The Trumpet Will Sound

I wear glasses. Each eye needs a different prescription. Each eye as it looks through the lens has a slightly different perspective, yet together they give me a full and clear picture. I am stronger and better because the two work together. I would be worse off only to have the use of one. My certainty would be less resolved with regards to what I was looking at. The two together help me greatly. We will see a similar principle play out today regarding two parallel passages of scripture.

When you read the title above did certain parts of scripture come to mind or a particular verse(s)? I imagine that if a verse should come to mind it is related to the return of Jesus. Some of you may believe that a seven year tribulation follows, others may believe the 1,000 year reign of Christ to begin at this point, and others believe that the eternal state begins once the trumpet sounds. Wherever you land regarding the events to follow the trumpet I am sure that passages such as 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 & 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 may very well come to mind. We will look at them below and see what we learn from them when put together.

As I will explain below I believe that these two passages are talking about the same event. There are at least four strong similarities between the two, one of which is seen in the title to this post: The Trumpet.

A Quick Word on Healthy Bible Study

Before I do that let me say that I will not be venturing to address John’s use of “the trumpets” from Revelation 8. Here is why:

• When a Bible student wishes to better understand a concept from one portion of scripture it is best to see if the current author you are reading says anything about it elsewhere in the Bible. (i.e. In the last post I examined 1 Cor. 15:51-54 so I want to see if Paul speaks of that anywhere else).
• We must be careful not to assume that John is addressing the same thing as Paul. And since Paul does address the topics found in 1 Cor. 15:51-54 also in 1 Thess. 4 it would be wise to go there first.
• Finally, not only do 1 Cor. 15 and 1 Thess. 4 share the same style of writing (epistle) but they themselves are also quite different from Revelation. We must be cautious not only when assuming two authors are speaking of the same thing but also be more aware not to think that the same word carries the same concept in to different genres of writing.

All that to make an example of a healthy approach to our study of the word.

1 Corinthians 15 & 1 Thessalonians 4

As we look at these two passages I want to quickly summarize the main idea of the previous post which is central to the point I am about to make.

Summary: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26 lays out a line of events pertaining to the return of Christ and resurrection of the saints. The layout in that passage is return, resurrection, and the reign of Christ complete. In those verses, specifically 15:23-24, not much detail is given about the resurrection. However, in 15:51-54 Paul gives us details about the event of the resurrection which happens as the last event of this world as we know it leading into the eternal state.

If you want my argument for this in fuller detail click the link “previous post” above and check it out. My argument concluded that there is no lengthy, undefined amount of time between the resurrection of humanity and the final end of Christ’s work. The details provided in 15:51-54 elaborate the resurrection spoken of in 15:23.

A Word on 1 Thessalonians 4

I know many of my brethren and dear friends read this passage as one which speaks of the silent rapture of the church then followed by the tribulation. As we examine it along side 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 I want to invite you to once again examine the two (written by the same author in the same style/genre) and see if you agree that they speak of the same event.

Comparison: 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 & 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

Below I will provide both texts and you will see corresponding colors tying the passages together to show their commonality. I will leave the verse numbers in for easy reference.

51Behold! I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Ok, so let’s address the differences first:

• Yes these two passages were written by the same apostle in the same style, however there are different occasions on which Paul is writing which will lead to various differences.
• In 1 Cor. 15 he gives far more detail to the resurrection than he does in 1 Thess. 4. That is because 1 Cor. 15 in its entirety is devoted to the doctrine of the resurrection. It is quite sensible that he mentions more about it in 15:51-54.
• Even though the corresponding colors I have assigned to four subjects may differ in words and amount of detail it does not validate the claim that two different scenarios are being taught. I believe and will try to present that these passages have far more in common than they do at variance.

Parallel

15:51a, “Behold I tell you a mystery.” & 4:15a, “For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord…”

• Paul’s beginning to each passage has a similar feel. Both begin with a very sharp, clean cut transition made up with wording which is meant to grab your attention:”Behold” & “this we declare.” Very important information is being presented in the following verses.

15:51b-52a, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…” & 4:15b, “that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.”

• The opening to this urgent teaching begins with the assertion that there will be believers alive on the earth at the return of Christ: “We shall not all sleep” & “We who are alive”.
• The address in both letters centers around various details regarding the resurrection. The difference of details is do to context as mentioned above. Nonetheless, we find the progression of Paul calling boldly for the attention of his audience, then to move to addressing the resurrection and that which follows.

15:52b, “…at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound…” & 4:16a, “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.”

• Here we meet with what I believe to be the clearest point of connection for the two passages. We find a trumpet being sounded amid strikingly similar events such as the resurrection.
• I want to speak to this section a little more than the others because here we find a few fundamental points.
• 1) In 1 Corinthians 15 this trumpet is called the “last trumpet.” This is not speaking of a partial return nor silent rapture. If you read the previous post you remember how 15:51-54 fills in the details of what had previously been taught in 15:20-26. In 15:20-26 we see a line of events: return, resurrection, reign of Christ completed with death defeated which immediately leads into the eternal state. The last enemy to Christ is death which gets overturned and crushed at the resurrection of God’s people. Therefore there is nothing else for Christ to do by way of furthering the kingdom; the kingdom is complete.
• 2) What we find in 15:51-54 fills in the details of 15:23b-24a, “Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father…” The events of 15:51-54 fill in the details, details which parallel 1 Thess. 4:15-18.
• 3) The trumpets are the same. The trumpets indicate the same events: Christ’s return, THE one and only resurrection, and the eternal state.

15:52c, “and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” & 4:16b, “And the dead in Christ will rise first.”

• Here we find the explicit statement of resurrection giving us our final piece of commonality.

Final Thoughts on These Parallels

You will notice we not only have the same concepts in the same style from the same author but also for the most part in the same order. As I have mentioned before, the belief one holds about the resurrection, when it is and how many there will be, is vital to ones belief about eschatology as a whole.

If you are with me that Paul is speaking of the same events in these two passages then I challenge you to go back to 1 Corinthians 15 and examine the flow of the passage for yourself. As you do that keep this question in mind: “Can I separate 15:20-26 from 15:51-54?”

In your examination of that chapter do you find reason to believe that Paul within the same train of thought, without indication, speaks of two different resurrections of the saints? Does that seem like a natural conclusion to the reading of 1 Corinthians 15?

Conclusion

I believe that 1 Corinthians 15:20-26 is the 10,000 foot view of what will occur at the end of time. Then Paul gives us a close look specifically at the resurrection (the main topic of 1 Cor. 15…so not unexpected) in 15:51-54. The striking similarity of 15:51-54 with 1 Thess. 4:15-18 leads me to believe that Paul is speaking of the same events. Therefore, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 is not telling us of a quiet and secret partial return of Jesus, but of the glorious return to earth spoken of also in 1 Cor. 15:51-54.

Two Applications:

1. Semper Reformanda. Reformed and always reforming is the translation of Semper Reformanda. This Latin phrase was birthed out of the Protestant Reformation. It is short hand to call and remind people to always be subject to reformation according to scripture. I put this forward to ask you to consider what has been said above. I know that it goes against the grain of popular end times theology. Is there an area of your belief regarding the return of our blessed Savior that needs to be reevaluated? I ask this respectfully yet as an honest question.
2. Hope. The passages discussed above were given by Paul for the express purpose of giving hope, specifically regarding how we think of those saints who have gone on before. Let the truth of these texts lead you to peace about the final end of you and the brethren you have lost. When you next attend a funeral look for any opportunity to “encourage one another with these words” as seen in 1 Corinthians 15 & 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18.