Warned By the Great Gospel Trumpet that is Behind Us

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,” (Revelations 1:10)

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day…” John was in the Spirit of worship in spite of being persecuted, because he felt privileged to suffer persecution for the Savior whom he loved with all his heart. Since he was worshiping in the true pure and Holy Spirit of God, Jesus was able to reveal to him the message.

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (I Cor 2:9-16)

The things of Jesus and his revelation of himself and his message, cannot be received just because one has a sharp mind and a religious education. The heart must be cleaned (by the blood of Jesus) to become worthy and be changed to that of a humble and obedient servant that only wants to love and serve the Lord. Then we can receive understanding in spiritual things that are too high for mere human intelligence.

Note: it also takes a humble and obedient heart to willingly suffer temptations and persecutions for being faithful and true to Jesus and his word. This is why many sharp and intelligent people (and often very religious) totally miss the depth, height, length, and breadth of the revelation.

“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19)

The only way you and I can come to understand this fullness of the revelation of Jesus Christ is to willingly suffer for his name, counting the trying of our faith “more precious than gold that perisheth…” (1 Peter 1:7) We must be willing to follow the example set before us by the apostles and disciples of the Lord.

“And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” (Acts 5:40-42)

Revelations verse 10 continues as John states: “…and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet”

Trumpets were designated first by God himself in the Old Testament to warn the people. As an example, when the children of Israel were with Moses at Mount Sanai to receive the Law from God, a great cloud of smoke filled the mountain and there was a great sound of a trumpet that sounded long, and louder and louder. The people were placed in great fear at the awsome and fearful presence of God in the sound of the trumpet! In Exodus 19:16 we read:

“And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.” (Exodus 19:16)

But note that the Apostle John specifically stated that he heard this great voice like a trumpet coming from behind him. What is behind us is in the past, and what is being shown here is that the voice is one that has already been heard and recorded in the past. And we have a record of that great voice like a trumpet today. It is the Word of God, and it is recorded in the Bible. Jesus himself was the Word made flesh that dwelt among us. (John 1:14) And the sounding of the Revelation message that John saw and heard reflects the same trumpet warnings that John already knew in the Word of God from the Old Testament, and had heard in years past when Jesus was on earth.

Today, it is still by all the Word of God in the Bible that we are able to comprehend what the many symbols and events in the book of Revelations mean! It is by the sound of the same past Gospel trumpet that we hear from “behind us”.

“…but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:20-21)

What does the good teacher teach? The Word of God. This is that word that the student hears behind them “saying, This is the way, walk ye in it…”

In the record of the Word of God it also tells us of people in the past who did not stay true to God and his word, the Apostle Paul said “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (I Cor 10:11-12)

We need to take heed to that voice of the trumpet we hear behind us!

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,” (Revelations 1:10)