When I was in grade school, my parents bought me a clarinet,
and I joined the school orchestra. Now I’m wishing I had learned to play the
trumpet. There will be trumpets in Heaven. (I’m not sure about clarinets.) In
the book of Revelation, John speaks of 7 trumpets, sounded by 7 angels (chapters 8 – 11).
Trumpets were used in ancient Israel for many occasions. One of the most significant was the trumpeting of the watchmen from the ramparts that the enemy was near. Trumpeting was also a metaphor for trying to warn of spiritual danger: “I set my watchmen
over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will
not listen’ (Jer. 6:17).
God repeatedly warned the Israelites to pay attention to His signs. It is the same today. Through global financial insecurity, is God not warning us against trusting in wealth? And are the signs of our times not calling us to a state of alert? The last trumpet will be the one that anounces the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:16). In the meantime, 21st century watchmen are trumpeting to get us ready. But believers are so dulled by the passing of time and false alarms that the watchmen might as well being playing clarinets.
Trumpets were used in ancient Israel for many occasions. One of the most significant was the trumpeting of the watchmen from the ramparts that the enemy was near. Trumpeting was also a metaphor for trying to warn of spiritual danger: “I set my watchmen
over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will
not listen’ (Jer. 6:17).God repeatedly warned the Israelites to pay attention to His signs. It is the same today. Through global financial insecurity, is God not warning us against trusting in wealth? And are the signs of our times not calling us to a state of alert? The last trumpet will be the one that anounces the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:16). In the meantime, 21st century watchmen are trumpeting to get us ready. But believers are so dulled by the passing of time and false alarms that the watchmen might as well being playing clarinets.
At our church there has been a clear call to be ready. And I trust there are others who are also preparing God's people for His soon return! But I believe we are the exception and that needs to change. "WAKE UP YOUR PEOPLE, OH LORD!" is our prayer. 1 Peter 4:7-11
ReplyDeleteYes it is true. As you may know, I have written many, many times confronting the ambivalence around the Rapture.
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