Changes

Beginning in 1824 with the preaching of [[John Nelson Darby]] and the Plymouth Brethren, Matthew chapter 24 verses 40 and 41 have been more widely read by many Christians as referring instead to the [[rapture]] of the righteous who will be taken when the Son of Man returns. The passage states clearly that wicked were taken in the flood, and the righteous were left (alive, in the ark). But, in a stunning reversal of [[Semantics|grammatical meaning]], when the Son of Man appears the righteous who have been saved will be taken, and the wicked will be left.  

Beginning in 1824 with the preaching of [[John Nelson Darby]] and the Plymouth Brethren, Matthew chapter 24 verses 40 and 41 have been more widely read by many Christians as referring instead to the [[rapture]] of the righteous who will be taken when the Son of Man returns. The passage states clearly that wicked were taken in the flood, and the righteous were left (alive, in the ark). But, in a stunning reversal of [[Semantics|grammatical meaning]], when the Son of Man appears the righteous who have been saved will be taken, and the wicked will be left.  

The grammatical structure of the text does not support this reading: in ''both'' instances, in "parallel construction", it is the wicked who were taken and the wicked who will be taken; the righteous were left, alive (when the waters receded), and the righteous will be left, alive, with the Lord, "when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus." 2&nbsp;Thessalonians 1:7b-8. The wicked will be ''taken away by him''— '''παραλαμβάνεται''' ''paralambanetai'' emphasizes the meaning of "'''''received''''' [to Himself]—the wicked will be ''taken away by him'' to judgment and condemnation and "found no more" ''anywhere'' on earth, and [https://biblehub.com/job/18-14.htm "''marched off to the king of terrors''" <nowiki>[death]</nowiki> (Job 18:14)].  

The grammatical structure of the text does not support this reading: in ''both'' instances, in "parallel construction", it is the wicked who were taken and the wicked who will be taken; the righteous were left, alive (when the waters receded), and the righteous will be left, alive, with the Lord, "when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting [[vengeance]] upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus." 2&nbsp;Thessalonians 1:7b-8. The wicked will be ''taken away by him''— '''παραλαμβάνεται''' ''paralambanetai'' emphasizes the meaning of "'''''received''''' [to Himself]—the wicked will be ''taken away by him'' to judgment and condemnation and "found no more" ''anywhere'' on earth, and [https://biblehub.com/job/18-14.htm "''marched off to the king of terrors''" <nowiki>[death]</nowiki> (Job 18:14)].  

:"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'''; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 13:41-42.<br>"''I passed by again, and he could not be found.''"—compare [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+37&version=RSVCE Psalm 37. "But the wicked perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures, '''they vanish—like smoke they vanish away'''" (Psalm 37:20 RSVCE ''boldface emphasis added'')]. See also [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi+4%3A1-3&version=KJV Malachi 4:1-3]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A40-43&version=KJV Matthew 13:40-43]. The righteous will be left.

:"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'''; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 13:41-42.<br>"''I passed by again, and he could not be found.''"—compare [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+37&version=RSVCE Psalm 37. "But the wicked perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures, '''they vanish—like smoke they vanish away'''" (Psalm 37:20 RSVCE ''boldface emphasis added'')]. See also [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi+4%3A1-3&version=KJV Malachi 4:1-3]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A40-43&version=KJV Matthew 13:40-43]. The righteous will be left.