A QUESTION I RECEIVED:
I had a question about the trumpets. I’ve always been kinda confused about them. Are these verses all referring to the same trumpet?
“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 will be changed.” 1 Cor 15:52
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16
“He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” Matthew 24:31
“The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.” Revelation 11:15
MY REPLY:
First, we learn what a trumpet is, at Isa.58:1 "Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins." -- A "trumpet" is a voice that announces a warning to repent/battle alongside God. I suggest re-reading all your verses, replacing "trumpet", with "voice", to gain initial understanding.
1Cor.15:52; 1Thess.4:16; Matt.24:31; Rev.11:15
The last trumpet, is that of the 7th angel. To learn about that, read Rev. ch.10.
Rev.10
- That chapter is about the 7th angel/star and his trumpet/voice. Verse 7 (Rev.10:7) shows us, that God announces to the seventh angel, the accomplishment (and understanding) of all His mysteries (Rev.1:1; 2:17; 3:12; Prov.9:1; Rev.17:9; 22:6). We see at verse 3 (Rev.10:3) that the voice of that one, "shouts like that of a
lion" and when he cries out, that all "seven thunders raise their voices" (Matt.10:20). That one has the voice (trumpet) of Christ (the "
lion of Judah") (Rev.5:5-6,10; 3:21; 11:3,5; Prov.19:12; Jer.17:25; Rev.22:16) AND, the voice of all God's prophets (7 trumpets/7 thunders/7 lamps/7 spirits of God/7 pillars) (Rev.10:3; 21:9). God's prophets, speak His words (and Jesus' message) (Matt.10:20; Eze.3:4; Rev.11:3; 22:6). This one (7th angel), whose voice causes the seven thunders to utter their own voices (Rev.10:3) (his voice contains the message of all the prophets who thunder God's voice -Job 37:5; Ps.29:3; Rev.4:5; Matt.10:20). He is
also the 4th living creature, who gives the past prophets (seven lamps/spirits before God's throne - 1Cor.14:32; Rev.5:6; 4:5; Matt.5:15), a voice once again (Rev.15:7; 21:9; 17:1). As you see from the last verses, that 4th living creature, is also one of the 7 angels... the seventh one described in Rev.ch.10.
The last enemy, is death (1Cor.15:26). When that enemy is conquered during Armageddon, the dead rise. 1Thess.4:16 is describing the return of Christ (John11:25-26). Yet he told us that he is "coming on/with the clouds" (Rev.1:7; Dan.7:13; Matt.16:27; 24:30; Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27; 1Thess.4:17; Rev.11:3,12)... his two witnesses (Rev.11:3,12; 1Thess.4:17; Heb.12:1).
That 7th angel is in the role of Moses and Elijah ("two witnesses" -Matt.17:3), for obvious reasons [God's people are captive (Luke 21:24; Rev.13:10; Col.2:8) (Moses) and Idolatry reigns (Rev.2:20; 17:2; 13:7-8; 1Cor.6:15) (Elijah)]. This is why the seventh angel, is robed with a cloud (Rev.10:1), because he is 'enrobed' with the identity of Jesus' two witnesses/cloud, and has received that assignment (Isa.61:10; Rev.19:7).
Those with the seventh angel/two witnesses, are the "two lampstands"/congregations/churches of support (Rev.1:20; Matt.5:15; 11:3-4; 1:20; John8:17).
Your citation of Matt.24:31 states that "angelS" will be sent out, with one "loud trumpet". That is because, once again, the 7th angel has the voice of all 7 angels (Rev.10:3). At Rev.11:15, again we see that "loud voiceS in heaven" are heard when the 7th angel blows his single trumpet.
How might this take place in the physical realm? This last prophet (7th) and watchman (4th), opens the scroll of Revelation to the seven congregations (Rev.1:11; Matt.10:23). He is enabled to do so, through the interpretations provided by the voices/trumpets of his preceding prophets, who spoke for God (Gen.40:8; Rom.15:4; 1Cor.10:11; 2Tim.3:16)... once again, giving them voice, through that one's own declaration.
Here is Rev.10 -- https://classic.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rev10&version=CSB
Suggested posts: https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2013/11/resurrectionjudgmentlife-and-death.html
https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2017/03/messenger-of-covenant.html
ADDITION:
Josh.6: " March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets."
Seven reminds us of the seven spirits of God, sent out into the earth (Rev.5:6), represented on the head of Christ, as 7 horns (kings), each having an eye (lamp Matt.6:22; Rev.4:5) (spiritual sight/Matt.13:16; 2Cor.4:18; 1John1:1). Those 7, are sent out by Jesus, into God's land, the 7 congregations (Rev.1:20; Matt.5:15; 10:23).
If each day that the priests with the seven trumpets (Rev.8:2), marched around Jericho's wall, represent the testimony each prophet gave, during his own day; then it is worth considering the seventh day. - That last day was different. On the 7th day, the wall was to be encircled, 7 times... repeating the previous days, plus 1, for the last day. It was then on the 7th day, encircled 7 times, while all 7 priests are blowing their trumpets, that the wall collapses. - We see that the 7th prophet differs from the previous 6. The 7th prophet, possesses the message/voices/spirit/bowls, of all seven prophets (Rev.10:7,3; 21:9; 17:1; Zech.3:9). When those bowls are finished being poured out (Rev.16:1; 21:9; 15:1; 11:15), the end has come! (Rev.10:7)
