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)

Someone once asked me, “What’s the last trump? Will it be blown after the seven trumpets in the Book of Revelation?” No, this is a different trumpet, and to understand it requires a contextual analysis. When you read through some of the preceding verses in the same 1 Corinthians 15, you’ll observe a consistency of duality in Paul’s communication.

In several verses, he wrote about the spiritual and the natural, the celestial and the terrestrial. He also used the terms, “the first and the last,” and then “the first and the second”: “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit….The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven (1 Corinthians 15:45-47).

In this context, Paul considered “last” to mean “second.” So if we read our opening verse by the same token, it would go thus: “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the second trump….” This means there’re two trumpets, not one like many people think.

The Amplified Classic version of the verse corroborates this: “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable….” Many missed it because they thought he was talking about the same trumpet. Why is this important?

In the Old Testament, the Bible tells us about two important trumpets. The first one was sounded when the Lord showed up, and the second was sounded for the assembly. The first was for the manifestation of God’s glory, while the second was for gathering the assembly. When the first trumpet sounds at the Rapture, the Lord Jesus will come out of heaven, and the dead in Christ will be raised incorruptible.

The second and last trumpet is the one that’ll assemble all of us who are alive and remain. When it sounds, we’ll be changed and caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Prepare for the Master’s soon return. Brace up for greater evangelism so that we can reach more people and get them ready to meet the Lord in the air at the sound of the last trumpet. Imagine what a glorious meeting it’ll be! Hallelujah!

PRAYER

Dear Father, thank you for the supernatural ability and speed you’ve so lavishly granted your children to preach the Gospel and lead multitudes to salvation all around the world. We walk in the light of your Word today, seeking, above all, the rule and reign of your Kingdom in the earth and in the hearts of men, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

Exodus 19:16-18 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. 18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

Joel 2:15-16 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 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.

1 Year Bible Reading Plan : Acts 16:16-40 & Job 1-2

2 Year Bible Reading Plan : 2 Corinthians 12:11-21 & Isaiah 22