“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the honor of kings is to search out a matter” (Prov.25:2).
“And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation (Lev. 23:23-24).
Thus Israel was given the fourth of the annual holy day assemblies commanded by God in Leviticus. There is no explanation as to what it was for, what it meant, or why they should observe it, just do it, but God always has a reason. So, let’s be kings and search out the matter. 25
Paul told the Colossians that God’s holy days are a shadow of things to come (Col.2:16-17 KJV). This means some are yet to come; therefore, let’s continue observing the shadows until they come.
When considering the ‘why’ of this fourth commanded assembly, let’s remember that the first three annual holy days were fulfilled precisely as prophesied and on the very day of their annual observances. They triggered significant events and changes, even causing some to say “they were turning the world upside down.” Therefore, shouldn’t we expect significant, even momentous events at the fulfillment of this day? And in truth, it shall be the greatest day in the history of the world thus for.
For those earnestly seeking the ‘why’ of Trumpets, we can find many references to the Day of Trumpets in both the Old and New Testaments. A good place to start would be Mathew 24, where we are given a series of events leading up to Christ’s return. In verses 29 through 31, we are told that “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
Please note the events leading up to His return; it is after the tribulation, then darkness, then stars falling, then the Son of men is seen coming with His angels, then the trumpet sounds, and His saints are gathered. Note that it is after the tribulation that His saints are gathered; there is no mention of any rapture, secret or otherwise, before the tribulation.
Speaking of the same time period, let’s go to that wonderful resurrection chapter in 1 Corinthians 15, where Paul reveals a mystery. “Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory” (1Cor. 15:51-54).
Paul is plainly not deceived by Satan’s lie to Eve (as is most of humanity) that; “ye shall not surely die” (Gen. 3:4) in direct opposition to God’s warning that “…thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:17). Paul knew that man does not have an immortal soul, and Paul is emphatically pointing out that God’s saints are the only ones to receive immortality, and that is at the resurrection. In the face of Paul’s clear statement, how is it that orthodox Christianity can teach that humankind has an immortal soul that can’t die and lives on after death and existing eternally in either heaven or hell?
Let’s not forget that well-known and often misunderstood chapter in 1Thessalonians four. 13 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first (obviously a very noisy occurrence): 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words (1Thess. 4:13-18). No secret rapture here. For, “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen (Rev. 1:7).
Where do you suppose Paul got his information. All Paul had was what we now call the Old Testament. He knew what Isaiah meant when he wrote; “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem” (Isa. 27:13).
Paul also understood the writings of Danial when he wrote: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Dan. 7:13-14). Thus, Christ, the son of man, received his rightful authority to come and reclaim His Kingdom.
And so we read in Revelations 11:15; “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”
Luke speaks of those days, “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereunto. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled” (Luke 21:20-22).
Skipping to verse 25, “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21: 25-29).
Zephaniah weighs in: “The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly, 15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. 17 And I will bring distress upon men that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust and their flesh as the dung” (Zeph. 1:14-17).
David speaks to the saints that day in Psalms 81:1-4 “Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. 2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery. 3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. 4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
Also in Psalms 96, 97, and 98 speaks of singing praises to the Lord and His righteous judgment on that great day. “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp and the voice of a psalm. 6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King” (Ps. 98:4-6).
Some Things we’ve learned
The day of trumpets announces the coming of the great day of the Lord.
As the earth progresses toward that final day, conditions will get worse and worse.
Christians will be severely tested.
Men’s hearts will fail them for fear of what’s coming.
As distresses multiply, we are told to look up for our redemption draws near.
Seek the LORD, righteousness, and meekness: it may be ye shall be hidden in the day of the LORD’s anger.
The trumpet sounds and every eye shall see Him.
The resurrection of the saints occurs.
The annual observance of the feast of Trumpets reminds us that God will return in power and great glory as of the KING OF KINGS AND the LORD OF LORDS (Rev. 19:16).
Del Leger©
