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"i Shall Return", Part 2: A Promise Kept

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"I Shall Return", Part 2

A Promise Kept

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"i Shall Return", Part 2: A Promise Kept

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"I shall return..." three simple words, with an entire nation hanging on the promise contained within. We can look back to this promise kept, just as this Day of Trumpets pictures a promise kept by Jesus Christ to return.

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A Promise Kept (I Shall Return - Part 2) I shall return. 3 simple words -- with an entire nation hanging on the promise contained within. By December of 1942, the people of the Philippine Islands had little else to hold on to. Within the last year, the American Air Force at Clarke Field was destroyed in the hours following the attack on Pearl Harbor. With the American air presence nearly non-existent, the bombing of Manila had begun, prompting evacuation of key U.S. military personnel and the declaration of Manila as an open city. The bombing continued. Soon after, Japanese occupation forces landed and captured the capital city of Manila, sending the remaining U.S. forces scrambling in retreat. The Japanese continued to push their occupation across the Philippine Islands as the days ticked on, and an increasingly confident Japanese army began to take control. Propaganda began to circulate widely. Tokyo Rose’s radio program predicted to any and all that would listen, that General Douglas MacArthur would be captured by Japanese forces within a month – that the Battle of the Phillipines was over.

On the heels of this pronouncement and the occupation of Manila, the United States forces retreated to the Island of Corregidor and ultimately Bataan, and in March of 1942, General MacArthur was ordered by President Roosevelt to evacuate to Australia to avoid capture and plan a counter-assault against the Empire of Japan. He didn’t want to leave. He was deeply devoted to his men, and to the people of the Philippines, having spent so much of his life in the islands -- but the United States, couldn’t afford him falling into enemy hands from a tactical standpoint, as well as a morale standpoint. So reluctantly, he and his family evacuated the Philippine islands that he loved so much. Upon arrival in Australia, he was greeted by reporters, and he delivered his now famous words: The President of the United States ordered me to break through the Japanese lines and proceed from Corregidor to Australia for the purpose, as I understand it, of organizing the American offensive against Japan, a primary objective of which is the relief of the Philippines. I came through and I shall return. In April of 1942, the Japanese pushed on to Bataan and Corregidor where U.S. Forces made their final stands.

They were defeated, and tens of thousands of U.S. and Filipino troops began a year and a half long ordeal that would claim the lives of many thousands of men -- a year and a half that weighed heavily on MacArthur. From the 65 mile long Bataan Death March to internment at various POW camps throughout the islands, to the ‘hell ships’ that hauled prisoners of war to Japanese work camps throughout Southeast Asia, Filipino and U.S. Prisoners of War died in unfathomable numbers. In fact, during the months of June and July alone, over 1200 U.S. POW’s died at Cabantuan, in fact, in the 6 months from June of 1942 when U.S. POW’s were transferred to Cabantuan from Camp O’Donnell, until December 15th, 1942, there were deaths each and every day, whether from malnutrition, torture, or execution, someone died daily for the better part of 6 months in Cabantuan. December 15th 1942 was the first day recorded in the camp journals where no one had died. For many through this time, hope was lost. There was no light at the end of the tunnel save those 3 simple words… I shall return… a promise of salvation. For what must have seemed like an eternity to the people of Philippines and the U.S. Personnel who remained behind, plans were made, forces were strengthened, and the preparation for the assault was made. In October of 1944, the U.S. counterattack against the Empire of Japan began.

On October 20th, 1944 – General Douglas MacArthur made good on his promise. He and his chiefs of staff waded from an amphibious landing craft to the shores of Leyte. The invasion of Leyte had begun. A decisive naval victory off the coast of Leyte 4 days later paved the way for the remaining American invasion force to come ashore to Leyte, and begin the liberation of the Philippine Islands. This moment was captured in a famous photo, and was later made into a series of bronze sculptures at the location of the landing which still stand today. This was not a casual moment to the Filipino people. MacArthur’s return meant their salvation from the Japanese occupation. They had believed for so long, and now the faith that lay in MacArthur’s promise to the people of the Philippines was now fully realized, and for the first time in one and a half years, there was a glimmer of hope. A visible light at the end of the tunnel… A promise kept. That is our title today… A Promise Kept. While the story of MacArthur’s return to the Philippine Islands is an incredible story of perseverance and dedication to a people that he loved dearly, what we don’t always recognize about the story of MacArthur’s return to the Philippine Islands is that his return was a promise that almost wasn’t kept.

During 1943 and early 1944, President Roosevelt, as well as Admiral Nimitz the Head of Naval Forces in the Pacific and Chief of Staff George Marshall preferred a direct attack on the Island of Japan, to end the war immediately. MacArthur was summoned to a meeting with FDR in Honolulu, Hawaii where he was informed of the impending change in the battle plan. There would be no immediate liberation of the Philippines; all of the might of the U.S. Military was to be focused on Japan itself. Somehow, MacArthur managed to get 10 minutes alone with FDR where he convinced him, whether through threats and intimidation or political coercement, that NOT returning to the Philippines would be a career ender for FDR. It had been promised, there were tens of thousands of U.S. Soldiers who were being held as POW’s, and MacArthur knew the American people wouldn’t take kindly to the United States turning their back on them. He recognized the importance of keeping the promise that he made. Whatever he said to Roosevelt in those 10 minutes, not long after that meeting, General MacArthur would be setting foot on Filipino Soil with the promise intact. Brethren, we too have been given a promise. We meet today on the Feast of Trumpets to commemorate THE watershed moment in God’s plan. A return that has been promised since the beginning of recorded history. A return that has been prophesied, hinted at, illustrated in types, and discussed in parables… the most critical and pivotal moment in human history. A promise kept… The return of Jesus Christ -- the promise of the Kingdom of God.

Let’s begin today by taking a look at John 14, we’ll see the promise given in the words of Christ himself. John 14:1, and we’ll break into the middle of a conversation that Christ is having with the disciples at the Last Supper. Just prior to these verses, the disciples have discovered that Christ will be leaving, and that where he’s going, they cannot follow. They didn’t fully understand the ramifications of those words at the end of John 13 until days later, but Christ calms them down somewhat with the words we see in John 14, beginning in verse 1. Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. The promise is made. Christ informs the disciples that he has to go for a time, but once the work is done, once the preparations have been made, and the place has been prepared, he will return and receive the disciples, so that where he is, the disciples may be also. Soon after these words to the disciples, Christ is captured in Gethsemane, tried by Pontius Pilate and crucified. And of course, following these events, we see the disciples full of zeal proclaiming the divinity of Christ in the streets of Jerusalem, doing the work they were commissioned to do!!

No… The disciples without their leader go back to their daily lives. The ride was over. It was fun while it lasted. It didn’t quite turn out like we thought. Their hope was gone… the problem was, they didn’t understand the promise. Christ appears to the disciples in various locations and times over a couple of days following his resurrection, and what he said that evening at dinner finally made sense. Christ’s first coming was to die for the sins of man, his SECOND coming, he would return as the conquerer they expected, the Lion of Judah. The disciples believed that the coming he talked about would happen in their lifetime, and they eagerly anticipated the fulfillment of the promise, and died in the faith awaiting it. Like so many others since that time. The Feast of Trumpets symbolizes the fulfillment of that promise, the culminating moment in a series of earth shattering events recorded by the Apostle John in the book of Revelation -- the beginning of the salvation of this planet, and the beginning of God’s Kingdom of Earth. Let’s turn there to set the stage for what the Day of Trumpets is all about. Revelation 8:1, prior to this, The Apostle John saw six of the seven seals opened, and witnessed each of the terrible events that unfolded with the opening of the seals.

Revelation 8:1 picks up the story as the seventh seal is opened. Rev 8:1 And when he opened the seventh seal, there followed a silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. Rev 8:2 And I saw the seven angels that stand before God; and there were given unto them seven trumpets. Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should add it unto the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand. Rev 8:5 And the angel taketh the censer; and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it upon the earth: and there followed thunders, and voices, and lightnings, and an earthquake. Rev 8:6 And the seven angels that had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The trumpet was used in ancient Israel as a way to command assembly, to sound a warning, or to make an important announcement or proclamation. These angels each have important announcements to make, terrible things to proclaim, and a warning to provide.

Rev 8:7 And the first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of the earth was burnt up, and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. The sky is made to rain a mixture of hail and fire, mixed with blood. A third of the earth is burned up, a third of the trees, and ALL of the green grass is burnt up. Put yourself in the shoes of someone experiencing these things, here is a weather pattern we’ve never seen before, and I would imagine we would hope to never see again. It’s raining blood, with hail and fire mixed in. That would seem bad enough, but it’s only the beginning. Rev 8:8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; Rev 8:9 and there died the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, even they that had life; and the third part of the ships was destroyed. Following the sounding of the trumpet by the second angel, we have what seems to be described as a large asteroid impact into the sea, and a destruction of the third of the sea became blood. It doesn’t specifically tell us whether that is all of the oceans, or a third of a specific sea such as the Mediterranean, (The word translated sea, basically means saltwater) but there is damage done through this particular impact to a saltwater body somewhere.

Revelation 9 tells us 1/3 of the life in the ocean, as well as a third of the merchant ships are destroyed. The third angel sounds, and a star falls from heaven. The impact causes a third of the freshwater on the planet to become bitter, so bitter that men died from drinking it. Previously the saltwater resources are harmed, now we see freshwater damaged. Rev 8:10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell from heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of the waters; Rev 8:11 and the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. We see this star has a name, in Greek, Apsinthos, Wormwood. The word we derive the alcoholic spirit Absynth from. The name of the star is fitting since it means ‘bitter’ or sometimes is translated ‘undrinkable’. Rev 8:12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; that the third part of them should be darkened, and the day should not shine for the third part of it, and the night in like manner. The fourth angel sounds, and a third of the lights in the sky are darkened.

A full one third of the moon is darkened, and we see a third of the daytime hours gone to night. Less daylight and more darkness. We don’t have a great timeline that lets us know the timeframes between these things, they could very well be one after the other, or spaced out. Obviously, the closer together they are the more dramatic the impact, regardless of the timing. If we were to witness these events, there would be a lot of uncertainty in the world around us. So many movies have shown the ‘end of the world’ and the seemingly supernatural events. How would people respond? How would we respond? I think we could sum up the response of many in one word. Frightened. The next scripture tells us though, that we ain’t seen nothing yet. Rev 8:13 And I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a great voice, Woe, woe, woe, for them that dwell on the earth, by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, who are yet to sound. Verse 13 essentially lets John know, you think this is bad? Just wait. There are three more angels to sound. The fifth angel sounds, and the pit of the abyss is opened, smoke poured forth, and from the smoke, stinging locusts come up from the pit, tormenting the people of the earth, except for those God has marked as his. It specifically states the locusts are not to kill them, but to torment the people for 5 months.

Verse 6 of Revelation 9, helps us understand the attitude of the time, and the mentality of those that are alive at this time. The response of those impacted. Rev 9:6 And in those days men shall seek death, and shall in no wise find it; and they shall desire to die, and death fleeth from them. The sixth angel sounds, and a voice says to loose the four angels that are bound at Euphrates. The four angels that were bound in this location had been prepared for this moment. So that they could kill 1/3 of the human population. We see an army of horsemen numbering 200,000,000, and the fire, smoke and brimstone that proceeded from their mouth killed 1/3 of the men on Earth. Verse 20 and 21 of Revelation 9. We see that this wholesale slaughter doesn’t make a difference. Rev 9:20 And the rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk: Rev 9:21 and they repented not of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. We see it didn’t make much of a difference at all actually. Just to put things into perspective, 1/3 of the current human population of our planet is 2.3 Billion people.

That is nearly 8 times the population of the United States. Dead. Again, These are absolutely terrible, earth shaking, world changing events, and how do you suppose the majority of people that don’t understand God’s Plan will respond? Will they have hope? The good many in the world today believes that the world will simply end. That there will be a series of natural disasters or wars that will shake the earth to its very foundation, and all life will cease. As those people see these events coming down the pike, they will believe that it’s all over. That this is it, the world is ending. For many their behavior will become more debased as they believe the end is nearing, society will likely break down, and law will mean nothing. I think it’s safe to say, that hope will be in short supply around the world. We’re talking dark days. We know better. Mr. Armstrong used to have a phrase that he would use when talking about the return of Christ, and what was prophesied to happen in the end, where he would hold us his bible and say, “I’ve read the end of the book, and we win.” God in his mercy shortens these days for the elect’s sake. We have a promise that has been made.

Christ has told us that he will return, that he has gone to prepare a place for us, and that he will come back for us. No matter how dark the days become, no matter how horrible the events are, we have been marked as God’s people, and he will not leave us. As horrible as these events are, they also provide us with the ability to look forward to the culmination of the promise as we see them occurring. As we saw in the first sermon today, our attitude should be one of eager anticipation, and hope in its fulfillment. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God is not slack when it comes to his promises. God follows through. Everytime. He doesn’t drop the ball, he doesn’t blow it off, God follows through. He does what he says he’s going to do. If it seems like he’s delaying his return, he’s doing it for the sake of those who need to come to repentance. He desires that all should repent. That all should see the signs, recognize the timing, and repent before the end. God didn’t make a promise that he had no plans to keep. In fact, John saw the glorious event firsthand in his vision which he recorded in Revelation 11:15. After the two witnesses come on the scene, prophesy in Jerusalem for the 3 ½ years, are killed, resurrected and taken up into the cloud, a great Earthquake occurs, bringing down a 10th of the city of Jerusalem and killing 7,000 people. …then the seventh trumpet sounds. The moment that this day symbolizes, the moment we have prayed for, hoped for, and lived our lives for since our calling.

The fulfillment of the promise given so many years ago. Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever. Rev 11:16 And the four and twenty elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces and worshipped God, Rev 11:17 saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wast; because thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign. What an incredible statement. The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdom of our Lord. Notice the change in plurality. ALL OF THE KINGDOMS of this world, the kings and rulers of every country on this planet, will be deposed, and all countries will be united under the banner of the Lord God, Almighty. Whether they like it or not. Christ’s return as seen here by the Apostle John, is the beginning of the end of the pain and suffering of this world. The beginning of the end of man’s flawed system of governance, of Satan’s economic system, political system, it represents the beginning of a time where God’s law will be the norm, not the exception, and Christ will rule over his kingdom.

However, The return of Christ is only the beginning of the end. In October of 1944, MacArthur returned to the Phillipines, but he had a very long road ahead of him. Once they arrived on the shores of Leyte, the real work commenced in digging the Japanese out, they didn’t just surrender upon his arrival. In fact, that was one of the characteristics Japanese soldiers were known for, they didn’t really surrender at all. The battle northward was difficult, particularly in the locations with dense jungle, as the Japanese soldiers would engage, and retreat, engage and retreat hiding in the thick growth. When the war ended, members of the Emperors family would have to come to the islands to convince the last few soldiers that the war was in fact over, and they could leave their post. One soldier, remained at his post until 1974. For many of the Japanese, surrender wasn’t really an option. The entire path north was fierce fighting to the capital city of Manila, which was under Japanese occupation for 3 years. The Japanese were cruel occupiers, and one of the war crimes that Japanese brass were charged with was the massacre of Manila. It is estimated that over 100,000 Filipino citizens died under Japanese rule. 1 in 20.

As American forces marched northward, they left liberated cities and POW camps in their wake. Once the month long fight for Manila was over, for the most part, the Philippine Islands were under U.S. Control, and the final assault against Japan could begin. MacArthur had returned as a conqueror, a liberator, and to a certain extent, a savior of the Filipino people. A few short months later, he presided over the Japanese surrender. Much like the Battle of the Philippines, The resistance to God’s laws and God’s way of life will not end with Christ’s return. There is a battle still to be fought. Christ will return to this planet as a conquerer to do battle. This aspect of his return has been foretold for some time. In fact, the ancient Israelites knew, and expected a Messiah who would conquer the world. That’s why so many were surprised and confused when Christ came the first time. He was nothing like what they expected. They expected the Lion of Judah, but they got the lamb of God. Why? There are numerous prophecies throughout the Old Testament that speak of a Messiah who upon his return will conquer the Kingdoms of this world. They are talking of the second coming of Christ, a detail that the Jewish people don’t understand. One of these prophecies is located within Daniel 2.

Daniel 2, we’ll see a dream that was shown to King Nebuchadnezzer, that none of the kings ‘wise men’ could interpret, Daniel is brought before the king, and God gives him the understanding of the dream, and the ability to interpret it before Nebuchadnezzer. Dan 2:31 Thou, O king, sawest, and, behold, a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the aspect thereof was terrible. Dan 2:32 As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of brass, Dan 2:33 its legs of iron, its feet part of iron, and part of clay. Dan 2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon its feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them in pieces. Dan 2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. A vision of the coming Kingdom of God.

Foretold during the Israeli exile around 600 B.C., revealed to the King of Babylon, unable to be understood by the King, but interpreted by Daniel through the power of God. Dan 2:36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Dan 2:37 Thou, O king, art king of kings, unto whom the God of heaven hath given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory; Dan 2:38 and wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens hath he given into thy hand, and hath made thee to rule over them all: thou art the head of gold. Dan 2:39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee; and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. Dan 2:40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron, forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things; and as iron that crusheth all these, shall it break in pieces and crush. Dan 2:41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. Dan 2:42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. Dan 2:43 And whereas thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron doth not mingle with clay. Dan 2:44 And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

Again, we see the promise made. Nebuchadnezzer is made to understand the progression of the major world empires following his own, empires that hadn’t been born yet. From the Babylonian empire, the Medo-Persian Empire led by Cyrus the Great conquered and ruled. The Medo-Persian empire was overthrown by the Greco-Macedonian empire established by Alexander the Great, and the Greek Empire was conquered by the Romans. This final empire was partly strong and partly weak, and is depicted as being divided. While we recognize that the Roman Empire itself fell a long time ago, its system of governance and way of thinking lives on today in a modern revival of the Roman Empire that will become increasingly hostile towards the people of God. We have seen in recent months the relative fragility of the union in Europe, as well as its strength on the world stage politically. Toes of clay and iron indeed.

Verse 34. Dan 2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon its feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them in pieces. Dan 2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. Christ is returning to conquer. Make no mistake about it, When that 7th trumpet sounds, Christ is returning to claim what is his. The Kingdoms of the world, but he is also returning to claim his people. The people of this world throughout the ages have become sidetracked. They’ve become confused. They’ve become mired in sin, and have either never realized their incredible potential as children of God, or have forgotten or rejected it. Christ’s return will give all of them an opportunity to know the way of God, and repent and live a way of life that works, it will give them an opportunity to become a part of the Family of God. To become His people. For those that have known God already, whether dead or alive at the time of Christ’s return, another miracle awaits in the promise.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 1Th 4:16 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; 1Th 4:17 then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. When the seventh trumpet sounds, the dead in Christ, those who have lived his way of life throughout history, will be raised from the grave. They will come from the sleep of death, to be raised incorruptible with Christ. In addition, those that are still alive will experience an amazing transformation, change from their carnal physical bodies, to the incorruptible spirit bodies as they are caught up with Christ in the clouds. 1st Corinthians 15:51 expounds on this a little further. Let’s turn there, and we’ll read through verse 54. 1Co 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall ALL be changed, 1Co 15:52 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. 1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1Co 15:54 But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

The transformation from mortality to immortality is a crucial aspect of God’s plan, and Christ not only conquers the Kingdoms of this world upon his return, but on that day, at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, he conquers death itself. The Feast of Trumpets represents a future time when the most important promise ever given to mankind is fulfilled. When the seventh trumpet is sounded, Jesus Christ himself, the King of Kings, will return to this planet and establish his kingdom forevermore. The people of the world will be liberated from the bondage of the sin that enslaves them as he conquers both Satan and death itself. A 1000 year period of peace and prosperity will begin soon after, and through the work of the saints and the power of God, the earth will be healed, and those that remain will be counseled and taught the way of God. None of these incredible things that the remaining Holy Days of Atonement, Tabernacles and the Last Great Day foreshadow can happen without first the events foreshadowed by this day.

The Feast of Trumpets represents the pivotal moment in God’s Plan. All of the Holy Days leading up to this point, the Passover, Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, are all about mankinds response to God’s instructions, our preparation. Recognizing and accepting the sacrifice of Christ for our sins, working tirelessly to put the sin out of our lives, receiving the Holy Spirit and preparing ourselves to become firstfruits. The Feast of Trumpets is really the first Holy Day in the cycle that represents God himself physically intervening in the events on this planet. Stepping in and saying, “OK. Enough is Enough. You’ve had your chance. Now we’re going to do things my way.” It’s a divine intervention. Brethren, the world around us is spiraling deeper and deeper into complete depravity. All you have to do is turn on the evening news to see that the majority of people in this world are lost, they don’t have a moral compass, and for the majority, there is no hope. It will get significantly worse. The scriptures outlined in Revelation depict a series of events on this planet that will shake it to its very foundation. Much like the Philippines in World War II, the only hope for this planet, in the dark days ahead, is a promise kept.