Charles E.
Wigg
The Feast Of
Trumpets: Verses 24 & 25 are set aside in this chapter to describe the
Feast of Trumpets. It is thought by many to refer to the coming of the Lord at
the rapture, but though the Trump of the Lord is mentioned specifically on that
occasion, yet the Trumpet is mentioned in connection with several events, which
we may specify as follows:
1) As a warning.
(1 Corinthians 14: 8)
2) As a proclamation, or declaration. (Isaiah
58:1)
3) As a triumph causing Jubilation, (1 Corinthians 15: 52, 1
Thessalonians 4: 16)
Let us then look at No
1, the warning. This is first seen at Jericho, where the continuous blast of the
Ram’s horn trumpets was a warning to the unbelieving inhabitants of that city,
that the stout wall in which they trusted was about to fall, it was to be
brought down by the faith of the people in the power of God, and by their
obedience to His word.
In the same way we
should be active in warning the World that has rejected our Saviour of the
terrible judgement that is pending. Soon this world is to witness a judgement so
terrible that if its days were not cut short, then no flesh would be spared. Let
us not be slow to warn the world of this terrible impending judgement. God is
warning lost men faithfully about this coming judgement. The recent terrible
Tsunami is an evidence of this, as well as the prevalence of HIV Aids. Yet how
quickly men forget, because though the population of Sri Lanka in the coastal
areas was greatly diminished by the wrath of God through that terrible event, (
the Tsunami), yet even now those who were spared by God’s mercy are once again
killing each other.
Then we must warn men
of the terrible result of rejecting God’s salvation in this life. Or even of
neglecting to receive His Son as their Saviour. Hell is a terrible reality, and
it awaits the Christ rejecter at the end of their physical life. Let not the
trumpet give an uncertain sound. Let us not fail to warn lost men of the reality
of eternal punishment! It would be well for us to be reminded of our solemn
responsibility towards the lost, whether they are Christian, Hindu, Buddhist,
Muslim or whatever.
Let us now look at the
second of our group of three. When we think of the wonder of the salvation that
God has secured for us, (at such a cost to Himself), we might well rejoice with
joy unspeakable, and be filled with the glory. We can rightly be jubilant with
the wonder of it all! It is interesting to note that this feast was to be held
just nine days before the great Day of Atonement, thus it would add to they joy
of the people just to think of their wonderful salvation.
We must at all costs
not only rejoice in God’s wonderful salvation, but proclaim it unashamedly to
others also, both in our personal witness, and collectively, whether in the
places where we gather, or on the streets of our cities, towns and villages. It
is a matter of great shame that an organization that once almost daily held open
air meetings on our streets, does so no longer. Instead they send out begging
letters to all and sundry, asking for money to give to those who are suffering
from the results of their sinful and rebellious lives.
Let us see to it that
the unadulterated Gospel of the Grace of God is regularly proclaimed from our
pulpits. There are those who would prefer our gathering places to resound to the
terrible noise of dance bands, playing Rock Music. Does it not occur to us that
we could verily be the last generation to witness to this perishing world of
God’s marvellous grace! Then let us keep this feast with joy.
There were trumpets of
silver also and these were used to assemble the people of God. Once (in Western
Assemblies), the notices were given out on each Lord’s Day. It was a matter of
shame that often the brother, who gave them out, would rarely be present at the
meetings that he announced, and this was hypocritical in itself. Yet today in
Western Assemblies it has become the practice to dispense with the notices
altogether, and instead to give to all who attend the meetings a ‘news sheet’.
Thus the silver trumpets are never blown today! But even so let us not forsake
the gathering of ourselves together.
Thirdly we come to the
greatest joy of all, the joyful expectation of the return of our heavenly
Bridegroom for His Church, (at the rapture).It is to be noticed that in the two
references that Paul makes to this great event, the trumpet, and the last trump
are mentioned. Here then is testimony to the greatest triumph of all, the
greatest dispensation of all is now past. The proclamation of the Gospel, (by
the saints of the Church), will henceforth be forever silenced. Though we do
read in the book of the Revelation of the “everlasting Gospel”, but that Gospel
is proclaimed by angels. Thank God that today you and I are prive ledged to
proclaim that Gospel to lost men, and in doing so we are in communion with the
Person of the Holy Spirit, who was sent down from heaven for the expressed
purpose of proclaiming that Gospel through such as you & I.
The voice of the
Archangel is mentioned in connection with the “Last Trump”, showing that the
time had now come when God would take up the people of Israel as His own people.
They will surely awaken from the national slumber of millenniums, but they will
consequently pass through the terrible days of the great tribulation, before the
godly remnant of that nation will be willing to receive their Messiah and
Saviour, (our Lord Jesus Christ). Jude in the ninth verse of his short epistle,
tells us that Michael is the archangel, and Daniel tells us that he stands and
sometimes fights for the nation of Israel.(Daniel 12:1). Thus when the trumpet
sounds, the world is prepared for its greatest era, the thousand year reign of
the Great Son of David.
It has been said that
the millennial reign of Christ is “Gods moral triumph over every evil”. Thus the
blowing of this last trump is a blast of total victory. For the believer it is
the triumph of the year of Jubilee, the final deliverance from bondage of every
kind, when the captive is at last delivered and returns to enjoy the riches of
his inheritance in Christ. All trace of the bondage that the laziness of the
flesh brings, shall be forever removed. “Lord hasten that wonderful
day!”
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[Reproduced with
permission of the
author]