TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 14: 7, 8 7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? (KJV)

Today I would like to deliver a message entitled “A CERTAIN SOUND OF THE TRUMPET.”

We would like to learn about the teaching of the Bible that when we blow the trumpet for warning we should blow it to give a certain sound for clear warning.

It is written, “If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” The word “trumpet” here corresponds to a horn in the Old Testament. The translations of the words seem to be very different, but they refer to the same things. So, we know it means, “If the horn give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?”

The trumpet is used when God gives warning to His people as below.

EZEKIEL 33: 2- 9 2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coast, and set him for their watchman:

3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;

4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.

7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. (KJV)

As it is written here, the man who is chosen among the people to blow the trumpet should blow it to let them hear.

Not all the people notice the disaster of the sword. But the watchman who is chosen of God should have noticed it. Although I cannot explain well if I am asked, “When and how does he notice it?” what is clear is that if God chooses him he should notice it without fail. For, God will indicate him for it.

But, it is the one action that the watchman notices it and another that he blows the trumpet.

What I say is that there is a watchman who does not blow the trumpet clearly though he is noticed of God.

The Bible says that the watchman would be the trouble if he does not blow the trumpet certainly but uncertainly so that nobody knows what the signal it is, whether the enemy comes or lunch is ready, though the enemy has come to our very eyes and God has made him notice that.

If I say such a thing, it would be like a funny story. But such is actually happening before our eyes.

One of the examples is that revival of beast. I very much regret to say that there are only a few people who blow the trumpet in a distinct sound though they are made noticed of such a danger.

But if we are told of God to blow the trumpet, we should blow it certainly in a distinct sound.

For, it is written, “If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” For, nobody knows what to do even if he hears uncertain sound of the trumpet.

We should give warning not with the obscure expression like, “Works of devils will come in the end time,” but pointing clearly, “What revival is dangerous or of works of devils?” Of course, that should be done only if the Lord says so.

The ways of the prophets to warn will be our help or standard this time. When we see them, Jeremiah, Ezekiel or others did not seem to give such ambiguous warnings as, “Unknown king would come to attack Judah some day. So you should be careful.”

To the contrary, they stated the concrete name of the nation and the king, saying, “Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, would come to occupy this nation.” This is the trumpet, that is, the standard of the man to blow the trumpet.

Who will hear seriously, if he is told such uncertain thing as, “Let’s be careful as the work of Satan comes in the end time?” Isn’t the conclusion like, “Every body knows such a thing for a long time?”

Of course, if we pick up the concrete names of the revivals and workers, there will appear some angry people to hear that. But, this should be the very cross that the men who blow the trumpet pass through.

And, this was the way and the standard that the prophets and watchmen of the Old Testament passed through. Yes, it has not begun now but has been so, that if he gives the warning of God some people are angry or complain to persecute him.

It is sad that they take the priority of the judgments of men over the warning of God so that they eventually blow the trumpet in an uncertain sound.

But, let us know that it is the will of God to seek first the honor only of God than praises, honor or reputation of men.

Let’s do the will of the Lord in the end time.

End.