Left Behind

I have to say, growing up, one of the most memorable and moving Christian movies of our family collection was Left Behind.  

Left Behind was a modern-day film foretelling and dramatizing the events preceding the final coming of Christ.  The plot involved a family that was divided in its beliefs and values.  Part of the family believed in God and the coming judgement, while the other was atheistic and despised any and every religious conversation ever brought up.  Well, the story hits climax when there is a sudden disappearing of believers around the globe, including the believing family members.  

Sadly, Left Behind had always somewhat shaped how I understood the foretold events of the second coming of Christ.  Recently, as I was studying the biblical teachings of Jesus, specifically the parable he used to describe the end of the world, an entirely contrary and opposing interpretation began to formulate in my mind.  

The first being the parable of Wheat and the Tares. 

Jesus shares this parable with the multitudes.  Shortly after, while in private, the disciples ask him to explain to them the meaning of the Parable.  

Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed.  The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one.  The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.  Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world.  The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. (Matt. 13:37-41 NLT)

Jesus claims the world to be His Kingdom where he plants his seeds.  The enemy also plants his seeds in the same field.  Notice, at harvest it is the bad seed and not the good seed that is being removed from the field (world). 

The KJV states

The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (vs. 41-43)

I always perceived it was the good seed that was going to be removed and separated from the bad seed, yet the above-described parable argues otherwise.  

I immediately began to question the passages that describe the separation and departure of believers, where one is taken while the other left behind.  They didn’t quite agree with the parable of the wheat and tares.  

That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.  Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left.  Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.  (Matt. 24:39-41 NLT)

I started to ask the Holy Spirit to show me why they seem to contradict each other.  The next day while I was engaged in something entirely irrelevant, a thought came to mind.  Could it be, that in that verse, just as in the parable of the tares, Jesus was actually referring to the evil ones as being taken, while the righteous left behind?

I quickly returned to my study and looked up all the translations of that verse.  It was the amplified version that immediately caught my attention

At that time two men will be in the field; one will be taken [for judgment] and one will be left.  Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken [for judgment] and one will be left. (Matt. 24:39-41 AMP)

Notice the “taken” are connected with “for judgement”. 

As the angels are sent to remove the tares to be burnt in the fire in the parable of the wheat and the tares, so are the “taken” people removed for judgment. 

 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it. (Pr. 2:22)

I understand there is still much more truth to be uncovered to what the Bible reveals on the second coming of Christ, and this is but a small piece of the puzzle.  Yet this piece had altered my viewpoint entirely.  

 

Supporting Texts

The righteous shall inherit the land...(Ps. 37:29)

The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. (Pr. 10:30)

Every plant, which my heavenly father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. (Matt. 15:13) 

For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. (Ps 37:9)

See also Luke 17:22-36 notice who was removed from the earth for judgement from each scenario, the wicked or the righteous