Trumpets Sounding

24 09 2014

Shana Tovah! That is Happy New Year in Hebrew. Sundown tonight was the beginning of 5775 in the Jewish calendar. But it also signals the start of the Fall Feasts; namely Trumpets, Yom Kippur (Atonement), and Feast of Tabernacles. For more detail please listen to my radio interview (Audio: The Feasts of Yehovah) to the right of this column, in which I teach ten minutes on each feast.

But, the most exciting anticipation for me each year in this season, is the Day of the Sounding of Trumpets (Yom Teruah). This evening in Jerusalem and literally around the world, the trumpets announced the great harvest feast. Not only does it speak of end-time harvest of souls, it is the warm-up for the most important sounding of trumpets in all of history. The Messiah comes at the blast of trumpets!

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

Yet, there is an even greater clue in Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 24 and Mark 13. Notice the mention of the trumpet announcing His coming, and then at the end of the selection notice the reference to “that day and hour no one knows”.

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven but My Father only. Matthew 24:30:36

This is one of the most exciting facts I know from studying Jewish roots. Jesus was not making the timing obscure, He was actually giving the answer. The Day of Trumpets Fall Feast was commanded to begin on the sighting of the new moon. If clouds or other weather blocked the view, they would have to wait for the next night. The trumpets could not be sounded until the physical sighting. If it was cloudy early and cleared up later the trumpets were released to blow. So, the entire high holy days season could not commence until the trumpets sounded. Here is the amazing fact. Jews of that day used a common expression as a sort of slang reference to the Feast of Trumpets. They said it was the feast that no one knows the day or hour! It was a literal description of the timing issue. Wow! So Jesus was very likely referring to that when He used that expression. He was letting them know to look for His return at the Fall Feast of Trumpets! Now you see why I have an extra reason to enjoy this season. Shana Tovah, Happy New Year!

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists (READ MORE)