When the Last Trumpet Blows…

Intro:

You do not have to served in the military to understand what reveille means. Early in the morning across US NUS occupied bases in the military, the soldiers and military leaders awake to the melodic sound of the Horn playing reveille. For some of us being awakened to the blaring of a horn is not the most ideal way to wake up in the morning. But for the soldier, the reveille is not just a form of alarm clock, but it also is a call to prepare for the day. In other words, the reveille is a call to action as the body is jolted from its sleep.

The title of my sermon today is" when the last trumpet calls" and a drawls our attention to a jolting and awakening of those from the dead when Christ comes again. It is our reveille at the second coming of Christ that we are going to consider in this final section of first Corinthians chapter 15. With the subject matter of bodily resurrection, Paul Will conclude his statements about resurrection in summary form. With those concluding thoughts, we will ask three important questions from these passages. Those questions are:

1-why we need transformation?

2-when we should expect transformation?

3-what are transformation proclaims?

For most of the world, they will be immersed in the hustle and bustle of life, not expecting or anticipating the last trumpet to sound. They will not be it aware of what will be happening, in yet they will hear the undeniable call of the trumpet of God signaling his return as king. With there sudden surprise, they will come to grips with the reality that their judgment before God has come. All the while believers in Christ, who are expecting the trumpet call, they will be rejoicing at the return of Christ. The apostle Paul wants to conclude his thoughts on the resurrection body. We will look at these now and find Hope in his words.

1. Why We Need Transformation?

1 Corinthians 15:50 (NASB95)

50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

1 Corinthians 15:53 (NASB95)

53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

The first question that Paul deals with for the church is why we need transformation? Paul states into separate versus, 50 and 53, as to why we need transformation in this world. He states very clearly that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Flesh and blood obviously means are bodily physical form is not fit to dwell in heaven. Notice in both of these verses, Paul's emphasis on the necessity of transformation. He states in verse 50 that it is impossible for flesh and blood to inherit the kingdom of God. Inverse 53 he states the perishable must put on the end perishable. The reason that Paul is saying this is because we cannot exist in the presence of God in this corruptible state.

As we consider this a possibility, we must think about this from two different angles. First we must consider the impossibility of our spiritual inheritance of the kingdom of God in our current human state. In other words, there is a spiritual obstacle to us inheriting the kingdom of God as well as a physical obstacle.

Look with me at John 3:3–5 (NASB95)

3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Jesus is speaking to the religious leader Nicodemus, and here he is teaching Nicodemus that there are spiritual obstacles to belonging to the kingdom of God. Jesus is talking about the need for spiritual regeneration which is confusing to Nicodemus. The wording is similar to Paul's message in first Corinthians of the impossibility of entrance into the kingdom of God without some change that occurs. In John chapter 3 that change is a persons heart that needs to be transformed. Some call that regeneration being born again. The need for being born again comes from the spiritual obstacle whereby a person cannot stand before a holy God with moral corruption. To do so would mean that persons utter destruction because send cannot do well in the presence of a holy God.

So the first obstacle is a spiritual one and the second obstacle is a physical one. Paul using similar language states that there is a physical obstacle with our bodies when it comes to our entrance into you and dwelling in the heavenly places. As we have learned throughout the study of chapter 15, the human body does not possess the qualities needed to dwell in an eternal timeless existence. This is why Paul states in verse 53 that the imperishable nature is the only nature that can exist in heaven. But beyond the physical properties that are needed for an eternal existence we must also understand the moral properties that must be done away with. In other words, not only is our spiritual nature needing transformation because of the corruption of sin but our bodies as well. Our bodies are also corrupted with sin and therefore cannot exist in the presence of a holy God.

This reality is why the world must hear and understand the gospel because sin cannot dwell with God. With the moral corruption of both body and soul, any person in this world is doomed to face judgment without both transformations occurring. Paul already told us in 1 Cor 6:9-10

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 NASB95

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

While this list seems to be the worst of the worst of sinners, we know that Jesus taught that is heart of a person that God investigates to determine their standing before him. All humanity falls into judgment with the phrase “no idolators” because as John Calvin writes,

“From this we may gather that man’s nature, so to speak, is a perpetual factory of idols…Man’s mind, full as it is of pride and boldness, dares to imagine a god according to its own capacity; as it sluggishly plods, indeed is overwhelmed with the crassest ignorance, it conceives an unreality and an empty appearance as God.” –John Calvin, Institutes, 1.11.8

So then as we go out into the world to proclaim the truth of Christ, let us make clear that no man can dwell in heaven by some moral reformation that they try and conjur up in their life. They cannot go through just an exerted effort to be better. This is why every religion fails in their works based salvation. There is the need for transformation of both soul and body and that only comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

2. When We Should Expect Transformation?

1 Corinthians 15:51–52 NASB95

51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will 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 will be changed.

Paul secondly moves to the truth of when we can expect such a change. He makes the mystery clear for the church that transformation of our bodies come at the second coming of Christ as Paul previously stated in v 23-24

1 Corinthians 15:23–24 NASB95

23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.

Now I have really enjoyed my study this week surrounding the topic of trumpets in the Scriptures because all of God’s word significantly zooms in on trumpets as this audible declaration of God’s work. To the Jews, they used what was called a Shophar and it was typically made from a rams horn. It was blown in many different circumstances all surrounding God’s work among God’s people. Here are some examples from Scripture that I think point us forward to Last trumpet call of the Lord at His return. Let me encourage to spend some time looking at these passages in more depth in your own study.

A. Holy People Gather Before the Lord

Exodus 19:10–17

In this passage, Moses has met with YHWH and is instructed by the Lord to go down and prepare the people for the Lord to descend upon the mountain before them. The people are to wash and be consecrated to represent holiness before the Lord and they are instructed to not touch the mountain where God will rest upon in order that a separation exist between himself and an unholy people.

Exodus 19:16–17 NASB95

16 So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

I don’t know if you can find a clearer verse in the OT prefiguring the second coming of Christ than this passage. The descending of God to meet with the people. A people consecrated beforehand in preparation for meeting with God. The people gathering at the sound of the trumpet. All these events are clearly meaningful in that moment and pointing forward to Christ’s return.

B. The celebration of the Lord among the people

In 2 Samuel 6 and 1 Kings 1, there is a sense of celebration of what God has done while trumpets are blown in the midst of that celebration.

C. The army of God’s people gather to follow him

In Judges 3 and judges 6, we read two different accounts where the Judges Ehud and Gideon used the trumpet to call the armies of God’s people to arms. With the sounding of the trumpet, the armies gathered with their leader and followed him into battle.

D. The Judgment of God is Announced

Finally, we can see how the trumpet was used to declare to the world that God’s judgment is coming. With the prophet Joel, he prophesies that God’s great judgment against Greece will come

Joel 2:1–3 NASB95

1 Blow a trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, For the day of the Lord is coming; Surely it is near, 2 A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn is spread over the mountains, So there is a great and mighty people; There has never been anything like it, Nor will there be again after it To the years of many generations. 3 A fire consumes before them And behind them a flame burns. The land is like the garden of Eden before them But a desolate wilderness behind them, And nothing at all escapes them.

Now this situation with Joel is the warning of coming invasion of Judah but also even more into the future, of the coming Day of the Lord. This mention of the trumpet is like the warning system of a tornado that something of great danger is near. It is a call to repent for when the siren sounds, the danger is upon you.

Now considering all these examples, we see how they point to the coming of the Lord.

-At the coming of the Lord, God’s people will be gathered, having been made holy, like a bride adorned for her husband (eph 5) ready to meet the Lord, her groom. This is much like what happened on Mt Sinai w Israel.

-His coming will also be when judgment is announced by trumpets and a celebration for the King is returning for those who follow him.

It is at that time that all believers both living and dead, will be raised to be transformed into their new glorified bodies and in doing so, meet the Lord in the air. Here opinions differ, but I believe that we will usher home the King back to earth immediately with our new heavenly flesh that we might rule and reign with Christ in a new heaven and earth.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 NASB95

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Paul uses wording that seems to allude to how in his day, crowds of people would gather outside of the gates of a town to meet dignitaries or Kings who are returning home from battle. If this is the case, then rapture is simply a gathering of God’s people to usher Jesus home to a new dwelling in the heavens and earth.

Regardless of your view of the end times, our transformation will be instantaneous as well. Paul uses the imagery of the blinking of an eye as to the sudden, momentary change of ourselves to new bodies in Christ. Our bodies have waited, they have suffered, and in that moment, they will be made new.

2 Corinthians 5:1–3 NASB95

1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, 3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked.

I think it is such a beautiful reversal that our bodies take 9 months to grow in the month, 75-100 years to grow old, but can be made new in the blink of an eye. This only emphasizes the amazing power of Christ that raised the lame beggar off his feet, that gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. In a moment we are spiritually saved and in a moment we will be physically made new.

3. What our Transformation Proclaims?

Paul concludes this chapter with reminding the Corinthians that the resurrection body will proclaim a message to the world. As we look forward to that promise to be fulfilled, we eagerly await the resurrection work to be completed and the message it sends to the world. Let’s look briefly at 3 points to that resurrection sermon:

Victory

1 Corinthians 15:54–55 NASB95

54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

Paul quotes from two separate OT passages here in 1 Cor 15 drawing the conclusion what he already has stated above. He already told us that the final enemy of God and this world is death. The resurrection of Christ from the dead proclaims victory and in the future, the resurrection of his people, the end of time brings the end of the death and again the message of victory in Christ.

The first OT phrase “death is swallowed up in victory” comes from Isaiah 25:8

Isaiah 25:6–8 NASB95

6 The Lord of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And refined, aged wine. 7 And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, Even the veil which is stretched over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the Lord has spoken.

The prophet sees even then that death which was brought about by sin is that enemy which needs to be destroyed. Notice the imagery of the great banquet feast in the last day pictured here as it is in Revelation. As Isaiah states, death is like a covering that covers all the nations and that covering must be removed.

The second OT quote comes from Hos 13:14

Hosea 13:14 NASB95

14 Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from death? O Death, where are your thorns? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion will be hidden from My sight.

The interesting thing about this quote is that its OT function is one of judgment against Israel for their wickedness but Paul uses it in the positive as he sees the mysterious words of the prophet being fulfilled in the abolition of death.

In all Paul is declaring that Christ is the total and complete victor over the greatest enemy of this existence. He accomplished what no warrior, army, or king could accomplish. This leads us to the second point of this declaration…praise to the Lord.

Praise

1 Corinthians 15:56–57 NASB95

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

With that victory over the death, the church responds with the praise and adoration for all that God has brought to fulfillment in Christ. He deserves our thanks and our praise him for our salvation. He deserves out gratitude for our deliverance. Instead of living lives where we question God’s motives or fret over the unknown mysteries of his purpose and plan, the church must be a people who lives live in continual praise and thankfulness for God and his good works.

Looking back to Isaiah 25, the prophet says

Isaiah 25:9 NASB95

9 And it will be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”

Isaiah 12:2 NASB95

2 “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.”

Are you living in thankfulness for Christ and his work in your life? Don’t allow the effects of sin and death in this current state to overshadow praise for all that Christ is doing. Death has been defeated and our hope is found in Christ alone.

Steadfastness

1 Corinthians 15:58 NASB95

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

He concludes with simply a message of steadfastness. In the context of this chapter, Paul most importantly is speaking about being steadfast and immovable in our belief in Christ. He is exhorting the Corinthians not to move away from the sound doctrinally truths regarding Christ in his person and his work. We must always be alert to the dangers of rejecting the solid biblical doctrines of God’s word. Paul exhorted the Ephesians to grow in spiritual maturity and therefore no discard that truth which has been passed down to us.

Ephesians 4:14–15 NASB95

14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

The Corinthians were likewise being called to maturity and that meant to remain steadfast in what the Bible teaches about man and what the bible teaches about God.

Secondly, that steadfastness leads to obedience or good works. Instead of being carried away by false doctrines, the church is called to remain in these truths and be steadfast in good works for the sake of Christ’s glory.

This is challenging for us because in the context, we can almost hear Paul saying…don’t get led away in false doctrines or disagreements that distract you from the mission of the gospel. We should stand up for truth and be vigilant to stand against false doctrines that plague the church. But know also the danger of being lured in constant disagreements that you and I are not out there serving others and spreading the gospel. We can end up looking like politicians who just sit around and argue and in doing so waste the time needed in actually passing helpful laws that make a difference.

Notice that his challenge is to abound in the work of the Lord. To abound is to over flow in serving the church and spreading the love of Christ. It is not doing the very minimum but abounding in serving the Lord. We can see all thing things of this world that we can exhaust ourselves with. Hobbies, careers and family matters are good things but if we exhaust ourselves with these things then there is little energy left to serve the church and make disciples of all nations. We need to keep eternal perspectives on the forefront of our minds and abound in the efforts that grow the kingdom of God in this world.

Finally, being steadfast also includes not losing hope in the Lord. Our confidence to do these things for Christ sake means that we know he will use our efforts for his glory no matter if we see visible results or not. What we need to be reminded of is that with the victory over sin and death, that power of the the Lord is also blessing our efforts for His kingdom. Therefore, as Paul states -our toil(work) is not in vain.