Seeing the need for the Body of Christ to provoke one another with love and good works, as we see the Day approaching (Heb. 10:24-25), I wrote Midnight’s Cry. Sadly, the ideas of seeing the Day approaching, or even hastening (Greek: earnestly expecting) the Day of God (2 Pet. 3:12), aren't widely accepted in the Body of Christ. In fact, presently, the Body of Christ largely believes in the at-once anytime pre-trib Rapture, meaning, if a Christian is saved––no matter how they're living, they'll be redeemed. In sync, that there is no need to watch; that there is no need to prepare for the Day of the Lord. Concerning Christ's initial coming, nothing, but nothing, could be farther from the truth!

Actually, the seven year Tribulation and the Day of the Lord both begin with birth pangs. We find this in the “beginning of sorrows” (Matt. 24:8), which means in the Greek, the beginning of birth pangs. Of course, the Scripture is concerning the Day of the Lord birth pangs, is very clear (1st Thess. 5: 1-3).

Some are even grossly confusing the issue by claiming two days of reckoning. What easily refutes that view, however, is the fact that the Day of Christ (Luke 21:34-36) and Christ’s initial coming (Rev. 3:3), just like the Day of the Lord, will come upon the world unawares just as would a thief (Amos 5:18-19;1 Thess. 5:4). Now the snare of That Day can’t occur as a surprise twice. Simply, that won’t happen. Therefore, it remains that the Day of Christ (1 Cor.1:8, 5:5, 2 Cor. 1:14; Phil. 1:6, 10, 2:16) is the Day of the Lord (2 Thess.2:3; Rev. 1:10). Or the only Day that we are to look for (Heb. 10:25), coupled with the only day we are to hasten (2 Pet. 3:12), which again, in the Greek means to “earnestly expect.” Indeed, we are to earnestly expect the Day of Christ, for it is the Day of our Redemption (Eph. 4:30)!

Surprisingly, many are even teaching that the Rapture will occur before the Day of the Lord (pre-trib). Consider, then, the words of Paul: And now you know what withholdeth (Greek: hinders) that he might be revealed in his time.̈ (2 Thess.2:6). In other words, he who is to be “taken out of the waÿ (2 Thess. 2:6-7), will be taken so that the Antichrist can be revealed. In stark contrast, the Church must abide until the Antichrist becomes revealed so that the Day of the Lord can begin. Seeing that, the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, can’t return for the Church before the Day of Christ begins, which again, is the Day of our Redemption: “let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed.” Therefore, neither the Church nor the Holy Spirit fit Paul’s description of he “who is to be taken out of the way.̈ (He who will be taken out of the way is fully illustrated in Midnight’s Cry.)

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...." Many say this apostasy is the departure or the Rapture of the Church. However, the surrounding context remains to be apostasy or turning from the truth, 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 (Son of Perdition) is revealed to the Church (Let no man deceive you by any means!).

Paul wrote, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6). According to Paul, Christ will perform a good work in us til the Day of Jesus Christ. Until then, no man is to know the hour, but is to live in expectancy of the hour within That Day, and this, without offence toward others. Thus, we are to “approve things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offence till the day of Chrisẗ (Phil. 1:10). Until when? Until the Day of Christ. Again, “Let no man deceive you by any means.̈

Pretribulationism? Paul tells us that the spirit of the fornicator will be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus (1 Cor. 5:5). When? In the Day of the Lord Jesus, which is not before the Day of the Lord Jesus in a pre-trib anytime Rapture: “Let no man deceive you by any means”!

In conclusion, it isn’t just sad that the far majority of Christians don’t know how to look or recognize the Day of Christ, it’s appalling! No wonder That Day will come upon many in the Church unawares, not just as it will do to the world (Luke 21:34-36).Surely if the Body of Christ is to grow to the stature of Christ, we will eagerly learn these things. Midnight’s Cry is book which can enable Christians to do just that! So don’t just buy it––recommend it. For whosoever watches and teaches others to watch (putting on faith that works by agape love), their reward will be unequaled. “Be you also ready: for in such an hour you think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler overall his goods (Matt. 24:44-47).