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THE
LAST TRUMPET
At
1Cor. 15:52, we have a term that has given rise to much misunderstanding and
speculation; the last trumpet.
In the Ancient Roman games, the blowing of the trumpet announced the various
stages of the proceedings. The last one, of course, would be the final
notification for whatever event or action was being announced. This is Paul’s
frame of reference.
Elsewhere he has taken images from the Roman games to teach spiritual truths.
1Cor. 9:24-27;
2Tim. 2:5.
Paul's use of
"last trumpet" refers to the call to assembly in the context of the Roman
games; or even in a military context. In both of these cases there was a
preliminary trumpet (sometimes 2) and then the last one which was a call to
assembly. This is the call to assembly for the gathering of the saints.
The
gathering of the elect, the rapture of the saints of all previous ages will
occur “at the last trumpet” blast. And it will occur INSTANTANEOUSLY at that
very moment.
At 1Thes. 4:16, Paul calls it “the trumpet of God,” and Jesus calls it, “a
great trumpet” at Mat. 24:31.
This has nothing to do with the 7 trumpets of Revelation 8:6-9:21, nor
specifically with the “seventh trumpet” of verses 10:7 and 11:15-19.
There is no gathering or resurrection at the seventh trumpet.
It is, in fact, an event that occurs AT LEAST 5 months after the second coming
of Christ, which will occur at the 6th seal, because the 6th
trumpet by itself will last for 5 months. The normal and natural understanding
of the record is that the trumpets come AFTER, and as a result of the breaking
of the 7th seal, which obviously follows the 6th seal.
In
addition, we must remember that what John is seeing is simply a TEACHING AID
so that he, and we, can understand these end-time events in an orderly manner.
The 7 trumpets are ONLY SYMBOLS within the vision. They are not literal
trumpets that will be blown when the time comes for the historical fulfillment
of these judgments.
Thus, the 7th
trumpet of Revelation 11 is not the "last trumpet" spoken of by Paul. They
should not be equated but are separate and distinct.
He would have no
knowledge of John's vision and the 7 trumpets. Even though the Holy Spirit
"melds" all of scripture, it is not advisable to interpret Paul's use in any
other way than the cultural context of the day which speaks of the "call to
assembly."
That is what will
occur at the rapture. It is called THE trumpet of God at 1 Thes. 4:16, because
it is at this time that he will "call" for the gathering of his people to meet
Him in the clouds of the sky. Nor does it require the "actual" occurrence of
one or two trumpet blasts before it, for the image in Paul's mind is simply
focusing on the final blast which is the "call to assembly."
The 7th trumpet, on
the other hand, is an announcement of judgment and not a call to assembly.
Furthermore, the 7th trumpet clearly occurs very shortly after the 70th week
ends, after the 2 witnesses are caught up to heaven.
This could not
possibly correspond with the trumpet that will sound at the 6th seal as per
Matthew 24:31 and 1Thes. 4.
To find an
historical “first” trumpet at the time of the Maccabbees, as some do, goes
outside the parameters of scripture to find the connection, and that is not
advisable. Never are we to look for answers and explanations of scripture in
secular history UNLESS, the text clearly tells us to do so (like book of
Daniel identifying Persia
and Greece, etc). Not only that, but Paul gives absolutely no hint that the
last trumpet should be seen as an extension from a previously blown trumpet.
FEAST OF TRUMPETS: Nor does the last trumpet or
the 7th trumpet have anything to do with this feast.
According to Mat. 21:42-43, the responsibility of representing the kingdom
of God on the earth has been temporarily taken away from the nation of
Israel and given to the church.
According to Mat. 23:38, the temple has been left to the Jews as desolate.
It was destroyed in 70 AD and remains that way until this very day. And will
not become real until a VALID temple is built in the Mil. kingdom.
Everything that is done BY them as a NATION until then, is done in unbelief,
as they have rejected Jesus as the Messiah-Savior.
The 3 spring feasts were fulfilled by Jesus at the first advent.
The 4 Autumn feasts will be fulfilled by Jesus AFTER He returns and sets up
His millennial kingdom.
The first feast is the feast of trumpets. 7th month, first day.
This cannot be celebrated until there is an ANOINTED (by the Glory of God)
temple in Jerusalem. Ezek 43:1-7.
The pseudo temple allowed by the 7-year covenant (Dan. 9:27) at the midpoint
of the week does not qualify (Rev. 11:1-2).
Anyway, that temple will be violated at the midpoint of the week when the
beast sets up the abomination of desolation in the Holy Place (Mat. 24:15).
Jesus will return at the 6th seal symbol several months AFTER the
desecration of the pseudo temple, and there will be NO celebration of the
feast of trumpets at that time because the beast will still be in the
process of KILLING Jews and Christians - especially in Jerusalem. Later that
pseudo temple will be destroyed along with the abomination 30 days after the
end of the week (Dan. 12:11), after the battle of Armageddon. The 7th
trumpet ends the week and announces the 3rd woe which is the 7 bowls.
Armageddon will occur in connection with bowls 6 and 7.
The kingdom will be established 45 days after Armageddon (Dan. 12:12) and a
new temple will be built after that( Ezek. 40-43).
So once the new temple is built and dedicated, the feast of trumpets will be
celebrated on the first day of the 7th month. It CANNOT be celebrated before
that because the celebration requires several burnt offerings; one bull, one
ram, and 7 male lambs. Numbers 29:1-2.
Therefore, the feast of tabernacles will not and CANNOT be celebrated in
connection with the 7th trumpet of Rev. 10:7 and 11:15, or the last trumpet
of 1 Cor. 15:22; or the trumpet of God at 1 Thes. 4:16. Nor does the
celebration of the feast of trumpets have ANYTHING to do with the ARRIVAL of
Jesus and the "great trumpet of Mat. 24:31. The reason for the celebration
of this feast is because God has regathered His people into their land - IN
THE KINGDOM, and the ENTIRE NATION will be believers in Jesus the
Messiah/Savior. Thus, as Paul wrote. "and thus all Israel will be saved."
Rom. 11:26-27.
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