Left Behind or Taken
40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
INDEX:
INTRODUCTION:
The purpose of this page is to document Scriptural evidence with regards to the End of Days and specifically, who will be taken and who will be left behind at the coming of the Messiah.
There are a number of issues which add to the complexity of this topic but which also gives clues to the order of events in the End Of Days.
Does the tribulation period occur before, during or after the Messiah's return?
Will the 'gathering of the children of Israel' happen before, during or after the Messiah's return?
Will the 'gathering of the children of Israel' be sudden and unseen (ie. people just disappear) or will those remaining witness the event?
Will the 'gathering of the children of Israel' be a complete, one time event or will it happen in stages?
Are the righteous or the sinners 'taken away' prior to the beginning of the new millenium?
Will the earth be destroyed? If so, how?
If the earth is to be destroyed, will this be before, during or after the Messiah's return?
If the earth is to be destroyed, will it be rebuilt and/or re-inhabited by mankind?
Part of the problem with properly interpreting Scripture with regards to this topic is the large number of related but not necessarily linked events. To alleviate that confusion, I have tried to seperate events where possible. This has allowed me to draw some associations between events that are not necessarily timed or sequential.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
9'Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.' (KJV)
This verse states that the earth will be laid to waste. It also says HE will destroy the sinners 'from it' or 'out of it' but it does not indicate if this is before or after HE has gathered HIS 'chosen ones'.
20'Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.' (KJV)
21'For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.' (KJV)
This sounds a bit like the night of passover.
Joel 2:9 seems to indicate that this night will not be like passover where the children of Israel were able to stay in their houses until the angel of death passed over. It seems that the angels of YAHUSHUA will be seeking out all the inhabitants of the earth. However, the verses in Joel could be possibly referring only to the homes of the wicked.
13'Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.' (KJV)
13'I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.'
1'Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;'
2'A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.'
3'A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.'
Verse one (1) states that all the inhabitants of the land should tremble, not just the unjust.
If the unjust have been taken away, why would the just who remain in the land need to tremble?
Verse two (2) is evidence (two witnesses) that this day is in fact the day of the Messiah's return. In the book of Matthew 24:21 and Mark 13:19 the Messiah says this will a day unlike any day that has ever been or ever will be.
Verse three (3) states that what will be left is a flaming desolate wilderness.
If the unjust have been taken away, where are the just at this time?
According to verse three (3), nothing will escape.
If the unjust (tares) are going to be bundled and burned (Matthew 13:30), where are they going to be burned at?
9'They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.'
10'The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:'
11'And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?'
12'Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:'
13'And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.'
14'Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?'
Verse nine (9) seems to indicate that you won't be able to hide in your house, as some would intimate from (Isaiah 26:20).
30'And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.'
31'The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.'
Is this verse referring to a lunar and solar eclipse?
1'For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.'
2'But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.'
3'And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.'
Where will the children of Israel be during this burning?
If the wicked will be like ashes under our feet, didn't they get burned on earth before we returned or did we go through the fire and not get burned?
It seems that the evil ones got burned to the ground (earth).
3'Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.'
4'He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. '
5'Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;'
6'Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.'
7'A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.'
The destruction can happen all around but not affect those with YAHUSHA.
8'Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.'
Those with YAHUSHA will see the destruction of the wicked.
9'Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;'
10'There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.'
11'For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.'
The angels will protect those with YAHUSHUA.
12'They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.'
The angels will pick us up.
Possible take us off the earth?
13'Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.'
14'Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.'
This verse could be taken either way. It says he will destroy the sinners from it but he doesn't say before or after.
However, it does mention the angels bearing the good up.
It also mentions trampling under foot which implies from above.
And it mentions being set on high.
This verse seems to imply that the good will be lifted up before the evil are given their reward.
2'Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.'
10'The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.'
21'For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.'
22'But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.'
27'The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.'
28'The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.'
29'The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.'
30'The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.'
5"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." (KJV)
24'Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:'
25'But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. '
Satan came in and planted evil ones among the good.
26'But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. '
27'So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? '
28'He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? '
29'But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.'
Yahusha didn't want to pluck out the tares (evil ones) for fear of hurting the wheat (good ones).
30'Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind themin bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. '
The tares (evil ones) are gathered first and bound in bundles to be burned at a future time.
The wheat (good ones) are gathered into His barn.
Both groups are gathered.
The tares are gathered first and bound for a future burning.
The wheat is then gathered to a safe place (the barn).
A key point here is whether the earth is going to be destroyed or burned with fire.
If the earth is going to be burned with fire then the tares would be left to burn like the people outside Noah's arc were left to drown.
The barn (like Noah's Arc) could symbolize being 'lifted away' to safety while the earth is purged.
36'Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.'
37'He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;'
38'The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;'
39'The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.'
40'As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. '
The tares (evil ones) are gathered and burned.
41'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;'
42'And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. '
43'Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. '
Then the wheat (good ones) shall shine.
Since the earth is destined to be destroyed by fire, it seems that the tares (evil ones) will be left on earth to burn. However, this verse does state that 'the bad' will be gathered 'out of' the kingdom.
47'Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: '
The good and the bad are in this net.
48'Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. '
The good are gathered into vessels first and then the bad are cast away.
49'So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, '
The angels shall separate the wicked from among the just.
There is no mention of what they will do with each of them in this verse, just that they will be separated by the angels.
50'And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. '
The bad are burned.
27'For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.'
13'But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.'
I don't see how this verse supports either position.
YAHUSHA could save us by taking us away.
29'Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:'
These verses seem to establish the order of events. First the tribulation.
30'And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.'
Second all the tribes of the earth shall see the coming of the Messiah. Unlike the parallel passage in Mark 13:26, this verse states that ALL the tribes would witness the Messiah.
Would the tribes of the earth have time to mourn if the angels were coming upon them suddenly, 'like a thief in the night'?
However, if they knew their destruction (by fire) was immanent and their victims were taken away to safety...
When the rains got to the point of flooding the earth, I'm sure the people outside the arc were mourning the fact they had not listened to Noah.
31'And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.'
And thirdly the angels are sent to gather the elect.
37'But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.'
38'For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,'
39'And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.'
40'Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.'
41'Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.'
42'Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.'
In the story of Noah's arc, the people left on the earth were destroyed in the flood.
The ones lifted to safety in the arc survived.
64'Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. '
I don't see how this verse supports either position.
The evil ones will quite likely see YAHUSHA coming before they are burned to death.
24'But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, '
These verses seem to establish the order of events. First the tribulation.
25'And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. '
26'And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.'
Second shall be the coming of the Messiah. Unlike the parallel passage in Matthew 24:30, this verse does not who 'they' are.
27'And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.'
And thirdly the angels are sent to gather the elect.
I don't see how this verse supports either position. Although it does seem to lean toward the good being taken away to safety.
It doesn't say what will be done with the elect once they are gathered.
The fact that angels are doing the gathering suggests that the elect are fixing to be moved somewhere else.
62'And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.'
I don't see how this verse supports either position.
The evil ones will quite likely see YAHUSHA coming before they are burned to death.
33'Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. '
This seems to imply that those looking to stay in this world (the wicked ones) will lose their life.
34'I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. '
35'Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. '
36'Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. '
37'And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.'
Revelation 19:17-21 says the birds of the air will feast on the dead bodies of the kings and men that fight against YAHUSHA.
Matthew 24:28 is another verse which mentions the birds of the air during the end times.
Isaiah 18:5-6 is another verse which mentions the birds of the air during the harvest time.
This would suggest that they good people are the ones taken away to safety.
The eagles will be feasting on the dead that are left behind and the ones killed in the final battle.
25'And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; '
26'Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. '
27'And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. '
28'And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. '
9"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind," (KJV)
10"Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." (KJV)
50"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." (KJV)
15'For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.'
16'For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:'
17'Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.'
This is probably the strongest Scriptural evidence in support of the good people being taken away to meet YAHUSHA in the air.
4'But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.'
I don't see how this verse supports either position.
This simply tells believers to be watching and expecting the Messiah's return.
4'For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;'
'the angels that sinned have been cast down and are awaiting judgement'
9'The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:'
'...reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:'
10'But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. '
11'Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12'Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?'
Since we already know that the tares have been gathered and bundled to be burned, it seems that they evil ones will be left on the earth to burn up.
7'Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.'
We now know that everyone will seem the Messiah, both the wheat and the tares.
The wheat will be expecting him and be ready.
The tares will be taken by surprise and not know what to do.
Would the kindreds of the earth wail if the angels were coming upon them suddenly, 'like a thief in the night'?
However, if they knew their destruction (by fire) was immanent and their victims were being taken away to safety...
When the rains got to the point of flooding the earth, I'm sure the people outside the arc were wailing because they had not listened to Noah.
26'And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: '
While this is probably the strongest Scriptural evidence in support of the evil being taken and the good being left to have 'power over the nations', it doesn't conclusively say what 'power over the nations' means.
Since every nation will come under YAHUSHA (Scripture reference needed here), 'power over the nations' could simply mean ultimate survival.
3'Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.'
I don't see how this verse supports either position.
This simply tells believers to be watching and expecting the Messiah's return.
15'Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.'
I don't see how this verse supports either position.
This simply tells believers to be watching and expecting the Messiah's return.
16'And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.'
Who are the people being gathered to together into this place? Aren't they the evil ones? Aren't the evil ones going to be destroyed in this place?
MY CURRENT POSITION:
I do not believe the 'gathering of the children of Israel' (Rapture) will happen pre-tribulation.
While I have yet to determine the timing of the 'gathering of the children of Israel', I am confident that it will be AFTER the tribulation has begun.
I support this position with the following Scriptures:
I think the good are taken away and the evil ones shall remain to burned by the fire that will consume the earth.
I support this position with the following Scriptures:
I think the example of Noah (Matthew 24:37-39) could easily point out that the 'chosen' were lifted away for a while (as in the example of Noah's arc) while the wicked ones remained on earth to face their punishment.
While I agree that the coming of the Messiah will be a loud event, I do not agree with the conclusion that the wicked will not hear it. It seems that the verses the Messiah references could just as easily be saying that, for the wicked, this will be a surprise event and that they will not understand what is happening. For those following YAHUSHA, the event will be expected and they will know exactly what is happening. Those not following YAHUSHA will not know what is happening but they will definitely see the Messiah coming.
I support this position with the following Scriptures:
Note: I need to investigate the subject of a second Exodus as the method by which believers will be seperated from non-believers.