Trumpets Announce Godly War and World Peace to Follow

We all have a goal, an end goal, and our end goal is to be children, sons and daughters of God in God's kingdom. And God's kingdom is going to come soon. In the process, we do have to move a few mountains, as we saw in the previous split sermon, previous split message.

But we are living through times in which we're going to go through some very difficult times. And there is a time that we're going to come through in which God is going to start intervening to change the world's affairs. And that period of His intervention is symbolized by the day of trumpets. Now, quite often, we symbolize the day of trumpets to the last trumpet Christ's coming, which is correct. But the day of trumpets includes all seven. And it is important for us to understand this wider meaning of the day of trumpets, which includes all seven and is not just the seventh and last trumpet. You see, we live in a world in which the God of this world is Satan. 2 Corinthians 4 verse 4. And He's ruling this world through man's governments.

It's a fact, brethren. The leaders of a lot of these nations are working in a way, delivering things that are not godly. Now, I know that God at times may intervene and change and modify things for His ultimate end purpose. But the nations of this world will have to—and by nations, I mean the governments of this world—will have to be overthrown, and ultimately Satan will be will have to be overthrown over a period of time with the final overthrow, which will be at Christ's coming and the final push that he will do upon his coming.

And so we have to understand that God will then bring peace on earth. And that peace on earth will be brought about by Christ ruling on earth instead of Satan.

And how will God bring peace on earth?

God will bring peace on earth through the symbolism of the day of trumpets. And that's why I mean that the day of trumpets, yes, it does symbolize the seventh lost trumpet, but it symbolizes all seven trumpets. God's seven prophetic trumpets that pre-announce peace, but to ultimately have peace, God will have to destroy the world's governments, those that are destroying the earth, and depose Satan from his position of rulership in this world. And so it's important that we understand how God will bring about peace. And yes, trumpets in a way pre-announce peace. Well, trumpets, in fact, are a warning of war. And it represents war. But these seven prophetic trumpets are God's act of peace. And they are actions of righteous war to bring peace on earth, because ultimately we'll have peace on earth.

The context, as you and I know, as we read in Matthew 24, we know that there's going to be wars and rumors of wars. Matthew 24, verses 6 and 7. And then it's going to come to a point that is going to be what the Bible calls the Great Tribulation, like never before. The Great Tribulation will come upon earth because Israel's power has been demolished.

Now, who is Israel? You see, quite often when you and I think about Israel, we think of the nation today called Israel, which is none other than just one or two tribes of the children of Israel. But when the Bible talks about Israel, it's quite often referring at the rest of the tribes. And there will be a time that Satan will wage complete war against Israel. And again, I don't mean the nation of Judah alone, but I mean the other tribes, which includes Ephraim and Manasseh, which, put it simply, are the English-speaking nations around the world, which includes the United Kingdom and the United States. So there's going to be a time in which the power of God's physical people, Israel, will be destroyed. That is described in Revelation 12 when you see there is war in heaven, starting from verse 7. Satan is cast out, he that deceives the whole world, and he comes to earth with great wrath. And then in verse 13 says of Revelation 12, when the dragon saw that he had been cast on the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. And that woman that gave birth to the male child, as we look in the first few verses of this chapter, is actually talking about the nation of Israel. Through that nation came Jesus Christ, more specifically Judah, and then Jesus Christ. So when Satan is thrown back to earth, is cast out, that means from that moment onwards he cannot go to heaven anymore. He's going to wage a war against Israelite nations with the aim to not only destroy physical Israel, and again I don't mean just the nation of Israel, I mean the greater Israel which includes the United States and England, and Australia, and Canada, and other nations that speak English.

But it will be a time that when those nations are destroyed, there will be great tribulation, which the Bible talks in Revelation 3. It's a time of testing to the whole world. But when he does that, his aim is to actually also destroy spiritual Israel. And that's why in verse 14 the woman, which is now talking to the spiritual Israel woman, is given wings to flee for three and a half years into the wilderness, into a place that will be from the presence of Satan, away from the presence of Satan. You see, so what do we have here, brethren? And again, I'm just giving you a context here. It's that things are going to happen. There's going to be an abomination of isolation. There's going to be a king of the north. There's going to be a king of the south. There's going to be a beast power. There's going to be a false prophet. Things that have not happened yet. And then the nation of Israel, which includes the United States and England and Canada and Australia and other English-speaking nations of Israelite descent, will be destroyed, as we read in Daniel.

And so that is with the intent to destroy spiritual Israel as well. But now we can see in Revelation 12 that the earth helps the woman, in other words, the church, and a portion of the church flees. And a portion of the church does not flee. The portion of the church that does not flee is described in verse 17 of Revelation 12 as being the rest of her offspring who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. And so what we have is a portion of God's church will not be protected in what we call a place of safety. The Bible calls it a place away from in the wilderness, away from the presence of the serpent. But what is the difference? You see, now we have Church of God brethren. Some are protected and some are not. And we can see by the two groups of attitudes that are described in the last two letters of Revelation 3 that basically one group is the one that keeps the commandments, but what it means is they have a fervent, brotherly love, and the other group is the one that is lukewarm. And I think Mr. Pritchard, in his earlier message, kind of touched that because you can come to church and keep the Sabbath and keep the feasts and be, let's call it, just a casual Christian. Just a casual Christian.

And that is a dangerous position to be in because then we really have to be watching and praying that we may be counted worthy to escape and to stand before the Son or Man. Because maybe some of those, if they don't repent, they will have to go through a serious time. And so in the context is, yeah, we have a situation. And then some are protected and some are not. Then we have a great tribulation for three and a half years. And then we read in Revelation 6, verses 9 through 11, which talks about in the great tribulation, that is the first seal that a lot of true Christians will be slain.

But then we also read in Matthew 24, 21 through 22, that that time will be cut short.

Yes, we know it will be cut short by one year, the day of the Lord. And then we see what happens at that time. Because at that time, then we have the sixth seal, which is in Revelation 6, verse 12, which is the heavenly signs that runs from verse 12 to verse 17. Those signs are basically the time when God says from Yah on words, I'm going to actively intervene in world affairs and I'm going to start changing situations in the world leading up to Christ's coming. It is God's intervention with various terrible events.

At the end of Revelation 6, right at the end there, in verse 16 and 17, at the end of verse 16, in Revelation 6 says that people will hide because they'll say, hide us from the wrath of the Lamb. And in verse 17, He says, for the great day of His wrath has come. And you know, in prophecy like Numbers 14, 34, and Ezekiel 4, 4 through 6, a day for a year, that represents a year. And that's why we say that the Great Tribulation will be cut short by one year. And the sign of the Son of Man that appears in heaven, it appears to be this very sign, the heavenly signs. And that sign is talked about in Matthew 24, verse 30. You see, that's a sign. And from there on words, God is going to actively intervene in world affairs. You can see in Revelation 8 then, which is the lost seal, where God is going to intervene, but then there is a time to wait for a while before those seven trumpets, which represents the day of trumpets, which represents the time where God is intervening in world affairs, which is that last year of those three and a half years. But before God intervenes, there is a period of waiting. And that could very well be because of what's described in chapter 7. In Revelation chapter 7, we see a ceiling of people that have come out of the tribulation, because it says there in verse 13 and 14, where have these come from? And it says, these people have come out of the great tribulation. And we know they are physical human beings, because later on in the fifth trumpet in Revelation 9 verse 4, it says, those that have been sealed are not affected by these problems of these locusts. So we know it's physical people. Now the interesting thing is in Revelation 7, we see two groups of people sealed. In verse 4, we see a group which is numbered as 144,000 of Israelites. And the other group is described in verse 9, which is a group. The number is not numbered because it says it's a great multitude of all nations. In other words, not of Israelites, but of Gentiles. And so what we have is people during the first two and a half years of the great tribulation, when everything is going wrong, when democracy does not exist and America, as we know, has ceased to exist, then some people will say, I should have repented. I should have changed.

And they will then repent and come to God during those two and a half years. That is the time when we see the fruit of God's work today.

You see, in Isaiah 34, verse 8 says, it's the day of the Lord's vengeance. Again, a day for a year. And in Joel chapter 2, and I want you to turn to Joel chapter 2, because it's a very significant scripture, Joel chapter 2, right at the end, verse 31 and 32, it says, the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood. That's the heavenly signs, as we've seen. That is that at the end of Revelation 6, the heavenly signs, the sixth seal. The fifth seal is the great tribulation. So we got the sixth seal, the heavenly signs, when God starts intervening. And he says, the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood. Again, that's the sixth seal, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. You see, that day, which is one year, that last year of the three and a half years of the great tribulation, is the day of the Lord.

And that day of the Lord is described by seven trumpets. Seven trumpets. And then he says, in verse 32, and it'll come to pass, that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Some translations put delivered. Why? Because they'll be sealed. Those people, that during those two and a half years of beginning, two and a half years of the great tribulation, that repent and call upon the name of the Lord. And in Revelation 7 says a certain number of Israelites and a great multitude of Gentiles, those people, whoever calls on the name of the Lord, shall be saved. Or, as some say, delivered. Delivered from the great punishment that God is going to bring through the seven trumpets. And so, what do we have? Is seven trumpets that are going to be unleashed. No, trumpets obviously have two meanings. One is, it's a warning. It's a warning. You know, you read in Amos chapter three verse six and seven, and seeing that you and Joel just turned a few pages ahead, and then you are in Amos chapter three verse six and seven. It says, if a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it? Surely the Lord God does nothing unless he reveals his secrets to his servants the prophets.

God is going to do something awesome during that day of the Lord, which is symbolized by the seven trumpets.

And that he has revealed to his prophets and servants. That's the whole purpose of the book of Revelation. You read Revelation chapter one verse one. It says God gave this information to Jesus, and Jesus gave it to his servants for us to know what is to come.

And we know that we have a job. You read in Ezekiel 33, you talk about the watchman, and if it doesn't blow the trumpet, it's going to be on his back. But if he blows the trumpet, and the people don't repent, then it's on the people's back.

I feel a great weight on my shoulder to blow the trumpet, because time is coming.

And unfortunately, if you look at the parables of Matthew 25, five wise, five foolish, some are zealous, awake, hot. Oh yes, they are expressing love, hot zealous in love, in humility, in changing. And others, I look warm, casual. Oh well, I come to church. I come whichever way I feel like. Maybe I come in slops, maybe whatever, and this, and you know, it just kind of shows an attitude of the heart. Because out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks, and out of the abundance of the heart, we also act in different ways. And so, are we really zealous? Or are we casual Christians? Because some of us will be protected, and that's why it says, watch and pray that you may be counted worthy to escape, and to stand before the Son of Man. It's not just the question of keeping the Sabbath and coming to church and keeping God's early days. There is more to it, to be humble, to be submissive, and to be zealous in God's ways. And you and I have to analyze ourselves and say, how am I doing? And it's my responsibility, it's on my shoulders, as a watchman, to say, it's around the corner, brethren. I don't know how long, but it's around the corner. It's going to blow up suddenly in our faces. Are we ready? Now, if we're not ready, we're going to go into the tribulation. We may die there, or we may be used to help others to repent. And those that repent during the Great Tribulation, as we read in Revelation 7, if they call upon the Lord, as we are just read you in Joel, they'll be delivered, because God will seal them. So it is important to understand in the context that there is, in a sense, a pre-Great Tribulation deliverance for some that will be in what we call a place of safety. But those that unfortunately have to go through the Great Tribulation, because they were not counted worthy by God, some will have to give their lives, and some will have to be an example and show to others underground. And there will be many that then will repent and call upon the name of the Lord. And then in Revelation 7, they will be sealed. And that's why it's probably, that's why it says in Revelation 8, that there is a little wait in heaven for half an hour. Maybe that's the reason. But the point is that once that is done, that waiting period is done, and those people are sealed, these seven trumpets are unleashed for a period of one year, the seven trumpets for the period of one year. And we can read the first trumpet is in verse 7, which is a third of the earth will be destroyed. I mean, this is God intervening. He's got the heavenly signs saying, I'm now going to intervene in all the affairs. And in the first one, he destroys a third of the earth. Revelation 8 verse 7. Then the second trumpet comes, verse 8 and 9, and it destroys a third of the sea, of the oceans. I mean, a lot of trade and business happens in the sea. A third of the sea is pretty bad conditions to be whatever you can see in, as you read that scripture. And then, and then the third trumpet says, verse 10 in heaven, you'll destroy a third of fresh water.

Fresh water, rivers, water that is drinkable will be greatly destroyed. And then the fourth, in verse 12, it says, the sun, the moon, and stars will become a third of them who lose their brightness. It's probably going to be not global warming, but global cold. Global cold. And then it says, and now there's still three walls to go. There's three walls to go. You see that in Revelation 8, verse 13.

And in Revelation 9, verse 1 through 12 is the first well or the fifth trumpet, which is these locusts, which seems to be the beast power attacking the nations of the north and the east. And then we have in verse 13 through 21 in Revelation 9, which is the sixth trumpet, which is an army of 200 million, which would be then those nations of the north and east doing a counter-attack in which a third of mankind will be destroyed.

Now, how many people are there in the world today? Say about seven billion. How much is a third of mankind? Like two billion people? Or a little less? Or around that? That's a lot of people. How will people, so many people, be destroyed? I could speculate it'll be atomic warfare or something like that. And then when you have one is attacked, the other is counter-attack, God is allowed this, then they're gonna say to one another, it's either you or me, and they're gonna self destroy each other and planet earth will be destroyed.

Then Christ comes. Revelation 11 verse 15, the seventh and last trumpet. Revelation 11 verse 15. And then Christ comes and he says, the seven trumpet sounds, and you and I know that's the resurrection of the saints. And the kingdoms of the swole have become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ. In other words, the kingdom of Satan will now be God's kingdom ruled by Jesus Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. And as you read in verse 18, there's a series of events, three great events that are mentioned here in verse 18 that will happen at that time. First is the judgment of the dead, because some dead will be judged to remain dead for another thousand years, and some dead would have been judged to be in the first resurrection and to have eternal life, a gift of life.

Secondly, you can see that there's a reward of servants and the prophets. You know, some will then rule over ten cities, some will rule over five. And then thirdly, it says that he will destroy those who destroy the earth. That is that final push, final punch by God through Christ, through what is called the seven lost plagues, which will be over a very short period, destroying those people that destroy the earth. And then what do we have? Satan will be deposed, imprisoned, and Christ then will reign on earth.

Satan deposed, which is Revelation 21 to verse 3, and then Christ will reign on earth, and there'll be peace on earth under Christ. Yes, there'll be some a few people that will rebel in there, but they will be rebuilt strongly with a rod of iron. So Brethren, it is important for us to understand that trumpets is not just, yes it is, but it's not just the seventh and last trumpet Christ's coming. The day of trumpets that is coming soon has a greater meaning that represents that one last year of Christ's intervention on world affairs through the various seven trumpets.

So trumpets announce, in its conclusion, announce the coming of peace. But before that, there will be godly, righteous war to destroy man's government over a period of a year that God will cause it to happen. And those people that have repaired the jury in the Great Tribulation will be protected and not be affected because most of them will go on into the world tomorrow as the pioneers, the physical pioneers of the world tomorrow. Not all, but most of them will do. Some will probably be resurrected as spirit beings right there or changed, but that's God's decision. He knows the hearts. He knows which people are ready. And then we'll have world peace.

Brethren, in Luke 21, verse 36, we read, watch and pray that you may be counted worthy to escape these things that are to happen. But, brethren, more important is that we may stand before Christ at His Second Coming, and therefore we need to remain faithful and we need to be analyzing ourselves whether we are zealous beyond just keeping the Sabbath, beyond just coming to church, beyond just keeping the Holy Days. But we gotta be hot, zealous, committed to God's work.

Let's hope and pray, brethren, that we all may stand within at His coming.