There are too many believers to be loaded into an ark.
Hi TabinRivCA,
I'm sure you don't think any of us are suggesting that an ark will be constructed for the future/end-times events. No, nothing like that has been our point. lol
The Rapture scenario is something else, akin to Elijah's being taken up but for a different reason. What I'm stating is the Scriptures given depict what the Rapture will be like, believers taken and unbelievers left behind.
I'm going to have to say that I agree with "sawdust's" response to you, on this point. That the "context" is not about "our Rapture" in these verses. I do understand where you are coming from though (as many of us were taught it the way you are presenting
these passages, many years ago--in the early 70s, for me--so I "get" why you are saying this.)
It's just that (re: Matt24) His disciples were asking Him a question [questions] in Matt24:3 that was BASED ON what He had ALREADY spoken to them about in Matt13 (about "the end [singular] of the age [singular]" Matt13:24,30,39,40,49-50... when the "angels" will "REAP")... and Jesus' response covers two whole chapters (chpts 24-25).
In Matt13 (upon which their present question was BASED) shows that the angels (reapers) will be told (at that time), "collect ye
FIRST the
TARES"--This is the EXACT OPPOSITE SEQUENCE from that of the events surrounding "our Rapture" (TO the meeting of the Lord IN THE AIR).
This is just one of the many distinctions between the two.
In the Lk17 text (on the same subject as in Matt24:37-39--His Second Coming to the earth), it supplies a little more information. In verses 27 and 29, it says, "and destroyed [G622]
them-all [G537]." This isn't what happens at the time-slot of "our Rapture," meaning, the ones who are not saved aren't ALL "destroyed" at that moment;
To many of them (and God knows which ones), He "SHALL SEND TO THEM strong delusion, SO THAT *they* should believe THE LIE / THE FALSE /
THE PSEUDEI" *in / during / within* the Trib years [
the DOTL's "judgments" aspect]; whereas others (as Paul shows in the other bookended section) will being coming to faith in Christ (in / during / within the SAME TIME PERIOD: the TRIB yrs, FOLLOWING "our Rapture").
Additionally,
Noah (and crew) isn't a "type" of our Rapture.
Enoch (ONE MAN) was, however. And he was taken up well BEFORE the flood-judgment came upon the earth. Noah (and crew) are a picture of who will make it through the tribulation period and will
enter the earthly MK age
in their mortal bodies (being the ONLY ONES who will have the capacity to reproduce / bear children... besides their children / grandchildren born in / during the MK age, of course).
At the END of the MK age, Rev20:8 can say, "the number of whom is as the sand of the sea." (Remember, ONLY *believers / saints / the righteous* will be granted permission to ENTER the MK age--NOT *UNbelievers*; But of course, the "children and grandchildren" who will be BORN to them, will not be "BORN automatically RIGHTEOUS"--it is THESE who will be the only ones susceptible to "death" in the MK age, as death will be much more rare in the MK, and reserved only for the rebellious [/unsaved])
Yes the Rapture will be like that but what the particular passage the OP asked about is not concerning the Rapture but the Second Coming and is removing the unbelievers from the earth, not believers which, is what the Rapture will remove, that is, believers in Christ.
It pays not to mix the two up.
Yes! Very well said.
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