Hi Matt

Concerning the imminence.

I will be brief. I struggled with this a long time and finally by the grace of God found that properly dividing the Word of God makes it so clear. You know we are told to do this in the following verse.

2Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

When Jesus came he knew in advance the nation of Israel would not accept him as the Messiah. This is why he foretold Peter's death. He knew that the Jewish program would be put on hold and that God would call Paul to be the apostle to the Gentiles.Even when Peter gave his sermon at Pentecost he quoted Joel declaring they were in the last days.They would have been in the last days had the nation Israel accepted Jesus. But they did not. So God eventually "blinded the Jews" and called Paul to be our Apostle. The program for the Jews was put on hold and the new Dispensation of grace was to begin. The rapture is now "imminent" and could happen any day. Jesus never discussed the rapture and this was a mystery given to Paul. Just like the mystery of the Dispensation of Grace was given to Paul. So any time you come across Jesus coming back in the bible and it is not in one of Paul's epistle's it is not talking about the rapture.

 

I am not in any way trying to "aggravate" anyone to stir up a argument or discussion. I am just trying to let others find the peace I have found with this issue and that it is so very clear when you divide the Word of God accordingly. I will quote only a few verses showing that a new dispensation was started and that it was not made known until God showed it to Paul.

 

Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

 

Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

 

Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

 

1Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

1Corinthians 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain

1Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

 

LOOK AT THE NEXT VERSE AND YOU WILL SEE THE RAPTURE IS PART OF THE MYSTERY

1Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

1Corinthians 15:52 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.

1Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

 

As you can see we live in an entirely different dispensation than Peter and even Jesus did. We are the 'Mystery" church that God is using to make Israel jealous.

 

I hope this clears it up for you. There is still a tribulation period awaiting for the Jews and non believers to go through. After the rapture of the church the Gospel of Grace will end and the Gospel of the Kingdom will start back.

 

thanks

Mike W