I'm comparing it to what they were doing at that time...
Here's the description you keep avoiding....Noahs time...They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage then...
Lots time....They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built.
How does this fit into the end of the tribulation ?
You are not thinking outside of the box. Perspective is relevant here.
Revelation 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Obviously, the fate of those in verse 17 that worship the beast, have the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name--is not the same fate those in verse 15 experience during it's 42 month reign.
Therefore, per the perspective of those with the mark--it equals this--They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built. And this proves it--no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
You want us to believe that---they bought---they sold--does not equal this---no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name? If 'they bought' 'they sold' does not equal buy and sell, what then does 'they bought' 'they sold' equal?
You don't dispute that the 42 month reign of the beast = great tribulation, right? According to Revelation 13, only those with mark can buy and sell, the exact same thing Jesus said they would be doing when He returns--buying and selling, for one. It doesn't matter what sense that is meaning in, it is clearly connected with what they are doing during great tribulation, buying and selling. Not the ones not worshiping the beast. The ones worshiping the beast. Thus perspective is relevant.
Those not worshiping the beast are killed during when the beast is being worshiped. Those worshiping the beast are not being killed during when the beast is being worshiped. They are killed after the time of the beast, thus after great tribulation against the church has run it's course.
The problem is when it comes to the Discourse, Pretribbers take some things in the literal sense not meant to be taken in the literal sense to begin with. Preterists take some things in the literal sense not meant to be taken in the literal sense to begin with. And those who are not Preterists but align with Preterist thinking per some parts of the Discourse, equally take some things in the literal sense not meant to be taken in the literal sense to begin with.
IOW, per the Discourse, Jesus is not allowed per these views to be speaking on a spiritual level rather than a literal level. Scripture is supposed to interpret scripture, and other Scripture, such as Luke 17:31-33, undeniably proves that Jesus wasn't meaning in a literal sense pertaining to Matthew 24:15-20. Or maybe I should say undeniably proves to anyone not lacking spiritual discernment here.
Do you flat out deny that during great tribulation, thus the 42 month reign of the beast, that those with the mark are buying and selling? If you don't deny that, how can you then expect any reasonable person to agree with you when you insist it is ludicrous anyone is buying and selling during great tribulation, therefore, the Noah's flood example is meaning at the beginning of great tribulation not at the end of it, since it makes no sense to you that anyone would be buying and selling during great tribulation despite that Revelation 13 plainly, thus clearly, says they will be? Once again, clearly, buying and selling is one thing they are doing prior to the coming meant in Matthew 24.
Therefore, the correct chronology is this--they buy and sell during great tribulation. At the end of great tribulation they are then destroyed.