Luke 17:26-29  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.  (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.  (28)  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;  (29)  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

Have you secured your place on the ‘Rapture train’ yet? The next great milestone for every believer is the Rapture, and we should anticipate it with the same joyful excitement a bride feels for her wedding day—the moment she is finally united with her husband forever!

I am so excited for the reunion that awaits us! As you reflect on these verses, consider why Jesus chose Noah and Lot to illustrate His return. He was showing us that just as judgment once covered the entire earth and leveled cities, a final judgment is coming that will affect every corner of the globe. It’s a sobering ‘what’ and ‘where,’ but for those of us who have been born again, we have a different promise to hold onto!

While many discuss whether the Rapture is pre, mid, or post-tribulational, the examples Jesus gave us in Luke 17 provide a clear answer. Both Noah and Lot were safely ushered out of the way before destruction arrived. This ‘removal of the righteous’ is the key detail that later-rapture theories often miss. By saying ‘Just as it was in the days of Noah,’ Jesus was emphasizing a divine principle of protection. Just as the door of the Ark was shut and Lot was pulled out of Sodom, the Church will be rescued before the final judgments of the earth begin.

Did you know the Ark is a picture of Jesus? The connections are incredible: a wooden Ark for a wooden Cross. The pitch that sealed Noah inside is a beautiful symbol of Jesus’ blood, which seals us and shields us from the coming Tribulation. Noah didn’t invent a way to save himself; he simply followed the ‘Instruction Book’ God provided. Just like that ancient vessel, there is only one way to escape the coming judgment. There was only one door on the Ark, and today, Jesus is that Door. Only those inside His grace will be safe when the storm hits!

The fact that ‘the Lord shut him in’ (Genesis 7:16) is a crucial detail. It mirrors the sobering moment in Matthew 25 when the foolish virgins returned to find the wedding door already closed. In both accounts, the door isn’t closed by man, but by God Himself. For Noah, the shut door meant safety from judgment upon the world; for the wise virgins, it meant safety within the feast. In both cases, the shut door represents the end of an era of mercy and the beginning of the day of account.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

John 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

It is a striking detail that God, not Noah, shut the door of the Ark. Noah had to live by faith regarding the timing of the flood until the day he finally entered the vessel. After God closed that door, it was too late for any others to seek refuge; however, for those inside, it meant total safety. They were delivered from the judgment of death by the very protection God had provided.

Genesis 7:16  And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

The Rapture is our great escape into Christ’s protection, ensuring we do not experience the horrific judgments destined for this world. Just as the closing of the Ark’s door signaled the start of Noah’s safety and the world’s destruction, the shut door of Heaven after the Rapture marks the finality of our rescue. We will be ‘shut in’ with Him, far above the reach of the coming Great Tribulation.

Revelation 3:7-8  And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;  ( 8 )  I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Now, let’s examine Jesus’ account of Lot. The same principle applies to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. While this wasn’t a global catastrophe like Noah’s flood, the pattern remains identical: God refused to destroy those cities until Lot and his family were safely removed. The situation was so urgent that the angels literally had to grab Lot, his wife, and his daughters by the hands to pull them out (Genesis 19:16)! They were not left behind to face the fire. These two accounts share two vital points: their old dwelling place was destroyed, but the righteous were saved beforehand. Just as Lot was unaware of the timing until the angels appeared, we must remember Jesus’ warning that no man knows the day or hour of His return.

If the Rapture were to occur at the midpoint or the end of the Tribulation, the timing would be easy to calculate. Scripture provides a specific timeline of seven years, noting that the Antichrist will break his covenant with Israel exactly halfway through—after 1,260 days. In those scenarios, the ‘day and hour’ would be predictable. However, the Pre-tribulation view aligns with the biblical truth that we cannot know the exact timing; because it can happen at any moment, we are called to live in constant readiness.

Matthew 24:36-42  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  (37)  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (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,  (39)  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (40)  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  (41)  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  (42)  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

The distinction between the Rapture and the Tribulation is clear: one is a rescue, and the other is a judgment. There is no encouragement to be found in the prospect of the Tribulation, but for the Christian, there is an abundance of hope! We can look forward to our reunion with Christ with excitement rather than fear. To my friend reading this who doesn’t yet know the Lord—don’t view this as a coincidence. God has placed you here at this exact moment to offer you His gift of grace before the door is shut. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!