Most will recall the prophetically related "Left Behind" novel and movie of some years ago in which those unprepared for Christ's return and translation of the faithful to heaven are "left behind" to undergo the rigors of outpoured judgment upon the earth.
Despite the objections of more than a few biblical scholars and, indeed, eventual acknowledgement by at least one of the work's authors as to having misappropriated Christ's words at this point, one yet hears the phrase "left behind" frequently quoted in the preceding sense. Scripture itself will clarify much of the confusion here.
The theme of the passage is "the days of Noah" - that which characterized the world of his time prefiguring a coming day of similar maleficience wherein Christ shall return (Matt. 24:37-41; Luke 17:34-37). Insensible to the times, those of the Noahic era "knew not until the flood came and took them all away" (Matt. 24:38-39). At Christ's return, many shall again be taken "as in the days of Noah."
Luke recounts that at this point of discourse, our Lord's Disciples asked as to the destination of those thus "taken." Jesus replied with a proverb: "Where the corpse is the vultures will gather" (Luke 17:37). By what stretch of imigination one is to discern a "Rapture of the Church" in these terms is little explained by those of such persuasion. It is not the righteous but unrighteous who are "taken," not to heaven but rather destruction - the presence of vultures constituting a consistent biblical metaphor for doom.
The foregoing again demonstrates the vulnerability of a "proof text" approach to Scripture wherein statements or verses are removed from context in the interests of predetermined premise. That such has often taken place in relation to Christ's pronouncement concerning the "days of Noah" becomes increasingly evident when examined in relation to Scriptural design and intent as a whole.
One might accordingly note, for example, that "the first resurrection" - which the Pre-tribulation school itself equates with Christ's return - includes those martyred for resisting the Antichrist and refusing his mark (Rev. 20:4-6). It is thus "the one who endures to the end...who shall be saved" (i.e., delivered; Matt, 24:13), etc.
What then is faith's answer? As per a once common slogan of the late "Jesus People" movement, the following applies:
"Keep the faith, baby!"
Burl Ratzsch
