“7-1”…Trumpets 2012                   printer-friendly     MP3-2012     MP3-2013
by Chris Cumming

Today is the Day of Trumpets.  This is a commanded day.  This is a holy convocation.  Turn to Leviticus 23.

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.

What is a "holy convocation"?

The first time we see the term used is in Exodus when God is commanding the keeping of the Days of Unleavened bread.  Notice Exodus 12:16

Exodus 12:16
And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.

Notice the commentary for "holy convocation":

In the first day and in the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation - This is the first place where we meet with the account of an assembly collected for the mere purpose of religious worship. Such assemblies are called holy convocations, which is a very appropriate appellation [ap-uh-ley-shuhn] for a religious assembly; they were called together by the express command of God, and were to be employed in a work of holiness.  Mikra, convocation, is a word of similar import with the Greek εκκλησια, which we commonly translate Church, and which properly signifies an assembly convened by public call. ~Barnes Notes

…and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation unto you - observed in a festival way. ~ John Gill

So we see that it is an assembly of firstfruits for the purpose of religious worship.  They are to be employed in the work of holiness.  The day is to be observed in a festival way.

We are going to do this in a number of ways today.  The purpose of this sermon this day is to encourage each of us to prepare for the trumpet.  I want each of us to be a positive part of the meaning of the trumpet and to having a vision of the Kingdom that is ushered in by that trumpet.

Today I want to answer the questions:

1. What does the trumpet have to do with the Salvation Process.
2. Is the trumpet part of our vision?
3. Is the trumpet part of our hope.

Let us begin by looking at our doctrine about this day.

From Annual Holy Days doctrine:

It is Christ who is going to intervene in world affairs on the Day of Trumpets and become King of kings and Lord and lords.  Those who have accepted Christ are now at one with Him through baptism and His Spirit—having their sins forgiven.  Christ is coming to set up His government in the Millennium and rule this earth, and His people are now preparing the way for and are representatives of that Kingdom by following in Christ's footsteps (Feast of Tabernacles).  Finally, Christ shall make salvation available to everyone in the last great step of His plan, which is the ultimate conclusion of His personal sacrifice as our Savior (Last Great Day).

Also from Holy Days doctrine

Feast of Trumpets: Trumpets were an instrument often used to sound the alarm for war.  They were also the instrument of the watchman to arouse the sleeping populace if danger threatened.  This festival represents the preaching of the gospel to the world by God's faithful watchmen who have the responsibility of arousing the people from their spiritual slumber (Ezekiel 33:1-16).  At this point, God has ceased to let mankind go his own way.  The time has come to save not just a few in His Church, but all peoples—to save man from himself.  Otherwise, man would succeed in destroying himself.

The Day of Trumpets also symbolizes the resurrection of all who died in Christ and the change of all who will be living in Christ. This stunning event—the achievement of eternal life for millions through birth into the Family of God—will occur simultaneously with the return of Jesus Christ at the last trump.  "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).

Jewish tradition adds some interesting parallels.  For example, the Day of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) is said to picture the most important judgment time, when the inhabitants of the world shall be judged by the Creator.  Furthermore, Tishri I was considered by some Jewish commentators to be the beginning of Creation—which would create a complete parallelism, since this shall be fulfilled by the "Day of the Lord," the time of the Creator's physical return to His creation as Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord and lords.

Let us recap from the doctrine the specific statements on what the day of Trumpets symbolizes:

1) The spreading of the gospel.
2) The return of Christ to set up the Kingdom of God on earth.
3) The resurrection of all who died in Christ—the firstfruits
4) The beginning of judgment on the humans in the world.
5) Christ now making the Salvation Process available for everyone.

Let us explore some of the scriptures for each of these five symbols.

1) The spreading of the gospel.

Did Jesus come preaching the gospel?

Mark 1:14-15
14  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Are we to proclaim the gospel to the whole creation?

Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Is the gospel proclaimed throughout the whole world before the end comes?

Matthew 24: 14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Does God call people through the gospel?

2 Thessalonians 2:14-15
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

In Acts, do we see Paul called to preach the gospel?

Acts 16:9-10
9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
 

2) The return of Christ to set up the Kingdom of God on earth.

There are at least 150 verses speaking to the return of Christ.  Here are just a few.

Hebrews 10:25  ...this verse comes with commands
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Matthew 24:30-31  ...a gathering of the elect
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.

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:

Philippians 3:20-21  ...speaking of us having vision of events ahead of us
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Revelation 22:12
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Revelation 22:20
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

3) The resurrection of all who died in Christ—the firstfruits

Revelation 20:1-6  ...something here about firstfruits being blessed and holy
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
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.

4) The beginning of judgment on the humans in the world.

This element was covered in the last verse we read:

|Revelation 20:6
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.

Daniel 2:44
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

Daniel 7:18, 27
18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

2 Timothy 2:12
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

5) Christ now making the Salvation Process available for everyone.
Revelation 20:11-15
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.

Ecclesiastes 12:14 
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Romans 14:10-12
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Let us now answer the three questions I had for you at the opening of this sermon:

1. What does the trumpet have to do with the Salvation Process.
2. Is the trumpet part of our vision?
3. Is the trumpet part of our hope.

1. What does the trumpet, or more accurately its symbolism, have to do with my Salvation Process?

It says in the Holy Day doctrine: "Those who have accepted Christ are now at one with Him through baptism and His Spirit—having their sins forgiven."  So, our calling to our initial repentance, baptism and the receiving of the Holy Spirit linked us to the last day of the Salvation Process;  the Day of Trumpets.  The last day of the Salvation Process is the Day of Trumpets.  We are on the pathway to the ultimate Day of Trumpets.  Therefore, many of the aspects of the Day of Trumpets must make up our Salvation Process and many of the elements of the Salvation Process lead us to the Day of Trumpets.

Think back now to the last day of the Days of Unleavened Bread.  I preach each year that this last day of the Days of Unleavened Bread is linked solidly to the Day of Trumpets.  The Days of Unleavened Bread point to our time in the Salvation Process with the first Holy Day symbolize to our calling to that process and the last day being the day we made it to the Kingdom.  The last day denotes our making it to the end of the process.  The Day of Trumpets denotes the end of the Salvation Process for us.  We made it.  So the Day of Trumpets has a lot to do with our Salvation Process, doesn't it?

John 6:37   ...Godly calling is to both Christ and the Salvation Process
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

2 Timothy 1:9   ...we are given a Holy calling in Christ
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

John 5:24   ...those immersed in the Word of God ultimately pass from this life to eternal life
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

1 John 5:11  ...eternal life is in the Son
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 Peter 1:5   ...salvation comes on the Day of Trumpets for firstfruits
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 1:13  ...hope to the end as our salvation is fulfill at the appearance of Christ
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1 Timothy 6:14-15   ...we keep the Salvation Process close until the appearing of Christ
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

1 John 3:2   ...salvation is when we shall be like Him and we know this when He appears
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

2. Is the trumpet part of our hope?

Let us look at a definitive scripture that speaks to both the gospel and our hope.

1 Corinthians 15:1 
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

Moreover - But  (de).  In addition to what I have said, or in that which I am now about to say, I make known the main and leading truth of the gospel.  The particle de is “strictly adversative, but more frequently denotes transition and conversion, and serves to introduce something else, whether opposite to what precedes, or simply continuative or explanatory” - Robinson.  Here it serves to introduce another topic that was not properly a continuation of what he had said, but which pertained to the same general subject, and which was deemed of great importance.

I declare unto you - (Gno¯rizo¯). This word properly means to make known, to declare, to reveal Luke 2:15; Romans 9:22-23; then to tell, narrate, inform Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7, Colossians 4:9; and also to put in mind of, to impress, to confirm; see the note at 1 Corinthians 12:3. Here it does not mean that he was communicating to them any new truth, but he wished to remind them of it; to state the arguments for it, and to impress it deeply on their memories. There is an abruptness in our translation which does not exist in the original. --Bloomfield.

The gospel - See the note at Mark 1:1. The word here means the “glad announcement,” or the “good news” about the coming of the Messiah, his life, and sufferings, and death, and especially his resurrection. The main subject to which Paul refers in this chapter is the resurrection, but he includes in the word gospel. Here, the doctrine that he died for sins, and was buried, as well as the doctrine of his resurrection; see 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.

Which I preached unto you - Paul founded the church at Corinth; Acts 18:1 ff. It was proper that he should remind them of what he had taught them at first; of the great elementary truths on which the church had been established, but from which their minds had been diverted by the other subjects that had been introduced as matters of debate and strife. It was fair to presume that they would regard with respect the doctrines which the founder of their church had first proclaimed, if they were reminded of them; and Paul, therefore, calls their attention to the great and vital truths by which they had been converted, and by which the church had thus far prospered.  It is well, often, to remind Christians of the truths which were preached to them when they were converted, and which were instrumental in their conversion. When they have gone off from these doctrines, when they had given their minds to speculation and philosophy, it has a good effect to “remind” them that they were converted by the simple truths that Christ died, and was buried, and rose again from the dead. The argument of Paul here is, that they owed all the piety and comfort which they had to these doctrines; and that, therefore, they should still adhere to them as the foundation of all their hopes.

Which also ye have received - Which you embraced; which you all admitted as true; which were the means of your conversion. I would remind you, that, however that truth may now be denied by you, it was once received by you, and you professed to believe in the fact that Christ rose from the dead, and that the saints would rise.

And wherein ye stand - By which your church was founded, and by which all your piety and hope has been produced, and which is at the foundation of all your religion. You were built up by this, and by this only can you stand as a Christian church. This doctrine was vital and fundamental. This demonstrates that the doctrines that Christ died “for sins,” and rose from the dead, are fundamental truths of Christianity. They enter into its very nature; and without them there can be no true religion. ~Barnes Notes [Emphasis mine]

So we can see that the primary doctrines on the foundation are our hope.  When I constantly preach full immersion in the Word of God, I know that you will be constantly reminded of both the foundation and the primary doctrines and thus is your hope fully developed and maintained.

What is a good definition of "Hope" that will help us understand what is being discussed in 1 Corinthians 15:1?

I found this in Wikipedia and I believe it says it rather well:

Hope is the emotional state which promotes the belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. Despair is the opposite of hope.  Hope is the "feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best" or the act of "look[ing] forward to something with desire and reasonable confidence" or "feel[ing] that something desired may happen". Other definitions are "to cherish a desire with anticipation"; "to desire with expectation of obtainment"; or "to expect with confidence".  In the English language the word can be used as either a noun or a verb, although hope as a concept has a similar meaning in either use.

Let us break this down for clarity.

A) Hope is the emotional state which promotes a belief. 

In this case the belief is the gospel and/or the Word of God.  We, completely empowered by the Holy Spirit and Godly Calling, read the Word of God and understand His Good News for us and all mankind.  We see a massive number of promises for now, for the future on this planet as humans and for the Kingdom of God.  This gives rise to and maintains Hope.  Simply put, Hope equals Gospel and the Gospel equals Hope.  By the word, "equals" I am meaning "linked."  Hope is born in the Gospel and then the Hope is maintained by that same Gospel.  Therefore we need constant and flowing/streaming reminding of the Gospel and hence our need for constant immersion.
 

Note:  At this point in the audio I make reference to the sermon, "Verity" on "seeing" the invisible God.  That sermon is here.

 Notice this in the next element of the Wikipedia definition we just read.

B) Hope of a positive outcome is related to events and circumstances in one's life.

This is saying that whatever is filling up our life is going to be the basis of this Hope.  What are these events and circumstances of our life?  What makes up the events and circumstances of the life of a firstfruit?  We have a definitive verse that answers this, don't we. 

Remember the account of the scribe coming to Jesus and asking what is the "first commandment of all?"

Mark 12:28-30
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

C) We must be looking forward with desire and reasonable confidence.

Remember my sermon, "Tell It to the Mountain"?  The key verse was Mark 11:22

Mark 11:22
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

We go on in that particular sermon to show that we are to have the same faith as God has and, just as important, to have no doubt.  We are not to even have a little bit of doubt.  This is the spiritual meaning of "confidence."  We must look forward to the Kingdom of God with absolute confidence.

Do we mix boldness with confidence?
Ephesians 3:12 
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Are we to hold this confidence to the end?
Hebrews 3:14 
For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

Are we to hold this confidence and rejoice in hope to the end?
Hebrews 3:6 
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

D) We must cherish a desire with anticipation.

Philippians 3:13-15
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

The Weymouth New Testament renders the first part of verse 15 this way:
"Therefore let all of us who are mature believers cherish these thoughts.

Back now to the original question, "Is the trumpet part of our hope?"  Philippians 3:13 says that I, as a firstfruit, am reaching forth unto those things before us.  Verse 14 says we press for the prize of our high calling.  Verse 15 says we cherish these thoughts.  All the biblical thoughts of Christ take us to the Day of Trumpets and therein is our hope.  Make the Day of Trumpets your hope.  Cherish the meaning of this day.

3. Is the trumpet part of our vision?

What is our primary verse on having vision?

Proverbs 29:18 
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Notice the linking with the Law here.  The mention of the Law is simply a portal into the Salvation Process.  For those called by God, the verse is saying that one in the Salvation Process has vision by definition.  How can one be immersed in the Word of God or the elements of the Salvation Process and not have vision?

What is a vision anyway?  My dictionary says...

     a) the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be: prophetic vision.

     b) an experience in which a personage, thing, or event appears vividly or credibly to the mind, although not actually present, often under the influence of a divine agency.

Interesting that the dictionary sees the word as being biblical and/or spiritual.  The first definition says "power of anticipating."  This power comes from the unction of the Holy Spirit, of course.  The second definition speaks to the idea of the vision appearing vividly or credibly to the mind.  Clearly there is linkage between Hope and Vision.  Hope is intertwined with knowledge and understanding which gives rise to Wisdom and in wisdom we see things...have vision.   The vision then feeds and blends with the hope.  Let us look at some verses speaking to our vision of Salvation and the Day of Trumpets.
 

Titus 2:13  ...a pure link between vision and the Day of Trumpets
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

We are moving along a path that God called us to.  What is at the end of that path?  Surely it is the Day of Trumpets.  We keep our eye on the prize.  The next verse describes one of our visions to have in our minds.

Isaiah 51:6   ...using the phrases, "lift up your eyes" and "look"
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

1 Thessalonians 1:3-4  ...remembering actions
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

Notice how it says, "Remembering without ceasing."  This is actually a phrase tied to the first two verses where Paul and others are mentioning the brethren in their prayers and remembering without ceasing their work of faith and labor of love, but unquestionably we are doing the same things.  We are remembering without ceasing the works of ourselves, the brethren, the church and of God the Father and Christ.  All these works are, of course, the works of God in and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit or Christ in and through us.  We keep them in vision...in remembrance as we go along the path of salvation and looking to the end, which is the Day of Trumpets. 

I read from the dictionary that vision was an anticipating of that which is coming.  We do this, in part, by remembering the "pictures" or visions being created here and now.  Those visions lead us on to the ultimate vision of the Day of Trumpets and the Kingdom of God.

This entire concept of vision has to do with Jesus Christ.  Notice the next verse I have for you:

Hebrews 9:28
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

For the phrase "and unto them that look for him." the John Gill gives, "with affection, faith and patience."  I would add "hope" to that list.  Barnes Notes says, "It is one of the characteristics of Christians that they look for the return of their Lord."  This is talking about having vision or as our second definition of "vision" says, "an event that appears vividly" in our minds and hearts.