Several years ago I remember a book that took the world by storm. It was called “Left Behind” by Tim LeHay. There were a series of these books plus a movie. I didn’t’ read any of them or saw the movie. However, many people believe that the good guys in this world will be taken away before the Apocalypse and those who refused to become believers were left behind for destruction.

If you are afraid of being “left behind” when the “rapture” comes then study the story of Noah and find out why you might prefer to be left behind after all!

Our Lord, Jeshua (Jesus) compared the generation of Noah to the generation that will witness the day of the Lord and the coming of the Son of Man. When the Messiah returns He will usher in a Day of Judgment. In that day, some will be taken away in judgment and others will be “left behind.”

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. (Matthew 24:40-41)

34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.(Luke 17:34-35)

Christians today often interpret these words to mean that when Jesus comes, the one taken will be whisked away to meet Him in the sky. Since the spouse left lying in bed is not a believer (he/she) will be left behind. Likewise, the one left working in the field is not a Christian, so he is left behind. You get the idea.

Contrary to popular teaching, however, the one “taken” is not raptured to join Jesus in the air. Just as the flood came and took people away in the days of Noah and fire and brimstone came to Sodom in the days of Lot, “taken away” refers to people taken in judgment!

The disciples ask Him, “Where will they be taken Master?” He answered, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered. (Luke: 37) In other words, the corpses of those taken away will be food for the birds. With these words, our Lord invoked the dire apocalyptic predictions of the prophets Ezekiel and Jeremiah. This would fulfill the prediction of a time in Israel’s future; the Jewish uprisings and the destruction of the temple at the end of the 1st c.

The horrific massacres of the war with Rome that engulfed the Jewish people of Yeshua’s generation fulfilled His prophecies. They would leave the dead bodies to rot under the sun, and they bestowed the same punishment to anyone who buried the body!! The people of the generation became food for the vultures. The Roman’s used the eagle (type of vulture) as the symbol of their empire. The Lord saw it all.

Those “left behind” in Matthew 24 and Luke 17 are the righteous not the wicked. Those left behind can be compared to Noah and his seven family members who survived the flood.

The thrust of the passage calls upon us as disciples to remain vigilant as we await the coming of the day of the Son of Man. Yeshua’s disciples must not be like the complacent generations of Noah and Lot that were caught unawares. The Messiah will come suddenly, like a flash of lightning, like a thief in the night.

“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:42)