The Last Trump

From where, specifically, does the phrase "last trump" come? In ancient Judaism, there are three recognized shofarim or ram's horn trumpets. They are the first trump: The last trump: and the great shofar.

The first trump and the last trump relate to the two horns of a particular ram: the ram caught in the thicket on Mount Moriah when Abraham was ready to slay Isaac as a burnt-offering. This ram became the substitute for Isaac, as Jesus would become the substitute for us through His death.

In ancient Hebrew teaching, the left horn (the first trump) was blown on Mount Sinai: And the right horn, "the last trump," will be blown at the end of the age to herald the coming of Messiah to usher in the Messianic Kingdom Age.

This latter event is referenced several times by the Apostle Paul. He referred to the "last trump" specifically when teaching on the future resurrection of the dead in Christ and when revealing the "catching away of the Saints": or what is known today as the "rapture" of Christ's Bride at the end of this present age (1 Thess 4:13-18). When the Apostle Paul made these statements, all those who were present were Jews and they were thoroughly knowledgeable of these very ancient Hebraic precepts relating to the Fall Feasts, and the end-time events in particular. These precepts framed the background of his teaching and provide the appropriate context for our understanding.* (See pamphlet "Teshuva")

For us today, these long ignored Hebraic roots provide essential clarity about the end-time expectations of the resurrection and the "catching away of the Saints". The eschatological order and context of these events are critical aspects of "the last trump" and Paul taught about them with the presupposition that the ancient context was common knowledge to his disciples: and it certainly was! The current bitter controversy over the specific timing of these events need not exist today, IF we return to the ancient precepts of God that preceded all current doctrines by over 1,500 years.

Today, when one is removed from understanding such Hebraic concepts as "the last trump", one tends to give his and everybody else's guess as to what these terms really mean. In order to correctly understand the passages in the Gospels, the Epistles and the Revelation, we must place these books back into their original Jewish context, defining each term, phrase and idiom the way the original writer in his Jewish mode of thinking expressed it. 1 Cor 15:50-55

In the intended context of God's order of eschatology, the last trump will announce the final Yom Teruah (or Feast of Trumpets) that will occur in this age. The sounding of the Last Trump will be the trigger to set into motion all the events that will precede the return of Christ and the consummation of God's redemptive plan. When the last shofar trumpet is sounded, the following events will all occur simultaneously....in the "twinkling of an eye":

-the resurrection of the past dead to Heaven

-the catching away to Heaven of the Tzadikim (the Saints)

-the on-set of the cleansing of the earth and the judgment of all remaining inhabitants on earth for a seven year period of severe soul affliction called "the Great Tribulation", "Time of Trouble", Birthpangs" and "Jacob's Trouble", etc.

-the blowing of 'the last trump" announces that God's permissive will on the earth is ending and that judgment is already passing

-while the Tribulation is occurring on earth, the Coronation/ Wedding of Messiah is taking place in Heaven with all of God's Saints from the ages in attendance