The Coming Trumpet

The Coming Trumpet – Being Preparedd

April 22, 2001

Ill: Hearing about the Columbine High School ordeal. The teacher that was shot and died could have actually lived. But what happened was that the police were unprepared. The story goes that the police, “Were sitting around waiting for something to do. They had not yet been dispatched their assignments and so they had nothing to do.” When the killings took place, they were caught off guard…they were waiting outside the school for over 2 hours before they even begun to go in. The teacher was shot around 11am. They did not get him out until close to 4:30, by that time, he had already bleed to death.

1. The Unprepared Way

A. Laying Around

a. That almost describes the Christian life – just laying around

b. Unprepared for What life has in store for them…unprepared for their destinies

c. As time tics – so do our destinies…so does our life…it doesn’t wait for anyone

d. And one day the trumpets are going to sound…and the end is going to come up…will you be ready…will you be taken

Matt 25:1-13

1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

2 "Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3 "Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,

4 "but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5 "But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

6 "And at midnight a cry was heard: ’Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’

7 "Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

8 "And the foolish said to the wise, ’Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

9 "But the wise answered, saying, ’No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

10 "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

11 "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ’Lord, Lord, open to us!’

12 "But he answered and said, ’Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

13 "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

John 14:1-2

1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

2 "In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

B. The Many Mansions

a. As you read the Jewish history…the father would add an addition to his house for every child born

b. And the more wives he took on the more the additions…so say a man had 5 wives…and 5 males by each wife…that’s 25 sons

c. And so each had their own dwellings…long hallways…or long sidewalks to get to the dwellings

i. And so the future bride would be taken to this house…the addition

ii. And there she would be with her bridesmaids…waiting

iii. Now, imagine if 6 or 7 brothers were getting married

C. The Alerted Bride

a. In those days, they would make a procession to follow as the groom came to

claim his bride

b. And so the bride is sleeping…when the groom got done making the addition and all the formalities were complete…he would go and get his bride

c. And so now here comes the noise…here comes the procession, but nobody knew which ones it was…where would the knock be…at which door

i. So all the brides had to be prepared…they never knew when the knock was going to come

ii. There lamps had to be full to light the way to meet the groom

2. The Alarm

A. The Coming of Christ

a. Life is short…are you prepared this morning

b. Because Jesus, in our scripture tells His disciples…I go to prepare a place”

c. When that place is done…He is

1Thes 4:16-17

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

d. The procession will follow…will there be oil in your lamp…will you open the door

i. How’s your heart…are you a light unto the world

Luke 12:35-36(NKJ)

35 "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;