My mantra is, pray for pre-trib, but be prepared for post trib.
God says we will see His judgment but not His wrath. The events of the seals and trumpets are called God's judgment, those of the bowls are His wrath. Thus we will see tribulation judgments, but not tribulation wrath.
"As in the time of Noah" is the setting. God did not take Noah from the time of judgment on the world, instead God told Noah how to prepare to survive it. Supposed that having been warned of the coming time of judgment, Noah figured he wasn't going to see it and didn't prepare the ark. Would Noah have still survived it?
Apostate means to have turned away from God and His truths. Jesus said that in the end, when the poop hits the fan, many who claim to be His will turn away. Like the seed among the rocks, these will be those who are not prepared and rooted in the truth.
But, since no man truly knows the time, I go back to the mantra. Pray for pre, be ready for post.