Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two women grinding at the mill pictures people absorbed in ordinary daily work when the Son of man comes, with those side by side suddenly divided so that one is taken and the other is left. That separation comes at an unknown hour, as in the days of Noah when life went on unheeding until the flood swept the unready away, showing that nearness to others does not make a person ready. The saying stands in the discourse where the destruction of Jerusalem and Christ's coming are set forth together, with Jerusalem's overthrow as a type of the final destruction of the world by fire, yet with His future coming distinguished by signs in sun, moon, and stars that declare it near. The one taken and the other left marks two classes among those looking for His appearing, saved and lost when time closes, and divided also as advancing truth is received unto eternal life or refused unto eternal death. Because the hour is not known it calls for watching and readiness without abandoning life's duties, and its great prophecy of the closing scenes, the triumph of God's people, and the renovation of the earth is to be studied again and again and proclaimed to warn the world that judgment is at hand.
Immediate Sense and Setting
Two women grinding at the mill picture people carrying on ordinary daily work at the coming of the Son of man, when side-by-side companions are divided so that one is taken and the other is left. The same ordinary work may occupy both, yet their outward closeness in daily life does not make them alike in readiness for the Lord's return. The separation comes suddenly at an unknown hour and calls for watchfulness and readiness, because no one knows the hour of the Lord's coming. As in the days of Noah, people carry on ordinary life, disregard God's warning message, do not recognize danger until the flood sweeps them away, and are caught unprepared when the coming brings division.
The saying belongs to the discourse in which the destruction of Jerusalem and Christ's coming are described together, with the two crises joined so that the prophecy reaches beyond Jerusalem to the final judgment and to those living in earth's last scenes. Jerusalem's destruction serves as a type of the final destruction of the world by fire, among the events preceding His coming. The chapter distinguishes Christ's future coming from the destruction of Jerusalem; although its day and hour are unknown, signs in the sun, moon, and stars show that it is near. As a warning preceded the flood in Noah's day, so the world is likewise to be warned of its approaching doom.
The taking and leaving also holds of death dividing those closely joined, where one is taken away by death and the other is left alive. So a strong husband may be cut off by sudden murder amid pleasant life, on whose large affections and tender compassion his frail, suffering wife leaned, leaving the bereaved wife alone in sorrow and feebleness.
Prophecy Studied and Proclaimed
Matthew 24 is a great prophecy outlining history from Christ's first advent to His second and from the present dispensation to the complete restitution of all things. It traces the church through warfare and suffering to promised redemption, with particular emphasis on the thrilling and momentous closing scenes of this world's history. Those closing scenes include the final triumph of God's people, the destruction of Satan and all his followers, the total and eternal extirpation of evil from the universe, and the renovation of the earth as the everlasting inheritance of the saints when the great controversy is concluded.
Its predictions are fulfilling in the present time and belong to the perils of the last days now being lived. Their unmistakable fulfillment shows that Christ's coming is at hand and near, calls the church to arouse, and warns of coming punishment and approaching doom. The predictions are to be studied again and again and brought to the attention of believers and unbelievers. Ministers and teachers are to explain and present this prophecy to people and to those they instruct, leaving matters of lesser consequence, because its truths decide eternal destiny and the eternal destiny of souls.
The instruction about the signs of the times was given to the disciples for those who should afterward believe, to help them prepare for the great conflict. Discerning those signs in this age of the world requires reaching a higher standard. In that last-days outline, money entrusted by the Lord must be invested in giving the world the last message of mercy and in warning those perishing in sin, rather than spent in self-gratification on pain of eternal loss. Readiness is required because the hour of the Lord's coming is not known and the Son of man comes in an hour not thought of, with watching and with faithful, wise service in giving meat in due season, bringing rulership over all goods for the servant found so doing and cutting asunder with hypocrites with weeping and gnashing of teeth for the evil servant who says his lord delays his coming and smites fellow servants and eats and drinks with the drunken.
Explained in connection with Christ's second advent and His glorious appearing, the chapter calls Christians to consecrate themselves and be ready, and calls sinners to seek Christ beforehand. In this way they may meet the Saviour with joy rather than be lost without Him. The chapter calls believers to warn the world that judgment will come and the end is near.
Division and Readiness Call
The one taken and the other left are two classes among those looking for His appearing, and the parable of the virgins in Matthew 25 illustrates the experience of that same church of the last days. When time closes that division is final, with some saved and others lost. It is seen when the assembled saints disappear at the trumpet and those not ready are left alone. The same separation takes place as truth advances, with some receiving heaven's light and others left without it. The Holy Spirit convinces of sin but passes away from those who refuse the truth, so that to receive truth is eternal life and to reject it is eternal death.
The nearness of His coming gives no reason to abandon life's duties or to become idle. His people may be at ordinary work, as at grinding at the mill, when He comes. They are to work faithfully and serve God while waiting for Him. Because the hour of the Lord's coming is not known, the division of the two at ordinary labor demands watching and readiness for the unexpected coming of the Son of man. As in the days of Noah, when people carried on ordinary life and did not recognize danger until the flood swept them away, the separation comes suddenly at an unknown hour. The outline belongs to the perils of the last days now being lived, calling for warning to those perishing in sin, for readiness because He comes in an hour not thought of, and for faithful, wise service in giving meat in due season.
Two women grinding at the mill pictures people absorbed in ordinary daily work when the Son of man comes, with those side by side suddenly divided so that one is taken and the other is left. That separation comes at an unknown hour, as in the days of Noah when life went on unheeding until the flood swept the unready away, showing that nearness to others does not make a person ready. The saying stands in the discourse where the destruction of Jerusalem and Christ's coming are set forth together, with Jerusalem's overthrow as a type of the final destruction of the world by fire, yet with His future coming distinguished by signs in sun, moon, and stars that declare it near. The one taken and the other left marks two classes among those looking for His appearing, saved and lost when time closes, and divided also as advancing truth is received unto eternal life or refused unto eternal death. Because the hour is not known it calls for watching and readiness without abandoning life's duties, and its great prophecy of the closing scenes, the triumph of God's people, and the renovation of the earth is to be studied again and again and proclaimed to warn the world that judgment is at hand.
Immediate Sense and Setting
Two women grinding at the mill picture people carrying on ordinary daily work at the coming of the Son of man, when side-by-side companions are divided so that one is taken and the other is left. The same ordinary work may occupy both, yet their outward closeness in daily life does not make them alike in readiness for the Lord's return. The separation comes suddenly at an unknown hour and calls for watchfulness and readiness, because no one knows the hour of the Lord's coming. As in the days of Noah, people carry on ordinary life, disregard God's warning message, do not recognize danger until the flood sweeps them away, and are caught unprepared when the coming brings division.
The saying belongs to the discourse in which the destruction of Jerusalem and Christ's coming are described together, with the two crises joined so that the prophecy reaches beyond Jerusalem to the final judgment and to those living in earth's last scenes. Jerusalem's destruction serves as a type of the final destruction of the world by fire, among the events preceding His coming. The chapter distinguishes Christ's future coming from the destruction of Jerusalem; although its day and hour are unknown, signs in the sun, moon, and stars show that it is near. As a warning preceded the flood in Noah's day, so the world is likewise to be warned of its approaching doom.
The taking and leaving also holds of death dividing those closely joined, where one is taken away by death and the other is left alive. So a strong husband may be cut off by sudden murder amid pleasant life, on whose large affections and tender compassion his frail, suffering wife leaned, leaving the bereaved wife alone in sorrow and feebleness.
Prophecy Studied and Proclaimed
Matthew 24 is a great prophecy outlining history from Christ's first advent to His second and from the present dispensation to the complete restitution of all things. It traces the church through warfare and suffering to promised redemption, with particular emphasis on the thrilling and momentous closing scenes of this world's history. Those closing scenes include the final triumph of God's people, the destruction of Satan and all his followers, the total and eternal extirpation of evil from the universe, and the renovation of the earth as the everlasting inheritance of the saints when the great controversy is concluded.
Its predictions are fulfilling in the present time and belong to the perils of the last days now being lived. Their unmistakable fulfillment shows that Christ's coming is at hand and near, calls the church to arouse, and warns of coming punishment and approaching doom. The predictions are to be studied again and again and brought to the attention of believers and unbelievers. Ministers and teachers are to explain and present this prophecy to people and to those they instruct, leaving matters of lesser consequence, because its truths decide eternal destiny and the eternal destiny of souls.
The instruction about the signs of the times was given to the disciples for those who should afterward believe, to help them prepare for the great conflict. Discerning those signs in this age of the world requires reaching a higher standard. In that last-days outline, money entrusted by the Lord must be invested in giving the world the last message of mercy and in warning those perishing in sin, rather than spent in self-gratification on pain of eternal loss. Readiness is required because the hour of the Lord's coming is not known and the Son of man comes in an hour not thought of, with watching and with faithful, wise service in giving meat in due season, bringing rulership over all goods for the servant found so doing and cutting asunder with hypocrites with weeping and gnashing of teeth for the evil servant who says his lord delays his coming and smites fellow servants and eats and drinks with the drunken.
Explained in connection with Christ's second advent and His glorious appearing, the chapter calls Christians to consecrate themselves and be ready, and calls sinners to seek Christ beforehand. In this way they may meet the Saviour with joy rather than be lost without Him. The chapter calls believers to warn the world that judgment will come and the end is near.
Division and Readiness Call
The one taken and the other left are two classes among those looking for His appearing, and the parable of the virgins in Matthew 25 illustrates the experience of that same church of the last days. When time closes that division is final, with some saved and others lost. It is seen when the assembled saints disappear at the trumpet and those not ready are left alone. The same separation takes place as truth advances, with some receiving heaven's light and others left without it. The Holy Spirit convinces of sin but passes away from those who refuse the truth, so that to receive truth is eternal life and to reject it is eternal death.
The nearness of His coming gives no reason to abandon life's duties or to become idle. His people may be at ordinary work, as at grinding at the mill, when He comes. They are to work faithfully and serve God while waiting for Him. Because the hour of the Lord's coming is not known, the division of the two at ordinary labor demands watching and readiness for the unexpected coming of the Son of man. As in the days of Noah, when people carried on ordinary life and did not recognize danger until the flood swept them away, the separation comes suddenly at an unknown hour. The outline belongs to the perils of the last days now being lived, calling for warning to those perishing in sin, for readiness because He comes in an hour not thought of, and for faithful, wise service in giving meat in due season.