On the last Trump

The Lord has not given us a doctrinal treatise on prophecy like Paul wrote on salvation in the book of Romans, prophecy is spread throughout the Old and New testament and must be carefully studied in order to learn and be able to see the big picture.

Dan 8:25-26 "Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means. "And the vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true; therefor seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future." (referring to the false messiah who brings ruin and who is to be dealt with by God’s supernatural power).

Daniel is told to seal the vision, the word seal means to stop up, to keep close, even to keep secret. In other word’s it is to be reserved for the future. 

Dan. 9:24 "Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.

There are numerous facets here, one of which is the 7oth week.

 In the last chapter of Daniels book which is a revelation (a vision) of the Jewish people, he is again told to seal the book, and that the understanding will be revealed at a time when travel and knowledge increases (which will be first and foremost be Biblical knowledge and then worldly knowledge), 

Dan. 12:2-4: “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."

So then, it was impossible for the early church or those through church history to know exactly what these prophecies meant or how they would transpire until the time of the season itself, (the time of this increase of travelling and knowledge); the time of the end.

The trumpet[s] of Revelation are judgments upon the earth, not a call to gather believers with Christ.

The 7th trumpet is the last in the series of trumpets by the 7 angels to announce judgment, it is an expression of God’s wrath. Rev 8:6, so the seven angels who have the seven trumpets “prepared themselves to sound”,  in v.13 the angel at the end of the fourth trumpet says, “Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth by reason of three more remaining blasts of the trumpet by the three angels which have yet to sound!” These three more “woes” refer to the fifth, sixth, and seventh trumpets.

After the 7 trumpets there are no more Trumpets mentioned in the book of Revelation.

The 7th trumpet has nothing to do with the resurrection. The seventh trumpet in the book of Revelation announces judgment, it is not the same trumpet the Lord calls the precious dead and alive saints in Christ up to himself.  The last trump for believers is a blessing, any similarities found do not mean sameness.

There is no connection here with the resurrection trumpet. The trumpet of the seventh angel in Revelation covers a period of days, it is a catastrophic judgment, the trumpet that sounds for the Rapture of the Church in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 happens in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye.

This 7^th trumpet signals the beginning of the bowl judgments where the worst devastation is about to begin, this demonstrates that it is a different trumpet than the one mentioned in 1 Cor. 15 and 1 Thess. 4, called the last trump. 

The phrase, "last trump[et]", does NOT occur anywhere in the Bible except in 1 Cor.15:52; and the only other mention of a trumpet for the believers is mentioned in 1 Thess.4:16 which is the accompanying verse referring to a transformation by both a resurrection and being caught up to Jesus in the air.

Unfortunately so many miss these important factors in Gods word and ignore what it teaches because it does not fit the construct of what they have been taught.

 David Cooper (earned two Master's degrees; a Master of Arts and a Master of Theology and a Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy degree. He was also honored with a D.D. (Doctor of Divinity) and a Litt.D. (Doctor of Letters).

He majored in Hebrew and Greek, taking both at the same time-seven and a half years of each. His Greek professor was Dr. A.T. Robertson, still considered by many as the greatest Greek grammarian who ever lived. (resource info from ariel.org-- http://ariel.org/dlc/dlc.htm

Cooper who believes it is a pre-tribulation rapture) writes:

 “In Revelation 11:15 we read that the angel who had the seventh, the last, trumpet sounded it. This is done in the very middle of the Tribulation, as one who is familiar with that book realizes. Some earnest students connect Paul's statement with reference to the rapture's occurring at the last trumpet and conclude that his reference is to the seventh or last trumpet of Revelation. Upon this supposition, these excellent brethren conclude that the rapture takes place in the middle of the Tribulation...

But this is not at all a necessary inference when one realizes that the Corinthian letter was written no later than 58 A.D. and that Revelation was given in 96 A.D. — practically 40 years later — he can readily see that Paul did not have the trumpets of Revelation in mind, in fact, we may be absolutely certain in asserting that Paul knew nothing about the seven trumpets of Revelation, because the message of that book had not been given in his day…

It is therefore illogical for one to build a theory regarding the rapture upon the supposed connection between the Corinthian and Thessalonian letters and Revelation. A knowledge of the chronological development of the New Testament precludes such a supposition (pivotal dates in biblical history)”

 So we see that we can understand through the Apostle Paul words inspired by the Holy Spirit that the mention of this trumpet – (the last trumpet) will announce the Lord Himself descending from heaven into our atmosphere...when we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. (1 Thess. 4:17) 

Why do we meet the Lord in the air and not on the earth?

The reason we are meeting the Lord in the air is because we are going away from planet earth exactly as he promised Jesus said:“ I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:1-3).

This should settle the matter of a rapture but, in the minds of those who reject a rapture it does not, only because they do not want it to, the RAPTURE is not a deception (as they say) but, rather it is A promise that the Lord gave.

Where does Jesus reside? In heaven, where he said “that where I am you may be also.” This can only make sense if one understands the sequences and reason for this event.

As the Lord was brought up to the Father, in similar fashion Acts 1:11) we the church, his body will be taken by the Son to the Father. 

The trumpet sound for the rapture of the Church in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 happens in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye as Jesus comes and calls his church up to him transformed to be like Him.  What a glorious precious promise to all who have believed.

The Lord reveals many things through the feast days, one example is:

That the First group of four feast days occur all within 50 days

Passover Lev. 23:5 - Unleavened Bread v:6-8               

First Fruit 23:9-14 Pentecost  15-22       
                                                                       

2^nd group of Feasts (3) which concludes with the second coming

Trumpets or Remembrance      Lev. 23:23-24       

Day of Atonement                       Lev. 23:25-32       

Tabernacles                                  Lev. 23:33-44        

What is the term the last Trump?  

It has everything to do with the Feast days that are grouped with the fall feasts. There are 7 Feast days, (rehearsals), every feast was a shadow for Israel to repeat each year until it had its fulfillment in Christ Messiah, 4 are past, 3 are future.

At the feast of trumpets the trumpet is blown a total of 100 times, divided into four different types of notes. The first is a single, long blast called Tekiah, this is a plain smooth, continuous note symbolizing joy and contentment.

The second type of sound is the Shevarim, consisting of three short blasts or broken notes…  

The third is:  Truah which consists of extremely short blasts comprised of nine staccato notes, this quick succession of short trills expresses trepidation and sorrow, these three types of blasts are repeated…

The fourth concludes all with a single, sustained note; called the Tekiah Gedolah, meaning “the great tekiah,” “the great blast,” or “the last trump.” (referenced from the teaching of Dr. Fruchtenbaum) 

In the Greek wording 1 Cor.15: 52 reads – eschatos - sal'pinx; the last in a series of quavering or reverberation from the trumpet, it is the last note blown, the 100^th note and the trumpeter holds it as long as he can.

But The last trump – in the gathering and rapture of the holy ones of the church, means the last blowing of a trumpet as in the Feast of trumpets, the followers of Christ will be changed together… "for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed”

This trumpet is not part of the sequence of judgments on mankind…

For those who reject a rapture or those who believe in a post tribulation rapture, to use the trumpet that announces judgment to unsaved mankind for the greatest event for the church (our being changed to immortality, without sin) is just not justified, this can only be the trumpet for the separate event of the rapture.

The only place one can find another trumpet (besides the judgments trumpets) related to this is in the Feast days, this all makes sense when one takes the time to study the feast days. 4 feasts have been fulfilled- 3 feasts are left, which are completed by this succession (just as the first 4 were). First (Trumpets) is the rapture, gathering of the Saints in Christ to Christ.

Second, the Tribulation (Day of Atonement) where Israel is chastened, repents and is saved. And then the Second Coming (Tabernacles), where Jesus returns to be with his people, He rescues Israel first; destroys the armies of the antichrist and the wicked, then begins the Millennial Reign of Christ.

In this succession that is fulfilled by Christ the Feast of Trumpets precedes the Day of Atonement; the Rapture will precede the GREAT Tribulation.

The next feast after this is the Day of Atonement which represents peace made with God, reconciliation, where Israel repents near the end of the tribulation before His return.

The last fall Feast is Tabernacles “God is with us on earth”. The return of Jesus on earth begins the kingdom. The Messiah is ruling over the nations, the old and new testament saints are united and serving in his kingdom.