 4:3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem.
So after examining the evidence I hope and pray that you will be one of the many who will be left behind or left alive after the wicked are taken or destroyed by the brightness of the coming Jesus Christ.
"And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming". 2 Thes 2:8
Consume is some translations means to slay or kill and as we have already learned destroy can mean took or taken. Therefore the wicked will be taken and destroyed while the righteous will be left alive or remain alive or be left behind alive.
By the example of the above scripture it is very clear which words explain what took or taken means and which words explain what left mean.
Took or Taken Means Left Means
-destroy or utterly destroy - To Remain alive
-to smite with the sword - To Escape alive
-to ambush - To Survive
-to wipe out - To be left behind
-to set on fire alive
-To slay or consume - Remnant that is
left alive
Now, do you want to be took or taken or do you want to be Left or Remain, choose wisely my friend?
To download source material please go to Secretsunsealed.org and click on the Resources tab, then click resources, select Free Study Notes. Then scroll down to "Who is Taken, Who is left" free PDF FILE.