Would you care to comment on the following? I was reading a chapter of one of my favourite books by (a well known author) on Lot’s wife. Are we to assume that Lot and his wife and 2 daughters would represent the Church leaving this earth before the 7 year Tribulations? If so, what are we to make of the fact that Lot’s wife didn’t make it to their destination, wherever that was? Wouldn’t this support the partial rapture theory that quite a few sound theologians seem to believe in and teach? Personnally, I do not believe in a partial rapture but your comments on Lot’s wife would be most appreciated. God bless you and your fabulous ministry.
Lot’s family is a study unto itself. He serves as a model of the Rapture because the angels couldn’t bring judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah until he was out. But we can get into trouble by taking models too far. They’re only types and shadows.
When his wife disobeyed and looked back it was because of her regret over being made to leave. She loved her life in Sodom and Gomorrah. In Luke 17:32 Jesus referred to her as an example of what could happen to people who delay leaving Israel when the anti-Christ is revealed, saying that people who try to keep their lives will lose them. Was Lot’s wife a believer? I have my doubts. Remember, God led Abraham to believe that He wouldn’t destroy the righteous with the wicked. Perhaps the angels knew that Lot wouldn’t go without his family, and that’s why they were included.
Because Lot’s daughters are likewise suspect. They got their father so drunk he didn’t know what he was doing and then had sex with him. Their sons founded nations that became Israel’s enemies. The Bible says that Lot had no recollection of this (Genesis 19:33,35) and Peter called Lot a righteous man (2 Peter 2:7). But no similar claims are made for either his daughters or his wife.
For those reasons I’m not comfortable using Lot’s family as a model for a partial rapture, but more importantly there’s no Biblical justification for such a thing. We’re saved because of what we believe not because of how we behave. Paul wrote that there’s not a righteous person alive, except for those whose righteousness has been imputed to them by faith. Who (besides the proponents of the theory of course) would go in the so-called partial rapture? At what point is one disqualified? Is our blessed assurance really a matter of doubt and uncertainty? How does the Holy Spirit become unsealed and God’s guarantee become null and void?