The Imminent return of the Lord has been defined as consisting of three elements by Gerald B. Stanton. He lists those three elements as “the certainty that He may come at any moment, the uncertainty of the time of that arrival, and the fact that no prophesied event stands between the believer and that hour”1. This means that other events may happen before the Rapture but that there is no event or sign that must happen before it. If something else must take place before an event can happen, then that event is not imminent. The necessity of something else occurring before the Rapture like the rise of the anti-christ, as Robert Gundry proposes in error based on his interpretation of Mathew 24, or the seven year Tribulation, as post tribulationists teach, destroys the concept of imminency.2  Renold Showers raises a very important point when he says  “a person cannot legitimately say that an imminent event will happen soon, as in after a seven year Tribulation. The term ‘soon’ implies that an event must take place within a short time, after a particular point of time specified or implied. By contrast an imminent event may take place within a short time, but it does not have to do so in order to be imminent. As I hope you can see by now ‘imminent’ is not equal to ‘soon’.”3  Since Christ coming to rapture the Church is truly imminent, a believer never knows exactly when Christ will come. Thus it can be said that any Christian from any time period could believe in an imminent return of Jesus and this was God’s plan; for eveyone to believe in the Blessed Hope of Scripture. Just because we, in hindsight know that Christ did not return in the past, does not mean they should not have expected Him to come. It’s like saying we should not expect Him to come any moment because in a year from now, if we are still here, 0ne will still be waiting for Him and say He did not come a year ago. Peter wrote about this in Second Peter 3:3-4, “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” This scripture of course was written about the unregenerated but it shows that those regenerated should expect His coming. It shows that in contrast to the scoffer the Christian should always be looking for the coming of the Lord. Also many believed they were in the last generation throughout history. Martin Luther was one of these who lived from 1483-1546 and will be quoted a little later in this chapter. Another in from the fourth century from Pseudo-Ephraem “For all the saints and elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins. And so, brothers most dear to me, it is the eleventh hour, and the end of the world comes to the harvest, and angels, armed and prepared, hold sickles in their hands, awaiting the empire of the Lord.”

While signs were given to Israel that precede the second advent of the Messiah, there are no such signs that were given to the church. There is thus nothing that needs to precede the Rapture (harpazo) and that many events must precede the Second Advent. The result of this is that the Second Advent will be known at least three and a half years before it happens and perhaps seven years before if the confirming of the peace covenant with Israel by the antichrist is clearly known according to Daniel 9:27. The time of Christ’s coming for the church is a divine secret and that is why some refer to it as the secret rapture. “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” Mark 13:32 (KJV) Historically I have not called the rapture “secret”, but it has been mocked because of this by opponents. The fact is if we don’t know when it will happen then we can call it a secret. Men will not be able to determine the time by signs given to Israel and there are no signs in the word of God given to the church. If either the appearance of the Antichrist, the Abomination of Desolation, or the unfolding of the Tribulation must occur before the Rapture, then a command to watch for Christ’s coming would not be relevant. Instead the Church would be told to watch for the things that happen in the Tribulation first before Christ can come for us. The Church is told to expect the Lord’s return at any moment when He will return and receive it to Himself as John wrote that we will look at in a moment, and this is the basis for the imminent return of Christ.

Some Post Tribulationists re-define Imminence like Douglas Moo does who says the term does not include ‘any moment’ but does say that the return of Christ could take place within any limited period of time.4 This definition is essential for the Post Tribulation interpretation to even be considered as viable and this is why it should be obvious that there is a problem with this view. Only the system of pretribulationism teaches a truly imminent Rapture since it is the only view not requiring anything to happen before the Rapture of the Church. The doctrine of imminency is a very strong argument among many for the pre-trib Rapture and provides the believer with a true “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13). It must be remembered that the early Church had a greeting of Maranatha!, “our Lord come” (I Cor. 16:22) which showed their belief in the Blessed Hope in their everyday lives and their belief that it would happen in their lifetime. Titus 2:13 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” John 14:2-3 describes what this Blessed Hope is because it is more than just the glorious appearing of Jesus. “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” So not only does Jesus come for us but he immediately takes us to where he prepared our places in heaven. This of course is where we must be before His Second Coming so we can be judged in the Bema Judgment, experience the Marriage Supper of the Lamb as His Bride and be mounted on horseback ready to return to earth at the Second Coming in that order. (2 Cor.5:10; Rev. 19:7-9; 19:14). I have considered that what happens in heaven may not occur in our time limitations and so all these things that need to happen between the Rapture and the return of the bride as Christ’s Army at the Second Advent may happen in only a few minutes or even seconds. This would help explain how the Posttribulationists believe the Rapture can happen so close to or at the same time as the return of Christ in Revelation 19:11 with the armies in heaven verse 14. The first problem with this is that their view does not include the Lord taking the Raptured Church back to heaven first as the scriptures say for these events to happen. The second is that there is no scriptural evidence that even though we assume there is no time in heaven that events there happen at a different time span when they are connected to what happens on earth.  Here is a scripture that shows this that there is time in heaven.  “And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.”  Rev 8:1 (KJV)

It is a decision you will have to make.  Is Christ’s catching up of the Church Imminent or not.  Here is more for you to consider.

The following scriptures support the idea of Imminence. Some scriptures don’t seem to support an imminent return by in their language, but keep in mind that any verse that does not have signs attached to the Lord’s coming for His Church, can be considered an imminent one! These next two scriptures in the Old Testament show this idea of Imminence and the rest in the New Testament continue to support it. Joel 2:1 “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand ” in Joel 3:14 “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” Acts 1:11 “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” 1 Cor. 1:7 “So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:” 1 Cor. 15:51-52 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Cor. 16:22 “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema, Maranatha. (our Lord come)” Phil. 3:20 “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:” Phil. 4:50 “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” Col. 3:1-4 “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” 1 Thess. 1:10 “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thess. 2:19 “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?” 1 Thess 4:16-18 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thess. 5:6 “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” 2 Thess. 2:1 “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,”  This verse refers to the Rapture because in verse two it says “as though the day of Christ had come” (NKJ version) which means it had not yet come but will come as seen in verse 3 “for that day will not come unless” and then gives signs for the day of the Lord.  1 Tim. 6:14 “That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:” Titus 2:13 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Heb. 9:28 “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Phil 3:20-21 “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Jas. 5:8-9 “Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.” 1 Pet. 1:13 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” 1 Pet. 4:7 “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”1 John 2:28 “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” 1 John 3:2-3 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” Jude 21 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Rev. 3:3 “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” Rev. 3:11 “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Rev. 22:7 “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” Rev. 22:12 “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Rev. 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:20 “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

Note that the attention of the believer is always directed to Christ and not the signs of the tribulation no matter how close it might be. Gerald Stanton offers this insight: “The posttribulational view robs every generation of an imminent, and consequently of a comforting and purifying hope. It argues that, because the rapture was not imminent in the first century, it is not imminent in any century, and it cannot be imminent now. Antichrist and the great tribulation are ahead, and there is no basis for expecting Christ to come before such clearly scheduled events.”5  As to the belief of the early church here are some passages to show it held to the doctrine of imminency. Clement wrote in the First Epistle to the Corinthians, “Ye see how in a little while the fruit of the trees come to maturity. Of a truth, soon and suddenly shall His will be accomplished, as the Scriptures also bear witness, saying “Speedily will He come, and will not tarry”; and “The Lord shall suddenly come to His people, even the Holy One, for whom you look.”6   Clement also writes: “Wherefore, let us every hour expect the kingdom of God in love and righteousness, because we know not the day of the Lord’s appearing.”7   Henry Thiessen wrote of the early Church “…they held not only the premillennial view of Christ’s coming, but also regarded that coming as imminent. The Lord had taught them to expect His return at any moment, and so they looked for Him to come in their day. Not only so, but they also taught His personal return as being immediately. Only the Alexandrians opposed this truth; but these Fathers also rejected other fundamental doctrines. We may say, therefore, that the early Church lived in the constant expectation of their Lord, and hence was not interested in the possibility of a Tribulation period in the future.”8   The Reformers had a view of imminece even though they have had different views on eschatological questions. Chafer quotes some of the reformers in this regard. Martin Luther wrote, “I believe that all the signs which are to precede the last days have already appeared. Let us not think that the Coming of Christ is far off; let us look up with heads lifted up; let us expect our Redeemer’s coming with longing and cheerful mind.” John Calvin declared, “Scripture uniformly enjoins us to look with expectation for the advent of Christ.” John Knox wrote, “The Lord Jesus shall return, and that with expedition. What were this else but to reform the face of the whole earth, which never was nor yet shall be, till that righteous King and Judge appear for the restoration of all things.” Latimer wrote, “All those excellent and learned men whom, without doubt, God has sent into the world in these latter days to give the world warning, do gather out of the Scriptures that the last days cannot be far off. Peradventure it may come in my day, old as I am, or in my children’s days.”8   The Church then cannot participate in any part of Daniel’s seventieth week according to the doctrine of imminence.  If that were not so then the myriad of signs given to Israel to bring them to jealousy would then also be for the Church. If this were so then the Church would not see Christ or look for His return until the signs had been fulfilled. The fact that the Church is commanded to watch for Christ precludes its participation in the period known as the Tribulation.

If the Rapture of the Church has not already happened before Rev. 11, then why were the 2 witnesses raptured or told to “come up here” in verse 12. The 144,000 “were redeemed from the earth” in chapter 14 verse 3. I think this shows that being “caught up” to heaven in not a new thing and that the Church is already in heaven for them to join. When the seventh trumpet sounds there is a description of heaven and earth and that Christ shall reign forever. That He judges the nations and rewards His servants the prophets and the saints and should destroy these who destroy the earth. Also that the temple of God was opened in heaven and the ark of His covenant was seen along with lightning’s, noise thundering, an earthquake, and great hail (Rev.11:18-19. There is no Rapture of the Church seen here or any ware else in the book of Revelation although the Rapture is tried to be put in several places by others. The Church or members of the Church, Christians, are not mentioned after the “after these things” of Revelation 4:1. They are part of the “things which are” that are written about in chapters 1-3 (Revelation 1:19). The word for the Church in the greek,  ἐκκλησία, transliteration: ekklēsia, is never used again in Revelation. The tribulation saints are referred to as saints in the New Testament and saints has been used in Daniel chapter 7 to refer to Israel so this does not necessarily mean those belonging to the Church.  The elect has been used in the Old Testament for Israel.  “For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.” Isaiah 45:4 (KJV).  Elect has also been used in Matthew 24:24 about Israel also since the Church was not established yet and this scripture is occurring during the tribulation period (see my chapter on Matthew 24).  Elect has also been used of angels in 1 Timothy 5:21. Thus the use of elect in Matthew does not prove they are the Church there either as in the passage “gathers His elect” in Matthew 24:31 “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” and in fact is better supported by the pre-tribulation view that these are the scattered Israelites that the Lord will gather after He returns and if Israel is part of the sheep they are gathered at or about the same time as all the nations in Matthew 25:32-34 were Christ says “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:  And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” I believe the elect gathered when Christ returns to earth is the remnant of Israel and that Isaiah also sees it that way as he explains in Isaiah 27:12-13 “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel.  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem.”  This simply means the Church is not there to participate in the wrath to come and are promised not to be as written in 1 Thessalonians 1:10 “And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” and in 1 Thessalonians 5:9 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” When a scripture has a clear meaning seek no other. Other meanings have to be found if the Church is in the 70th week of Daniels prophecy, the time of Jacobs trouble, the 7 year Tribulation. The conclusion is the Pre-Trib Rapture position is the one that serves the literal interpretation of the scriptures here and in fact in all the studies of the end of the age.

(1) Gerald B. Stanton, Kept from the Hour: Biblical Evidence for the Pretribulational Return of Christ,4th edition (Miami Springs, FL: Schoettle Publishing Co., (1956), 1991),p. 108. (2) Bob Gundry’s, First the Antichrist (Baker, 1997 ),p. 22 (3) Renold Showers, Maranatha our Lord come! a definitive study of the Rapture of the Church, 1995 pp 127-28. (4) Douglass J. Moo,”The Case For The Posttribulationism Rapture Position”, in Three Views on the Rapture (Grand Rapids: Zondervan 1996) p 208 (5) Stanton , op. cit., p. 123 (6) Alexander Robers and James Donaldson, The Ante-Nicene Fathers,I,11. (7) Cited by J. F. Silver, The Lord’s Return, p. 59 (8) Henry C. Thiessen, Will the Church Pass Through the Tribulation? 1941 p. 15 (9) Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, 1947 IV,p. 47-53