THE LAST TRUMPET  


 

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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