Imminency, as it Relates to Bible Prophecy
Romans 8:23 – “We groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies.”
Imminency, as it relates to Bible prophecy, simply means that the return of Yeshua Ha’Mashiach for his bride is anticipated and approaching. It does not mean it will happen instantly. No doubt you have heard it said, “Yeshua can come at any time, even while you are reading this article.” Not at all accurate. Scripture clearly teaches that this will only take place on some yet future Yom Teruah. Yom Teruah sets the pattern for the resurrection and rapture. And it announces Yeshua’s wedding day, his coronation as King, the day of the resurrection of the dead and the rapture of his Bride.
The Moedim
Acts 1:7 – “Yeshua said ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority’.”
Imminent has everything to do with the Moedim of Yahweh, Yahweh’s set dates and times and nothing to do with instant gratification. The Greek word translated seasons, is kairos [G2540 καιρός] which means a set or proper time, occasion, or appointment. In Hebrew, that word would be zman [H2166 זְמָן] which also means an appointed occasion. And scripture succinctly tells us that the set, appointed times are the Moedim [H4150 מוֹעֵד]!!! The Moedim are dress rehearsals for the real event – prophecies in the making, just waiting for the curtain to rise and the play to begin. When the time is fully come for the rehearsal to become the play, then the curtain rises on the show and the events that the moedim prophecy take place.
Those times are:
Pesach (Passover) : 14th Day of 1st Month (Nissan – March / April)
Chag Ha’Matzah (Unleavened Bread) : 15th Day of 1st Month (Nissan – March / April)
Reishit Katzir (Firstfruits): Sabbath after Passover
Shavuot (Pentecost) : 50th Day after Chag Ha’Matzah (Unleavened Bread)
Yom Teruah (Trumpets) : 1st Day of 7th Month (Tishri – September / October)
Yom Kippurim (Day of Atonements) : 10th Day of 7th Month (Tishri – September / October)
Sukkot (Tabernacles) : 15th Day of 7th Month (Tishri, September/October)
The Days of Yeshua and The Apostles
Two thousand years ago the people living in the days of Yeshua and the Apostles had just witnessed Yahweh complete, or as some would say, fulfill, the first four Moedim. The prophecies were the death, burial and resurrection of Yeshua, and the giving of the Ruach Ha’Kodesh (Holy Spirit).
Finally, they reasoned, Yahweh is on a roll. The first four moedim have been fulfilled, and the fulfillment of the last three moedim must be imminent. We’ve waited thousands of years to see this happen, and now it is beginning. Can’t wait to see it all take place. Finally the promises to Abraham will be fulfilled in their entirety. Finally, we will see the resurrection of the dead and rapture of the bride, the tribulation period, and the one thousand year reign of our Mashiach, Yeshua.
The people living in the days of Yeshua and the Apostles had great expectations of instant gratification tied to the fulfillment of the final three moedim. They did not expect Yeshua to come at any time, even while they were talking or reading, unless that time was on the day and hour of the next Yom Teruah moed. Unfortunately, their instant gratification expectations were not fulfilled and they are still waiting! “Yeshua can come at any time, even while you are reading this article” is not at all accurate.
Yeshua on the Timing
Matthew 24:32-33 – “Learn a lesson from the fig tree: When its branches become green and soft and new leaves appear, you know summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things happening, you will know that the time is near, ready to come.”
Luke 21:28 – “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near! ”
Romans 8:23 – “We groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies.”
When asked about the signs pointing to his return, Yeshua spoke of many things to watch for: the destruction of the temple, Israel back in the land, many coming in his name, famines, pestilences, wars and rumors of wars, signs in the heavens, and great earthquakes in various places. But these warnings came with a caveat: “but the end will not follow immediately,” and “don’t be deceived.”
Yeshua spoke of the time of redemption, and Paul spoke specifically of the redemption of our bodies. Hello! That is the resurrection and change from mortal to immortal which happens at the last trump – in other words at Yom Teruah. Expecting Yeshua to come at any time, was not expected by the people of that day, unless he returned to fulfill the next moed, Yom Teruah. Too many signs had to be evident, and at that time they were not. “Yeshua can come at any time, even while you are reading this article” is not at all accurate.
Paul and the Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 – “We ask you not to be easily shaken in your thinking or anxious because of a spirit or a spoken message or a letter supposedly from us claiming that the Day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For the Day will not come unless the departure comes first.”
Somebody must have been in a real hurry to see the final three moedim fulfilled, as the Thessalonians had received a letter from someone claiming that the Day of the Lord had already come – in other words, Yom Teruah had already happened, you guys missed the boat, and now you are in the time of Yom Kippurim, the Tribulation Period. Paul was having nothing to do with that nonsense, saying: “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For the Day will not come until after the departure” – in other words, not until Yom Teruah had been fulfilled. Yeshua’s wedding day, his coronation as King, the day of the resurrection of the dead and the rapture of his Bride had not yet happened. Unfortunately, their instant gratification expectations were not fulfilled and they were still waiting! “Yeshua could have come at any time, even while you were reading or hearing that fake news” was not at all accurate, according to Paul.
Waiting for Yeshua to Imminently Appear
Zechariah 12:3 – “I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth are gathered together against it.”
Acts 1:7 – “Yeshua said ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority’.”
Today we are one day closer to the return of Yeshua than we were yesterday. Tomorrow we will be even one more day closer. The fig tree, Israel has bloomed. The earthquakes have been increasing exponentially since 1948. Wars and rumors of wars are a daily item in the news. Famines and pestilences have been endemic during the last decade. Jerusalem is certainly a burdensome stone for all living today who do not love Yahweh / Yeshua. The signs are all converging.
Conclusions
Ignoring the Moedim – those pesky dates and times that Yahweh has set by his own authority – is not a scripturally accurate way to define imminent. Imminent has everything to do with the Moedim of Yahweh, Yahweh’s set dates and times and nothing to do with instant gratification. Can we expect Yeshua to “come at any time because of a spirit, or a spoken message, or a letter, or even while you are reading this article”? I think not. Yeshua himself proclaims that he can only come at the set time or season – in other words, at Yom Teruah to resurrect the dead and then rapture his Bride. “Yeshua can come at any time, even while you are reading this article” is not at all accurate.
For almost two thousand years the Jews would proclaim “Next year in Jerusalem!” Every year for many years now, I have been proclaiming “Next Yom Teruah the resurrection of the Dead in Yeshua!” It is my prayer each year, instead of yet another dress rehearsal, we find Yom Teruah’s prophetic fulfillment in Yeshua’s return for his Bride.
Instant Defined in the Older Covenant
We use many words to define the word instant, including: abrupt, fast, immediate, instantaneous, prompt, quick, rapid, sudden, and unexpected. Scripture, likewise, uses many different words translated as instant or instantly.
In the Older Covenant raga [H7280 רָגַע] and rega [H7281 רֶגַע from H7280] which both mean: a very short space of time – as in a wink of the eyes, are two words that Jeremiah uses frequently (see Jeremiah 4:20; 18:7; 18:9; 49:19; 50:44; Isaiah 47:9; Lamentations 4:6). Isaiah also uses the word pith’owm [H6597 פִּתאוֹם from petha פֶּתַע H6621] which both mean: in a wink, i.e. moment (Isaiah 29:5; 30:13). We need to understand that a wink is not a blink, but is just a very short space of time, as in quickly. Wink and Blink are not equal in length.
Instant Defined in the Newer Covenant
In the Newer Covenant, Matthew, Mark, and John prefer euthus [G2117 εὐθύς] or eutheos [G2112 εὐθέως from G2117] which both mean: directly, i.e. at once or soon (see Matthew 20:34; Mark 1:42; 5:29; 9:24; 10:52; John 6:21; 18:27; Revelation 4:2). Luke uses two different words, but seems to prefer parachrema [G3916 παραχρῆμα] which means: at the thing itself, forthwith, presently, straightway, soon (see Luke 8:44; 8:47; 18:43; 22:60; Acts 3:7; 5:10). Only once does Luke use stigme [G4743 στιγμή] which means: a point of time, i.e. a moment (Luke 4:5). Again, we see the image of something that takes place soon, in a very short time, as in quickly, but this does not equate to an indivisible moment of time.
Paul introduces us to the words atomos [G823 ἄτομος] and rhipe [G4493 ῥιπή] which together mean: in the instantaneous, indivisible blink of an eye, which today we define as a nanosecond of time when he is teaching about the resurrection, not the rapture. (1 Corinthians 15:52). Only in this singular verse do we find the concept of an event that takes place in an indivisible moment of time.
Instant Defined Today
Today we have all kinds of instant food items: instant coffee, instant noodles, instant potatoes, instant rice, and instant milk. These items are considered instant if they can be prepared in less than one minute. However, even using a microwave oven it often takes at least one minute to boil the water for the coffee, noodles, potatoes, or rice, and much longer to cool the water for the milk! I don’t see any nanosecond of instant occurrence here – do you?
We have instant communications, but again, it takes time to dial the number, time for the dialed number to ring, and more time for the person to answer the phone that is ringing. I don’t see any nanosecond of instant occurrence here – do you?
The same can be said for lightning. We say lightning flashes instantly but a single flash is formed by a series of about four lightning strokes. Each stroke lasts for about 30 microseconds so a flash of lightning can take up to 120 microseconds, substantially longer than a nanosecond. I don’t see any nanosecond of instant occurrence here, either – do you?
And yet we generally apply the rhipe definition of an indivisible, instant blink of the eye; in other words, in a nanosecond of time, to most items we consider instant. Me thinks our definition of instant needs a little fixin’ – what do you say?
Conclusions
Imposing an instant, nanosecond interpretation on the word harpazo, which means: to seize, carry off by force, to snatch out or away, is unnecessary. The most common usage of the word harpazo simply shows a removal by force over a period of time – short or more prolonged. Furthermore, Scripture does not reveal one single resurrection that culminates in a rapture of any kind, much less an instant, nanosecond disappearance.
We need to understand the word instant is more accurately defined as quickly, not as an instantaneous, indivisible nanosecond of time – that a wink is not a blink, but is just a very short space of time. Wink and Blink are not equal in length.
The entire instant disappearance rapture paradigm is as severely flawed as our definition of the word instant. Me thinks our definitions and interpretations need a little fixin’ – what do you say?
Final Thought
We are always to be ready for Yeshua to return. Are you ready? If not, then get ready. Exercise whatever time you have to repent and trust Yeshua for your eternal salvation. Do not test Yahweh’s patience and wait too long – the dress rehearsals will not continue much longer.
Three immediate steps to take to insure that you do not miss Yeshua’s return for his Bride and the prophetic fulfillment of the divine appointment called Yom Teruah:
1. Repent – Admit that you have sinned and that you are indeed a sinner.
2. Pray – Ask Yeshua to be your Lord and Savior.
3. Be Redeemed – Allow yourself to be baptized in the name of the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit and accept the gift of Yeshua’s blessing and comfort.
Five more steps to take while you wait for our Lord and Savior, Yeshua, to appear:
1. Watch and Be Ready: Mark 13:33 – “Be careful! Always be ready, because you don’t know when that time will be.”
2. Pray And Be Ready: Luke 21:36 – “Be ready all the time. Pray that you will be strong enough to escape all these things that will happen and that you will be able to stand before the Son of Man, Yeshua.”
3. Purify Oneself: 1 John 3:2-3 – “We know that when Yeshua comes again, we will be like him, because we will see him as he really is. Yeshua is pure, and all who have this hope in him keep themselves pure.”
4. Abide In Yeshua: 1 John 2:28 – “Live in Yeshua so that when he comes back, you can be without fear and not be ashamed in his presence.”
5. Look For His Coming: Hebrews 9:28 – “Yeshua will come a second time, not to offer himself for sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
Rapture Party 