MORE RAPTURE QUESTIONS

iamlamad

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People believe what they want to believe.
The very same scriptures that announce the truth spoken of by Jesus and the Apostles are misunderstood and misquoted by those who prefer a different teaching (usually by "famous" pastors and TV ministries).

I have never found that quoting scriptures alone convinces the other side that they have got it wrong.
Far too many people think they know what the symbology of Revelation is and apply Revelation to
interpreting the Gospels and the epistles.

Jesus himself speaks relatively straightforwardly on the end times; and Jesus knows more about all
of this than any of us do. Jesus tells us that if we endure to the end then by our longsuffering and faith
we shall inherit eternal life. There will be a winnowing of the wheat and the chaff.

Many Christians love the rapture to heaven before the great tribulation theory because it avoids a number
of awkward issues: for example, THE CHURCH shall be raptured up. When pressed on this definition the
replies invariably include everyone, or all true believers. Most of everybody rather than fewer true
worshippers.

Why would Jesus want to rapture up Western Christians before any tribulation when today's churches
are so worldly, so liberal, so unbelieving, so uncaring for their brothers and sisters suffering in the
Middle-East.? What makes Christians of these times think that they are worthy of being rescued from what is coming upon the whole Earth?

We have Christians professing their unbelief in the Word of God; extolling evolution over Creation;
permitting homosexual marriages before the altar of God; trashing Pentecost; allowing unmarried
couple to attend worship services; [add as you can ...]
And yet such claim that they will not suffer any displeasure from God and will beamed up by Scotty
to avoid any unpleasantness down here on Earth.

No wonder there is going to be a great falling away as prophecied.
The "great falling away" as you wrote it should have been translated (and was before the KJV) as the great "departing" as in the great catching away. It is the power that is restraining being "taken out of the way."

The truth is, NO BELIEVER is worthy [on his or her own] to escape what is coming. We are worthy only because HE MADE US worthy.

There is little difference in those members of the body of Christ in the west versus those anywhere else. There are dedicated believers all around this planet. However, there are many believers who have been made martyrs in other parts of the world. I suspect it will get worse before the rapture.

But all this being said, there is still an "escape" [Luke 21:36] planned by God for His children. His plan is that His children are gone when His wrath is poured out.

You are correct: ONLY the Holy Spirit can convince someone they are wrong. But, this may be started by reading another point of view on these forums.

"Jesus tells us that if we endure to the end then by our longsuffering and faith we shall inherit eternal life" What if Jesus was speaking to the Jews about the end of THEIR age, rather than the body of Christ about the end of their age? It would cause a lot of disagreements among the brethren. We must learn to recognize to WHOM a scripture is referencing. For the end times, a scripture could be referencing the body of Christ, or the descendants of Jacob, or even the nations. When one takes a scripture referencing Israel, and imagines it is for the church, their theories of the end will be off.

When studying end times, it is wise to begin the study using the latest revelation in the word and the revelation which gives us the most details. God is a self revealing God, and over time has revealed more and more, Revelation being the most in-depth look at the end times. It is wise then to form doctrines from Revelation, and then fill in missing points from older revelations. It is fact: some Old Testament verses may have a 2000 year or more gap between phrases that is missed.

Much of the Old Testament prophets were seeing the future as it were through a telescope. They could see the mountain tops of the future, but could not see the valleys in-between. One "valley" for example would be the church age.

"Why would Jesus want to rapture up Western Christians before any tribulation when today's churches are so worldly, so liberal, so unbelieving...

This is an incorrect question. There is no verse telling us God will not set an appointment for us with "tribulation." But there is a verse telling us He will not set any appointments for us with his WRATH. Firist Thes. 4 along with Revelation shows us that the rapture will take place just before His wrath begins at the 6th seal. There has been and will continue to be "tribulation" simply because we live in Satan's world. God is not angry with the saints that are being martyred today. It is not HIS wrath causing it. It is Satan and His hatred for humans and in particular humans who serve Jesus Christ.


"What makes Christians of these times think that they are worthy of being rescued from what is coming upon the whole Earth?"

Easy: Luke 21:36 along with 1 Thes. 4 & 5.
 
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iamlamad

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Of those three that you named, the post trib view agrees with your position of no-one, when the rapture takes place, goes to heaven. The issue of their being a rapture is clearly in the text of 1thessalonians4:15-18. The prime argument is over when, not whether it will take place.

Which leaves a question to you - when does the even of 1thessalonians4:15-18, them who are alive translated takes place?
Great question: it will be interesting to see his answer. I hope he will place his answer somewhere in Revelation's time-line.
 
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Biblewriter

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The "great falling away" as you wrote it should have been translated (and was before the KJV) as the great "departing" as in the great catching away. It is the power that is restraining being "taken out of the way."

The truth is, NO BELIEVER is worthy [on his or her own] to escape what is coming. We are worthy only because HE MADE US worthy.

There is little difference in those members of the body of Christ in the west versus those anywhere else. There are dedicated believers all around this planet. However, there are many believers who have been made martyrs in other parts of the world. I suspect it will get worse before the rapture.

But all this being said, there is still an "escape" [Luke 21:36] planned by God for His children. His plan is that His children are gone when His wrath is poured out.

You are correct: ONLY the Holy Spirit can convince someone they are wrong. But, this may be started by reading another point of view on these forums.

"Jesus tells us that if we endure to the end then by our longsuffering and faith we shall inherit eternal life" What if Jesus was speaking to the Jews about the end of THEIR age, rather than the body of Christ about the end of their age? It would cause a lot of disagreements among the brethren. We must learn to recognize to WHOM a scripture is referencing. For the end times, a scripture could be referencing the body of Christ, or the descendants of Jacob, or even the nations. When one takes a scripture referencing Israel, and imagines it is for the church, their theories of the end will be off.

When studying end times, it is wise to begin the study using the latest revelation in the word and the revelation which gives us the most details. God is a self revealing God, and over time has revealed more and more, Revelation being the most in-depth look at the end times. It is wise then to form doctrines from Revelation, and then fill in missing points from older revelations. It is fact: some Old Testament verses may have a 2000 year or more gap between phrases that is missed.

Much of the Old Testament prophets were seeing the future as it were through a telescope. They could see the mountain tops of the future, but could not see the valleys in-between. One "valley" for example would be the church age.

"Why would Jesus want to rapture up Western Christians before any tribulation when today's churches are so worldly, so liberal, so unbelieving...

This is an incorrect question. There is no verse telling us God will not set an appointment for us with "tribulation." But there is a verse telling us He will not set any appointments for us with his WRATH. Firist Thes. 4 along with Revelation shows us that the rapture will take place just before His wrath begins at the 6th seal. There has been and will continue to be "tribulation" simply because we live in Satan's world. God is not angry with the saints that are being martyred today. It is not HIS wrath causing it. It is Satan and His hatred for humans and in particular humans who serve Jesus Christ.


"What makes Christians of these times think that they are worthy of being rescued from what is coming upon the whole Earth?"

Easy: Luke 21:36 along with 1 Thes. 4 & 5.

Actually, starting with the Revelation is sure to result in error. This is because the Revelation is apocalyptic. That is, it is given mostly in symbolic language that must be interpreted to be understood. We need to begin with what God has explicitly stated in plain words. It is only after these prophecies are thoroughly understood that a student is in a position to judge whether or not a proposed interpretation of such-and-such a passage makes fits the prophecies which God has already clearly stated in plain words.
 
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BABerean2

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But there is a scripture that explicitly states that there will be yet another trumpet after the Lord has come to judge the wicked. This is indeed a literal interpretation of scripture, whether it fits your interpretation or not.

You continually accuse us of wresting the scriptures to fit our "interpretations." But that is what you do, and do continually.

Show us the 8th trumpet in the Book of Revelation.


.
 
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Biblewriter

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Show us the 8th trumpet in the Book of Revelation.


.
As usual, you are trying to deflect an unquestionably accurate statement by demanding that God would have also said this some other place as well.

But in saying this, you are ignoring the fact that the term "the last trump" is also not in the Revelation. So why does it even make sense to demand to see another trumpet in a book that is not even the one the expression came from.
 
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iamlamad

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As usual, you are trying to deflect an unquestionably accurate statement by demanding that God would have also said this some other place as well.

But in saying this, you are ignoring the fact that the term "the last trump" is also not in the Revelation. So why does it even make sense to demand to see another trumpet in a book that is not even the one the expression came from.
Great question!
One college student football player to the other players: "This is the last game: let's WIN IT!" No one there even imagines this will be the last game EVER: no, they all know it will be the last game of THAT SERIES.

It is the same with Paul's "last trump." I am convinced NO ONE of the first readers of Paul's letter imagined that it would be the last trumpet ever to sound anywhere. My guess is, they all took it as the last of a series of trumpet blasts, such as at the feast of trumpets.

For those that insist Paul's "last trump" is the last trump every to sound, then they must also imagine God will send angels to collect every trumpet in the universe, and then expect God to remove even the thought of a trumpet from all minds, so that another can never be made.
 
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keras

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Of those three that you named, the post trib view agrees with your position of no-one, when the rapture takes place, goes to heaven. The issue of their being a rapture is clearly in the text of 1thessalonians4:15-18. The prime argument is over when, not whether it will take place.
Which leaves a question to you - when does the event of 1thessalonians4:15-18, them who are alive translated takes place?
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 is about and in the context of, the Return of Jesus for His Millennium reign: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
This prophecy does NOT say anyone will be 'translated'. By that I assume you mean 'made immortal'? That does not happen until after the GWT judgement. Revelation 21:11-15
No; what Paul is saying is simply a transportation of His people from where they are; around the world, to where He is; firstly in the clouds, then in Jerusalem. As Matthew 24:31 confirms.
 
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jerry kelso

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On another thread i asked if you can find in scripture that when we are changed in the twinkling of an eye that we go to heaven after meeting the Lord in the air. No such scripture was found. I would like to ask a few more questions


1COR.15 [50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.[51] BEHOLD, I SHEW YOU A MYSTERY; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,[52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, AT THE LAST TRUMP: FOR THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.[53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.[54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

The above scripture points out that “we shall all be changed” as the LAST TRUMPET is blown.

MATTHEW 24 [29]IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: [30] And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. [31] And he shall send his angels with A GREAT SOUND OF A TRUMPET, and THEY SHALL GATHER TOGETHER HIS ELECT from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Here we find a trumpet being blown after the tribulation period. No matter how ya figure it, you cannot have the LAST TRUMPET being blown before the tribulation or at mid tribulation if a trumpet is being blown AFTER the tribulation. Yes, the trumpet blown in Matt.24 is the last trumpet of 1Cor.15

ISAIAH 27 [12] And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be GATHERED ONE BY ONE, O ye children of Israel.[13] And it shall come to pass in that day, that THE GREAT TRUMPET SHALL BE BLOWN, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, AND SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD IN THE HOLY MOUNT AT JERUSALEM.

The GREAT trumpet {also found in Matt.24} shall be blown. His people gathered. Its off to Jerusalem. To the kingdom. Not headin for heaven

So. What about it. Is the "last trumpet" really the last trumpet as the scriptures point out. How do the Rapturist get around these scriptures?

wailing wall,

1. The rapture was a mystery to the Old Testament saints.
The Second Coming of Christ for the Kingdom of Heaven beginning was no mystery. All Jews understood the restitution of all things that pertains to the Davidic Covenant Isaiah 9:6-7; Acts 3:19.
Since these are two different comings then the last Trump of 1 Corinthians 15 is not the 7th Trumpet in Revelation 11:15.

2. Matthew 24:30 is the Second Advent as shown in Revelation 1:7.
The Jews in this verse will be the ones who look on them whom they had pierced.
Matthew 24:31 shows gathering his elect which are the Jewish elect who are on the earth.
This is why in the later verses of Matthew 24 you want to be the one left behind, for those taken will be the ones killed.

3. Revelation 15:1-2 is the same company raptured in Revelation 20:4-6 and the last company raptured before the Wrath of God is poured out from the 7 vials on the beast kingdom worshippers and the only company raptured in the First Resurrection at that time Revelation 4:6.
The believers from Adam's time to those who sing the song of Moses and the lamb Revelation 15:1-2 will be at Marriage of the Lamb Revelation 19:8-10 in Heaven.
They will come out of Heaven after that to go to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb Revelation 19:11-15.
There are many trumpets blown concerning the Jews and their feasts etc.
Pre-trib rapture is scriptural. Jerry kelso
 
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BABerean2

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But in saying this, you are ignoring the fact that the term "the last trump" is also not in the Revelation.

There are trumpets in the Book of Revelation.


1st trumpet

2nd trumpet

3rd trumpet

4th trumpet

5th trumpet

6th trumpet

7th trumpet

Which one is "the last" ?

One must throw logic out the window to make the pretrib doctrine work.
This is an excellent example.


And while you are at it, try to ignore "the time of the judgment of the dead" in Revelation 11:18.

.
 
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Postvieww

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Great question!
One college student football player to the other players: "This is the last game: let's WIN IT!" No one there even imagines this will be the last game EVER: no, they all know it will be the last game of THAT SERIES.


Is not the 7th trumpet the last of a series? Is it not true you just don’t recognize that series because it doesn’t fit your doctrine?


It is the same with Paul's "last trump." I am convinced NO ONE of the first readers of Paul's letter imagined that it would be the last trumpet ever to sound anywhere. My guess is, they all took it as the last of a series of trumpet blasts, such as at the feast of trumpets.


I am fine with your definition of “last in a series” you just want to find another series which is the problem here.


For those that insist Paul's "last trump" is the last trump every to sound, then they must also imagine God will send angels to collect every trumpet in the universe, and then expect God to remove even the thought of a trumpet from all minds, so that another can never be made.

Who said it is the last trumpet to ever sound? Remember it is the last in a series, you just can’t accept the 7 trumpets are the only series of trumpets we have to work with in the New Testament.

 
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There are trumpets in the Book of Revelation.


1st trumpet

2nd trumpet

3rd trumpet

4th trumpet

5th trumpet

6th trumpet

7th trumpet

Which one is "the last" ?

One must throw logic out the window to make the pretrib doctrine work.
This is an excellent example.


And while you are at it, try to ignore "the time of the judgment of the dead" in Revelation 11:18.

.
Where is the last trump in the Revelation? It is not even mentioned there. So the it is a 100% pure, unadulterated assumption, that "the last trump" refers to any of the trumpets in the Revelation.
 
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Haipule

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On another thread i asked if you can find in scripture that when we are changed in the twinkling of an eye that we go to heaven after meeting the Lord in the air. No such scripture was found. I would like to ask a few more questions


1COR.15 [50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.[51] BEHOLD, I SHEW YOU A MYSTERY; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,[52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, AT THE LAST TRUMP: FOR THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.[53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.[54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

The above scripture points out that “we shall all be changed” as the LAST TRUMPET is blown.

MATTHEW 24 [29]IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: [30] And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. [31] And he shall send his angels with A GREAT SOUND OF A TRUMPET, and THEY SHALL GATHER TOGETHER HIS ELECT from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Here we find a trumpet being blown after the tribulation period. No matter how ya figure it, you cannot have the LAST TRUMPET being blown before the tribulation or at mid tribulation if a trumpet is being blown AFTER the tribulation. Yes, the trumpet blown in Matt.24 is the last trumpet of 1Cor.15

ISAIAH 27 [12] And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be GATHERED ONE BY ONE, O ye children of Israel.[13] And it shall come to pass in that day, that THE GREAT TRUMPET SHALL BE BLOWN, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, AND SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD IN THE HOLY MOUNT AT JERUSALEM.

The GREAT trumpet {also found in Matt.24} shall be blown. His people gathered. Its off to Jerusalem. To the kingdom. Not headin for heaven

So. What about it. Is the "last trumpet" really the last trumpet as the scriptures point out. How do the Rapturist get around these scriptures?
I'm not an eschatology buff. I'm a here and now guy. I have read the verbiage of Paul though.

He says the dead will rise first and we all will be snatched simultaneously into the clouds(I hope there is some time to meet and greet the dead in Christ while they're here) to meet a dignitary(Jesus) in the air so this is not His 2nd coming which is after the trib.

Paul also talks of a day of lord(no 'the') indicating that this day has delegated authority to "come like a thief in the night".

Peter, Mr. Color Commentary, also speaks of this day with very colorful imagery. His verbiage suggests that the present sky(authority structures of man) and land(man under authority) will fall like dominos. This speaks of a worldwide economic collapse we can currently see coming like watching a train wreck.

Then Peter knowing this day will "come like a thief in the night" asks, "What manner of man should we be?" Makes ya think!

I think the order is; Day [ ]of-lord; rapture; tribulation; 2nd coming.
 
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Haipule

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Further, the Lord's Last Supper mimics the Jewish custom of marriage proposal.

The man offers the bread. If she eats, she's willing to listen. After the proposal he offers the cup, if she drinks, she accepts the proposal.

Then the man go's away to prepare a place for her. In the fullness of his preparations, he comes back and snatches or, kidnaps her.

After His last supper Jesus said, "I go and prepare a place for you". And He is coming back to snatch us!

Ain't it good?!
 
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BABerean2

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Where is the last trump in the Revelation? It is not even mentioned there. So the it is a 100% pure, unadulterated assumption, that "the last trump" refers to any of the trumpets in the Revelation.

Based on this logic there cannot be a pretrib rapture, because the word "pretrib" "is a 100% pure, unadulterated assumption", that is not found in the Bible.

You must do everything in your power to separate the trumpets in the Book of Revelation from the last trumpet in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, or see your doctrine fall apart.

Therefore, you must claim that the 7th trumpet, which is the last trumpet found in the Bible, is not the "last trumpet" in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, and yet you claim to take the Bible "literally".

.
 
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Biblewriter

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Based on this logic there cannot be a pretrib rapture, because the word "pretrib" "is a 100% pure, unadulterated assumption", that is not found in the Bible.

You must do everything in your power to separate the trumpets in the Book of Revelation from the last trumpet in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, or see your doctrine fall apart.

Therefore, you must claim that the 7th trumpet, which is the last trumpet found in the Bible, is not the "last trumpet" in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, and yet you claim to take the Bible "literally".

.
Any yet you simply ignore the fact that the scriptures explicitly tell us of other trumpets that will be blown after the rapture takes place.
 
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He says the dead will rise first and we all will be snatched simultaneously into the clouds(I hope there is some time to meet and greet the dead in Christ while they're here) to meet a dignitary(Jesus) in the air so this is not His 2nd coming which is after the trib.


Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Would His coming in Hebrews 9:28 be after the tribulation? I feel certain from the text we can call the coming in Hebrews 9 His second.


Is His coming after the tribulation His second , second coming or His first second coming, I am confused???? :scratch:
 
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Any yet you simply ignore the fact that the scriptures explicitly tell us of other trumpets that will be blown after the rapture takes place.

Is this statement not based on the ASSUMPTION that the resurrection and catching up of those that are alive and remain into the clouds, will take place before the 7 trumpets of Revelation? If not what "other trumpets" are we talking about?
 
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Biblewriter

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Is this statement not based on the ASSUMPTION that the resurrection and catching up of those that are alive and remain into the clouds, will take place before the 7 trumpets of Revelation? If not what "other trumpets" are we talking about?
This is a very rational question for someone who has not been following this discussion.

The "last trump" that we have been discussing unquestionably takes place at the time of the rapture, for that is clearly declared in 1 Corinthians 15:52. But what is the meaning of this term "the last trump"?

Does it mean the last trumpet that will ever be blown? Does it mean the last trumpet of the seven trumpets blown in the Revelation? Or does it mean something else?

All the seven trumpets blown in the Revelation are blown either before or at the time when the Lord returns to this earth to judge the wicked. As the seventh could well be interpreted to be blown at the time the Lord comes to judge the wicked, many conclude that this is the same trumpet referred to in 1 Corinthians 15:52. But although it is indeed a reasonable interpretation of Revelation 11:15, that this trumpet is blown at the time the Lord returns to judge the wicked, yet that is an interpretation.

There are numerous theories about when the rapture occurs. some, like myself, conclude it will be before the beginning of Daniel's seventieth week. Others conclude it will take place at the middle of that week. Others think it will be just before the time sometimes called "the wrath," which they see as a seventy-five day period just before the Lord returns to judge the wicked. And others think that it will take place at the same time when the Lord comes to judge the wicked.

Every one of these conclusions is based on interpretations of the meanings of certain scriptures. But we need to stress the word interpretations here. The Bible clearly says that there will be an event that we have come to call "the rapture." But it simply does not say when that event will take place, in regard to other end time events. So all of these conclusions are based on interpretation.

But there is not even one scripture anywhere that provides even the slightest basis for concluding that the rapture will take place after the Lord comes to judge the wicked. Indeed, the error of such an idea as this this idea would be obvious to almost everyone.

So we know that, whenever the rapture takes place, it is no later than the time when the Lord arrives, when He comes to judge the wicked.

But there are two scriptures that unquestionably speak of the time when the Lord is doing this judgment. That is, after the time He has arrived and before He has set up his physical kingdom on this earth. So both of these scriptures unquestionably speak of a time which will be after the rapture. But both of them clearly say that a trumpet will be blown at the time they speak of.

The first of these, Isaiah 27:13, was mentioned in the OP pf this thread. The other such trumpet is in Zechariah 9:14.

Looking at these scriptures in their context, Isaiah 27:12-13 says:

12 And it shall come to pass in that day That the LORD will thresh, From the channel of the River to the Brook of Egypt; And you will be gathered one by one, O you children of Israel. 13 So it shall be in that day: The great trumpet will be blown; They will come, who are about to perish in the land of Assyria, And they who are outcasts in the land of Egypt, And shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem. Isaiah 27:12-13

And Zechariah 9:11-16 says:

11 "As for you also, Because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. 12 Return to the stronghold, You prisoners of hope. Even today I declare That I will restore double to you. 13 For I have bent Judah, My bow, Fitted the bow with Ephraim, And raised up your sons, O Zion, Against your sons, O Greece, And made you like the sword of a mighty man." 14 Then the LORD will be seen over them, And His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord GOD will blow the trumpet, And go with whirlwinds from the south. 15 The LORD of hosts will defend them; They shall devour and subdue with slingstones. They shall drink and roar as if with wine; They shall be filled with blood like basins, Like the corners of the altar. 16 The LORD their God will save them in that day, As the flock of His people. For they shall be like the jewels of a crown, Lifted like a banner over His land-- Zechariah 9:11-16

So what, then, does "the last trump" refer to?

The Revelation had not yet been given at the time 1 Corinthians was written. Scholars estimate the date of 1 Corinthians as between 53 and 57. But most scholars estimate the date of the Revelation as between 92 and 96. So the Revelation seems to have been given about forty years after 1 Corinthians was written.

If the trumpet in 1 Corinthians 15:52 was a direct reference to a scripture that was not given until many years after it was written, this would be the only time that such a thing was done in the entire Bible. It would be unreasonable to assume that this was the meaning of "the last trump" because in that case, it would have been physically impossible for the ones to whom the epistle was originally written to understand what it meant.

But there was another meaning of a last trumpet that was commonly known at the time 1 Corinthians was written. And was commonly known by the people to whom it was written. This was a procedure for calling an army to get moving. First a trumpet was blown to tell them to prepare to move out. Then a second trumpet was blown to tell them to assemble. Then a last trumpet was blown to tell them to actually start moving. This seems to me to be the most likely of these possible meanings. But either of the others might be what it means.

The only thing we can be certain of is that it does not mean that this is the last time the trumpet of God will be blown. And it is unreasonable to assume that it refers to a scripture that was not available to the ones to whom this was originally written.
 
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