The Taken and The Left Behind

Tom Stidl | 01/25/2025

Submitted by Thomas Stidl

Last month we read a Gospel verse from Luke, Chapter 17. The reading begins in verse 34 where two people are in bed. The verse continues with the phrase that one will be taken and one will be left behind. Verse 35 states that two women will be grinding, one will be taken and one will be left behind. The disciples then asked the Lord where they would be taken. The Lord’ reply was, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather.” Some Christian scholars have interpreted this verse to mean that the taken are the good to be given a reward or rapture and the left behind are the ones to receive punishment. Of course, this passage refers to the angelic harvest at the end of time.

Other passages in the Christian Testament refer to the angelic harvest quite differently. As I recall from my grammar school days at the time of the harvest, the first harvest is that of the weeds. The weeds will be gathered for burning. This makes more sense when thinking about the Lord’s reply to the disciples. Vultures eat dead bodies. Therefore, the taken could not be interpreted as being given a reward or rapture. The vultures comment helps to clarify the taken and the left behind statement of the Gospel of Matthew.

It also makes sense that the Left Behind continue God’s work on earth. Freed from the weeds or temptations those Left Behind continue to grow in grace. The Book of Revelations states this perfectly when we read that those people continue “to wash their robes in the Blood of the Lamb.” When it comes time for their harvest, they are like the wheat to be gathered into the House of the Lord. One cannot take the Gospel of Matthew out of context without the interpretive verse from the Gospel of Luke. I pray that this explanation clarifies matters. It may make the “Left Behind” book series less desirable. Instead of considering these books fact, the books might be reduced to pure fiction. I believe that this article gives a more accurate explanation of the end of time.

Until next time, Laus Tibi, Christe. Deo Gratias. Gloria Tibi Domini. Praise be to God. See you in Paradise.

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About the Author

Tom Stidl

By way of introduction, I am a 72 year old cradle Catholic who spent approximately 12 years in the Real Estate Industry, 7 years working in a Collectables business (stamps and coins), and 26 years in the Direct Mail Data Processing Industry. I also now run a non-profit corporation in my spare time!!

While working, I also had the longest temporary position of my life being an usher for my local Catholic parish for 49 1/2 years.With the onset of Covid-19, I was retired from Church service although I still give out bulletins and the diocesan newspaper after Mass. I have attended Catholic schools for 13 years counting Kindergarten. I have attended weekly Mass, Holy Days of Obligation, and at times Daily Mass.

I can be contacted at stidl@verizon.net and may God richly bless all of us.