DAY 42 - Imminent - 2
Yesterday we began to look at some verses that are used in an attempt to support an imminent, any-moment return of Jesus Christ.
Today, we will continue.
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” (Titus 2:13)
Apparently, pretribulationists believe that the “Looking for” in this verse means to be constantly looking in ever-present expectation that it could happen at any moment.
However, “prosdechomai”, the Greek word which is translated as “Looking for” simply means “to receive”, “welcome”, “accept”, “to wait for”, or to “anticipate”.
How many are willing “to receive”, “wait for”, and “anticipate” the next president?
How many parents feel the same way about the birth of their next child?
These terms do not necessitate an any-moment event, and there is no imminency in the verse cited.
“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 Corinthians 15:52)
Obviously this verse is speaking of the same event as “when he shall appear, we shall be like him” (1 John 3:2) and “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” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
However, we never see anything in any of these verses that even implies this event could occur at any moment.
This verse begins with “In a moment”, which is very different from “at any moment”.
“In a moment” only means that when this event does occur (which it will), it will only take a split-second for it to occur.
This is the same message conveyed by the phrase “in the twinkling of an eye”.
An eye only takes a brief moment to twinkle.
This verse does not say “at any moment” or “at any twinkling of an eye”, but rather that when it does occur, it will occur “in a moment”.
“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.” (John 14:3)
I’m really not sure how people can convince themselves that some of these verses teach an imminent rapture, but that’s what some will claim.
I agree that Jesus does say “I will come again, and receive you unto myself”, but there is absolutely nothing pertaining to any timeframe (or lack of timeframe) here.
He simply says that He “will come again”.
Making this statement in itself does not provide any evidence one way or the other.
Jesus could have just as easily said, “On May 30th, 2066, I will come again” as He could have said, “Be ready, for at any moment I will come again”.
The phrase He used does not negate either possibility (imminent or not imminent).
Since it doesn’t rule out the possibility of a not imminent return, it therefore does not necessitate an imminent return.
“…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.” (Acts 1:11)
This verse, like many others, just says that Jesus will come back from heaven.
If Jesus was to return at any moment, rather than these angels asking “why stand ye gazing up into heaven?” they should have encouraged them to keep watching, for it could be any moment.
Point: Though verses may be cited as proof of an imminent return, they do not seem valid.
2+2=4
Thanks, @narrowminded
In case you missed them,
Introduction
Back Cover
1 : The Foundation
2 : The Tribulation
BONUS : A Biblical, New Testament Understanding of Tribulation
3 : The Seventieth Week of Daniel
4 : Not Appointed to Wrath
5 : Wrath vs. Tribulation
6 : The Day of the Lord
7 : The Lord Alone
8 : The Exaltation of the Antichrist
9 : Promises
10 : The Presupposition
11 : 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
12 : The Revealing of the Antichrist
13 : Same Day - 1
14 : Same Day -2
15 : Hand in Hand
16 : Overtake You as a Thief
17 : Another Thief
18 : Not Knowing the Day or Hour - 1
19 : Not Knowing the Day or Hour - 2
20 : Not Knowing the Day or Hour - 3
21 : Ignorance
22 : "Olivet Discourse": Armageddon or Rapture? -1
23 : "Olivet Discourse": Armageddon or Rapture? -2
24 : For My Name's Sake -1
25 : For My Name's Sake -2
26 : Enduring to the End
27 : The Righteous and the Wicked
28 : Dark Sun and Blood Moon - 1
29 : Dark Sun and Blood Moon - 2
30 : Dark Sun and Blood Moon - 3
31 : "Seal Judgments"
32 : The Fifth Seal
33 : Timing - 1
34 : Timing - 2
35 : Timing - 3
36 : Two Witnesses - 1
37 : Two Witnesses - 2
38 : Two Witnesses - 3
39 : Two Witnesses - 4
40 : Two Witnessses - 5
41 : Imminent -1