The pink sunrise at the top was at 5.40am in Queensland.
The gold sunrise was at 5.50am that same morning.
Both lasted about ten minutes and then they were gone.
"But the Word of the Lord endureth for ever."
1 Peter 1:25.
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Who will be Left Behind?
What will happen to them?
The beauty of a sunrise is awesome, but the truth of God's Word far surpasses it.
The sunrise lasts only a few moments, but God's Word will last forever.
The popular belief known as ‘left behind’ is not based upon Scripture, although verses of the Bible are quoted. The study of these verses is without reference to context or other verses in the same chapter.
The main verses are Luke 17:34-36. “I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall in in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”
Immediately after these words it says, “where the body is thither will the eagles be gathered together.” Luke 17:37. The birds are gathering for a feast of flesh. You need to take note of these words.
There are two groups -- one is taken, the other left. The Bible says one group is destroyed.
Two Old Testament experiences are recorded to make it clear what happens to both groups.
Luke refers to the flood in Noah’s day. Again there are two groups – one is safe (eight men and women in the ark), the other drowns. The whole world is ‘taken’ by the flood water, and in the words of the Bible, it “destroyed them all.” Luke 17:26.27
Another illustration is Sodom and Gomorrah. Two groups are pictured – those who flee (a father and his two daughters); and two whole cities. These are ‘taken’ by the fire and brimstone. The account ends with “and destroyed them all”. Luke 17: 28.29. (There were actually five cities destroyed)
Jesus concludes His story of the flood with the words, “And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:39. In plain English, ‘they all died in the flood waters; so it will be at the end of the world’. The only difference at the coming of Christ is that it will not be by a flood. The story of Sodom is similar to the return of Christ. One group is taken to heaven with Jesus, the other is destroyed by fire and brimstone. There are two phases of the end, and the 2nd death is the greater parallel.
Sadly, thousands of men and women are completely deceived on this doctrine. They think they will escape the “tribulation” that is to come on the earth. They will be shocked to find themselves in the midst of it. Many will give up their faith in the Bible because ‘it was wrong’. No, the Bible was not wrong, but their interpretation was wrong. Now is the time to learn.
We are to wait for the return of Jesus Christ, who will come in great power and glory, with all the holy angels. The “voice of the archangel and the trump of God” will sound forth, and the whole world will hear it. 1 Thessalonians 4:16.17. This is not a silent coming. Trumpets have a very loud sound. Jesus Himself said His coming will be “as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:27. If you have ever seen sheet lightning, you will know how it lights up the sky. Even forked lightning is so bright you cannot help but see it. This is what Jesus is saying – no one will miss His coming.
After Jesus has taken His faithful people to heaven, Revelation 20:1-3 tells us that Satan is bound with a great chain for a thousand years. This is symbolic language. No literal chain could bind Satan, but it is through the events that have taken place that he is bound. It will begin after Christ has taken the redeemed off the planet, and like the flood, every single person left on earth will die -- from the plagues, the chaos of falling buildings, earthquakes, volcanoes, fires, poisonous gases, or the brightness of Christ’s glory.
Satan is out of a job, as there is no one left to tempt.
The text says he can “deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled.” Revelation 20:3.
At the end of the millennium, the dead are resurrected on the earth, and Satan is able once more to do his deadly work of deception. The billions of people who come up in the second resurrection are totally lost, but they must see the verdict of the judgment and receive their punishment.
The redeemed are in the New Jerusalem, which has descended to the earth, and they will watch as the lost are deceived once more. Revelation 21:2.10. Nothing can harm God’s children now, and although Satan tries to capture the holy city, he cannot do so, even with billions on his side.
How important it is for every Christian to see the truth. No one will be left behind to learn what they have failed to learn in this life. If we do not learn now, we will be shocked to find ourselves resurrected in the 2nd resurrection, and have to face the 2nd death. Revelation 20:6. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” This fire annihilates the lost, burning them to ashes. Revelation 20:15. Malachi 4:1.
God’s promise to His people who overcome sin is that they will “not be hurt of the second death.” Revelation 2:11. Their names will remain in the book of life, for God promises, “I will not blot his name out of the book of life.” Revelation 3:5. They will receive eternal life as a gift and “God will wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain…” Rev 21:4.
Only one reminder of sin will remain – the nail prints in the hands and feet of Jesus.