Who will be “Left Behind”? — Part 2
It can be easy to think of being “left behind” as a good thing, considering the Greek (aphietai) can also mean released, forgiven, etc. It can, of course, also quite literally mean to be left alone and abandoned. After some thought, I’ve decided on the latter interpretation in the context of Matthew 24. The unbelievers will be abandoned.
And the believer? “Taken away” is not such a good translation for “paralambanetai.” It misses so much. The real sense of the word is more like “taken in.” It emphasizes status rather than location. It is a covenantal word, describing how the believer is received by God and identified with Christ. This cannot be said of the unbeliever.
In fact, there is virtually no negative connotation possible for the word. It certainly does not mean “swept away.” The closest one might get is to translate it as “to take over or receive jurisdiction over,” as in the case of a prisoner or slave. But then, that describes the Christian just as well. The believer is the doulos (bondservant) of Jesus Christ.