I Wish We'd All Been Ready...
"Two men walking up a hill
One disappears and one's left standing still
I wish we'd all been ready
There's no time to change your mind, the Son has come and you've been left behind."
I saw DC-Talk perform this song in concert - an acoustic number with the lights low. It's a poignant song with a simple message - are you ready for the rapture?
The lyrics to this Larry Norman song are inspired by Jesus' words in Luke 17:34 "Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left." This passage is often used to support the doctrine of the rapture, but is that really what these verses are talking about?
What really happens to the man in this verse? Is he "taken", like Jesus says? Or does he disappear, like Larry says? It means the same thing, doesn't it? Well, not so fast. Let's take a look at the context of this verse. Let's let scripture define for us what it means to be "taken." But first, it is important to note that the disciples responded to Jesus' talk of people being taken by asking him, "Where, Lord?" The question is essentially "Where will they be taken?" We will get into Jesus' answer to that question later - and the answer was not "to heaven."
The context to the discussion begins in Luke 17:26. Jesus explains to his disciples what will happen during a period of time he calls "the days of the Son of Man." Jesus says it will be a time similar to the days of Noah and the days of Lot. People will be going about their normal business of life, eating and drinking, "until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all." The gospel of Matthew describes it this way: "and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away." (Matt. 24:39) Jesus is drawing a comparison. A man will be taken from the field in the same way that unbelieving people were taken away by the flood. In this context, it isn't the righteous who are "taken." It is the unbelieving who are taken.
Jesus explains more in Luke 17:30-36: "It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, let not the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house go down to take them away; and likewise let not the one who is in the field turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to keep his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life shall preserve it. I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, and the other will be left. There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken, and the other will be left. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left."
This is a warning to flee - and flee quickly. Noah was warned of impending judgement and of how to escape it. Lot was warned of impending judgement and urged to flee the city. Jesus tells his disciples they must be ready to flee as well. He warns that when the time comes you shouldn't gather your goods, you shouldn't look back, you shouldn't cling to your stuff, because if you do, you may literally lose your life. This is the same warning given to Lot. "Take your wife and your two daughters, who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city...Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, lest you be swept away." (Genesis 19:15,17).
The parallel account in Matthew 24:16-20 includes similar language in this warning to flee. "Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath."
So what exactly is Jesus warning about? Most Christians see these passages as referring to an end time event. Is it about the rapture like Larry Norman suggests? Or is about the reign of terror imposed by the anti-christ? Or is it about the last days final judgement by God as others suggest?
There are several clues that should provide insight into Jesus' warning. If this is about the rapture, why does Jesus say it will be similar to two stories of judgement? The rapture is supposedly a secret snatching away of Christians, not judgement of the wicked. If this is about the rapture, why would Jesus warn his disciples to flee to the mountains without looking back? What good would that do? The same questions apply if this were about the final day judgement. Why would Jesus warn the disciples to flee the final judgement? And where could they flee to anyway?
Is this referring to the anti-christ and his reign of terror? Again, that scenario doesn't fit with Jesus' warning. The illustration of Noah and Lot establish the imagery of God's judgement, not a period of evil rule and persecution. These stories depict the salvation of the righteous while the wicked are "taken" in judgement.
The specifics of Jesus' warning give us further insight into what is going on here:
1.) It includes a warning to flee Judea into the mountains (Matt 24:16). This establishes a perimeter for the event in question. Jesus indicates that safety can be found outside the area of Judea. If this were a worldwide catastrophe, you wouldn't find safety by fleeing Judea.
2.) People will be residing on their rooftops (Luke 17:31). This small, but important detail should not be overlooked. This isn't describing your typical American neighborhood - but it certainly describes a typical residence in ancient Jerusalem. Portions of everyday life in Jerusalem were conducted on the rooftops. Since many of the buildings were in close proximity, one could travel along the rooftops if necessary. Even today, you can tour Jerusalem through a rooftop tour.
3.) It will be a dreadful time for pregnant or nursing mothers (Matt 24:19). If Jesus is warning Christians in the 21st century to flee an impending terrible event, why would this be such a problem for pregnant or nursing women? It might be uncomfortable for a pregnant woman to drive to the hills in her SUV, but would it be "dreadful"? This warning makes more sense if the people who would experience these events didn't have the transportation options we have today.
4.) It will be difficult if people must flee in winter or on the Sabbath (Matt. 24:20). Why is it so terrible to flee in the winter? Again, this warning makes more sense if those fleeing had to travel on foot. The prospects of traveling in winter are hardly as daunting today as they would have been in Jesus' time. Why would it be bad to flee on the Sabbath? This simple statement severely restricts the time period of the events in question. Unlike today, the city gates in Jerusalem during Jesus' day would have been shut on the Sabbath. This would have been a problem for someone trying to leave the city.
If Jesus is referring to an ancient event centered in Judea, what event is he referring to? Why would his followers need to flee Judea like Lot and his family fled Sodom and Gomorrah? Before we look at the answer to this question, let's return to the question the disciples asked Jesus, "Where, Lord?" Jesus had just described how some people will be "taken." Jesus answers the question like this "Where the body is, there also will the vultures be gathered." If you wanted to find a dead body in the desert, where would you look? Just look in the sky, and wherever you see vultures circling overhead, you can be sure a dead body is nearby. In essence, Jesus is saying "You want to know where they will be taken? You'll know by the sight of vultures circling overhead." Two men will be walking up a hill, one will be taken and the other left. This "taking" is bad. It means you will soon be vulture food.
Luke gives us more detail about this terrible event, including the sign his disciples would see and recognize that it's time to flee. "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is at hand. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the midst of the city depart, and let not those who are in the country enter the city; because these are the days of punishment in order that all things which are written may be fulfilled. Woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babes in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land, and wrath to this people, and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." (Luke 21:20-24).
Jesus wasn't talking about the rapture, or the antichrist, or the end of time. The focus is on Jerusalem and its destruction. Jesus warned that the city would be surrounded by armies. This was a sign that his followers must flee. Do not gather your things. Just go. This was a warning of the impending judgement of Jerusalem. Wrath would be carried out by the edge of the sword. People would be taken as captives. Others would become food for vultures.
This destruction occurred in 70AD, as Titus surrounded Jerusalem with the armies of Rome. Josephus later wrote of the terrible slaughter and destruction, "The slaughter within was even more dreadful than the spectacle from without. Men and women, old and young, insurgents and priests, those who fought and those who entreated mercy, were hewn down in indiscriminate carnage. The number of the slain exceeded that of the slayers. The legionaries had to clamber over heaps of dead to carry on the work of extermination."1 Titus refused to accept a victory wreath, saying that the victory did not come through his own efforts but that he had merely served as an instrument of God's wrath.
Jesus spoke of this impending judgement on several occasions. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! Behold, your house is being left to you desolate." (Matt 23:37-38) And also: "I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." (Matt. 21:43-44)
Jerusalem had largely rejected Jesus as their Messiah just as they had rejected and killed the prophets before Him. The consequence of this rejection was judgement and desolation. A hallmark of the judgement on Jerusalem was the destruction of the temple during the siege of Titus. Jesus predicted the destruction of the temple in Matthew 24:2. To the Jews living at this time, this would have seemed like the end of the world, and likewise, Jesus described the impending doom in the intense language of the Old Testament prophets. However, Jesus was offering safety to those who received him as their King - just as he offered safety to Noah and Lot. Although the death toll in Jerusalem totaled over 1,000,000 people, history does not record a single Christian perishing in the destruction. They fled to the mountains when the Roman armies approached just as Jesus instructed them to, and they were saved.
1 Milman, The History of the Jews, book 16
"Two men walking up a hill
One disappears and one's left standing still
I wish we'd all been ready
There's no time to change your mind, the Son has come and you've been left behind."
I saw DC-Talk perform this song in concert - an acoustic number with the lights low. It's a poignant song with a simple message - are you ready for the rapture?
The lyrics to this Larry Norman song are inspired by Jesus' words in Luke 17:34 "Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left." This passage is often used to support the doctrine of the rapture, but is that really what these verses are talking about?
What really happens to the man in this verse? Is he "taken", like Jesus says? Or does he disappear, like Larry says? It means the same thing, doesn't it? Well, not so fast. Let's take a look at the context of this verse. Let's let scripture define for us what it means to be "taken." But first, it is important to note that the disciples responded to Jesus' talk of people being taken by asking him, "Where, Lord?" The question is essentially "Where will they be taken?" We will get into Jesus' answer to that question later - and the answer was not "to heaven."
The context to the discussion begins in Luke 17:26. Jesus explains to his disciples what will happen during a period of time he calls "the days of the Son of Man." Jesus says it will be a time similar to the days of Noah and the days of Lot. People will be going about their normal business of life, eating and drinking, "until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all." The gospel of Matthew describes it this way: "and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away." (Matt. 24:39) Jesus is drawing a comparison. A man will be taken from the field in the same way that unbelieving people were taken away by the flood. In this context, it isn't the righteous who are "taken." It is the unbelieving who are taken.
Jesus explains more in Luke 17:30-36: "It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, let not the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house go down to take them away; and likewise let not the one who is in the field turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to keep his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life shall preserve it. I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, and the other will be left. There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken, and the other will be left. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left."
This is a warning to flee - and flee quickly. Noah was warned of impending judgement and of how to escape it. Lot was warned of impending judgement and urged to flee the city. Jesus tells his disciples they must be ready to flee as well. He warns that when the time comes you shouldn't gather your goods, you shouldn't look back, you shouldn't cling to your stuff, because if you do, you may literally lose your life. This is the same warning given to Lot. "Take your wife and your two daughters, who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city...Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, lest you be swept away." (Genesis 19:15,17).
The parallel account in Matthew 24:16-20 includes similar language in this warning to flee. "Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath."
So what exactly is Jesus warning about? Most Christians see these passages as referring to an end time event. Is it about the rapture like Larry Norman suggests? Or is about the reign of terror imposed by the anti-christ? Or is it about the last days final judgement by God as others suggest?
There are several clues that should provide insight into Jesus' warning. If this is about the rapture, why does Jesus say it will be similar to two stories of judgement? The rapture is supposedly a secret snatching away of Christians, not judgement of the wicked. If this is about the rapture, why would Jesus warn his disciples to flee to the mountains without looking back? What good would that do? The same questions apply if this were about the final day judgement. Why would Jesus warn the disciples to flee the final judgement? And where could they flee to anyway?
Is this referring to the anti-christ and his reign of terror? Again, that scenario doesn't fit with Jesus' warning. The illustration of Noah and Lot establish the imagery of God's judgement, not a period of evil rule and persecution. These stories depict the salvation of the righteous while the wicked are "taken" in judgement.
The specifics of Jesus' warning give us further insight into what is going on here:
1.) It includes a warning to flee Judea into the mountains (Matt 24:16). This establishes a perimeter for the event in question. Jesus indicates that safety can be found outside the area of Judea. If this were a worldwide catastrophe, you wouldn't find safety by fleeing Judea.
2.) People will be residing on their rooftops (Luke 17:31). This small, but important detail should not be overlooked. This isn't describing your typical American neighborhood - but it certainly describes a typical residence in ancient Jerusalem. Portions of everyday life in Jerusalem were conducted on the rooftops. Since many of the buildings were in close proximity, one could travel along the rooftops if necessary. Even today, you can tour Jerusalem through a rooftop tour.
3.) It will be a dreadful time for pregnant or nursing mothers (Matt 24:19). If Jesus is warning Christians in the 21st century to flee an impending terrible event, why would this be such a problem for pregnant or nursing women? It might be uncomfortable for a pregnant woman to drive to the hills in her SUV, but would it be "dreadful"? This warning makes more sense if the people who would experience these events didn't have the transportation options we have today.
4.) It will be difficult if people must flee in winter or on the Sabbath (Matt. 24:20). Why is it so terrible to flee in the winter? Again, this warning makes more sense if those fleeing had to travel on foot. The prospects of traveling in winter are hardly as daunting today as they would have been in Jesus' time. Why would it be bad to flee on the Sabbath? This simple statement severely restricts the time period of the events in question. Unlike today, the city gates in Jerusalem during Jesus' day would have been shut on the Sabbath. This would have been a problem for someone trying to leave the city.
If Jesus is referring to an ancient event centered in Judea, what event is he referring to? Why would his followers need to flee Judea like Lot and his family fled Sodom and Gomorrah? Before we look at the answer to this question, let's return to the question the disciples asked Jesus, "Where, Lord?" Jesus had just described how some people will be "taken." Jesus answers the question like this "Where the body is, there also will the vultures be gathered." If you wanted to find a dead body in the desert, where would you look? Just look in the sky, and wherever you see vultures circling overhead, you can be sure a dead body is nearby. In essence, Jesus is saying "You want to know where they will be taken? You'll know by the sight of vultures circling overhead." Two men will be walking up a hill, one will be taken and the other left. This "taking" is bad. It means you will soon be vulture food.
Luke gives us more detail about this terrible event, including the sign his disciples would see and recognize that it's time to flee. "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is at hand. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the midst of the city depart, and let not those who are in the country enter the city; because these are the days of punishment in order that all things which are written may be fulfilled. Woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babes in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land, and wrath to this people, and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." (Luke 21:20-24).
Jesus wasn't talking about the rapture, or the antichrist, or the end of time. The focus is on Jerusalem and its destruction. Jesus warned that the city would be surrounded by armies. This was a sign that his followers must flee. Do not gather your things. Just go. This was a warning of the impending judgement of Jerusalem. Wrath would be carried out by the edge of the sword. People would be taken as captives. Others would become food for vultures.
This destruction occurred in 70AD, as Titus surrounded Jerusalem with the armies of Rome. Josephus later wrote of the terrible slaughter and destruction, "The slaughter within was even more dreadful than the spectacle from without. Men and women, old and young, insurgents and priests, those who fought and those who entreated mercy, were hewn down in indiscriminate carnage. The number of the slain exceeded that of the slayers. The legionaries had to clamber over heaps of dead to carry on the work of extermination."1 Titus refused to accept a victory wreath, saying that the victory did not come through his own efforts but that he had merely served as an instrument of God's wrath.
Jesus spoke of this impending judgement on several occasions. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! Behold, your house is being left to you desolate." (Matt 23:37-38) And also: "I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." (Matt. 21:43-44)
Jerusalem had largely rejected Jesus as their Messiah just as they had rejected and killed the prophets before Him. The consequence of this rejection was judgement and desolation. A hallmark of the judgement on Jerusalem was the destruction of the temple during the siege of Titus. Jesus predicted the destruction of the temple in Matthew 24:2. To the Jews living at this time, this would have seemed like the end of the world, and likewise, Jesus described the impending doom in the intense language of the Old Testament prophets. However, Jesus was offering safety to those who received him as their King - just as he offered safety to Noah and Lot. Although the death toll in Jerusalem totaled over 1,000,000 people, history does not record a single Christian perishing in the destruction. They fled to the mountains when the Roman armies approached just as Jesus instructed them to, and they were saved.
1 Milman, The History of the Jews, book 16
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