AS WE ARE DRAWING SO CLOSE TO HIS COMING, I FEEL LEAD TO SHARE AGAIN TO ENCOURAGE THE SAINTS TO LIVE CLOSE TO OUR REDEEMER AND ANTICIPATE HIS SHOUT ANY DAY NOW!

WHEN WILL THE BORN-AGAIN BELIEVERS BE CAUGHT UP? PT 5 -

AN IMMINENT HOPE

Imminent means, “impending” or “something that could happen at any moment.” The return of the Bridegroom has always been an imminent expectation of Believers right down through the church age.

The Master’s promise to return to receive His people, in John 14, implies a constant imminent possibility, for in the absence of any indication of the actual time of the event, we are left expecting it at any time.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and receive you to Myself, so that you also may be where I am.” John 14:3

If the Rapture is to take place only at the end of the Tribulation, as Post-Tribulationists teach, then we could not say that the Master may come at any time. But it is not merely the Pre-Tribulationists who say the Master may return at any tick of the clock; Yahshua Messiah Himself, in teaching about readiness, said He may return at any time.

“You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.” Luke 12:40

In Matthew 24, the Master teaches about His return in great glory at the end of the Tribulation, and about the gathering of the “elect” (believing Israel) to the land and the Kingdom. Then in the parable of the Fig Tree, Yahshua says that He is near, right at the door! But no-one knows the day or the hour of His return. Many will be taken away in judgment, others will be left to enter the kingdom.

In concluding that section of the prophecy, the Master exhorts His people to be faithful and ready.

“Therefore, be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Master is coming . . . for this reason you also be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” Matthew 24:42, 44

What else could these disciples believe except that the Master could return at any time?

The nearness and imminent possibility of the Master’s return is taught by James, John, Peter and Paul.

James says: “Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Master is near.” James 5:8

John says; “Abide and continue in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” 1 John 2:28

Again, John says: “... when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He is. And every one who has this hope fixed on Him, purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3

So, the Rapture is presented as a purifying hope. And it becomes a purifying hope, more and more, as our expectation of the imminent return increases.

Now if John had said, “Look! After the Tribulation we shall see Him, therefore comfort one another with these words,” we might possibly respond by saying, “I hope the Master doesn't come very soon. I hope I die at least seven years before He comes.”

Be sure, if the congregation (church), the Bride of the Lamb, was to go through the Great Tribulation, the loving Bridegroom would not hold back the information.

The Master did tell the congregation (church) at Smyrna. “You will have tribulation ten days.” (Rev. 2:10). And that congregation (church) did experience severe persecution.

Yahshua also warned us believers that the world will hate and persecute us. He never covered up this fact in an effort to keep us from worrying about coming trials. No!

next. . . It's a Blessed Hope (Expectation)....to be continued pt. 6