upgraded March 9, 2010
The trumpet is a common thread that ties the prophetic Holy Scriptures into one and gives us a clear view of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, so that we are not surprised by this event. ("But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief." 1 Thessalonians 5:4 NIV)
We get irrefutable confirmation concerning when the Bride of Christ will be gathered to Jesus Christ when we analyze the trumpets. Every single letter of the original Hebrew or Greek text in the Holy Word of God is inerrant, and thereby important. There are many places where a single word in a particular passage gives additional information that is not found anywhere else in the Holy Scriptures. An example of this truth is found in the trumpets referenced at Jesus Christ's Second Coming.
Matthew 24:31 (NIV) "And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."
1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NIV) For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Corinthians 15:52 (NIV) in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
Jesus Christ stated, referenced in the Book of Matthew, that the elect will be gathered with, "a loud trumpet call" - Matthew 24:31. The Apostle Paul, in perfect consistency, writes to the Thessalonians that we will be gathered at, "the trumpet call of God" - 1 Thessalonians 4:16. Paul gives additional information to the Corinthians stating that we will be gathered at the, "last trumpet" - 1 Corinthians 15:52. John the Revelator further clarifies the Second Coming of Jesus Christ by revealing that Jesus Christ will begin His millennial reign on the earth at the time that the, "seventh angel sounded his trumpet" - Revelation 11:15.
Revelation 11:15 (NIV) The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever."
There is no eighth trumpet referenced in the Holy Word of God! The seventh trumpet is the LAST trumpet! The seventh trumpet marks the conclusion of the three and one-half year "great tribulation" Period, and the beginning of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ on this earth! Again, we can see a perfect consistency throughout the Holy Word of God, but have additional and more specific information given in some particular passages. The fact that Jesus Christ will come to begin His millennial reign on the earth when the LAST (seventh) trumpet sounds loud and long connects 1 Corinthians 15:50-57, Matthew chapter 24, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and Revelation 11:15 to the END of the Seven Year "covenant" Period, which is also the END of the three and one-half year "great tribulation" Period:
1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (NIV) I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Trumpets were used on many occasions for purposes that will also occur at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ:
· To assemble the people
· To proclaim a king
· To go into battle
· At times of rejoicing
· To summon soldiers
· To announce God
· On the Day of Atonement
· At the Jubilee
· At the dedication of the Temple
· In worship
· In triumph
· At the laying of the foundation of the Temple
· When God came to His Temple
Leviticus 25:9-10 (NIV) Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land. 10 Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan.
Numbers 10:1-10 (NIV) The LORD said to Moses: 2 "Make two trumpets of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community together and for having the camps set out. 3 When both are sounded, the whole community is to assemble before you at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 4 If only one is sounded, the leaders--the heads of the clans of Israel--are to assemble before you. 5 When a trumpet blast is sounded, the tribes camping on the east are to set out. 6 At the sounding of a second blast, the camps on the south are to set out. The blast will be the signal for setting out. 7 To gather the assembly, blow the trumpets, but not with the same signal. 8 "The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to blow the trumpets. This is to be a lasting ordinance for you and the generations to come. 9 When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the LORD your God and rescued from your enemies. 10 Also at your times of rejoicing--your appointed feasts and New Moon festivals--you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the LORD your God."
Judges 6:34 (NIV) Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him.
2 Samuel 15:10 (NIV) Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron.'"
1 Kings 1:34 (NIV) There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, 'Long live King Solomon!'
1 Kings 1:39 (NIV) Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, "Long live King Solomon!"
2 Kings 9:13 (NIV) They hurried and took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, "Jehu is king!"
1 Chronicles 16:42 (NIV) Heman and Jeduthun were responsible for the sounding of the trumpets and cymbals and for the playing of the other instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate.
2 Chronicles 15:12-14 (NIV) They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul. 13 All who would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman. 14 They took an oath to the LORD with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns.
2 Chronicles 7:6 (NIV) The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the Lord's musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the LORD and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, "His love endures forever." Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.
2 Chronicles 20:28 (NIV) They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the LORD with harps and lutes and trumpets.
Ezra 3:10-11 (NIV) When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the LORD, as prescribed by David king of Israel. 11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD: "He is good; his love to Israel endures forever." And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
Nehemiah 4:18-20 (NIV) and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me. 19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!"
When God descended to Mount Sinai in Egypt, it was a fore-glimpse of Jesus Christ descending at His Second Coming.
Exodus 19:13 (NIV) He shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on him. Whether man or animal, he shall not be permitted to live.' Only when the ram's horn sounds a long blast may they go up to the mountain."
Exodus 19:16 (NIV) On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.
Exodus 19:19 (NIV) and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.
Leviticus 25:8-10 (NIV) "'Count off seven sabbaths of years--seven times seven years--so that the seven sabbaths of years amount to a period of forty-nine years. 9 Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land. 10 Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan.
Isaiah 27:12-13 (NIV) In that day the LORD will thresh from the flowing Euphrates to the Wadi of Egypt, and you, O Israelites, will be gathered up one by one. 13 And in that day a great trumpet will sound. Those who were perishing in Assyria and those who were exiled in Egypt will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.
Joel 2:1 (NIV) Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand--
Zephaniah 1:15-16 (NIV) That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, 16 a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers.
Zechariah 9:14 (NIV) Then the LORD will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning. The Sovereign LORD will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms of the south,
