From the New Testament those who expect their Bridegroom’s return know that God has given clear indicators to the timing of this event. This is also to be expected based on the patterns provided in the Old Testament that point to Israel’s Messiah’s first coming. Below are some of these references given to God’s Church which I will briefly discuss to address some of the confusion that is found in the body of believers about the timing of these events:
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 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.
When Paul writes his letter to the Corinthians, he mentions “The Last Trump” and this has led, I believe, to many contradicting views in the body of Christ with regards to the Church’s departure from earth. Many believe that the timing of God’s intervention to remove his Church from the earth and what Paul spoke of above is connected to the prophecies given to John in Revelation when he records the 7th trumpet sounding and that this is then “The Last Trump”. There are however, some problems with this view that I would like to point out. It is very important to remember that when one interpret God’s Word it should never lead to contradictions with other passages also found in God’s Word. If one encounters an apparent contradiction, then our understanding is wrong and we have to search for an alternative interpretation for the issue at hand.
Firstly, when Paul mentioned “The Last Trump” in this passage, he offers no further clarification of which trumpet it is that he is referring to, which would be strange if he was referring to the 7th trumpet of Revelation. The seventh trumpet of Revelation had not been revealed at the time that Paul wrote this letter and the letter to the Corinthians was written long before John received the Revelation on Patmos. At the point when Paul wrote this letter he would not have been aware of the 7th trumpet in Revelation as God revealed this to John specifically. In my opinion it would therefore be very unusual to mention something like “The Last Trump” without Paul expounding on it somewhat, if this was indeed the 7th Trumpet of Revelation that he was referring to. Thirdly, from the patterns that we have seen used in God’s Word, it is a given that when the timing of a special event is provided or referred to in God’s Word, that it has to do with a fulfilment of a specific Feast Day of the Lord. We know from example that when God announces special events, through those that He inspired to write the books contained in his Word, that they will always fall on a Feast Day and will be accompanied by a celestial marker if it is the start of a series.
An interpretation that is then more logical that can be applied to Paul’s reference to “The Last Trump” which also makes a lot more sense in my opinion is that he was referring to the Last Trump that is blown on a Feast Day of the Lord. It is then quite obvious that this would point to the Feast of Trumpets. If we look at the history and tradition of Israel around this Feast Day, we know that historically and traditionally it is preceded with trumpets being blown every day throughout the entire month of Elul to call Israel to introspection and repentance. This precedes the two-day period during which the first day of the Jewish New Year is announced by “The Last Trump”. The fact that Paul mentions “The Last Trump” without having to explain in more detail what it is that he is referring to, would suggest that the readers of the letter would have known exactly what Paul was talking about – The Feast of Trumpets where The Last Trump is a well known aspect of this specific Feast. Further evidence to support this view comes from Jesus himself when He was discussing the end times with his disciples:
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
This reference to the Feast of Trumpets was made by Jesus himself, as it is the only Feast Day on Israel’s calendar for which nobody knew the day or the hour on which the announcement of the New Year would be made. Also, note that it is only the day and the hour that would not be known to those who watched, but there is nothing said about the month or the year. This would narrow the possible timeframe for this event down to 2 days. This is further corroborated by passages as seen below:
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
It is clear that Paul who pointed believers to look towards “The Last Trump” here also points out that believers are not in the dark and that we will be in a position to know “the day” on which our hope will be complete. The day will not overtake believers as a thief in the night. It is further truly amazing that Paul also includes the celestial marker by mentioning the “woman in travail” that is once again woven into the narrative, providing the celestial pointer that will accompany the Feast Day’s fulfilment as we are discovering.
Jesus also tells those that listened to him to look up – at the celestial marker that will be around for a period of 9 months – when they see the time of the end approaching and the events coming to pass that He was telling them about:
Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Jesus told his disciples that there would be certain signs before his return. These signs will precede his second coming as a thief in the night, when those “who are in the dark” will not expect his return. God is also extremely gracious in allowing those who watch for his return to compare the prophecies given by Jesus in Matthew 24, to events that will take place in the world during the time that the Woman in Travail sign in the sky will be playing out. In this way there will be no question for those who are watching, about the reality of our Lord’s return, once these events start playing out. Jesus mentions the signs that will point to his soon return before the Time of the End commences and that specific signs would lead into the end, but would not be the end itself. He referred to these as “the beginning of sorrows”:
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 ALL THESE ARE THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS.
If we keep in mind what Jesus, Paul and others said about this period of time and the many references to the Woman in Travail both figuratively and in the physical sign that will present itself between November 20th 2016 and September 23rd 2017, we can logically expect the time of sorrows to be the time period between the conception and the birth of the Child. We know that God said in Genesis 3:16 that He would greatly multiply the woman’s “sorrows” during child birth, which would tell us that the preceding signs that Jesus mentioned above, would also occur between these two dates and would be increasing in intensity as the due date approaches.
Gen 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
If my understanding about this is incorrect, you will know as the world will just continue as per usual. On the other hand, if my interpretation of God’s Word is correct, there should be notable events, as per Jesus’ words that will occur between the two dates mentioned, having to do with wars, noticeable famine and plagues and large earthquakes around the world.
According to Jesus’ words we should expect to see an increase in wars around the world where some of the bigger nations will move to war with their counterparts. There will also be famines and diseases that will spread like wildfire – we already know that the Ebola virus has taken a great toll on people in West Africa and is still active. The Zika virus (probably an engineered GMO to control world population) which has not been seen in the past seems to be another candidate that could have a very serious impact on the world. With weather patterns changing dramatically over the past decade, famine and food shortages will have a profound impact in 2017, if this prophecy is understood correctly. Most importantly will be the increase in large earthquake activity around the globe as a result of the rogue planet/system, known as Nibiru, approaching the earth and affecting the earth with its strong magnetic field.
I believe it is God’s mercy and grace that is allowing a period of 9 months during which those people who doubt his Word and the timing of his coming, will have the opportunity to verify the information and signs as prophesied in his Word against the situation experienced on earth that will be playing out before our eyes. God has allowed his people who await his return to know that the time has come for our departure from this world by looking at the events around us in the world and marked by signs in the stars. These signs and prophecies have He provided for his Bride to know that his return to collect her and take her with him to heaven is imminent.