Sanctification doesn't happen by osmosis. We can't starve ourselves spiritually and still expect to grow in the likeness of Christ. All the facets of Scripture – all its rich benefits and blessings – are not available to those who fail or refuse to open it and study.
John MacArthur

One Shall Be Taken The Other L

One Shall Be Taken The Other L

One Shall Be TAKEN, The Other LEFT

by R. I. Humberd

TWO SHALL BE IN THE FIELD; THE ONE SHALL BE TAKEN, AND THE OTHER LEFT”

(Luke 17:36)

Emanuel Edmons moved nervously and shifted in his seat. He had always prided himself in his charity. He had given liberally to the community chest and had joined all the organizations for world peace and social betterment.

But this was different. This speaker ignored all these efforts to make the world a better place in which to live. In fact, he had even said that all human effort would fail and the only hope of the world was in the second coming of Jesus Christ. How foolish and narrow a man can get.

He wished he had not come. Why should he, Emanuel Edmons, prominent business man and head deacon of First Church, come to a prophetic conference? Of course, he had come to please his wife… or was it for the ride in his nice new car?

But something the speaker was saying caught his attention. “For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.” I Thess. 4:16

“We might wonder,” continued the speaker, “how long it will take the Lord to raise every Christian that has ever lived and gather them, together with all living Christians, to Himself in the air. But Paul tells us that it will be ‘in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.’ ” (I Cor. 15:52B)

This was too much for Emanuel Edmons. He glanced at his wife. Her face was aglow with joy. He knew she believed every word the speaker was saying. It made him angry. He frowned; closed his eyes and passed his hand across his face.

There was an instant of deadly silence and then a shriek from a woman on the other side of the tent. Instantly Edmons was on his feet. But… where had the speaker gone?… And where was the congregation? Only a moment ago the tent was filled with people… now only a score or so were scattered about and they seemed dazed and frightened… what could it all mean?

His eyes moved rapidly over the tent and back to where his wife had been sitting… but his wife was gone… why had she left him thus? A cold deadly fear gripped his heart. She was gone, and there on the seat at his side lay her clothes in a little disheveled heap. Her wrist watch and wedding ring lay on top where her hand had been resting in her lap. Her handbag had fallen to the floor… but she herself was gone… Gone… his wife was gone. A nameless horror seized him and he fled blindly out of the tent where another distress awaited him. Only an hour ago he had parked his new car in front of the tent, but now it was a wreck. Another car had crashed into it. A woman was just getting out of the other car. She seemed dazed and was angry… terribly angry. Her husband had insisted upon attending the prophetic conference. She had not wanted to come and her date at the hairdresser’s shop had made them late. Her husband had been in such a hurry that he had not even taken time to park the car. Rather had he jumped out while it was still in rapid motion. Somehow he had left his clothes beneath the wheel… she could not understand it all, but one thing sure she would sue for a divorce just as soon as she could find a lawyer.

Emanuel Edmons, sick at heart, returned to the tent. There lay his wife’s garments. He gathered them together and was turning to retrace his steps when a figure dodged stealthfully behind the piano. But not before he had seen his hands full of watches, and handbags, and other articles of value.

“They are even now looting the garments of the departed,” thought Edmons, too disgusted to utter a word of protest.

Outside the tent a big bus had just arrived from the city and was preparing to leave again. He would take the bus and send a man after the car.

An hour later he entered his office. The office force was all there and business was going on as usual. His partner, however, was very much annoyed at the carelessness of the janitor. A customer had stumbled over a mop and a pile of old clothes that the janitor had left lying in the waiting room. If he had not been so faithful in the past, this would certainly call for his dismissal.

It was too much for Edmons. He reeled; caught at a chair and fell heavily to the floor.

TO THE READER

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3

“This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” Acts 1:11.

“When ye see these things come to PASS know that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand” Luke 21:31.

Christ is coming back. We do not know when, but current events seem to point to a very near fulfillment of these words. Thus it is well that we consider our ways.

BEFORE THE RAPTURE

If you are living before Christ’s return do not neglect your salvation. Split seconds may count for eternity. Come to Christ as a sinner. Remember that the wages of sin is death, and that Christ died for our sins. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Good works will not avail. Trust Christ; depend on Him; count on Him; commit yourself fully to Him.

This may be your last chance, for after Christ comes it seems that there will not be another opportunity. “For this cause God shall send them strong delusion… That they all might be damned who believed (past tense) not the truth” 2 Thess. 2:11. That is, if any definitely reject Christ in the church age, God Himself will give them over to the antichrist.

AFTER THE RAPTURE

If you have not definitely rejected Christ, there is hope for you. Untold millions do not know the true way of salvation, and out of them God will save a great multitude. Rev. 6:9 and 7:9.

You have missed the rapture and I know that your heart must be tender and your mind filled with anxiety about the future. Thus I offer the following suggestions for your guidance during the dark days that are just ahead.

  1. Immediately give your heart to the Lord. If you are deeply sincere He will save you, for, “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” John 6:37.
  2. Read your Bible; especially the Gospel of John. John 20:31.
  3. Be a friend to the godly Jews. They will be terribly persecuted and your own reward will be according to your treatment of them. Matt. 25.

The Book of Revelation will now run its course.

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