And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures,
which are able to make thee wise unto salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Timothy 3:15 & 16
Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
Psalm 119:160
| When The Trumpet Sounds |
Preface
The Holy Bible has many fascinating topics to keep the child of God occupied meaningfully for the rest of his earthly life after he is saved if he obediently takes heed to the command given in 2 Timothy 2:15: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. This is in fact, one of the most important aspects of his earthly pilgrimage if he is to find peace and joy from the Holy Ghost while preparing for his eternal bliss when he finally meets his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Without studying the words of the living God diligently, he may not fully appreciate what great and wonderful salvation is wrought in him through Christ. Moreover, failing to acquire a deeper understanding of what God is doing for His creatures from the beginning of time till the end of days for his own personal enjoyment and benefits will also undermine his own spiritual growth in Christ. Imagine the tremendous blessedness that comes with having the correct understanding of the words of God; the child of God will safely rest his weary head on His Saviour’s bosom and trust in Him all the way come what may in this earthly life! On the contrary, if a child of God does not read through the Holy Bible diligently many times from cover to cover with a Bible believing heart, he will very likely end up fearing what he ought not to fear and doing what he ought not to do given to a different people of a different time as revealed in the Holy Bible. All the threats and the accompanying curses are not necessarily aimed at the child of God in this age and likewise, all blessings and rewards for a different people living in a different time are also not necessarily meant for the child of God to claim as we are told in the Scripture: For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4) As far as the child of God is concerned, he has been told: For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (Colossians 2:9&10) and as a result of this: And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (2 Corinthians 9:8) whereby the blessings of the child of God is guaranteed to be fulfilled: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20&21)
One very interesting topic is Bible communications. Our God is a God of languages though men were originally communicating in one speech and one language as we are told in Genesis 11:1: And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. However, communications are not limited to humans alone because inanimate objects such as the terrestrial bodies are capable of communicating in speech and in audible voices in words and in lines to the end of the world according to Psalms 19:1-5: The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. Moreover, when confronting those who wanted to silence the praising masses, the Lord indicated that even stones can cry out to glorify God: And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. (Luke 19:40) In addition, Jehovah God even caused the ass to speak in human speech to rebuke the madness of the prophet Balaam in Numbers 22:28-30: And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
So when Almighty God created the universe, sounds and voices are part and parcel as means of communications. More astonishing is the fact that God uses musical instruments to convey His intentions and messages to His creatures. For the Bible talks about the sounding of a trumpet concerning the physical resurrection of the believers in Christ: 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. (1 Corinthians 15:52) This is of great significance as far as communication is concerned. Hence, here is a study that concerns the use of trumpets in the Holy Bible to communicate God’s will to His creatures. This study of the trumpets mentioned and used in the Bible is largely in answer to the questions of what is the last trump and what about the first trump and those trumps in between with regards to the resurrection of the believers in Christ. The Bible does mention about physical trumpets on earth used by men as well as trumpets beyond the visual range of fallen men sounding from heaven. May a child of God learn to be discerning and have his ears tuned to hear the final trumpet call that will translate him into the marvelous light and into the glorious presence of the blessed Lord Jesus Christ!