For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. Luke 17:24

            Jesus spoke to his apostles about his return that he called like lightning—sudden and unexpected.  He compared it to the days of Noah and Sodom when the people were going about their business like any day and then all of sudden, WHAM, judgment by water or fire.  Clearly his return will be like that.

            But many feel that a rapture is the next big event to happen on the final days calendar.  Jesus expressed these thoughts in context with his final physical return on earth:

“It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”  Luke 17:30-35

            Many look at these words as evidence of a rapture when one person in a field, in a bed or grinding grain will be taken to heaven while the other one next to them is left on earth.  In context with Jesus’ talk, that does not seem to be the case.  Jesus was talking about a final separation.

            So, where are the ones in Jesus example taken?  When Jesus returns, one will be taken to be with God and the other will not, separated eternally.  These words fit the context of final judgment, not a precursor of end times, but THE end time.