Midnight's Cry

The night, or the possibility of Christ returning, begins when the night of the seven year Tribulation begins. To deny this, is to deny the earlier watches of the night (Mark 13:33 37), and the night itself—the Day of the Lord. In this vein, the Day of the Lord is pictured as nighttime (1 Thess. 5:2), that is, before it dawns (2 Pet. 1:19).

If the chapter division between 1 Thessalonians 4 & 5 is taken out, which doesn=t exist in the original manuscripts, we find that it is not a pre night Rapture that we are to be ready for, but a coming of the Lord as a thief in the night, wherein we are commanded to watch (1 Thess. 5:6 8) and keep our garments (Rev. 16:15). Ironically, the seven year Tribulation and the Day of the Lord both begin with birth pangs (Matt. 24:8; 1 Thess. 5:3)—they are one in the same!

Now Christians are told to earnestly expect the Day of the Lord in 2 Pet. 3:12 (The word—hasting—is really to earnestly expect in the Greek.). In suit, since Christians are still here once the Day begins the night (Christ also comes as a thief in the night: in Rev. 16:15), we are told to provoke one another to love and good works, even more so as we see the Day approaching (Heb. 10:24 25). Moreover, it is impossible for the literal salvation to take place before the Day of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 5:5; Philip. 1:6, 10; 2 Thess. 2:2 3), being before the Day of our Redemption (Eph. 4:30).

The pre trib Rapture teaches that Christ=s initial coming will happen before the Day of the Lord; before the night (imminently), but conversely, the Word tells us, "Let no man deceive you by any means, for that Day shall not come (speaking of the Day of Christ) until there is a falling away and the man of sin is revealed. The point is, That Day will begin the beginning of the Tribulation; and again, both the Day of the Lord and the Tribulation begin the night, just as we find in Scripture (1 Thess. 5:1-3).

Thus the Trump of God in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 is not an anytime trump before the night, but the Last Trump of the Last Day (John 6:40), being the traditional Second Coming. Even the idea of the Lord returning with a shout, and the Trump of God, and the voice of Michael the Archangel clearly also testify of this, and these represent a battle cry. The irony is, that there is no battle at Christ's initial appearance (1 John 3:2), wherein again, we are COMMANDED to watch (1 Thess. 5:6 8) for His appearing and keep our garments (Rev. 16:15).

The Day of the Lord, wherein Christ initially returns, again, has the attributes of nighttime (Luke 17:34; Mark 13:35; 1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10 14; Rev. 2:1, 16:15), that is, before it dawns (2 Pet. 1:19). Thus Christ is the Bright and Morning Star, the sign of the Son of man at the traditional Second Coming—or the first light after the NIGHT—the dawning of the That Day (2 Pet. 1:19) when the God man returns at the Second Coming with all of His saints (1 Thess. 3:13, 4:14; Jude 14).

Indeed, it is That Day, that is, its prior night segment that we are to look for (Heb. 10:24 25), that will come upon the world and much of the Church as a thief in the night (Luke 21:36; 1 Thess. 5:3). Indeed, it is That Day, as Peter Greek-wise tells us, to earnestly expect (1 Pet. 3:12). Indeed, it is That Day when literal redemption will take place (1 Cor. 5:5). Indeed, it is the Day of Christ (2 Thess. 2 3), being the Day of Jesus Christ (Philip. 1:6, 10)BBbeing the Day of our Redemption (Eph. 4:30)!

Speaking of the Day of the Lord, it begins when there is a Great Apostasy, and that the Man of sin is revealed to the Body of Christ (2 Thess. 2:2 3), that is, when the Antichrist confirms (Hebrew: insolently prevails) the Old Covenant and/or the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple in a peace movement (Such will cause great distress amongst the nations who will call for peace and safety 1 Thess. 5:1 3.).

Moreover, Paul tells the Thessalonians that he wishes their whole bodies, souls and spirits to be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord with all His saints (1 Thess. 3:13; Jude 14). No, the Trump of God won=t happen long before the Last Trump (pre trib). Simply, the Trump of God is the Last Trump. No, the first Resurrection won=t happen long before the Resurrection of the Last Day. Simply, the first Resurrection will be the Last Day (John 6:40). Suitably, the Lord returns with all those who sleep in Jesus, and all the saints at the traditional Second Coming, and again, this is the Resurrection of the Last Day, not a pre trib Rapture or a special resurrection of an anytime trump!

Not to change the subject, but all Christians don't live and walk after the Spirit; many of the saved walk after the flesh. When it comes to being literally redeemed, the Lord will require an active faith in overcoming the flesh; there is nothing automatic about it (The exception being new born babes in Christ.). This doesn't mean perfection, but in process; faith works by the use of agape love, no other way (Gal. 5:5 6, 14), and faith grows by servitude of others (Luke 17:5 10). Biblically, to watch in that night, is this process (1 Thess. 5:6-8).

Thus, in all of this, the Night trib position is both biblical and correct. This position teaches to biblically watch in the coming night, as does the New Testament.

Paul wrote of those expecting Christ=s initial return:

Titus 2:11 3:1

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, ZEALOUS OF GOOD WORKS.

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Robert Harris was born in Denver, Colorado, to Irish and Italian parents; he grew up in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, Colorado. For most of his adult life he was in the Food & Beverage industry in Nevada as a bartender and waiter. His first book, "Lord's Day Cry," is now "Midnight's Cry." The title and cover was changed to show a new day is coming at spiritual midnight, namely the Day of the Lord (What else could cause great excitement in all of today's denominations?). He presently is largely unknown as is his slant on the end-times, but knows that will soon change.

Robert Harris is the President and Founder of MidnightMinistries.com, an Internet Ministry. Robert still hails from Nevada, and considers himself a lay person, or just an everyday Christian. Being self-taught, Robert took 24 years in writing Midnight's Cry. It is no mystery that Robert enjoys doctrine and theology, and it outwardly shows in his work.

Presently, Robert is a business man, owning his own business, a Paralegal Firm.