POEM
The skies will part and trumpets sound,
As angels soar to earth’s four bounds,
Their wings aglow, their trumpets loud,
As they lead God’s chosen to be found.
From every nation, tribe, and tongue,
His people are gathered, old and young,
They join in song, their praise resound,
As Heaven’s gates open wide abound.
From east to west, from north to south,
His angels gather his people devout,
No distance far, no ocean too wide,
For they are all one in Christ’s bride.
So let us live with hope and light,
In readiness for that great sight,
For when that trumpet fills the air,
We’ll join the angels and our Lord to share.
DEVOTIONAL
As believers in Jesus Christ, we eagerly anticipate His second coming. Our faith rests on the promise that He will return one day to judge the living and the dead and establish His kingdom on earth.
The Bible has given us many clues about the circumstances of His return, and one of the most powerful images is that of the great trumpet that will sound, heralding His presence and the gathering of His people from all corners of the earth.
The idea of a trumpet blast announcing a great event is not a new one in the Bible. In fact, throughout the Old Testament, we see trumpets being used in a variety of ways: to signal times of celebration or mourning, to gather armies for battle, to announce the coronation of a king, and to call the people of God to worship.
The trumpet was a powerful symbol that communicates a sense of urgency and importance, and it was always associated with a specific message or purpose.
When Jesus spoke about the great trumpet that will sound at His return, His disciples would likely have understood the gravity of the moment.
In Jewish tradition, the blowing of a trumpet, or shofar, was a crucial part of the High Holy Days, which were the annual festivals that celebrated God’s covenant with His people.
The shofar blast was a call to repentance and a reminder that God was present and active in their lives. In light of this background, it’s no wonder that Jesus used the image of a trumpet blast to communicate the magnitude of His return.
The Bible tells us that when the great trumpet sounds, Jesus will send out His angels to gather His chosen people from every corner of the earth.
This event is commonly referred to as the Rapture, which simply means “to be caught up” or “taken away.” At that moment, those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ will be taken up to be with Him, while those who have rejected Him will be left to face the judgment of God.
The idea of being caught up in the air to be with Jesus is a powerful one, and it has stirred the imaginations of believers for centuries.
We can’t know for sure what this event will look like, but we do know that it will be spectacular and life-changing.
For those of us who have been anxiously awaiting Jesus’ return, this moment will be the fulfillment of our greatest hope. We will finally be with Him in person, and the struggles and trials of this world will fade away.
But what about those who are left behind? The Bible is clear that after the Rapture, a time of tribulation will come upon the earth, a time of great turmoil and suffering.
Those who have not put their faith in Jesus Christ will face the wrath of God, and the world will be shaken to its core. The events that will occur during this time are beyond our comprehension, but we do know that it will be a time of great darkness.
As believers, we have a responsibility to share the message of the gospel with those who have not yet heard it. We know that time is short, and that the great trumpet could sound at any moment.
We cannot afford to be complacent, or to assume that those around us will magically come to faith on their own. We must be bold in our witness, and we must pray that God will open the hearts of those who still need to hear the message of salvation.
The great trumpet that will sound at Jesus’ return is a symbol of both judgment and salvation. For those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ, it will be a joyful and triumphant moment.
For those who have rejected Him, it will be a moment of dread and terror. As we wait for Jesus’ return, let us keep our eyes fixed on Him, and let us be faithful in sharing the message of salvation with those around us. The time is short, and the stakes are high. May we be found faithful when the great trumpet sounds.
