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Re: Lot was 'raptured' (Genesis 19:16-17)

"And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, 
and the hands of his two daughters, Jehovah being merciful to him, and 
they brought him out and set him down outside the city.  And it came to 
pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said,  Escape for your 
lives! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to 
the mountains, lest you be destroyed." (Gen19:16-17)

In these two verses we see three things we'd like to observe briefly. 
From the previous Portion we were reminded that Lot is called 
"righteous". (2Pet2:7) By N.T. description, Lot was a "saint", due to 
being a "beloved of God". (Rom1:7)  

But was he "saintly"? Were all his actions and behavior 'good'? Was he 
continually obedient? When God spoke, did he 'hop-to' in obedience? He 
was still "flesh and blood" that is not able to inherit the Kingdom of 
God. (1Cor15:50) He was still of corruption. The angels were needing to 
-urge- Lot to get out of town. (vs15) He is still "lingering". (vs16)
We are saved "by grace, through faith...and that, NOT OF OURSELVES..." 
Our salvation isn't based on our self-actualized perfection. It is a 
work of God. "..His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus." (Eph2:8-10)

So, notice what happens. For the sake of Abraham (v29), God's "friend" 
(Jac2:23), God shows "mercy" (vs16) towards Lot, and family. 

What is mercy? Is it a feel-good pat-on-the-back, with sweet words of 
praise, bolstering one's self-esteem? According to what some teach, with 
another word that means something similar to "mercy" ... "graeeesss", 
they seem to think so.

How did God's mercy for Lot get manifest through the angels? The two 
angels grab the four of them by the hand, and forcefully whisk them out 
of town. From the wording, I suspect the event would have dwarfed ET's 
escape on the flying bicycles. Notice after they are brought out, it 
says they "SET HIM DOWN outside the city". (vs16b)  What sorts of things 
are "set down"? Things that have been first 'picked up', or are being 
otherwise supported, held, carried, suspended, etc. You don't "set down" 
something that is already 'down'. Thus, I suspect Lot's family did some 
quick 'flying' through the air that day! 

In this case, "mercy" was like a burning building, the people have the 
trampoline device ready to 'catch' the person, so "mercy" grabs the 
child and 'throws' them out the upper window, so they can be caught by 
the people below. When a person is drowning, and thrashing about, 
"mercy" is the rescuer punching his lights out so he will stop 
thrashing, so that he can be safely rescued.

Finally, an observation. Remember that the Lord's appearing is to be 
like the days of Lot?  Now, we know that many are skeptical about what 
is often called the "pre-trib" Rapture... that the Lord is snatching the 
Church out -before- the seven years of wrath of the 70th week. 

If we are correct about the mode of transportation by which Lot's family 
left the city of Sodom, were they not "raptured" out? They were 
'raptured' out -before- Sodom's destruction. In fact, the insistance by 
the angels that they needed to hurry was because, "..I cannot do 
anything until you arrive there.." (vs22)  God's destruction could not 
begin until Lot's family was totally -removed- from harm's way.

"Because you have kept the Word of My perseverance, I also will keep you 
from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test 
those who dwell on the earth.  Behold, I am coming quickly!" 
(Rev3:10-11)  "..God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain 
salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.." (1Th5:9)  God's 'mercy'. 
God's 'grace'. If Lot was raptured -before- destruction, so will it be 
for the Church!

"...as it was also in the days of Lot...Even in the same way will it be 
in the day when the Son of Man is revealed." (~Lk17:28-30)

Amen!

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