Post by Daniel on Dec 8, 2018 10:39:08 GMT -5
The Last Trump Of The Rapture Explained
By Beginning and End
February 25, 2018
The “last trump” is not what most Christians may think.
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 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.” – 1 Corinthians 15:51-54.
One of the greatest mysteries and debates about the Rapture is the reference to “the last trump.” In the passage above, the Apostle Paul reveals that the translation of the church from mortal human flesh to glorified, immortal bodies will occur at “the last trump.” This is one of the greatest prophetic events described in Scripture – the Rapture of the church. But just what is the “last trump”? Is it the 7th trump of Revelation 9? Is it the trumpet of Rosh Hashanah? This article will explain that it is neither of those events and show from Scripture what the last trump actually is.
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 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.” – 1 Corinthians 15:51-54.
One of the greatest mysteries and debates about the Rapture is the reference to “the last trump.” In the passage above, the Apostle Paul reveals that the translation of the church from mortal human flesh to glorified, immortal bodies will occur at “the last trump.” This is one of the greatest prophetic events described in Scripture – the Rapture of the church. But just what is the “last trump”? Is it the 7th trump of Revelation 9? Is it the trumpet of Rosh Hashanah? This article will explain that it is neither of those events and show from Scripture what the last trump actually is.
Why The Last Trump Is Not The 7th Trumpet Of Revelation 10
The kingdoms returns to Jesus Christ once Old Testament prophecy is fulfilled. One of the common interpretations of the last trump is that it is the 7th trumpet that is sounded in Revelation 9:
“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 for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.” – Revelation 11:15-19.
There are several reasons that this event is often viewed as the last trump. For one, the Book of Revelation clearly states that there are seven angels designated to sound seven trumpets – each one unleashing a judgment on Earth from God. Thus it makes sense on its face that the seventh and final trumpet would be “the last trump.”
Additionally, in Revelation 11 we read that after the sounding of the seventh trumpet there is an announcement that “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” Thus it appears that this would be the time of the Rapture as all the Earth has been turned over to Christ.
However there are several flaws with this interpretation. For one, the book of 1 Corinthians was written in ca. 53-54 AD when Paul was in Ephesus. The Book of Revelation was written in approximately 96 AD. If Paul was indeed referring to the seventh trumpet of Revelation, it would be over 40 years before any reader would have any idea as to what he was talking about. Additionally, there is no basis in Scripture for Paul knowing about the Revelation John received decades later. Paul was killed in ca 70 AD – well before the writing of Revelation. This would be the only instance in Scripture when one divinely inspired writer references a prophecy of a vision of another writer that had not even taken place yet.
“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 for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.” – Revelation 11:15-19.
There are several reasons that this event is often viewed as the last trump. For one, the Book of Revelation clearly states that there are seven angels designated to sound seven trumpets – each one unleashing a judgment on Earth from God. Thus it makes sense on its face that the seventh and final trumpet would be “the last trump.”
Additionally, in Revelation 11 we read that after the sounding of the seventh trumpet there is an announcement that “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” Thus it appears that this would be the time of the Rapture as all the Earth has been turned over to Christ.
However there are several flaws with this interpretation. For one, the book of 1 Corinthians was written in ca. 53-54 AD when Paul was in Ephesus. The Book of Revelation was written in approximately 96 AD. If Paul was indeed referring to the seventh trumpet of Revelation, it would be over 40 years before any reader would have any idea as to what he was talking about. Additionally, there is no basis in Scripture for Paul knowing about the Revelation John received decades later. Paul was killed in ca 70 AD – well before the writing of Revelation. This would be the only instance in Scripture when one divinely inspired writer references a prophecy of a vision of another writer that had not even taken place yet.
The 7th trumpet of Revelation 11 seems like the time of the Rapture. But where is the Raptured church in that passage?
Additionally, the reason that the kingdoms of the world are turned over to The Lord Jesus Christ at the seventh trumpet are not because of the Rapture of the church. Assuming for a moment that the church was raptured at the seventh trumpet – how would that event automatically mean Jesus Christ now reigns over every nation on Earth? There is no logical connection. Letting Scripture interpret Scripture, we can look to Revelation 10 for the answer:
“But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.” – Revelation 10:7.
The mystery of God was that salvation would come to the Gentiles and then the Jewish remnant in the end times. This group of believing Jewish people will be supernaturally protected during the Day of The Lord (also known as the Great Tribulation). It is their coming to a saving faith in Jesus Christ as the prophesied Messiah of The Old Testament that will fulfill all of the remaining Old Testament prophecies. This is how Jesus Christ wins rightful dominion world back to Himself from Satan.
The fulfillment of prophecy was a critical part of Jesus’ mission in His first incarnation on Earth:
“And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;” – Matthew 4:13-15
“When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” – Matthew 8:16-17.
“All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.” – Matthew 13:34-35.
All the messianic prophecies had to be fulfilled before the death of Jesus Christ. In fact there was even one prophecy remaining on the cross:
“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” – John 19:28-30.
The drinking of vinegar fulfilled the prophecy of Psalm 69:21. It was not until this final prophetic fulfillment that The Lord uttered “it is finished” and died. The same fulfillment of prophecy is required at The Lord’s Second Coming. And there are many, many prophecies yet to be fulfilled, that predict Israel returning to God and believing upon The Lord Jesus Christ. We go into detail about the end times reconciliation of Israel in our article: “All Israel Shall Be Saved! The End Times Salvation Of Israel.”
When the believing remnant calls upon Jesus in the end times – realizing that He truly is The Son of God and Messiah – the mystery of God’s plan of salvation will be complete. This is when Christ wins over the kingdoms of the world. Even though at that time the Antichrist and his minions will still be physically controlling earth, from a divine legal standpoint, the deed to the planet will be returned to Christ Jesus.
The final reason the seventh trumpet is not the last trump is that we do not see the raptured Church anywhere in Revelation chapter 11. If that was the Rapture, where is the church? Why is there no mention of it? It does not make logical sense.
Additionally, the reason that the kingdoms of the world are turned over to The Lord Jesus Christ at the seventh trumpet are not because of the Rapture of the church. Assuming for a moment that the church was raptured at the seventh trumpet – how would that event automatically mean Jesus Christ now reigns over every nation on Earth? There is no logical connection. Letting Scripture interpret Scripture, we can look to Revelation 10 for the answer:
“But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.” – Revelation 10:7.
The mystery of God was that salvation would come to the Gentiles and then the Jewish remnant in the end times. This group of believing Jewish people will be supernaturally protected during the Day of The Lord (also known as the Great Tribulation). It is their coming to a saving faith in Jesus Christ as the prophesied Messiah of The Old Testament that will fulfill all of the remaining Old Testament prophecies. This is how Jesus Christ wins rightful dominion world back to Himself from Satan.
The fulfillment of prophecy was a critical part of Jesus’ mission in His first incarnation on Earth:
“And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;” – Matthew 4:13-15
“When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” – Matthew 8:16-17.
“All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.” – Matthew 13:34-35.
All the messianic prophecies had to be fulfilled before the death of Jesus Christ. In fact there was even one prophecy remaining on the cross:
“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” – John 19:28-30.
The drinking of vinegar fulfilled the prophecy of Psalm 69:21. It was not until this final prophetic fulfillment that The Lord uttered “it is finished” and died. The same fulfillment of prophecy is required at The Lord’s Second Coming. And there are many, many prophecies yet to be fulfilled, that predict Israel returning to God and believing upon The Lord Jesus Christ. We go into detail about the end times reconciliation of Israel in our article: “All Israel Shall Be Saved! The End Times Salvation Of Israel.”
When the believing remnant calls upon Jesus in the end times – realizing that He truly is The Son of God and Messiah – the mystery of God’s plan of salvation will be complete. This is when Christ wins over the kingdoms of the world. Even though at that time the Antichrist and his minions will still be physically controlling earth, from a divine legal standpoint, the deed to the planet will be returned to Christ Jesus.
The final reason the seventh trumpet is not the last trump is that we do not see the raptured Church anywhere in Revelation chapter 11. If that was the Rapture, where is the church? Why is there no mention of it? It does not make logical sense.
The Last Trump is Not The Trump of Rosh Hashanah
This argument is simpler. There is no ‘Rosh Hashanah’ (“head of the year”) in the Bible. This may come as a surprise to many because it is frequently referred to as a “Biblical feast day.” Yom Teruah, the Biblical feast Rosh Hashanah is based on is described in Leviticus 23:
“And the Lord spake 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, an holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.” – Leviticus 23:23-25.
“And the Lord spake 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, an holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.” – Leviticus 23:23-25.
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