Is The Imminent Return of Jesus Christ Biblical?

by W.L. "Sonny" Payne
(Maryville, TN 37802)

1. If the imminent return of Jesus Christ is biblical, it would have had to originate with the early church and our Lord Jesus Christ. But we know that is not true since one of the last things the Lord Jesus instructed His disciples to do before He ascended to heaven was to go into all the world and preach the gospel. That would take time, plus, the New Testament had not yet been written, nor had the printing press, radio, television, satellite, etc. been invented, instruments God would use to reach the world with the gospel before His return in these last days.

2. If the disciples and Paul the apostle had believed in the imminent return of Jesus, they would have stayed in Jerusalem and waited.

3. Prophecy had to be fulfilled, such as the Diaspora, the return of the Jewish people to the land of Canaan, and Israel becoming a nation again.

4. II Thessalonians 2:1-4 tells us that two things must happen before the Rapture. One, the great apostasy, or falling away of believers from the faith, and two, the antichrist be revealed.

5. Finally, Revelation 20:4-6 must be fulfilled. These are saints who do not take the Mark of the Beast, yet they are part of the first resurrection.

God bless,
W.L. "Sonny" Payne
www.newgateministries.com

Reply from Watchman Bob: Well thought-out commentary. Let's not put our salvation eggs in the pre-trib basket.

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Sep 23, 2013
IS THE IMMINENT RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST BIBLICAL?
by: William L. "Sonny' Payne



TO: Ken in NC,

Thank you for your comments and your commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ and His Word. We are truly living in the last of the last days as the return of our Lord Jesus draws near. False doctrine, apostasy and sin are running rampant in the church, although God still has His remnant scattered among the mess.

For your information, I have written a book that has just been released recently entitled, "The DNA of Jesus Christ." I believe you would be really blessed, encouraged and strengthened by reading it. You can order it through our web site, www.puregoldenterprises.com for $20.00, including shipping and handling, or you can order it from Amazon. There are several reviews on Amazon.

Also, our ministry web site is www.newgateministries.com.

May God's richest blessings be yours, and together we thank Watchman Bob for his web site and bold stand for the Lord Jesus.

Shalom, in Christ Jesus
Sonny Payne

Sep 12, 2013
Not Imminence,watchfullnes!
by: ken in nc

I agree that the pre-tribulation rapture theory is a widely-held, erroneous, man-made aberration of Scripture. It has been around a very long time now and is entrenched in apostate denominations very deeply. This belief system, along with a watered-down teaching of the Bible in all it's fullness, has led to "nominal" Christianity, at best, full-blown apostacy at worst. So what is the proper response of "watchmen" to this "class" of "believers"? I believe our Lord exhorts us to "rescue the perishing" Jude 22,23. How do we do this? By "rightly dividing the Word of Truth, writing teachings, making CD's,and getting these out there by every way the Lord provides.It is not likely we will get these pulpits turned over to us to "debunk" their fallacies and "sacred cows". We must work wherever and whenever we see a chance. In season and out; on the web, or print, or by putting CD's out to be "picked up" from businesses around town. That is what I am trying to accomplish. Watching(the signs), praying to be found "worthy", praying that the saints faith "fail not", praying for the Lord's soon return for the faithful and "laboring in the Word" while we wait. Walking in humble obedience to His commands. To me, those are my daily "routines" to stay "right" with God through Jesus Christ my Lord----kh in NC

Oct 16, 2012
Doctrine of Imminence
by: Bob

This is an excellent summary of why the doctrines of the imminent return of Yeshua ("Jesus") and the pre-tribulation rapture theory are flawed.

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Common English translations of Hebrew and Messianic terms used in this commentary:

Yehovah - the LORD or GOD
Yah - I Am (the short form         of Yehovah)
Elohim - God
El - God (the short form of         Elohim)
Adonai - my Lord or Master
Yeshua - Jesus
Followers of Yeshua - 
     Christians
Messiah - Christ
Assembly of Followers of
     Yeshua - the Church
Antimessiah - Antichrist
BBM - Before the Birth of
     the Messiah (rather than
     BC or BCE)
ABM - After the Birth of the      Messiah (rather than AD
    or CE)

For a complete explanation of Hebrew terms used, go to Important Terms and Concepts.