NOAH, LOT, AND THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH

"They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man" (Lk. 17:27-29).

Before God decides to pour out His wrath upon mankind, He does two things:
1).  By His grace, He declares some to be righteous.
2).  He lifts the righteous up above those upon whom the wrath is intended.

Noah:  A Gentile
*  Noah was a man, so his every thought was evil continually (Gen. 6:5).
*  Noah received his righteousness by the grace of God (Gen. 6:9).
*  After God changed Noah, he walked with God (Gen. 6:9). 
*  Noah was removed, taken up in the ark, before God destroyed the earth below (Gen. 7:17).

Lot:  A Jew
*  Lot was respected by the men of Sodom; he sat at the gate (Gen. 19:1).
*  Lot called the men of Sodom his brethren (Gen. 19:7).
*  Lot found grace in God's sight (Gen. 19:19).
*  Lot was removed, taken up into a mountain, before God destroyed Sodom (Gen. 19:17-30).

Rapture of the Church:  Born again Gentiles and Jews
*  Born again believers are saved by the grace of God (Jn. 1:17; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24; 5:1-2; Eph. 2:8-9; etc.).
* The Church will not experience the Tribulation (Rom. 5:9; 1 Thes. 1:10; 5:9; Rev. 3:10; etc.).
*  Jesus will come, and we will be taken up into heaven before God's wrath is poured out on the earth (Jn. 14:1-6; 1 Cor. 15:49-53; 1 Thes. 4:16-17; etc.).
* The time of God's wrath is appointed unto Daniel's people, the Jews (Dan. 9:24-27; Jer. 30:7; Mt. 24:3-29; Rev. 6 - 18; etc.).

Believe God:  if He says build a boat, if His messengers say run, or if His Word says your salvation has been paid-in-full by His Son; know this:  God can be trusted!