Imminence” : Is the Rapture the next prophesied event in history?
Pre-tribulationists often teach that the rapture is “imminent,” meaning that it could happen “at any moment.” They say the Bible tells us to “watch” for the rapture as the next prophesied event in history because there are no events or “signs” prophesied to happen before the rapture. —–However, in studying the Scriptures, we find that there are prophesied events that must occur before the rapture does, therefore, the rapture is not imminent (as of this writing, in 1999 AD). One key passage that contradicts the notion of the rapture’s imminence, is 2Thessalonians 2:1-3. —Condensed for clarity, it says : with regard to to the coming (parousia) of our Lord Jesus, and our gathering together to Him (the rapture), do not be disturbed by anyone who says that the day of the Lord has come, because that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness (the Antichrist) is revealed. In the above passage, the parousia of the Lord, and the rapture, are identified in
