First of all over 30 or 40 years I use to believe in the pretrib rapture taught Hal Lindsey and his ilk. I finally came to my senses by doing extensive study and changed my position according to Biblical facts.
Now, it is true that Jesus mentioned Noah at Matthew 24:37-39 but the point Jesus was making is that His coming and the world was clueless about it because they were "carousing" around having fun. So what about Noah? How was he and his delivered? Hebrews 11:7, "Noah being warned by God in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation/deliverance for his household." Was Noah literally taken away out of the water, no.
Look at 1 Peter 3:20 the last sentence, "in which a few, that is, eight persons, WERE BROUGHT SAFELY THROUGH THE WATER." And how about 2 Peter 2:5. that dismantels you position. "and did not spare the ancient world, but "PRESERVED" Noah, a preacher of righteousness with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly." The Greek word for preserved is "phulasso." It means to kept safe, under guard. In other words, God used the ark to protect Noah and his family.
They were not raptured from the flood and neither will we be rapture from the great tribulation. It does not make any sense at least to me that if we are pretribed raptured we will be having the marraige supper of the Lamb while all hell is breaking loose on earth.
So, here are two more questions for you and both questions back up what Jesus stated at Matthew 24. The Apostle John said the following at 1 John 2:18, "Children, it is the last hour and just as you heard that antichrist (singular) is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know this is the last hour." At Matthew 24:15 Jesus said, "Therefore when you see the Abomination of Desolation, run. That's the implication in the following verses.
So, why does John say (just like Jesus said) to be alert for the coming of the "singular" antichrist if were not going to be here because we were raptured? Second question by the Apostle Paul at 2 Thessalonians 1:5-8, "This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. vs6, For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, vs7, AND TO GIVE RELIEF/REST TO YOU WHO ARE AFFLICTED, and to us as well (look at the words carefully) WHEN, (when to we get rest or relief according to the Apostle Paul?) when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, vs8, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus."
Please read vs 9-12 and tell me where there is a rapture before all of this takes place? Now, let me say nobody in their right mind wants to go through the great tribualtion. The point is the fact that Jesus Christ is coming for His church and we should all be about the Lord's work in the meantime.
IN GOD THE SON,
bluto