Colossians 2:16-17
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
The Holydays that God gave in Leviticus 23 are a shadow of Christ. They are an outline of things to come and they are a representation of Christ. We know that the Feasts of the LORD that occur at the beginning of the Biblical year were made complete in Jesus’ first coming:
The Passover – the death of Jesus, the Passover lamb
The Feast of Unleavened Bread – the burial of Jesus
The Feast of Weeks: the Passover lamb
Firstfruits – the resurrection of Jesus
Pentecost – the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
Could it be that the Feasts of the LORD that occur at the end of the harvest cycle will be made complete by His second coming? Let’s take a look.
Leviticus 23:23-25
23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. 25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Of blowing of trumpets
Strong’s Definitions
from H7321; clamor, i.e. acclamation of joy or a battle-cry; especially clangor of trumpets, as an alarum:—alarm, blow(-ing) (of, the) (trumpets), joy, jubile, loud noise, rejoicing, shout(-ing), (high, joyful) sound(-ing).
Outline of Biblical Usage–
- alarm of war, war-cry, battle-cry
- blast (for march)
- shout of joy (with religious impulse)
- shout of joy (in general)
So, the word “Teruah” means loud or enthusiastic joy, blowing of the trumpets, rejoicing, shouting, an alarm of trumpets or battle-cry.
This Holy Day is known as the Feast of Trumpets or Yom Teruah in Hebrew. The blowing of a trumpet signifies a battle cry. Oftentimes you would hear a trumpet sound at the beginning of a battle. But in the Bible, the blowing of the trumpet also signifies a time of great joy. For some this will be a day of great joy, and for others it will be a day proclaiming the start of a battle.
God declared the first day of the seventh month as a Sabbath and a memorial day of trumpets blowing. This Holy day sets up the rest of the fall Feast days and it is the only one that we don’t know in advance when exactly it will start. We have to wait for, and sight the new moon. When the moon disappears at the end of the moon cycle, it could be 1-3 nights before it reappears. (Refer back to the teaching: The Biblical New Year) God wants us to have a Sabbath day of rest and to gather with the congregation for a memorial of blowing trumpets. It is a dress rehearsal for an event yet to come. (See The Feasts of the LORD: God’s Prophetic Calendar)
As we look in scripture we will see that there are future events that have been prophesied that include the sounding of a trumpet.
Revelation 11:15-19
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. 16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, 17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. 18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. 19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
At the sound of the seventh trumpet, the kingdoms of the world will become the kingdoms of God and Christ, and He will reign forever. There will be lightnings, voices, thunderings, great hail and an earthquake. It will be the time to judge the dead so he can give reward to His servants the prophets and the saints, the ones that fear His name. He will destroy those that destroy the earth.
Revelation 16:17-21
17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
When the seventh angel pours out his vial, it will be done. There will be voices, thunders and lightnings, and a great earthquake. The islands will flee away and the mountains will not be found. It will be the time of judgment for Babylon.
Revelation 6:12-7:17
12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. 9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
When the sixth seal is opened, there will be a great earthquake; the sun will become black and the moon will become as blood. The stars of heaven will fall to the earth as a fig tree casts her untimely figs. The sky will vanish like a scroll that is being rolled up. Every mountain and island will be moved out of their places. All of the men of the earth will hide themselves from the wrath of God that is to come. The servants of God will be sealed at this time; 144,000 from all the tribes of the sons of Israel, 12,000 from each tribe. A great multitude will be gathered from all of the nations of the earth. Scattered Israel will be regathered. They will have come through the great tribulation with white robes washed with the blood of Jesus. They will serve Jesus in His temple and He will dwell among them.
Matthew 24:29-41
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. 32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mark 13:24-27
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. 26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
Jesus told His disciples that immediately after the tribulation the sun will be darkened, the moon won’t give her light and the stars will fall from heaven. Then He will appear, the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. Every person will mourn as they see Him coming in the clouds with great power and authority. At the sound of the trumpet His angels will gather His elect from all over the earth. No one knows the day or the hour that these events will take place. The angels will be sent to gather Jesus’ elect from all over the earth. Some people will be taken up, while some will be left behind.
Luke tells us in Acts that Jesus will return in the same way that He ascended to heaven.
Acts 1:9
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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: 17 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. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Paul told the Thessalonians that those that are asleep at Jesus’ return will not be forgotten. With the voice of the archangel and the trumpet sounding, Jesus will descend from heaven with a shout. The dead in Christ will rise first and then those that are alive and remain will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air. They will be with Jesus forever.
Shall be caught up
1. to seize
{in various applications}
[from a derivative of G138]
KJV: catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force)
G138 αἱρέομαι haireomai (hai-reh’-om-ai) (Some of the forms are borrowed from a cognate hellomai hel’-lom-ai; which is otherwise obsolete) v.
1. to take for oneself, i.e. to prefer
KJV: choose
The phrase “shall be caught up” means to seize. The root word means to take for oneself. So when it says those that are alive and remain will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air, it means just that. Those people will rise in the air and meet Jesus and they will forever be with Jesus. We need to find out where they are going after the meeting in the air.
1 Corinthians 15:21-58
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 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. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?6 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Paul explained to the Corinthians that through Jesus all shall be made alive. The resurrections will happen in order. First was Christ, the firstfruits, when He resurrected, He shed His earthly body and put on His body of immortality. Then at His coming, at the last trumpet, those who belong to Him will resurrect; They will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. The dead will rise up as a spiritual body and those alive still will shed their mortal bodies and put on their immortal, spiritual body. Then the end will come when Jesus delivers the Kingdom to His Father.
The New Testament writers were just echoing what was prophesied by the prophets of old.
Isaiah 26:12-21, 27:1, 12-13
26:12 LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. 13 O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. 14 They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish. 15 Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth. 16 LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them. 17 Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD. 18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen. 19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. 20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
27:1 In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.
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.
Isaiah tells us that the day that the great trumpet will be blown the dead men will live. They will awake and rise out of the dust, the earth will cast out the dead. The children of Israel will be gathered one by one and they will worship God at the holy mount in Jerusalem. The inhabitants of the earth and the serpent will be punished for their iniquity or lawlessness.
Ezekiel 37:1-14
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, 2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. 4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. 8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. 9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. 11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. 12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
God’s people, the whole house of Israel, will be raised up. He will raise them from their graves and put His Spirit in them and give them new bodies. He will cause them to live and bring them into their own land.
Romans 8:11-18
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
If we have God’s Spirit in us, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the grave, it will quicken our mortal bodies and we will be raised up by that Spirit that dwells in us. We have been adopted into God’s chosen people, the children of Israel. We will be glorified with Him at His coming.
Revelation 14:1-20
20 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. 6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. 14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. 17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
After Jesus returns in the clouds, He is found standing on Mount Zion with the saints that have His and His Father’s name written on their foreheads. These are the ones that have been redeemed from the earth as the firstfruits for God. (See the teaching, Jesus Christ: The Firstfruits of Mankind) They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They are blameless and have no lies in their mouth. They keep the Commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The first resurrection is for those that don’t have the mark of the beast. They have the mark of God and will reign as priests with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead will not live again until the thousand years are finished, when death and hades gives up the dead;This is the second resurrection. At this time, each person will be judged by the books, according to their works.
In Summary:
Immediately after the tribulation, at the sound of the seventh (last) trumpet, the kingdoms of the world will become the kingdoms of God and He will reign forever. There will be lightnings, voices, thunderings, great hail and an earthquake. The sun will be darkened, the moon won’t give her light and the stars will fall from heaven as a fig tree casts her untimely figs. The sky will vanish like a scroll that is being rolled up. Every mountain and island will be moved out of their places. Then Jesus will appear, the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. No one knows the day or the hour that these events will take place.
With the voice of the archangel and the trumpet sounding, Jesus will descend from heaven with a shout. Every person will mourn as they see Him coming in the clouds with great power and authority. All of the men of the earth will hide themselves from the wrath of God that is to come. It will be the time to judge the dead so He can give reward to His servants, the prophets and saints, those who fear His name. It will be a time of great joy for some, and the start of the battle cry for others. He will destroy those that destroy the earth and it will be the time of judgment for Babylon.
At the same time, when the trumpet sounds, the servants of God will be sealed; 144,000 from all of the tribes of the sons of Israel, 12,000 from each tribe. His angels will gather His elect from all of the earth. These are those that have come through the great tribulation with white robes, that have been washed with the blood of Jesus and have not taken the mark of the beast. They are blameless and have no lies in their mouth. They “keep the Commandments of God” and have the “faith of Jesus”.
Those that are asleep at Jesus’ return will not be forgotten. The day that the great trumpet blows, dead men will live. They will awaken and rise out of the dust, the earth will cast out the dead. He will raise them from their graves and will give them new bodies. The resurrections will happen in order. First was Christ, the firstfruits at His resurrection, He shed His earthly body and put on His body of immortality. Then at His coming, at the last trumpet, will be those who belong to Him. They will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the grave, will quicken their mortal bodies and raise them up immortal. The dead in Christ will rise up first as a spiritual body and then those that are alive and remain will shed their mortal bodies and put on their immortal, spiritual body. They will rise and they will all be caught up to meet Jesus in the air. Some people will be taken up, while some others will be left behind.
God’s people, the whole house of Israel, will be raised up. If we have the Spirit of God, we have been adopted into the Children of Israel and are heirs with Christ. The children of Israel, a great multitude, will be gathered one by one from all of the nations of the earth where they have been scattered, and they will worship God at the holy mount in Jerusalem. He will cause them all to live and will bring them into their own land. They are heirs with Christ and will be glorified with Him at His coming.
After Jesus returns in the clouds, He is found standing on Mount Zion with the saints that have His and His Father’s name written on their foreheads. These are the ones that have been redeemed from the earth as the firstfruits for God. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have the mark of God and will reign as priests with Christ for a thousand years. The saints will serve Jesus in His temple and He will dwell among them. They will be with Jesus forever.
The rest of the dead will not live again until the thousand years are finished, when death and hades give up the dead; This is the second resurrection. Through Jesus all shall be made alive. At this time, each person will be judged by the books, according to their works. Then the end will come when Jesus delivers the Kingdom to His Father.
Matthew 24:42-51
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mark 13:32-37
32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
The Feast of Trumpets was given to God’s people in Leviticus 23. God declared the first day of the seventh month as a Sabbath and a memorial day of trumpets blowing. This Holy day sets up the rest of the fall Feast days. It is the only one that starts on the first day of a month, so the only one that we don’t know in advance when exactly it will start. All of the other Feast Days we have some kind of advanced notice. When the moon disappears at the end of the moon cycle, it could be 1-3 nights of darkness before it reappears. Jesus warns us that no one will know the day or the hour of His return.
There are a lot of different theories that have been taught surrounding the return of Jesus. The Bible states that His return will be at the end of the tribulation, at the last trumpet. Not before the tribulation, and not in the middle of it. The Bible also clearly states that everyone will see His return and that is when the elect will be gathered in the air and taken to Mount Zion. There is no secret rapture with a trip to live in heaven. There is a resurrection, a catching away of God’s people where they will meet Jesus in the air, then they will be taken to Mount Zion. We need to be aware of what the Bible says so that we can be awake and looking for His return.
When we walk out the Feasts each year, we are reminded of the things that God has done and we remember the promises of the things to come.
The Feast of Trumpets is a dress rehearsal for the return of Jesus. There is a season of darkness before the light of the world returns and it reminds us to not get weary in the midst of the darkness. Through it all, we need to not get slack in our works, we need to stay vigilant and watch for His return. We have the promise of the great resurrection.
Look up, for our redemption is drawing nigh. Let’s blow the trumpet and make a great shout in anticipation of the return of our King!
*The Feast of Trumpets or Yom Teruah is not the same thing as the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah means the “beginning or head of the year”. God clearly states in Scripture that the beginning of the year is the first month of Abib, not the seventh month. (Refer back to the teaching: The Biblical New Year) We do not celebrate Rosh Hashanah. We love our Jewish brothers and sisters but they have taken to the commandments of man and changed God’s Holy Day. We do not participate in the traditions of man.