Bible study - 06/10/2020

Shalom from Ramona, CA, and may the good Lord bless all who find this page.

This paper contains an examination of the apostle Paul's phrase "...at the last trumpet..." as it appears in the context of 1st Corinthians 15:52. Even a cursory reading of this 15th chapter would give the sense that the apostle's theme is RESURRECTION. He talks about our Lord's resurrection as the 'fulfillment of the ancient feast of first-fruits, before discussing our own resurrection experience to be enjoyed sometime in the near future. It is noteworthy that Paul made no effort to offer even a brief explanation of his term "...at the last trumpet..." Clearly, this would indicate that he expected his readers to know exactly what he meant. After all, many in the Corinthian church had fled there because of Roman persecution in Israel. In other words, the church in Corinth was made up of people from different cultural backgrounds with many of them being Jewish. To these of Jewish decent, Paul's "...at the last trumpet..." carried significant meaning related to the sabbath. The first mention of the sabbath in the bible is in Genesis 2:2-3, where, in describing the events of the creation week, Moses mentions the 7th day as a day of rest. It was the day that the Lord ended His initial work. and he would later establish the 7th day of every week as a Sabbath - a DAY OF REST for all humanity. Exodus 20, which lists the ten commandments, orders the sanctifying of the Sabbath as a day of rest. Please now read Exodus 20: 8 -11.

We must remember that the Hebrew Calendar does not function as the Roman one that we in the West, now use. For example, the Hebrew year has 360 days with 30 days in each month and a day starts at 6 pm and ends 24 hours later at 6 pm. In other words, the Jewish Saturday (yom shabbat) begins at 6 pm on Friday and ends at 6 pm on Saturday. Knowing you the way I do, I am sure that you are thinking: How did anyone know when the Sabbath would begin or end when there were no clocks or watches? Did people randomly choose when to start the day, or was there a system of timing uniformity when everyone knew what time it was? Well, congratulations! That's good thinking on your part! And Yes, the temple priests had established a system for announcing times of the day. This timing arrangement was facilitated with the use of trumpet blasts.

Two types of trumpets ( shofarim, plural of shofar) are mentioned in the bible. There were the silver trumpets which God had required the Jews to build during their wilderness journey from Egypt to Canaan, and there were the trumpets made from the horns of a kosher animal - a sheep or goat. Silver trumpets served to announce the times for dismantling and erecting travel tents, as well as for starting and stopping daily travels through the wilderness. These trumpets were also used as a call to battle or a retreat from same. Rams' horns were hollowed out and sounded for religious functions. Rabbis teach that a shofar made of any material other than the authentic ram's horn is not considered kosher (approved) and should not be used in religious services. In fact, some rabbis still insist that adding anything to a shofar by way of embellishing its appearance or adorning it in any way, makes it non-kosher. This teaching fits well with the Christian doctrine of salvation by grace only. In the same way that human addition to the shofar is not permitted, no effort on the part of the unsaved is required or tolerated by God for salvation.

Any human effort added to grace, totally and completely destroys grace!

New years, new moons, feast days and Sabbaths were announced using these rams' horns or shofarim. Here, in this study, we will consider only those trumpet blasts associated with the Sabbath day of rest.

Prior to the start of the Sabbath (on Friday evening before 6 pm), a temple priest, referred to as an officer of the temple (hazzan ha-knesset) would ascend the Temple Mount and climb to the highest point of its protecting walls. With shofar in hand, he would walk into a little niche cut in the south-eastern corner of the wall. In 1968, professor Benjamin Mazar excavated a large stone engraved with the words "l'bet hatqia" (To the place of trumpeting) written of course, in Hebrew. Now, please google the words TO THE PLACE OF TRUMPETING and read the Wikipedia article showing a picture of the discovered temple wall stone, and an illustration of where it stood. This would probably be just a brief 3-4 minute read, but is quite informative. Below, I have included some relevant pictures for you to view and enjoy. You may experiment with the pictures to enlarge/improve the view as needed. Please look at the highest point on the Temple Mount where the priest would sound trumpet announcements. This is the corner where the Southern and Eastern walls meet It is also the site where Jesus was tempted by the devil. Please now read Matthew 4: 5-7. Also, notice the large stone toppled by the Romans in AD 70. All the upper - wall stones were thrown down as Jesus had predicted as per Matthew's gospel. Please now read Matthew 24:2. The stones from the South-Western corner badly damaged the stone - paved road approximately 100 feet below, breaking and cracking it in several places. Today, those stones remain where they fell in AD 70 and the roadway has not been repaired. Maybe when we resume our services in Spring Valley, I will show you some video footage I recorded of that entire area.

Details of the announcements heralding the start of the Sabbath day are still being studied and debated by Jewish scholars, but some agreement based on the work of Jewish/Roman historian Josephus has been reached. We now know that the priest responsible for announcing the Sabbath, did so from the highest point of the Temple Mount.

Seven spaced-out loud blasts were sounded. All Jews within the sound of the blasts recognized that the DAY OF REST was approaching. Please keep in mind that the Sabbath was intentionally designed as a DAY OF REST for the people of God. God, who never needed rest for any reason, chose to extend the time needed for creation to one entire week. Of course, the Lord could have created everything in just one day or even instantaneously, but He clearly wanted to model for us the concept that six days of work must be followed by a DAY OF REST. He therefore used creation time and the Sabbath to establish the seven-day week system which the entire world still follows.

"So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all His work that He had done in creation." - Genesis 2:3

"Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death" - Exodus 35:2

"Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the Lord in all your dwelling places." - Leviticus 23: 3

The first trumpet sound coming from the wall niche in the south-western corner of the temple announced that those farmers and other field workers who were distant from the city were to 'wrap-up' work for the day. Workers would be given about an hour to end work, and return tools to their place of storage. This first trumpet blast, as the other six that were to follow, was taken very seriously, as disobedience to the announcements was strictly prohibited and punishable by death.

The second trumpet sound would message those workers closer to the temple. The city's shops were to be closed and the city itself were to retire until the following evening. After some interval, a third trumpet announcement would indicate that it was time for lighting lamps in homes. No lamps were to be kindled after the Sabbath started.

"You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day." - Exodus 35:3

After the sound of the third trumpet blast, there would be an interval of time. This period of time would be equivalent to the time it would take to bake a small fish. The three blasts that followed would be separated by shorter intervals and would serve to announce the now rapidly approaching start of the Sabbath. As mentioned earlier, exactly what the meanings of the last three blasts were is still being studied and debated. What we do know though is that the last three trumpets did not produce the same sound. The first and last of the three were a long sustained blast. (Much like the one you have heard from my shofar blast at FHG) The middle blast, or the fifth one was a long sound followed by a staccato or sharply broken up sound, like ta-ta-ta-ta-ta. After these second three blasts, the sound of six trumpet blasts would now have been heard and Israelis are by now anxiously and excitedly awaiting the actual start of the Sabbath. This is announced with the anticipated seventh and final blast. No further work was acceptable for a 24-hour period. The DAY OF REST had begun.

The apostle's Paul's "...at the last trumpet..." then, referred to the last or seventh trumpet blast heard at the initiation of the Jewish Sabbath. In other words, the rapture of the church of Jesus Christ will happen at the sound of this seventh or last Sabbath trumpet.

But how does this information help us to understand anything at all about the timing of the rapture? I'm so glad you asked!

Of the world's three most populated monotheistic faiths: Christianity, Judaism and Islam, all tracing their heritage to Abraham, there is common understanding that a future messiah is to be expected. Further, adherents to these religions believe that we are living in that critical period of time called the Messianic Age. This refers to the time unlike any period in history when the appearance of the true Messiah is imminent. Of course, there is major disagreement among these groups as to the identity of the true Messiah. Christianity establishes through divinely-inspired scriptures that the coming Messiah is Jesus Christ, the very virgin-born son of Mary. Neither Islam nor Judaism share this belief. That said, there is a small number of believers in both non-Christian groups who look toward the coming of Jesus. The growing population of Messianic Jews in Israel is a perfect example.

A proper understanding of the holy scriptures of these three faiths lead not only to Abraham as the "father" of our beliefs but to the reality that Judaism is the root. The Koran repeatedly describes Jews and Christians as Ahl al-kitab in arabic or "the people of the book". The book here referred to being the Jewish and Christian scriptures.

At FHG, we appreciate the apostle Paul's analogy of Christianity being grafted branches in Judaism's olive tree. (Romans 11: 17 - 24). It is therefore both reasonable and wise for us to look to major impactful events in Israel's life and history as our guide to the understanding of bible prophecy. Remember that God's 'time-clock' is Israel and students of bible prophecy especially, would do well to carefully examine prophetically relevant events in the holy land. It is necessary for us to also understand that the coming of the Messiah will usher in a SABBATH OF REST for all believers in Christ. This would not be a single 24-hour, 7th-day Sabbath, but a 7-year period of rest with our Lord, During these 7 years, the "marriage supper' of the lamb takes place (Revelation 19: 7 - 10) at the same time as the Antichrist reigns over the earth. in the following paragraphs, please allow me to help you embark on such an examination.

After the Hungarian Jew Theodor Herzl received his God-given vision of Zionism in 1896, a series of events resulted from his desire to found a Jewish State. I remember sharing with you at FHG the story of Mr. Herzl and his Zionist movement. Here, we will not go into any detail of Herzl's vision of an Israeli State as we studied that some time ago at FHG. Some of you might remember that Herzl sadly died in 1904 at the age of 44, not having seen the fulfillment of his dream. As God would have it however, Zionism did not die with its great visionary.

Prior to the end of the first world war, (1914 -1918) The UK and its allies being convinced of victory against the Ottoman empire, headquartered in Turkey, made preparations for the post-war governing of the Middle East. The famous Balfour Declaration of November 2nd, 1917 was written by Lord Arthur Balfour, (foreign secretary of the UK) on behalf of the British Government and sent to Walter Rothschild, the leader of the small Jewish community in England. This brief letter expressed firm support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine. I have included a copy of Lord Balfour's letter at the bottom of this page. This letter has been the source of endless controversy in the Middle East (ME) and although it was written more than a hundred years ago, world leaders still today debate its implications for ME peace. I, along with millions in the Jewish and Christian communities, believe that Balfour's Declaration, though penned by the foreign secretary, was in fact, the work of the Holy Spirit. It served as the first TRUMPET CALL for Jews around the world to begin moving to their ancient ancestral homeland. Remember that in 1917, there was no country called Israel. After AD 70, in order to sever all connections that Jews had with their homeland, Rome renamed Israel, Palestine, after the ancient sworn enemies of the Jews. Even Jerusalem, under the rule of emperor Hadrian, received her new roman name Aelia Capitolina. Almost two millennia later in 1917, Balfour introduced the real hope of Jewish statehood and thereby promoted the slow but steady initial Jewish immigration to Israel. Orthodox Jews and Christian Zionists agree that 1917 certainly represented one of the greatest events in the lives of modern Jews whose ancestors were scattered around the world since AD 70. Jews and Christians alike agree that the Balfour Declaration served as the first trumpet blast calling to Jews everywhere to make their way home.

The 1917 Balfour Declaration opened the door after WW1 for the victorious allied forces to convene a conference for the purpose of dealing with the fallen Ottoman empire. France, Italy, Britain and Japan met in Villa Devachan, in the small but beautiful town of San Remo, Italy in April 1920. The Ottoman territories in the ME were the topic of this conference. Palestine, Syria and Lebanon along with modern day Iraq would now need to be administered by new Governments. The control for Iraq and Syria was given to the french while England received the mandate for Palestine. It is absolutely necessary that we understand that the Palestine of 1920 was a land mass including all the property from the Mediterranean Sea to the Eastern border of Jordan with Iraq and Saudi Arabia. That is, 1920 Palestine included all of modern- day Israel and all of modern-day Jordan. Fifty-one members of the newly founded League of Nations (today's United Nations) were signatories to the San Remo agreement. By 1923, England revised its decision to make Palestine the home for the Jewish people and divided the land into two areas. The Jewish homeland would now be the narrow and smaller area between the Mediterranean and the Jordan valley while the rest of Palestine, east of the Jordan river and called Transjordinia, would be given to Saudi Arabia. This lion share of the original Palestine would eventually be occupied by a Bedouin tribe of Hashemites and would be renamed "The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan"

Clearly, England's change of mind may have been influenced by its need to maintain friendly relations with Arab Muslims. The war was over and the need for oil and a political foothold in the ME would be in the best interest of the British. The small number of Jews currently in Palestine along with those moving there could not serve the political aspirations of Britain. It would be better for the British to give most of the land of Palestine to the Muslims and less to the Jews than to have it the other way around. . As the years passed, even the small portion of land allotted to the Jews would be further divided to make room for more Islamic communities, until today, Gaza, Judea and the West Bank are largely occupied by non-Jewish residents. Be that as it may, the San Remo conference was seen by the world's Jewry to be the second TRUMPET CALL to find their way back home. Now, for the first time in 2000 years, a national homeland for the world's Jews had been granted and although it would be several years before the establishment of the modern State of Israel, a viable home beckoned the descendants of Issac to their ancient dwelling place.

"ARBEIT MACHT FREI" - German for "Work Makes You Free". This motto hangs over the entrance to the Nazi - German concentration death camp in Auschwitz, Poland. This was just one of many such camps designed by Adolf Hitler's henchmen who planned the "Final Solution." I have visited this killing facility and have walked through the buildings where horrible inhumane experiments were conducted by German Dr. Mengele in the name of scientific advancement. I have walked into the community 'bath' buildings where toxic Zyklon B gas was released among thousands of human victims. I have seen the crematoriums where people were burned, some, while still alive. These death camps were nothing short of demonic facilities.

A perfect example of the coming Antichrist, the ruthless, tyrannical leader of Germany through the years of the Second World War was determined to rid the world of "lives not worthy of life." Hitler believed that a person's characteristics and abilities were determined by his or her racial construct. He also believed, as did his Nazi followers, that Darwinism's "survival of the fittest" was the ideology that should govern the world. Although there were many different victim groups of Nazism, the population of Jews in Eastern Europe was his main target. This should come as no surprise to Jews and Christians. Biblical prophesies related to the messianic era would remain unfulfilled unless and until Jews made their home in their ancient homeland. The OT prophets: Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Isaiah all testify of a Jewish nation existing in the holy land just before the return of the Messiah. The serpent of the garden of Eden would not sit idly by watching the fulfillment of the OT prophesies. He would assemble all demonic forces at his disposal to thwart the plan of God. He had previously used great and powerful means to eliminate the Jews. The kingdoms of Assyria, Babylon, Persia and Rome did everything they could to ensure the non-survival of Jews but God would bring about the utter failure of all principalities and powers standing against His people and His word. All we have to do is ask the questions " Where is Assyria, Babylon, and great Rome today? And, whatever happened to the ancient Jews?" The answer of course, is, that the nations hostile to Jews, no longer exist as powerful entities while the population of the children of Issac continues to thrive. Not only are Jews now living in and enjoying their ancient homeland of Israel, but they comprise the most respected, most economically and militarily powerful single nation in the entire Middle east. Furthermore, Israel is one of the most influential voices in global affairs today. in fact, I am personally looking forward to the day when Isaiah 49: 6 would become a reality.

The period of Jewish suffering between 1939 and 1945, called Ha-Shoah in Hebrew or the "Holocaust" in English has been the theme of an endless list of books, movies and documentaries. There is no shortage of information related to the Jewish Holocaust. It is no secret that six million Jews were eliminated during this time. Shot to death, gassed, burnt alive and starved to death in death camps around Eastern Europe, Jews miraculously survived to ensure the fulfillment of bible prophecy. The holocaust served as a stimulus to Jews everywhere to do everything they could to journey to their ancient homeland. The only safe haven for Jews of the holocaust was Palestine, if only they could get there. Escapees from Poland, Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and other European countries fled to Palestine. Many died on the journey and many more were refused entry, but the Jewish march to Palestine remained relentless. This "call to home" was equivalent to a third trumpet blast, announcing to Jewry everywhere that although Palestine was at the time, in the hands on the British, it was still the land of Abraham, Issac and Jacob - a land to which all Jews were and are entitled.

When the allied forces halted the German onslaught of Europe in 1945, a restructuring of the political world became necessary. New countries were named, new geographical borders were drawn and a serious consideration of Palestine was put on the table. The final fulfillment of Isaiah's 66th chapter was within reach.

"Before she was in labor, she gave birth; Before her pain came, She delivered a male child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children." Isaiah 66: 7 - 8.

I am certain that the members of FHG would remember my teaching on the above verse. I did so at our facility in Spring Valley as well as to our tour groups in Israel. I would not revisit such a very extensive explanation here. That said, what's important for us to remember is that on May 14th, 1948, after much debate and conference, another new country was created. Palestine was renamed Israel, borders were established to define the new Nation State, a new Government was appointed with Prime Minister David Ben Gurion and once again, God's word prevailed. The world watched in awe as the 'dry bones' of Ezekiel 37 came back to life. Please now read Ezekiel 37: 1 - 14.

"Then He said to me, ' Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say 'Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off! Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'thus says the Lord God: Behold, O My people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel." Ezekiel 37: 11 - 12.

The birth of the new State of Israel after 2000 years was a very loud trumpet blast to Jews around the world as the rest of the world observed in stunning amazement.

Since 1948, there has been a constant flow of Jews into the ancient land of Canaan, renamed Palestine by the Romans twenty centuries ago and finally in 1948, was crowned ISRAEL in honor of Jacob, the father of the 12 Hebrew tribes of antiquity. It is noteworthy that none of the ancient tribal people of the OT can be identified today. No one can call himself or herself an Amorite or an Amalekite today. That heritage and ancestry has been long lost. But Jews are well-known - their religion, ancient culture and resurrected holy language are very much alive and well. They can actually trace their history through archaeology and the science of genetics. God has prevailed! The 'dry bones are once again alive and internationally recognized. Jewish immigration to Israel is still ongoing. They come from Russia, the US, Ethiopia and Europe. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one week ago, that Israel is currently preparing itself to receive another 90,000 Jewish immigrants next year. Clearly, May 14th, 1948, the date that marked the birth of Israel was a deafening trumpet blast.

The six days between June 5th and June 10th, 1967, represent an important historical event in the life of the nation of Israel - The Six-Day War.

Since Israel's war of independence in 1948, the Arab Muslim world refused to accept the State of Israel as a sovereign entity. Frequent skirmishes between the new State and it's hostile neighbors plagued the Middle East. Palestinian guerrilla groups based in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, engaged in constant attacks against Israel. Israel's responses were costly and annoying. A rumor that Israel was planning a major attack on Syria led to a military coalition agreement by Egypt, Syria and Jordan. On May 14th, 1967, President Gamal Abdel Nasser mobilized Egyptian forces in the Sinai and closed the Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli shipping. On May 30th, king Hussein of Jordan, placed Jordanian forces under Egyptian command. Shortly after, Iraq joined the alliance.

Early in the morning of June 5th, Israel staged an unexpected preemptive air assault that destroyed some 90% of Egypt's air force on the tarmac. A similar assault wiped out Syrian air capabilities. Within 3 days, Israel had achieved an overwhelming victory on the ground, capturing the Gaza strip and all of the Sinai peninsula from its Egyptian enemies. The Israeli Government pleaded with Jordan not to enter the war, but to no avail. Jordanian forces began shelling West Jerusalem, only to face a crushing counterattack from the IDF. (Israeli Defence Force) Jordan was then pushed out of East Jerusalem and most of the West Bank. When the 15 - member nations of the United Nations Security Council called for a ceasefire, Egypt and Jordan anxiously accepted. Syria held out however until on June 9th, Israel forces decimated the Syrian military and grabbed the Golan Heights on June 10th. Syria would then finally accept the UN brokered ceasefire. The losses for the Arab countries were disastrous. Egypt lost 11,000 soldiers and its entire air force capability, Jordan lost 6000 soldiers and 1000 Syrian troops were killed. Compare those losses to the 700 lost by Israel.

During the battle with Jordan, Israel was determined to seize East Jerusalem. The IDF fought valiantly and forced its way to the Zion gate of the Old City. Hundreds of bullet holes on the walls of that gate are still clearly visible. I remember pastor Brinker trying to dig his finger into one of those holes thinking that he may find gold that may have been [placed there by king Solomon. As Israeli soldiers entered the old city, they rushed to the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, where Rabbi Shlomo Goren pulled out a shofar he carried on his waist with his side arm, and sounded a blast of praise to God as general Mordechai Gur radioed the loud message to central command - "Har Habayit B'yadenu" - The Temple Mount is in our Hands!" West and East Jerusalem were now united to form one city. This was a great accomplishment for the Jews as East Jerusalem which houses all the biblical, historic sites was previously under Jordanian control. The Temple Mount, the Western wall, the Mount of Olives - all under Jordan control. The six-day war changed it all. Israel had finally captured all its holy sites and would permit

visits by people of all faiths. Jews around the world listened attentively as the radio announcement "Har Habayit B'yadenu" was made. This was a clear trumpet blast to Jewry everywhere that The Holy City had finally been unified and that Jews may freely return to their national homeland to await the coming of their Messiah. Five trumpets matching the OT first five trumpet blasts to announce the Sabbath, have now been sounded.

Please take the time to google the names Mordechai Gur, the General who made the exciting announcement "The Temple Mount is in our hands" as well as Rabbi Shlomo Goren who sounded the shofar at the Western Wall in June 1967. You would find very interesting information.

On November 8th, 1995, The United States of America's Jerusalem Embassy Act became law without a presidential signature. The act recognized the city of Jerusalem as the UNDIVIDED CAPITAL of the State of Israel and its purpose was to provide the funding for the relocation of the American Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Provision to allow the US president to waive the implementation of the law for six months at a time was included in the Act. Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama invoked the waiver every six months throughout their presidencies in the interest of National Security.

On December 6th, 2017, contrary to the advice of many in the US congress and multiple foreign Governments, President Trump recognized the ancient city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and ordered the planning of the relocation of the US Embassy. It is reported that the President refused to take 'negative' telephone calls from several European leaders, promising to return such calls after the Embassy move. The world was convinced that very serious Middle East unrest would result, in accordance with the threats of violence coming from the Palestinians and other players in the region. On May 14th, 2018 however, on the 70th anniversary of Israel's Declaration of Independence, The United States Embassy was opened at the following address:

14 David Flusser

Jerusalem, 9378322, Israel

Interestingly, despite the threats of war and fear that was promoted by European Governments, there were no violent outbursts against the Israeli people. I believe that since it was God's will that was done, He ensured the sustenance of peace in the region.

This move on the part of the US served as a reminder to Israel and the world that the Jerusalem capital was authorized by the God of the bible, declared to be so by Israel's second king, David, and remained as capital until its destruction by the Romans in AD 70.

Religious leaders in Israel interpreted the Embassy move as a call for Jews around the world to be comforted in the fact that Jerusalem has now been declared the undivided capital of the Israel - a sovereign homeland for the sons of Issac. Rabbis of all Jewish religious sects in Israel and abroad agree that the 6th trumpet has sounded. This is seen as the final announcement to Jews that they are as close as possible to the Day of Rest

As we have considered the ancient Jewish practice of sounding seven trumpet blasts to announce the approaching Sabbath, the DAY OF REST, so too we have examined the popular thinking of modern Jewish Rabbis in the light of recent major events in Israel. Beginning with the Balfour Declaration of 1917, six trumpet blasts have already been sounded. Prior to AD 70 and the destruction of the temple, the seventh trumpet blast did not announce the approaching Sabbath, but that Sabbath Day of rest had begun. So too, the "last trumpet" of Paul's 1 Corinthians 15: 52, would not be an announcement that our DAY OF REST is approaching (six trumpet sounds have already done that) but that the Sabbath DAY OF REST has begun. This fits perfectly with the rest of the verse "...in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye..."

My brothers and sisters, I hope that you have carefully read and studied this lesson with me. I hope that it's contents have opened your eyes to the imminence of the rapture of the church of Jesus Christ and given you a renewed excitement that soon and very soon, we are going to see the king. Let's anxiously anticipate the sound of the seventh and last trumpet. Amen!

Maranatha!

Pastor Chandroo