Matthew 24:40

In the field. That is, in the countryside. The illustration probably pictures farmers (see on v. 18).

Shall be taken. Gr. paralambano. meaning literally, “to take to oneself,” used in the papyri of receiving to oneself articles that belong to him. Paralambano is used in ch. 17:1 of Jesus taking to Himself Peter, James, and John, and with them ascending the mount of transfiguration. In Col. 4:17 it is used of a Christian minister’s receiving the gospel commission. In John 14:3 paralambano is used of Jesus receiving to Himself the waiting disciples. By contrast, “took” in Matt. 24:39 is from airo, “to carry off,” “to remove.” The “one” of v. 40 is “taken” by the angels as they “gather” the “elect” (see on v. 31).

The teaching known as the “secret rapture,” according to which the saints are to be secretly snatched away from this earth prior to the visible return of Christ, is wholly unscriptural. Its advocates appeal to the statements of Christ in vs. 39-41 as proof. But these verses teach no such thing. The “coming” of ch. 24 is always, without exception, the literal, visible appearance of Christ (see vs. 3, 27, 30, 39, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50). At this coming “all the tribes of the earth ... see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven” (v. 30). Everything of the nature of a “secret” coming Christ attributed to the false christs (vs. 24-26). See on v. 27.

What Jesus meant by being “taken” and by being “left” is made clear by the context. Those who are left are the evil servants, who instead of continuing in their normal pursuits after a supposed secret rapture, are cut asunder and assigned their portion with the hypocrites (vs. 48-51).

Left. Gr. aphiemi, “to send away,” “to dismiss.” The Greek precludes the idea that it is the righteous who are “left.” The righteous are, literally, “received,” and the wicked “sent away.”