Page 78 - Prophetic Word Newsletters Archive 2006 by Pastor Randy Shupe

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While we are on the subject of “trumpets” I want to stress that Paul’s reference to the rapture taking place
at “the last trumpet” is NOT referring to the last of the seven trumpets in the Book of Revelation in which
the wrath of God is poured out on the earth. I find little promised comfort in what is contained within the first
six trumpets. If the rapture takes place in the seventh, why is it not so stated in the contents of this
trumpet? Because this is not the timing of the rapture!

In his dissertation on the rapture Paul reminds the faithful believers, “For God did not appoint us to
wrath…” (1Thess. 5:9). These are trumpets of judgment, not redemption! More likely, Paul’s reference to
“the last trumpet” refers to the blowing of the two silver (silver is a picture of redemption) trumpets found in
Numbers 10:

“MAKE TWO SILVER TRUMPETS…USE THEM FOR (1) CALLING THE ASSEMBLY AND (2) FOR
DIRECTING THE MOVEMENT OF THE CAMPS…THE PRIESTS SHALL BLOW THE TRUMPETS…
ALSO IN THE DAY OF YOUR GLADNESS, IN YOUR APPOINTED FEASTS…YOU SHALL BLOW THE
TRUMPETS…THEY SHALL BE A MEMORIAL FOR YOU BEFORE YOUR GOD.” Num. 10:1,8,10

There are two stages of the rapture (1) the dead in Christ rise first and (2) we who are alive and remain are
caught up with them. The first silver trumpet will raise the dead (gather the assembly) and the LAST
trumpet will rapture the living (move the camp). Note well that it is the PRIEST that blows the trumpet
(Christ Himself will descent from heaven with…the trumpet of God”). Most important of all, note that God
singled out “YOUR APPOINTED FEASTS” (Lev. 23) to blow these silver trumpets as a memorial before
you and your God. He did not say to blow a shofar (ram’s horn) on the feast day as the Jews do today, but
rather the two silver trumpets. These trumpets are a memorial between the believer and his God!

How much evidence do we need to be convinced that the rapture will take place on the appointed feast
day – The Feast of Trumpets? We do know “the day” of the rapture, the literal calendar month and day in
which this event will take place. It will be on the first day of seventh month of Tishri (Jewish Lunar
calendar).

Let us now consider the second reference to the “day” in which the Scriptures state the rapture will take
place.

THE SPECIFIED DAY OF
THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD

Just as the rapture is always tied to the blowing of “trumpets”, it is likewise always tied to the subject of the
resurrection of the dead. Again, the mouth of two or three witnesses:

“…BEHOLD I TELL YOU A MYSTERY: WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP, BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED –
IN A MOMENT, IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, AT THE LAST TRUMPET. FOR THE TRUMPET WILL
SOUND, AND THE DEAD WILL BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE, AND WE SHALL BE CHANGED.” 1 Cor. 15:51-52

“FOR THIS WE SAY BY THE WORD OF THE LORD, THAT WE WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN UNTIL THE
COMING OF THE LORD WILL BY NO MEANS PRECEDE THOSE WHO ARE ASLEEP…THE DEAD WILL RISE
FIRST. THEN WE WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT UP WITH THEM…” 1Thess. 4:15-16

Has the resurrection of the dead, of which Paul speaks, taken place yet? The answer is no, of course not!
Then WHY, dear reader, have we for centuries preached that the rapture could take place at any moment
or at any moment in time? Can the rapture take place before the resurrection of the dead? Not according to
Paul – not according to God Himself! Does the Scripture tell us when the resurrection of the dead will take
place? Yes, it is stated by Jesus four times in one chapter:

“THIS IS THE WILL OF THE FATHER…THAT OF ALL HE HAS GIVEN ME I SHOULD LOSE NOTHING,

BUT SHOULD RAISE IT UP AT THE LAST DAY (Jn. 6:39)

…EVERYONE WHO…BELIEVES IN HIM MAY HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE;

AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY (Jn. 6:40)
…AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY” (Jn. 6:44)
…AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY” (Jn. 6:54).