Joseph Smith Matthew
When the time is come to flee, no one should return to gather anything – there will not be time. The Savior counsels to pray that our flight be not in winter or on the Sabbath. Is that because the time is not universal – therefore pray that you are not among those who must flee in the winter or on the Sabbath – or is it because the time is not yet determined? This prophecy actually sounds similar to the rounding up of the Jews for the Holocaust. I think that tribulation upon the Jews is the Holocaust. Do not believe the cries declaring the return of Christ. The truth is that the elect will gather without fanfare to where he comes – they will go to holy places without banners and proclamations. The world will carry on as if no calamity were prophesied up until the day that the calamity comes – this despite the fact that it shall be openly declared among them for decades in advance.
The evangelical Christians talk of the rapture where the righteous are caught up thus leaving one of two in the field, and one of two at the mill. I know there will be a catching up, but leaving one of two at the mill or in the field could also be that one is struck down while the other is spared.
We have been told that the parable of the virgins represents the church (about half being diligent and prepared). We should not forget that there will be many outside the church who are also prepared (less than half of those outside I would guess, but probably a majority of those who are prepared).