Two Trumpet Blasts

And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds , from one end of the heavens to the other. Matthew 24:31

In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:52

Two wonderful events. Yes, two. Is Paul echoing the words of Jesus, or giving us a revelation previously hidden? If we look real hard at the two rescue scenes, we find that one is for Israel, the other for the church.

When Jesus made his prophecy, he was looking at the temple mount in Jerusalem and answering his disciples' questions about the restoration of David's kingdom. His message was all about Israel.

I would hate to be among those who deny the restoration of Jews and the Nation of Israel. I am so happy to say that Israel has a wonderful future. No wonder that those who do not believe so, shun prophecy.

My former Presbyterian church had never taught the book of Revelation within the memory of its oldest members. John Calvin, who began this denomination, wrote a commentary on each book of the New Testament, except the book of Revelation. Wonderful man, with a wonderful message, but he denied Israel's future, as did Luther.

Armed with the knowledge that God has continued to open his truth until this day--that revelation continues to unfold--we can say that as wonderful as God's promises to Israel are, he also has a separate plan for his church. In older times this was unrevealed, but Paul was given the joy of revealing it. He said, This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and his church. (Ephesians 5:32, NIV).

If you look at the two prophecies, you will see differences--one given to the Jews, one to the church. Paul's revelation was a new one. In this one we see, not just a gathering, but a resurrection and a change. I was once among those who try to make these one event, but Paul reveals that God can blow a trumpet more than once.