The pre-trib Rapture and Second Coming Only

Theology aren't accurate by any means, and both

of these doctrines are a poor understanding of
initial Christ's return at best. Moreover, most
prophecy teachers do the Body of Christ a great
disservice. Why? Because they, for the most part,
do not teach the New Testament concept of
preparedness for the Lord's return in the Day of our
Redemption (Eph. 4:30).

No, all saved Christians are not going to Heaven

when Christ first returns. In simple terms, the
Rapture is not automatic for every Christian; surely
foolish Christians will be left behind. Yet wise
Christians whose faith is active in dying to the flesh
("accounted as sheep for the slaughter"), and by
utilizing an inner Christ in their daily living in
allowing agape love (Christ's inner love) to flow out
to others, are ready, even though they're not
perfect. Indeed, these Christians are watching and
alert by New Testament standards, and the Day of
the Lord will not overtake them as a thief in That
Night (1 Thess. 5:2). For the record, the Tribulation
and the Day of the Lord both begin with birth
pangs, as found in 1st Thessalonians 5:2-3 and
Matthew 24:8 ("The beginning of sorrows" are
literally birth pangs in the Greek. )! In addition,
Scripturally, the Bride and Bridegroom come forth
within the Day of the Lord (Joel 2:16).

1
Greetings ––I'm Robert Harris. Of course, I'm not
saying that Bible prophecy teachers aren't good
Christians, or don't have a good relationship with
the Lord, or that they don't lead their share of new
converts to the Lord. However, in order to teach
the prophecy of Christ's initial return correctly, you
must understand the Word thoroughly. As the Bible
teaches, one must prove all things, rightly dividing
the Word of Truth. With that said, biblical watching
isn't knowing that Christ will come some day, but it
is utilizing His agape love in daily living—faith that
works by love. Indeed, biblical watching sorely
needs to be preached in the Body of Christ as a
preeminent doctrine, for Greek wise, it is faith that
works by agape love (1 Thess. 5:6-8).
The possibility of Christ's initial coming is ongoing,
beginning at early-trib. In this vein, the seven year
Tribulation is the beginning of the Day of the Lord,
a seven year period of night before the Day dawns
(2 Pet. 1:19). This Tribulation period is also called
the Day of our Redemption in Ephesians 4:30. Out
of sync, multitudes of Christians incorrectly believe
that they will be redeemed before the Day of our
Redemption, or before the Night (the at-once pre-
trib Rapture).
Now the Day of our Redemption is the Day of Jesus
Christ (Philp. 1:10). In corroboration of this Bible
prophecy fact, the Scripture says to Christians, ". . .
He who has begun a good work in you will
complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philip.
2
1:6). Then, after the inception of That Day in That
Night, the Lord will come to redeem wise Christians
as a Jewish Bridegroom. On this note, Christ's initial
coming in That Night will be with two male
witnesses, as a nighttime surprise. So although the
Day culminates in God's Wrath, it actually begins
with judgment and salvation for the Body of Christ,
and this, as the Lord walks amongst the churches
holding seven stars in His right hand (1 Pet. 4:17; 2
Pet. 3:12-14; Rev. 1:10, 1:20; 2:1). Note: If we are
to visualize the stars in His right hand, then Christ
is walking among the churches at nighttime, and
this, in the beginning of the Lord's Day!
Again, surely the Day will begin at nighttime long
before the Day dawns (2 Pet. 1:19). In fact, this is
one reason why Christ related the time of His initial
coming to that of nighttime, and this, by quoting
the four Roman guard watches of the summer
night (Mark 13:34-35). Yes, prior to the Day's
dawning, it will become eerily dark in this world. No
wonder, Jesus said, "the night cometh that no man
can work"! Surely Christ at the Second Coming,
after the seven year Tribulation (the Bright and
Morning Star), will be the first light after the night!
Thus, the prior watches of the night in the
Tribulation are for biblical watching.
According to the Parable of the Wise & Foolish
Virgins, multitudes of saved carnal Christians will
know the results of the Lord's initial return as a
thief like coming in That Night (Tribulation), and
3
again, these will be left behind while experiencing
a closed door (The exception being new born babes
in Christ). If this parable was the only source for
such a belief, we could easily discard the left
behind scenario. Yet, this is not the case.
Surprisingly, much Scripture in the New Testament
also teaches this truth, that is, saved Christians
who routinely live after the flesh will be left behind
to enter the Great Tribulation (latter half) period of
the Tribulation (Matt. 19:30). Of course, not to
worry, for the most part these will eventually be
redeemed and will also attend the Wedding Feast
(Rev. 7:9-17).
Fittingly, Revelation 3:3 clearly states this fact to
the end-time Church of Sardis: "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." Initially, only a few in Sardis will walk
worthily in white (Rev. 3:4), meaning, only a few
initially will go to Heaven for the Wedding Feast
from this segment of the end time Church, not the
entire Body of Christ. Blatantly, John wrote the
following warning to all in the Body of Christ, not
just to a segment of the end time Church: "Behold,
I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches and
keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they
see his shame" (Rev. 16:15). Keep his garments?
Blessed is he that watches? Ashamed at His
coming (1 John 2:28)? A pre-trib at-once automatic
Rapture makes no allowance for understanding
4
John's Scripture, because the at-once Rapture
Teaching annihilates the need to watch, or the
need to be alert in That Night for the Lord's
coming.
True, many sincere Christians attend services every
week, pay tithes, say prayers and read their Bibles,
yet the Lord wants more than that. Specifically,
Christians are to abide in Christ and bear fruit.
Meaning, the Lord actually wants the use of His
agape love inside the Christian flowing out to
others (John 13:34, Rom. 5:5). Actually, faith grows
and works by servitude of others, which is agape
love in action (Luke 17:5:10, Gal. 5:6). In line with
this truth, the light produced by the inner Holy
Spirit ensures the way to the Bridegroom. In other
words, this alone is the turned on light of Christ's
inner agape love (1 John 2:9-10, 4:8).
Centered on the fact that not all Christians will
watch and keep their garments in That Night, this
work makes plain Christ’s initial return, which again
is not an at-once automatic redemption. Indeed,
Sardis' letter is not descriptive of Second Coming
Only Theology, nor is their letter descriptive of an
at-once pre-Tribulation Rapture (pre-night). Once
again, neither of these teachings fully incorporate
the New Testament command to watch and keep
our garments in That night.
The above facts, and not the overwhelming
preponderance of the evidence herewith
presented, should cause suspicious eyes to open
5
for those who just believe in the at-once Rapture,
or Second Coming Only Theology. Indeed, most
Christians, including Bible scholars and pastors,
don’t truly understand watching or keeping their
garments as a necessity for proper preparedness.
Nevertheless, how will Christ appear for them? Will
they keep their garments and watch as the
Scripture clearly instructs (Rev. 16:15)? Or will they
walk naked in shame upon this Earth, and this,
before the unsaved nations of the world (Matt.
24;43)? Note: To walk naked is to walk here on this
Earth, remaining behind in That Night, by not
having an acceptable Wedding Garment for the
Wedding Feast in Heaven.
Again, the biblical definition of watching or being
alert is to use Christ's inner agape love in our
relationships with others: faith which works by
agape love (1 Thess. 5:6-8). Sadly, many Christians
don't have a faith that works by agape love
relationship with the Lord, nor have they been
taught their need for this paramount biblical
principle. Moreover, way over 95 % of the Body of
Christ doesn't understand intellectually what it is to
biblically watch, nor do they understand this most
important facet of biblical truth, that is, again, faith
ONLY works by Christ's inner agape love flowing
out to others (Gal. 5:6-7, 14). Now all of this isn't to
say that many Christians don't actively use the
love of God in their relationships. However, if the
entire Body of Christ is to grow to the stature of
6
Christ, then those Christians who walk after the
flesh must begin to use the principle of faith which
works by agape love.
Watching? It's impossible to watch in the pre-night
or pre-Tribulation, because watching is strictly a
nighttime activity. Simply, again, Christ quoted the
four Roman guard summer-nighttime watches
(9:00 PM thru 9:00 AM). Nevertheless, is it time to
begin praying always that we might escape these
things coming on the world? Jesus warned, "Take
heed to yourselves, lest at anytime your hearts be
overcharged with surfeiting (overindulgence), and
drunkenness, and the cares of this life, so that day
come upon you unawares. . . .Watch therefore, and
pray always that you may be counted worthy to
escape all these things that will come to pass, and
to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:34-36).
Here, in praying always, it is the Christian who is to
be sober in doctrine, and not to be overtaken with
overindulgence and the cares of this life––not the
unbeliever (1 Thess. 5:6-8). First, note that
unbelievers don't believe. Secondly, unbelievers
don't pray, nor will they pray always, which is an
explicit command directed to Christians. Thirdly, by
biblical principle, only a Christian owns the ability
to watch by putting on faith that works by agape
love. Fourthly, it is the Christian who is to stand
worthily before the Son of man, not the unbelievers
of this world in their unbelief.

7
Again, it is the Christian who is to pray always so
that the Day of Christ will not overtake them
unawares, or as a thief (1 Thess. 5:4). Amazingly,
however, the need to look for the Day of our
Redemption (Eph. 4:30; Heb. 10:24-25), not to
mention the need of preparedness for Christ’s
Bridegroom Return, isn’t widely being taught in the
Body of Christ. In fact, many biblical scholars reject
the idea of preparation and sooner rewards for
obedient Christians. It’s time to change that!
Indeed, it's time to start praying always that we as
saved Christians are accounted worthy to escape
all these things that are coming upon the world. It's
time to be obedient!
Again, there will be multitudes of saved Christians
left behind who didn't obey the simple instruction
of Scripture. And, who didn't believe it was
necessary to pray always to escape these things
that are coming upon the world. The result is that
they will walk in shame, because they have lived
after the flesh, not realizing that a Summer Harvest
is a partial harvest for those who keep their
garments: "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he
that watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk
naked, and they see his shame" (Rev. 16:15); and,
"He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he
that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth
shame."

8
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Back to the subject of discussion.

Of particular interest, left behind Christians will
await Christ's Closed Door Return from the
Wedding Feast when Christ collects His remainder
Bride (Luke 12:36!) in the Great Tribulation (Rev.
7:9-17). Note: If you should read this cited passage
in Revelation 7, keep in mind that only the Body of
Christ can go to Heaven. By the way, because Luke
12:36 doesn't match what they know or think, Bible
11
scholars have labeled this single literal Scripture as
parabolic, regardless of the fact that its
surrounding verses are literal as literal gets. Thus,
in their view, Luke 12:36 is meaningless––which
completely negates the actual return of Christ from
the Wedding Feast for the foolish: a Closed Door
Return. Indeed, immediately after the Bride has
made herself ready: ". . . . Blessed are they who
are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. . . ."
(Rev. 19:7, 9).
Now the reason scholars refer to Luke 12:36 as
parabolic, is because they've never seen or
imagined another scriptural witness stating this
return from the Wedding Feast. Contrary to that
assumption, however, we find other parabolic and
non-parabolic witnesses of Scripture to this very
same effect. And this just happens to be the case
of the closed door in question. Although that door
isn't literal, Who can deny that it won't have literal
effects (Matt. 24:33, 25:10; James 5:9; Rev. 3:8, 10,
11, 20)? Thus, in Luke 12:36, where the Scripture
outright states that there is a return of Christ from
the Wedding Feast, it means exactly that––because
the language there, not to mention the surrounding
language, again, is literal as literal gets—it is a dire
warning. For the record, upon the Second Coming
there will be no need for knocking, or for doors to
open!
Upon Christ's Closed Door Return, the unknown
foolish Christians of the parable will become fully
12
known by God by knowing His inner love (1 John
4:8). Being repentant, the foolish will then come
out of the Great Tribulation and wash their religious
robes in the blood of the Lamb. More importantly,
these will finally attend the Wedding Feast—they
shall neither hunger or thirst anymore (Rev. 7:9-
17). Note: Christ's Closed Door Return is a return in
the Great Tribulation, which is also a return long
before the traditional Second Coming. Count
them––there are three future returns of Christ
recorded in Scripture: Christ's Open Door Return;
Christ's Closed Door Return; and the traditional
Second Coming of the Lord with all of His saints
(Thess. 3:13). Then, those who sleep in Jesus (1
Thess. 4:14), and the spirits of just men made
perfect, will regain their bodies at the first
resurrection of the last day (John 6:40), which is
the Second Coming.
Actually, the at-once Rapture and Second Coming
Only Teachings both negate large portions of
Scripture. As a matter of fact, if either of these
teachings represented the whole truth of prophecy,
then there wouldn’t be a need to watch, or the
many commands to prepare. Or even a need for
the left behind foolish to open their door
immediately upon Christ's return from the Wedding
Feast. No Tribulation Night? No prophetic Midnight
Cry? No four Roman Gentile watches (summer,
soldier, nighttime watches) symbolizing our
Christian duty in the coming Night (Evening,
13
Midnight, Cockcrowing, Morning)? No doors? No
knocking? No Jewish wedding? No Wedding Feast?
No surprise Bridegroom Return with two male
witnesses in That Night? No sleeping? No First
Fruits Harvest? No Like Manner Return? No partial
Summer Harvest? No early and latter rains? No
thief like coming? No place prepared for us? No, we
are not bought with a price? In perceiving Christ’s
initial coming, these many Scriptural references all
intricately link to a Jewish wedding in prophecy. No,
these many references, which embody even more
in the Scriptures, are not all allegoric and
meaningless as some would have us believe.
Indeed, given in the strict context of reaping
eternal life, the Gospel writers tell us that he who is
first, by serving others last, shall be last. And he
who is last, by serving others first, shall be the first
redeemed (Matt. 19:30; Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30)!
Here at Midnight Ministries we don't think prophecy
teaches an at-once redemption, whether it is the
Rapture, or the Second Coming. Of course, such a
statement might sound silly to some, but not to
those who are open to the preponderance of the
evidence. For these will easily find that the
Bridegroom Return of Christ is extremely self-
evident in prophecy. Surely two Christians early in
the seven year Tribulation Night shall be in the
same bed—one shall be taken and the other left
(Judgment begins with the household of faith, not
with the wicked of the world.). Again, the left
14
behind Christian, especially the unrepentant of
Thyatira (Rev. 2:22), will enter the Great Tribulation
period (the latter half of the seven year Tribulation)
and await our Lord's Closed Door Return (Luke
12:36; James 5:9; Rev. 3:3, 20, 7:13-14), while
prepared Christians will have entered Heaven
through Christ's earlier Open Door Bridegroom
Return (Matt. 25:10; Rev. 3:8). By the way, the
mention of these prophetic doors in the New
Testament, in the connection of Christ's coming,
always reflect the idea of a surprise, Jewish,
nighttime, bridegroom return.
Here lies yet another at-once redemption prophecy
problem: Jesus said, ". . . Nevertheless when the
Son of man returns, shall he find faith on the
earth?" Christian after Christian, educated and not
so educated, teach the at-once automatic Rapture
of the entire Church. Is this a correct prophecy
teaching? A correct understanding? Will the entire
Church really be ready long before the Second
Coming? Are all Christians that committed to Christ
in a faith that works by agape love relationship? No
Christian left behind? Will the Son of man find THAT
MUCH faith upon His initial return, especially when
the Scripture teaches that He won't?
In the Parable of the Ten Virgins, Jesus said, "And at
midnight there was a cry made" (Matt. 25:6). When
Christ said this, again, He was really saying that a
new day had begun, namely, the Day of the Lord.
And this is why all ten virgins went out (prepared)
15
to meet the Bridegroom in That Night. In fact, there
will be an unequaled excitement throughout the
Church at the Day of Jesus Christ (Phillip. 1:6), for
again, That Day is the Day of Our Redemption
(Eph. 4:30), also known as the Day of Christ (2
Thess. 2:2-3), wherein, the earlier and partial
Summer Harvest will take place in the setting of
the Jewish Bridegroom Return of Christ (Matt.
24:32-33).
Once the Day of our Redemption arrives as a thief
long before the Second Coming, it will begin with
and engulf the seven year Tribulation Night, which
period will eventually reveal God's wrath and later
dawning of That Day (2 Pet. 1:19). Upon the
inception of the Day of Christ, the whole Church
will trim their lamps in That Night, preparing to
meet Jesus (when things are still somewhat
normal). Meaning, once the prior night of That Day
begins, the entire Body of Christ will anticipate the
Lord's coming long before the later dawning of That
Day, which is at the traditional Second Coming (Or,
when the seven year Tribulation Night ends when
God returns with all His saints.).
Besides returning as the bright and Morning Star
(or as the sign of the Son of man) of the Second
Coming, Jesus initially returns in that prior Night as
a Jewish Bridegroom; that is, for those Christians
who are prepared by being active in their faith.
This return is what the New Testament calls His
Like Manner Return, or a return that was after the
16
manner in which Christ ascended, being a return
accompanied by two male witnesses (Acts 1:10).
Note: this is not a return identified with a myriad of
angels, nor the Trump of God with a the shout of an
Archangel, but Christ's initial return marked by
"TWO MEN" (not angels), who will be with Him as
witnesses. For the record, prophecy details this as
a like manner return, not a like place return.
Speaking of a Jewish Wedding, Jesus expressly said
in very strict bridegroom language: "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
(Traditionally, preparations for the bride were made
in the father of the bridegroom's house.). And if I
go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,
and receive you unto myself (Jewish Bridegrooms
always came to the door of the perspective bride in
surprise fashion at night, with two male
witnesses.); that where I am, there you may be
also. And whither I go you know, and the way you
know" (John 14:1-4). "The way you know" is not an
at-once anytime noisy Trump of God at the Rapture
of the entire Church. Quite oppositely, again, it is a
quiet Jewish Bridegroom Return with two male
witnesses for the prepared in the Body of Christ. As
Christ ascended in the presence of committed
believers only, with the two male witnesses
present, so will He return in like manner (Acts
1:10)!

17
Much later, upon the consummation of this age at
the traditional Second Coming, our Lord will first
appear as a small light in the heavens as the sign
of the Son of man, while gradually growing to an all
consuming force, fully lighting up the dawn of That
Day (2 Pet. 1:19). Indeed, at the Second Coming
every eye shall see our Lord the King, in
indescribable power and awe, as He gloriously
returns with all His saints and angels (Matt. 24:31;
1Thess. 3:13, 4:14; Rev. 19:8, 14). With all of His
saints? Surely the Lord will bring all of His saints
from His earlier nighttime returns (watch therefore
—that is—in That Night), just as the Scripture
teaches!
Upon the Summer Harvest, or the earlier partial
harvest, the entire Church will become very aware
of the times and the seasons. In fact, they will quit
denying them. Even so, when the nations cry for
"peace and safety" (1 Thess. 5:1-3) at the
beginning of the seven year Tribulation (Matt. 24:6-
8), the whole Church will be far from being
prepared to meet the Lord Jesus early in That Night
(Mark 13:34). Why? Because true spirituality
actually comes from an inner seed of Christ (1 John
3:9) who has grown within the believer, and not by
obedience to outside rules and/or membership
status in denominations. This, the wise will know (1
John 4:8). Indeed, Christ, just like the Day of the
Lord, will come as a thief to the unprepared.

18
At that future mystery hour the Bride has made
herself ready (Rev. 19:7). Then the Scripture goes
on to record, ". . . Blessed are they which are called
to the marriage supper of the Lamb. . . " (Rev.
19:9). By the way, we only call someone who isn't
presently by our side.
Despite the teaching of the at once catching-up of
the entire Church, better known as the "Rapture,"
biblically, Christians are individually commanded to
watch. So then, Christians are to crucify the cares
of the world through a growing and loving faith.
Incidentally to refresh our memories, once again,
biblical watching is to put on genuine faith that
works by agape love (Gal. 5:6; 1 Thess. 5:6, 8). It is
to put on the historical inner loving Christ of the
Bible (Rom. 13:8-14). And this we must do, if we
are to be prepared to meet the Bridegroom in That
Night.
Military wise, we should know that to watch in That
Night is to take one's post in the night, again, just
as the Roman soldiers did, or biblical watching isn't
watching. And this is one reason why Jesus quoted
the four "Gentile-Roman-Soldier" watches of the
summer-night (Mark 13:34-35). Surely His initial
Bridegroom Return, wherein we must be prepared
by taking our post, is in the much sooner coming
Night for the partial Summer Harvest, not at the
dawn of That Day (2 Pet. 1:19).
Of meaningful note, again, far too many Christians
haven't put on a loving faith, nor will they in time
19
for our Lord's initial return; their lamps went out.
Meaning, simply, they didn't abide in the light of
God's inner agape love for others (1 John 2:10).
Moreover, biblical watching, the command of our
Lord, is an incompatible doctrine to many
Christians who staunchly hold the at-once Rapture
view. Thus to our shame, and adverse to the
popular trib-positions, the importance of biblical
watching within the coming Tribulation Night isn't
taught nor accepted the way that it should be in
the Body of Christ.
The need to watch is allegoric? If someone were to
state that Christ will come January 10th of next
year, wouldn't the majority of the Body of Christ
tell that person not to set dates? Wouldn't they
quickly quote the Bible, which states, "Watch
therefore, for you know neither the day nor the
hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (Matthew
25:13)? What was that? The Lord's COMMAND to
watch is allegoric, while the idiom "you know
neither the day nor the hour" is literal? And this, all
in the same verse?
Matthew wrote, "But as the days of Noah were, so
shall the coming of the Son of man be" (Matt.
24:37). If we consider all the facts, we should see
that Noah's days are descriptive of the coming of
the Son of man, but not the coming of Christ at the
traditional Second Coming. The Bible tells us to
study, "rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim.
2:15). And, if we do so, consequential insight may
20
be gained in understanding Christ's initial return
within the prosperous days of Noah.
Jesus said, "For as in the days that were before the
flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and
giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered into
the ark" (Matt. 24:38). In the following, Luke gives
us the same rendition as Matthew, except Luke
graphically recounts them by adding the days of
Lot: "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they
did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they
planted, they builded" (Luke 17:26-28).
In the above, Matthew and Luke both painted
illustrations of abundance upon Christ's initial
return. In both prophecy illustrations humanity is
eating and drinking, giving and taking in marriage,
building and planting, buying and selling.
Strikingly, the worldwide economy is somewhat
viably sound when Christ first returns.
With that said, Will humanity be planning marriage
deep into the seven year Tribulation Night? Buying
and selling? Building and planting? Making merry?
To the extent that these attributes mark the timing
of the end of the age? Or do these signs serve as a
confirmation of a much earlier return of Christ in
the prosperous and somewhat normal times of the
early Tribulation Night (period)?
The answer? The prosperous and good times of
Christ's initial return are not the times wherein
great chunks of the Earth's population have passed
21
away in the Great Tribulation (Rev. 6:4, 8; 9:15,
18)!
Upon the very end, and contrary to that of the pre-
wrath view (3/4's into the Tribulation), all things in
the economy won't be fine deep into the
Tribulation; that is, if we believe the book of
Revelation (the opening of the seals) and many
other parts of the Bible. Forthrightly, making merry
happens in the days of Noah long before the flood,
not toward the end of the Tribulation Night during
the then manifested Wrath of God upon Earth.

Deep into the Tribulation the hour of test will be

upon all the world, not just part of it (Rev. 3:10).
Jesus said, "For in those days shall be affliction,
such as was not from the beginning of the creation
22
. . . neither shall be" (Mark 13:19). Harmoniously,
and contrary to the Preterist view, John wrote, "And
in those days shall men seek death, and shall not
find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee
from them" (Rev. 9:6). Note: the Preterist View is
one that teaches that Christ already came in AD
70.
"Those days" are not the days of Noah wherein
affluence and prosperity abound, but the future
days of worldwide affliction. Suitably, "those days"
are symbolic of extreme strife within the Great
Tribulation (the latter half of the seven-year
Tribulation), and they shall have no equal (Isa.
24:6; Rev. 9:18). Unlike any other period of history,
it is only in "those days" that men will seek death,
yet it will supernaturally flee from them (This didn't
happen in AD 70—the preterist view). Indeed,
"those days" are yet to come!
As Luke reports, men's hearts will be palpitating in
sheer pandemonium for the fear of those things
coming on the Earth: "And there shall be signs in
the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and
upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;
the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing
them for fear, and for looking after those things
which are coming on the earth." (Note: This very
well could be a picture, among other things, of
Global Warming.) Indeed, it is "those days."
Furthermore, the plagues of God's wrath will be
striking the Earth. So much so, that the Bible tells
23
us ". . .woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the
Earth . . . " (Rev. 8:13); not to mention that the
whole world will be rocking to and fro like a
drunkard (Isa. 24:20-21.
Again, Judgment begins with the Household of God
(1 Pet. 4:17), not Israel or any other nation,
including America (As Christians, we desperately
need to get this point straight! Note: This doesn't
mean the God won't let a nation suffer its own
devices.). Consider, then, in the Parable of the Ten
Virgins, five were wise and five were foolish (Matt.
25:1-13)—compared with: ". . . Two women (a
picture of two religious people) shall be grinding
together; The one shall be taken, and the other
left. And they answered and said unto him, Where,
Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the
body is (the remaining dead Body of Christ), thither
will the eagles be gathered together" (Luke 17:34-
37).
At the end of the Great Tribulation there won't be
anyone in the field working for a living. Then, in
those extremely abnormal times of fear and
worldwide havoc, neither will any two people be
working at the workplace (Especially new Christian
converts, who will not buy or sell, or receive the
Mark of the Beast at that time.). As already shown,
chaos and worldwide economical hardship will be
the scene at the traditional Second Coming, which
by no means represents Luke's earlier picture of
normalcy when one shall be taken and the other
24
left—again, the judgment of Christ begins with the
Church, not the nations of the world. Indeed, the
prosperous days of Noah are that period of time
when the Day of the Lord will overtake the world as
a snare, and yet, the world won't know it right
away (Luke 21:34). Simply, in That Day, things
won't be that bad at first, that is, in its beginning
birth pangs!
Understandably, Luke's above account of "eagles,"
when one shall be taken in the days of Noah, is not
to be likened as real birds eating the flesh of
captains and kings at the much later Second
Advent (Rev. 19:18). But as eagles (vultures) in the
sense of demons (Rev. 18:2, Eccles. 10:20),
gathered around the remaining dead Body of
Christ. And this, sometime after Midnight (That
spiritual time which begins the Day of the Lord.)
when Christ will have taken the wise to Heaven.
"Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and
arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee
light" (Eph. 5:14)! Note: Paul wrote this verse in the
direct context of admonishing Christians, not the
unsaved of the world. Additionally, only
lackadaisical foolish Christians are characterized as
those who sleep in the New Testament (Mark
13:36), not the unsaved.
It is the consensus that the number ten is symbolic
of completeness. By that standard, the ten virgins
represent the end-times Church. Championing this
view, all ten were chaste. Although they slumbered
25
and slept, all ten expended the oil before some
suffered their lamps to go out. All ten, then, being
blood-bought and justified by Christ, had the Spirit
of God. No, none were tares; none were reprobates,
but all retained the purity of virginity in the eyes of
Christ.
To understand the parable, it must be affirmed that
it is the Church portrayed by the ten virgins, not
the nation of Israel. To verify this, we must only
realize that the parable dramatizes midnight, or
the second watch of the night, not the later fourth
watch of morning. Factually, not only is it
impracticable for the nation of Israel to meet their
Messiah earlier than the Church, it simply won't
happen (Jer. 8:20).
What is more important, is the fact that Israel,
biblically, doesn't go to Heaven. Neither will they
upon the Second Coming (Matt. 25:31; Zech. 6:12-
13, 13:8-9; Rev. 12:6-17). For this is when our Lord
takes His Throne in Israel after He delivers them.
Long before, the Antichrist will confirm a covenant
with many in Israel for seven years (Dan. 9:27).
Indeed, it is Antichrist who is the Prince of the
Covenant to be broken without hand at the Second
Coming, not Jesus Christ (Dan. 8:25; 11:22). So, no
matter how one censures it, the ten virgins in the
parable remain to be representative of the Church,
who attend the Wedding Feast in Heaven.
By custom, after the parents had decided on a
price, a Jewish engagement began by the groom
26
offering a glass of wine to the prospective bride. If
she accepted by drinking the wine, he would then
return to his father's house and prepare a place for
her for about one year. Upon the father's approval
of his preparations, returning, he would call on his
bride to be at nighttime, and this, accompanied by
two male witnesses at her door. Expectantly
awaiting that hour, she, according to Jewish
tradition, was always to be ready and watching.
Here, unveiled, lies the New Testament prophecy
theme of Christ returning: the Church has drunk
the wine of His very Jewish proposal; or the wine of
the New Covenant, which is the shed blood of Jesus
Christ (John 6:53) for our sins. We, then, await
Christ for the Wedding Feast to be held at His
Father's House. Certainly, this is the exact
nonparabolic language of John 14:1-3, wherein
Christ goes away to prepare a place for the Body of
Christ! Yes, the parents of the bride have agreed to
a price (the death of God in the flesh), for which
reason, you as a Christian have been "bought with
a price" (1 Cor. 6:20). And, might I add, a very high
price!
Scripture further corroborates the purity of the
virgins, which singularly conveys the idea that
salvation is by grace (Eph. 2:8), "not of works, lest
any man should boast" (Eph. 2:9). Applicably, God
instills His seed in the Christian by faith (1 John
3:9), making a person virtuous by Christ's merit
(John 5:24, 6:47).
27
In reality, the Grace of God symbolized by the
chastity of the virgins is self-evident: all were
awaiting Christ by faith. However, some by their
inner godly works of love for others (Christ's agape
love in action) abided in the lamplight (1 John
2:10), giving them a greater hope of a sooner
redemption. John wrote to the Philadelphian
Church: I know thy works (works of agape love):
behold, I have set before thee an open door, and
no man can shut it. . . . Because thou hast kept the
word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the
hour of temptation (test), which shall come upon
all the world . . . (Rev. 3:8-10).
Although the Scripture doesn't come right out and
state it, the wise also entered an open door before
it was shut (Matt. 25:10). Speaking of doors, the
Parable of a Fig Tree tells us that when Israel (Fig
Tree: Luke 13:6-8; Hos. 9:10; Joel 1:7) begins to
sprout leaves (which can only be "green Gospel
fruit" in association with the Gentile Times of
Jerusalem being trodden under foot: Rom. 11:25;
Rev. 11:2), we are to know that summer is near,
"even at the doors" (Matt. 24:32-33). That is to say,
the earlier partial harvest of summer will be near
for the Church, even "at the doors" (a Jewish
Wedding). Indeed, the times are representative of
the comings of Christ; and the seasons are
representative of the various harvests of our Lord.
Note: Israel’s blindness begins to lift at the Lord’s
Short Work (Rom. 9:25-29), or the Tribulation
28
beginning, which fully lifts by mid-trib in the Day of
the Lord.
Fully in line with the parable of the Fig tree, is the
mention of the early and latter rains in the New
Testament (James 5:7). The early rain, as we can
verify in any Bible Concordance, was Israel’s seed-
time rain (November-December). The latter rain,
which can also be verified in this manner, was
Israel’s March-April rain in preparation for the
spring-summer harvest (a partial harvest—not a
final fall harvest). Of course, as widely recognized
in the Church, these two rains are symbolic of
Christ preparing His people in the last days, which,
by the way, is the context of James’s passage. The
point being, these rains absolutely symbolize and
call attention to the coming partial Summer
Harvest for the Church.

Seven Churches Of Today & Tomorrow

Note: Midnight's Cry goes into great detail in

describing who these spiritual segments of the
Church are today.
If the Body of Christ didn't have a need to
understand the seven letters, then the Spirit
wouldn't have repeated Himself seven times, once
in each letter: "He that hath an ear let him hear
what the Spirit says to the Churches" (Rev. 2:7, 11,
17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).
29
Despite the at-once Rapture teaching, the entire
Body of Christ doesn't have an ear to hear. Simply,
biblically, everyone does not share the same gift
within the Body. The fact remains that the reality of
Christ's coming outright appears in five of these
letters, which the evidence overwhelmingly shows
to be a partial redemption for the prepared (long
before the Second Coming); the importance of
which is paramount in these nearing end times.
Note: Christ's coming, or result of His coming, is
also depicted in the other two remaining letters,
that is, if we know how to look for it.
As taught earlier, upon the traditional Second
Coming the nations will only see the sign of the
Son of man in the heavens at first, not Christ
Himself (Matt. 24:30). Oppositely, the faithful will
see Christ at His initial appearing, and will be
changed instantaneously to be like Him (1 John 3:2;
1st Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 4:1, 8; 2nd Titus 2:13; 1st Pet.
1:7). So then, we are to be alert upon Christ's
earlier Quick Coming, lest He catches us asleep
(Mark 13:34).

30
Of no small coincidence, the Word mentions
Christ's Quick Coming often. Twenty centuries later,
isn't it time to believe it? That is, believe that
Christ's instantaneous initial coming will have
serious repercussions and/or rewards?
Literally, the Lord told Philadelphia: "Behold (see it
—get it straight in your mind), I come quickly: hold
that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy
crown." Here, He really told Philadelphia, within the
31
context of the Day of the Lord beginning in Rev.
1:10, that faith only works by agape love. Meaning,
offend no man that they might have a legitimate
reparation against you ("hold that fast") in That
Day, which would delay your redemption at His first
appearance. No wonder, then, Philadelphia has an
open door!
Unlike Philadelphia, Christ warned Ephesus:
"Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen,
and repent, and do the first works: or else I will
come unto thee quickly and will remove thy
candlestick out of his place (One can lose their
light as did the foolish of the Parable.), except thou
repent" (Rev. 2:5).
Defined, "the first works" that Ephesus lacks are
the godly works of preferring others first, or the
message from the beginning (1 John 3:11), of
which the beatitudes are most descriptive (Matt.
5:3-16). So, Ephesus, or all those who practice
Church without using God's inner love for others
(God’s inner agape power in the believer), must
repent.
So then, it is more than possible for this now
enlightened segment of the end-time Church
(Ephesus) to enter the Great Tribulation with the
unfaithful of Thyatira (Rev. 2:22)! By the way,
Thyatira is but one more prime example of Partial
Redemption Theology, which in the case of this
work, is the initial Bridegroom Return of Jesus
Christ early in the Tribulation Night.
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After the Day begins at that spiritual midnight
hour, the wise will tell the foolish: "go to them that
sell." Or go back to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
or to the ones who "biblically sell" (Isa. 55:1), and
get your faith straight.
Forthrightly, Christ, who will arise and stand at
Laodicea's closed door, instructs, "I counsel thee to
buy of me, gold tried in the fire . . ." (Rev. 3:18).
Now if Laodicea should refuse to buy in That Night,
Christ will spit her out of His mouth. That is to say,
Christ is warning Laodicea that they will no longer
be in His mouth to confess to the Father. If such be
the case, some in this segment of the end-time
Church will lose their salvation, that is, if their door
remains shut.
Similarly, Christ threatens to blot Sardis' names
from the Book of Life if they don't repent (Rev. 3:5).
Yes, it can only be the Day of the Lord which will
declare Sardis' works (1 Cor. 3:13) that are ready to
die (Rev. 3:2). Thus, we know with all certainty, as
The Day of our Redemption is yet future, that these
letters also speak to the future. So when Christ
warns Sardis that He will come upon her as a thief,
His warning is an ominous end-time warning for
this segment of the Church.
Surely end-time Sardis is in darkness to the point
that the day will overtake most of them as a thief
("If therefore thou shalt not watch. . ."), yet it is
commonly understood within the Body of Christ
that the whole Church (at once catching-up) is not
33
in darkness. But as we should see, that isn't true.
No wonder, then, that we are to see The Day
approaching as we are to provoke one another to
love and good works, and even more so, as it nears
(Heb. 10:25). No, we are not to accept the teaching
of an at-once pre-trib Rapture of the entire Church,
nor teach it; lest we propagate and believe
prophecy which isn't true.

As longtime Christians our faith must be

productive. We must abide! Indeed, we must be in
a state of fellowship with our Lord by bearing fruit
or having borne fruit, proving and/or testing all
things!
No, all in Laodicea will not repent. Eventually, too
many will be spit out of the mouth of our Lord.
34
Indeed, too many is even one who is lost. Or even
one who can't be found in the mouth of Christ that
our Lord may confess that Christian to the Father.
There is no doubt: Christ will STAND at Laodicea's
closed wedding door. Concerning this door, it is
prophesied that Christ will sit by His Father until all
enemies become His footstool (Psa. 110:1; Acts
2:35; 1 Cor. 15:25; Heb. 1:13). Thus, when our Lord
stands, He stands and walks in judgment of the
Church as our High Priest (Rev. 1:10-20; 2:1), and
this, in the end times right before He returns as a
Bridegroom! Plainly, this can be no other time, but
the time of the Tribulation Night—The Day of our
Redemption!
No, the entire Church of Pergamos will not go up in
the at-once Rapture (1 Thess. 4:15-17).
Conversely, Christ will come upon many in
Pergamos quickly (His initial Bridegroom Coming);
and He will fight them with His Word, which is not
to redeem them at His initial Quick Coming: Many
will remain behind unless they repent before, or
early in That Night!
No, Smyrna is not the present Church who holds
the Blessed Hope of Christ coming, but the future
converts deep into the Great Tribulation who are to
keep their faith until death (Rev. 2:10).
Speaking of Smyrna ("myrrh"), in ancient times a
king would leave myrrh on the doorstep of His
unresponsive, but prospective bride, reminding her
35
that He had called during the night. And so it is
with the Church who is literally called "myrrh,"
who, by not knowing the Lord as we do now, will
fail to answer His call when He redeems the
present prepared Church, and the foolish Church,
earlier in That Night.
The Day Of Jesus Christ

We are to hasten The Day (Greek: earnestly

expect). For it is the only Day of God (2 Pet. 3:12),
which again, will come as a thief in the night (2 Pet.
3:10). Fittingly, then, it is the Day of our
Redemption (Eph. 4:30) that will come as a total
surprise, being the Day of Jesus Christ (Philip. 1:6).
Some, however, are grossly confusing the issue by
claiming that there are two days. What easily
refutes that view is the fact that the Day of Christ
(Luke 21:34-36), just like the Day of the Lord (Amos
5:18-19), will come upon the world unawares. Now
the Day can't occur as a surprise twice. Simply,
that won't happen. So it remains that the Day of
Christ is the Day of the Lord, or the only Day that
we are to earnestly expect, which again, is the Day
of our Redemption.
Whether the watches of the night are literal or not,
we have a second witness to the fact of the prior
night segment of the Lord's Day, because the Day
of Christ also holds a period of darkness (Joel 2:2;
Amos 5:20).
36
In addition, we have a third witness. That is to say,
Christ is the bright and Morning Star. Or the sign of
the Son of man in the heavens, again, being the
first light after the Tribulation Night.
If this isn't enough to convince the skeptics, we
have a fourth witness, which is the reality that the
Day of the Lord will dawn (2 Pet. 1:19.) Now a day
can only dawn after its night inception. Not to our
surprise, then, we have a fifth witness to that prior
night; and that is the fact that the Day of the Lord,
like Jesus Christ Himself, will come as a thief in the
night (1 These. 5:2). Isn't it time that all the Church
believed it?!
Moreover, as already mentioned, "the night cometh
that no man can work." Decidedly, then, we know
PERFECTLY that the Day of the Lord will come as a
thief in the Tribulation Night, not at pre-wrath
(largely accepted as 3/4 into the Tribulation).
Despite the many assurances we have that the
prior night of the Lord's Day and its dawning exists,
it's a hard apple to swallow by hardliners who have
a contrary and predetermined view of eschatology.
Yes, we do well to "take heed" (2 Pet. 1:19), until
the Day Star arise in our hearts—'til the first light
after That Night arises in our hearts. For it is only
by recognizing the coming prophetic night of the
Lord's Day (Amos 5:20; Joel 2:2; Mark 13:34-35),
that one can truly understand biblical prophecy,
and actually watch for the initial Bridegroom Return
of Jesus Christ.
37
Most assuredly, pre-trib is out of the question;
there is no such thing as a pre-night at once
catching-up of the entire Church. For which reason,
we must awake from our sleep, and again, watch in
the coming night (Mark 13:34-35).
Now no one knows the hour of the initial
appearance of Christ, but we do know that it occurs
AFTER That Day begins in That Night; that is to say,
the Day of Our Redemption will occur upon a falling
away in the Church (a great apostasy); and this, in
connection with the revealing of the man of sin
(the Antichrist) to the Body of Christ.
On this note, Paul clearly wrote, "Let no man
deceive you by any means, for that day shall not
come except there come a 'falling away' first...."
Some say this apostasy is the departure or the
Rapture of the Church. However, the surrounding
context remains to be apostasy, not the at-once
Rapture. Moreover, the same Greek word is used in
Acts 21:21 (translated "to forsake"), where it is
presented as turning from the truth. So again, the
Day of our Redemption shall not come unless there
is an apostasy first, and the Antichrist is revealed
to the Church (Let no man deceive you by any
means!).
Paul also wrote, "But you brethren have no need
that I write you of the times (watches) and the
seasons (the harvests). For you yourselves know
perfectly that the Day of the Lord so cometh as a
thief in the night. For when they shall say peace
38
and safety (Something that is impossible to happen
at pre-wrath, which again is 3/4's into the
Tribulation.); then, sudden (Greek: unexpected)
destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a
woman with child, and they shall not escape."
Note: This verse is right after the fabled Rapture
passage: Chapter divisions aren't in the original
text!
Note Paul's blatant correlation of the call for peace
and safety and the beginning of the Lord's Day, all
in connection with the times and the seasons, that
will come just as Christ will; that is, as a thief in the
night (1 Thess. 5:2; Rev. 3:3). Thus, Paul's mention
of the growing travail of a woman in labor in That
Night (birth pangs), is his vivid description of how
the seven-year Tribulation and the Day of the Lord
begins, and culminates at the Second Coming.
Actually, the call for peace and safety after the
nations rise against one another, will clear the way
for the Antichrist to conquer (Dan. 8:25) by peace
(the opening of the First Seal), which, again, will
signal the beginning of That Day and its Tribulation
Night. Now here lies an irreconcilable fact that , not
to mention the other "trib positions," can't
reconcile.
Not to be personal, Pastors, but have you
considered teaching your congregations to hasten
(again, Greek: earnestly expect) That Day (2 Pet.
3:12)? How to recognize That Day as it begins the
Night? Is the Day Star arising in your hearts (2 Pet.
39
1:19)? Better yet, is the idea of a first light dawning
after the Night, arising in your hearts? Indeed, are
the truths of Christ's initial coming as a Jewish
Bridegroom in That Night, arising in your hearts?
That literally, we are to provoke one another to
agape love, and godly good works, and even more
so as the Day approaches (Heb. 10:24-25)?
Indeed, should we watch in the coming Night (Matt.
24:43)? Should we teach others to put on faith that
works by agape love in preparation for That Night?
Should many abandon their Second Coming Only
Theology beliefs? And their at-once pre-trib
Rapture beliefs? Pastors, should you keep your
houses—or better yet, your congregations from
breaking up? "But know this, that if the goodman of
the house had known in what watch the thief would
come, he would have watched, and would not have
suffered his house to be broken up" (Matt. 24:43).
Now Pastors of the Body, I know that you are all
good people, the Scripture even calls you the "the
goodman of the house," and I've personally passed
from death unto life because I love the brethren,
including you (1 John 3:14)! Still, will the Son of
man find faith in all of your congregations upon His
initial appearance? The kind of faith that works by
agape love?

Preparedness

40
Of course, some don't believe in the validity of the
Bridegroom Coming of Christ, which is really a
partial redemption. To these I ask, how about
Christ's reference to "summer is near" in the
Parable of a Fig Tree (Matt. 24:32)? Was His
reference to "summer," in vain?
Is the Word of God inspired when it speaks of the
Body of Christ’s literal salvation in relationship to
the future of Israel? "The harvest is past, the
SUMMER IS ENDED, and we are not saved" (Jer.
8:20)?! Note: Second Coming Only Theology has no
place for the earlier Christian Summer Harvest. No,
"summer" doesn’t fit that doctrine. Neither is there
a place for "summer" within the pre-wrath and
preterist views, not to mention the pre-trib and
mid-trib views.
Just as important, how about, "Behold, I show you a
mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trump. . . . "? Well, "I hate to say this,"
but, it isn't the present Church who "shall not all
sleep"(die). Conversely, the mystery is that the
present Church will long be redeemed before the
Last Trump of the Last Day, or long before the
fabled at-once Rapture Passage of 1 Thessalonians
4:15-17. Note: The word "mystery" in the Greek
denotes that something will be ultimately and
divinely revealed.
Yes, the revealed mystery is that we presently
aren't supposed to die in the first place—that we
41
will be redeemed long before the last trumpet blast
(1 Cor. 15:52) of the Last Day (John 6:40). Simply,
the Church presently holds the Blessed Hope of
Christ actually returning for the Jewish Wedding
(John 14:1-3), not death. Indeed, we are bought
with a price (not to die!). Thus, many in the Body of
Christ need to stop teaching that we shall not all
sleep; that is, in the context of an anytime at-once
Rapture!
Indeed, at the Last Trump of the traditional Second
Coming, is when the dead rise first to unite with
their alive spirits returning with Christ. And here
lies a key also in aiding our understanding of the
supposed Rapture passage; that is, the passage
states: "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will
God bring with him" (1 Thess. 4:14). Now this can
only be the coming of the Lord with all His saints at
the traditional Second Coming (1 Thess 3:13),
because Christ can't come earlier with all His saints
if they're not in Heaven yet!
Categorically, it is all of those who are "alive and
remain" at the Second Advent who will be changed
in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last
trump (and shout), all of which symbolize a battle
blast. Distinctively, then, the "last trump" will be "a
great sound of a trumpet" (Matt. 24:31), being the
Trump of God upon Christ's glorious return with
Michael, and the entire host of Heaven (1 Thess.
3:13, 4:14; Rev. 19:11). And this, to deliver Israel
42
and the converted Tribulation saints from their
enemies (Gentiles converted deep into the
Tribulation).
Are we to forget the Great Crowd coming out of the
Great Tribulation (Rev. 7:9-17)? Are these not the
foolish of the Church? Or can some other greatly
numbered UNKNOWN Gentile group of people,
dressed in religious robes that need washing, go to
Heaven? Surely the wise of the Church are
instantaneously changed to be like Christ at
His initial appearing (1st John 3:2). What was that?
Then the wise must go to Heaven while the Lord
has to recall His memory of who they are? (Hardly!)
And, after being made like Christ at His initial
appearing, then they must wash their soiled
religious robes when coming out of the Great
Tribulation? (Hardly!)
If we were to believe the pre-wrath view (again,
3/4's into the Tribulation), should we just forget the
biblical command to watch in the earlier watches of
the coming Night? Or forget that Christ initially
returns in the normal and affluent days of Noah
and Lot (Matt. 24:38; Luke 17:26-28), which can
only be that time after the early Tribulation Night
begins; that is, when things are still somewhat
normal when the Tribulation Night first begins?
Furthermore, are we to forget that a Jewish (night-
time) Bridegroom Return of Christ more than exists
in the Scripture? Indeed, are we to forget that we
have drunk the cup? That we are espoused to
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Christ in marriage (1 Cor. 11:2)? That we are
bought with a price?
Are we to forget that the Church returns with Christ
to Heaven long before the Second Advent (Heb.
12:22-24)? More precisely, are we to forget that the
Church goes to Heaven to meet "the spirits of just
men made perfect" (Heb. 12:23)? Note: These
spirits don't come to us, we go to them!
When Jesus said, "I go away to prepare a place for
you," are we to ignore the fact that He was strictly
speaking in nonparabolic "Jewish bridegroom
language" (John 14:1-3)? In other words, are we to
forget that He was really speaking of a "like
manner" Bridegroom Return (Acts 1:10!)? A return
accompanied by two male witnesses? Just like a
Jewish wedding? And not a return with myriads of
angels marked by great glory, a shout and a
trumpet blast?
Does the traditional Second Advent, or even the at-
once Rapture, have doors that can be opened or
closed (James 5:9; Rev. 3:10, 20); that is, when the
Lord returns as a Jewish Bridegroom? In clearer
terms, does knocking occur at His Closed Door
Return (Luke 12:36)? Or at the Second Advent
when every eye shall see Him? Of course, again,
these questions are rhetorical: upon the Second
Coming there will be no doors, or even a need for
knocking!

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Don't all the saints ("even those who sleep in Jesus
God will bring with Him"), including the living,
return with the Lord at the Second Advent (1
These. 3:13, 4:14; Jude v. 14; Duet. 33:2; Zech.
14:5)? Return with Him from the Wedding Feast at
the Second Coming (Rev. 19:14)?
Strange enough, pre-wrath, which is really "Second
Coming Only Theology," negates how the living got
there. Furthermore, pre-wrath, just like the other
views, doesn't allow for the fact that the Church
goes to Heaven to meet an uncountable host of
angels and spirits of just men made perfect (Heb.
12:22-23), and this, long before the traditional
Second Coming, when Christ will bring all those
who sleep in Jesus (1 Thess. 3:13, 4:14).
Vice versa to that of pre-wrath, at the Second
Coming the entire host of Heaven's angels will
greet the remaining Elect here on Earth, as part of
the glorious Second Advent (Matt. 24:31; Zech.
14:5). Note: The very Elect are the saved Jews, and
the Tribulation converts at the Second Advent
(alive & remain), not the Church who is already
saved and with Christ at that time (Rev. 7:9-17, Ch.
19).
Does Philadelphia, like the wise, have an open door
in vain? Will Philadelphia escape the worldwide
hour of test (the Great Tribulation), in vain? In
retrospect, Philadelphia isn't the entirety of the
Church going up at an at-once Rapture.

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Will Christ STAND at Laodicea's closed door and
knock in vain? Concerning this door, isn't it
prophesied that Christ will sit by His Father until all
enemies become His footstool (Psa. 110:1; Acts
2:35; 1 Cor. 15:25; Heb. 1:13)? Then, Scripturally,
the judgment begins first with household of God
upon His standing?
After the Lord stands in judgment of the Church,
will He walk among the churches as our Saving
High Priest, in vain (Rev. 1:20, 2:1)? And all the
churches shall know that the judgment of our God
is in vain (Rev. 2:23)?
"Grudge not against one another brethren, Behold,
the Judge stands at the door," in vain? Ah, not to
worry, the Judge of the whole Earth can't shut
salvation's door (James 5:9)?! Of course, all of
these doors in the New Testament are allegoric; the
fact is that they don't physically exist.
Nevertheless, who can say that the effect of these
doors won't be real? In simpler words, who can say
that James' warning, when he spoke through the
Holy Spirit, was in vain?
And how about the warnings of our Lord? That He
will come quickly upon segments of the Church if
they don't repent (Rev. 2:5, 16; Mark 13:34)? Are
His warnings in vain? Have we, the Body of Christ,
superseded Him in teaching an at-once Rapture?
Or an at-once redemption whether it be the Second
Coming or ? And what about the faithful of
Thyatira? Will they also be cast into the Great
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Tribulation with the unfaithful of Thyatira (Rev.
2:22-25)? Or will they be redeemed upon Christ's
initial return, just as the Scripture teaches?
Moreover, didn't Matthew, Mark and Luke, in the
direct exegetical context of reaping eternal life, all
tell us that the first shall be last, and the last first
(Matt. 19:30; Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30)? In so many
words, didn't they all tell us that our Christly
servitude toward others (the faith works of
Scripture) matters? "Lest coming suddenly He find
you sleeping" (Mark 13:36)?
Now Jesus warned of the possibility of that Day
overtaking the Christian unawares, shouldn't we
believe His words? He said, "Take heed to
yourselves, lest at anytime your hearts be
overcharged with surfeiting (overindulgence), and
drunkenness (false beliefs), and the cares of this
life, so That Day come upon you unawares. For as a
snare shall it come upon all them that dwell on the
face of the whole Earth" (Luke 21:34-36).
The world doesn’t value divine counsel. So then,
the Day will overtake the world; that is a given.
Fittingly, Jesus' obvious concern solely addresses
Christians: Christians are to "take heed unto
yourselves" lest the Day catch them unawares.
Indeed, it is the Christian heart that is not to be
overtaken with overindulgence and false beliefs (1
Thess. 5:6-8; Rev. 18:3), not the hearts of the world
who already are deceived! Indeed, again, it is the

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Christian, not the unbeliever, who is to pray always
to escape all these things!
Peter affirms this prophecy view: "Wherefore,
beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be
DILIGENT that you may be found of Him in peace
(with others), without spot, and blameless" (2 Pet.
3:14).
Finally, may I say, "Watch therefore" (Rev. 16:15);
have this hope of our Lord's Bridegroom Coming in
That Night, the true (partial) Rapture (Only because
all Christians won't receive it and prepare for the
Lord's coming.). And, you who are already pure by
the Grace of God, purify yourselves (1 John 3:3), by
overcoming the flesh through "faith growth" in
Jesus Christ. You see, the seed of Christ found in
1st John 3:9, isn't to remain a seed in us, for that is
not the manifold Grace of God. Conversely, the
Lord is to grow within us all, until we all come unto
the fullness and stature of Christ!
"Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that
watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk
naked, and they see his shame" (Rev. 16:15).

God Bless!!!

Robert C. Harris, Founder of

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Midnight Ministries, Inc.
PO Box 843
Fernley, NV 89408

(775) 575-5556
Toll Free 877.541.3039

If you have comments, opinions, or criticisms;

and/or if you're stumped by a prophecy question,
we would love to hear from you. Also, if you have
prayer requests, by all means share them with us.

Comments or Criticism?

E-Mail: midntministries@aol.com

Opinion: One of the worst teachings of the at-once Rapture and

popularly held, is that the airplane will pilot-less, the car will be
driverless, and if unbelievers are destroyed in the process of Christ's
initial coming, so what. Now that isn't my God, who came to save
the world, not condemn it (John 3:17). Of course, anyone who
believes such a thing about the Rapture doesn't know the Lord
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Jesus. True, some of the wicked will be destroyed by the brightness
of His coming, but that is the traditional Second Coming wherein His
presence and intentions will be deliberate. Moreover, judgment
begins with the House of God, not the world.
Here are twenty-eight of fifty-six Thought Questions found in Midnight's Cry.

The Preponderance of the Evidence for Christ’s

Bridegroom Return
(Thought Questions)
1. Why does Laodicea have a closed door as do the foolish? Is this just
a coincidence?
2. Why do the wise have an open door as does Philadelphia? Is this
also just coincidence?
3. Why is salvation near when the "fig tree" (Israel) shoots forth her
green figs, and not ripened fruit (Matt. 24:33)? Could it be that there is an
earlier summer harvest for the Church? Or did Jesus mistakenly mention
"summer"?
4. "Two shall be grinding at the mill, the one shall be taken, and the
other left. . . ." If the good saints are the ones left behind, are they working
for a living right before the Second Advent at the end of the Tribulation?
Will good saints receive the mark of the Beast?
5. Does the At-Once Rapture Teaching parallel the events of a Jewish
wedding? How about the traditional Second Coming of Christ; does that
coming parallel the events of a Jewish wedding?
6. Are the days of Noah, wherein Christ initially returns, symbolic of
the days of worldwide impoverishment deep into the Great Tribulation?
Symbolic of the strife and death of that era? Or are they typical of
today’s prosperity which will briefly remain the same at the beginning
of the Tribulation when the Day overtakes the world unawares? Who will
prosper deep into the Tribulation once the Day of the Lord begins? Who
will abide in prosperity upon the manifested wrath of That Day (Joel
2:11)?
7. If she remains faithful, the Lord will keep Philadelphia "from"
[Greek: out of ] the hour of test that comes upon the whole world. Is
Philadelphia the only group who will have a chance to escape through an
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open door? Can’t some in Ephesus repent? Pergamos? Sardis? Thyatira?
Laodicea? Or, are these messages in vain?
8. "Alive and remain" (2 Thess. 4:14-17)? Do these words fit the
normalcy of everyday life of a pre-trib Rapture?
9. In deciphering who the virgins are of the parable, isn’t midnight’s
cry of the Second Watch long before the latter end of the fourth watch of
the Second Coming?
10. Why is there a return of the Lord from the Wedding Feast, if
it isn’t so (Luke 12:36)?
11. Who are the great crowd of Gentiles in Revelation 7:9, of whom
the Elder didn’t know; that is, if they’re not the foolish of the Church
coming out of the Great Tribulation?
12. Why did Jesus warn the Church to watch if it’s not necessary?
Could it be that there is a Great Tribulation to escape long before the
dawning of That Day (Luke 21:36; 2 Pet. 1:19)?
13. Does the whole Church endure part of the Great Tribulation as
punishment (Matt. 24:51, 25:1-13; 1 Thess. 5:6; Rev. 2:5, 2:16, 2:22,
3:3, 3:10, 3:20, 7:9-17)? Or just parts of Thyatira? Parts of Sardis? Parts of
Ephesus? Parts of Laodicea? Parts of Pergamos?
14. No need to watch? No night? No doors? No Jewish Wedding?
No Bridegroom Return? No first fruits? No Like Manner Return?
No Summer Harvest? No early and latter rains? No “thief like” coming?
Is it all just to be cast aside? Is it all just allegoric and meaningless?
15. If Christ is to return only upon the traditional Second Coming,
why then does our Lord charge us to watch in the Tribulation Night long
before the dawn of That Day (Mark 13:35)?
16. If the cry at midnight (the allegorical hour of the Lord’s Day
beginning) doesn’t match , pre-trib, mid-trib or post-trib, isn’t it
time to find out exactly what it does match?
17. Why is there mention of a calling to the Wedding Feast AFTER
the Bride has made herself ready (Rev. 19:7-9)? Could it be that the
remainder of the Church (foolish) are also to attend?
18. The Thessalonians thought they were left behind (2 Thess. 2:1-3).
In consoling them, Paul assured the Thessalonians that That Day had not
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come; that the Lord had not come–until the Day of Christ appears first by
a falling away, coupled with the man of sin being revealed. Indeed, this is
The Day of Our Redemption that Christians are to hasten. So, is it wise to
believe that no Christian will suffer the consequences of being deceived by
today’s pre-trib at-once anytime Rapture of the entire Church? That Paul’s
warning is in vain? “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day
SHALL NOT COME” (2 Thess. 2:1-3)? Note: All Christians are to take
heed and not be deceived, so that they may intentionally prepare to meet
their Lord in That Day.
19. Why did Jesus say that salvation is “at the doors” (Matt. 24:33)?
Will the Judge of the Church stand before James’s parabolic door in vain
(James 5:9)? If He so desires, can the Lord close the parabolic Wedding
Door of our literal redemption?
20. Why are the words “and the bride” found in many good manuscripts
(Matt. 25:1)?
21. Will Jesus initially return in “like manner”? As He left? With
two male witnesses? Like a Jewish Bridegroom (Acts 1:10)? With only
Christians active in their faith present?
22. When Christ ascended, Did He shout? Was there an overpowering
accompanying voice of the archangel? A mighty trumpet of God? Is the
at-once Rapture of the entire Church, as it is now understood, a Like
Manner Return?
23. Should “the goodman of the house” have watched (Matt. 24:43)?
Should he have overtly emphasized faith that works by love? Should he
have abandoned his trib positions? Should he have kept his house, or better
yet, his congregation from being broken up, so that his congregation could
avoid a thief like coming?
24. Doesn’t the Church go to heavenly Jerusalem to meet the angels,
rather than wait for them here at the Second Coming (Matt. 24:30-31)?
In other words, doesn’t the Church come unto “the spirits of just men
made perfect” (and to an “innumerable company of angels”), long before
the Resurrection of the Just at the Second Coming?
25. Is half the Church lost? Are the foolish of the Church lost upon
the traditional Second Coming? Or upon an automatic at-once pre-trib
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Rapture? Or a mid-trib Rapture? Or a Rapture? “He that loveth
not knoweth not God, for God is love” (1 John 4:8)?
26. In the Great Tribulation, why does an angel preach the “everlasting
gospel” (Rev. 14:6)? Where is the Church? Second Coming Only
Theology?14
27. In Luke 12:36, why must Christians open their door “immediately”?
Does Luke’s supposedly parabolic passage suggest a literal time of despair?
A literal
warning with real consequences?
28. “Behold I show you a mystery; we shall all not sleep . . .”? We
shall not all die? Is this the mystery revealed? Is death the fate of today’s
present pre-Tribulation Church? Or do we hold the Blessed Hope of
Christ returning to redeem us?
As many times as you refresh the page, a new Scripture will appear.
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