A Trumpet Announces His Coming
When a trumpet blasted in Old Testament times, it sounded an alarm, giving a warning to the people of Israel. The people in ancient Israel needed to be periodically awakened from their apathy and careless attitude toward God so they could prepare to welcome his presence in their lives. God appointed the Festival of Trumpets to blast them out of their spiritual laziness (Leviticus 23:24-25) and call them to repentance before God as the Day of Atonement approached.
Similarly, speaking of the day when the Messiah would come, the prophet Isaiah said, "In that day the great trumpet will sound" (27:13). Just as the trumpets that sounded during the Festival of Trumpets called God's people out of their apathy to look for him to act, so will the trumpet call of Christ awaken all who slumber spiritually when he comes to earth the second time.
Christ came quietly the first time, and many people rejected and ignored him. But he will not come quietly the second time. When he comes again, no one will be able to ignore him. Jesus described what that day will be like:
The sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world-from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. (Matthew 24:30-31)
Paul also spoke of this day when the sound of trumpets will blast us out of our complacency. "The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God" (1Thessalonians 4:16). It will be too late to repent when this final trumpet blasts. For those who have longed for his coming, the trumpet will announce the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement. But for those who have refused to repent, the trumpet will usher in the Day of Judgement.
~ Trumpet of God, I hear your blast, awakening me, alerting me to your soon coming, announcing your arrival, calling me to repentance. Your trumpet call cannot be ignored. I will keep watch for you since I do not know what day you are coming. I long for you to be pleased with my life when you return.
