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You said — “My understanding that is a Roman church doctrine.”

Well, I can’t tell you exactly what the Roman Catholic church is teaching in this regard, but I can assure you that the teaching from the Evangelical Prophecy teachers/preachers/pastors and supporters for the Rapture always refer to the “imminent return” of Christ (i.e., naming the Doctrine of Imminence).

Well, perhaps I spelled it wrong, all the prophecy teachers that I’ve heard or read have *always* referred to it, and point out that the Bible does not give any signs that can lead one to know when the Rapture. It’s referred to as the Doctrine of Imminence, or the imminent return of Christ, or sometimes you’ll hear that “there are no signs that will precede the Rapture...

Here are some examples. Every single teacher or preacher or pastor that I’ve ever heard even mention the Rapture, *always* mentions, right along with it, the Doctrine of Imminence...

Dr. David Reagan’s ministry website

The Bible never specifically defines the timing of the Rapture by tying it to any other event like the re-establishment of Israel or the rebuilding of the Temple. Even its proximity to the Tribulation is inferred rather than definitely stated. That’s because the Rapture is an imminent event that could occur at any moment.

[ http://www.lamblion.com/articles/articles_revelation8.php ]

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Another one here —

RaptureReady website

Why do people say the rapture is imminent?

God’s Word clearly teaches imminence of the rapture and emphasizes that we should always be ready for that event!

“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Mat. 24:44).

“Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch” (Mk. 13:35-37).

“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee” (Rev. 3:3).

[ http://www.raptureready.com/faq/faq380.html ]

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Another one here —

Thomas Ice’s website, Pre-Trib.org

Why Christ Can Return At Any Moment

Look at these verses stating that Christ could return at any moment, without warning. In their specific contexts, they instruct believers to wait and look for the Lord’s coming at any moment. Thus, these passages teach the doctrine of imminence.

— 1 Corinthians 1:7-”awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

— 1 Corinthians 16:22-”Maranatha.” “Mar” (”Lord”), “ana” (”our”), and “tha” (”come”), meaning “our Lord, come.” The Arabic greeting implies an eager expectation.

— Philippians 3:20-”For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;”

— Philippians 4:5-”The Lord is near.”

— 1 Thessalonians 1:10-”to wait for His Son from heaven,”

— 1 Thessalonians 5:6-”so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.”

— 1Timothy 6:14-”that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

— Titus 2:13-”looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus;”

— Hebrews 9:28-”so Christ . . . shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”

— James 5:7-9-”Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. . . . for the coming of the Lord is at hand. . . . behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.”

— 1 Peter 1:13 -”fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

— Jude21-”waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.”

— Revelation 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20-”’I am coming quickly!’” This means that Christ could come at any moment, quickly without warning.

— Revelation 22:17, 20-”And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’”

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

[ http://www.pre-trib.org/article-view.php?id=251 ]

AND..., of course, that’s one of the things to discuss on such a “Rapture” thread — just this very thing... Is the Rapture an “imminent event” and is it true what all these Bible teachers say about the Doctrine of Imminence?