The fourth of the seven annual festivals of the LORD our God is the Feast of Trumpets! It pictures terrible and dreadful events that will take place. You can recall from our previous bible studies in this series that the LORD God uses the spring and fall agricultural harvests in Palestine as a symbolic type for the LORD God’s spiritual “harvests” of all mankind.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from THE FATHER OF LIGHTS, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18) Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures [His created beings].” – James 1:17-18.
Truly, a small beginning in ‘planting the heavens’ (Isaiah 51:16), and onward to the ultimate fulfillment of His spiritual harvest of all mankind into His universe-ruling family.
The LORD God’s fall festivals picture a much larger autumn harvest – in the calling of all peoples who have ever lived or will ever live to salvation and sonship into the glorious family of God after our Lord Jesus Christ’s return!
The annual “feasts of the LORD” begins with Passover. As we, brethren, observe this solemn occasion once a year, we are reminded that our Lord Jesus Christ – the Passover Lamb – was our ultimate sacrifice –
“Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, OUR PASSOVER, was sacrificed for us.” – 1 Corinthians 5:7.
He sacrificed Himself in our stead – He paid the penalty for our sins – Romans 6:23.
Next, is the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The true meaning of the Days of Unleavened Bread is that for seven days we are symbolically showing that we are eating the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, the unleavened bread which represents Jesus Christ at the Passover. And we are acknowledging – we need that BREAD OF LIFE to come into our being!
Then, the Day of Pentecost. The final spring festival. Many may not realize that Pentecost pictures more than just the gifting of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the New Testament Church of God. Christ In You! We must have God’s Spirit which is represented by the Day of Pentecost. And so, individual salvation – that Plan is given to us in the spring festivals. They are a continuum. What happens in Passover and Unleavened Bread, and down as you get into the Day of Pentecost – a continuous series of events that are all interrelated and intertwined. And the same thing is true with the fall festivals.
However, the “firstfruits” cannot be spiritually reaped into the glorious family of God without first being “born again.”
“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” – John 3:3-8.
Unless they are resurrected and changed into a wholly spirit being. And this resurrection will not occur until the BLOWING OF THE SEVENTH TRUMPET upon the glorious and powerful return of our Lord Jesus – which brings us to this fourth festival.
The Feast of Trumpets. ‘A memorial of blowing seven trumpets.’ And at the LAST TRUMP “’ two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41) Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.’” – Matthew 24:40-41. It pictures a most pivotal event in God’s Master Plan! It not only pictures the glorious and powerful soon-coming return of our Lord Jesus Christ to resurrect the firstfruits from the dead, but it also pictures a terrible and dreadful series of events that will occur just before our Lord Jesus’ return and the establishment of the kingdom of God upon this planet.
Let us understand exactly how this festival of the blowing of trumpets fits into the Master Plan of the LORD God!
1) Just when is the fourth annual festival to be observed?
“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 24) ‘Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, A MEMORIAL OF BLOWING OF TRUMPETS, a holy convocation. 25) You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.’” – Leviticus 23:23-25.
It is a ‘holy convocation’ unto the people of the LORD God.
Truly, the number seven in God’s Master Plan pictures completion and perfection. The SEVENTH MONTH of the LORD God’s calendar (which is the month of Tishri) contains the final four of the ‘feasts of the LORD.’ The festival that falls on the first day of this month pictures the beginning of a series of terrible and tragic events that will take place.
2) Who was commissioned by the LORD God to blow these trumpets?
“And when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but not sound the advance. 8) The sons of Aaron, THE PRIESTS, shall blow the trumpets; and these shall be to you as an ordinance forever throughout your generations.” – Numbers 10:7-8.
In the Old Covenant, the LORD God’s priests were the sons of Aaron. Only they were to blow the two silver trumpets. In the New Covenant, our Lord Jesus Christ is our High Priest (Hebrews 6:20). It will be He who will commission His end-time messengers to blow the trumpets!
3) What series of terrible and tragic events will be announced soon by the blowing of the trumpets?
“Then I saw another angel [messenger] flying in the midst of heaven [the atmosphere], having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth ── to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people ──” – Revelation 14:6; see also Matthew 24:14.
Plagues.
We believe that the first four of these following trumpets are in conjunction with the prophesied “end time prophets” which are spoken of in the Book of Revelation chapter 11 – which finalizes with the “Two Witnesses.”
- An asteroid impact with volcanoes erupting!
“The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
8) Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9) And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10) Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11) The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters Became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.
12) Then the fourth angel sounded: A third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.” – Revelation 8:7-12.
The warning ─ the sounding of the alarm – and the ultimate fulfillment of these plagues will result in the possibly twelve “end-time prophets” being martyred. And the final two being martyred in the streets of Jerusalem –
“When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.” – Revelation 11:7-12.
War.
- Satan the Devil confined to the earth.
- A nuclear electromagnetic pulse and modern military armaments.
“Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven [the atmosphere] to the earth. [Satan the Devil and his demons being ejected from the atmosphere and being confined only to the earth!]. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2) And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. Then the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.
3) Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4) They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5) And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6) In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.
7) The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. 8) They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9) And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. 10) They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.
11) And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.”
“One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.” – Revelation 9:1-12.
- A massive 200 million-strong Islamic Army counterattack!
“Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14) saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels [very possibly four combined Islamic nations] who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’ 15) So the four angels [Islamic nations; we are told in Scripture that oftentimes demons are in charge of this world’s nations! – cf. Daniel 10:13], who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.
16) Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.
17) And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. 18) By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed ── by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. 19) For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.”
“but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets” – Revelation 10:7.
- The Resurrection of the Saints
“Then the SEVENTH ANGEL sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord [God the Father] and of His Christ [our Lord Jesus], and He shall reign forever and ever!’” – Revelation 11:15.
“Then the SEVENTH ANGEL poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of [low-earth orbit], from the throne, saying, ‘It is done!’” 18) And there were noises and thunderings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19) Now the great city [speaking of Jerusalem] was divided into three parts [see Zechariah 14:4], and the cities of the nation’s fell. …” – Revelation 16:17-19.
4) Were trumpets blown also to announce the ‘day of our gladness, for the ‘feasts of the LORD’ and ‘at the beginning of our months’?
“’ Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God.’” – Numbers 10:1-3, 10.
Were the trumpets also blown as an alarm for an impending war against our enemies?
“’ When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.” – Numbers 10:9; see also Ezekiel 33:1-6.
5) Has the LORD God commissioned His ‘watchmen’ ── the servants of our LORD God ── to warn of impending war and the sins of the nations?
“ …’ When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, 3) when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4) then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 5) He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself.
But he who takes warning will save his life. 6) But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’
7) ‘So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. 8) When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you DO NOT speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.
9) Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your [life].’” – Ezekiel 33:2-9.
Are the LORD God’s true servants to lift up their voices like a trumpet?
“’ Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins.’” – Isaiah 58:1.
(See: Cry Aloud, Spare Not! along with ‘Blow the Trumpet!’)
6) What is this warning that the servants of the LORD God is to give?
“preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, …” – Acts 28:31.
“ … ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in [and obey] the gospel.’” – Mark 1:15.
“saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’” – Revelation 14:7.
“’ I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.’” – Luke 13:1-5.
“ …’ Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’” – Acts 16:31.
“’ Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31) because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man who He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.’” – Acts 17:30-31.
“ … Jesus is the Christ.” – Acts 18:7.
“’ Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.’” – Luke 21:36.
7) When did our Lord Jesus say that the ‘great tribulation’ will occur ── will it not be during the time when ‘nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom’?
“’ And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.’” – Matthew 24:6.
“’ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. …’” – vs. 7.
We believe that our Lord Jesus was speaking of a final end-time war against a United States of Europe and a confederation of Islamic nations – notice Daniel 11:40.
“’ At the time of the end the king of the South [the kingdom of the South; a confederation of Islamic nations] shall attack him [the final leader of a United States of Catholic Europe]; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. 41) He shall also enter the Glorious Land [Palestine], and many countries shall be overthrown; but these [initially] shall escape from his hand: Edom [which we believe to be Turkey], Moab [which we believe is sort-of Syria and Iraq], and the chief of the children of Ammon [or Jordan].” – Daniel 11:40-41.
It says these people will not first incur the wrath of Europe!
Would this WAR of the fifth and sixth sounding of the trumpet blasts annihilate every man, woman, and child if it was not shortened?
“’ For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 21) And unless these days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elects sake [speaking of the physical children of Israel. The remnant – not the spiritual Body of Christ!] those days will be shortened.’” – Matthew 24:21-22.
THE TRUMPET WARNING OF WAR IS BEING SOUNDED!!
The LORD God’s faithful servants are preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ – the good news of the coming government of God to be established on Earth immediately after the Great Day of God Almighty! – at the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.
“Now I saw a new heaven [the atmosphere] and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea [speaking of the Dead Sea, along with a large swath of the Mediterranean Sea].
2) Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of [low-earth orbit] from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3) And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God [Theos, God the Father] is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.” – Revelation 21:1-3.
ADDENDUMThe seven seals, which are covered in the Book of Revelation chapters 6 and 8 are in correlation with our Lord Jesus’ warning in Matthew chapter 24.
the seven last plagues
1. “Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, ‘Come and see.’ 2) And I looked, and behold, a WHITE HORSE. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.” – Revelation 6:1-2.
A false religion gaining great strength and world prestige again –the Mother Church of Europe – which has helped plunge this world into numerous world wars!
“ …’ Take heed that no one deceives you. 5) For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.’” – Matthew 24:4-5.
2. “When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, ‘Come and see.’ 4) Another HORSE, FIERY RED, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword” – Revelation 6:3-4.
Again, as spoken of earlier – This is our Lord Jesus Christ suggesting the prophecy of the prophet Daniel in chapter 11. A direct reference to a final holy war between the end-time Catholic United States of Europe (‘king of the North’) and the Islamic confederation of nations (‘king of the South’) – cf. Daniel 11:40; Revelation 9:13-16.
“’ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. …’” – Matthew 24:7a.
3. “When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, ‘Come and see.’ So I looked, and behold, a BLACK HORSE, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6) And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a denarius [which was approximately one day’s wage for a worker!], and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.’” – Revelation 6:5-6.
What so often are followers at the heel of war? Famines and pestilences.
“ … ‘ And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places’” – Matthew 24:7b.
4. When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, ‘Come and see.’ 8) So I looked, and behold, a PALE HORSE. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades [the grave] followed him. And power was given to them over A FOURTH OF THE EARTH, to kill with SWORD, with HUNGER, with DEATH, and by the beasts of the earth” – Revelation 6:7-8.
“’ All these are the beginning of sorrows.’” – Matthew 24:8.
5. “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held” – Revelation 6:9.
“’ Then they will deliver you …’” – here pertaining mostly to the final “end-time prophets” – cf. Revelation 11. “ ‘… up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.’” – Matthew 24:9-10.
“’ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world AS A WITNESS to all the nations, AND THEN THE END WILL COME’” – Matthew 24:14.
6. “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood” – Revelation 6:12.
“’ Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; …’” – Matthew 24:29a.
7. “When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour” – Revelation 8:1.
”’ And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect [Here, speaking about the spiritual elect – the chosen begotten children of God ── not the physical elect] from the four winds, from one end of heaven [the upper atmosphere] to the other.’” – Matthew 24:31.
8) Will people who turn to the LORD God, properly repent, properly get baptized and have hands laid upon them, and received the glorious Holy Spirit – and begin obeying the LORD God be protected from these trumpet plagues?
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 2:38; 3:19.
“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the [lives] of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, WHO HAD NOT WORSHIPED THE BEAST OR HIS IMAGE, AND HAD NOT RECEIVED HIS MARK ON THEIR FOREHEADS OR ON THEIR HANDS. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” – Revelation 20:4-6.
“’ He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8) But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.’” – Revelation 21:7-8.
9) What will those who are in the FIRST RESURRECTION then do?
“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES came to me and talked with me, saying, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.’” – Revelation 21:9.
“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God [Theos, God the Father] and of Christ [our Lord Jesus Christ], and shall reign with Him A THOUSAND YEARS.” – Revelation 20:6.
“Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9) And they sang a new song, saying:
‘You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10) And [will make us a kingdom] and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.’” – Revelation 5:8-10. □
Scriptural Index:
Old Testament ── Leviticus 23:23-25; Numbers 10:1-3, 7-8, 9, 10; Isaiah 51:16; 58:1; Ezekiel 33:1, 2-9; Daniel 11:40-41; Zechariah 14:4.
New Testament ── Matthew 24:4-5, 6, 7, 8, 9-10, 14, 21-22, 29, 31, 40-41; Mark 1:15; Luke 13:1-5; 21:36; John 3:3-8; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 16:31; 17:30-31; 18:7; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 6:20; James 1:17-18; Revelation 5:8-10; 6:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9, 12; 8:1, 7-12; 9:1-12, 13-19; 10:7; 11:7-12, 15; 14:6, 7; 16:17-19; 20:4-6; 21:1-3, 7-8, 9.
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