With the five preceding examples to draw upon, the Church awaits its own Rapture: “

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. “Therefore encourage each other with these words.” 1Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV

Each of these events lends its own depth and dimension to the most grand and complete event of its type in the history of the world, when the Church is caught up. With history as our witness, it is easy to believe that the promise of the Rapture is perfectly within the realm of possibility.

Our days are similar – full of idolatry and sin – the times Jesus calls the days of Noah and the days of Lot. Just as in the days of Enoch, Moses, Elijah, Jesus and the Old Testament saints, judgment is coming. The Lessons in the days of Noah and the days of Lot will help us to escape the judgement. Of Noah, Josephus the Jewish historian wrote: In the days fallen angels roamed the street raping and impregnating the fair ladies (Gen. 6:1), Noah saw the lineage of Adam in debauchery, like the linage of Cain (Gen. 4) and spoke out against their lifestyle. But Noah was very uneasy at what they did; and, being displeased at their conduct, persuaded them to change their dispositions and their acts for the better; – but, seeing that they did not yield to him, but were slaves to their wicked pleasures, he was afraid they would kill him, together with his wife and children, and those they had married; so he departed out of that land.   

With Lot, it was his condoning the horrible lifestyle of Sodom and Gomorrah – the world to us that he Lord is pointing attention to, for us at the end of time. Put all of them together and you will understand what Paul said is the qualification for Rapture: ALIVE AND REMAIN  in 1Thess. 4:16-17. alive is as we describe living beings function while REMAIN is the key word. The Greek word used means  to leave over; to remain over, to survive.

We must overcome all the temptations Satan throws at us to live in holiness and service to God and humanity; as we await the Sixth Rapture.