Leftbehind

WHO IS TAKEN AND WHO IS LEFT?
By Stephen P. Bohr
Senior Pastor Fresno Central Church

“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.” Matthew 24:40, 41

Early this year the Christian blockbuster movie Left Behind was released. Though we are not explicitly told
where the title came from, there can be little doubt that its origin can be traced to Matthew 24:40, 41. Here Jesus
announces that when He comes, two people will be working side by side in the field, one will be taken and the
other left. Two women will be grinding together at the mill, one will be taken and the other left. Those who believe
in a two stage coming of Jesus–one secret before the tribulation and the other visible and glorious seven years
latter–entertain no doubts that this text is referring to a secret coming of Jesus when believers will be taken to
heaven and unbelievers will be left behind on earth. On the other hand, Seventh-day Adventists who do not
believe in the secret rapture, have generally agreed that the righteous will be taken to heaven and the unrighteous
will be left on earth, but they disagree on just when this will happen. Seventh-day Adventists believe that when
Jesus comes in His glorious appearing, he will take the righteous to heaven for a thousand years while the wicked
will be left behind on earth. Thus, though these two interpretations differ as to when the righteous will be taken to
heaven and the unrighteous left behind, they agree that the ones who are taken are the righteous while those
who are left behind are the wicked. This normative and traditional view is found, for example, in The Seventh-
day Adventist Bible Commentary,1 the writings of Joe Crews,2 and more recently in a response paper by Jon

1
The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary categorically states: “What Jesus meant
by being ‘taken’ and by being ‘left’ is made clear by the context. Those who are left are the evil
servants. . . . The Greek precludes the idea that it is the righteous who are ‘left.” This
commentary, on the basis of the context and the usage of terms, closes the door on any
alternative interpretation. However, as we will see in this paper, a careful study of both the
context and the terminology allow an alternative explanation. [F . D. Nichol, editor. The
Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary (Washington, D. C.: Review and Herald Publishing
Association, 1980), volume 5, p. 504.]
2
Joe Crews, the late director and speaker of Amazing Facts, is no less categorical. He
states: “One will be taken to heaven with Jesus and the other will be left for destruction.” [Joe
Crews, What the Bible Says About the Secret Rapture (Baltimore, Maryland: Amazing Facts,
undated), p. 4.]

1

Paulien.3 Is it just perhaps possible that both interpretations are inaccurate? In this paper I would like to suggest
that there is a third interpretation which better fits the immediate and broader contexts of the passage as well as
the usage of terms.

We will seek to answer two main questions in this paper: 1) Can these verses be construed to mean that
there will be a two stage coming of Jesus? 2) Just exactly what do the words taken and left mean within their
original Biblical context? Before we proceed, I must warn the readers that they are in for a shocking surprise. The
initial reaction of most pastors and church members when I have shared this material has been one of disbelief.4

3
Though more tentative, New Testament scholar Jon Paulien leans toward the traditional
view. In a response to a recent article by Louis Torres, Paulien states: “It may be that in my brief
review of the biblical material I have missed crucial evidence that might yet carry the day for the
controversial points of Torres’s thesis, but the article as it stands falls short of proof for these
points.” Paulien is critical of Torres for depending on English translations rather than on the
original text. The present paper attempts to overcome this weakness in Torres’s presentation by
going back to the original flood context of Matthew 24:40, 41 and by analyzing the lexical
meaning of the biblical terms. In the same article, Old Testament scholar, William H. Shea
agrees with Torres’s view as does Adventist Review editor William Johnsson. Pastor Jerry Lutz,
on the other hand upholds the traditional view. It is noteworthy that Paulien, a respected New
Testament scholar, considers Torres’s view controversial. This shows that Torres’s
understanding is not the normative, traditional view. [For the full article, see, Roland R. Hegstad,
Editor, Perspective Digest, “Taken by the Rapture,” “Responses,” (volume 1, number 3, 1996),
pp. 47-59. Bold is mine.
4
This clearly indicates that in the run of the mill Seventh-day Adventist understanding,
the ones “left” are lost while the ones “taken” are saved.

2

But once cool theological heads prevail and they have had the opportunity to carefully examine the line of
evidence, most have been willing to admit that the concept makes sense and is more biblically accurate than the
traditional view. However, old traditions die hard and some have been unwilling to change their point of view in
spite of the weight of evidence.
WHAT THE TEXT DOES NOT SAY
As we begin our study it might be well to clarify what the text actually says and what many assume it
says. The text does not say that Jesus will take believers to heaven when He comes while unbelievers will be
left behind on earth. This view is an assumption which is read into the text based on other verses of Scripture
such as I Thessalonians 4:13-17 (though we will see that this passage also supports the perspective presented in
this paper). It is Biblically accurate to say that believers in Christ will be caught up to heaven when Jesus comes
and unbelievers will be left behind on earth for a thousand years, but this teaching cannot be derived from the text
we are studying here. Our text simply states that when Jesus comes, one individual will be taken while another will
be left What is meant by “left” and “taken” remains to be seen.

THE WHEN FACTOR
In order to determine when one is taken and the other is left, it is necessary to examine the immediate
context. In the immediately preceding verses (37-39) Jesus has been comparing the devastation that will take
place at His coming [parousia] with the destruction of the world by the flood in Noah’s day. In Matthew 24:3, 27,
37, 39 this coming is described with the word parousia. Verses 29-31 describe this event as anything but secret.
The flood in Noah’s day was far from secret– it destroyed all people on planet earth except for Noah and his
family. Significantly, the normal word for “flood” in the New Testament is potamos5 but this is not the word used
here. Instead, Jesus twice employs the word kataklusmos (verses 38, 39) from which we derive our English word,
“cataclysm.” This was no ordinary local flood, it was a universal cataclysm or catastrophe.

5
This word is used by Jesus in Matthew 7:25, 27 to describe the flood which swept away
the foolish man’s house. It is also used by John in Revelation 12:15, 16 to describe the river
which the dragon spewed from his mouth to drown the woman.

3

The parallel passage in Luke 17:26-30 not only compares this glorious coming of Jesus with the flood story but
goes a step further comparing it with the total destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire in the days of Lot. There
is simply no way this event can be construed as a secret rapture before the glorious coming of Jesus! Someone
might ask, yes, but how do you know that verses 40and 41 are referring to the same event as verses 37-39? The
answer is actually quite simple. Verse 40 begins with the Greek word tote which is translated in the KJV as
“then”but could also be translated “at that time.” In Matthew 24 this word is used repeatedly to describe a
sequence of events each following the other in chronological order.6 This must mean that the “taking” and
“leaving” of individuals in verses 40 and 41 will occur as the parousia comes to a close and not before. So,
irrespective of what “taken” and “left” means, it is clear that it happens at the glorious appearing of Jesus. So much
for the idea of a pre-tribulation rapture!

THE BROADER CONTEXT
But we must now turn to a more pressing issue: What is meant by “taken” and “left?” In order to answer
this question we must examine the broader context of Matthew 24:37-41. It is clear that the broader context is
found in the flood story of Genesis 6-8. A thorough study of the flood catastrophe is beyond the scope of this
paper so we will focus on a key verse which relates directly to the passage in Matthew 24. I am referring to
Genesis 7:23. The verse reads:

“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.”

6
This word is used in Matthew 24:9, 10, 14, 16, 21, 23, 30 [twice], 40, 45.

4

Even a cursory reading of this verse reveals that when the flood came there were only two groups: those
who were destroyed7 and those who remained alive.8 This closely parallels Matthew 24:37-39 where those
outside the ark were “taken away” or destroyed9 while those inside the ark were saved.

THE WORD “LEFT” (SHAWAR) IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
It is remarkable that according to Genesis 7:23 the righteous were left or remained, while the wicked were
taken away or destroyed. The word “remained” (shawar)10 in Genesis 7:23 is one of the many remnant words in
the Old Testament. It is beyond the scope of this paper to examine the meaning of each of these remnant words.
However, it behooves us to analyze the meaning of shawar because it is used in connection with the flood which
is the very subject of Matthew 24:37-41. This word is frequently employed to describe that which is left alive after

7
The word translated “destroyed” in Genesis 7:23 is machah. It is not the common word
for “destruction” in the Old Testament. It means “to blot out, to utterly eradicate, to erase.” It is
used to describe the blotting out of sins by God (Psalm 51:1, 9; Isaiah 43:25; 44:22) and also the
blotting out of names from God’s book of life (Exodus 32:32, 33; Psalm 69;28; 109:13;
Deuteronomy 9:14; 25:19, 20; II Kings 14:27). The word is also used in the flood story in
Genesis 6:7 and 7:4.
8
The New International Version translates: “Every living thing on the face of the earth
was wiped out. . . . Only Noah was left and those with him in the ark.” The New American
Standard Bible reads: “Thus He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the land.
And only Noah was left together with those that were with him in the ark.” The Revised
Standard Version reads much like the NASB. The Jerusalem Bible informs us that all was
“destroyed” and only Noah was “left”. The New English Bible tells us that all was “wiped out”
and only “Noah and his company in the ark survived.”
9
Matthew’s account tells us that the wicked were “taken away” by the flood (24:39).
Although the Greek word here for “taken away” (airo) is different than in verses 40 and 41, it is
still interesting that the ones “taken away” are not the righteous but the wicked. In the parallel
Lucan passage we see that the expression “took them all away” means that they were destroyed
(Luke 17:27, 29). Though lexical links are vitally important in the comparison of biblical
passages, it must be recognized that frequently parallel passages employ different terminology to
describe the same event. For example, the coming of Jesus is described in various New
Testament passages with the words apocalypsis, epiphaneia, parousia, and erxomai. Would
anyone contend that because the identical words are not used in each context they are referring to
different events?
10
In the vast majority of the cases where the Hebrew word shawar is used, the LXX
translates with the Greek word kataleipo which means “that which is left, that which remains.”
(See, for example, Genesis 7:23; Exodus 14:28; Numbers 21:35; Deuteronomy 4:27; Joshua
10:33; 11:8, 11, 14; Judges 4:16; I Kings 19:18; II Kings 10:11, 14; Nehemiah 1:2-3; Haggai
2:3; Isaiah 4:3; 11:11, 16; 24:6.

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a great calamity, military invasion or natural disaster. The Old Testament scholar, Gary G. Cohen, has the
following to say about the meaning of shawar:

“Shawar seems to be used almost exclusively to indicate the static action of surviving after an
elimination process. This process of elimination may have been natural (Ruth 1:3, ‘Nahomi’s
husband died; and she was left’). It may have been humanly caused (I Sam 9:24, ‘Behold that
which is left!’ Here Samuel is speaking of meat which was intentionally left for Saul to eat). Or the
elimination may have been the direct result of a divine intervention (Ex 10:19, ‘There remained
not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt,’ when God blew them away). No matter what the cause,
however, shawar points to that which remains or has survived.”11

Let’s take a look at some examples. Exodus 14:28 informs us that after the Red Sea swallowed up
Pharaoh’s armies, not one Egyptian remained or was left. Judges 7:3 tells us that after Gideon tested the
Israelite armies the first time, only 10,000 of the original 22,000 were left. In Numbers 21:35 we are told that
Moses slew Og, his sons, his people and none were left remaining. Deuteronomy 4:27 describes how God
promised to scatter Israel after which few in number would be left. In the book of Joshua we have several
instances where Joshua smote cities in Canaan until he left not one person alive. This is true of Gezer (Joshua
10:33), Hebron (Joshua 10:37), Debir where Joshua “utterly destroyed all souls and left none remaining (Joshua
10:39), those by the waters of Merom (Joshua 11:8), and the inhabitants of Hazor and the surrounding cities
(Joshua 11:11, 14). In Judges 4:16 we are told that Sisera and his armies were destroyed and not one man was
left.

11
Gary G. Cohen, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Bible
Institute, 1980), volume 2, p. 894. Ironically, one definition Cohen provides is “be left behind.”

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When Elijah complains to God that only he is left, he is informed that God has 7,000 left who have not
bent the knee to Baal (II Kings 19:18). In II Kings 10:11 we are told that Jehu slew all the house of Ahab “until he
left him none remaining” and the same is said of the brethren of Ahaziah (II Kings 10:14). When Assyria came
against Israel we are told that “there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.” Nehemiah l, verses 2 and 3 speaks
of the Jews who were left of the captivity and verse three refers to “the remnant who are left”. Upon the
completion of the second temple, the questions was asked: “Who is left among you that saw this house in her first
glory?” (Haggai 2:3). We will conclude with three references from the book of Isaiah. Isaiah 4:3 describes the
remnant which remains after Jerusalem has been punished with a devastating destruction12. The verse is so
important to our study that we will quote it in toto: “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.” What
is remarkable about this verse is that the ones who are left after the devastating destruction of Jerusalem, are not
the wicked but the holy ones who are written among the living!! What the text means to say is that while the
wicked were destroyed when the city was taken (more on this when we study what the word “taken” means), the
righteous were left alive or spared!! Isaiah 11:11, 16 refers to a remnant which are left from the Assyrian invasion.
Finally, we are told in Isaiah 24:6 that at the second coming the earth will be devastated and few men will be left.

THE WORD “LEFT” (APHIEMI) IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
The word aphiemi has a broad range of meanings in the New Testament two of which seem to
predominate. First, it is most commonly used to describe movement from one place to another. In this sense
Jesus is said to have left His disciples to go and pray (Matthew 26:64). It is also used to describe a fever leaving
Peter’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8:15), the moment the Herodians left Jesus after asking him about the tribute
money (Matthew 22:22), the sons of thunder leaving their father to follow Jesus (Mark 1:20), and the disciples
leaving all to follow Jesus (Mark 10:28). In this sense, the word could be translated “depart.” Dispensationalists
and Seventh-day Adventists would be the first to admit that this is not the nuance of the word in Matthew 24:40,
41. If the word aphiemi in Matthew 24:40, 41 means “to depart” then the ones taken (in the traditional view) would

12
Lamentably, because of space limitations, we will not be able to show that Isaiah 4 is
not merely describing events in the history of ancient Israel. It is really a prophecy regarding
what will take place in the end-time with the 144,000.

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be departing and the ones left would be departing as well! In the New Testament the word aphiemi can also mean
left in the sense of “that which remains.”13 Notice the following examples.

13
In English the word “left” can also have the same two connotations as in Greek. When
someone departs we say they “left.” But we also use the word “left” in the sense of “what
remains, or what is left, as in the following example: “Was anyone left in the room?”

8

Mark 12:20, 22 makes reference to a woman who had seven husbands but left no descendants. If she
had borne children we could say that descendants were left. In Matthew 23:38 we are informed that upon the
departure of Jesus, the temple was left desolate. In Matthew 24:2 Jesus announces to His disciples that not one
stone will be left upon another in the Jerusalem temple. Here the word “left” could very readily be translated
“remain”, that is, not one stone would remain upon another. In John 8:29 Jesus tells the Jewish leaders that His
Father has not left Him alone. Most scholars would agree that the word aphiemi in Matthew 24:40,41 is used in
this second sense. We have already seen that the Hebrew word “left” or “remained” in Genesis 7:23 refers to the
righteous who were left alive when the world was destroyed at the time of the flood. Would it not be consistent to
say that those who are left in Matthew 24:40, 41 are also the righteous who are left alive when Jesus comes and
destroys the world? After all, both Genesis 7:23 and Matthew 24:40, 41 are speaking of the same flood!!14

THE MEANING OF THE WORD “TAKEN” (LAKAD) IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
What is the meaning of the word “taken?” We will first examine the Old Testament meaning of this word
and then we will take a look at the New Testament testimony. In the Old Testament the word “taken” is frequently
used to describe cities or empires which are overcome, defeated or destroyed in a military invasion. It is also
employed to denote individuals who are overcome or ensnared by an enemy.15 The Old Testament scholar,
Walter C. Kaiser has the following to say about the meaning of lakad:

“Most of the 121 uses of lakad deal with men capturing or seizing towns, men, spoils, and even a
kingdom (I Samuel 14:47). It is used figuratively of the entrapment of men who are caught in
snares of all sorts laid by their enemies (Jer 5:26; 18:22; Ps 35:8). . . . This word also serves as a
figure of divine judgment. The Stone of Stumbling will cause many to stumble, fall, be broken, be
ensnared, and be captured (Isa 8:15). When God shakes the foundations of the earth, just prior
to the Millennium (‘many days’ of Isa 24:22), the ungodly shall be seized in the trap (Isa 24:18) as
were those who drunkenly mocked the prophet’s message (Isa 28:13).”16

14
Incidentally, though a different word is used (perileipo), I Thessalonians 4:15, 17
makes it clear that those who are left and remain at the parousia of Jesus are the righteous
living, not the wicked! A little later on in this study we will see that though different words are
used for “left” in Matthew and in I Thessalonians both passages are describing the same event
and therefore the words should be understood as synonymous. In other words, the key to linking
Matthew and I Thessalonians is not in wether both contexts employ the identical words but
rather wether different words are used to describe the same events!
15
In English we use the word “take” in a literal manner such as, “Please take mother
home.” But we also use it in an idiomatic or figurative sense: “The tornado took him by
surprise,” “The embezzler took him to the cleaners.”
16
Walter C. Kaiser, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Bible

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Institute, 1980), volume 1, p. 480. Kaiser suggests that lakad means, “ to capture, seize, take.”

10

Let’s look at several examples of the first usage. Joshua 8:8, 21, 22 describes how Ai was ambushed and
taken by Joshua. It is noteworthy that not one escaped or remained because they were all slain with the sword.
In these verses, it becomes obvious that “taken” is the antonym of “left.” In other words, the city was taken and not
one was left. Perhaps it would be helpful to state it this way: The city was taken or defeated and no one was
spared. If when the city was taken some had been spared, we could say that a remnant was left. Thus “left”
would be synonymous with “spared.” Several other references reveal the same meaning. In Judges 1:8 we are
told that Jerusalem was taken by the tribe of Judah and the inhabitants thereof were smitten with the sword.
Jeremiah prophesied that Jerusalem would be taken by Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 32:3; 38:28; 48:44). The
prophet left no doubt as to what he meant when he used the word “taken.” Jerusalem would be destroyed with fire
(37:8), and both husband and wife would be taken together (6:11). Obviously the word “taken” here does not
mean that the city or the persons would be removed to some other location. It simply means that the city and its
dwellers would be overcome or defeated. Jeremiah described the demise of Babylon with the same word
(Jeremiah 50:2, 9), saying that the mighty men of Babylon would be “taken” (51:56).17

Now let’s take a look at how the word “taken” is used in the case of individuals. In Psalm 59:12 we are told
that when the wicked are taken in their pride, they will be consumed by the wrath of God. Proverbs 3:26 assures
us that God will protect His peoples’ foot from being taken by the wicked. Obviously this does not mean that the
wicked will literally want to take the feet of God’s people. It is an idiom which means that God will not allow the
wicked to overcome His people. In Proverbs 11:6 we are told that transgressors are taken in their own
naughtiness. This simply means that the wicked are overcome. Ecclesiastes 7:26 assures us that the sinner is
taken by a wicked woman but the person who pleases God will escape from her. The sense of this verse is clear.
The sinner will be overcome or “done in” by a wicked woman. In contrast are those who escape from her power
because they please God. In Proverbs 5:22 we are told regarding the wicked: “His own iniquities shall take the
wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.” The New English Bible renders this verse: “The
wicked man is caught in his own iniquities, and held fast in the toils of his own sin.”

17
Interestingly, when Babylon is taken, Jeremiah 50:20 speaks of Israel in the following
terms: “In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for,
and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them
whom I preserve.” The word “preserve” (Heb., shawar; Gr., upoloipos) is usually translated
“left”. Notice, once again, that the ones who are left are the righteous.

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In closing, let’s examine three references from the prophet Isaiah. The first two are Messianic prophecies.
Speaking about Israel’s response to the first coming of Jesus we are told: “And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for
a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the
inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be
taken.” (Isaiah 8:14, 15). This list of synonyms makes the meaning of “taken” crystal clear. Other versions use
“caught” instead of “taken”. Don’t forget the word “snare” as we will come back to it later. Isaiah 28:13 presents
another prophecy regarding the destiny of Ephraim: “But the Word of the Lord was unto them precept upon
precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and
fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.” Once again, “taken” is used in a negative sense to refer to
those who are taken or caught in a snare. Isaiah 24:17, 18 describes the terror of the wicked when Jesus comes:
“Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. And it shall come to pass, that he who
fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be
taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.” In all the
references above, the Hebrew word for “taken” is the same.18

THE MEANING OF THE WORD “TAKEN” IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

18
The LXX usually translates lakad with lambano (Joshua 8:21; Jeremiah 32:3),
sunlambano (Joshua 8:22; Jeremiah 38:28; 48:44; 37:8; 6:11; Psalm 59:12), and katalambano
(Judges 1:8)

12

The word “taken” in Matthew 24:40, 41 comes from the Greek root verb lambano. This word is used
frequently and with great versatility in the New Testament. Its basic meaning seems to be “to take, to receive.”
However, lexicographers suggest that the word can also mean “To take away, to remove, to lay hands on, to
seize.” In this second sense the meaning of the word is very similar to the Hebrew word “taken” which we have
previously examined.19 We will not seek to document the many references where the word is translated “taken” or
“receive.” However it would be well to present a few examples of the second meaning referred to above. In Acts
2:23 Peter tells his Jewish hearers that they have taken (lambano) Jesus and crucified Him. The word here could
very well be translated “seized.” In I Corinthians 10:13 the Apostle Paul assures us that no temptation has taken
(lambano) us which cannot be overcome. The sense here seems to be “to overtake, overcome. In II Corinthians
12:16 the Apostle Paul tells the Corinthians that he caught (lambano) them with guile. This seems to indicate a
meaning of “catching by surprise.” In Matthew 21:39 we are told that Jesus was caught (lambano) and cast out of
the vineyard (see also, Mark 12:3, 8). Here the meaning once again seems to be that Jesus was “seized” and then
killed. Luke 9:39 refers to an evil spirit “taking” a person and tearing him apart and bruising him. The meaning of
lambano here is obviously “to seize, to overwhelm, to overcome.” II Corinthians 11:20 refers to deceitful workers
who bring the faithful into bondage, devouring them, smiting them and taking them. Here the word lambano is
used in conjunction with the idea of “smiting,” “devouring,” and “leading into bondage.”

Now that we have examined the basic meaning of the word lambano, it would be well to take a look at the
specific derivative of this word which is used in Matthew 24:40, 41. But first a word about prefix uses of
prepositions in Greek. As in English,20 Greek prepositions can be added as prefixes to verbs, nouns, etc. The end

19
See for example, William F. Arndt and F. Wilbur Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon
of the New Testament and Other Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press,
1979), pp. 464-465.
20
Notice the following examples: epicenter (the central place from which the waves of an
earthquake radiate), perimeter (the outer boundary of an area), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar),
hypertension (high blood pressure), paralegal (one who works alongside a lawyer), catastrophe
(literally, to turn upside down. overturn), anachronism (to go back in time), antitype (that which
takes the place of the type), antichrist (against or in place of Christ).

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result of adding these prepositional prefixes to words is to denote the location or direction of movement of that
which the word describes.

The word lambano is employed in the New Testament with many prepositional prefixes. For example, we
have paralambano (to take or receive alongside), analambano (to take or receive upward), katalambano (to
overtake, take away, overcome), sunlambano (to take with, to seize or to apprehend). Though each of these
words has its own particular nuance, it is important also to realize that these words do not always have exclusive
meanings. They frequently overlap and sometimes are used interchangeably. When we compare Jesus and Paul
we will see that this is the case with katalambano and paralambano. The specific word used for “taken” in
Matthew 24:40, 41 is paralambano. As previously noted, this word is used to describe the idea of being taken
“alongside” or “next to” someone else.21 The question immediately suggests itself: Why was paralambano used
instead of one of the others? The answer is not hard to find. Matthew 24:40, 41 describes two persons who are
beside or alongside each other when the door of probation closes. The wicked are with the righteous–they are
together, side by side. To paraphrase: “There will be two together in the field, one of these who is alongside the
other will be taken, while the other who is alongside will be left.” The fact that the righteous and the wicked are

21
As examples we can cite John 14:3 where Jesus promises to “receive” His followers
unto Himself; Matthew 18:16 where a church member is instructed to “take” one or two
witnesses with himself; Matthew 1:20 where Joseph is ordered to “take” Mary to himself to be
his wife; Matthew 12:45 where an evil spirit “takes” with himself seven other spirits; Matthew
4:5, 8 where the devil “takes” Jesus with himself to a high mountain; Matthew 17:1 where Jesus
“takes” with Himself Peter, James and John; Mark 5:40 where Jesus “takes” with himself the
parents of a dead child.

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alongside each other makes it necessary to use paralambano.22 It is imperative to realize that if Jesus had
wanted to express the idea that these people were going to be taken to heaven, He could have used other Greek
words which more appropriately describe the act of taking away.23

22
This idea of two people being together or alongside each other is brought out even
more clearly in the parallel Lucan passage. There we are explicitly told that "two women shall be
grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left." (Luke 17:35)
23
For example, He could have used harpazo which is employed in I Thessalonians 4:17;
Revelation 12:5; II Corinthians 12:2, 4; Acts 8:39 to describe a snatching away heavenward, or
He could have used analambano which is employed in Acts 10:16; Acts 1:11; I Timothy 3:16 to
describe a receiving up into heaven. Jesus could also have used airo or apairo which are
frequently translated “to take away” (Matthew 13:12; 21:43; 24:37; 25:29; Mark 4:25; Matthew
24:39; Mark 2:20).

15

This study of Matthew 24:37-44 would not be complete if we did not take into account a parallel passage
from the writings of the Apostle Paul. Really, this passage clinches the argument we have been pursuing. Even a
cursory comparison of Matthew 24:37-44 with I Thessalonians 5:1-6 immediately reveals that Paul and Jesus are
dealing with the same events–the close of probation and the second coming of Jesus. Let’s begin with Matthew
24:37-44. Here Jesus is speaking about the close of probation and the second coming (24:37-39, 44). There are
two groups: the taken and the left (24:40, 41). He commands His followers to watch (24:42). He describes his
coming as a thief in the night (24:43). He warns His followers to be ready lest that day catch them unawares or
unexpectedly (24:44; Luke 21:34 uses the word “suddenly”). He warns against being drunk (24:49) He also
explains that when He comes, the majority of the world will be destroyed or taken away (Luke 17:29; Matthew
24:37) The parallel passage in Luke has Jesus saying that His people should pray that that day should not catch
them as a snare so that they will be accounted worthy to escape all these things (Luke 21:36).24

The Apostle Paul echoes these concepts of Jesus. He refers to the same events–the close of probation
and the second coming of Jesus (I Thessalonians 4:14-17; 5:2; see also, II Peter 3 on the meaning of the “Day of
the Lord”).25 Paul refers to two groups: 1) Those who are alive and remain–the children of the day (that is to say,

24
It is of more than passing interest that the combination of words "taken," "left," "snare,"
and "escape" is used in several Old Testament passages which we have referred to before. One
prime example is Joshua 8 where the conquest of Ai is described. There we are informed that the
city was "taken," (8:8) that not a man was "left" (8:17), that is, none were allowed to "escape"
(8:22). Isaiah 24:6, 17-18 describes the second coming of Christ and explains that the wicked
will be "taken" in the "snare" and few men will be "left." Similarly, Ecclesiastes 7:26 speaks of a
woman whose heart is as "snares." But the righteous shall "escape" from her and not be "taken."
Isaiah 8:14-15 speaks of the inhabitants of Jerusalem being "taken" in a "snare" by the coming of
the Messiah.
25
Both Jesus and Paul speak of the second coming first and then admonish the faithful to
watch, to pray, to be sober, to be ready. We must remember that Paul is not beginning a new

16

those who are left), and 2) Those who are destroyed, the children of the night (4:15; 5:3-4). Paul warns Christians
to watch (5:6). He explains that the close of probation will come as a thief in the night (5:2, 4). He encourages
Christians to be sober and ready lest that day catch them unawares and by surprise (5:3, 6, 8). He warns against
being drunk (5:7) and explains that sudden destruction will come upon the wicked (5:3) He also warns that the
children of the night will not escape (5:3).

theme in I Thessalonians 5. He is continuing his argument from chapter 4.

17

A very important fact which has escaped many commentators is that in Matthew 24:40, 41 Jesus uses the
word paralambano to describe those who are “taken” while Paul, on the other hand, uses the related word
katalambano to describe those who are overtaken26 as a thief. Thus, a comparison of the statements by Jesus
and Paul reveals that those who are left (Matthew 24:40, 41) or remain (I Thessalonians 4:14) are contrasted with
those who are “taken” (Matthew 24:40, 41) or “overtaken” (I Thessalonians 5:4). Those who are left or remain are
saved while those who are taken or overtaken are lost!!27

26
The word katalambano is used in the New Testament to describe one who is seized
with hostile intentions. It is also translated, “overtake”, and “come upon”. For example, it is used
to describe the woman who was “taken” in adultery. This obviously means that she was caught
by surprise or seized in the very act (see John 8:3, 4). For a full definition of the word
katalambano, see, William F. Arndt and F. Wilbur Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the
New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press,
1979), pp. 412-413. Significantly, the LXX occasionally uses the word katalambano to describe
the "taking" of cities or persons.

27
Significantly, Matthew uses "taken," Paul uses "overtake," and Luke uses "come upon"
(Luke 21:34-35). Would anyone sustain that because Matthew, Paul and Luke employ different
words they are not describing the same event? Of course not!! All three expressions in their
context emphasize that the close of probation and the second coming will come upon the wicked
as an "overwhelming surprise."

18

Let’s now put everything we have studied in context. I believe that Matthew 24:37-39 holds the key which
unlocks the meaning of verses 40 and 41. Virtually all Seventh-day Adventist commentators28 assume that the
expression, “the coming of the Son of man” refers exclusively to the second coming of Jesus But, Is this entirely
accurate? A careful examination of verses 37-39 indicates that this expression is related to two sequential events
which are separate in time and yet are closely linked. Let’s quote the entire passage and highlight two key words:

“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 in marriage, until
(axri) the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until (heos) the flood came, and took
them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

28
The lone exceptions I have found are Ellen G. White and Louis F. Were who obviously
borrows from Mrs. White..

19

The careful reader will notice that the word “until” is used twice in these verses–the first time to mark off
the moment that Noah entered the ark and the second to mark off the moment when it began to rain. Genesis
makes it clear that a period of seven days elapsed between these two points of time. During these seven days the
wicked and the righteous were alongside each other. As Matthew makes clear, the wicked during this period “did
not know” that their fate was sealed, that is, that they were lost. They continued business as usual–they ate, they
drank, they built, they bought and sold, they planted, they married--planning for years of peace and prosperity.
They were taken by surprise, caught off guard, caught totally unawares when the door closed. Yet only when
the flood swept them all away did they realize that they were lost. Jesus compared this plight of the wicked with
the coming of a thief in the night (Matthew 24:42, 43).29 Let’s imagine a family who is home sleeping at 12
midnight. They have gone to bed and forgotten to lock the door. The thief comes and finds the door open. He
steals the jewelry (obviously not an SDA household!!), the video camera, the VCR, the television set and other
odds and ends. He has caught the family off-guard.

They have been taken by surprise and are unaware that the thief has visited them. It is only in the morning
when they wake up that they realize that they have been robbed. In a sense, they are surprised twice–the first time
they are caught by surprise or caught off guard and they are unaware of it, yet the second time they wake up and
are very much aware. The same will happen in conjunction with the second coming. The close of probation will
catch the world by surprise, off guard. However, at this point, the inhabitants thereof will be unaware that the door
of mercy has closed. The wicked will only realize that they are lost when they see Jesus coming on the clouds of
heaven with power and great glory. But then it will be too late. Too late they realize that the thief has come, so to
speak, and they have been found wanting. They are then taken away by a flood of fire (see II Peter 3:10-14). So,
the ones who are left are the saved and the ones who are taken are the lost.

The fact that Matthew, Luke and Paul use different terms to describe the same event need not surprise
us. Paul can speak of those who are “alive and remain” while Jesus can refer to those who are “left.” Matthew can
quote Jesus as saying that at the flood the wicked were “taken,” Luke can quote Jesus as saying that they were
“destroyed” and Paul can say that the wicked will be “overtaken.” Even today, when a devastating flood sweeps

29
For more on the coming of Jesus as a thief in the night, study carefully Revelation 3:3;
16:15 in the light of 3:18; Mark 13:34-37; Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, volume
2, pp. 190-192. See also, Revelation 22:10-12 and pastor Bohr’s audio-tape message,
“Revelation’s Life or Death Message,” available from the office of Prophetic Ministries, P. O.
Box 8057, Fresno, California 93747.

20

away a town people ask: “Did the flood take them all away? Wasn’t anyone left?” “Did the flood drown everyone?
Didn’t anyone remain?”“Was everyone swept away, wasn’t anyone preserved? Or even this way: “Did the flood
destroy them all? Wasn’t anyone spared?” Who would say that take away, swept away, drown and destroy are
not different ways of describing the same reality? And who would say that left, remain, preserved and spared are
not different ways of saying the same thing?

In closing, a couple of statements from the little old lady who wrote over ninety years ago:
“The righteous and the wicked will still be living upon the earth in their mortal state–men will be
planting and building, eating and drinking, all unconscious that the final, irrevocable decision has
been pronounced in the sanctuary above. Before the Flood, after Noah entered the ark, God shut
him in and shut the ungodly out; but for seven days the people, knowing not that their doom
was fixed, continued their careless, pleasure-loving life and mocked the warnings of impending
judgment. ‘So,’ says the Saviour, ‘shall also the coming of the Son of man be.’ Matthew 24:39.
Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of
every man’s destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy’s offer to guilty men.

‘Watch ye therefore: . . . lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping.’ Mark 13:35, 36. Perilous is
the condition of those who, growing weary of their watch, turn to the attractions of the world.
While the man of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure lover is seeking
indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments–it may be in that hour the
Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence: ‘Thou art weighed in the balances, and art
found wanting.’ Daniel 5:27.”30

“Jesus has left us word: ‘Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the house
cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly
He find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.’ We are waiting and
watching for the return of the Master, who is to bring the morning, lest coming suddenly He find
us sleeping. What time is here referred to? Not to the revelation of Christ in the clouds of
heaven to find a people asleep. No; but to His return from His ministration in the most holy
place of the heavenly sanctuary, when He lays off His priestly attire and clothes Himself with
garments of vengeance, and when the mandate goes forth: ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust
still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still:
and he that is holy, let him be holy still.’

30
Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 491.

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When Jesus ceases to plead for man, the cases of all are forever decided. This is the time of
reckoning with His servants. To those who have neglected the preparation of purity and
holiness, which fits them to be waiting ones to welcome their Lord, the sun sets in gloom and
darkness, and rises not again. Probation closes; Christ’s intercessions cease in heaven. This
time finally comes upon all, and those who have neglected to purify their souls by obeying the
truth are found sleeping. They became weary of waiting and watching; they became indifferent
in regard to the coming of their Master. They longed not for His appearing, and thought there
was not need of such continued, persevering watching. They concluded that there was time yet
to arouse. They would be sure not to lose the opportunity of securing an earthly treasure. It would
be safe to get all of this world they could. And in securing this object, they lost all anxiety and
interest in the appearing of the Master. They became indifferent and careless, as though His
coming were yet in the distance.” 31

31
Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, volume 2, pp. 190-192.

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