Can You Know the Time
Of the Lord’s Return?
So
likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near,
even at the doors. (Mat 24:33)
But of
that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my
Father only. (Mat 24:36)
The two texts above seem to contradict each other. A seeming contradiction is called a paradox. Some have tried to resolve this paradox by claiming that the Lord is speaking of two entirely different comings. One that is prior to the 70th week of Daniel and one that is after the 70th week. One that is unknown and imminent and one that is known. Of course if the context would support this theory it would resolve the problem. However, there is no contextual support to draw such a conclusion. In fact, the context strenuously denies such a conclusion. For example, consider these contextual facts:
1. There is only one description of one coming (vv. 30-31) in the context
2. In both texts, it is the same subject being addressed. The same one who is said to “know” that it is near is also the very same subject that is told that they cannot know the day or hour.
3. The statement in Matthew 24:36 begins with “but” showing grammatically that it is the conclusion of the previous verses which contain Matthew 24:33. This means that it is the conclusion of the parable of the trees and thus addressed to the very same subjects.
4. This same coming that He says His disciples can “know” is the same
coming elsewhere He says that no man can know but the Father:
When they therefore were come together, they asked of
him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. (Act 1:7)
Hence, to argue that Matthew 24:36 must refer to another coming simply because it denies anyone can know the time but the Father is reduced to an absurd argument since Acts 1:6-7 says the very same thing about the kingdom coming. That both statements are consistent with the same Kingdom coming is very simple to prove by asking a simple question. Tell me the precise day and hour when the 70th week will begin or tell me the precise day and hour when the Kingdom coming will occur? No man can and that is the point of Matthew 24:36 and Acts 1:6-7:
But of
that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my
Father only. (Mat 24:36)
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. (Act 1:7)
Hence, there is no absolutely no contextual justification or reasonable grounds to dispute the fact that both texts refer to the same persons at the same coming.
The paradox is resolved by merely observing
that both Matthew 24:36 and Acts 1:6-7 have reference to the present
time frame whereas Matthew 24:33 is set in a context when certain specific
things begin to occur in the future.
Right now before “these things
begin” none but the Father can know the exact time of His return.
However, sometime in the future when specific things begin to come to
pass, the Lord tells the very same ones that then they can “KNOW” that it is
near if they are WATCHING for those things.
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)
The above text is clear and unambiguous. There is a time line spelled out by three words “when…begin…then.” This means that at some designated point in the future something will begin that had no previous existence. At this beginning point there is an expected response from his servants. That response is timed with that event and the word “then” proves it. “THEN look up, and lift up your heads.” These words describe an increased expectation for the Lord’s return. That increased expectation is triggered at a specific future point when “these things begin.” However, to respond as directed we must know what to look for in order to know when “these things” begin.
Again, the answer to the question is made clear by simply observing the contextual factors. For example, in Matthew 24:4-14 the Lord lists certain things that do not indicate the end has come. The Lord list some things beginning in verse four but then concludes verse six by denying such things mean the end has come:
And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (Mat 24:6)
He goes on to list more things that “shall”
come but then in verse 8 repeats that such are not signs the end as come but
rather are just the beginning of birth pangs:
All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Mat 24:8)
He
goes on using the familiar future tense “shall” to describe other things but it
is not until verses 14-15 that he comes to what He defines as things that do
indicate the end has come.
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 When ye therefore shall
see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand
in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) (Mat 24:15)
With the “then shall the end come when
ye….shall see” the reader is introduced to the first thing that indicates
the end has come. We believe that beginning in verse 15 is what Jesus was
referring to when He said, “when these things begin…know that it is nigh.” Why?
Because everything prior to verse 15 cannot be dated as these are
general trials and tribulations that are found in all generations including the
last one. However, with the “when” of
verse 15 the Bible student knows that he has come to a specific dated event.
Daniel pinpoints the occurrence of this event in the middle of the 70th
week of Daniel or exactly three and one half years from the time that Christ
comes in glory at the end of the 70th week of Daniel.
“And he shall confirm the covenant with
many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the
sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations
he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined
shall be poured upon the desolate.” (Dan
9:27)
“And he shall
speak great words against the most High, and
shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws:
and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the
dividing of time.” (Dan 7:25)
“When
ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation,
spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth,
let him understand:) (Mat 24:15)
Nothing could be plainer. The event in Matthew 24:15 is a dated event that allows anyone observing it to know precisely where they are in the history of God’s plan and how close they are to Christ’s coming. The literal generation that sees this event occur will be the literal generation that sees the Lord come in glory. Hence, what no man could know prior to this event will be made known to all who are watching and see it come to pass.
Furthermore, it is at this specific event
that the Lord says, “he that readeth let him understand” – Mt.
24:15. Why say this? Understand
what? From the context the answer is
simple. He is to understand that this is the beginning point of a time frame
that can be dated. This is not only proven by Daniel pin pointing this event
but from this point on in the context Jesus begins to use TIME terms such as,
“…THEN….IN THOSE DAYS….AT THAT TIME…IMMEDIATELY AFTER THOSE DAYS..” He is to
understand that with this specific event there begins a specific time frame of
events that lead chronologically up to the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Hence, there is absolutely no excuse for
the reader to misunderstand what He means when he says, “When these things
begin to come to pass THEN….” (Lk. 21:28).
However, when he proceeds to Matthew 24:29 there is another clear and precise dated event:
“Immediately
after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon
shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers
of the heavens shall be shaken: (Mat
24:29)
With this precise timed event the reader
can know that he has entered the sixth seal of Revelation:
And I
beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great
earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became
as blood; (
And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a
fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. (
How certain is this chronology? The sixth seal ends with Christ being
revealed from heaven just as Matthew 24:29 is immediately followed by the
revelation of Christ from heaven:
And
said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face
of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: (
This event demonstrates that the “day of
the Lord” follows not only the tribulation period but also follows this
celestial sign making the day of the Lord begin with the revelation of Christ
from heaven. Joel makes this clear when he says,
“The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. “ (Joe 2:31)
Joel also makes it clear that this celestial
sign occurs just prior to the Lord’s revelation from heaven AFTER the armies
have been gathered to Armageddon. The chronological order is apparent as A,
B.C.
A.
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is
near in the valley of decision. (Joe
3:14)
B. The
sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their
shining. (Joe 3:15)
C. The
LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the
heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people,
and the strength of the children of Israel.
(Joe 3:16)
Hence, there can be absolutely no excuse to
misunderstand what the Lord means when He says, “then KNOW that it is nigh.”
These dated chronological indicators map out the end events with precision for
those who are watching and taking heed.
And as he sat upon the
This question
hinges on two words “when” and “what”.
The first question is answered by the same word “when” found in verse 15
(“when ye shall see…then). Up to verse
15 the Lord has denied everything else to be the sign of the end. The second
word is answered first negatively in verses 4-14 (“the end is not yet”) and
then positively in verses 15-29 (“when…then….those days…these be the
days…immediately after those days…then..).
Nothing could be clearer that Jesus is
denying that those “things” listed in Matthew 24:4-14 are indications of the
end of the age. Nothing could be clearer that those things recorded in Matthew
24:15-29 are precisely those things that indicate the exact time of the end in
relationship to His coming. Nothing could be clearer that the event in Matthew
24:15 is the divine revelation to all who are watching as to the precise time.
That event signals to all who are watching that it is precisely three and half
years into the 70th week of Daniel and therefore it is precisely
three and a half years until the revelation of Jesus Christ. All who see this
event can “KNOW” how near the Lord’s coming is IF they are watching for it.
Our contextual
interpretation fits the contextual question exactly. Jesus tells them first what “things” do not
indicate the end has come or indicate that His coming is near. He then proceeds
to use time terms to describe the exact events and time that precedes His
coming. After do thus, he reverts to
parables to reinforce the need to be WATCHING for exactly those things that
will indicate His coming is near.
And he
spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; (Luke
What Luke calls the parable of “all the trees” is the only parable repeated by all three gospel accounts of this discourse. It is the only parable Jesus says, “Now learn.” In all three accounts it is the first parable given. All of these contextual factors demonstrate that it is the interpretative parable we must learn to properly understand those that follow.
The parable is
simple if taken the way the Lord gave it.
The lesson is not to be limited to merely one kind of tree but it is a
lesson that can be learned from “all the trees.” This statement denies any specific
restriction of this parable to the nation of
Since, Christ has told them clearly what
things do not indicate His coming is nigh and what things do
indicate His coming is nigh, He then proceeds to emphasize the need for
watching for those things that indicate His coming is nigh. The parables emphasize the need for
“watching” for the BEGINNING point of “these things.”
His point is very simple. If you are not watching for when the trees “shoot forth” you are not watching for the coming of summer. To watch for summer’s coming is to watch for when the trees begin to “shoot forth. Read His words carefully:
And he
spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; (Luke
When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. (Luke 21:30)
SO LIKEWISE ye, when ye see these things come to
pass, know ye that the
Nothing could be plainer and simpler to
understand. The “so likewise” means JUST LIKE or JUST AS the shooting forth of
the trees (spring) indicates the soon coming of summer SO the beginning of
these things (Mt. 24:15) indicates the soon coming of Christ.
No
parable could be simpler and straightforward. According to this parable, if you
are going to watch for the coming of summer, then, your eye must be on the
focal point, which is the “shooting forth” of the trees. If the “shooting forth
of the tees” is not your focal point you are not watching for the coming of
summer.
SO LIKEWISE, if your going to watch for the
coming of the Lord, then, your eye must be on the focal point, which is “when
these things begin.” If the beginning of “these things” is not your focal
point, then, you are not watching for the coming of the Lord.
How ironic it is that the Lord would
choose the very focal point for His coming that Pretribbers continually scoff
at? Scoffingly, the Pretrib teacher
says, “We are not looking for the Antichrist but for Christ.” However, we have demonstrated that the
chronological point when “these things begin” is Matthew 24:15 or the mid point
of the 70th week of Daniel when the man of sin reveals himself as
the “abomination of desolation.”
Now a “focal point” is the object on which
the eye is to focus. It is the object of WATCHING. Here the Lord makes it clear that you cannot
WATCH for Him apart from WATCHING for the revelation of the antichrist. Scoff if you will, but your scoffing is at
Christ as He is the one that defines the focal point of His coming to be “when
these things begin.”
The parable of “all the trees’ defines the
focal point of watching to be the revelation of the Antichrist. The revelation
of the Antichrist is the herald of His coming and announces the time of His
coming. In Biblical times, a king
traveled in a caravan. At the head of this caravan were the heralds. Their job
was twofold. They cleared away everything out of the path of the king as well
as trumpeted or announced the coming of the King. Those watching for the kings
coming on the wall of a distant city would first see and hear the heralds out
front and with that sight they would immediately turn and announce to the city
“here comes the king.” It is this
precise Biblical custom that stands not only behind the first coming (John the
Baptist being the herald – Mk. 1:1-4) but it is the intended picture behind the
words “When these things begin to come to pass THEN, look up and lift up your
heads for your redemption draweth nigh.”
Those not watching and ready will be
removed out of the way by these heralds. That is, they will suffer the
consequences of not being ready and watchful. However, those who know what to
watch for and who are watching and ready will be counted worthy to escape the
“fear”, “deception” and “harm” that these things will bring upon the whole
world. It is those who are watching thus who will be able to “stand” in honor
before the Lord at His return.
While the parable of “all the trees”
defines the focal point for watching, the following parables define what else
is included in the term “watch.” It is not enough simply to recognize the
revelation of the antichrist but one must be ready for that revelation.
The parable of the good man
of the house defines “watch” to include constant vigilance. The reason for
constant vigilance is that none know when the Lord may come. Presently this is
true both of the focal point and His actual appearance. Since both are
presently hidden, then, all must be constantly watching. Notice that the
failure to watch results in harm done to his house (life). “These things” have
a destructive nature about them and will harm the physical life (fear,
deception, death, etc.) of those not watching and thus not prepared. Notice,
that the Lord says that IF he had watched he would not have suffered his house
to be broken up.
Noah’s generation defines
“watch” to be inclusive of taking heed to obvious preceding signs. Jesus says
they “knew not.” It was not because they
had not been forewarned by 100 years of preaching. It was not because they had
not been forewarned by 100 years of ark building. It was not because animals
marching seven by seven and two by two into the ark had not warned them. It was
because they did not take heed to obvious preceding signs. I believe
that those who are obediently watching and taking heed to the signs of the time
will be able to enter an ark of safety during those times. In fact, all the
saints who continue to the end of the 70th week will be those who
have been kept safe by the Lord.
The evil steward parable
defines “watch” as a warning against using the delay as an excuse to live
ungodly. This is a warning to Posttribbers who feel they have no urgency to
live holy now and constantly. The Lord warns against those who think they will
just wait for “these things to begin” and then start living godly. I believe
that to be ready for His coming there must be a maturity and holy walk that
only comes through progressive sanctification. There is no such thing as
instant holiness. The Lord clearly says that He came upon that servant when he
was NOT LOOKING. Those living in sin are never watching for the Lord’s return
as to watch includes holy living.
The parable of the ten virgins
warns against depending solely upon holy living when you are told that such
preceding things will occur. Pretribbers
fall into this class. They think that since they will not be here when the
antichrist comes, they do not need to mentally and spiritually prepare in
advance for it. Pretribbers say that if they are wrong, the only preparation is
holy living and God will take care of them. Well, all of these were “virgins”
that is holy spotless Christians. The
only difference between the virgins was that five prepared in advance
for what they knew was coming (Mt. 24:25). The foolish were shut out of the joy
that could have been theirs if they had been prepared in advance (Lk.
21:28). The point is that you cannot
respond as directed in Luke 21:28 if you are not even prepared to see “these
things.” When the Lord plainly and clearly tells you to be ready for such
things and you respond by disregarding His warning then that is FOOLISH.
The parable of the talents warn
against depending solely upon advance preparation as watching includes serving
God accountably NOW with what we are given. Some think about nothing else but
end times. They do nothing but study end time things. Their whole life is
consumed in advance preparation that they are not serving the Lord. This wicked steward determined to prepare
well in advance for the Lord’s coming. He would just bury his talent for
safekeeping and then just sit on it while waiting for the Lord to come.
Depending solely upon advance mental preparation is just as wrong as depending
solely upon holy living. Both are required in order to be WATCHING as the Lord
has instructed.
The final exhortation has to do
with a warning not to depend upon mere profession without good works. Real
salvation produces good works and a love for those born of God. All the wicked
in the former parables (the wicked servant, the evil steward, the foolish
virgins) failed to measure up to the meaning of “watch.” It is not a profession with the mouth that
avails but a profession with the life that measures up to the word “watch”
Mark ends his account by saying that the
need to watch is not addressed to Jews but to “all.”
And what I say unto you I say
unto all, Watch. (Mar 13:37)
And Jesus went out, and departed from the
temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the
temple. (Mat 24:1)
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. (Mat 24:2)
And as
he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying,
Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming,
and of the end of the world? (Mat 24:3)
The prediction by Christ concerning the destruction of the temple gives rise to a question by the disciples. The assumption of the disciples is that such destruction must occur at His coming at the end of the world. Hence, their specific question revolves around two words “when” and “what.” The “when” has to do with the timing whereas the “what” has to do with the “sign” that indicates that time has come.
Significantly, in Matthew 24:5-24 He is warning them in advance “before” (Mt. 24:25) these things occur. In fact, he is careful to consistently use the future tense “shall” all the way up to Mathew 24:31. Now all along while describing these future things he is admonishing them not to respond in certain ways when such things do come.
For example, He is warning them not to be deceived by false Christ’s and prophets and not to “fear” wars and rumors of wars and not to “enter” Judea during this time. Near the conclusion he describes the reaction of the world to these things as a time of heart failures and terror
And
there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon
the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves
roaring; (Luke 21:25)
Men's hearts
failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming
on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (Luke 21:26)
but then in direct contrast directs them to respond in joy and expectation when these things begin:
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)
The necessary inference from all of this is that they represent PRE-TRIB believers being prepared in advance to enter these tribulation things. How else could they be prepared to respond differently than the world “when these things begin” except and unless they had been prepared in advance to these things beginning????
The parabolic section immediately follows in order to instruct them how to be prepared in advance so they can respond as directed. Hence, the obvious context is a transition of Pretrib saints being warned and prepared in advance to become tribulational saints. If not, then what is the purpose of warning them “before” these things occur (Mt. 24:25) if they can’t be spiritually ready and prepared before these things begin or if they are not going to be here when they begin?????????
Nothing could be clearer than the fact that the Olivet Discourse is designed by the Lord to prepare PREtrib disciples in advance of the 70th week of Daniel to become tribulation disciples. They are told before what will be the deceptions, the cause of fear and the response of the world to these things. They are told not to respond to these things in that manner but rather as directed in Luke 21:28. They are told in the parables how that kind of response is possible through understanding what it means to “watch.” They are warned of the consequences of not watching as directed and they are told of the blessings of watching and responding as directed.
To cut this Discourse up in a jig saw puzzle with no other exegetical foundations other than to make it fit a theory that has no application whatsoever to the context is sheer fanaticism without a basis.
Take note that throughout Matthew 24:4-29 the future tense is being used in connection to those He is talking to. Take note that Matthew 24:25 plainly says that He is telling them “BEFORE’ these things occur. Take note that He is telling them BEFORE these things occur for the sole purpose that when they do occur they will not respond to these things like the world but rather as described in Luke 21:28. Such advance preparation BEFORE defines those He is addressing as PRETRIB disciples. The point is that Jesus expects PRETRIB DISCIPLES to already be prepared and watching BEFORE these things occur and ready to respond as directed. He expects that advance mental and spiritual preparation because He goes on to define what it means to WATCH through the use of parables.
To apply this to unsaved Jews that do not come to salvation until these things begin is absurd in view of this clear context. To apply this to gentile tribulation saints that do not come to salvation until these things begin is equally absurd. The context demands that those being addressed are ALREADY saved and in a state of spiritual and mental watchfulness before any of these things begin to come to pass. Christ is clearly preparing PRETRIB saints to become tribulation saints. If you are a Pretrib saint then this discourse is directions for your preparation that you will not enter the 70th week of Daniel unprepared.
The True Biblical Expectation
And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mark 13:37)
At this point in the Divine timetable, no man knows the day or the hour when either the focal point of His coming or His actual appearance will take place. Proof is found in simply asking anyone the exact day and hour when the 70th week will occur, much less the revelation of the antichrist.
In relationship to the 70th week we can say exactly when He will come but in relationship to our own present circumstances we cannot know when He will come.
We know that He will not come BEFORE all necessary preceding prophetic events take place. Every time a Pretribber points to something as a “sign” of the times or a fulfillment of prophecy, he is saying whether he realizes it or not, that such a thing had to happen BEFORE the Lord could return. Why? It had to happen before the coming of the Lord because it was prophesied to occur first.
Until the focal point of His coming materializes before our eyes we must be ever watching and ready as defined by the parables in the Olivet Discourse. However, upon the arrival of the focal point, our expectation should increase as we then can “know” exactly where we are in history and when the Lord will come.
The scriptures clearly forbid us to interpret the “promise” of His coming in such a way that our expectation forbids preceding prophetic events.
But,
beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with
the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2Pe 3:8)
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2Pe 3:9)
Peter
predicts that in “the last days” there will come those who will “scoff” at the
promise of the Lord’s return due to the combination of two things. First, they
will point out the long period of time that has elapsed since the “promise” was
made. Second, they will “count” or reckon His promise according to human
standards of imminence. In their estimation, the promise to come “quickly” does
not harmonize with this long period of elapsed time.
Peter’s rebuttal is that Christians who “count”
or reckon His “promise” in terms of human imminence are IGNORANT. Peter says
that we are to count His “promise” according to DIVINE imminence. Divine
imminence may mean “any generation” but certainly not “any second.” To reckon the “promise” of His coming in
human imminence is to take sides with those that scoff at “the promise of His
coming.”
The apostles believed all preceding
prophecies could have occurred within their own generation and thus they might
be alive at His return. However, as things began to develop it became apparent
to them that this would not be the case and that after their departure would
occur “the last days” (2 Pet. 3:3; 2 Tim. 3:1; 4:6).
The true expectation for the coming of the
Lord is “any generation.” However, when “these things begin to come to pass” we
can “KNOW” that “this generation will not pass away until ALL THESE THINGS be
fulfilled.” Until that focal event occurs we must be ever on guard and watching
and ready so that when it does occur we can respond as our Lord commanded:
“And when
these things begin to come to pass, THEN look up and lift up your
heads for your redemption draweth nigh.” – Lk. 21:28
The true Biblical expectation does NOT promote unholy living. There is no need
to invent the myth of an “imminent” rapture in order to promote holy living.
The fact that ones death is imminent is sufficient to promote holy living as
that will usher you immediately into His presence. However, nothing promotes
holy living more than expectation and realization of tribulation or so says the
Scriptures:
And
not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation
worketh patience; (Rom 5:3)
And
patience, experience; and experience, hope: (Rom 5:4)
And
hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
(Rom 5:5)
Unlike the Pretrib error, the Biblical
expectation is consistent with the many and clear preceding prophetic events
recorded in the book of Acts and throughout the Scriptures. The Pretrib idea of
“imminence” that demands that from the ascension of Christ into heaven that
NOTHING prevented the Lord’s return at any second is so blasphemous to the Holy
Spirit, Who is the Author of the Scriptures that it is hard to conceive how any
serious Christian could embrace such utter nonsense. No beloved, obedience to the Great Commission
must precede His coming (Acts 1:8). No beloved, the promise of the Holy Spirit
on Pentecost must precede His coming (Acts 1:5). No beloved, the carrying the
gospel unto the “uttermost parts of the earth” or gentiles must precede His
coming (Acts 10). No beloved, the ministry of Paul to the kings of the earth
must precede His coming (Acts
Even John F. Walvoord, probably the foremost defender of the Pretrib theory must back down and admit that the early church did not believe that NOTHING prevented the Lord’s return at any second:
“In the first century the concept of
immanency was qualified by certain predictions relating to individuals such
as Peter and Paul. Peter was told that he would die an old man (Jn. 21:18,19),
Paul was informed that he had a great ministry ahead in Corinth (Acts 18:9-11),
which actually continued for eighteen months; for a brief time Paul could
conclude that the rapture would not occur.” – John F. Walvoord. The
Blessed Hope and The Tribulation, p. 73
Either the coming of the Lord is “imminent” or it is not. Walvoord admits that it could not have been considered imminent by those who wrote the majority of the New Testament (Luke, Paul, Peter). This is why 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 openly condemns any kind of Pretrib coming as error that not Christian should allow themselves to be “deceived by any means.”
We are waiting and watching for our Lord’s return in keeping with the precepts and prophetic principles of the Scriptures.