In church today, an epiphany: a revelatory new reading of a troublesome text. The text is one of those cited by Rapture-minded folks.
This sounds like some people will be zapped - presumably right into the bosom of Abraham - vanishing into thin air, their erstwhile companions flummoxed. That's the premise of the Left Behind books, which begin with an extended account of how the sudden disappearance of the blessed (leaving behind only clothes, glasses and tooth fillings!) will leave chaos in their wake - some of those "raptured" were airplane pilots - though it's only a foretaste of the Tribulation to come.
But is that really what's going on? Mother Susan Hill suggested that Rapture readings get it backwards. Jesus is telling us not to be the ones taken away. We should hope to be the ones left behind. Consider, she said, the context. Here's the passage in context:
36 “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
The parallel with the time of Noah is the key. Those who lose themselves in mindless dissipation are the ones swept away by the flood. The implication seems to be that we, too, could let ourselves be swept away by the tide of sinful temptation - so we'll be gone when Jesus comes as a thief in the night - or remain awake, so we'll be there.
It's a glorious piece of interpretation, consonant, too, with understandings of apocalypticism as not about destroying the world but redeeming it. And it has an additional benefit. Eager as they are to be spirited away, Rapture-ready Christians are among those most likely to ignore or even contribute to the destruction of life on earth. For them this world is like a ladder you kick away on your way up to something better - unless it gets its claws into you, dragging you with it to destruction.
A new heaven and a new earth are promised, but they're promised here. Stay.
40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. (Matthew 24, NRSV)
This sounds like some people will be zapped - presumably right into the bosom of Abraham - vanishing into thin air, their erstwhile companions flummoxed. That's the premise of the Left Behind books, which begin with an extended account of how the sudden disappearance of the blessed (leaving behind only clothes, glasses and tooth fillings!) will leave chaos in their wake - some of those "raptured" were airplane pilots - though it's only a foretaste of the Tribulation to come.
But is that really what's going on? Mother Susan Hill suggested that Rapture readings get it backwards. Jesus is telling us not to be the ones taken away. We should hope to be the ones left behind. Consider, she said, the context. Here's the passage in context:
36 “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
The parallel with the time of Noah is the key. Those who lose themselves in mindless dissipation are the ones swept away by the flood. The implication seems to be that we, too, could let ourselves be swept away by the tide of sinful temptation - so we'll be gone when Jesus comes as a thief in the night - or remain awake, so we'll be there.
It's a glorious piece of interpretation, consonant, too, with understandings of apocalypticism as not about destroying the world but redeeming it. And it has an additional benefit. Eager as they are to be spirited away, Rapture-ready Christians are among those most likely to ignore or even contribute to the destruction of life on earth. For them this world is like a ladder you kick away on your way up to something better - unless it gets its claws into you, dragging you with it to destruction.
A new heaven and a new earth are promised, but they're promised here. Stay.
