Jesus assumes that people will be busy with ordinary activities before he returns, farming in the fields (men) and grinding grain with a hand mill (women). If being taken refers to judgment (Matthew 24:39 then the persons who are taken are the ones who are judged whilst those who are left behind enjoy God’s blessing (like Noah in the ark).1 The primary emphasis is the fact that Jesus’ return will be sudden and that it brings about the day of judgment.
40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.