Submitted by: RockyMtnHiker | View Member Profile | View Other Posts
Created: 3/14/2003
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Why I Want to Be Left Behind
A survey of what the Bible says about being left behind
Matthew 24:36-42: “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days
before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and TOOK them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be TAKEN and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be TAKEN and the other left.
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
Comment: Note the parallel events. In the past, the flood took the lost to destruction. In the future, “one” will be taken to destruction, if we follow the parallel comparison logically. Those left would escape this destruction. They are the saved ones.
Luke 17:22-37 (excerpts for brevity): ". . . . For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. . . .
“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating,
drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and
destroyed them all.
“It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and
building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
“It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. . . . I tell you, on that night two people will be on one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.
“Where, Lord?” they asked.
"He replied, Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”
Comment: Note once again the parallels. In the past, the flood destroyed the lost and the fire and brimstone destroyed the evildoers in Sodom. In the future, some will be taken while others are left. The disciples ask “Where?” Where will they be taken? To destruction, because the vultures will gather to feast on the dead bodies.
Revelation 19:11-18: "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
"And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come,
gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great.”
Comment: In this chapter that depicts the coming of Jesus, the first of His activities mentioned is His dealings with the lost.
Once again the vultures are pictured as feasting on vast numbers of dead bodies.
Matthew 13:30: “‘Let both [weeds and wheat] grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the
harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
Comment: Notice that His parable points out that the lost are dealt with first.
1 Thessalonians 5:2-4: ". . . . the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying,
“Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
"But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief."
Comment: This passage makes it clear that an event as unexpected or unpredictable in its timing as the arrival of a thief does not remain undiscerned. When Jesus comes, destruction will fall. He wants us to watch and prepare, so that we will not be destroyed.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (excerpts for brevity): "Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed. . . . Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come, until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
". . . . For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. . . . The coming of the
lawless one will . . . [deceive] those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. . . ."
Comment: Before Jesus comes and we are gathered with Him, a great deception and rebellion will occur. When Jesus comes, His splendor will destroy the deceived and rebellious ones.
Psalm 46:1,2: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear,
though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, . . ."
Comment: If we expect to go through that time on our own, we will be incredibly frightened and anxious. But God will as always be our refuge and strength. Praise His mighty name and His mighty power!
Psalm 91:1-12: "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will
say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling--even the Lord, who is my refuge--then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."
Comment: What a heart-warming promise this psalm gives us. We are safe from plagues, terrors and snares when we dwell in His shelter and trust in Him. Our Mighty God can handle it all, and we will get to see it first hand!
Four reasons I’m glad to know that I will be left behind.
1. To be left is to be left alive to go to heaven. To be taken is to be swept away in destruction.
See Matthew 24:36-42 and Luke 17:22-37
2. I want to know now that there is no second chance for me or anyone around me. I must love truth now
and share it with anyone I can, and not imagine that we’ll have another chance if we’re mistaken now.
See Matthew 13:30 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
3. I want to understand now that the biblical warnings about strong deceptions in the last days apply to me, so that I can watch and be prepared. If I mistakenly expected to be taken out of this world before these
last-day deceptions, I might become confused and deceived.
See 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
4. I want to have faith now that my Father God will be with me through even the trouble of the last days, so
that my faith in Him can be strong and unwavering in that day, and I can even revel in my expectation of His mighty help.
See Psalm 46:1,2 and Psalm 91
