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THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS
(Ro. 15:3-6 2 Tim. 3:14-17, Hosea 12:10, 1 Cor. 10:1-11)
1. In Israel, trumpets were sounded to make announcements to the people. All announcements had to do in one way or another with the need for the people to work together to preserve their position as the chosen children of God by living in accordance with the Law He gave them (Num.10:1-10)
2. The Church or spiritual Israel was given the responsibility to announce and to live in accordance with the principles of the law, and through the ministry of Jesus and the Holy Spirit enablement was made available for understanding principles of the law and living in accordance with them (Matt. 5:17, John 16:7-l5, 2 Cor. 3:3, 1 John 2:6.
3. In addition to the responsibility to announce and to live in accordance with the principles of the Law, the Church was also given an additional seven trumpets or announcements with which to he concerned. These announcements detail the end-of-the-age remedial judgments upon the world due to rebellion as well as the fulfillment of the promises to the overcomers (Rev. 8-20).
The FEAST OF TRUMPETS
The Lord spoke to Moses and said, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month on the first of the month, you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord.”‘ (Lev. 23:24-25) The first day of the seventh month, Tishri, was celebrated by solemn rest from ordinary labor, a holy convocation, and the offering of special burnt offerings (Num. 29:1-6). The day marked a recurring seventh portion of time and was a day or memorial of blowing of trumpets, designed to bring the people into remembrance before the Lord.
The trumpet was usually made from the horn of an animal and was used to announce events to the people. It could be compared to a loudspeaker today since its sound was audible at great distances. By variation in the sounds produced by the trumpet, types of announcements were differentiated for all to hear. There were alarms or warnings. There were additionally, the calling of the congregation, the assembling of the army, the sounding of an attack, the cessation of pursuit, the disbanding of the army, the announcement of feasts, the proclamation of the ascession of a king and the commencement of the year of jubilee.
All announcements were very important to the people of the nation of Israel for they had to do, in one way or another, with their position as the chosen children of God. They were the Lord’s chosen, to become an example to all the nations of the bounty and power resulting from the acceptance of their God and obedience to His law. Throughout their history, however, the record shows a consistent pattern of rebellion, judgment and revival. Ultimately, their Messiah, the Lord Jesus, arrived and immediately was almost totally rejected by the spiritual leaders of His chosen race. This rejection led to His rejecting and dispersal of the people of Israel among the nations. Israel has only recently been restored as a nation to participate in world drama as this age closes and the millennial “sabbath” commences.
The dissolution of the nation of Israel 1900 years ago signaled the birth of her spiritual counter-part, the Church (or the “called out ones”) of Jesus Christ. It was into the hands of this newly generated organism that commission and stewardship responsibility was given to proclaim the “good news”; the news that through acceptance of Him and obedience to His Law, the Lord Jesus “is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. ” (Heb. 7:25).
As it was the responsibility of the nation of Israel to live in accordance with the protective law and to prepare its people for the Lord’s first coming, so it is the responsibility of the Church to live in accordance with the permanent principles of the law and to prepare its people for His second coming.
The history of the Church is in many respects very similar to the history of Israel. The Lord entrusted to each Body the keys to kingdom entrance. The keys or instructions of the Lord were for unlocking the entrance into the complete preservation of the whole man. Put the keys were lost by both Israel and the Church and were replaced by Jewish and Christian manipulative and legalistic codes. Jesus issued a warning in relation to this. “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.” (Lk. 11:52). In general, the Church today is as poorly prepared to receive their Lord at His soon second-coming as was Israel at His first coming.
It is true, for the bulk of Christianity, that there are many trumpets to be heard. The announcements being made, however, are often entirely inadequate in content to produce the necessary response, which will enable a mature understanding of, and a full participation in the outworking of God’s plan at this time.
The seventh and final letter in the revelation given through John was for the Church in Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22). Laos means laymen and dicea means right or just and so the characteristic of this Church is a righteous show through man-developed organization. The Church of Laodicea portrays the final era of the Christian dispensation and the prevailing conditions extant in the Church world as this age draws to a close. Insipid lukewarmness in self-righteousness, ostensibly living by a high code of ethics and showing little evidence of the Lord’s control and empowerment are the chief characteristics of the Church in this end-time. And it is recorded that the Lord spews this system out of His mouth. A contributing factor to the spiritual lukewarmness of the present day Church world is the prosperity, which abounds in most western nations. A feeling of smug complacency has blinded the churches to their spiritual poverty and their desperate need. Clothed in their own self-righteousness, they know not their nakedness in God’s sight. God is calling for repentance in action and not just emotion. He is moving in His providence in allowing chastening through adverse conditions in civil life and international affairs.
It is also recorded that there is a great need to secure three possessions, which the Lord offers. The first is gold refined in fire. Gold is a symbol of true spiritual character, brought about by the working of His Spirit, developed through our acts of cooperation and refined in the crucible of testing experiences. God must have a people who are completely receptive to His workings in their inner being and thoroughly purged of the dross of their own ways. The second is white garments. These are a symbol of righteous actions and purity. The third is the eye salve. Only the revelation of the Holy Spirit giving spiritual sight, can cause anyone to perceive the truths which God is making available at this time. The counsel of the Lord is to buy these requisites from Him and, therefore, there is a price to be paid. The price is simply the total willingness to let Jesus Christ rule in the individual life and to do with it as He pleases. He stands at the door of the individuals “tabernacle” and at the door of the corporate church and He knocks. Those who respond in accordance with His will are to be trained to assist Him, in some designated capacity, to establish His kingdom. There will be countless posts to fill, varying in importance and in responsibility and in necessary acquired skills. It is encouraging, however, in spite of the general conditions of spiritual torpidity, there are those who are beginning to hear the trumpets being sounded in calls to action in the end-time work.
Those in serious preparation for the Lord’s coming are symbolic of the remnant which receive the Messiah nearly two millenniums ago. The congregation is being called together to learn the ways of the Lord (Ex. 20:1-20, Matt. 5-7). “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough ground become a plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley; then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Is. 40:3-5).
The Church has journeyed around the barren mountain of man’s ways too long. “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. ” (Joshua 1:2). As a result of an initial awareness of the Lord’s requirements, recruits are enlisting in His army but much training in dedicated faithfulness and much drill in the proper use of spiritual weaponry is necessary before an individual can be of much use in battle and can keep himself from becoming a casualty.
“Blow a trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm on my Holy Mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; surely it is near, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness.” (Joel 2:1-2). Spiritual preparedness is essential. It will be the valiant warriors” (the overcomers) who initially inherit the promises (Joshua 1:3-18). “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are to destroy speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are only then ready to punish all disobedience whenever our obedience is complete.” (2 Cor. 10:3-6). Spiritual and physical protection is dependent upon the quality of armor appropriated and used (Eph. 6:1O-l7).
More are becoming aware that, after the awesome events at the end of this age, there will be the trumpets or announcements indicating the cessation of pursuit and the disbanding of the army when the enemy forces will be contained. They know there will be a proclamation of the ascession of the “King of kings, and Lord of Lords” and the commencement of jubilee in His kingdoms (Rev. 19:11-21 through 20:4).
In addition to the trumpets or announcements that speak of the need to learn and live by the Lord’s law, which have ever been sounding in the Word of God, the Lord has also given specifically to His Church another set of trumpets. This set of trumpets, seven in all and listed in the Book of Revelation, announce successive events progressively bringing final judgment upon the earth. These are remedial judgments, serving to initiate preparation of the earth for the millennial “sabbath.” The fact that mankind is again late in recognizing the time of day is sobering. It must be understood that the event itself is the trumpet or announcement. Six of the trumpets have already begun their soundings. The effects all are continuing, not as the result of God’s intervention in the affairs of man, but because of man’s uncontrolled, selfish nature. Man regulated by his desires, has built a whole series of traps which are now about to snap shut. The last trumpet is yet to sound and, when it commences, the final veil will be removed and many shall see more clearly what has been a mystery to them up to that moment in human history.
“For if the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?” (I Cor. 14:8). The Trumpets of Revelation have given no uncertain sound, but relatively few have heard accurately and are responding. Many have taken the trumpet sound and have distorted it into uncertainty for passing on to others. It is evident that the third world conflict, culminating this age, is fast approaching. As each trumpet began to blow, it announced the startup of events and forces, which develop and continue to carry on through to the end of the “Great Tribulation” period. Each trumpet began its sounding in chronological sequence, one after another, but they continue all together, once they have begun. A brief comment on each of the first six will be helpful before reviewing the seventh which has specific application to the Feast of Trumpets in the seventh month in the Hebrew Festival pattern.
The First Trumpet (Rev. 8:1-7)
The casting of fire on the earth resulted from man’s discovery of the secret of the atom and its mighty fire power. During and after World War II came the beginning of events initiated by the blowing of the First Trumpet. The initial sounding of the First Trumpet unleashed the power of the atom for destruction and the blowing continues in its unfolding development to the end of the “Great Tribulation.”
The Second Trumpet (Rev. 8:8-9)
The Second Trumpet warning shows a great mountain, blazing with fire, being cast into the sea. A mountain in Scripture is a type or symbol of a nation or kingdom, and so a great mountain would be a great or leading nation on earth. This greatness of which Scripture speaks is not equated with area or land mass, neither with the numbers of its people. From God’s perspective, there is only one nation, which can adequately fulfill this magnitude of greatness, and that nation is the United States of America.
It is recorded in Scripture that to whom much is given, much is required. No other nation has been so blessed in scientific achievement and accomplishment in the undoing of the burdensome toil that man has known during millenniums of time. No other nation has received as great an opportunity for understanding and enlightenment from the Word of God through so many movings of the Spirit of God. However, America has failed, to great degree, especially during the past century, in her stewardship of the truths of God. She will be judged accordingly. Indications of the initial stages of that judgment, internal strife, have been in evidence for some time in every major area of concern: religious, political, economic and environmental.
The Third Trumpet (Rev. 8:10-Il)
With the blowing of the Third Trumpet, a great star falls from heaven onto the rivers and fountains of waters, upon that which feeds the greater bodies of water. Since waters are a type of peoples, the picture shows the very leaders and fountain-heads of society being affected by this star, which is called Wormwood.
This star burning as a torch and giving out its own light, is none other than the communist scourge of spiritual and demonic origin. The development of the beast systems, which are responsible for the propagation of the false light, is detailed in the thirteenth and seventeenth chapters of the Book of Revelation. Its light is that of false idealism, which masquerades as true light, but it is indeed a deception and a counterfeit. Because of its idealism, though deceptive, it is almost always the educated classes, the leaders of society, who first fall under its influence and succumb to its propaganda. This is why the star is seen falling upon the springs or fountains and upon the rivers, which eventually reach the larger bodies of water. The masses of people are reached with the deceptive philosophy of communism only because the educated classes first embrace it in its propaganda phases. Once communist-indoctrinated leaders gain control in a nation or among a people, the idealism, which was so prominent in their thinking during their initial contact with communism, begins to fade. Then the latent lust for power begins to rise up within. Especially is this true among those who are taught, as the communists are, that there is no God. Without God expediency and often, unrestrained license, replace truth and moral values. The result is Godless tyranny and ruthless suppression of freedom.
Then it is that the “Wormwood” phase of the star is seen. Wormwood is a bitter plant that grows in the desert. The waters, which become bitter, represent the inevitable aftermath of a communist takeover. That which was presented as the ultimate in idealism and emancipation for the people becomes instead a bitter experience. That which was promised does not materialize, and the multitude becomes more desperate than ever. Truly it becomes bitterness in the waters or souls of men.
The Fourth Trumpet (Rev. 8:12-13)
The fourth angel has already sounded his initial blast and the stage is being set for the Fourth Trumpet’s complete fulfillment on the continent of Europe. During the period of this trumpet’s blowing, 1/3 of the sun, 1/3 of the moon and 1/3 of the stars are smitten so that 1/3 part of each is darkened. It will be exceedingly dark when the forces unleashed by the Fourth Trumpet take their toll. The sun is a symbol of Christianity and 1/3 of the sun being smitten indicates that the 1/3 portion of the Christian world having its stronghold in Europe will be darkened as revolutionary forces rise up there to destroy those traditional forms of Christianity so long entrenched in the life of the people. None will escape the forces of darkness, neither Catholic nor Protestant bodies, as these forces rise up to put out the light of the sun and also to strike at the moon and the stars. It is not only the “sun” which will be affected, but the moon and the stars will be darkened also. The moon gives the reflected light of the sun and so is here a type of the state, which reflects or gives support to the Church. The stars are the leaders in both Church and State who will feel the impact of these forces of darkness rising up against them. The Church-State combination, entrenched in Europe for centuries, will be completely disrupted and the sun, moon and stars will be darkened to the extent that the Church-State relationships, both Catholic and Protestant, will no longer be tolerated. Violent forces will rise up within the nations of Europe to completely overthrow the existing system of things. And the “stars, ” those in high political or religious offices benefiting from the Church-State relationships and who long have had favored positions in the enlisting Systems, will be suddenly cast out of their privileged places.
After the fourth Trumpet has sounded, an angel flies through the midst of heaven, warning and proclaiming three woes to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the Trumpet blasts which are afterward to sound. The angel warns of the added intensity of turmoil and conflict, which is released by the blowing of each succeeding Trumpet. The intensity of the developing world crises is a result of that which is being unleashed during the blowing of the Fifth Trumpet.
The Fifth Trumpet (Rev. 9:1-12)
The Fifth Trumpet describes the progressive release of swarms of the hosts of Satan from their confinement in the lower parts of the unseen realm. The purpose is to bring about severe testing of men. Although in times past, the number and activity of evil spirits has been limited to prevent God’s plan and schedule from being subverted, now the time has come for the full number of Satan’s hosts to be allowed to enter into activity upon the earth, with freedom of access to the minds of men, in order to fill up the wickedness of this day.
The star which had fallen from heaven to earth, in a further fulfillment of the events initiated by the Third Trumpet, is Satan, the destroyer, Abaddon or Apollyon, who is a king over the invisible hosts of darkness and who is leading the evil spirits in their destructive warfare. The pit is the place where most of the evil spirits have been confined. These forces from the pit, the forces of Satan, rise as smoke to darken the sun and pollute the air, indicating that they will work through human agencies to corrupt the truth of Christianity, of which the sun is a symbol, with every kind of error and deceit. This is now being fulfilled in the seductive liberalism and modernism which has completely destroyed the true Gospel in vast segments of the so-called Christian populace. (The pollution of the air is the contamination of peoples’ thoughts with every kind of filth and perversion. The forces of Satan are bringing great darkness upon the earth as they work to further subvert the Christian message and work to pervert the thinking of people into the way of godlessness and unbridled pleasure.
It is indicated, as the developments under this trumpet progress, that the evil forces from the unseen realm will acquire the authority and means to precipitate vast numbers of men into physical conflict, eventually culminating in nuclear World War III. However, those who truly have the “seal of God” will have His protection and those who are sincerely and conscientiously turning to God shall find great deliverance and protection in that day.
The Sixth Trumpet (Rev. 9:13-21) The Sixth Trumpet announces the release of the four angels bound at the river Euphrates. It has begun to sound and the events set in motion by its blowing are now developing. Communist influence has moved into the Mediterranean and there has been concentrated negotiation with Euphrates area nations. A number of these nations were bound together by treaty in an attempt to create a buffer against the encroachments of communism. When the buffer is completely dissolved, those nations will no longer seek to hold back communist subversion and advance. They will instead eventually become a part of the developing communist combine. The Sixth Trumpet includes a description of the army, which is also to be released. This is that army which will “overflow” just as the Euphrates river typically overflows at flood stage.
The number of horses, symbolizing the power to make war, and men is symbolic of the entire force of the anti-God conspirators in their quest to overrun western influence in the Middle East and to bring the entire area, including Palestine, under their control. Initially, having largely gained dominion in this area, the mighty hosts of the communist world will be embolden to press further into other areas. And other nations will be overrun by these hordes, a symbolic spilling over of the banks of the Euphrates.
The vision was one of an army of horses and riders, and the horses had heads like the heads of lions and their tails were like serpents. First the power of propaganda and lies will be used to over-come the nations of the Middle East and then it is followed by military action and destruction which is pictured by the fire, smoke and brimstone of the modern war machines and their fire-power. Initially, there are promises of peace and plenty, but that which begins as lying propaganda and which destroys the Christian influence in the Middle East will be followed by the military aggression of armies marching forth to destroy. Then the breastplates of the riders, seen as fiery red and sapphire blue and sulfur yellow, indicate the determination and destructive intent of those who are ready to plunge the world into chaos to gain their diabolical ends. These are Satan’s colors, and “lion” and “serpent” are both titles of Satan used in Scripture. It is indicated that the communist force has both the determination and the power to poison by propaganda and then to put to death those who stand in the way of their plan to exterminate the influence of Christianity from the face of the earth.
Even after much destruction has been wrought in the earth by these forces, people do not repent of the works of their own hands, their idolatries and their wicked ways. Judgment alone will not turn people to their God, but the coupling of judgments with the work of His Spirit will turn many to righteousness, and a great harvest will be brought forth to God.
The Seventh Trumpet (Rev. 10-11)
If a consistent outworking of the prophetic Festival sequencing continues, it is evident that the end-of-the-age fulfillment of the Feast of the Blowing of Trumpets in the Hebrew Festival pattern, will coincide precisely with the profound events that constitute the blowing of the Seventh Trumpet in the Book of Revelation. Six trumpets have sounded, and their intensity is ever increasing. One remains.
So great is this final chapter in the age-long history of the Church that a “strong” or mighty angel is dispatched from heaven to sound the Trumpet. This honored messenger is seen coming from heaven with a rainbow over his head and from the description, He can be none other than the Lord Jesus Himself.
At the precise moment of the Seventh Trumpet’s sounding, ordained by God and known in the high heavenly councils for ages and prefigured in both Old and New Testaments, the mystery of God’s purpose for His Church will be dispelled.
The Seventh Angel cries out in a loud voice and the seven peals of thunder respond immediately. Throughout Scripture the number seven is found in profusion. The Bible tells us plainly that it is the symbolic number of the Church. Therefore, the “voices” of the seven peals of thunder may represent the response of that prepared and ready portion of the Church which will then be known as the Bride of Christ, the 144,000 Firstfruits, the Queen of Ophir, the Jewels, the Male Child and the Prudent Virgins. At this moment, as the Bride responds, she will be secretly joined to her Bridegroom. This event, the lifting of the Bride across the threshold, “is the initial sounding of the Seventh Trumpet.
“In the days of the voice of the Seventh Angel,” shows us clearly that the work of His Church is not to find its total consummation in one specified moment. There is an obvious implication of a prolonged sounding. Yet at the initial sounding, the “mystery” of Christ’s goal for his Church shall no longer be hidden. The mystery (for most) will have run its course and cease to remain a “mystery”. Then the “Book” on this subject will be open for all to see.
The same truth is again shown by the little book, which is still held “open” in the hand of the Angel. The little book is open to give light and understanding and further unveiling, particularly in regard to the unfinished work of the Church. It has a taste as sweet as honey; but the in-working and integrating of the truth has a bitterness. That will be the experience of many during that time of “Great Tribulation.” The true promises of our God are a delight, but the inward recognition of inadequate preparation, and of the resultant necessity for going through the period of the “Great Tribulation”, will be bitter. Nevertheless, the reality of further unveiling and understanding will be as sweet as honey for it will bring the hope of full participation in the purposes of God at that time. For in the days of the voice of the Seventh Angel, there shall be poured out the “latter rain.”
The blowing of the six proceeding trumpets unleashed forces, which deal with worldly events as they relate to the judgments of God on rebellious man.
However, the blowing of the Seventh Trumpet releases great spiritual power and progressively a portion of the Church will be brought to the place where it will be able to receive an endowment with power such as has not previously been made manifest in the history of man.
The Seventh Trumpet will continue to blow for 1260 days, during which time the other trumpets will also consummate their sounding. This will be the period of great tribulation spoken of in the Scriptures (Matt. 24:21; Re. 7:14).
Near the close of the tribulation period the final blast of the Seventh Trumpet will sound. To the Apostle Paul was it given to unveil a portion of this mystery in its basic or fundamental aspects. To the Corinthians he wrote, “Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell 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 trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For the perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.” (I Cor. 15:50-53). To the Thessalonians he wrote, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (I Thess. 4:16-18).
Certain events describing the power and persecution of the Church during the 1260 day period of great tribulation are considered in Revelation 11:1-11. Near the end of this period of time the Seventh Trumpet finishes off its blowing, and the prophecies of Paul will be fulfilled. “And they heard a loud voice from heaven saving to them, “Come up here.” And they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies beheld them. And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; and seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past (literally, has come out or come forth) behold, the third woe is coming quickly.” (Rev. 11:12-14)
Having completed a description of developments under the seven trumpets, John steps back in time to the opening blast of the Seventh Trumpet. “And the seventh angel sounded; and, there rose loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”‘ (Rev. 11:15)
According to the pattern, on the first day of the seventh month, Tishrei, the day of the Feast of the Blowing of Trumpets, 1260 days after the joining of the Bride to her Bridegroom, the dead in Christ will be raised and the living saints who are then prepared will be translated to be and cooperate in the final preparation and secure that which is announced in Revelation 11:15.
Again, in the twelfth chapter of Revelation we are told that, after the birth and translation of the male child there is a 1260-day period of time, the “Great Tribulation,” during which the woman’s remaining offspring are persecuted. Although the Lord Jesus demonstrated the pattern as a “first fruits to God” there is also a type of this event in the Old Testament, which was dramatized by the Israelites. The crossing of the Jordan river and the entrance into the promised land, as related in the first four chapters of the Book of Joshua, is commonly understood to typify the entrance of the redeemed into the heavenly kingdom of Jesus Christ. Since the Church is a type of the nation of Israel, it is significant to consider, in this regard, that the “crossing over” into the “promised-land”, took place on the tenth day of the first month, Nisan. An even 1260 days separate the tenth of Nisan from the first of Tisheri about three and a half years later.
This event, on the first of Tishrei, will also initiate the third woe, the pouring out of the seven golden bowls of the wrath of God, as recorded in Revelation 16.
Not only did the Lord indicate He would come in the second watch, as a thief at midnight, to take the “jewel” saints as His Bride, but He cited His coming in the third watch as well (Luke. 12:38). At the close of the third watch, He will bring up that portion of the Church, which will be known as the Friends of the Bridegroom, the Harvest-fruits, the Companions of the Queen, the Household, the Tribulation Saints and the Foolish Virgins. In Mark 13:35 this further aspect of the coining of the Lord is indicated, “at cock-crowing.” The Cock-crowing is at the close of the third watch, which was from midnight to three. It was undoubtedly during this very watch that Peter denied his Lord. Previously, as they went out into the Mount of Olives after eating the Passover supper together, Jesus had said to Peter, “Truly, I say to you, that you yourself this very night, before a cock crows twice, shall three times deny Me.” (Mk. 14:30) It happened even as Jesus had spoken (Mk. 14:66-72). Thus we see from Scripture that “cock-crowing” is connected with denial. Here is a possible indication that those not joined to the Bridegroom at the midnight hour, who then go through the tribulation period, have at some time and in some measure denied their Lord. The tribulation is therefore to test them and prove them that the Lord might know them, and that they might be made ready to be called to the marriage supper. When the Lord comes at the third watch, “at cock-crowing,” it is for all who have been made ready during the tribulation (Rev. 7:9-17); those who have developed from a “blade” or “head” into the “mature grain in the head.” (Mk 4:28). Even as in the natural, the crowing of the cock awakens those who are yet sleeping, so will it be when the Lord comes “at cock-crowing”; “those who have fallen asleep in Jesus” will be raised. Then immediately the prepared saints still alive shall be “caught up together with them into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…” (I Thess. 4.13-18).
The Day of the Blowing of Trumpets in the Hebrew Festival pattern is, in a general sense, representative of all that has been presented regarding trumpets. However, in specific prophetic application, it indicates, as do each of the festivals, the anticipated unparalleled precision of God’s timing relative to the outworking of His plan for man.
The “trumpets” of God have given no “indistinct sound” for those who have ears to hear. However, the guiding “trumpets” of His law, which declare His righteous ways, are mocked by the lawless and produce an indistinct sound for many of the believers, young in spiritual maturity, who have become dull of hearing. The remedial “trumpets” of His judgment, which declare His righteous acts are almost totally unknown by the lawless and are only beginning to be heard by some believers. To be adequately prepared “for battle” further dedication to God must become fact. This is the only way to insure increased growth through obedience to His ways and knowledge of His acts. “Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings, and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead.” (Heb. 6:1-2)
By Mikkel Dahl
