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Bob Mitchell of the Last Days Watchman channel makes two notable errors regarding Bible prophecies, particularly when referencing the Hebrew Bible and the Jewish Torah. Specifically, he asserts that Christ will return through the temple gates and claims there will be an additional event he calls the Rapture of the Church. I find both of these claims to be incorrect.

In eschatological circles, the interpretations shared by Bob Mitchell of the Last Days Watchman channel often reflect a specific framework known as Dispensational Premillennialism although he claims to be post tribulation. While this view is popular in modern evangelical media, it is frequently criticized by theologians for its reliance on "splitting" biblical events that the text arguably presents as unified.

The following essay clarifies the biblical and theological counter-arguments to the claims regarding the Temple gates and the "two returns" of Christ.

I. The Mystery of the Eastern Gate

Mitchell’s claim that Christ will return specifically through the physical "Temple gates" is often a reference to the Golden Gate (or Eastern Gate) of Jerusalem. This idea stems from a literal interpretation of Ezekiel 44:1–3:

"Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces east; and it was shut.1 And the Lord said to me, 'This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened... for the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered by it.'"2

The Theological Conflict:

• The "Already" Fulfillment: Many biblical scholars argue that this prophecy was already fulfilled during Christ’s Triumphal Entry (Palm Sunday). When Jesus rode into Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives (the East) and entered the Temple courts, He entered as the "Lord of Glory."

• The Permanent Seal: Ezekiel 44 explicitly states the gate must remain shut because the Lord has entered it.3 If Christ were to enter it again at the Second Coming, it would contradict the instruction that "no man shall enter by it" after the Lord's initial entrance.

• The Nature of the Temple: There is significant debate over whether the "Temple" in Ezekiel is a physical building yet to be built or a symbolic representation of God’s presence. Critics of Mitchell's view point out that in the New Testament, the "Temple" is redefined as the Body of Christ or the Church (1 Corinthians 3:16), making a literal physical gate unnecessary for a divine return.

II. One Return or Two? The Rapture Debate

The claim that Christ returns twice—once secretly for the "Rapture" and later publicly for the "Second Coming"—is the cornerstone of Pretribulationalism. However, a rigorous study of the Greek text and historical theology suggests these are not two separate events, but two aspects of the same single occurrence.

1. The Linguistic Unity of the Return

In the New Testament, three primary Greek words are used to describe Christ’s return:

• Parousia: Presence or arrival.

• Apokalupsis: Unveiling or revelation.

• Epiphaneia: Appearing or manifestation.

Mitchell and others attempt to assign Parousia to a secret rapture and Apokalupsis to a public return. However, the Bible uses these terms interchangeably. For example, in 1 Corinthians 1:7, believers are told to wait for the Apokalupsis (unveiling), yet this is the very thing Mitchell claims they are "raptured" to avoid.

2. The "Last Trumpet" Problem

A major point of contention is the timing of the trumpet.

• The Rapture: Paul says the "catching away" happens at the "last trumpet" (1 Corinthians 15:52).

• The Second Coming: Jesus says He gathers His elect "after the tribulation" at the sound of a "great trumpet" (Matthew 24:29-31).4

Logic dictates there cannot be a "last" trumpet followed by another "great" trumpet seven years later. If the trumpet in 1 Corinthians is truly the last, then the gathering of the Church and the return of Christ must happen simultaneously.

3. The "Meeting in the Air" Custom

The imagery of meeting Christ in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:17) uses the Greek word apantesis. In the ancient world, this specifically described a custom where citizens would leave their city to meet a visiting king and immediately escort him back into the city. It does not imply the King takes the citizens away to his home for seven years; rather, it describes a grand welcoming committee for a King arriving to take up his throne on Earth.

Summary of Differences

Feature	Mitchell's View (Pre-Trib)	Traditional/Historical View
Returns	Two stages (Rapture then Second Coming)	One unified, glorious appearing
Eastern Gate	Christ enters through a physical gate	Christ's entry was fulfilled or is spiritual
The Church	Removed before the Tribulation	Preserved through the Tribulation
Visibility	The Rapture is secret/invisible	"Every eye shall see Him" (Rev 1:7)

Conclusion

By separating the Rapture from the Second Coming, teachers like Bob Mitchell create a "two-return" theology that is not explicitly found in the text. Furthermore, by focusing on physical gates and earthly structures, they risk missing the broader New Testament emphasis on Christ's spiritual reign and His final, singular, and visible victory over all creation.

Blessings