Thursday 7 February 2013

The Theory of the Trumpets According To E.W. Bullinger (and so say all the other Dispensationalists).

'The Apocalypse Or The Day Of The Lord' Pages 370-372.

Revelation 11.15. "And the seventh angel sounded his trumpet; and there were loud voices in heaven"; Each seventh seal, trumpet and vial is marked of from the preceding six by unmistakable signs, sufficient to show us that they are resumptive rather than continuous. Each going over the same ground to give particulars not contained in the others, bringing us up to a crisis; and giving the other events in the corresponding period, but from a different point of view.
This is called the "seventh" trumpet, and it is the "last" of this special series . But it does not follow that there will be none after: or, that a trumpet sounding before it may not also be called the "last" relatively to another subject. In 1 Corinthians 15. 51,52 we read of  "the last trumpet: for a trumpet shall sound." In 1 Thessalonians 4.16, we read that "the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel's voice , and with the trump of God." This is the last trumpet as regards the church of God, but not the last absolutely. It will be sounded long before these judgments begin, in order to raise His sleeping saints, and take them up with the living saints, to be with Himself forever. There will be another great trumpet after the great tribulation, immediately connected with the Lord's Apocalypse. See Matthew 24.31. This is subsequent to this "seventh Trumpet," for that Apocalypse is recorded in Revelation 19. So that the seventh Trumpet in Revelation 11.15 is not the "last Trump," absolutely, but only relatively; for it is only the last of this series of seven. Moreover, this is neither called the "last"; nor is it necessary for us so to call it. The Trump in 1 Corinthians 15.51,52, is called "the last" with reference to the church of God. It is the Trump which shall close our connection with the earth; it will end up all longing expectation, and therefore there is a true sense that it is our last Trump.
The Trump of 1 Corinthians 15.51,52, is the same that is mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4.16. We have had so many positive proofs that these "Seven Trumpets" belong to another Dispensation altogether, that we cannot confuse the Trump which shall summon the church of God to its ascension with the trumpet which shall bring on the last of God's plagues and end up His judgment of the earth.

I first read Bullinger's "Apocalypse" about five years ago. I have since read it through twice. It is a chapter and verse commentary on the whole of the Revelation, some 700 pages long.
Upon first reading, from memory, I just accepted Mr Bullinger's interpretation, because he was a noted Bible scholar.

As I started to examine the pre trib rapture theory in greater depth, needless to say, I was much perplexed at trying to decipher the above! However, I sincerely believe that most Christians who hold to the pre trib rapture, would accept Mr Bullinger's theory. Though, having said that, can any seriously, and honestly believe and understand such Scriptural perversion?
Mr Bullinger, as indeed many who went before, and after him, should, if they were honest enquirers of the truth, have rejected the pre trib rapture theory on the trumpets alone. Sadly, such men are more loyal to the theory than the simple plain truth. So great is this deception.
Bullinger, it must be stressed, was known as a "Hyper" or "Ultra" Dispensationalist, as opposed to a "Moderate" Dispensationalist. He believed that water baptism and the Lord's supper were not church, or Christian ordinances. He also held to the view that the church was born after the close of the book of Acts, whereas mainstream,or moderate (so-called) Dispensationalists tell us it was in Acts 2. The Word of God says it started with Jesus and His disciples in the gospels.
Harry Ironside (moderate Dispensationalist) referred to many of Bullinger's theories as an "absolutely Satanic perversion of the truth".

I say that the whole system, is a perversion of the truth, and it needs an axe laid into it's deepest roots, going right back to about 1830.

2 comments:

  1. Hi Colin,

    I enjoyed reading your article. I am so glad that you no longer accept this interpretation of the trumpets. When Mr. Bullinger done his study of Revelation and read chapter ten verse seven in which it explains that when the seventh trump begins to sound the mystery of God should be finished: it seems he would have understood the meaning as there will be no subsequent trumpet to the seventh trump.

    “There will be another great trumpet after the great tribulation, immediately connected with the Lord's Apocalypse. See Matthew 24.31. This is subsequent to this "seventh Trumpet," for that Apocalypse is recorded in Revelation 19.”(E.W. Bullinger).

    It doesn’t make sense to me how people can say that the seventh trump isn’t the last trump When Rev. 10:7 plainly states when the seventh trumpet begins to sound the mysteries of God shall be finished. It is clear from Rev. 11:15 that when the seventh trumpet sounded the kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of the Lord and His Christ and He shall reign forever. Rev. 19 gives us a picture of Christ coming to the earth to smite the nations and to rule meaning that the kingdoms of the world have become His. How could the two be separated?

    The fact that Harry Ironside says Bullinger’s theories are “absolutely Satanic perversion of the truth” is like the pot calling the kettle black. I’m like you: the way I see it they are two peas in a pod regardless of the prefix used with the word dispensationalism?

    I agree that people are more loyal to the theory of the pre-trib rapture than they are the truth that is so evident in our modern world. I read a comment on DTW where someone said that people who stop believing in the pre-trib are jealous of those who still believe in it: what? Logically why would someone who has stopped believing in the pre-trib be jealous of those who still believe in it? After all there is nothing to be jealous of: if someone wants to continue to believe that lie then they are more than free to do so? I made a comment but it hasn’t been posted yet asking: why would someone stop believing in the pre-trib and all its wonderfulness? My point in asking this question is to get people to think that those who stop believing in this wonderful fairy tale must have had a reason? Of course none of the answers I will get (if any) will be that maybe they found out it wasn’t true.

    I can’t wait for your next article so you had better get to writing! lol

    Many Blessings!
    Gail

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  2. Gail,

    Many thanks for your comment.One cannot but wonder how so-called learned men of the Word can believe such doctrine, these men and their like, have sold a great number of doctrinal books that I am sure have influenced, and held sway over many. I have heard it said because Revelation 11.15 describes the trumpet as the 'seventh' and not the 'last', then it isn't the last trumpet! And as you correctly observe, Revelation 10.7 does say the 'mystery of God should be finished' at the sound of the seventh trumpet! Should not Scripture interpret Scripture? What does 'finished' mean then? I am sure that some would say 'not finished, in the absolute sense, but nearly finished'? I could imagine some of these pre trib theologians saying such?
    Regards Bullinger and Ironside, I think I can safely say that Bullinger believed the greater lie, and Ironside the lesser lie? Yes, a lie, is a lie, whether big or small, so I suppose the end result is the same?
    We must ever remember 2 Corinthians 11.13; there were 'false apostles and deceitful workers' in Paul's day, and what does he teach about the latter days? 'Perilous times shall come'! 2 Timothy 3.1.
    Regards your last paragraph, yes you are correct. There are many out there, who believe that people such as we, are stealing the 'Blessed hope' away from them by proclaiming the pre trib rapture doctrine to be false.
    What they need to understand, and get their heads around, is that the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ is THE 'Blessed hope'! Not the rapture!?

    God bless you!

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