Mat 24:40  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Mat 24:41  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

These verses come from Matthew 24 , part of our Lord’s Great Prophecy. This is an “end times” prophecy.

 The context of these verses is Matthew 24:39, 42  Jesus starts out talking about the flood.

Everyone knew the flood was coming for Noah had been telling them for 120 years—but their ears were dull. So, while they were all warned, we see they “ate and drank” and acted like nothing was ever going change.

“And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.”  Luke 17:26-27 

The two people that are being compared in Matthew are not worldly people, but Christians. Both sets of two are doing the same thing, at work in some form of service related to preparation of spiritual food, two people working in the farm field and two working at grinding meal.  Where are they taken?  Luke 17:37  “Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles will be gathered together.”  They are taken or gathered to a closer relationship with Jesus and understanding of his sacrifice, and the truths that are revealed in this special time of testing. 

These two in the field and two grinding at the mill may be compared to the two groups in the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins.  In the final picture the Wise were taken into the wedding, and the Foolish were left.  There seems to be strong scriptural evidence to support the thought that the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins is Jesus going into detail about these verses. Chapter 25 is a continuation of the Lord’s Great Prophecy of chapter 24 and is all in the same context. We also see these two groups in many other types and pictures. Most notable is Elijah and Elisha. Notice Elijah was taken and Elisha was left.

In the final picture the one that is taken represents the Church. i.e. the Little Flock, the Bride of Christ, corresponding to the Wise Virgins. Revelation 14:1-5; 1:6 The one that is left represents the Great Multitude of Revelation 7:9-17, those who serve before the throne,  and this class corresponds to the Foolish Virgins, and Elisha in type.

 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”  Rev 19:7-9

We need to “make ourselves ready” and watch so that we will be prepared to respond with faithfulness to the truth in these end times!