In this section I would like to continue disproving the two teachings of Pre-Tribulation and Pre-Wrath and to show that the messages of Noah and Lot actually back up 'End of Tribulation' Blessed Hope. I don't believe that I need to do any fancy footwork to do this, just simply state the facts in order and by doing so; it will disprove both Pre-Trib and Pre-Wrath theories. COMMENT DELETED I will comment on each verse in order; the first passage will be from Matt 24:37-39 and the second passage is from Luke 17:26-30. Where the verses duplicate, then I will refer to the earlier verses.
Matt 24:37-39
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Pre-Tribulationists use this passage in an attempt to show that we will be caught-up just before the Tribulation and Pre-wrath folk use it to show that they will be caught-up around about the beginning of the second half of the Tribulation, the same day as the first of the seven trumpets start I believe. It proves neither; the reasoning for Pre-Tribulationists is that they believe that just as Noah and his family and Lot and his two daughters were saved from judgement so we will be saved from the Tribulation. This is not so, as this teaching is out of Chronological order with the rest of the chapter, how do we know this, well just look at the whole chapter and look at its speech, especially at the beginning of some of the verses: v.6 And ye shall hear, v.9 Then shall, v.10 And then, v.15 When ye, v.16 Then let, v.21 For then shall, v.23 Then if v.29 Immediately after, v.30 And then. You can see the chapter has a natural flow to it, it follows a time line and there is no mention of Christ's coming until verse 30 and then mentions the gathering of the 'elect' after his appearing in the clouds. From verse 32 onwards to the end of the chapter the Lord explains the day of his coming in further detail.
Notice that the Holy Spirit put his coming before the gathering the same as Mark 13:26-27 and 1 Thess 4:17, 2 Thess 2:1, so four times the scriptures put it in that order. COMMENT DELETED Rev 19 actually writes it the other way around and I hope to prove this in this commentary; I hope this will become very clear.
Pre-Tribulationists also use Enoch as a type, to point out that he was saved before the flood saying that Enoch was before the flood and was caught up before God's judgement and so shall we. This seems to be good logic but remember, Enoch was taken up 669 years before the flood, not just before and Noah was even born 69 years after Enoch was removed. COMMENT DELETED (Elijah was caught up and there was no great judgement after his ‘Rapture’.)
A special point needs to be made about Noah when he was born, and this is what was said about him; And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, Gen 5:29. As you can see their hope related to Noah and that they didn't place any hope with Enoch, as their example.
So it is a quite 'wobbly' to assume this connection and besides, Enoch is not in any way mentioned in any passage relating to a secret Coming for the Church. It is nothing more than a massive assumption, an assumption of doctrinal preference.
One particular point that needs to be made here is that Pre-Tribulationists never seem to think of and that is that Noah had 120 years, some say, warning of the coming destruction, during which he had to make the Ark, then he had to gather the food and then he had to assist in the gathering of the animals and then God had to shut the door and then they waited knowing it was about to happen. Noah had plenty of warning of this 'coming' he was not caught by surprise he was not expecting the Lord to come like a thief, he was not expecting an ‘any moment’ catching away. There was no imminent coming, all things needed to fulfilled before the day of judgement. Also as with Lot, the angels gave him ample warning the night before and gave him a chance to speak to his daughter and son-in-laws, which he did. Then the Bible even says that he tarried and then the angels had to forcible remove them, he was not unexpectedly raptured out of the city by surprise, both Noah and Lot had notice, they had a pretty good idea what was going to happen and when. (The angels filled them in on the details.) If these two stories are proper examples of the coming of our Lord, which they are, then why don't Pre-Tribulationists seem to pick this up? The judgements were only a surprise to the wicked, not to the believers.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Here we have our Lords description of what was happening, right up to the day of the flood. Some people believe that no-way could people be doing this during the Tribulation and even more so in the second half of Tribulation say Pre-wrathers. Look at all the terrible things happening, nobody would be doing such things with this terrified running around. Well this thought is based upon the assumption that this verse suggests that all things were going as normal, yet in fact, all it is telling us, is that they were still doing these things right up to the day, doesn't say 'everything in the world will be completely normal.'
I can argue this from at least two standpoints; Historical and Scriptural, ONE; During the terrible Holocaust against all sorts of people, while they were dying by the millions, including the six million Jews, guess what, they were getting married. Even in the very death camps themselves, whole barracks would be eating, drinking and dancing, and then next morning all those people were gone. When such horrible times come, folk will hold onto these things tighter than ever.
Soldiers during wars have followed the saying 'eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we may die' because tomorrow some times they did. Soldiers just before they left to go to war married, so it is quite reasonable to suggest that people will be doing this right to the end of the Tribulation.
Also look at the book of Revelations itself; see Rev 11:10 where it speaks of an event just after the two witnesses are killed, it says; And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. Sounds like their having an early Christmas to me.
And then look at Rev 18:22-23, which is just before Christ's second coming and Armageddon, LOOK! And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of, pipers and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; Does it not say ever so clearly that they were still doing these things right up to the end, this is written right before chapter 19 which speaks of the second coming. So, it is quite rational to accept that peoples all over the earth will be eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, right up to the day of Lord's second coming which starts in Revelation 19:6 which includes the Blessed Hope v.6, The Judgement seat of Christ v.7, Rewards given v.8, the Marriage supper of the Lamb v.9, His Coming vs.11-16 and then the Final Battle which is in the Valley of Jehoshaphat vs. 18-21 (See Joel 3:3 & 12). (Armageddon is the place where they gather earlier, Rev16:16.)
Chapter 19 is just one day, how do we know that this is just one day, simply because the Gathering of the righteous and the total destruction for both the peoples of Noah and his family's time and Lot and his two daughter's time was just ONE DAY. The Bible is unmistakeably clear both in the Old Testament and the New Testament passages. There is NO suggestion of any length of or period of time other than just one physical day. Both Pre-Tribulationists and those from the Pre-wrath crowd allow for several years, but the passages for both for Noah and Lot DO NOT. Why would the Holy Spirit use examples of something that happened in one day, then try to imply a much longer period of time?
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
One of the best ways to show that they knew not that there total destruction was coming is to quote scripture because; In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2 Cor 4:4
Also notice that it says, and took them all away; All means All, I would like someone to prove to me that this statement doesn't mean that all the ‘wicked’ will perish. And this will be quite clearly brought in the next passage as well. So from this passage we know that the Lord's Second Coming will be on one day and will mean a complete and total destruction for those wicked that remain on the Earth. (I will explain why there will be some still left to repopulate the Earth in another section.) I believe that the ‘wicked’ are those who have taken the mark etc.
Luke 17:26-30
26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
This verse is the same as Matt 24:37 so please see the above for any comment.
27 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.
Here we can see that they ate, drank, married and were given in marriage right up until the day that Noah entered the Ark. And we know that it was on the selfsame day that God began his destruction upon the Earth. And we know that God completely destroyed them all, there was not one left.
In Gen 7:11-13 it says; In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; So we learn from this passage that it was definitely the same day that God gathered the righteous to safety and destroyed all those outside. Not to be confused with the suggestion of; “back in your day” allowing for a longer period of time, the term ‘selfsame day’ is very specific!
28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
Here we have a very similar verse to what is found in Matt 24:38 but with some things change around. It mentions that they bought, they sold, and they planted they builded; this still fits in perfectly with Rev 18:11-13, which lets us know that 'it was business as usual'. From the recent disasters that have struck Japan: Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Nuclear Radiation we see that a nation can quickly restore its massive manufacturing Industry, with-in a few months.
29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
So here again we find what was stated in verse 27 above, that it was the Same Day that the righteous were gathered to safety, then judgement came down and destroyed all the wicked. This is how we know that Rev chapter 19 must be One Day.
If Pre-Tribulationists and Pre-wrathers truly took these stories literally, as they should, as they are not parables, then they should know that their beliefs are entirely wrong. BUT proud men find it very hard to change before other men, and they will be ashamed and fear and loose reward for their fixed determinations. Sadly others who have been led to believe in Pre-Tribulation will be embarrassed for not searching for themselves. By the Grace of God I have found that the Lord will return at the end of the Tribulation, and now I can warn others and prepare my family. This is the Grace he has wanted for those who have to go through it.
30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
This verse tells us so plainly that just as these two stories happened, so shall it be on the same day when our Lord shall return. No mentions of Enoch or even Elijah being caught up. Both stories show warning, no 'any moment' Secret rapture; the wicked were busy right up to the day as history and the scripture agree with. Even though Lot was not very willing, God still gathered him and didn't leave him behind as some Pre-Tribulationists would suggest. No mention of a 'sheep and goat' judgement at the end, just destruction of the wicked later to be judge. No time lapse of seven or three and half years, just a combined coming/gathering in one day. COMMENT DELETED
