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Posttrib related questions
Question:
1. Does Midwrath teach two Second Comings like Pretrib?
Answer:
Some Posttribbers claim that Midwrath teaches two Second Comings like Pretrib.
One Second Coming at the sixth seal and a second Coming at Revelation 19.
Pretrib indeed teaches two Second Comings, but this is not the case with Midwrath.
To do this, we will first look at what the Bible says about the Second Coming according to the Midwrath view.
According to Midwrath, the Second Coming takes place at the solar eclipse of the sixth seal in the Book of Revelation:
Revelation 6:12: And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Revelation 6:13: And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
Revelation 6:14: And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
For the correct picture of the above Bible texts, one must have a correct Biblical picture of heaven.
For this we have to go to the Bible book of Genesis about the creation of heaven and earth.
About the second day of creation we read the following in the Bible book of Genesis:
Genesis 1:6: And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
Genesis 1:7: And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
Genesis 1:8: And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
The firmament is the heaven according to verse 8 and above the firmament/heaven is water according to verse 7.
To find out what exactly that firmament/heaven is, we must study the Old Testament.
Let's start with the Bible book of Job:
Job 37:18: Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
According to Job, the firmament/heaven is stretched out which is strong, and as a molten looking glass.
So the firmament/heaven was stretched out during creation and stood strong as a molten looking glass during the time of Job.
What does King David say about the firmament/heaven in his Psalms:
Psalms 19:1: The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Psalms 148:3: Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
Psalms 148:4: Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
Psalms 150:1: Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
King David says that the firmament/heaven sheweth his handywork (verse 2) and that in David's time (about 2000 years after creation) there is still water above the firmament/heaven.
And the prophet Isaiah what does he say about the firmament/heaven:
Isaiah 40:22: It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
Isaiah 44:24: Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Isaiah 45:12: I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
According to the prophet Isaiah, God stretched out the firmament/heaven like a tent during creation.
And the prophet Daniel again says the following about the firmament/heaven:
Daniël 12:3: And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
The prophet Daniel says that the firmament/heaven shines. And the prophet Amos what does he say:
Amos 9:6: It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.
The prophet Amos says that God's firmament/heaven is founded on the earth. Finally, what does the prophet Ezekiel say about the firmament/heaven:
Ezekiel 1:22: And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.
The prophet Ezekiel says that God's firmament/heaven was as the colour of the terrible crystal.
So we come to the conclusion that the firmament/heaven according to the Old Testament is like a molten glass (Job), with water still above it (David),
like a tent (Isaiah), shining (Daniel), founded on the earth (Amos) and something like the colour of the terrible crystal (Ezekiel).
According to these Bible heroes, the Old Testament view of heaven is a kind of glass dome founded on the earth.
So the Old Testament image of the Prophets is a flat earth with a glass dome over it.
With this image in mind, the prophet John writes the Bible book of Revelation because he writes the following when he is taken up into heaven:
Revelation 4:6: And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
The prophet John sees a sea of glass like crystal in heaven before the throne of God, or the firmament seen from above the firmament.
Now that we have a correct picture of the firmament/heaven according to the Old Testament, let's look at the fourth day of God's creation of heaven and earth:
Genesis 1:14: And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
Genesis 1:15: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
Genesis 1:16: And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
Genesis 1:17: And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
Genesis 1:18: And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:19: And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
Above we read the creation of the lights on the fourth day.
According to verse 17, God placed them in the dome of heaven to give light on the earth.
So according to the Bible, the sun, moon and stars are all lights and not huge planets billions of miles away.
Only now can we fully understand the Second Coming of Yeshua according to Revelation 6:
Revelation 6:12: And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Revelation 6:13: And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
Revelation 6:14: And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
During the Second Coming of Yeshua, the sun turns black (verse 12) and the stars (lights) fall to the earth (verse 13).
Then the firmament/heaven (dome) is rolled up like a scroll (verse 14).
When the dome has been removed we read the following in the Book of Revelation:
Revelation 6:15: And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
Revelation 6:16: And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Revelation 6:17: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
After the firmament/heaven has been rolled up, the unbelievers get a look into heaven and great fear comes over them.
We can also read this in the Bible book of the apostle Luke:
Luke 21:25: 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;
Luke 21:26: Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
The apostle Luke goes on to describe the Second Coming of Yeshua:
Luke 21:27: And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luke 21:28: And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
After the Jews are sealed, Yeshua begins his 2nd Exodus accompanied by the trumpets of the Bible book of Revelation.
At the seventh and final trumpet, believers are taken up with Yeshua into the Father's House according to the Bible Book of John:
John 14:1: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
John 14:2: 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.
John 14:3: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
After the 2nd Exodus, the Jews are in their promised Land of Israel and Yeshua becomes King at the blowing of the 7th trumpet.
The Jews then live undisturbed in their promised land under the protection of Yahweh while the bowls (Yahweh's wrath) of the biblical book of Revelation are being poured out.
The Antichrist is expelled from Israel by Yeshua at that time.
With the pouring out of the bowls (Yahweh's Wrath), the Antichrist and the people of the earth suffer more and more.
At the sixth bowl of the Bible book of Revelation, the Antichrist and the false prophet gather the kings of the earth for the battle of Armageddon:
Revelation 16:13: And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon (Satan), and out of the mouth of the beast (Antichrist), and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
Revelation 16:14: For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Revelation 16:16: And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
We also read the battle of Armageddon in Revelation chapter 17:
Revelation 17:14: These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful (Christians).
In this last verse we read that Yeshua will defeat the Antichrist and his cronies together with the Christians.
The Christians may therefore share in the final victory over their common enemies.
After this detailed introduction, we can now answer the question of whether Midwrath teaches two Second Comings.
For this we use the Bible texts of Revelation 19:
Revelation 19:11: And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Revelation 19:12: His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Revelation 19:13: And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Revelation 19:14: And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Revelation 19:15: And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Revelation 19:16: And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 19:17: And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
In verse 11 we read that heaven has been opened and that is correct because the vault/heaven (dome) has been rolled up from the sixth seal.
For the Christians to become partakers of the final victory, Yeshua comes with the believers from the Father's house. His outer garment is dipped in blood (verse 13).
This is the blood of His enemies during the 2nd Exodus. We can read this in the Bible book of the prophet Isaiah chapter 63:
Isaiah 63:2: Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?
Isaiah 63:3: I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
Isaiah 63:4: For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
Isaiah 63:5: And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.
Isaiah 63:6: And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.
The prophet Isaiah prophesies that Yeshua single-handedly defeated the unbelievers during the 2nd Exodus.
But before Armageddon, Jesus Christ brings in His armies in heaven (Christians and Angels) to share His victory.
So Revelation 19 is not the Second Coming at all.
As we can read, according to verse 17 there is one angel close to the sun.
So in Revelation 19 we can see the sun again while this was impossible at the sixth seal.
During the solar eclipse the sun became black as sackcloth of hair.
And just as we cannot see the new moon at night, it is also impossible for us to see the sun after it is completely black.
Revelation 19 is therefore a picture of Yeshua followed by the armies clothed in fine linen, white and clean (Christians) to defeat the Antichrist.
We read this in the remainder of the Bible book of Revelation;
Revelation 19:19: And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Revelation 19:20: And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
So we come to the conclusion that Midwrath only teaches one Second Coming, namely the sixth seal of the Book of Revelation.
The argument of two Second Comings is only a problem for Pretrib not Midwrath.
And both Pretrib and Posttrib will have to come up with a better explanation for the sixth seal, the seventh trumpet, the father's house and Revelation 19.
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