Why pre-trib. rapture is correct. Edited 4/15/20.
Part 5:
Trumpet of Victory; and Trumpets of Judgments.
Why do those who believe in the post tribulation rapture attempt to shoe-horn, 1 Corinthians 15:52, into the shoes of the trumpets of judgement we read about in Revelation 8-9-16?
The trumpets of victory and trumpets of God’s judgments are not the same.
Trumpets were blown for every occasion, and spoken of throughout the Scriptures. There are trumpets to call the people to God; trumpets declaring victory over God’s enemies; trumpets that call people to feast days, trumpets that warn of coming judgments.
Let’s compare two events that have a great deal in common. They concern the voice of the trumpet that calls God’s people to Him in Genesis 19:16-19-20, and the call to the bride of Christ, (rapture) to join Jesus in heaven.
Genesis 19:16, “It came to pass — there were thunders and lightnings, — and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; Verse 17, “Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the neither part of the mountain. Verse 19, “When the voice of the trumpet sounded long, Moses spake, and God answered by a voice. Verse 20, The LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.”
Compare with,
1 Thessalonians 4:16, “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: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 15:52-55, “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. Verse 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.”
“Swallowed up,” Trope or Metaphor, To overwhelm, to destroy as in, 1 Corinthians 15:54. Also in English it means to swallow up, as a transitive verb, expressing action that passes from the agent to the object.
Victory: Greek is, nikos. Victory, a later form of victory. 1 Corinthians 15:55, “O grave = (Hades) where is thy victory?” with verse 57, “God — giveth us the victory.” So adverb, victoriously, triumphantly, Matthew 12:20, “Till he (God) send judgement unto victory.” 1 Cororinthians 15:54, “death is swallowed up in victory,” comp with Isaiah 25:8, “He (God) will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces and the rebuke of hid people shall He take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.”
The trumpet that sounds in 1 Corinthians 15, and, 1 Thessalonians 4, are the trumpets of the Lord’s victory over death and hell, and the call to His bride.
This is the rapture of the church to immortality and eternal salvation with their King. The marriage of Jesus Christ to the church will never end. It is the last trumpet blown for the final victory over death and hell. A call for the bride to be taken into heaven with Jesus to the city called holy Jerusalem.
The next time we see the bride of Christ is found in,
Revelation 21:9-10, One of the seven angels came to John and said, “I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. He carried me (John) away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. Verse 24, The nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it.”
The bride of Christ is found in the heavenly Jerusalem with Jesus, not on the earth during the 7 years of tribulation. This was based on the following promises made by Jesus himself in,
John 14:2-3-4, Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: — I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” And,
1 Thessalonians 4:17, “And so shall we ever (always) be with the Lord.”
Another piece of evidence showing that Jesus is in heaven during the 7 years of tribulation;
Revelation 15:8, “The temple (in heaven) was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power.”
We see the glory of Jesus in the temple of heaven when the last (7th) trumpet which is the wrath of God is sent to the earth, chapter 16.
The trumpets of Judgment:
Revelation 8-9-16, we read of the 7 angels having the 7 trumpets. These are the seven trumpets of judgement sent to the earth by God’s holy angels.
You can read about the judgments of the first six angels yourself in chapters 8-9 of Revelation. The sixth angels sounds in, Revelation 9:13.
The sounding of the seventh trumpet:
Revelation 10:7, “In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished.”
Note the word “Days,” in Revelation 10:7, It refers to, Time, in general; of a point or period of time; Sequel, to follow. Also as genitive or primarily the thing from which something else proceeds, “This thy day,” or in this thy time, whilst thou yet livest etc. “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day,” or my time, the time of my manifestation. Of thing, “Day of his shewing” or (manifestation)” “Day of salvation.” “Day of temptation” “Day of visitation.”
Revelation 9:13, “Days of the voice (trumpet) of the seventh angel.”
Note also the word Voice” In Revelation 10:7, It is a sound, a tone, as given forth or uttered. Generally and spoken of things; as of a trumpet or other instrument. Matthew 24:31,
“Great sound of a trumpet.”
The mystery of God is the theme of the little book given to John in heaven; the scheme of redemption once hidden in the secret counsel of God are now revealed; the return of the Son of God for his bride, the judgment of the wicked, the establishing of the kingdom and the destruction of Satan.
The seventh angel sounds the trumpet that introduces the seven bowl judgments of God’s wrath as described in Rev.16.
Revelation 11:15, “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.”
Revelation 21:9, “There came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues,” this at the last trumpet, or sounding of God’s judgment.
Here is further evidence that the pre-tribulation rapture is correct.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com