I could cite many other pretribulational teachers committing this all-so-common inconsistency in their rapture theology. But I will use Jack Hibb’s statement as representative.
On a recent program of Jan Markell’s Understanding the Times with Jan Markell, her guest Jack Hibbs repeatedly stressed the “imminency” of the rapture that he claims will be “unannounced” that is, “signless.” Pretribulationists believe in the novel doctrine that Jesus can return “at any moment,” secretly vanishing millions of believers from the planet leaving unbelievers scratching their heads as they see pantyhose and toupees left behind on the floor.
While saying he believes in imminence, toward the end of the program he contradicted himself by identifying the rapture happening at Luke 21:27-28, which reads,
Then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. (Luke 21:27–28)
The problem with citing the event in the Lukan passage is that it is clearly preceded by several signs to Jesus’ coming (see Luke 21:8–26).
I would be interested to learn how Hibbs resolves his contradiction.
