Trumpet of God
Trumpet of God
A few weeks ago we observed Passover and the seven days of Unleavened Bread at God's appointed time. These were God's first and second important steps in His seven step plan for mankind's salvation. The up-coming third step in God's plan is called “Pentecost” or “count fifty.” This third step is also recognized in God's word as the Feast of Harvest, or the Feast of Weeks.
In our quest for truth, concerning the Feast of Pentecost, we always keep in mind 1 Thess. 5:21. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” In order to do this, we need to take a fresh look at the Feast of First fruits or Pentecost - without going back over old understanding. With a prophetic Holy Day like Pentecost, we must understand it correctly in order to avoid confusion with our understanding of the plan of God. In addition, it is necessary to place predicted events in their right relationship one with another. It is only through painstaking research and study of the scriptural text within its context, that anyone can hope to be able to properly understand the exact meaning and relevance of each Holy Day.
The Apostle Paul reminds us through his letter to Timothy, “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed , rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). When we do this, the result is an amazing unfolding of God's planned events which are soon destined to transpire.
It should be noted that whenever we draw attention to truth and the facts of prophecy, we are often met with doubt and skepticism; yet there is no subject more fascinating than truth and prophecy - particularly the forecasting of the future for God's
people and world events.
There are four things about truth and prophecy we need to understand: One, prophecy in God's word has not been given to man to make them “prophets.” Two, prophecy in God's word, is for the purpose of confirming His word. Three, prophecy is to enable men who walk by faith to know and recognize the truth. Four, prophecy is an important part of God's revelation to His called out people - His chosen first fruits.
It is because of prophecy, Paul could say, “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that day should overtake you as a thief. You are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober”(1 Thess. 5:1-6). It sounds very much like Paul is speaking of the 5 wise virgins of Matthew 25. It is only the children of light who will be watchful and fully informed of truth and prophesied events!
Another thing we need to keep in mind: there are three necessary factors that must be recognized in order to accurately date truth and prophetic fulfillment. These are: Time, Place, and Event. The time of occurrence and the place where it happens is important, but to these two must beadded the predicted events. Events must occur at the exact junction of time and place. If any one of these three factors is missing, the particular prophecy is not in the process of fulfillment!
When speaking of prophesied events like Pentecost, we must keep in mind what Peter told us, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21). And we know from 1 Cor. 13:8, “ prophecy can fail [cease or be rendered useless]”
In First Corinthians 5, which was written by Paul just before the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, verse 6 starts with, “Your glorying is not good, know you not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that you maybe a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the Unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (vs. 7-8). Paul is saying that we are to purge out the old leaven: our old sins and old ways; along with our old human reasoning and thinking. We must be lead by God's Spirit and word, and put on God's way of thinking. Then, just as Christ was accepted by God as the First of the firstfruits on wave sheaf Sunday in A.D.33; when we willingly submit to God and His authority; as Gods firstfruits, we too will be accepted on the day of Pentecost.
God also inspired Paul to write in his first letter to the Corinthians, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40). And in verse 33, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” With that thought in mind, it comes as no surprise that God has carefully listed His appointed times or Holy Days for us in Leviticus 23. They outline God's master plan for the salvation of all mankind in the form of seven annual festivals.
The first step given is Passover - the first of God's commanded annual festivals. Passover pictures Christ's sacrifice of His life's blood for our sins. He became our Passover in order to reconcileus to God. We also may receive healing, because of His stripes (beating). The second step in God's plan is the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This observance, impresses upon us that we must strive not to return to the sins Christ paid for with His shed blood. God's third step, "Pentecost" is called by different names in the Bible: the Feast of Harvest, the Feast of Weeks, or the Feast of First Fruits; all of which refer to, or are associated with the spring wheat harvest. With all these different names, could there be more to this Feast of First Fruits than we have been taught?
Let's look at Leviticus 23 now, where Christ is pictured in the barley wave sheaf offering, as the First of the first fruits, who was accepted by God the Father on the first day of the week, Sunday. Pentecost, the first fruits story, starts in verse 15 of Lev. 23. “And you shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete: even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall you number fifty days; and you shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. You shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven ; they are the first-fruits unto the Lord” (Lev. 23:15-17).
In verses 20-21, it is still talking about Pentecost, “And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the First -fruits for a wave offering before the Lord, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the Lord for the priest. And you shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: you shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.”
We can glean from the context of verses10-21, especially vs. 15-16, that it is talking about weekly Sabbaths, not the first High Day. Since we count from the morrow after the weekly Sabbath that falls within the seven days of Unleavened Bread; Pentecost will always be on a Sunday, or the first day of the week. God takes no offense that the modern first day of the week is named after the “Sun,” anymore than He is bothered that the 7th day Sabbath falls on the day of “Saturn!” God is not swayed or bound by human devised calendars!
Christ was historically offered to God andaccepted as the First of the first fruits on wave sheaf Sunday, A.D. 33, and Christ's called and chosen brothers and sisters will become born again first fruits on another Sunday much later: Pentecost. In verse 17 we read these two leavened wave loaves are considered the “ first fruits unto the Lord.” What is the definition of “first fruits?” When speaking of strictly physical “fruits,” the word “first fruits” in the Old Testament is from Strong's #1061. It speaks only of physical fruit offered to God, like grain, fruit, nuts, etc. When speaking of the Spiritual side, first fruits in the Old Testament, is from Strong's #7225/ 7218, meaning “1.) Chiefest first fruits; 2.) Highest part of Priest; 3.) The head; 4.) Ruler; 5.) Beginning of Kingdom; 6.) First earliest of Nations; 7.) First of fruits; 8.) Phase, step or element in course of events of a thing; 9.) First season-spring; 10.) Chief; 11.) Choicest part.”
The New Testament definition of “first fruit's” are coded in Strong's # 536/ 756, meaning “1.) Used of persons consecrated to God; leading the rest in time; 2.) Used of persons superior in excellence to others of the same class; 3.) Those who have the first fruits of future blessings in the spirit; 4.) To be the first to do anything - to begin; 5.) To be chief, leader, or ruler.” These definitions are taken from Thayer's Greek Lexicon and New Brown-Driver, Briggs, Hebrew, Lexicon Copyright 1993.
As God's spiritual Temple ( 1 Cor. 3:16 ), we must look at God's Word in a spiritual way and not a physical way. Metaphorically, God uses the Spring and Fall agriculture harvests as symbolic types of His spiritual harvests! The two leavened wave loaves made from spring wheat, represent two separate “first-fruit” groups of people. Leviticus 23:17 clearly states that the two leavened loaves are the “first fruits unto the Lord.” What this tells us is we have been predestined to be called as first fruits and will be accepted as the Lord's first fruits on the day of Pentecost. These two loaves, representing two groups of firstfruits, still have leaven in them, because they represent human beings with a physical nature yet in them. They are not perfect yet, but have been reconciled to God through Christ (Rom. 5:10) and have received the gift of God's Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). These two groups are also written about in the Apostle John's end time vision in Revelation 12. There we read of two different groups of people that are much like what we have experienced seeing this year at Passover: One group kept Passover at God's appointed time, as we are shown in Numbers 9, verse 2 and 3: “Let the children of Israel also keep the Passover at His appointed season. [appointed time]. In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, you shall keep it in his appointed season: [appointed time] according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall you keep it.” The second group of first fruit kept the second Passover, but even then not at its appointed time, because of their postponements! 2 Chronicles chapter 30: tells us why many missed the first appointed spring Passover: “For the King had taken counsel, and his Princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the Passover in the second month. For they could not keep it at [its appointed] time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 30:2-3). This clear example shows us why the people today, in 2005, were absent at God's Passover and as a result, did not come under the protection of Christ's redeeming blood.
One predestined group will go to a place of protection - maybe to become the Bride of Christ, while the other group goes through the Great Tribulation. We read of these two groups in Revelation 12: “And to the woman [that represents a church] were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the Wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time [3 ½ yrs], from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth” (Rev. 12:14-16).
The next verse, verse 17, speaks of the second called out group of firstfruits that keeps the commandments and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed,which keep the Commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Why did this second group not go to a place of safety? Could it be because they did not keep God's appointed time; so they missed coming under the redeeming blood of Christ? Speaking of those who went to a place of safety, they “Overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Rev. 12:11). Those that John calls the “remnant” in verse 17, are also recognized in Revelation 7 as the other 144,000 along with the mixed multitude. These people have to go through the Great Tribulation, but God seals them after the sixth seal, so they will not have to endure God's wrath, that starts after the 7th seal.
We might indulge in a little speculation at this point: It appears that those first qualified first fruits, are taken to the place of protection after the 4th seal. It's quite possible that this could occur on God third step: Pentecost! This group will not have to go through the Great tribulation of Satan nor the 6th trumpet plague. But as I said, we are engaging in a bit of speculation; this is not etched in granite! When you think about it brethren, no matter how much you believe in one theory of eschatology over another, it is still speculation until it is fulfilled!
But God does give us some clues; clues that we may have been overlooking. One key is understanding the meaning of the term “mystery” that God uses throughout His word, the Bible! There is a mystery of the kingdom of heaven. There is a mystery of Israel's blindness during this age. A mystery of the translation of living saints at the end of this age; the mystery of the New Testament church. A mystery of the church as the Bride of Christ and a mystery of God and Christ. A “mystery” in God's word is a previously hidden truth now being divinely revealed!
In the book of Revelation, the book of revealing, trumpets play a major role during God's three “woes” at the end of this age. John tells us, “And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets” (Rev. 8:2). These seven trumpets are given by God to the seven angels to blow during the time of God's wrath. They bring on the three “woes.” Strong' s # 4536 and 4537give us the meaning of these seven trumpets: “1). Trumpets which sounds at God's command; 2). The trumpet which sounds at the last day; 3). Makes a great noise about to every bodies ears; 4). Do a thing with a flourish of trumpets.” These definitions are taken from Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament by Baker.
Let's look at a couple of verses that use the term “mystery.” Remember the definition: A “mystery” in God's word is a previously hidden truth now being divinely revealed. Christ told His disciples of one of those mysteries in Matthew 13, “And the disciples came, and said unto Him, 'why speak You unto them in parables?' He answered and said unto them, 'because it is given unto you To know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever has not, from him shall be taken away even that he has. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand'” (Matt. 13:10-13). Understanding was one of the things the 5 foolish virgins of Matthew 25 did not have! That is why they were told to go “ Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding” (Prov 23 :23).
This word “mystery” is expressed again in 1 Cor. 15:51, where in my Bible, the paragraph subtitle says "Mystery of the resurrection": “Behold, I shew you a mystery; [a hidden truth] we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Cor.15:51-53).
Paul writes again in a letter on this subject to the church in Thessalonica. The paragraph subtitle over this section of scripture in my Bible reads "The revelation of the translation of the church." “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, [something is about to be revealed] concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say untoyou by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: wherefore comfort one another with these words. And so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess.4:13-18).
These two sets of scripture I Cor. 15 and 1 Thess. 4, are not the last trumpet of Rev.11:15 that the seventh angels blows! Let's look at Rev.11:15: “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev.11:15). This trumpet designates or signals the end of this age. The two groups mentioned in 1 Cor. 15 and 1 Thess.4, are distinguished by the terms “dead” and “we.” The dead shall be raised incorruptible and the we which are alive, shall be changed. The term “dead” refers to those who have died in Christ. The term “we” refers to those who are still living at the time of this particular resurrection. Why do we say the trumpet found in 1 Cor.15 and 1 Thess. 4, is not the 7th trumpet of Rev.11:15? Read verse 16 of 1 Thess. 4 again: “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump [trumpet] of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thess. 4:16). Notice: that only one trumpet will be sounded: “ the trumpet of God!” This is not the trumpet s (plural), He gave to the seven angels to blow. We can find God's trumpet being discussed in Numbers 10. “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Make you two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt you make them: that you may use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to you at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto you” (Num.10:1-4). “Princes
which are the head” is Strong's # 7218 which means:
“1). Captain; 2). Chief-est; 3). Man; 4). First; 5). Fore-front; 6). Leader; 7). Rulers; 8). Priests.” These titles describe God's first fruits!
Now let's read the Hebrew definitions of the trumpet of God found in Strong's #2689: “1). Used by watchmen, priest and leaders; 2). To gather a congregation together; 3). To gather over a sacrifice; 4). To sound an alarm - esp. to gather at a festival; 5). For gathering in Christ; 6). Description of ceremonies at festivals; 7). To express rejoicing.” These definitions for the trumpet of God are from The New Brown-Driver- Briggs-Gesenius Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old Testament, by J.P. Green.
The 7th trumpet of God's wrath, blown by the angels of the Book of Revelation, does not represent the “trump of God” used in 1 Cor.15 or in 1 Thess 4. This understanding about the trumpet of God reveals the mystery of these verses!
Because of the special emphasis given to the blowing of trumpets on the first day of the seventh sacred month, many have assumed that this day, known as the Feast of Trumpets, marks the time when the summons to the “Marriage Supper” is most likely to occur. What is overlooked, however, is the fact that the day was marked by the blowing of trumpets [plural], summoning the congregation of the people to assemble, and not the blowing of one trumpet, summoning the rulers alone!
The Importance of Pentecost
Israel received the Ten Commandments at the time of the inauguration of the very first Pentecost. Fifty days after the Passover and Exodus from Egypt. It was therefore fitting that centuries later, following the Passover crucifixion of Jesus Christ and being accepted by the Father, that fifty days later the Holy Spirit was given and the Church was born at Jerusalem. At that time the disciples were endued with power that would enable them and all that came after them to keep and observe the requirements of the Ten Commandments. In following the steps of God's plan of salvation, it is only natural that on the Feast of Firstfruits God will accept the two wave loaves to become the Spirit being sons of God.
To recap for a study:
1. The two wave loaves of bread are called “first fruits” that were accepted by the Lord on the day of Pentecost.
2. The two wave loaves express two separate first fruit groups that are spoken of in a variety of ways in the New Testament.
3. The most prominent being the five wise and five foolish virgins of Matthew 25.
4. The five wise virgins go to a place of safety [Rev.12:13-14]. This group is redeemed by the blood of Christ [Rev. 12:11]. While the five foolish virgins called the “Remnant” in Rev. 12:17 stay behind and go through Satan's wrath, called the Great Tribulation!
5. There are two 144,000 groups. One is called “Firstfruits” [Rev. 14:4]. And the other group of 144,000 are called servants [Rev. 7:3]. The 144,000 group that are called “Firstfruits” in Rev. 14:4, go to a place of safety [protection] after the four horsemen of Revelation 6_ the horses that bring deception, war, famine and pestilence. The mixed multitude and the other 144,000 group called “servants” are sealed after going through the great tribulation and heavenly signs [Rev. 7:14]. Then at the end of the sixth seal they are taken to the place of safety and join up with those that have been in the place of protection for the past two and one half years of Satan's wrath! [See Isa. 33:14-17,19; Isa 26:16-21].
Rev 8:1, tells us there is a space of “half an hour” before the seventh angel sounds the 7th and last trumpet. Perhaps we will be resurrected on the festival of Pentecost at the same time as the two witnesses - at the end of the sixth trumpet (Rev.11:12-14). Then, on God's fourth step, we will come back to earth with Christ after that space of “half an hour,” on the day of Trumpets, which does happen at the angels 7th trumpet blast! “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are WITH HIM are called, and chosen, and faithful!” (Rev.17:14).
Remember, time, place and event! The time of occurrence is important, the place where it happens is important, and to these two, must be added the predicted event. And this has to occur at the exact junction of time and place. If any one of these three factors is missing the particular prophecy is not in the process of fulfillment.
James Russell
PENTECOST_ FEAST OF FIRSTFRUITS_ FEAST OF WEEKS
The day of Pentecost or Firstfruits is a sign. It identifies those who have God's Holy Spirit, those who are God's elect, those who will be accepted by the Father on day fifty! “And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest...”(Ex 34:22). “Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD” (Lev 23:17).
THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS IS NOT A HARVEST FEAST!
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