The Last Trumpet
In studying all of the scriptures pertaining to Bible prophesy concerning the end of this age and the beginning of the Kingdom we recognize certain sign-posts to establish just which events are being played out. I consider the Seven Trumpets most important in placing us in the time frame of when the Great Tribulation ends and the terrible Day of the Lord begins. Each trumpet blast announces literal and symbolic warning signs to all of the inhabitants of the earth. These judgments, many in the form of threes or thirds, come forth bringing the consequences of mankind’s rebellion with a warning to repent. The warning specifically goes out to the inhabitants of the “camp”, those who follow the true God, to consecrate themselves unto YHWH and then conquer the enemy. He who has ears to hear will respond. It is probable that these trumpets will not be sounding a call that can be heard in the natural realm but the spiritual. Many say that the trumpets are the voices of the prophets who receive revelation knowledge.
Each trumpet that sounds a warning as recorded in Revelation chapters 8 through 11 brings spiritual and physical repercussions. I am only going to share in depth about the Last Trumpet because it is such a significant, pivotal event. To establish the framework of the mystery revealed at the Last Trumpet; note that it is sounded at the dividing line between the Tribulation and the Wrath of God. This is where the Elect remnant are gathered into His presence; Matthew 24:30-31. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all of the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and glory 31 And he will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. His elect are those who have become mature and completed in their calling and have put on the glory covering of Yahweh.
Many believers have lumped the tribulation and wrath scriptures together believing that they represent one group of events. We need to see why they are separate and bring different levels of experiences. The Great Tribulation comes first and then the Wrath of God before the Kingdom appears - is manifested fully in the earth. The final Tribulation period is a catylist, a time of fiery trials, to bring about the purification of the Saints. God’s wrath comes upon the sons of disobedience as well as those who are Satan’s disciples; Eph.5:6. I would suggest that the Tribulation causes an awakening in many of God’s own people who will realize how far off they have gone from obeying His original plan as the events of prophesy unfold. Those who wash their robes in the Great Tribulation are seen, presented before His throne, after the elect are sealed; Rev 7:14. Natural and spiritual consequences are about to escalate because of man’s choices to kill, steal and destroy the earth and it’s inhabitants. Yet, the Father waits until the elect have been perfected to bring full judgment forth. Remember that mercy truimphs over judgment.
All of chapter 11 of the book of Revelation shares the final preparations and testimonies bringing about the Seventh Trumpet. The two witnesses are given opportunity for a final show of not just great miracles but resurrection power. After being persecuted and killed they are allowed to rise up into the presence of the Father showing that their works and hearts were pleasing to YHWH. The elect ones will be scorned by the “earthly minded” because they will bring conviction and shame to those who still want to “party” rather than repent of their evil deeds. The faithful ones have learned to appropriate by faith the greater works of Christ returning to the place of status/stature of the first Adam and inheriting the heavenly realm of the second Adam. The proclamation, “Christ in me the hope of glory” is completed in this elect remnant. It is as if all of the hosts of heaven are focused upon this magnificent revealing of Spiritual attainment that has transformed them. Heaven waits breathlessly to hear the announcement of the restoration of all things in heaven and earth, making way for the Kingdom.
When the Seventh Trumpet calls forth the elect, (the mature in Christ), they will have obtained to the glory of the Lord represented as the incorruptible state. These are the manifest Sons of God who are caught up to the throne of Yahweh. They have completed the mission, having been led by the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit and transformed into His image in truth and grace. Many are called but few are chosen is the reason for only a remnant of overcomers coming into their spititual completion. As full partakers of the Divine Nature of God, they are now fit to usher in the Kingdom Age. The Last Trumpet announces the ending of the time of testing/chastening that has brought purification and perfection to the Saints (sanctified ones). This declaration is at the pinnacle; the fulfillment of the Mystery of God in His faithful ones. What Christ completed on the cross becomes finished in the natural realm; on earth as it is in heaven (the spirit). Position becomes possession in literal experience. Realize that what is already done in the Spiritual abides in us so we must make ourselves able to do what we say we believe.
Another repeated phenomenon will happen at this crossroads of time. In Matthew 24:29 (see also Is.13:10; Joel 2:10-11; Zeph.1:15 where we read of this event). Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give it’s light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.31 And he will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. In the book of Revelation each trumpet has a great effect upon the world and the earth.
The great earth quake, (Rev. 11:13) signals the change from one age to the next. This same testimony was seen during Jesus’ crucifixion. The sky turned very dark when he gave up his spirit in death. Immediately, there was a great earthquake and the curtain of the sanctuary (a woven tapestry between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies) in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Many testified that they saw the resurrected “saints of old” walking the streets of Jerusalem. I believe that the earthquake is a repeated sign coming again at the next resurrection manifestation. As this happens in the fullness of time The kingdoms of the world become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ... declaring that the Kingdom of God is now reality in the earth. There are amny times in the Bible that we see a manifestaion pattern or event repeated on different levels.
The faithful remnant who have overcome (the world, devil, and flesh) will now rule and reign with Christ/Messiah for one thousand years. The Millenium Kingdom is now appearing upon the earth. This proclamation coincides with the elect being gathered and then the ensuing period called the wrath of God. He has stated that He would not want any to perish but all to come into repentance. Those who have overcome (the world, devil and flesh) will rule and reign with Christ for one thousand years. We must be changing from glory to glory now to obtain to the resurrection, confirmed in Romans 5:17; For if by one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
The patterns/symbolisms of many future prophetic scriptures are in the Fall Feasts of the Lord. Christ and the disciples of the early church experienced a fulfillment of the Spring feasts of Passover through Pentecost. We can connect this last period of time at the end of this age preceding the Kingdom with the ongoing celebration of the Feast of Trumpets to be completed in it’s fullness at a specific point in time. In Hebrew heritage the trumpets called together the people for a Holy Convocation or if they were sounded when there was danger approaching. In this case it is being used for both. Sometimes we see a brass or silver horn being blown but the tradition is a ram’s horn/Shofar used throughout the centuries. This great gathering is to bring together the Elect of God and to warn the whole camp that they must come out of the world systems so they won’t be judged with them. Community in which are found unity will also give immunity in the days ahead. While drawing close to God and each other I believe that there is Divine protection. The watchmen on the wall are shouting a message of warning even louder now as Babylon falls i.e. the whole corrupt financial-political-religious system.
The Day of Atonement (also where the trumpets are blown) that follows the Feast of Trumpets will be literally accomplished as Yahweh’s glory/mercy fills His elect ones. Traditionally there was a preparation time of solemn soul-searching for ten days before the harvest celebrations to bring godly sorrow and the fruits of repentance. On the Day of Atonement the sins of all the people for that year were put under the blood. Keeping a clean slate with God and each others is mandatory for true fellowship. In Jewish tradition the ram was used to bear the guilt and sin of the people. When Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac the Lord provided the ram caught in the thicket as his substitute and type of Christ. . Sinless perfection is God’s “jubilee proclamation” of freedom in His Spirit. Death, the wages of sin, is swallowed up by eternal life. The Overcomers who have been faithful, who keep the Law of Love will be rewarded with the ability to receive immortality as the Kingdom comes forth. Note that resurrection is a higher state than the “glory covering” also called incorruptible.
When the Sons of God/ Elect come forth at the Last Trumpet they will experience the redemption of their bodies which shows their attainment to a sinless state. It is also indicative, symbolically, of the Jubilee Year (every fiftieth) where all those who had been sold into slavery went free and the land that had been sold was returned to it’s rightful owner. We have obviously forgotten the truth contained in the keeping of these Holy Days and years. We are all so easily offended. Few forgive their debtors as they have been forgiven, especially if money is involved. Most are forgetting the warning that a root of bitterness will defile God’s chosen children. The Father of Mercies seen through Jesus/Yahshus as the embodiment of this celebration sets the captives free, declaring the acceptable year of the Lord as read in Isaiah chapter 61.
The angel of the Lord told John to measure the temple of God in Rev. chapter 11 verses 1-2. Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood saying,“rise and measure the temple of God, the altar and those who worship there.2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple,and do not measure it,for it is given to the gentiles and they will tread it underfoot for forty four months”. See also Zechariah 2:1. This could be done literally at a new temple built in Jerusalem-time will tell. I feel that this is mainly symbolic and spiritual in it’s essence for we are now the temple of the Holy Spirit not made with hands; built and filled with grace. Gentiles were considered unclean so figuratively this represents the type of the flesh that will be tested while the spirit (inner man ) remains true to the Lord. This attitude of surrender daily at the altar is our living sacrifice and includes a pure heart towards YHWH and our brethren. The pure in heart are going to see God. We must be presented faultless before the Throne.
To truly walk in authority in God’s domain takes the humility of a servant. Most of those whom YHWH choses to bring His word and lead His people are not those that man would chose. The explanation is forthright in Eph 2, 20-22 showing that we are...built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus being the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 23 in whom you also are built spiritually into a dwelling place for God. This five-fold foundation is underneath holding up the rest through an attitude of self-sacrifice. We must get rid of the hierarchy we call the church government. In fact I am certain that most of what we call our belief system will need to be totally rebuilt as the truth is revealed.
We must continually seek the Father, “that we would know the depth, breadth, length and height of the love of Christ that passes knowledge; that we might be filled with the fullness of God”. This will manifest not only in doing the works of Christ but having Divine Nature abide in us bringing total sanctification and redemption. Compassion is much more important than being motivated with a passion that can drive a person to defend or promote a cause. Each believer is representative of being the temple of God yet many do not allow the completion of sanctification to become a Holy habitation unto the Lord. The five-fold ministry of Divine Government will be operational until we come into this fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ. This destiny of perfection in Christ has been lost from the message of the gospel.
Those who would want to become totally pure and Holy before Yahweh will have to endure the fires of affliction that will bring them forth as pure gold. Malachi expresses this very clearly; "who shall abide the day of His coming and who shall stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and a fuller's soap." I had a friend who had a visions about being put in the clothes dryer which made perfect sense to me. After we are washed clean (by the water of the word) without any spots then we can be made wrimkle free. If we believe we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, then we need to understand just what is being measured and why. This is why I’m not very exited about seeing the physical temple being rebuilt before the return of Christ when the Lord is more concerned with the spiritual one. It’s this temple that will be filled with the glory of the Lord again.
There is no reason to hold on to something that has passed away in 70 AD when we have a better covenant and a greater witness in the “flesh”. This pertains to our treasure in earthen vessels; God’s glory abiding in His people. Yahweh’s presence is greater when believers worship and fellowship in unity. We need to find how to appropriate what we already have inside of us. We are told to MAINTAIN the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. When we worship together we are magnifying His presence as He manifests Himself in us. We should living outside the box (meaning the building) ministering in our own communities with power like the first century believers did. People becoming healed in Peter’s shadow is the confirmation that he walked in the manifestation of glory.
I will add here that the testimony of the dedication of Solomon's Temple is significant. We read in II Chronicles 5:11-14 where the Lord's presence was magnified in this literal example of the temple being filled with the glory of the Lord. It was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and when the song was raised with the trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise of the Lord, “For He is good and His mercy endures forever,” the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; because the glory of the Lord filled the house of God. As the singers and priests were ministering to the Lord (and the people) they sang in unity, in one accord. Every week we pray that our sins (debts or tresspasses) will be forgiven as we forgive, without much thought to what it really means. Mercy triumphs over judgment. SELAH
The people could not stand because of the glory cloud that filled the temple. We see this has happened in some of the revivals that have appeared in several places in the past few centuries. These events were brought about through the diligent prayers of faithful followers of the Almighty. Eventually, they have waned and things have gone back to how they were before people desired the presence of God to come in their midst. We have a great lesson to learn from these example as "temples not made with hands". In the first century church there was communion in the presence of the Lord as they met from house to house. When theywere under persecution from Rome and other political or religious factions their unified prayers caused the ground to shake beneath them. Our faith is always supposed to be through "relationship rather than religion". We are to live this example daily as His royal Priesthood and Holy nation. We present our bodies daily as a living sacrifice upon the “altar” of our hearts.
Glory is the evidence of God’s mercy that emanates from Yahweh’s presence in His people, (the spirits of just men made perfect). We can’t claim to have finished His perfect will if we have not been transformed/translated into His glorious image. As our lives are changed from the inside out through the indwelling Spirit we will accomplish the experience of Jesus upon the mountain of the Transfiguration. The veil (of flesh) that hindered, has been torn/removed as further manifestation of the veil that was rent in the physical Temple at the moment of Christ's sacrifice. It was ripped into two pieces from top to bottom as the work of the atonement was completed upon the cross. Jesus our Passover was revealed in that moment as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.
I believe that 2 Corinthians verse 3 shows us true worship and is an exhortation to seek His face as we learn to dwell fully in the Spirit while beholding Him. Many of you have realized that there is a spiritual mountain that is in the heavenly realm that is visited through obtaining holiness. I emphasize that this is the work of salvation/sanctification of the Holy Spirit, continually. The baptism of the Spirit (and fire) is not just a one time experience but a life giving saturation that ever increases to fullness in Him - His fullness in us. The regeneration of our spirit represented as the rebirth brought the Holy Spirit to abide in our inner man; the Holy of Holies. This dwelling place of the Father is manifested further as we yield to Him. The temple in Ezekiel is the representation of this greater work.
Our "soul man" symbolizes the Holy Place that is being renewed/transformed as we become completed in Christ. If we are faithful to overcome our carnal life in the flesh to walk in the Spirit, we will experience the redemption of our bodies; the hope of glory. Not all will become like Jesus,. Only a remnant will perform the greater works. He fulfilled his mission; he is waiting for us to complete ours through his victorious Body in the earth. Therefore having been justified by faith I have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that but we rejoice in tribulations knowing that tribulation produces perseverance 4 and perseverance character; and character hope.5 Now hope does not disappoint,because the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us, (Romans chapter 5: 1-5).
We should actually be working to restore the Tabernacle of David as it is a necessary key to bringing us into the worship that is going to change us into His glorious likeness. This is where praise and worship flowed 24-7 as the singers and musicians served the Lord day and night in continual flow of anointing. The book of Romana states that this will be restored before the Kingdom is made manifest in the earth. Whether in a literal place or not we all have the ability and necessity to abide in His presence and see His glory revealed. In our assemblies we need to minister to the Lord first, then the anointed gifts are quickened; given His life and power to operate. This worship of Spirit and Truth is important in our spiritual growth that comes through directed focus upon the Lord.
Those who abide/dwell in His presence are renewed and edified in the Spirit while His Truth sets people free. There are examples in the Old Testament where a minstrel was called to play when the prophet needed to receive the Word of the Lord and can happen in our assemblies today if we make opportunities. As David sang before Saul, (and the evil spiritsthat were tormenting him left) we will see deliverance and healing magnified through the anointing that breaks the yoke of bondage. Most places I have been in stop before entering into the manifestation of His presence with prophetic gifts and signs and wonders following. This prevents us from gaining the power to overcome and become mature. Flesh cannot deliver and redeem flesh. We must be touched by the Spirit; transformed and set free.
Many acknowledge praise as being the habitation of the Lord but few have truly entered into the reverent solemnity that the presence of Yahweh manifests, Isaiah 30: 29. We will soon know new heights of joy and awe as this experience of worship in SPirit and Truth is restored to the Church. Sometimes weepingas well as laughing comes forth in repentance and deliverance, but can be a part of our joy. When we worship in the Presence of Yahweh silence is especially appropriate. The Father must be honored with respect. We must be quiet enough to hear the Still Small Voice as He anoints the members of the Body to move in their gifts and callings.
An example in recent history is the testimony of George Fox, the founder of the Quaker church, who waited upon the Lord for even hours before he opened his mouth to preach. He discerned the anointing before he ministered. Learning to behold the Lord and focus upon Him alone takes a concerted effort at first but at some point the worshipper will merge into the higher place of His manifest presence. The things of this earthly realm disappear and we are ushered into the experience of heavenly places. This is what the fear (respect) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom means. Caleb knew how to quiet the people before the Lord. Perhaps this is why he was able to act upon His Word in obedience and receive entrance into the promised land. God reveals His will as we yield/submit to Him individually and corporately
A few years ago I was given this directive from the throne; “ You may enter my gates with thanksgiving and my courts with praise but you will not ‘boogie’ in My Holy of Holies.” It seems that people want to whoop it up and actually grieve the Holy Spirit with a soulish mentality not much different than that found at a football game. This has even happened when there has been a prophetic word or song and everyone starts clapping and yelling. This is not pleasing to the Lord and hinders the true work of His Spirit. We must have the right attitude when waiting before the Father with sensitivity to His presence i.e. worship in Spirit and Truth. We will then see other ways of expression in the Body ministry such as weeping, repentance and intercession come forth in balance. I have only been in an assembly a few times where those present have been able to enter into the more deep things of the Lord in the anointed music ministry. Most of these happened in a house/cell group.
As I shared before, the glorified body is the covering that was lost when Adam “fell”. This original level of holiness (incorruptibility) allowed Adam to commune with God in the Garden of Eden. This must be restored in our experience as believers to make us fit for the rewards of the Kingdom and return to the habitation of the Third Heaven/Paradise and God’s presence. Those who overcome, becoming partakers of His manifest glory receive the promises given to the faithful, mature, remnant/Sons of God. These include to rule with a rod of iron; receive the morning star; partake of the hidden manna and be given a white stone with a new name written upon it. They may eat of the tree of Life and will be clothed in white robes. Their names will not be blotted from the Book of Life. They are pillars in the temple of God with His Holy name and New Jerusalem written upon them. Like Christ, who overcame in all things, received this attainment, they’ll take their place of authority at the Father’s throne. This should inspire us to complete our calling in all Holiness, with the fear of the Lord.
Those who expect to automatically rule and reign with Christ need to contemplate the warnings given to the seven churches shown in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Each one had something that was not correct and that they were to repent of. The vision of perfection through obedience has been ignored or lost from the smooth message of the man-pleasing pulpits. When we accomplish the whole law in the perfection of Christ then we will dwell in the spirit fully in the glorified/incorruptible state. We must go on to perfection as mature Sons to be received/approved by the Father. This is the warning that the seven trumpeta are sounding throughout the scriptures. The Feast of the Lord confirm these things.