A number of statements of faith refer to the rapture as being "imminent". As a Bible college president and I discussed this, he agreed that only those who believe in a "pre-trib" rapture could use that word.

That is because the word "imminent" means that an event can happen at any moment. If something else has to happen first, then the event is not imminent.

When that "something else" happens, THEN the event becomes imminent. The purpose of this article is to discuss the things that have to happen before the rapture, to see if they have all happened, and if it is accurate to say today that the rapture is imminent.

We begin by pointing out that the rapture was not imminent to the disciples at the time that Jesus ascended into heaven. To start with, He had just told them to wait in Jerusalem until they were endued with power…on the day of Pentecost.

So when Pentecost was over, was the rapture imminent? No, for following that, there was a major job to do…

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

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. (Matthew 24:14)

Daniel foretold that after the Messiah would be crucified ("cut off"), that the people of the prince that would come would destroy both the city of Jerusalem and the temple, and that would be followed by war and desolation (Daniel 9:26).

Jesus added that the destruction of the temple would be total:

And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (Matthew 24:2)

In fact the gospel of the kingdom had not been preached in all the world at this time…both events were expected to happen before the rapture.

I am sure that the early church was just as knowledgeable about prophetic Scriptures as we are today. Not only were they students of Daniel, but they had the prophetic words of Jesus Christ. Consider this:

There is to be a period known as the last days, which we often call "the signs of the times". This includes such events as:

• knowledge will increase
• earthquakes in various places
• wars and rumours of wars…"but the end is not yet"
• a falling away from the faith
• etc. etc.

Notice another important fact. In regard to some future events, Jesus said,

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (Luke 21:28)

So the church waited for wars and rumours of wars, earthquakes in various places, etc., knowing that all this had to begin happening BEFORE the rapture could occur.

Many, many prophetic teachers have included in their teaching those current events that they feel have fulfilled, or are fulfilling these prophecies (the signs of the times), in order to prove that we live in the last days. Each time they do that, they are saying that these events and conditions had to happen before the rapture takes place, for the rapture happens in the end times. And, in saying imminent until these signs begin to occur. Since they refer to events in this century as being the fulfillment, they are saying that for 1900 years, the rapture has NOT been imminent.

In this regard, one should consult the Didache, a church manual believed to be written before 100 A.D. by those who knew the Apostles. In it there is a paragraph about prophecy, and it places the rapture AFTER number of events…NOT the first event in the order. The early church did NOT consider the rapture to be imminent.

So when did the rapture become imminent? In fact, is it imminent yet? Are there other prophesied events that must happen before the rapture?

There is one event that Jesus spoke about which confirms that the rapture was not imminent during the past 1900 years. It combines with the return of the Jewish people to their land, prophesied by so many Old Testament prophets. Jesus said,

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)

So, was the rapture imminent BEFORE 1967? Or was the rapture an event that was to happen AFTER the Jews retook Jerusalem? Well, since the rapture has not happened yet, and since the Jews now rule their city, declaring it to be their capital—at least in the mind of God—the rapture was not imminent until at least 1967.

In regard to the above events and to the signs of the times, Jesus said,

Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. (Matthew 24:34)

And Jesus had stated that there was a time period known as the times of the Gentiles which would last until Jerusalem was again under the control of the Jews. From the time He spoke those words until 1967, the Jews had never controlled their capital city. For all that time, the rapture was not imminent.

Jesus confirmed this in teaching (in this same chapter on prophetic events) that, just as one knows the summer is coming when the early-blossoming trees begin to bud, so there would come a time when the church will see these events begin to happen, and will know that the end is drawing near. If the church is watching for ANY event to happen BEFORE the rapture, it is not imminent.

But there is yet one more event that Paul taught is the crucial event before the rapture. He taught that the rapture CANNOT happen until this event occurs. Turn to II Thess. 2, and read these words:

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. (2 Thessalonians 2:1,2)

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day SHALL NOT COME, except there come a falling away first, and that MAN OF SIN BE REVEALED, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God SITTETH IN THE TEMPLE of God, shewing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2)

Now, there is one event that will do that. Interestingly, the Scripture never tells the church to watch for the treaty that begins the seven year reign of the antichrist…perhaps because there will be several treaty periods (just like Russia had many "five-year plans"), or perhaps because the treaty might be signed in secret, and not reported on the 11 o’clock news.

However, there is an event that is mentioned a number of times…an event that is the signal…an event that will actually make the rapture imminent, for the man of sin will then be "revealed". Paul described that event for us:

…so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4)

So, do you know who the antichrist is? Has he been revealed? Is the rapture imminent yet?

Paul taught in this same chapter that this event (the revealing of the antichrist) cannot happen until God’s timetable allows it, and to that end He is restraining the powers of evil. We find that in the same chapter:

6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed…

So again we ask the question, "Do you know who the antichrist is? Has he taken his place in the temple of Jerusalem? Has he declared himself to be God? And (including other texts), has he raised up the abomination.

If your answer to the above is "no", then the rapture is not imminent YET. Bible students will readily acknowledge that the events mentioned above occur in the middle of the seven year treaty period. Daniel states that, at that time, the antichrist causes the sacrifices of the temple to be stopped. (9:27)

So, are there other events that must happen BEFORE the rapture? Well, to start with, the temple must be rebuilt...so the sacrifices can begin, so the antichrist can make it his capital, so he can raise the abomination.

Make no mistake about it…there IS a day coming when the rapture will become imminent…when it will be the next event in God’s timetable. Because we know the events that must happen before the rapture, when those events happen, we can know that the day is upon us.

And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mark 13:13)

In fact, Paul shows the difference between the watching Christian and the rest of the world, in that for US, the day will NOT come as a thief in the night:

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when THEY shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. BUT YE, brethren, are NOT in darkness, that that day should overtake YOU as a thief. (1 Thess.5:2-4)

• Watch for the rebuilding of the temple.

• Watch for the antichrist to absolutely identify himself by moving his capital to the temple in Jerusalem.

• Watch for him to declare himself to be God.

• Watch for him to raise the abomination in the temple.

And when THESE THINGS begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

©Rev. Harvey G. Lainson, Principal

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