Newly Released!

Released September 7th, 2007

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 Church can go to Heaven. By the way, because Luke 12:36 doesn't match what they know or think, Bible 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. 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 there, 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 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 of Christ. 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 Christ with all of His saints (Thess. 3:13) at the setting up of His literal kingdom (Matt. 16:27), including those who sleep in Jesus (1 Thess. 4:14). This, as we will shortly see, is more than established in the Scripture.

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 Bible 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, 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 Bible 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 Bible 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 Bible 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 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 Bible 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 Bible 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) 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 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), being the first light after the seven year night at the Second Coming, Jesus initially returns early in That Night as a Jewish Bridegroom; that is, for those Christians who are active in their faith. This return is what the New Testament calls His Like Manner Return, or a return that was after the 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, Scripture 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)!

Much later, upon the consummation of this age at the 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 traditional Second Coming every eye shall see our Lord 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!

"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you."

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.

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, 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 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 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 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 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 . . . 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 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!). 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 Christians, 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 left—again, the judgment of Christ beginning with the Church, not 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!

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 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 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 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. 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 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, who alone owns the Blessed Hope of Him coming (Rev. 19:9)! 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).

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." 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 beginning, which fully lifts by mid-trib.

Of course, some don't believe in the validity of the Bridegroom Coming of Christ, which is really an early Tribulation-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 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 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 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!

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.

Will Christ STAND at Laodicea's closed door 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 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 Christian, not the unbeliever, who is to pray always to escape all these things!

Peter affirms this 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.). 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!!!

Comments or Criticism?

E-Mail:  midntministries@aol.com

(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

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)?

Theology?14