MISINTERPRETED: ONE WILL BE TAKEN AND THE OTHER LEFT

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One of the Bible verses that is most popularly misinterpreted is Matthew chapter 24 verse 40.

(Matthew 24:40 KJV) Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 

Many Christians believe that the one that is taken, is the one that is raptured and taken to heaven while the one that is left is the one that is left on earth to suffer tribulation.

However, a study of this verse in context shows that this verse has nothing to do with rapture or going to heaven and that the one that is "taken" is even the wicked not the righteous.

(Matthew 24:37-41 KJV) But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 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, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

In the above analogy, the wicked were the ones taken by the flood. The righteous were the ones left. Jesus said that His return will be like the days of Noah, and just as the flood took away everyone outside of the Ark, so also will the wicked be taken away when Messiah returns. This is the opposite of the belief which portrays the godly as being taken away and the wicked being left behind.

The Amplified Version of the Bible puts it correctly:

(Matthew 24:40 AMP) At that time two men will be in the field; one will be taken [for judgment] and one will be left.

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