The Doctrine of “Christ’s Imminent Return

One of the many lies perpetuated through the Church World today is the doctrine of “Christ’s Imminent Return”.
The generally accepted definition of imminence is that Jesus could come "at any moment". Like most false teachings, it doesn’t take a bible scholar to prove that these teachings are not supported by God’s Holy Word.

If one truly believed that Jesus could return for His church at any moment, they would be engaged in non-stop preaching of God’s word on some level. However, this teaching as with all false teachings, produces unsustainable life. In other words, many find themselves “burnt out” if you will, because they fall victim to a doctrine that does not give life. Jesus said, “my words are spirit and they are life”.
The Bible states something about God that is very clear. The prophet Isaiah recorded in chapter 46:10 “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come”.

I take this to mean that God has an appointed time for everything under heaven, and He makes it known. There are things that must come to pass before Christ will return. Why else were we commanded on several occasions to “watch”?
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20

Even in the great commandment we clearly see that the end of the world is an appointed time. Jesus didn’t say, “I am with you for an undisclosed length of time which I can not disclose because it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the topic because only my Father in heaven knows the day and hour”. He said, I will be with you until the end” until all things are finished.

In Matthew 24:14, Jesus tells us that this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all of the world as a witness to all nations BEFORE the end comes.
Some people believe that Jesus teaches that His return is imminent in John 14:2-3. “In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also”.

Does Jesus, in this passage, mention that His coming could be "at any moment" or does He merely teach His disciples that He will be coming back for them? Just a few days earlier, He had told this same group of men of wars and rumors of wars, of the abomination of desolation, of the great tribulation, of signs in the sun, moon, and stars.

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:28

Is it possible, as some believe, that the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24, Mark 13, Luke 21) was meant only for the Jews and John 14 was meant only for the church when BOTH were spoken to the same group of men only days apart?

In answer to His disciples question in Matt. 24:3, "What shall be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?" He did not tell them that His coming would be sign less or imminent. He told of wars and rumors of wars, etc. Then He said,
As soon as [the fig tree's] branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also when you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates.

In other words, we will not know the exact day or hour, but when these things begin happening, His coming is so near that the generation to see the signs will not die before His return. Could His coming be imminent BEFORE these things have happened? (Matt. 24:32-34,36; Luke 21:28)

Many pre-tribbers quote verses about the "thief in the night" to support their "at any moment" doctrine. In Revelation 3:3 written to the church at Sardis (not Philadelphia, not Laodecia), Jesus says,

"Remember then what you received and heard; keep that, and repent. If you will not awake, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you."
However, it is "the day of the Lord" which comes like a thief.

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10. "For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night." 1 Thessalonians 5:2.

But when we keep reading, we find, "But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief." (vs.4)
It is in this context that we are commanded not to sleep, but to watch.(vs. 6-7; Mark 13:36)

We are watching because of what we read in Acts 2:20 and Joel 2:31 placing the sun turning dark and the moon to blood BEFORE the Day of the Lord? That wouldn't make the rapture very imminent would it? Could it be merely a coincidence that this is the very sign Jesus described would precede His coming?

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:29-31.

This coinciding of the Day of the Lord and the rapture is spoken of in 2 Thess. 2:1-4.
"Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet him, we beg you, brethren, not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God."

According to Luke 21, it is only "when these things begin to take place" that we can "look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."