Feast of Trumpets 2009

What Kind of Feast is This?

 Fred R. Coulter—September 19, 2009

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Welcome to the Feast of Trumpets! The Feast of Trumpets is an unusual Feast, as are all the Feasts of God. They all have a special, particular meaning; and in the framework of the Holy Days of God, it tells us what is God doing and approximately when God is doing it. Let's look at the Scriptures here in Lev, 23, and we will see that this is very unusual. What kind of Feast is this?

Leviticus 23:23: "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying… [Moses didn't make any laws of himself; God told him what to say, and he said it] …'Speak to the children of Israel saying, "In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of ram's horns, a Holy convocation"'" (vs 23-24).

Here's another way we can understand that the Feast of Trumpets is not the resurrection day. Rather, it is Pentecost because the trumpet is blown—but not as a memorial—on every other of the Holy Days. The last trumpet, the seventh trumpet, is the one of Rev. 11.

The Feast of Trumpets is different, and of course, the last trumpet takes place on Pentecost. When you understand about Pentecost being the first resurrection, then you understand even more about Trumpets and the events of Trumpets and the events leading up to Trumpets.

A memorial of blowing of trumpets is this: They were to blow the trumpets from sunrise to sunset—hundreds of them, all day long—like a blasting of all the ram's horns and the silver trumpets and every kind of trumpet that could be blown.

If you believe that Trumpets is the resurrection day, since the trumpets are blown from sunrise to sunset—of how many ever there are—are all blown up until that time so you don't know which one is the last one. Here's the problem: you can't figure out which trumpet is the last trump, and if they're blown till sunset, then the resurrection takes place after the Feast of Trumpets. Now maybe you've never thought of that. That'll give people something to think on and chew on concerning the last trumpet.

When is the last trumpet on the Feast of Trumpets? It is a memorial of blowing of trumpets all day long! If the dead are not raised until the last trump, then it's not on Trumpets at all, it's on the day after Trumpets.

Verse 25: "You shall do no servile work therein but you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD."

Because of this injunction and the command when we come before God on the Holy Days, we take up an offering for God. This is a special offering in addition to tithes and other offerings that we give during the year; but on the Holy Days we always take up this special offering.

(pause for offering)

As we will see, there are many uses for the official trumpets of the priests; so let's come to Num. 10 and see what those official uses are. We will see that this is different from the memorial of blowing of trumpets. However, we will see that one of the uses is when there is war! From what the Bible teaches us, the Feast of Trumpets is a war feast!

Numbers 10:1: "And the LORD spoke to Moses saying, 'Make two trumpets of silver for yourself…. [that's in addition to the ram's horns that they used] …You shall make them of beaten work. And they shall be used for the calling of the assembly and for the journeying of the camps'" (vs 1-2).

This was their way of communication. They didn't have Sprint or Nextel at that time so they could just beep everyone and let them know it's time to go.

Verse 3: "And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall gather themselves to you at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation."

They couldn't all get there. But what they would do, they would all face the tabernacle because the 'pillar of cloud by the day' would be there, or at night there would be the fire.

Verse 4: "And if they blow with one, then the leaders who are heads of the thousands of Israel shall gather themselves to you."

Apparently, not only were there the two trumpets, but when one was blown there was a special signal for the leaders. Obviously, there would be different tunes that they would play. For example:

• with the trumpet, in blowing taps for the dead today, that's one tune
• in blowing the trumpet for a charge would be another tune
• in blowing a trumpet for retreat would be another tune

and in this case

• another tune would be for the gathering of the leaders

Verse 5: "When you blow an alarm… [let's get ready, trouble is at hand, maybe even war] …then the camps that lie on the east parts shall set out. When you blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall set out…." (vs 5-6).

This was the orderly departure of the children of Israel when they were to travel, and all the way with the rest of them.

Verse 7: "But when the congregation is to be gathered, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm…. [that was a different tune] …And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the silver trumpets. And they shall be to you for an ordinance forever throughout your generations. And if you go to war in your land against the enemy who attacks you, then you shall blow with the silver trumpets. And you shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies" (vs 7-9).

Definitely a signal for war! That's why it's a memorial of blowing of trumpets all day long on the Feast of Trumpets, because it a day of a war feast.

Verse 10: "Also in the day of your gladness, and in your appointed Feasts, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow with the silver trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings, so that they may be to you for a memorial before your GOD. I am the LORD your God."

Now let's learn something concerning the blowing of the trumpets. Let's also clear up something else that it tells us about the new moon, the full moon; and it also tells us when the beginning of the year is.

Psalm 81:3: "Blow the trumpet in the new moon… [tie in Num. 10] …also at the full moon, on our solemn Feast day."

That has to be on the Feast of Unleavened Bread; and that has to be for the Feast of Tabernacles, which are the full-moon Feast days or solemn Feast days, both of them.

Verse 4: "For this was a statute for Israel, a law of the God of Jacob. This He ordained in Joseph for a testimony when He went forth against the land of Egypt; I heard a language that I understood not" (vs 4-5).

This also tells us that at the beginning of the calendar year, the Feast of Trumpets is the first day of that month.

Now let's see some other things concerning the blowing of trumpets. Let's see how they were used in war against the city of Jericho in the book of Joshua. Let's see what they were to do, and the commands here that we have. We will see what God commanded them to do and how it was done. Another thing that is important to realize is this: Israel could not declare war on its own! God had to be the One to tell them when to go to war, so that He would be with them and they would win the battle. We have the example in the book of 1-Sam. where the sons of Eli—Hophni and Phinehas—went out on a war that God did not send them on. And because of their corruption and disobedience, God let the Philistines take the Ark.

Joshua 6:1: "And Jericho was completely shut up because of the children of Israel. None went out and none came in…. [they had them totally surrounded] …And the LORD said to Joshua, 'See, I have given Jericho into your hand, and its king, and the mighty men of war. You shall go around the city, all the men of war. Go around the city once. So, you shall do for six days. And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of ram's horns in front of the Ark…. [in addition to the two trumpets] …And the seventh day you shall go around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall be when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout. The wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall go up, each man straight before him" (vs 1-5).

That's what they did. They took the Ark of the Covenant, the priests did this, and they walked around it seven days. Then on the seventh day they blew the trumpets and everything fell down. God gave them the victory!

In another case, in the next one, at the city of Ai, because Achan stole some of the golden spoil that was to go the tabernacle, they lost that battle. They had to learn a lesson: You'd better believe what God says; and when He says don't do this and don't do that! and when God says to do something else, you do it!

All right, let's tie it in with today. Let's see an alarm. Ezek. 33 is very important because God's people, by this example, are to be warned. It's not there for every man to come along and say, 'Well, I'm preaching a warning message so I'm Ezekiel's watchman on the wall.' Not so! But we have the example, so we are to warn, and the Feast of Trumpets gives us a warning! Christ is returning. He's going to rule on this earth with the saints. The great last battle to end all wars is what this Feast pictures; and that will end all wars for a thousand years. We'll talk about that final battle later on.

Notice how similar that this to how God spoke to Moses. None of the prophets either spoke their own words, just like Moses did not speak his own words. Neither did the prophets.

Ezekiel 33:1: "And the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them, "When I bring the sword upon a land…"'" (vs 1-2).

God is responsible for sending war and swords for correction, because of the rebellion of people and their rejection of God. That clearly answers the question why we're in trouble today.

"…and the people of the land take a man from among them, and set him for their watchman; if, when he sees the sword come upon the land, he blows the ram's horn and warns the people… [that's his job, to warn the people] …then whoever hears the sound of the ram's horn and does not take warning, if the sword does come and take him away, his blood shall be on his own head" (vs 2-4).

We all have a solemn responsibility to warn when things are dangerous, when war is at hand, when sin is confronting us. But if you don't pay any attention to it—just like the Flood, the people didn't listen to Noah—'Oh, that's not going to happen.' God pulled a surprise on them. When Noah and all the animals were in the ark, it didn't rain until seven days after they entered into the ark. I just imagine a lot of people said, 'Oh, what do you mean, this rain. We've been here a whole week.' Well, it came.

Likewise, when you hear the alarm, and when God tells us to be alert, to pay attention, to understand what's going on.

• when Jesus tells us to watch, we are to watch
• when Jesus tells us we are to warn, we are to warn

That's what the whole Feast of Trumpets is all about! IFyou don't pay attention to it:

Verse 5: "He heard the sound of the ram's horn and did not take warning. His blood shall be on himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have delivered his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming, and does not blow the ram's horn and the people are not warned… [everything's nice and warm, fuzzy, good and wonderful] …if the sword comes…" (vs 5-6).

Brethren, let's understand the sword is coming! We know that God's hand of correction is upon the world. It's not just here, it's every place in the world.

"…and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity. But I will require his blood at the watchman's hand" (v 6). So we have a responsibility!

I know some people have commented, 'Well, Fred's pretty hard.' Let me tell you something. I'm not hard. You just don't understand how bad it's going to be. You also need to understand something else: if you're going to stand for the Truth, those who don't want the Truth are going to say, 'he's hard.' We need to understand that.

Verse 7: "And you, son of man, I have set you as watchman to the house of Israel. Therefore, you shall hear the Word from My mouth, and warn them from Me…. [we're not supposed to do anything, but what God wants us to do] …When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked one, you shall surely die'; if you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked one shall die in his iniquity, but I will require his blood at your hand" (vs 7-8). So every minister and elder and teacher has a responsibility to teach and to warn!

Verse 9: "But, if…" Here's why, because in spite of being a God of love, God is also a God of judgment! But when judgment comes, judgment comes for a specific reason: that there may be repentance!

That's why, as we have seen, the saving of the 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude (Rev. 7)—because they heeded the warning, they repented, God spared them any further of the Great Tribulation.

Verse 9: "But, if you warn the wicked of his way, to turn from it; if he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your soul. And you, son of man, speak to the house of Israel. Thus shall you speak, saying, 'When our transgressions and our sins are on us… [which they are] …and we are wasting away in them… [which we are] …how then shall we live?'…. [that's going to confront all of us] ….Say to them, 'As I live," says the Lord GOD, "I have no delight in the death of the wicked, except that the wicked turn from his way, and live. Turn you, turn you from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?'" (vs 9-11).

Note sermon: It's Not the Economy Stupid—It's God!We need to pay attention to God!

Verse 12: "Therefore, son of man, say to the children of your people, 'The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression. As for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it in the day he turns from his wickedness….'"

All of this is to bring people to the understanding that they need to repent to God. And yet, as we will see when we read in the book of Revelation with all of these plagues and all of the things that happen—they don't repent!

"…Nor shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sins. When I shall say to the righteous that he shall surely live; if he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he has committed, he shall die for it. Again, when I say to the wicked, '"You shall surely die'; if he turns from his sin and does that which is lawful and right; if the wicked restores back the pledge, gives back again what he had robbed, walks in the statutes of life without committing iniquity, then he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of his sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live" (vs 12-16). That's why God's way is always fair!

Let's see what God commands His servants to do. There are times when the warning must be given. There are times when we must say, 'Watch out! The time is at hand!'

Isaiah 58:1: "Cry aloud, do not spare…" When there's trouble, when people are sinning, when things are going wrong you do not consider the emotions of the people to try and make it tender for them. The people are considering their own emotions instead of repenting to God! They are considering their feelings rather than the truth of what God wants them to understand!. They are looking to how they feel rather than examining themselves and repenting!

"…lift up your voice like a ram's horn…" (v 1). If you've ever heard a ram's horn, that is piercing! It just goes right through you!

"…and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins" (v 1). That's what God requires us to do!

Here's the quirky thing about the Israelites: they're 'religious': living in sin, committing adultery, perversion, robbing, lying, cheating, stealing, and they say, 'We believe in God!'

Verse 2: "Yet, they seek Me daily, and seem eager to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and one that did not forget the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; they seem eager to draw near to God." They even fast, but God wants repentance. So that's why there's 'crying aloud and sparing not.'

Let's see, again, how there is a warning to be given, brethren. And this warning is to go out to the world. Don't forget, not only what we're able to do, but my hope and prayer is all the Churches of God will be able to do what they're supposed to do, and give the warning that they have to give, and that people will repent—that God will be merciful to those who repent as He has promised.

But we are heading into the time of the end where it's going to get very intense, and it's going to be very difficult! Times we have never even thought would happen! Let me tell you, when those days come, hearing the ram's horn is a very mild experience.

Joel 1:14: "Sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the elders and all the people of the land unto the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. Alas for the day! For the Day of the LORD is at hand… [that's what this day pictures] …and it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty" (vs 14-15).

That's what this day pictures. A Feast of war announces death, doom, gloom, destruction, obliteration! And yet, we'll see He holds out the offer of repentance, yet, even in the midst of it.

Joel 2:1: "'Blow the ram's horn in Zion, and sound an alarm in My Holy mountain!'…. [also in the Churches of God] …Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD comes, for it is near at hand. A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness. As the morning is spread across the mountains, so comes a great people and a mighty people…" (vs 1-2).

"…there has never been the like, nor shall there ever be again, even to the years of many generations" (v 2). A one-time, end-time event where God is warring and fighting against the nations of the earth!

Verse 3: "A fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns. The land is as the Garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness—and nothing shall escape them. Their appearance is as the appearance of horses; and as war horses, so they run. They shall leap with the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains, with the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, like a mighty people set in battle array" (vs 3-5). That's what the Feast of Trumpets is all about!

Verse 6: "In their presence the people shall greatly tremble; all faces shall grow pale. They shall run like mighty men…." (vs 6-7).

The warriors that we're going to have at the end-time are going to have equipment and abilities such as no army has ever had before.

"…They shall climb the wall like men of war, and they shall march each one in his path, and they shall not break their ranks. And each one shall not crowd another; they go every one in his own path. And when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded" (vs 7-8). Going to be quite a time!

Verse 9: "They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall; they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble. The sun and the moon shall grow dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining" (vs 9-10).

Never has this happened before in the history of the world. But we are drawing closer and closer to that day. We can see the building up of these things through all the nations and what's happening in the world.

Verse 11: "And the LORD shall utter His voice before His army; for His camp is exceedingly great; for powerful is He who executes His Word, for the Day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can endure it?"

That's what we're looking at. Unprecedented! Unique! Never before found in history. That's not counting all the troubles that lead up to it.

Now, here's what God says, again, right in the middle of all the judgment, death and destruction, gloom and doom, dark clouds, the earth shaking, the heavens trembling:

Verse 12: "'Therefore, even now,' says the LORD, 'turn to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.'"  Not just bewailing the fact that troubles are happening; He wants true, deep repentance!

Verse 13: "Yes, rend your heart and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and He repents of the evil." That's something, brethren! That's really something to understand!

In all of this, please also understand, my whole purpose in explaining these things is for the same reason: that we all repent and we all get right with God! That we yield to Him. That we ask Him to place His angels about us, to protect us from the pestilence, to protect us from those who are falling down all around us; and those days are coming!

Verse 14: "'Who knows if He will return and repent and leave a blessing behind Him—a grain offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? Blow a ram's horn in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly. Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and those who suck the breasts. Let the bridegroom go forth out of his chamber, and the bride out of her room. Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, "Spare Your people, O LORD, and give not Your inheritance to shame, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the people, 'Where is their God?'"' Then the LORD will be jealous for His land and pity His people" (vs 14-18). That's what it's going to bring, but it's going to take some deep repentance!

Let's see what God is going to do. This is also what is coming, and we are going to see it develop at an amazing speed.

Joel 3:9 "Proclaim this among the nations, 'Prepare for war!' Wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'…."

That's what we're seeing develop. Just like it says there in the Psa. 2, the nations are angry against God! They rail against Christ!

Verse 11: "Gather yourselves and come, all you nations… [God is going to bring them] …and gather yourselves together all around; cause Your mighty ones to come down there, O LORD. Let the nations be awakened and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the nations all around. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe…. [we'll see this again a little later in Rev. 14] …Come, come down; for the press is full; the vats overflow—for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the Day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision!!" (vs 11-14).

Yes, it is! All the saints will be resurrected on the Sea of Glass with Christ. We're going to see how God is going to draw them. We are going to see what is going to happen to them.

Verse 15: "The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD shall also roar out of Zion and utter His voice from Jerusalem. And the heavens and the earth shall shake. But the LORD will be the hope of His people and the strength of the children of Israel" (vs 15-16).

That's going to be the end result of it. So this Feast of Trumpets pictures some tremendous, tremendous things! We cannot forget Jer. 25 on the Day of Trumpets, because that's what God says is the reason that the Day of Trumpets is going to happen, and His judgment against this world. He told Jeremiah to take this cup and all nations of the world were to drink of it.

Jeremiah 25:28: "And it shall come to pass if they refuse to take the cup at your hand to drink…"

That is being carried out by the Word of God, because Jeremiah didn't get there. Also, this is probably one of the missions of the 'two witnesses' in helping fulfill this.

"'…then you shall say to them, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'You shall certainly drink. For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city, which is called by My name; and shall you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished. For I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth,' says the LORD of hosts. 'And prophesy against them all these words, and say to them, "The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter His voice from His Holy habitation. He shall mightily roar over His dwelling place…."'" (vs 28-30)—because the Sea of Glass is over Jerusalem and the Valley of Jehoshaphat!

"'…He shall give a shout, like those who tread out grapes, against all the people of the earth. A noise shall come to the ends of the earth; for the LORD has a controversy with the nations; He will plead with all flesh. He will give those who are wicked to the sword,' says the LORD. 'Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be stirred up from the farthest corners of the earth. And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth; they shall not be mourned, nor gathered, nor buried. They shall be as dung on the ground. Howl, you shepherds, and cry…'" (vs 30-34)—all you leaders of the world; all of you sanctimonious, religious leaders!

"…and wallow yourselves in the ashes, you lords of the flock! For the days of your slaughter and of your scatterings are fulfilled; and you shall fall like a choice vessel" (v 34).

God really means what He says. Let's understand something, too, that we need to really realize: every prophecy that God has is not fulfilled just a little, little bit; it is fulfilled to the maximum, to the very top! That's what's going to happen in all of these things. Let's see how God is going to handle it; let's see what He's going to do. It's the judgment against Babylon, and Babylon is this whole world. And if you look at all the cities of the world today, they are almost identical: their buildings, their factories, their houses, their businesses.

Here is the judgment that God is going to bring upon the world:

Isaiah 13:1: "The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw: 'Lift up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice to them, wave the hand, so that they may go into the gates of the nobles. I have commanded My Holy ones, I have also called My mighty ones… [angels] …for My anger, even those who rejoice in My triumph.'…. [because Jesus is coming in victory] …The noise of a multitude in the mountains, as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together; the LORD of hosts gathers an army for the battle…. [that's quite a thing to understand] …They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, the LORD and the weapons of His indignation, to destroy the whole earth" (vs 1-5).

Like it says there in Isa. 40: every mountain is going to come down; every valley is going to be exalted; all the cities of the world are going to fall—they will be nothing but junk and trash. There're going to volcanoes going. Tsunamis going! Earthquakes going! Woe! Plague! Death! and misery of an unprecedented way!

Verse 6: "Howl! For the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore, all hands shall be faint, and every man's heart shall melt; and they shall be afraid. Pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them. They shall be in pain like a woman who travails. They shall be amazed at one another, their faces are like blazing fire. Behold, the Day of the LORD comes, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to make the earth a desolation; and He shall destroy the sinners out of it, for the stars of the heavens and their constellations shall not give light; the sun shall be darkened in its going forth, and the moon shall not reflect its light" (vs 1-10).

Verse 10—God says: "And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the tyrants. I will make man more scarce than gold; even man more than the fine gold of Ophir. Therefore, I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall move out of its place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of His fierce anger" (vs 10-13).

That's what this day pictures—the taking over of the world by God—against a hostile mankind, worldwide; that have:

• rejected Him
• rejected His laws
• hated Christ
• hated Christianity
• hated Christians
• martyred them
• mocked them
• killed them

Yes, Christ is coming, and the Kingdom of God is going to be setup, and we have been called to be a part of that!

(go to the next track)

These chapters are here to show us how absolutely awesome and colossal all of the things are going to be that are pictured by the Day of Trumpets. Of course, a day fulfilled in prophecy can be the specific day itself, but also one year in fulfillment, and we're going to see both apply; both apply in understanding right here.

Isaiah 24:1: "Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty and makes it waste, and turns it upside down, and scatters its inhabitants."

Doesn't mean He flips it over from the North Pole to the South Pole; but everything on the earth is turned upside down.

Verse 2: "And as it is with the people, so it shall be with the priest; as with the slave, so with the master; as with the handmaid, so it is with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the creditor, so with the debtor…. [no one's going to be exempt] …The earth shall be completely laid waste, and utterly stripped; for the LORD has spoken this word" (vs 2-3). We're going to see in the book of Rev. how these things are going to come to pass this way!

Verse 4: "The earth mourns and languishes; the world withers and languishes; the proud people of the earth wither. And the earth is defiled under its people; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, and have broken the everlasting covenant" (vs 4-5).

So, it all lays like in the sermons that I gave: Disasters: Who is to Blame? #s 1 & 2. It all lays right at the feet of religious teachers. They're the ones. They have changed the laws. They have changed the ordinances. They have changed and said, 'Oh, let's keep the Lord's day Sunday'; that's changing the fourth commandment and cutting them off from God! They are the ones, they have done it! Their philosophies! Then the leaders follow right along with war and mayhem! Yes, they have broken the everlasting covenant!

Verse 6:: "Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and they who dwell in it are desolate; therefore the people of the earth are burned, and few men are left."

Is it going to be that there will only be ten-percent of humanity left by time we come back to the earth with Christ and take over the reigns of rule of this earth? Don't know! It doesn't tell us!

Verse 16: "From the ends of the earth we have heard songs, 'Glory to the righteous.' But I said, 'Leanness to me! Leanness to me! Woe to me! Deceivers deceive, even treacherously. Deceivers deceive!' Dread and the pit, and the snare are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth. And it shall be, he who flees from the sound of dread shall fall into the pit. And he who comes up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare, for the windows from on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth quake" (vs 16-18).

That's where we saw in the prophecy in Isa. 34, that 'the heavens are rolled back like a scroll' and that fits in with Rev. 6 and the sixth seal.

Verse 19: "The earth is broken, yea broken down! The earth is crumbling, yea crumbling to pieces! The earth is tottering, yea tottering! Like a drunkard the earth is staggering, yea staggering! And it rocks to and fro like a tree hut! And its transgressions are heavy upon it; and it shall fall and not rise again" (vs 19-20).

• never again is there going to be a Babylon the Great
• never again is Satan the devil going to rule
• never again are these things going to happen

But it has to end this way because men will not learn! Men will not listen!

Stop and think about the end-time. How many Bibles are out there today? Being printed and distributed? In a great, vast amount! The Word of God is there for them to have—to read, to understand if they would do it. How much could they avoid of this? I don't know, but God says if there's repentance, He'll honor it!

Verse 21[transcriber's correction]: "And it shall come to pass in that day, the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high… [demons] …and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered, as prisoners are gathered in a dungeon. And they shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days they shall be punished" (vs 21-22).

That's exactly what's going to happen to the leaders of this world, and to Satan and the demons. They're going to be put back in their prison, called the abyss.

Verse 23: "Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun shall be ashamed, for the LORD of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion, in Jerusalem, and gloriously before His elders"—all of His people!

Let's see how it unfolds beginning with the trumpet plagues. We've covered this just recently so I'm not going to go into it in great detail. Let's see this Day of the Lord as one year from Trumpets to Trumpets. Of course, then we have from the 144,000 on Pentecost to the Pentecost of the first resurrection. We have an overlapping of Pentecost and Trumpets. Let's see how this takes place here:

Rev. 8—we have the beginning of the trumpet plagues. Do they start on the Feast of Trumpets? It would seem that that's probably when they would start! The seven angels are the ones who sound these trumpets, and it is WAR against the earth, against men, against the religionists, against all nations. The only ones who are spared: 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude and those who are in the place of safety. That's it! It's coming upon everyone else.

So, they sound their trumpets and now we have a new thing taking place: the angels of God fighting against men, the demons and Satan the devil. You see that everything that we read there about what happens to the earth being burned up, what happens to the sun and the moon and the stars not shinning; the first four of these trumpet plagues carry all of that out. But the last three of the trumpet plagues are called WOES!

Rev. 9—we see the fifth angel sound his trumpet. The abyss is opened up by an angel who has a key to the abyss. The king over the abyss is Satan the devil, who is called "Apollyon or Abaddon"—depending whether it's Greek or Hebrew. They come out and they bring to the armies of men a secret weapon that is like a scorpion that stings and, in those days when that happens, men will seek death but won't find it.

Then we have a tremendous thing take place with the sounding of the sixth seal. This ties right in with Joel 2, that I read. Here is an army of 200-million. As we've seen in sermons leading up to this, before the Day of Trumpets, the groups of nations including: Russia, China, Southeast Asia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekhstan—all of those nations are together now in an economic group.

That economic group constitutes the kings of the north and the kings of the east. That's where the army of 200-million is coming from. In order for these things to take place, as we see in the book of Revelation, there has got to be a tremendous economic revival among those nations as Israel comes down. This will give them the ability to make the weapons, to develop their armies, and to have the army of 200-million. Now, it's not going to be all in one place at one time. It's going to be strung out from the River Euphrates all the way back to the east. When they come to the River Euphrates they're going to stop right there until an event happens.

These armies will be strung out and go all the way back. Even some of the armies will not come and fight on the Day of the Lord in Jerusalem, or the Holy Land, but those of Gog and Magog are going to come again after the Millennium has been already in action for about seven years. Because, as we will see with the Feast of Tabernacles, Christ has to rebuke strong nations that afar off, and force them to 'beat their implements of war into plowshares and pruning-hooks.' He has to judge them. Part of those armies are going to be reserved for Eze. 38 and 39 of Gog and Magog.

This is a tremendous thing, brethren. Don't think that there's going to be 200-million in one place; it's going to be strung out.

Revelation 9:12: "The first woe is past. Behold, after these things two more woes are still to come. And the sixth angel sounded his trumpet; and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God; and it said to the sixth angel, who had the trumpet, 'Loose the four angels who are bound in the great River Euphrates'" (vs 12-14). They've been there waiting for this moment and this time!

Verse 15: "Then the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were loosed, so that they might kill a third of men."

Remember, already a 'fourth part of men' have been killed, now here's a 'third part of men'—that's not talking about what were killed with the 'second woe.' Though, for a while, it was with the sting of scorpions and they didn't die.

Verse 16: "And the number of the armies of the horsemen was two-hundred-thousand-thousand… [200-million—never has there been an army that great] …and I heard the number of them."

Then it talks about the fierceness of them. It talks about, in descriptive language, the kind of awesome weapons that they will have. Now, I want you to tie this together with Joel 2, that this is the army of God and it's coming to punish the world, and it's also being gathered in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, the Valley of Decision, for the final battle against Christ and the saints. So, this is a continuous movement that takes place.

Verse 17: "And so, I saw the horses in the vision, and those sitting on them, who had fiery breastplates, even like jacinth and brimstone. And the heads of the horses were like heads of lions, and fire and smoke and brimstone shoot out of their mouths."

Have you ever seen the fiery dragon or the fiery lion from the east? You can almost see the pictures of it from Chinese wall-paintings!

Verse 18: "By these three a third of men were killed: by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone that shoot out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouths; for their tails are like serpents, and have heads, and with them they inflict wounds" (vs 18-19).

This is really awesome war-making machines. Remember, there are demons with them. There are demons and men fighting the angels of God. But notice why this happens:

Verse 20: "But the rest of the men who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands that they might not worship demons, and idols of gold and silver and brass and stone and wood, which do not have the power to see, nor to hear, nor to walk. And they did not repent of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornications, nor of their thievery" (vs 20-21).

Just exactly as God dealt with Pharaoh in Egypt, when He was getting the children of Israel ready to take out of Egypt, what happened? Pharaoh hardened his heart because he didn't repent. Given an opportunity to repent, but don't repent, so God hardens the heart. That's going to happen here on a mass scale. They're not going to repent. They're going to be absolutely, if I could use the expression, hell-bent to come to the Valley of Jehoshaphat and fight against this great Sea of Glass that is up in the clouds where Christ and all the resurrected saints will be.

Then we have the next thing to happen, which then are the seven thunders. We are told that John was not to write what the seven thunders would be. So no one knows what they are. I saw a stupid interpretation of a man who's supposed to be one of the two witnesses—and his wife is the second one—and that's been about two years already that this has been, and he says he knows what the seven thunders are. What does he say they are? He says they're the sixth seal. How could that be? They're different! And yet, people like lemmings follow such stupidity; it's amazing!

Revelation 10:4: "But I heard a voice from heaven say to me, 'Seal what the seven thunders spoke, and do not write them.' Then the angel whom I had seen standing on the sea and on the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and swore by Him Who lives into the ages of eternity, Who created the heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, 'There shall be no more delay'" (vs 4-6).

Now we're coming down to the very last thing. There's going to be one last push of prophecy to be spoken, as we find here in the last part of Rev. 10 where John took the 'little book' and 'ate it' and he was told 'go preach.' That must be one of the messages going from the two witnesses.

I want you to do is this: I want you to see how much takes place after the seventh, or last, trump is sounded; before we come back to the earth. I've already covered that during Pentecost, so I'll just briefly review it here so we can come to see how the seven last plagues are going to be poured out; because that's going to happen from Pentecost to Trumpets—and then we come back to the earth! After the two witnesses finish their witness:

Revelation 11:7: "And when they have completed their testimony, the beast who ascends out of the abyss will make war against them, and will overcome them, and will kill them."

God does this lots of times to let Satan thinks that he wins! He thought he won when Christ was crucified—but He was resurrected from the dead. So likewise, he going to think, 'Now we can win, right here at the last minute, we can have a victory, we have killed them.' What do they do?

Verse 8: "And their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified." That's what God thinks of Jerusalem today!

Verse 9: "Then those of the peoples and tribes and languages and nations shall see their bodies three and a half days, for they will not allow their bodies to be put into tombs" (vs 7-9).

This shows they're still going to be some kind of worldwide network of television and cell-phone operation. So, when God shakes the earth and so forth, He's probably going to leave intact a lot of these satellites that are out there for this very specific purpose.

Notice what they do after all that has happened—all the wars, all the fighting, finally here's a little respite; here's a time when 'we can all get together and celebrate how wonderful it is—now we can stop this thing. The two witnesses are dead, we finally got them.'

Verse 10: "'And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, and will make merry, and will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets had tormented those who dwell on the earth.' Then after the three and a half days, the spirit of life from God entered into them and they stood on their feet… [what a sight that is going to be] …and great fear fell upon those who were watching them" (vs 10-11).

That is the whole world! And those that are right there in Jerusalem: 'What is this? How can it be? Are you sure they were dead?' Yes, we verified they were dead. 'Look, they're alive. They're standing up.' What it really is, it is the last two who were martyred are the first two who are resurrected.

Verse 12: "And they heard a great voice from heaven, say, 'Come up here!' And they ascended into heaven in a cloud; and their enemies saw them rise."

We'll see, they'll be changed at the last trump. So if they go up there and they're still in the flesh on their way up that shows that the Sea of Glass where Christ and the saints are is in the part of the atmosphere where there's still enough oxygen for them to live. So, the last trumpet sounds just right here. Notice what happens when that takes place:

Verse 13: "And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; and seven thousand men were killed in the earthquake. And the rest were filled with fear, and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming immediately" (vs 13-14).

Right when they're on their way up into heaven—there are probably angels taking them up that the world couldn't see—the seventh trump is sounded—the last trump—this is on Pentecost.

Verse 15: "Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign into the ages of eternity.' And the twenty-four elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, 'We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come; for You have taken to Yourself Your great power, and have reigned. For the nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time for the dead to be judged, and to give reward to Your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to all those who fear Your name, the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth'" (vs 15-18).

Hasn't yet happened. He hasn't destroyed them. We're going to see how the events unfold and how, from the Sea of Glass, where also the Throne of God is. This also tells us that the Throne of God is a whole lot closer to the earth at this time than we have supposed that the Throne of God would be. But nevertheless, the resurrection takes place and I suspect that the whole world's going to see that and they're going to wonder what on earth is this that's happening! Body-snatchers! How many are going to be resurrected? We don't know.

We're going to see the two harvests:

• the harvest of the righteous at Pentecost
• the harvest of the wicked

Right after that to the seven last plagues and then the Feast of Trumpets when we come back to the earth!

Revelation 14:14: "And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and one like the Son of man sitting on the cloud, having a golden crown on His head; and in His hand was a sharp sickle…. [that's the harvest of the righteous] …And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him Who was sitting on the cloud, 'Thrust in your sickle and reap, because the time has come for You to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.' And He Who was sitting on the cloud thrust forth His sickle upon the earth, and the earth was reaped…. [the trumpet is blown, and then this happens and the dead are raised] …Then another angel…" (vs 14-17).

After the resurrection and those who are righteous are on the Sea of Glass, there is another harvest to come.

We'll just repeat this again because this is such a great thing that's going to take place. We're all resurrected, the angels carry us up to the Sea of Glass to meet Christ, to meet all the saints and there we'll probably see God the Father. Why not? We'll be spirit beings, we can; after all, we're His children!

Revelation 15:1: "Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and awesome: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is filled up. And I saw a Sea of Glass mingled with fire, and those who had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, standing on the Sea of Glass, having the lyres of God" (vs 1-2). That's exactly what's going to take place!

Verse 3: "And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, 'Great and awesome are Your works, Lord God Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the saints. Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You only are Holy; and all the nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been revealed'" (vs 3-4).

Now let's read about the other harvest, the harvest of the wicked:

Revelation 14:17: "Then another angel, who also had a sharp sickle, came out of the temple that is in heaven. And out from the altar came another angel, who had authority over fire; and he called with a loud cry to the one who had the sharp sickle, saying, 'Thrust in your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the earth, because her grapes are fully ripe'" (vs 17-18).

These are the wicked being drawn to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, the Valley of Decision, where there will be blood, which will flow as deep as a horse's bridle.

Verse 19: "And the angel thrust his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast its fruit into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood spewed out from the winepress as high as the horses' bridles, to the distance of a thousand six hundred furlongs" (vs 17-20). Mammoth!

Revelation 15:5: "And after these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. And the seven angels who had the seven last plagues came out of the temple; they were clothed in linen, pure and bright, and girded about the chest with golden breastplates. And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden vials, full of the wrath of God, Who lives into the ages of eternity. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His power; and no one was able to enter inside the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled" (vs 5-8).

Rev. 16—here's how God deals with the world. Remember, He has a controversy with the nations. He's going to gather them all to the Holy Land. He is going to judge them, and here is the judgment that is coming—and this happens from the time after the resurrection of the saints on Pentecost until Rev. 19 when, on that Trumpets, we come back to earth.

Revelation 16:1: "Then I heard a loud voice from the temple say to the seven angels, 'Go and pour out the vials of the wrath of God onto the earth.' And the first angel went and poured out his vial onto the earth; and an evil and grievous sore fell upon the men who had the mark of the beast, and upon those who were worshiping his image" (vs 1-2). God is letting it be known:

• you will not mock God!
• you will not serve Satan the devil!
• you will not do these things and 'despise Me'!

Who's the Creator of heaven and earth and all of mankind!

Verse 3: "And the second angel went and poured out his vial into the sea; and it became blood, like that of a dead man; and every living soul in the sea died…. [God is going wipe this earth clean of all the sins of men] …And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers, and into the fountains of waters; and they became blood" (vs 3-4).

Now notice how the angels view this, because they have seen what men have done through all the years, and the killings and the wars, and everything like that.

Verse 5: "Then I heard the angel of the waters say, 'You are righteous, O Lord, Who are, and Who was, even the Holy One, in that You have executed this judgment. For they have poured out the blood of saints and of prophets, and You have given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.' And I heard another voice from the altar say, 'Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.' And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given to it to scorch men with fire. Then men were scorched with great heat…" (vs 5-9).

Just like a firestorm coming from the sun! The temperature rises greatly and scorches men—just a big blast coming!

"…and they blasphemed the name of God, Who has authority over these plagues, and did not repent to give Him glory. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain, and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; yet, they did not repent of their works" (vs 9-11).

Verse 12: "And the sixth angel poured out his vial into the great river Euphrates; and its waters were dried up… [the Euphrates began to flow again and now it has to be dried up again] …so that the way of the kings from the rising of the sun might be prepared." Those armies are still strung out all the way to the east! Now, in order to convince them to do this, this looks like kind of a little respite.

Verse 13: "Then I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon [Satan], and out of the mouth of the beast [antichrist], and out of the mouth of the false prophet; for they are spirits of demons working miracles, going forth to the kings of the earth, even of the whole world, to gather them together to the battle of that great day of the Almighty God" (vs 13-14).

Here comes the last battle that's going to be. This is Armageddon! Notice there's a little warning: Verse 15: "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is the one who is watching and is keeping his garments, so that he may not walk naked and they may not see his shame." Sounds an awful lot like another warning message to the Laodiceans!

• we are never to let up
• we are never to let down
• always go forward with the help and Spirit of God

Verse 16: "And he gathered them together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon…. [that is the sixth angel who poured out the sixth vial] …Then the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, 'IT IS FINISHED.' And there were voices and thunders and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were on the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great" (vs 16-18).

God is going to shake this earth so many times during the time that He rolls back the heavens as a scroll that this earth is going just like a drunken man staggering to and fro.

Verse 19: "And the great city was divided into three parts; and the cities of the nations fell…" All of their great skyscrapers, all of their great projects; everything that man has done is going to be destroyed!

We're going to be the ones with Christ to show them what they need to do. Those few who live through it are going to be quite a case to deal with. But at that point, those who remain there are going to get the message and repent!

Verse 20: "And every island disappeared, and no mountains were found…" Why? Because they've been laid low, like it says there in Isa. 40. Now, you think about that! Think about what's going to happen to this earth!

Verse 21: "And great hail, each stone the weight of a talent, fell down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, for the plague was exceedingly great."

Even that, that still doesn't kill all of them. NO! Let's see what happens then, after the marriage of the Lamb, we all receive our rewards, we all view the seven last plagues going on, on the earth, from our vantage point up on the Sea of Glass. We're all organized. Christ tells us what we are to do. We are given our horses. We know how to handle them. And we are now ready to fight, because Jesus said, 'If My kingdom were of this world then would My servants fight!' Of course, Christ is going to lead the way! This is the finality of the last Feast of Trumpets before the beginning of the Millennium.

Revelation 19:11: "And I saw heaven open; and behold, a white horse; and He Who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He does judge and make war. And His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written that no one knows except Him. And He was clothed with a garment dipped in blood; and His name is The Word of God" (vs 11-13).

Goes right back to John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Verse 14: "And the armies in heaven… [that's us! Probably with a lot of angels, too] …were following Him on white horses; and they were clothed in fine linen, white and pure…. [that's the righteousness of the saints] …And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He might smite the nations; and He shall shepherd them with an iron rod; and He treads the winepress of the fury and the wrath of the Almighty God" (vs 11-15). That fulfills the last part of Rev. 14; Joel 2 & 3!

Verse 16: "And on His garment and on His thigh He has a name written: King of kings and Lord of lords. Then I saw an angel standing in the sun… [we see on our way down] …and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, 'Come and gather yourselves together to the supper of the great God so that you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of chief captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all, free and bond, and small and great'" (vs 16-18).

Zech. 14 shows that in that day that Jesus comes and puts His feet on the Mt. of Olives and all the saints with Him, that weapon that He has is so powerful that it the word goes out of His mouth and the flesh falls right off their skeletons. So here's all the flesh and the blood and all of these human skeletons, and guts and all of this just there in one big quivering mess! God is going to clean it up, so He calls for all the birds, all the eagles, all the vultures, all the birds of prey; and they are going around in circles waiting, coming down, looking at this great feast that God has given them!

Verse 19: "And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies, gathered together to make war with Him… [the final battle] …Who sits on the horse, and with His army…. [that's us] …And the beast was taken… [and angel took him] …and with him the false prophet who worked miracles in his presence, by which he had deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Those two were cast alive into the lake of fire, which burns with brimstone; and the rest were killed by the sword of Him Who sits on the horse, even the sword that goes out of His mouth; and all the birds were filled with their flesh" (vs 19-21).

That's how the Kingdom of God is going to start, after the destruction of the kingdom of Satan and men!

• no more will there be defying against God
• no more will there be rebellion against God

Christ and the saints are going to rule and reign as kings and priests and we are going to take the pitiful people who suffer through all of this and remain, and they are going to start afresh. Then there will be a thousand years of peace and prosperity and plenty; but only after Satan is put away.

So, come back on the Day of Atonement and we will see the judgment of Satan the devil, because this is God's judgment against men and against the beast and the false prophet. Now God's judgment will come—on the Day of Atonement—against Satan and the demons!

Scriptural References:

• Leviticus 23:23-25
• Numbers 10:1-10
• Psalm 81:3-5
• Joshua 6:1-5
• Ezekiel 33:1-16
• Isaiah 58:1-2
• Joel 1:14-15
• Joel 2:1-18
• Joel 3:9-16
• Jeremiah 25:28-34
• Isaiah 13:1-13
• Isaiah 24:1-6, 16-23
• Revelation 9:12-21
• Revelation 10:4-6
• Revelation 11:7-18
• Revelation 14:14-17
• Revelation 15:1-4
• Revelation 14:17-20
• Revelation 15:5-8
• Revelation 16:1-21
• Revelation 19:11-13
• John 1:1
• Revelation 19:14-31

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Revelation 11, 7
• Psalm 2
• Isaiah 40
• Isaiah 34
• Revelation 8
• Ezekiel 38, 39
• Zechariah 14

Also referenced: Sermons:

• Disasters: Who is to Blame? #s 1 & 2
• It's Not the Economy Stupid—It's God!

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 6-25-09       Reformatted/Corrected: 6/2020