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Well, okay, let me say it another way then... :-)

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In regards to the Doctrine of Imminence, it’s something that only pertains to the Rapture. It’s not a “stand-alone” doctrine, that exists apart from the Rapture. It’s only spoken about, in terms of the Rapture, itself.

Now, what we’re talking about here — is — in terms of the Rapture — and also as it pertains to being pre-trib, mid-trib and pre-wrath. That’s a “given” for this Caucus thread.

When I pointed out that the Apostle Paul was expecting the coming of the Lord to “take up” the believers, he was expecting it in his day. But, we are expecting it in our day. How can that be? The Bible is not wrong.

You see, we are not here on this Caucus, looking for the Rapture — and at the same time, believing that the Rapture already happened or what Paul was expecting in his day — already happened. In other words, we’re looking for these prophecies of the Bible to *still be fulfilled* today — and we’re not here in this Caucus thread saying that “all the prophecies have already been fulfilled” (pertaining to these things we’re examining here).... LOL... if we said that, we wouldn’t have a Rapture Caucus, would we?

What I’m pointing out is that the Doctrine of Imminence is something that applies specifically to the Rapture, in such a way that it makes what Paul believed in his time, in that he was looking forward to these prophecies happening soon (for him) and that we are looking forward in our time (in that these prophecies will happen soon) — because — there are not any prophetic events, listed in the Bible, that *have to happen first* before the Rapture happens.

If we are still “looking for the Rapture” it’s because we do not believe that these events about the soon coming of the Lord and about Israel have happened yet (which will happen after the Rapture). That’s how we can say the same thing as the Apostle Paul says and still be expecting the same prophetic events to happen — and *still be future events* — and *not* say “these prophecies have already happened in the past”.

I’m saying that this is the *essence* of this “Caucus” the “foundation” of the belief of this Caucus, in that these prophetic events *are still future* as they pertain to Israel and the coming of the Lord and that the Doctrine of Imminence is the keystone and foundation for them being so, and explaining that the Apostle Paul believed the same thing we believe now (i.e., the Doctrine of Imminence), or else one will start concluding that these prophecies that we say happen *after* the Rapture have already happened in the past (and we’re definitely not saying that here..., in regards to the Rapture and in regards to the events about Israel happening *after* the Rapture... :-) ... ).

That’s why the Apostle Paul was telling those “Thessalonians” to not worry, because someone had told them that these things had *already happened* and that they had “missed it” — and they were “upset” about that. Paul was calming them down and saying “It has not happened yet (and likewise — here — on this Rapture Caucus, we’re saying “It has not happened yet!” ...).

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1 Thessalonians 5:1-5

1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.

2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

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The day of the Lord had not happened in Paul’s time, at the time he wrote this. And we’re saying here that the day of the Lord has not happened in our time either. The Apostle Paul did not think, as he wrote this, that there were some prophecies that had to happen *first* before the day of the Lord could happen. No..., he thought it could happen in his time and he was teaching others to expect it at any time.

And here we are, today, also in the “same state of awareness” as they were. The only way we can still be in that same state of awareness as they were — is if — these things pertaining to the day of the Lord *have not happened yet*.... LOL... otherwise, we’ve all be “passed by” and we can forget about the Rapture Caucus... :-)

I hope you see what I mean, in that it’s the “very essence” of the Rapture and the Rapture Caucus itself.

Now, the day of the Lord contains *many things* — it’s not *just* the Rapture, alone. And it’s also a “period of time” — but — it “starts” with the Rapture, because the “Rapture” is a “non-sign event, of which we cannot know when it is. Once the day of the Lord *does start* though, we’ve “got the timing” because we know it’s seven year, and there’s a mid-point, and there’s an end-point and we can “time” those other events. You just can’t “time” the beginning of the day of the Lord (with the Rapture happening) — and thus, that’s why “you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a theif in the night.”

And that’s why we know that these things talked about in the day of the Lord — have *not happened yet* — or else, why are we looking for a Rapture. We’ll be just as upset as those Thessalonians were, when they thought it “had passed them by” — but Paul reassured them that it had not yet. We’re still in the same boat — looking *forward* (not backward) to those events which the “day of the Lord” consists of — of which the “Rapture” is the beginning mark of it (but is “unknown” as to its timing).

Well, that’s a long way around it all, but there it is... LOL..