We were given a pinpoint schedule of the events surrounding this text, but yet many still disagree as to when it will happen. We call the study of end times “eschatology” and we even get that word from that very language used in this verse. The Greek word for “last” used in 1 Corinthians 15:52 is G2078 Eschatos. Here are some of the biblical usages: extreme; last in time or in place; the uttermost part; the end. As a matter of fact, Jesus said He is the “first and last” G2078 Eschatos. The Greek word for “first” used here is protos, from which we get the word “prototype.” So it would be fair to say that Jesus is the prototype and eschatology. Let’s examine the scriptures and see where this pinpoint information is leading us.

At the last trump

What happens at this event shouldn’t be debatable, except for some ‘minor details’ of who this includes. Even though verse 51 tells us who — all. What does all leave out?

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, (1 Corinthians 15:52a)

When?

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 15:52b)

Since we are told when, you would think that we could go to the book of Revelation and find the last angel who blows the last trumpet and have it settled. As long as there are pre-trib believers, we can’t assume it will be that easy. It is good that scripture confirms scripture. So we need to find out what else happens with this last trump.

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; (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

Three things happen when “the dead in Christ shall rise first.” This broadens our ability to identify and match all three together. It’s like “in the mouth of two or three witnesses.” If you have three things pointing to the same event, it’s pretty conclusive. So we have a “shout,” a “voice of the archangel” and the “trump of God.”

“With a shout”

whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven. (Hebrews 12:26)

Jesus’ voice caused an earthquake at the cross when He yelled, “If is finished!” But there is a promise that the next time He shouts that the earth and heaven will shake. Let’s look at the first time and see if we can foreshadow the order of what will happen then.

And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake; and the rocks were rent; and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised; and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many. (Matthew 27:50-53)

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Matthew 27:50 Jesus shouts with a loud voice.
Matthew 27:51 The earth quakes.
Matthew 27:52 Bodies of saints arise.
Matthew 27:53 Said bodies enter the holy city.

Also, take note that the Greek word for “loud voice” is megas phóné, from which we get the word “megaphone.” When the Bible refers to a “loud voice,” we have to understand its importance.

The next time Jesus shouts, He will shout “It is done!” and, according to the principle “there’s no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9), we would have to assume that the same thing will happen; however, it will have to include the heaven shaking, and those who are alive and remain will be caught up, for we were told “yet once more.”

Who shouted this from the throne?

And the seventh poured out his bowl upon the air; and there came forth a great voice out of the temple, from the throne, saying, It is done: (Revelation 16:17)

The Alpha and Omega

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. (Revelation 21:6 KJV)

“Voice of the archangel”

And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, arrayed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire; and he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left upon the earth; and he cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices. (Revelation 10:1-3)

And the angel that I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his right hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created the heaven and the things that are therein, and the earth and the things that are therein, and the sea and the things that are therein, that there shall be delay no longer: but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then is finished the mystery of God, according to the good tidings which he declared to his servants the prophets. (Revelation 10:5-7)

This angel who has a voice that roared like a lion is arrayed with the two cataclysms: a cloud for the worldwide flood and feet as pillars of fire for the end-times fire cleansing of the elements. When the days of Noah’s flood are mentioned in the New Testament, the Greek word for “flood” is G2627 Kataklusmos, from which we get the word “cataclysm.” It appears that this angel must be present to initiate the cataclysms.

But this angel isn’t just bad news. Did you notice that he is “marked with the promise”? On his head he has the rainbow and on his face he has the sun. What do the rainbow and the sun represent here?

Rainbow

And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of the flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. (Genesis 9:11)

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. (Genesis 9:13)

Sun

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun strike upon them, nor any heat: (Revelation 7:16)

And there shall be night no more; and they need no light of lamp, neither light of sun; for the Lord God shall give them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:5)

“Trump of God”

The archangel that we just looked at also pointed us to the day the seventh angel sounds. The seventh angel blows the “last trump.” (If you haven’t already, you should study the trumpets with the bowls; they look very comparable, as if when the trumpets sound, the bowls are poured out.) Let’s look at a few.

Second trumpet and bowl: the sea

And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; (Revelation 8:8)

And the second poured out his bowl into the sea; and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living soul died, even the things that were in the sea. (Revelation 16:3)

Third trumpet and bowl: the rivers and the fountains of the waters

And the third angel sounded, and there fell from heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of the waters; (Revelation 8:10)

And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters; and it became blood. (Revelation 16:4)

Fourth trumpet and bowl: the sun

And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; that the third part of them should be darkened, and the day should not shine for the third part of it, and the night in like manner. (Revelation 8:12)

And the fourth poured out his bowl upon the sun; and it was given unto it to scorch men with fire. (Revelation 16:8)

Now let’s look at the seventh because that’s within the scope of this article, but note that this is also the third “woe.”

The second Woe is past: behold, the third Woe cometh quickly. (Revelation 11:14)

Seventh trumpet and bowl: the last trumpet and bowl

And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)

And the seventh poured out his bowl upon the air; and there came forth a great voice out of the temple, from the throne, saying, It is done: (Revelation 16:17)

Why did the seventh angel pour his bowl into the air and what wrath is this? We believe this pouring makes the heaven part like a scroll and the great wrath of the Lord take place. This wrath will take people by the Lord and, since they are not His, He takes them “as a thief.”

And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll; and all their host shall fade away, as the leaf fadeth from off the vine, and as a fading leaf from the fig-tree. (Isaiah 34:4)

And the heaven was removed as a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand? (Revelation 6:14-17)

Behold, the day of Jehovah cometh, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger; to make the land a desolation, and to destroy the sinners thereof out of it. (Isaiah 13:9)

Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is taken shall fall by the sword. (Isaiah 13:15)

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Jehovah cometh. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Jehovah shall be delivered; for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those that escape, as Jehovah hath said, and among the remnant those whom Jehovah doth call. (Joel 2:31-32)

The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. And Jehovah will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but Jehovah will be a refuge unto his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel. (Joel 3:15-16)

Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, that have kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah’s anger. (Zephaniah 2:3)

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And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth. (Revelation 16:1)

Revelation 16:2 And the first went, and poured
Revelation 16:3 And the second poured
Revelation 16:4 And the third poured
Revelation 16:8 And the fourth poured
Revelation 16:10 And the fifth poured
Revelation 16:12 And the sixth poured

After the sixth angel poured out wrath, Jesus said, “I come as a thief.”

(Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.) (Revelation 16:15)

We are caught up “with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.” Amen. So what day are we looking for? We will leave you with this:

looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:12-13)