Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 10/31/2003

Question
When the trumpet sounds when the Lord returns, who will hear the trumpets.  Will the christians be the only ones or will everyone hear the trumpets when the Lord returns.

Answer
There are two events to consider.  First of all the rapture where the saints will be caught up with Christ in the clouds, as seen in 1 Thesselonians 4.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.  

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

The Bible does not seem to be clear as to who all will hear the trumpet during the rapture.

THe second event is the Second Coming of Jesus CHrist where Jesus comes back to earth after the 7 years of tribulation.  Matthew 24 shows us that everyone will see him come back.

Matthew 24:29-31
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.  

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

This is Jesus coming to usher in the Kingdom....everyone will see it!


I hope that this helps.  I am sorry for my late response...the weekend is very busy for us preachers!  :)

In Christ,
Pastor Don