Some teachers say that Jesus could come at any moment, but is that correct? Is the so-called Doctrine of Immanence biblical? Our pastors and leaders urge unbelievers to be ready for the return of Christ, which is accurate; however, in my opinion, it is not biblical to assert that Jesus Christ could come today. The Lord Himself stated that He would send forth His angels to gather those who believe in Him, the people of God, only after the Abomination of Desolation occurs and during a time of great tribulation or persecution by the Antichrist (Matthew 24:15-31). The desecration or abomination of the temple will lead to a time of great distress (Tribulation KJV). Note the highlighted references to the timing of the events, "Immediately after," and "then," in the following relevant passage:
29“Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ 30“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other (Matthew 24:29-31 NIV; emphasis added).
The Greek word translated as "distress" in the NIV translation above is "thlipsis." This Greek term refers to heavy pressure, distress, or affliction. The same word is rendered as "Tribulation" in the King James Version of the Bible, and contrary to what some teach, it does not signify the wrath of God. In Matthew 24, the chapter on the second coming of Christ, Jesus Himself tells us twice that His people will endure persecution (thlipsis):
Then you will be handed over to be persecuted (thlipsis) and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me (Matthew 24:9).
I leave it to each of you reading these words to consider what might lead to the hatred and persecution of believers, but we see the seeds of this animosity in today's events. Let's examine the second reference:
For then there will be great tribulation (thlipsis), unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again (Matthew 24:21).
Paul the Apostle wrote, “Tribulation [thlipsis] works patience” (Romans 5:3 KJV). The same verse in the NIV translates thlipsis as suffering, stating that it produces perseverance. Paul also uses the word thlipsis elsewhere: “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering [thlipsis] produces perseverance” (Romans 5:3 NIV). Brothers and sisters, I know I am treading on some toes here, but it is only in America that we are so naive as to think that we, of all the Church, won't have to endure persecution or tribulation. I believe God will allow us in the West to face persecution so that we are changed through our proper responses during character-transforming difficulties. The Lord said that His people should anticipate times of distress or tribulation. For instance, in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:21), those who had no root, when tribulation [thlipsis] or persecution came, fell away, but true believers develop deeper roots in Christ.
Jesus said that we would not know the day or hour of His coming (Matthew 24:36), but those who are born again and spiritually renewed or regenerated by the Spirit of God will recognize the season as it approaches—and it is approaching!
The Lord shared a lesson from the fig tree: when its leaves emerge and its twigs become tender, you will know that summer (the return of Christ) is near. He explained that specific signs would indicate the season: “When you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door” (Matthew 24:33). One might ask, "What signs are we to look for?" The signs are those Jesus mentioned earlier in Matthew 24—the rise of the Antichrist, the Abomination of Desolation (Matthew 24:15), and the persecution of the saints (vs. 9, 21). As we noted in yesterday’s meditation, Paul the Apostle wrote about three events that will occur before the catching up of the saints by the Lord: 1) A great falling away among many church attendees not walking with Christ, 2) the rise of the Antichrist, and 3) the seating of the Antichrist in the yet-to-be-built temple (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).
We will recognize the season through the signs, but we will not know which day it will occur or at what hour. This time is an opportunity for the Church to prepare for the challenges ahead spiritually. It is essential to grow closer to the Lord and learn to hear His voice. If you are not yet walking with Christ, now is the moment to cry out to Him for His gift of salvation to reach you. Keith Thomas
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These thoughts are taken from the series The End Times. Click on the study, The Rapture and Day of the Lord. There are also 23 studies in the Book of Revelation. The video teaching of this topic is found at the following link: https://youtu.be/55VR6a8P9Bo