The Oak Ridge Boys - When the Great Trumpet Sounds Lyrics
Lyrics
When the great trumpet sounds
When the great trumpet sounds
Tell me where will I be
Where will I be
When God places one foot on the land and on the sea
Tell me where will I be when it sounds, oh yes
Will I be running to the mountains
Saying mountains fall on me
Will I be shouting hallelujah
As my Savior's face I see
Will I be weeping, wailing, gettin' up, fallin' down
Tell me where will I be when it sounds, oh yes
Will I be resting in the bosom in the God of Abraham
Will I be washing out my robe in the blood of the lamb
Will I be out of the mortal to immortality
Tell me where will I be when it sounds, oh yes
Video
When The Great Trumpet Sounds
Meaning & Inspiration
The Oak Ridge Boys’ "When the Great Trumpet Sounds," released on November 9, 2014, delves into a profound and universally resonant theological question: our readiness for eternity. This track isn't about a catchy melody; it's a spiritual meditation, a call to introspection rooted deeply in biblical prophecy. The song grapples with the moment of divine finality, when the "great trumpet" signals the end of earthly days, echoing the prophetic pronouncements found in scriptures like 1 Thessalonians 4:16, which speaks of the Lord descending with a trumpet call and the dead in Christ rising first. The lyrics pose a series of stark, existential questions about one's position in that ultimate judgment. Will we be among those seeking refuge in fear, as described in Revelation 6:15-16 where kings and rulers hide in caves and among the rocks, calling for mountains to fall on them, or will we be those who rejoice, seeing the "Savior's face" and shouting "hallelujah"? This contrast highlights the core of Christian hope, grounded in the assurance of salvation through Christ, as promised in John 3:16.
The song further explores the state of the redeemed, referencing imagery of spiritual cleansing and eternal rest. The idea of "washing out my robe in the blood of the lamb" directly alludes to Revelation 7:14, where the elders explain that those in white robes have washed them and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, signifying purification from sin through Christ's sacrifice. The transition "out of the mortal to immortality" points to the resurrection and the promise of eternal life for believers, a central tenet of Christian faith, articulated by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:54: "Death is swallowed up in victory." The song doesn't shy away from the gravity of the question, urging listeners to consider their spiritual standing, reflecting on the peace and assurance found in resting in God's presence, likened to "resting in the bosom in the God of Abraham," a comforting assurance of God’s covenantal faithfulness. Ultimately, "When the Great Trumpet Sounds" serves as a powerful, scripture-informed reminder to live a life of preparedness, ensuring that when that trumpet sounds, our answer to "where will I be" is one of peace and triumphant anticipation, dwelling in the light of our Savior.