Along the same lines of a special few Christians as a remnant, there is the more popular work of the Left Behind book series that first appeared in 1995. Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins with their multimedia Left Behind franchise started with a series of 16 bestselling religious novels that now has branched out into films. They have focused on a seven-year conflict between the Tribulation Force, an underground network of Christian converts, and the New World Order Global Community and its Antichrist. The primary premise is a Christian dispensationalist view of the end times, a Christian eschatological interpretation of the biblical book of Revelation. These books were adapted into four films in the early 2000s. The Left Behind stories tells the tale of the end times, but set in a contemporary era. The true believers in Jesus Christ have been “raptured”, or taken instantly to heaven, leaving the world shattered and chaotic. An obscure Romanian politician has risen to become Secretary-General of the United Nations, promising to restore peace and stability to all nations. What most of the world does not realize is that this politician guy is actually the Antichrist. Only a born-again Christian can help save the lost people and prepare for the coming tribulation. Multiple books in this series have been on the New York Times Bestseller List with over 65 million copies sold in various languages. These books are loosely based on the Book of Revelation, written from a particular Protestant theological viewpoint. Some practicing Christians, evangelical and otherwise, have shown concern that the social perspectives promoted in the Left Behind series unduly sensationalize the death and destruction of masses of people. These books glorify violence that seems to welcome war and disaster. As a result, some believe the books are anti-Catholic, anti-Semitic, and anti-Muslim. Have you read a Left Behind book?
left behind
Only one of two in the field (Lk 17:36-17:36)
“Two will be
In the field.
One will be taken.
The other will be left.”
δύο ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ, εἷς παραληφθήσεται καὶ ὁ ἕτερος ἀφεθήσεται
Luke indicated that Jesus said that two will be in the field (δύο ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ). One will be taken (εἷς παραληφθήσεται), while the other will be left (καὶ ὁ ἕτερος ἀφεθήσεται). This is like Matthew, chapter 24:40, perhaps indicating a Q source. Matthew indicated that Jesus said that there would be two men in the field (τότε ἔσονται δύο ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ). However, only one would be taken or admitted (εἷς παραλαμβάνεται), while the other would be left or dismissed (καὶ εἷς ἀφίεται), just like here in Luke. Thus, you had a fifty-fifty chance at the end times, just like everyday. Will you be left behind?
Only one of two women (Lk 17:35-17:35)
“There will be two women
Grinding meal together.
One will be taken
And the other left.”
ἔσονται δύο ἀλήθουσαι ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό, ἡ μία παραλημφθήσεται ἡ δὲ ἑτέρα ἀφεθήσεται.
Luke indicated that Jesus said that there would be two women grinding meal together (ἔσονται δύο ἀλήθουσαι ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό). One will be taken (ἡ μία παραλημφθήσεται) and the other left (ἡ δὲ ἑτέρα ἀφεθήσεται). This is similar to Matthew, chapter 24:41, perhaps indicating a Q source. Jesus said that there would be two women grinding meal together (δύο ἀλήθουσαι ἐν τῷ μύλῳ). Only one would be taken or admitted (μία παραλαμβάνεται), while the other would be left or dismissed (καὶ μία ἀφίεται). Not everyone would like this Parousia or end times. Someone would be left behind. What happens to the people left behind? Just ask Jerry B. Jenkins (1949-) and Tim LaHaye (1926-2016), since they wrote 16 novels from 1995-2007 based on the theological theme of the end times. Jenkins also published 40 children’s books on the left behind idea from 1998-2004. What do you believe about the end times?
Stay where you are (Lk 17:31-17:31)
“On that day,
Anyone on the housetop,
Who has belongings
In the house,
Must not come down
To take them away.
Likewise,
Anyone in the field
Must not turn back.”
ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ὃς ἔσται ἐπὶ τοῦ δώματος καὶ τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ, μὴ καταβάτω ἆραι αὐτά, καὶ ὁ ἐν ἀγρῷ ὁμοίως μὴ ἐπιστρεψάτω εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω.
Luke indicated that Jesus said that on that day (ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ) of the coming of the Son of Man at the end times, anyone on the housetop (ὃς ἔσται ἐπὶ τοῦ δώματος), who has belongings in the house (καὶ τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ), must not come down to take them away (μὴ καταβάτω ἆραι αὐτά). Likewise, anyone in the field (καὶ ὁ ἐν ἀγρῷ ὁμοίως) must not turn back to the things left behind (μὴ ἐπιστρεψάτω εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω). This is almost word for word in Matthew, chapter 24:17-18, and Mark, chapter 13:15-16. Mark indicated that Jesus said that during these end times, the people on the housetop or roofs of their houses (ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δώματος) should not go down (μὴ καταβάτω) and enter their house (μηδὲ εἰσελθάτω τι) to take anything out of there (ἆραι τὰ ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ). It would be useless to do so, as the world was coming to an end. If they were in the field working (καὶ ὁ εἰς τὸν ἀγρὸν), they were not to turn back or return to their house (μὴ ἐπιστρεψάτω εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω) to get or take a coat or outer garment (ἆραι τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ). Jesus, via Matthew, said that during this end time, the people on the housetop or roofs of their houses (ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δώματος) should not go down (μὴ καταβάτω) to take things out of their houses (ἆραι τὰ ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ). If they were in the field working (καὶ ὁ ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ), they were not to turn back or return to their house (μὴ ἐπιστρεψάτω ὀπίσω) to get or take a coat or outer garment (ἆραι τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ). They had no need for clothes because the end was near. What would you want to take from your house if the world was coming to an end?
How many will be saved? (Lk 13:23-13:23)
“Someone asked him.
‘Lord!
‘Will only a few
Be saved?’”
Εἶπεν δέ τις αὐτῷ Κύριε, εἰ ὀλίγοι οἱ σῳζόμενοι;
Luke uniquely indicated that someone along the way asked Jesus (Εἶπεν δέ τις αὐτῷ), as he traveled, addressing him as the “Lord (Κύριε).” They wanted to know if only a few people would be saved (εἰ ὀλίγοι οἱ σῳζόμενοι)? This was a main concern among apocalyptic people who were concerned about the end times. Will they be left behind? Was salvation for many or just a few? This has been a continuing question among Christians since the very beginning, but emphasized with John Calvin (1509-1564) and around millennium moments. Do you think that many or few people will be saved?
The conclusion about Yahweh (Ezek 39:28-39:29)
“‘Then they shall know
That I am Yahweh,
Their God.
I sent them
Into exile
Among the nations.
I then gathered them
Into their own land.
I will leave
None of them
Behind.
I will never again
Hide my face
From them.
I will pour out
My Spirit
On the house of Israel.’
Says Yahweh God.”
Yahweh, via Ezekiel summarized his main idea that the house of Israel would now know that Yahweh was their God. He had sent them into exile and now he would gather them back into their own land, with none left behind. Yahweh said that he would never again hide his face from his people. He was going to pour out his Spirit on the house of Israel.
The people in Jerusalem (Jer 29:16-29:16)
“Thus says Yahweh
Concerning the king
Who sits
On the throne of David.
This concerns
All the people
Who live in this city.
This concerns
Your kinsmen
Who did not go out
With you into exile.”
This and the following verses are lacking in the Greek Septuagint translation, since they are like a comment on Jeremiah’s letter. Yahweh seems to be talking about the king in Jerusalem as well as the people who were not sent into captivity. These are the people who were left behind in Jerusalem, their relatives. They were the people favored by the Babylonians, since they were not sent to Babylon in the first purge and captivity of 598 BCE.
Remembering the first captivity (Jer 27:19-27:20)
“Thus says Yahweh of hosts
Concerning the pillars,
The sea,
The stands,
With the rest of the vessels
That are left in this city,
That King Nebuchadnezzar
Of Babylon
Did not take away,
When he took into exile
From Jerusalem
To Babylon
King Jeconiah,
The son of King Jehoiakim,
Of Judah,
With all the nobles
Of Judah
As well as Jerusalem.”
Yahweh talked about the other holy vessels still in Jerusalem, including the Temple pillars, the sea structure outside the Temple, the various lamp stands in the Temple, as well as the other sacred vessels in the Temple. These were all left behind when the first captivity took place in 598 BCE, when King Zedekiah or King Mattaniah (598-587 BCE) was put on the throne by King Nebuchadnezzar. King Jeconiah or King Coniah or King Jehoiachin (598 BCE) was only on the throne for a few months before he was taken into exile. His father, King Jehoiakim or King Eliakim (609-598 BCE) had been favored by the Egyptians. King Zedekiah was the brother of King Jehoiakim and the uncle of King Jeconiah. In other words, there was a dispute between Egypt and Babylon and the kings of Judah changed on who was in charge, Egypt or Babylon. Clearly Jeremiah and Yahweh favored Babylon.
King Hezekiah sends people to Isaiah (Isa 37:2-37:4)
“The king sent Eliakim,
Who was in charge of the palace,
Shebna the secretary,
With the senior priests,
Covered with sackcloth,
To the prophet Isaiah,
Son of Amoz.
They said to him.
‘Thus says King Hezekiah.
This day is a day of distress.
This day is a day of rebuke.
This day is a day of disgrace.
Children have come to birth.
But there is no strength to bring them forth.
It may be that Yahweh your God
Heard the words of Rabshakeh,
Whom his master,
The king of Assyria,
Has sent to mock the living God.
Will you rebuke the words
That Yahweh your God has heard?
Therefore,
Lift up your prayer
For the remnant that is left.’”
Once again, this is almost word for word from 2 Kings, chapter 19. King Hezekiah decided to send his consultants, Eliakim, Shebnah, and the senior priests to the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz. Notice that Joah the recorder did not go, but instead senior priests went. They would all be wearing sackcloth because things were in distress and disgrace. In an interesting metaphor, they say that women are coming to the moment of childbirth, but have no strength to bring their children into the world. They mentioned that perhaps Yahweh had heard the mocking words of Rabshakeh, as the king of Assyria’s representative mocked the living God. How would you rebuke him? They wanted prayers for the “remnant.” This theme of the faithful few left behind occurs quite often in Isaiah.
The curse on the earth (Isa 24:4-24:6)
“The earth dries up.
It withers.
The world languishes.
It withers.
The heavens languish
Together with the earth.
The earth lies polluted
Under its inhabitants.
They have transgressed laws.
They have violated the statutes.
They have broken the everlasting covenant.
Therefore a curse devours the earth.
Its inhabitants suffer
For their guilt.
Therefore the inhabitants of the earth dwindled.
Few people are left.”
This oracle of Isaiah says that the earth and the heavens were drying up and withering away. The earth was polluted by its inhabitants. Does that sound familiar? They had transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the eternal covenant. The Mosaic laws and statutes only pertained to the Israelites. However, the eternal covenant came after the flood for all people. Thus everyone was guilty. Yahweh was going to curse all the earth and its inhabitants because of their guilty ways. A lot of people would be wiped out, but a few would be left, like the “Left Behind” series of books, movies, and video games by Tim LaHaye (1926-2016).
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 