The Three Comings of Messiah: Planner, Bridegroom, and Fire on the Eighth Day
- Charles
- Aug 25
- 8 min read
Introduction
The testimony of Scripture reveals Messiah in three Covenant appearings. The First Coming fulfilled the Father’s plan of redemption, inaugurating the New Covenant in Blood. The Second Coming, at the last trumpet after the tribulation, gathers the Bride and celebrates the Marriage Feast. The Third Coming, on the Eighth Day after the Wedding Supper, is the Great and Terrible Day of YHWH, the fiery appearing of Messiah with the armies of heaven to overthrow the beast, judge the nations, and usher in the Millennial Reign.
These three comings correspond to the Covenant phases:
Oath and Blood (First Coming, Planner)
Table (Second Coming, Bridegroom)
Presence (Third Coming, Fire on the Eighth Day)
This study will trace each Coming carefully, aligning them with the Covenant arc and the Moedim (appointed times) to understand the prophetic timeline of Messiah’s appearings.
Part One: The First Coming — The Planner of Salvation
The Covenant Plan Revealed
Messiah’s First Coming is the unveiling of the Father’s eternal plan. He is sent not on His own mission but as the embodiment of the divine blueprint.
“I came down from heaven, not to do My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.” (John 6:38)
“The Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.” (1 John 4:14)
Every action of Yeshua’s ministry is a fulfillment of the Planner’s design. The genealogies, the miracles, the feasts He observed, all testify to a Covenant scheme unfolding according to divine timing.
The Covenant Sealed in Blood
The First Coming climaxes at the Cross, where the New Covenant is sealed by Blood. At the Last Supper, He declares: “This Cup is the New Covenant in My Blood” (Luke 22:20). When He dies, He cries: “It is finished” (John 19:30).
This is the Oath and the Blood phase. The Covenant is inaugurated and ratified, but not yet consummated. The Planner’s task is complete, but the Bride is not yet gathered.
The Hidden Glory of the First Coming
The First Coming is marked by humility and veiling:
Born in weakness.
Ministering as a servant.
Rejected and crucified.
The Planner’s role is not to reveal glory in fullness but to lay the foundation. Redemption is accomplished, the Covenant is sealed, but the Bridegroom has yet to appear for His Bride.
Part Two: The Second Coming — The Bridegroom and the Wedding Feast
After the Tribulation
Messiah Himself makes the timing plain:
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days… they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a great trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds.” (Matthew 24:29–31)
The Second Coming is not before tribulation, nor is it secret. It is visible, audible, cosmic, and climactic.
The Last Trumpet
Paul declares:
“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:52)
“The Lord Himself will descend with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. The dead in Messiah will rise first. Then we who are alive… will be caught up together with them.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17)
This is the same event John sees as the seventh trumpet: “The time has come for rewarding the saints” (Revelation 11:18).
The Gathering of the Bride
At this trumpet:
The faithful dead before the Cross.
The faithful dead after the Cross.
The living saints at His coming.All are gathered together by the angels. John beholds them on the sea of glass, singing the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb (Revelation 15:2–3).
The Wedding Feast of the Lamb
The Bridegroom’s return inaugurates the Marriage Supper:
“The marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready… Blessed are those invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” (Revelation 19:7–9)
The Bride, clothed in fine linen, celebrates Covenant union. This is the Table phase of the Covenants of Promise.
Seven Days of the Feast
Just as weddings in Israel lasted seven days, and just as the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) extends seven days, the Marriage Supper reflects a week-long Covenant celebration. The saints, raised and gathered, rejoice in the Presence of the Bridegroom.
Part Three: The Third Coming — Fire on the Eighth Day
The Eighth Day in Covenant Pattern
The Torah prescribes an “eighth day assembly” (Shemini Atzeret) following the seven days of Sukkot (Leviticus 23:36). This day is distinct, representing the culmination beyond the cycle of sevens. It is often called the “Last Great Day” (John 7:37).
In prophetic fulfillment, the seven days of the wedding feast climax in the Eighth Day appearing of Messiah in Holy Fire, the Great and Terrible Day of YHWH.
Armies Gathered
During the sixth bowl, the Euphrates is dried, and the nations are gathered by demonic deception to Armageddon (Revelation 16:12–16). The seventh bowl concludes with cosmic shaking and the destruction of Babylon (Revelation 16:17–21). The stage is set for the Day.
The Day of YHWH Announced
The prophets repeatedly describe this as a day of fire, judgment, and terror:
“The day of YHWH comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it.” (Isaiah 13:9)
“The great and terrible day of YHWH.” (Joel 2:31; Malachi 4:5)
This is not the trumpet gathering of the Bride. This is the fiery judgment of the nations after the Wedding Feast is complete.
The Feast of Leviathan
Isaiah describes this day as a banquet of judgment:
“YHWH of hosts will make for all peoples a feast… and He will swallow up the covering that is cast over all peoples… He will swallow up death forever.” (Isaiah 25:6–8)
“In that day YHWH with His hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent.” (Isaiah 27:1)
Jewish tradition names this the “Feast of Leviathan”, the day when YHWH slays the dragon of chaos and vindicates His people.
The Fiery Appearing of Messiah
John sees it clearly:
“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war… His eyes are like a flame of fire… From His mouth comes a sharp sword… And the armies of heaven, clothed in fine linen, were following Him.” (Revelation 19:11–14)
This is Messiah appearing with His Bride after the seven-day wedding feast. It is the Eighth Day appearing, the Ruach in Fire, consuming rebellion and establishing the Kingdom.
The Defeat of the Beast and Nations
The beast, the false prophet, and the gathered armies are destroyed. The beast and false prophet are cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20). The adversary is bound for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1–3).
This is the Consummation of the Day of YHWH: wrath on the nations, vindication for the Bride, and preparation for the Millennial Reign.
Part Four: Covenant Triunity of the Comings
First Coming — Planner
Covenant Phase: Oath and Blood.
Role: To seal the New Covenant.
Image: The Lamb slain.
Second Coming — Bridegroom
Covenant Phase: Table.
Role: To gather the Bride and celebrate the Wedding Feast.
Image: The Bridegroom rejoicing with His Bride.
Third Coming — Fire on the Eighth Day
Covenant Phase: Presence.
Role: To appear in fire, judge the nations, overthrow Leviathan, and establish the Reign.
Image: The Rider on the White Horse, King of kings.
Part Five: Theological Implications
One Covenant Story
The three comings are not three Messiahs, but three Covenant phases of the One Messiah: Planner, Bridegroom, Fire. They mirror the Covenant arc of Oath, Blood, Table, Presence.
The Bride’s Calling
In the First Coming, the Bride is purchased.
At the Second Coming, the Bride is gathered and united.
At the Third Coming, the Bride rides with Messiah in victory.
The Day of YHWH
The Third Coming must not be confused with the last trumpet resurrection. It is a separate appearing, after the seven-day Wedding Feast, on the Eighth Day, the Last Great Day. It is the fiery day of judgment and vindication, the Feast of Leviathan, when Messiah consumes His enemies and establishes His Throne.
Conclusion
The revelation of Messiah is threefold:
The First Coming — the Planner, sealing the Covenant in Blood.
The Second Coming — the Bridegroom, gathering His Bride at the last trumpet, after the tribulation, and celebrating the Wedding Feast.
The Third Coming — on the Eighth Day after the feast, the Day of YHWH, the Great and Terrible Day, the fiery appearing when Messiah rides forth with His saints to judge the nations and inaugurate the Millennial Reign.
This is the fullness of Covenant hope. The Bride does not fear the tribulation, for her reward is secure. She does not dread the bowls, for she is not appointed to wrath. She awaits the trumpet, the feast, and the fire, the Planner’s design, the Bridegroom’s love, and the Ruach’s fiery Presence.
Inductive Study: The Three Comings of Messiah
The Planner’s First Coming
Read John 6:38 and Luke 22:20.What do these verses reveal about the Father’s plan and how Messiah fulfilled it in His First Coming?
The Bridegroom’s Return
Read Matthew 24:29–31.What does Messiah say about the timing of His appearing and the role of the great trumpet?
The Last Trumpet
Read 1 Corinthians 15:51–52.What transformation does Paul say happens at the “last trumpet”?
The Seventh Trumpet
Read Revelation 11:15–18.What happens when the seventh trumpet sounds, and who is rewarded?
The Wedding Feast
Read Revelation 19:7–9.How is the Bride described, and what is promised at the marriage supper?
The Sea of Glass
Read Revelation 15:2–3.Who stands on the sea of glass, and what song do they sing?
The Eighth Day
Read Leviticus 23:36 and John 7:37.What is the significance of the “eighth day assembly” (Last Great Day) in relation to the covenant feasts?
The Third Coming in Fire
Read Revelation 19:11–14 and 2 Thessalonians 1:7–8.How is Messiah described when He appears after the wedding feast, and what role does fire play in His appearing?
The Prophets and the Day of YHWH
Read Isaiah 13:9 and Joel 2:31.How do these passages describe the great and terrible Day of YHWH?
Living in Hope
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:9–11.How does knowing we are not appointed to wrath shape the way we endure trials and live as the Bride awaiting the trumpet?
📖 Inductive Study: The Three Comings of Messiah
We’ve prepared a printable PDF for personal devotion or group study.You can download it here:
📘 How to Use This Study
Gather with Scripture in hand — Begin each section by reading the passages listed.
Ask the question out loud — Let the group hear the Word and the question together.
Write responses — Use the lines provided to capture your observations and reflections.
Discuss openly — Share what stands out, repeating back the Scripture as your anchor.
Check the Answer Key — At the back of the PDF, you’ll find references and summaries to confirm the key covenant truths.
Pray into the application — End each section with prayer, asking the Ruach to inscribe the Word on your heart.
This format works well for:
Small groups or home fellowships
One-on-one discipleship
Personal devotional journaling
Teaching or class settings
✨ Blessing
May YHWH bless you as you study the Planner who sealed the Covenant,the Bridegroom who gathers His Bride,and the Fire who will appear on the Last Great Day.
May the trumpet sound awaken your heart,may the Wedding Feast fill you with joy,and may the Presence of the Holy One keep you faithful until the end.
Shalom and strength to you in Messiah Yeshua, from Ten Words Press.
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