The Last Trump, Judgment and the Final Harvest

> [!title|noicon] **The Last (Seventh) Trump: Judgment and the Final Harvest** ^top **The Last (Seventh) Trump and the End of this World** From the following verses, we see that the rapture of the elect and the end of the world occurs once the *trumpet of the seventh angel*, *the last trump,* sounds: > In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, **at the last trump**: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ([1 Corinthians 15:52](1%20Corinthians%2015.md#^52)) > > But in the days of the voice **of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound**, the mystery of God should be finished, as he has declared to his servants the prophets. ([Revelation 10:7](Revelation%2010.md#^7)) > > And **the seventh angel sounded**; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become *the kingdoms* of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. ([Revelation 11:15](Revelation%2011.md#^15)) **The Last Day at the End of this World** We also find in the following passages that the rapture itself is *the last day*, which is the day of resurrection and also the day of judgment upon the unsaved: > And this is the Father's will which has sent me, that of all which he has given me I should lose nothing, but should **raise it up again at the last day**. ([Jn 6:39](John%206.md#^39)) > > And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one who sees the Son and believes on him may have everlasting life: and **I will raise him up at the last day**. ([Jn 6:40](John%206.md#^40)) > > No man can come to me except the Father which has sent me draw him: and **I will raise him up at the last day**. ([Jn 6:44](John%206.md#^44)) > > Whoso eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life; and **I will raise him up at the last day**. ([Jn 6:54](John%206.md#^54)) > > Martha said unto him, **I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day**. ([Jn 11:24](John%2011.md#^24)) > > He that rejects me and receives not my words has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same **shall judge him in the last day**. ([Jn 12:48](John%2012.md#^48)) **The Visible Churches (Christendom at large), and the World Come Under Judgment Spiritually Before the Last Day. God Releases Satan Against Them Through Spiritual Delusion.** From 2 Thessalonians 2, we find that Christ will not return until God has begun His judgment process on the churches (the visible church) as He gives them over to sin and Satan, after they have fallen away from Truth in favor of the doctrines of men. God brings spiritual delusion upon the church and the world with Satan as the chief instigator. This immediately precedes God's final judgment upon Satan and the unsaved world. This is a key event that shortly precedes the very end of time, even though spiritually it means Christ has already begun to come in judgment even before the last day itself: > 1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and *by* our gathering together unto him, > 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. > 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: *for that day shall not come*, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; > 4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. > 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? > 6 And now ye know what withholds that he might be revealed in his time. > 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now lets *will let*, until he be taken out of the way. > 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: > 9 *Even him*, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, > 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. > 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie: > 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. ([2 Thess 2:1-12](2%20Thessalonians%202.md)) This is seen from a different angle in Revelation 20:7-10, where Satan gathers the nations of the world (called here Gog and Magog) to surround *the camp of the saints* (the visible churches) unto their destruction. The nations themselves are, of course, part of the dominion of Satan (see [Lk 4:5](Luke%204.md#^5), [6](Luke%204.md#^6), [7](Luke%204.md#^7); [Eph 2:2](Ephesians%202.md#^2)). The next event is when God brings final judgment: > 7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, > 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom *is* as the sand of the sea. > 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. > 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet *are*, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. ([Rev 20:7-10](Revelation%2020.md)) Revelation 20:7-10 above is more fully explained in [Ezekiel 38](Ezekiel%2038.md). In much more detail, God describes there His judgment upon Gog and Magog (all the nations according to [Rev 20:8](Revelation%2020.md#^8)) for attacking and destroying His people, the land of Israel (a figure of the visible churches during the New Testament period). It is speaking of the same spiritual scenario that we just read about but is explained in greater length with Israel pointing to the camp of the saints mentioned in Revelation 20 that is destroyed. And just as we read in [Revelation 20:9](Revelation%2020.md#^9), [10](Revelation%2020.md#^10), God subsequently brings Gog and Magog into judgment ([Eze 38:18-23](Ezekiel%2038.md)). We see this scenario again in Zechariah 14:1-3, using Old Testament Jerusalem as a type or figure of this event. But here God says that *He Himself* is gathering all nations against Jerusalem to ravish them, yet He will nevertheless destroy those nations afterwards: > 1 Behold, the day of the LORD comes, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. > 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. > 3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. ([Zech 14:1](Zechariah%2014.md#^1), [2](Zechariah%2014.md#^2), [3](Zechariah%2014.md#^3)) The fact that *God* is bringing this to pass through Satan, Gog and Magog (the nations of the world, the kingdom of Satan) means that this is His plan for the end. It isn't just some terrible, accidental thing that is happening outside of God's control. There are actually many passages in the Bible that corroborate this. This is why the first thing Christ warns against when describing the time of the end is that we *not be deceived* -- because many false christs and false prophets (false ministers of Satan - [2 Cor 11:14](2%20Corinthians%2011.md#^14), [15](2%20Corinthians%2011.md#^15)) will go forth to deceive *many*. God is allowing spiritual delusion to run rampant to prepare the world for final judgment. This is what is occurring in the fallen churches, TV ministries, political religious movements as well as in cults all over the world. Christ effectively warns us not to trust *anyone* during this time: > 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what *shall be* the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? > 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. > 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. > ... > 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here *is* Christ, or there; believe *it* not. > 24 For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders insomuch that, if *it were* possible, they shall deceive the very elect. > 25 Behold, I have told you before. ([Mt 24:3](Matthew%2024.md#^3), [4](Matthew%2024.md#^4), [5](Matthew%2024.md#^5) ... [23](Matthew%2024.md#^23), [24](Matthew%2024.md#^24), [25](Matthew%2024.md#^25)) Sadly, there is no surprise that churches today have become enamored with charismatic signs and wonders, politics, various entertainments or social justice -- or have become like social clubs -- and have generally become like the world around them with "new morality" and so on to the forsaking of the Gospel of Christ. Even those that remain somewhat conservative are entrenched in their academic interpretations of the Bible, codified doctrines and the like. **The World Also Fully Given Over To Sin** Now, according to Romans 1, as all of this is happening God also gives the *world* over to sin and Satan (to delusion) unto judgment and death. And here He describes the character of the world at this time: > 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness; > 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has showed *it* unto them. > 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, *even* his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: > 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified *him* not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. > 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, > 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. > 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: > 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. > 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: > 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. > 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in *their* knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient; > 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, > 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, > 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: > 32 Who, knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. ([Ro 1:18-32](Romans%201.md)) The word translated *error* in [verse 27](Romans%201.md#^27) above is the same word translated *delusion* in [2 Thessalonians 2:11](2%20Thessalonians%202.md#^11), and also means *deceit, fraud, wandering about*. This is the time of scoffing and derision from those who mock God. In fact, we read how they scoff at the fact that God once destroyed the evil of the world already through a world-wide flood -- and will soon destroy it again by fire: > 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, > 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as *they were* from the beginning of the creation. > 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: > 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: > 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. > 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day *is* with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. > 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. > 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. > 11 *Seeing* then *that* all these things shall be dissolved, what manner *of persons* ought ye to be in *all* holy conversation and godliness, > 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? ([2 Pe 3:3-12](2%20Peter%203.md)) This is a biblical principle -- God first brings judgment directly against the very house of God (that is, the visible representation of God's kingdom, not the actual elect who are saved in Christ) for their rebellion and apostasy. This demonstrates the righteousness of God that He holds all accountable, including those who are called by His Name but have rebelled away from Him. Then all the more will the world at large be held guilty: > For the time *is come* that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if *it* first *begin* at us, what shall the end *be* of them that obey not the gospel of God? ([1 Pe 4:7](1%20Peter%204.md#^17)) This principle is seen also in the Old Testament in Ezekiel 9:6-10: > 6 Slay utterly old *and* young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom *is* the mark; **and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which *were* before the house.** > 7 And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city. > 8 And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem? > 9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah *is* exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD has forsaken the earth, and the LORD sees not. > 10 And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, *but* I will recompense their way upon their head. Then we find that God judges the remainder of the world in similar fashion *after* dealing with those who claimed to be of Christ but had forsaken the Way of Truth: > For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment *was* not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and *art* thou he *that* shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink *of it*. ([Jer 49:12](Jeremiah%2049.md#^12)) **This Has Been In Evidence For Some Time. Is There A Delay In Judgment?** What's very sobering is that this has been in full evidence for *a quite a long time already*, even for decades or longer. It might almost seem as though the Lord has delayed His coming: > 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delays his coming; > 49 And shall begin to smite *his* fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; > 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for *him*, and in an hour that he is not aware of, > 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint *him* his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ([Mt 24:48](Matthew%2024.md#^48), [49](Matthew%2024.md#^49), [50](Matthew%2024.md#^50), [51](Matthew%2024.md#^51)) In fact, since God does not rush to bring judgment it is actually why sin increases with such intensity: > Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. ([Ecc 8:11](Ecclesiastes%208.md#^11)) Throughout the New Testament period, many have declared the Biblical warning that we are ever-increasingly nearing the end, but the end has not come. This has proliferated in recent times -- particularly since the expansion of cults in the 19th century, the ravages of World Wars I and II and the holocaust, the reconstitution of the nation of Israel, many other wars, the apostasy of churches and the moral and spiritual degeneracy in society. All of these indeed portend final judgment. Sadly, so many premature and uninformed predictions have been announced that they are nearly unheeded today. These have contributed no small amount to the fact that many have ceased to watch according to Christ's warning ([Mt 24:42](Matthew%2024.md#^42), [43](Matthew%2024.md#^43); [Mk 13:37](Mark%2013.md#^37)), like the boy who cried wolf. Yet time indeed continues on, even during this time of great tribulation. The question might sincerely be asked: Why has the end not arrived given we are well past the biblical, spiritual conditions of the church and the world that precede judgment day? We find the answer to this in the passage quoted above, in 2 Peter 3:9: > The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. That is, God only appears to tarry because there are yet some of His elect to bring to salvation in Christ. Rest assured, while the unsaved of the world cry peace and safety, believing that Christ will so come as a thief in the night to the point there is no need to watch at all (therefore somewhat fulfilling the reality that Christ will come as a thief to them), Christ does *not* come as a thief for the true believers: > 1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. > 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. > 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. > 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. > 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. > 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as *do* others; but let us watch and be sober. ([1 Thessalonians 5:1-6](1%20Thessalonians%205.md)) That is, while Christ generally comes in judgment as a Thief in the night for the unsaved, He will not return as a Thief for His elect. They are not under judgment, and they will understand when Christ is about to come. They will have an increasing sense and understanding from Scripture like a ship sounding forth to know the distance to land. **God Plans To Yet Save A Great Multitude In A Very Short Period Of Time, Even As Judgment Has Begun to Fall Spiritually, Before The End Comes In Finality** Not only does God continue saving during this apparent delay that we read about 2 Peter 3:9: > The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. While we are on the cusp of the end of time and judgment day, at the very edge of the great tribulation, God actually plans to *save a great multitude* of people throughout the world who have not been identified with the visible churches during the church age: > 9 After this I beheld, and, lo, **a great multitude which no man could number of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues**, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes and palms in their hands; > 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. > 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne and *about* the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped God, > 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, *be* unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. > 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? > 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, **These are they which came out of great tribulation**, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ([Rev 7:9-14](Revelation%207.md)) Initially, this might seem like what God was accomplishing throughout the church age. The Gospel indeed went forth into all the nations to bring many into the kingdom of God. However, in [verse 14](Revelation%207.md#^14) above we find that God intends to save a great many more *during the great tribulation period* in which we are living. So, while we might be grieved by all of the evils of the world around us and recognize that judgment day is fast approaching, what we do not see is that God is preparing a multitude of hearts to receive the Gospel unto salvation *just as judgment is falling upon the world and as we transition into eternity!* From the early days of Abraham, God's Gospel program focused mainly on the nation of Israel up to the time of Christ. They were the stewards of the Old Testament types and shadows and the Word of God. Once Christ came, the Gospel transitioned to the visible, organized churches during the church age at which time Israel as a nation was mostly cut off, except for a remnant of those who are of the elect ([Ro 11:5](Romans%2011.md#^5), [7](Romans%2011.md#^7)). But now, during the great tribulation period, God is focused on the world outside of the visible churches as He continues to send forth His Word during this time of spiritual judgment on the visible church and the world. And today, as with national Israel into the church age, there is a tiny remnant of those within national Israel and within the churches that will be part of this multitude of elect. We find this teaching in various places in Scripture. For example, in Luke 14 we read of those who were initially bidden to the supper of Christ but refused to come once the supper was ready. They all with one consent made excuse not to come. These represent those in the visible churches that have fallen away from Truth at the end, they are no longer watching for Christ's return through Scripture and are so heavily involved in their personal, worldly lives to be concerned. They proclaim, "Peace and safety," believing they are safe in their theology and what have you. So instead, God redirects the Word (the Gospel declaration) to bid those out in the highways, hedges, streets and alleyways of the city to come in, to those who will hear: > 16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: > 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. > 18 And they all with one *consent* began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. > 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. > 20 And another said, I have married a wife and therefore I cannot come. > 21 So that servant came and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. > 22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. > 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges and compel *them* to come in that my house may be filled. > 24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. ([Lk 14:16-24](Luke%2014.md)) In another notable example, in the book of Jeremiah when God destroys Judah and Jerusalem (and Solomon's temple) by King Nebuchadnezzar -- and carries away many captives into Babylon -- it represents when God is finished with the visible churches in our day. This is parallel to what we read earlier in [Zechariah 14:1](Zechariah%2014.md#^1), [2](Zechariah%2014.md#^2), [3](Zechariah%2014.md#^3) and in [Rev 20:7-10](Revelation%2020.md). There we saw that *all* of the nations (Gog and Magog) compass the camp of the saints (Jerusalem) and then God will destroy them. So God also uses Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar to represent Satan and his kingdom as they came against Judah and Jerusalem to destroy them. And, of course, God destroys Babylon afterwards. These are historical portraits all pointing to the same spiritual reality. But once Babylon was conquered and the captive people returned into the land of Judah and Jerusalem to *rebuild the temple*, it points to this time in which we are living today. The rebuilding of the temple represents this time when God is completing His *eternal* temple *upon the heaps of the one that was destroyed* ([Jer 30:18](Jeremiah%2030.md#^18); [Am 9:11](Amos%209.md#^11), [12](Amos%209.md#^12), [13](Amos%209.md#^13), [14](Amos%209.md#^14), [15](Amos%209.md#^15)). That is, this points to the *final* harvest when He is saving His remaining elect into the everlasting, spiritual temple that will never again be destroyed or corrupted because only those who are saved can enter into it. There is no longer a visible organization or temple into which the unsaved, the kingdom of Satan, can enter to assault and corrupt. We find language of this situation in Zechariah 8, where God uses the historical picture of rebuilding the temple after the Babylonian captivity to point to the eternal temple, where God Himself is dwelling among them (see verse 3). It is the language of lasting salvation: > 1 Again the word of the LORD of hosts came *to me*, saying, > 2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. > 3 Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. > 4 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. > 5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. > 6 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvelous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts. > 7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; > 8 And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. > 9 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which *were* in the day *that* the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. > 10 For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither *was there any* peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbor. > 11 But now I *will* not *be* unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts. > 12 For the seed *shall be* prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these *things*. > 13 And it shall come to pass, *that*, as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, *but* let your hands be strong. > 14 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not: > 15 So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not. > 16 These *are* the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: > 17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these *are things* that I hate, saith the LORD. > 18 And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying, > 19 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth *month*, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace. > 20 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; *it shall* yet *come to pass*, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: > 21 And the inhabitants of one *city* shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. > 22 Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to pray before the LORD. > 23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days *it shall come to pass*, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard *that* God *is* with you. When God speaks of dwelling forever in the midst of Jerusalem, it is language of the new, heavenly Jerusalem: > 2 And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. > 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God *is* with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, *and be* their God. > 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. > 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. > 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. > 7 He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. ([Revelation 21:2-7](Revelation%2021.md)) It would be too long to post all of it here, but [Jeremiah 31](Jeremiah%2031.md) also speaks to this very time period, when God restores His people for the final time, during the final harvest and into the new heavens and new earth. It, too, is found within the context of God's judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem in history, the visible kingdom of God at that time, as God warned them through Jeremiah that they were about to be destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon for their rebellion against Him. So the restoration spoken of in chapter 31 points to the final, spiritual situation of the *eternal* Jerusalem, the *eternal* Jacob, the *eternal* Israel that is built or completed at the end of time. It is thus parallel to what we read in Zechariah 8 above, when they actually were rebuilding the temple upon the heap of the one that was destroyed. And, according to [Jeremiah 31:8](Jeremiah%2031.md#^8), in this context (after the destruction of the earthly temple) God will save yet a *great company* of people, it is a great multitude. [Joel 3](Joel%203.md) certainly points to this time as well. To quote just a few verses from this chapter, it's very clear that God is speaking here of the end of time and judgment day, but also as the time in which God is permanently dwelling in Zion, His holy mountain (representing the kingdom of God made up of all of the elect) -- when Jerusalem shall be holy and strangers (that is, the unsaved) will *never again* pass through her to destroy: > 13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness *is* great. > 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD *is* near in the valley of decision. > 15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. > 16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD *will be* the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. > 17 So shall ye know that I *am* the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. > 18 And it shall come to pass in that day, *that* the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim. ([Joel 3:13](Joel%203.md#^13), [14](Joel%203.md#^14), [15](Joel%203.md#^15), [16](Joel%203.md#^16), [17](Joel%203.md#^17), [18](Joel%203.md#^18)) Notice the most amazing, unspeakable, eternal glory of the victory of Christ in verses 16-18 here, as God comes for the final time as a roaring Lion to shake the heavens and the earth! He will sift out the wicked from the just (those made just by Christ Who covered their sins, by His righteousness alone) and His people will be eternally safe in Him from then on (see also [Amos 9:9-15](Amos%209.md)). And this comes against the backdrop of Joel 1 and 2 which speak about God's *judgments* first upon the visible kingdom of God that has turned away from Him and upon the world. Also, when God speaks in [Joel 3:16](Joel%203.md#^16) above about shaking the heavens and the earth with His voice, He is speaking about *the final harvest and the end of the world*. This is addressed in Hebrews 12:25-29: > 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more *shall not* we *escape*, if we turn away from him that *speaks* from heaven: > 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he has promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. > 27 And this *word*, Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. > 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: > 29 For our God *is* a consuming fire. Here God is teaching us that He will "once more" shake the earth with His Voice (that is, with His Word), and not *just* the earth -- but heaven also. And when He does so, it is the end of time. And those things that are shaken, that is, the physical things of this world that are *made* (the current physical earth and all of the unsaved) will be forever removed. But those who are saved, that is, the eternal kingdom of God, cannot be shaken or removed, they shall remain eternally (see also [Mt 24:29](Matthew%2024.md#^29), [30](Matthew%2024.md#^30)). This is parallel language to what we read earlier where God will *sift out* that which is to be discarded and retain those who shall remain forever. This, then, is the totality of the *invisible church* made up only of the true believers. This is not speaking of the visible churches that throughout the new testament period have repeatedly fallen away from God and come under judgment and into spiritual destruction (much like national Israel during the Old Testament) -- with their finality coming at the end of the church age during the great tribulation. Here, God saves this great multitude right as the time has come to expiration, right up to judgment day itself! So in one sense, the end of the world and judgment day is a very sad, traumatic, grievous event in which many will come under eternal destruction and death to their great sorrow. And this process has already been in place in the spiritual sense for quite some time as God has given the visible church and much of the world over to sin and Satan. But at this same time God is preparing a great multitude of hearts and souls in the highways, hedges, streets and alleyways from nations and parts of the world that have known the Gospel! This is precisely how this world will transition into eternity: > 1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation *even* to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. ([Dan 12:1](Daniel%2012.md#^1)) So when we read in Matthew 24:31 that Christ will send his angels at the end of time with a great sound of a trumpet (which represents the Voice or the Word of God - [Rev 1:10](Revelation%201.md#^10), [4:1](Revelation%204.md#^1)) to gather together His elect from the four winds, He is not simply gathering together those who had become saved throughout the Old Testament and during the church age. We know from the previous passages that He is also saving a great multitude of His elect out of great tribulation and out of judgment very rapidly as His program for this world comes to completion: > 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: > 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. > 31 **And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.** ([Mt 24:29](Matthew%2024.md#^29), [30](Matthew%2024.md#^30), [31](Matthew%2024.md#^31)) That is, this final Gospel declaration into the world, the Last Trump, the Seventh Trumpet, sounds forth to gather a multitude of God's elect into the eternal Jerusalem, the eternal church, as judgment simultaneously falls upon the unsaved -- as time comes to a close and transitions into eternity with the rapture (the resurrection) and final judgment. And that is fitting for this time because it is through the *judgment* of God in Christ, it is through the warning of God's coming judgment upon the world for sin through the Gospel, that many will yet also become saved: > And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. ([Mt 24:14](Matthew%2024.md#^14)) 2.21.2026 Tags: #judgment #end/times