Just How Close is the RAPTURE?

[n2thelight]

3 minutes ago, shiloh357 said:

Any verse that refers to the coming of the Lord as being something that is imminent, that could happen at any time without notice.    That cannot apply to the 2nd coming because we know that the 2nd coming is preceded by a sequence of events laid out for us in Revelation.   It will not be like thief in the night.

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Mat 25:13)

There are no signs that will tell us when that happens.  We don't know when it will happen.  Unlike the 2nd coming that has several events that must precede it, the rapture has no signs.  It will take everyone by surprise.  For some the surprise will be wonderful, and for others it will be dreadful.
 

So at what point in time did it become imminent?

And where in scripture is it said to can happen at anytime?

[Guest shiloh357]

6 minutes ago, n2thelight said:

So at what point in time did it become imminent?

It was never "non-imminent."  

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And where in scripture is it said to can happen at anytime?

There are no signs for it and Jesus said that we don't know the day or hour of his coming.   From our perspective, it is imminent.  I am sure God has a set day, but He is not revealing that to us.   So we have to be ready because it could happen at any time.

[n2thelight]

16 minutes ago, shiloh357 said:

It was never "non-imminent."

So He could had returned before the Gospel was preached to the whole world

Jesus said Peter would die as an old man, therefor the Resurrection / Catching-away could NOT happen until this prophesy was fulfilled.

Paul died about the same time as Peter. This means the Resurrection / Catching away was NOT imminent during the span of Paul’s ministry to the Body of Christ, and therefor God did NOT reveal to him any such thing! It was not a possibility until the death of Peter!

Paul would NOT (under the unction of the Holy Spirit) have taught as doctrine to his followers something that could not possibly happen, nor would he have included this concept in his writings to them. The Scriptures were penned by God himself using holy men as vessels. God does not lie, nor does his Word! It would have been a lie to teach and promote as imminent something NOT possible in his lifetime, amd the Holy Spirit would not have guided Paul to state a falsehood in his writings to the Church!

[Guest shiloh357]

8 minutes ago, n2thelight said:

So He could had returned before the Gospel was preached to the whole world

There is nothing in the Bible that says the Gospel MUST be preached to the whole world before He returns.   God has a set day because God always operates in the fulness of time.   So Jesus will return when the Father says it is time.  
 

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Jesus said Peter would die as an old man, therefor the Resurrection / Catching-away could NOT happen until this prophesy was fulfilled.

Paul died about the same time as Peter. This means the Resurrection / Catching away was NOT imminent during the span of Paul’s ministry to the Body of Christ, and therefor God did NOT reveal to him any such thing! It was not a possibility until the death of Peter!

Paul would NOT (under the unction of the Holy Spirit) have taught as doctrine to his followers something that could not possibly happen, nor would he have included this concept in his writings to them. The Scriptures were penned by God himself using holy men as vessels. God does not lie, nor does his Word! It would have been a lie to teach and promote as imminent something NOT possible in his lifetime, amd the Holy Spirit would not have guided Paul to state a falsehood in his writings to the Church!

 

Most pre-tribbers don't believe in what we call "early imminence."  We don't believe that it was imminent in Paul's day because the Gospel message was still in its infancy and had not left the borders of the Roman empire. In addition, there were something that were prophesied to happen, such as the destruction of the Temple.  And many don't believe imminence means, "it can happen tomorrow,"  but rather that it will happen before the Tribulation, but we don't know when that will be.   We live as if it could happen today, but that is based on our limited perspective.  

[n2thelight]

6 minutes ago, shiloh357 said:

Most pre-tribbers don't believe in what we call "early imminence."  We don't believe that it was imminent in Paul's day because the Gospel message was still in its infancy and had not left the borders of the Roman empire. In addition, there were something that were prophesied to happen, such as the destruction of the Temple.  And many don't believe imminence means, "it can happen tomorrow,"  but rather that it will happen before the Tribulation, but we don't know when that will be.   We live as if it could happen today, but that is based on our limited perspective.  

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions...

[George]

1 hour ago, n2thelight said:

So He could had returned before the Gospel was preached to the whole world

1

Just an interesting passage ... and one that I've often wondered,

Rev_14:6  Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.

I've always wondered what that looks like, what it entails, and how does it fit into the grand plan of God. 

[n2thelight]

Mark 13:23 "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

Where did Christ tell us about the rapture? 

[Brother Duke]

6 hours ago, shiloh357 said:

There is nothing in the Bible that says the Gospel MUST be preached to the whole world before He returns.   God has a set day because God always operates in the fulness of time.   So Jesus will return when the Father says it is time.  

Mattehw 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

[Guest shiloh357]

4 hours ago, Brother Duke said:

Mattehw 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

That does not say that Gospel of the Kingdom to all nations is a condition for Jesus to rapture the church, and besides the Gospel will be preached to all nations during the Tribulation.

[n2thelight]

18 hours ago, shiloh357 said:

That does not say that Gospel of the Kingdom to all nations is a condition for Jesus to rapture the church, and besides the Gospel will be preached to all nations during the Tribulation.

Preached by whom ,if all the Christians are gone?

It takes years of study to understand the Word,and just this subject most don't have it right .