IS THE 7^th TRUMPET THE "LAST TRUMP" OF I COR.15:52?

"We Shall ALL Be Changed"

Are there two "Last Trumps", two "Last Days" and two "Ends" to this Age? Or, to agree with Paul’s teaching, is there only one "Last Trump" to Rapture "all of the Saints"? When Paul wrote that "God will bring all the Saints with Jesus Christ", did he include the souls of faithful Martyrs who "come out of great tribulation"? I Thess.3:13; I Thess.4:14; Rev.7:14.

The answer I hear argues that Paul is not referring to a 7^th Trumpet in Revelation because the Church will be taken to heaven prior to that Trumpet. And if Christ may come any moment, the Last Trump sounds before the Tribulation "Hour of Trial". My answer to this proclaims that Trib-Survivors alone will know for sure when that Hour is "near"! Jesus said they "will know and be blessed for watching and keeping their clothes on lest they be seen naked"!! Matt.24:33. He "comes as a thief" when the armies gather to Armageddon!!! Rev.16:12-17.

This fact is the prime reason Rev.16:12-17 must be fulfilled before Rev.6:12-17 occurs!

Left Behind books admit Tribulation Martyrs are "glorified" at Christ’s coming!! Only those "who survive to the End" (Rev.2:26) will know Christ is coming at any moment after the Two Prophets are killed; and will be "watching" for them to rise up on the Last Day with armies having already crossed the Euphrates to invade Israel!!! Rev.16:15-16.

The reason "no man (not even Jesus in His human nature) can know the Day or Hour He appears rests on the Father’s sole knowledge of who must still be killed while the Two Witnesses remain dead! All Believers will rise up on the "last day" during the 3-day phase of a full moon!! Survivors know Jesus is coming during the "Feast of Tabernacles" in the month of Tishri which occurs with the moon turning to blood a day before, a day after or on the stated day of a full moon!!! Zech.14:16-18; Rev.6:12.

Anticipating the unknown day of the Lord, Paul did not need to know the 7^th Trumpet is the Last Trump! Jesus revealed He will send His angels to "gather the elect upon the four winds, after He gathers them from earth, at a great trumpet, and from all the extremities of the heavens (plural) immediately after the great tribulation"!! Matt.24:31. Dispensational doctrine assumes this could not be the "Last Trump" if it must sound before the start of the seven years of Daniel’s 70^th Seven!!!

To get the big picture, we must include that Jesus "gathers the elect upon the four winds" from the surface of the earth to all parts of the atmosphere "on one of the days after the tribulation"! Mark 13:24-27. The sphere of the winds limits the gathering to the sky above the earth and not to the third heaven from which "God will first bring the souls of the dead in Christ with Him" before He gathers the bodies of the elect from the earth!! I Thess.4:13-14. Translators of the Holman Standard Christian Bible (used in SBC Bible studies) recognized this fact by stating that Jesus "gathers the Elect from earth to the sky"!!! Mark 13:27.

As a teenager, I was taught the Elect Jews are re-gathered to Israel after the Tribulation! Jews would be gathered on the 4 winds while Christians remain on the earth and not be glorified!! Until 1970 it was assumed that the "one taken" is the Believer at a Pre-Trib Rapture…while the Elect Jews must be "re-gathered (together above; episunago) after the Tribulation"!!!

Do the Tribulation Elect Include Jews but Exclude Gentile Saints?

Why would God "gather Jews from the earth after the tribulation" and abandon surviving Gentile Christians at the Hour of Trial "coming on all inhabitants on all the face of all the earth"? Rev.3:10; Luke 21:34-35. ALL Israel will be saved; but only the Saints are glorified. Glorification is a certainty for ALL Believers who suffer for/with Christ. Rom.8:17-30.

Dispensational doctrine sacrifices the hope of Trib-Saints who "overcome to the End" in order to justify a Pre-Trib Rapture! Yet it allows Trib-Martyrs to be glorified!! It would take the Jews "from earth to heaven" on the assumption that "gathering them to heaven" refers to being "re-gathered" to the land of Israel!!! Mark 13:24-27; Matt.24:29-31.

This doctrine was made popular in the 1940’s by great preachers like Harry A. Ironside under whose ministry I sat; and by evangelists such as John R. Rice and his "Sword of the Lord" publication! They taught that "The only Signs of Christ’s Coming will be after the Rapture …at the Second Phase of His Return"!! Yet Jesus limited final signs of the unknown "Day and Hour" of His return to "one of the days after great tribulation"!!! Matt.24:29-36.

In 1970 their message changed so the Saints would not only be "taken" to heaven before; but they will also be "left" on earth after the Tribulation. Being interpreted from the same text, Believers under this new doctrine will be "left" instead of "taken". Confusion! The wicked will instead be "taken in judgment"; yet the doctrine is still held that Pre-Trib Christians only will meet their loved ones "in the air" on an unknown day based on Matt.24:36. Paul’s word that "all the Saints come with Jesus Christ" is denied if God rescues the Jews, but abandons surviving Saints during the Hour of Trial…as their hope is "blasted" according to LaHaye.

Does What We Believe Matter If We Are Ready for Christ’s Return?

One Website on the "Post-Trib Gathering" responds to this question by stating: "What about the `many’ believers whom Jesus mentioned in Matt. 24:9-13 who would fall away when the deception and persecution of the last days arrives? If Jesus' coming is several decades away, then perhaps the rapture debate is not all that critical. But, if Jesus is coming soon as the signs seem to indicate, one's view on the timing of the rapture is crucial to being prepared to be an overcomer in the difficult days before His coming".

Paul wrote about the "last trump" knowing that Jesus placed the "great trumpet for gathering the Elect from all extremities of the sky immediately after great tribulation". Matt.24:31. The Jews will "mourn and be envious upon knowing their kingdom is near and seeing Jesus coming with all the Saints". This will cause the tribes of earth to "beg to escape and be kept alive". Matt.24:30; Rev. 1:7; Rom.11:11; Luke 21:28-36; Luke 17:30-33. [I Thess.3:13; Rev.17:14].

Why did the Pre-Trib view become so important many centuries after the Church began? If it is part of the "faith once delivered to the saints," why did this view surface about 200 years ago? Millennialism was revived as Church doctrine; but the Church never before taught "the Elect" of Matt.24; Mark 13 are Jews alone!

COULD ETHNIC UNSAVED JEWS BE AMONG THE ELECT?

The Scofield Bible notes, from 1917 to 1972, claimed the "Elect" of Matt.24:31 involve the "re-gathering of (unsaved) Jews to the land of Israel"! As if they are not literally "gathered from earth to heaven" (to the sky) as Jesus states!! In the 1973 edition, the note was changed to reflect "re-gathering of this generation" in verse 34 where unsaved Jews are in mind!!!

While Paul includes the "remnant" of believing Jews among the elect who believe in Christ during this age, only when the "full number of Gentiles" has been saved, and Christ comes with all the Saints, will ethnic Israel again become "a people of God"! Rom.11:25; Heb.8: 8-12. Jews outside of faith in Christ will become God’s people on the day Christ is revealed from heaven!! No difference exists between saved Jews and Gentiles before Jesus comes!!!

In order for Jesus to "gather only the Jews from earth to heaven on one of the days after the great tribulation" (Mark 13:24-27), it would be necessary to disprove the Elect refer to both saved Jews and Gentiles during the Endtime! There is no question that Jews and Gentiles are included among those whom Jesus will "raise up on the last day and at the last trump"!! The Saints "coming with Jesus from heaven are the called, elect and faithful"!!! Rev.17:14.

The 1973 change in the Scofield Bible notes (prime vehicle for teaching an assumed any-moment rapture from the Post-Trib text of Matt.24:34-36) contradicts their own teaching that Christians are "taken" from earth; but "left behind" on the day Christ appears with all the Saints! The original teaching was great in reviving Millennium truths!! But the teaching that Tribulation Christians will be left behind became new doctrine as of 1970!!!

I use the words "new doctrine" instead of "changed" doctrine since Pre-Tribbers continue to consider the Elect "gathered from earth" to be Jews instead of Saints! The Church is seen as being "taken" to heaven 7 years before Jews are "gathered from earth to heaven"!! The new "truth" assumes that those saved during the Tribulation will be "left" instead of "taken"!!!

Those "left behind" at a Pre-Trib rapture and then saved must be "left behind" again at the 2^nd Coming! This "new" doctrine disallows Trib-Survivors to be glorified even though "every Believer will be glorified having suffered with Christ"!! Rom.8:17; 2 Thess.1:10. There’s no dispute about glorification of Trib-Martyrs; but only about those who survive to the End!!!

This "new" doctrine objects to the promise that all who "overcome (endure) to the end will be saved and kept from the Hour of Trial and will rule over the nations while Martyrs serve God in the Temple of heaven 1000 years"! Matt.24:13; Rev.3:10-12; Rev.2:25-26; Rev. 7:14-17; Rev.20:4-6. It rejects their having been "glorified" in God’s plan!! Rom.8:30. It relegates the Saints, "faithful to the end", to a continuing life of travail in childbirth for 1000 years!!!

Jesus is given the nations as His Kingdom at the first sound of the "last trump". Rev.11:15. At its 2^nd sound He will "raise up every believer from earth to the sky on the last day". At the 3^rd sound of the last trump, "the great trump of God, He will send the angels to gather these elect upon the same 4 winds from all the ends of the sky"!! The use of the 4 winds restricts the gathering to the atmosphere above the earth; not to the third heaven itself!!!

THE LAST TRUMP HERALDS VICTORIES OF THE LASTDAY

As a result of the Trial in the 7^th Seal, the 7^th Angel blows the 7^th Trumpet because of Christ’s worthiness to be crowned King of kings and to take the kingdoms of earth. The 7^th Trumpet and Dan.7:14 declare Christ will take these kingdoms after the Court of Seal 7. "God’s wrath has come". It proclaims these things after the Verdict of Seal 7’s Court. Rev.8:5. Only at the 7^th Trumpet, the Last Trump, has "the time come to judge the dead (which requires the "First Resurrection") and to reward the prophets and saints, small and great (requires the Rapture) and to destroy earth’s destroyers (requires judgment of wicked after gathering to Armageddon) by "treading the winepress of God’s anger and wrath". So Rev.14:20 anticipates Rev.19:15.

Last Plague Suspends in the Air until the Last Trump Announces: "God’s wrath has come"!

From the moment the 7^th Plague empties in the air until the Last Trump sounds, 55 verses must be fulfilled. The reason is that "no one can enter the Temple in heaven until the Last Plague empties". Rev.15:8. Armies of the Evil Trio will have gathered in the 6^th Plague so the Last Plague may suspend in the air until the Last Trump sounds that "God’s wrath has come". Rev.11:18. This adds weight to the reasons why we must allow the fulfillment of Rev.16:12-17 prior to that of Rev.6:12-17. [Note the Last Trump sounds 5 chapters before the Last Plague is described and the Last Plague is described 10 chapters after God’s Day of Wrath begins].

The events within the Open Temple begin after the Last Plague empties, the Martyrs sing the victory song of Moses and the 144,000 sing the song of the Lamb. Rev.15:1-5. These events in the Temple begin with Testimony of the Martyrs coming out of great tribulation. Rev.7:9-17. They continue with the Tribunal and Verdict of Seal 7. Rev.8:1-5. They conclude with the Last Trump announcing God’s wrath has come and the three "R’s": "The appointed time has come" to Resurrect and Reward the dead in Christ and Destroy the wicked". Rev.11:18.

These events in the Open Temple occur from Rev.7:9 to Rev.8:5 and conclude with the Ark of the Covenant being seen in the "open Temple". Rev.11:15-19. Then the contents of the Last Plague implode with the "wine of the Cup of God’s anger and wrath" poured out on Mystery Babylon. Rev.16:18-21. So much has occurred between Rev.16:17 and Rev.16:18. The Saints rejoice…the Harlot is destroyed and "the Lamb’s wedding has come"! Rev.18:20 to Rev.19:8. The invitation to the wedding supper projects Christ’s descent to gather Saints before the Hour of Trial begins!! Millions left behind are left "mourning and begging to escape and prevail to stand before the Son of Man". Jews suddenly "know their redemption and their kingdom are near"!!! Rev.19:9-10; Luke 17:30-33; Luke 21:28-36.

THE UNKNOWN LAST "DAY AND HOUR" - Matt.24:36; Rev.3:10; Luke 21:34-36.

In my opinion, the view that Christ may come at "any-moment" is the greatest hoax of the theory that the unknown Day precedes rather than follows specific signs; for Jesus requires recognizable pre-signs of that Day and Hour! The Two Witnesses will "prophesy 1260 days" prior to signs of the Last Day, Last Plague, Last Trump and Hour of Trial!! With the deaths of the Two Witnesses, Believers continue knowing that Day is "near"; and with events of the Last Day in progress, Jews will also know their "Kingdom is near’!!! Luke 21:28, 31.

PREDICTED EVENTS (36) TO PRECEDE THE LAST TRUMP

I. Pre-Apocalyptic Events

Harlot, Mystery Babylon, has three Seats

1. Babylon the Great sits on "many waters" since her origin under Nimrod. Rev.17:1, 15.
2. Satan seeks to destroy Jesus at birth. Rev.12:1-5.
3. Seal One: White Horseman campaigns, conquers, crowns "Mystery Babylon". Rev.6:1-2.
4. Babylon sits on the "beast and on 7 hills" at Center of Global Operations. Rev.17:3-9.
5. Great Babylon’s global rule over religion, trade and economies. Rev.17:3 to Rev.18:19.
Apostate Babylon forfeits "Crown" won by White Horseman! 2 Thess.2:7.

II. Endtime Events- 3½ Years; 42 months; 1260 Days - Rev.11:3; Rev.12:6, 14; Rev.13:7.
Babylon’s Power Confiscated, no longer "sits" on Beast!!! Rev.17:16.

6. War in Heaven. Satan and his angels cast to earth by Michael. Rev.12:7-9.
7. Ten Kings destroy Great Babylon, the City, in one hour. Rev.17:16; Rev.18:8, 10, 17, 19.
8. Ten Kings support Antichrist for 3½ years. Rev.17:12-17; Dan.7:7-8, 20, 25.
9. Seal Two. Antichrist breaks Covenant; takes peace from earth. Dan.9:27; 12:11; Rev.6:4.
10. God's Two Prophets oppose Satan's two Beasts for 1260 days. Rev.11:3-6.
11. God's Kingdom Power comes to earth amidst persecution. Rev.12:10-17; Mark 9:1.
12. Satan persecutes Jews and Saints. Rev.12:12 to Rev.13:18; Dan.7:25; Dan.12:1-11.
13. Seals Three to Five. History’s greatest Tribulation. Matt.24:29; Dan.12:1. First Woe.
14. Sixth Trumpet. Armies destroy third of mankind. Rev.9:14-19. Second Woe.
15. Sixth Plague. Armies are gathered to Armageddon. Rev.16:12-16; Zech.14:1-12.
16. Two Witnesses killed by the Antichrist. Nations celebrate 3½ days. Rev.11:7-12.
17. "Mystery of God finished. Trump Seven about to sound" - Rev.10:7; Rev.11:7.

Mystery Babylon, the Global System, meets her Eternal Doom!!! Rev.19:3.

III. Lastday Events - "Time shall be no longer…after 3½ days" - Rev.10:6; Rev.11:11.
Following 45 Events occur in 6 Hours; Noon to Twilight. Amos 8:9; Zech.12:7.

18. Third Woe (# 42) follows quickly. "God’s mystery was finished". Rev.10:7; Rev.11:14.
19. Last Plague: "It is Done". Decree to destroy wicked. Rev.16:17; Rev.15:1; Dan.7:9-27.
20. Last Plague empties in mid-air. "The End has come" - Rev.16:17 launches Seal Six.
21. Seal Six. The Great Quake with warnings of God's "Day of Wrath". Rev.6:12-17.
22. Great Quake kills 7000 in the same hour as Prophets arise. Remnant rejoices. Rev.11:13.
23. Sealing of 144,000 when Seal Six opens while four winds held back. Rev.7:1-8.
24. Lamb rescues 144,000 Jews; Firstfruit of Endtime Harvest. Rev.14:1-5.
25. Three Angels fill sky with proclamations of imminent doom. Rev.14:6-11.
26. From now on "blessing to Martyrs who die in the Lord." Rev.14:12-13.
27. Son of Man and Angels Reap earth and wicked from white cloud. Rev.14:14-19.
28. Son of Man escorts Firstfruits to heaven.Rev.14:4; Rev.15:3; Dan.7:13.
29. Martyrs, 144,000 sing victory songs of Moses and the Lamb. Rev.15:1-4.
30. Harvest Firstfruits (144,000) sing the song of the Lamb. Rev.14:3; Rev.15:3.
31. Martyrs’ petition for God’s judgment. Temple opens in heaven! Rev.15:2-5.  

Temple Drama Includes # 32 to # 42 after # 20 through # 31 - Rev.15:8.

32. Temple opens AFTER Last Plague empties. Rev.7:9 to Rev.8:5; Rev.11:15-19.
33. Great Multitudes worship God and Lamb. Rev.7:9-17...ACT ONE! Testimony!
34. Seal Seven. Silence in Temple; Inner Scroll’s evidence...ACT TWO!! Rev.8:1-5.
35. Tribunal before Judge and Jury; Saints' Prayers to God. Rev.8:1-5. See # 60.
36. Angel of Fire casts coals off the Altar to earth. Great storm theophany. Rev.8:5.
37. Last Trump #Seven: Christ's reign begins. Dan.7:14; Rev.11:15…ACT THREE!!!
38. Wrath, Reign, Resurrection, Rewards, and Retribution time have come. Rev.11:18.
39. Ark of Covenant seen in Temple of Last Trump. Second storm theophany. Rev.11:19.
40. God had just decreed "IT IS DONE." Third storm theophany. Rev.16:17; Rev.16:19.
41. Babylon, City and System, destroyed by history's greatest quake. Rev.16:18-21.
42. God's "great anger" explodes in wrath. Rev.14:19-20; Joel 3:13; Rev.19:15. Third Woe.

Heaven's Final Scene before the Last Trump sounds a 2^nd Time - Rev.18:20-19:10.

43. Multitudes rejoice because Babylon the Great has fallen forever. Rev.18:20 to Rev.19:3.
44. Still more "hallelujahs". Voices announce: "God Reigns." Rev.19:6 (Echo of Rev.11:17).
45. Great Multitudes rejoice because the "Lamb's Wedding has come". Rev.19:7.
46. Saints prepare for Wedding. Wedding supper follows. Rev.19:8-9. Heaven Opens.  

47. Christ descends with armies at 2^nd Trumpet sound. I Thess.4:16; Rev.19:11-14.

Third Sound of Last Trump! Saints Glorified. I Cor.15:52; I Thess.4:13-17; Matt.24:31.
48. Christ joined by all the Saints for the Wedding in the Sky. Matt.24:31; 2 Thess.2:1.
49. Jesus "brings rewards for every Believer in His glory". Matt.16:27; Rev.22:12.
50. "All Saints come with Him…elect, faithful". Rev.17:14; I Thess.3:13; Zech.14:5; Dan.7.
51. Tribes of earth mourn. Refuge seekers beg to escape. Matt.24:30; Rev.1:7; Luke 21:36.
52. Hour of Trial. Mountains crumble; Islands move; Great Hail. Rev.16:20-21; Rev.11:19.
Hour of Judgment Tests all Mankind!! Luke 21:25-36; Rev.3:10-11.

53. Cup of Wrath destroys mega-cities…Babylon's support System. Rev.14:8; Rev.16:19.
54. Worldquakes: Mountains disappear, Islands move to mainlands. Rev.6:14; Rev.16:20-21.
55. God's Anger + Wrath. "Great Supper of God." Rev.19:15-19; Matt.24:28; Luke 17:37.
56. World's armies destroyed at Armageddon. Rev.16:16; Rev.14:20; Rev.19:19; Zech.14:12.
57. Beast and False Prophet cast alive into Hell; but not yet the Goat Nations. Rev.19:20.
58. Satan cast into Abyss; Bound 1000 years until he deceives Goat Nations. Rev.20:1-3, 8.
59. Martyrs serve God as Pillars in Temple 1000 years. Rev.3:12; Rev.7:15-17; Rev.20:4-6.
60. Flashback to Martyrs "sitting on thrones" for Court of # 34 to # 36. Rev.20:4; Rev.8:1-5.
61. "First Resurrection". Rev.20:5. "Rest of Dead resurrected after 1000 years." Rev.20:15.
62. Saints reign on earth 1000 years until the "2^nd death". Rev.2:27; Rev.5:12; Rev.20:5, 14.

God will show "mercy" to all mankind for 1000 years. Rom.11:32.
"At the Last Trump, We shall ALL be Changed, in the Twinkling of an Eye"!!!
Concomitants of three Soundings of the Last Trump - Rev.11:15; I Thess.4:17; Matt.24:31.

1. "Time no longer subject to countdown; No more Chronos" at day #1260. Rev.10:6; 11:3-7.
2. "The Mystery of God was finished" before the 7^th Trumpet sounds (Past Tense); Rev.10:7.
3. Final "Woe comes quickly…after 3½ final days"…at the Last Trump. Rev.11:12-19.
4. "Christ begins to rule the Kingdoms of this world." Rev.11:17; Rev.19:6; Dan.7:14-27.
5. Elders and great voices proclaim He "has begun to reign." Rev.11:17; Rev.19:6.
6. Elders worship God and Saints rejoice in Heaven's Final Scene. Rev.19:4-7.
7. "Appointed (Kairos) Time to Judge the Dead has come"---the Resurrection. Rev.11:18.
8. "Reward-Time for Prophets and Saints, SMALL and GREAT"- the Rapture. Rev.11:18.
9. "Ark of the Covenant seen in the Open Temple" after 2500 years. Rev.11:19.
10. "God's (Hour of) Wrath has come"! (Includes items # 4 to # 12). Rev.11:15-19.
11. "Appointed time for Reign, Resurrection, Rewards and Retribution. Rev.6:11; Rev.11:18.

12. "Appointed Time to destroy all who are destroying the earth". Rev.11:18; Rev.19:15-21.
Mel Miller Lastday.net: "Upgrade" for May, 2007.

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