The Trumpet sounds
1 Thessalonians 4:15-16 “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:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
In the Roman army, there were three trumpet blasts. As the camp was going about sleeping, or their regular duties….the first trumpet would sound.
That signified that they were to break camp. Every tent struck, every fire put out, every wagon loaded.
The second trumpet would sound….and that meant that everyone was to get in the line of march, to move out. They were just to stand there, ready….till the third, or last trump would sound.
When the third trumpet would sound…they would move out…onward to the next place.
(Matthew 24:31 “And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together HIs elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”)
We are waiting the third trumpet call. We have been told to “be ready”…to watch for the coming of the Lord…and so we should.
We are to watch…
Matthew 25:13 “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
Luke 12:40 “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”
The Rapture is the next thing on the schedule of God…..and we should be prepared….ready. (“ready” here in this verse, has to do with inward fitness…not just outward work.)
How, for we know not when He will come?
The Lord gave the illustration of two servants…one faithful and wise…and one, who gave way to selfish behavior, because his Lord’s return is “delayed”.
(He gave this illustration twice Matthew 24:45-51, and Luke 12:42-48)
Luke 12:42-43 “And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”
There is a blessing waiting for all the servants of the Lord who are faithfully doing HIs Will…no matter the outward circumstances…
….. we are all called to “teach all nations” (Matthew 28:18-20) “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”
(Someone has said, “When the darkness grows stronger…then even the small light of our candle, will be a great light…shining on the Lord’s Way…and showing the faithfulness of Christ.”)
While the Lord of the household is away….a faithful servant acts as if He is still right beside him, guiding and directing his work….
…and for every Christian, He is.
Luke 12:35 “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;”
We are called to work for Christ till He comes again. “Loins girt about”…ready to do anything. Lights burning….kept up, and shining bright.
(I love the last words of Paul and Peter….they had their lights shining brightly till the end.
2 Timothy 4:16-17 “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.”
Paul was more concerned that the preaching of Jesus Christ might be fully known…then that he was deserted by friends.
2 Peter 1:14-15 “Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
Moreover I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.”
Peter wrote to remind them of the promises and truths in Christ (verses 3-4)….concerned about them remembering what is in Christ….more than his life.
These are faithful servants….standing ready to serve till the end.)
Luke 12:45-46 “But and if that servant say in his heart, My Lord delayeth His coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
The Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for Him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.”
There is also a judgment for those that forget that they are simple servants of the Lord…and that begin to mistreat other Christians….or to misuse the gifts the Lord has given them, selfishly.
Notice the sin begins in the heart….”If that servant say in his heart…”
The difference between these servants…is the heart. One keeps the Lord close…in his heart and service…
….the other keeps the Lord at a distance…and becomes content to keep Him far away.
We each have a responsibility to be faithful to Christ Jesus. And He said that He will come again..
Luke 21:28 “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”
Luke 12:40 “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”
We do not know when He will come and sound the last trump for us to go with Him…but we can be ready…prepared for that time….as His faithful servants.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 