I see imminency in a slightly different way than most other pretribulationists. There was a period when one can say the Lord could not return immediately; some events obviously had to occur before then. But as time progressed after His ascension, imminent language began appearing in the epistles.
Notwithstanding the different eschatological views (historicism etc) that theologians held through history, many warned that Christ could come at any moment. Renald Showers provides a few examples in "Maranatha."
Here's an article by Gerald Stanton. I don't agree with all he says:
The primary thought expressed by imminency is that something important is likely to happen, and could do so without delay. While it may not be immediate nor necessarily soon, it is next on the program and may take place at any time. If the event is evil or potentially dangerous we would call it impending for it is threatening to occur. But if it is an event full of hope and joyful expectation we express it by the noun imminence or the adjective imminent. Among believers, these words normally relate to the possible soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to catch up His Church in that happy and monumental event called the Rapture...continue reading
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