This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant
On Sunday, September 29th, Jewish homes and Synagogues the world over will celebrate Rosh Hashanah, or the “Head of the Year” on the modern Hebrew calendar. You may recall that in last week’s article, I essentially indicted Rosh Hashanah as a false “new year”, and I stand by that.
You may be wondering how exactly Rosh Hashanah even came about, and it’s a fair question. I’ll leave the answer to those far more educated than I; Nehemiah Gordon published an article on his site in 2018 “How Yom Teruah Became Rosh Hashanah” and I highly recommend giving it a thorough read.
Interestingly, though not coincidentally, the observance of Rosh Hashanah will extend through October 1st – two full days. Sound familiar? It isn’t Rosh Hashanah I want to discuss today though – it’s Yom Teruah, or the “Day / Festival of Trumpets” which, as it happens, is scheduled to be observed on September 29th. For those keeping track, that would be from sundown September 29th through sundown September 30th, or in the event of a two day observance, sundown October 1st.
The Lord spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites, ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you must have a complete rest, a memorial announced by loud horn blasts, a holy assembly. You must not do any regular work, but you must present a gift to the Lord.’”
Leviticus 23:23 – 25
If you read the article about Shavuot posted in June, you may recall that there are seven mo’edim, or appointed times laid out in scripture:
- Shabbat (the weekly Sabbath)
- Pesach (Passover) & Matzah (Unleavened Bread)
- Bikkurim (First Fruits)
- Shavuot (Pentecost / Festival of Weeks)
- Yom Teruah (Day of Trumpets)
- Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
- Sukkot (Tabernacles) & Shemini Atzeret (8th Day)
Each of these serves to both commemorate events in the past, and as a prophetic shadow-picture pointing to events in the future:
- Sabbath commemorates the creation week and points to the coming reign of the Messiah here on Earth.
- Passover commemorates the exodus from Egypt, the crucifixion and the coming restoration of all things.
- First Fruits commemorates the harvest, the Resurrection of the Messiah and the coming resurrection of his bride.
- Pentecost commemorates the events at Sinai, the outpouring of the Spirit and the past and future provision of the Lord.
- Atonement commemorates the sacrifice in the Tabernacle, the atoning sacrifice of Messiah and points to the final reconciliation of Man to God.
- Tabernacles commemorates Israel’s forty years in the wilderness, the birth of the Messiah and points to the final age to come.
But what about Trumpets?
If you read the article I linked by Nehemiah, you know that we are not told why we are to observe this day, nor are we pointed to a commemorative or prophetic meaning – at least not explicitly…
Looking to the Past
On the third day in the morning there was thunder and lightning and a dense cloud on the mountain, and the sound of a very loud horn; all the people who were in the camp trembled.
Exodus 19:16
The context of the preceding citation is that of God revealing His presence to the entire assembly of Israel. He descends in a dense cloud and, in a manner fitting for the King of the Universe, a trumpet is sounded to announce His arrival.
Understand that in antiquity, particularly as pertains to Israel and the Hebrews, when we talk about a “trump” or a “trumpet”, we are usually talking about a shofar. The exception to this is that of the silver trumpets used by the Levitical priesthood.
The Lord spoke to Moses: “Make two trumpets of silver; you are to make them from a single hammered piece. You will use them for assembling the community and for directing the traveling of the camps. When they blow them both, all the community must come to you to the entrance of the tent of meeting. But if they blow with one trumpet, then the leaders, the heads of the thousands of Israel, must come to you. “
Numbers 10:1 – 4
Here we see the silver trumpets codified. Depending on whether one or two are blown, the entire congregation, or the leadership are to assemble at the tent of meeting. This again would be indicative of the trumpet ushering a call to enter into His presence.
“When you blow an alarm, then the camps that are located on the east side must begin to travel. And when you blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that are located on the south side must begin to travel. An alarm must be sounded for their journeys. But when you assemble the community, you must blow the trumpets, but you must not sound an alarm.”
Numbers 10:5 – 8
Here we see the trumpets being used for instructive purposes – namely that the type of blast issued will let the community know who is to move, and when.
As a quick aside, it may be helpful for you to know and understand the different types of calls traditionally associated with the shofar / trumpet. According to Rabbinic tradition, there are four; tekiah, shevarim, t’ruah & tekiah gedolah (which is a long version of the tekiah).
“The sons of Aaron, the priests, must blow the trumpets, and they will be to you for an eternal ordinance throughout your generations. If you go to war in your land against an adversary who opposes you, then you must sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.
Also, in the time when you rejoice, such as on your appointed festivals or at the beginnings of your months, you must blow with your trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings, so that they may become a memorial for you before your God: I am the Lord your God.”
Numbers 10:8 – 10
The point here, is that throughout this text (and reiterated elsewhere in scripture), we are admonished to sound the trumpet / blow the shofar to mark the new moons, appointed times, when we make an offering and so forth. Personally, I’ve made a mental note of the portion pertaining to going to war. You know we’re in a war right?
Trumpets herald arrival. Trumpets call us to assemble. Trumpets sound the alarm. Trumpets call us to battle.
Sound the shofar…
Looking to the Future
Yom Teruah is unique among the Mo’edim, not only in that we are not told why to observe it, but in that it is the only Appointed Time which is to take place on the first day of a new month.
If you recall, in last week’s article I discussed the lunisolar nature of the biblical calendar and the manner in which months were declared and observed… namely that Rosh Chodesh (New Moon) could be observed for days. This stems from the fact that while the signs from which to expect a new moon to emerge were clearly known, they did not know when this would occur.
Given that Yom Teruah occurs on the first day of the seventh month, you can see that the same requirements which applied to the observance of Rosh Chodesh, apply to the observance of Yom Teruah – after all, in this case Yom Teruah is Rosh Chodesh.
Let’s cut to the proverbial chase:
“But as for that day and hour no one knows it—not even the angels in heaven—except the Father alone…”
Matthew 24:36
I’ve always found this statement fascinating. The entire context of Matthew 24 is that of Messiah providing a lengthy list of signs that will herald the imminence of the end of the age – and yet, He wraps this up by making the cited statement that no one will know the day or the hour.
Think about that for a moment. Why does no one present question this and ask for further clarification? Why does no one try to dig deeper into the meaning of this seemingly paradoxical statement?
Only one answer makes a lick of sense to me; because they understood it. This raises the question though, was their understanding of this statement the same as that which is commonly preached from pulpits today?
“Therefore stay alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have been alert and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
Matthew 24:42 – 44
Many times throughout my life, I’ve heard it taught that we should be ready because “Jesus could return at any moment”, and many who hold to this precept point to Matthew 24:36 as a proof of this theology. They claim that this was the understanding of the Apostles and state that the Apostles believed Yeshua would return in their lifetime.
The question becomes – is this accurate?
Yeshua made a number of statements that would seemingly contradict this view. Consider the opening of Matthew chapter 24 where Yeshua predicts the destruction of the Temple. The very next recorded event was that of the disciples asking about the end of the age and I believe this is because they intrinsically understood that the two were somehow intertwined. This, yet the Temple stood at this time and wouldn’t be destroyed for another forty years.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it! Look, your house is left to you desolate! For I tell you, you will not see me from now until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Matthew 23:37 – 39
We could dig deeper into the issue (and undoubtedly will), but suffice it to say that scripture indicates a number of things will happen prior to the Messiah’s return – including things He Himself stated. How then would the disciples have held to the modern perception of imminence without contradicting the very words of the one they followed?
The crux of the “imminence” doctrine (e.g. “Jesus could return at any moment”) gives rise to and is rooted in another issue that I find problematic throughout much of traditional Christianity. It’s one I intend to address in the form of an article unto itself, so for now, consider the following from the hand of Paul:
Now regarding the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to be with him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to be easily shaken from your composure or disturbed by any kind of spirit or message or letter allegedly from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 – 3
If you’re wondering what all of this has to do with the Day of Trumpets, let me remind you that Yom Teruah is also a Rosh Chodesh – that is, it occurs on a New Moon. If you read last week’s article, The Creator’s Calendar (Part One), you may see where this is headed. If you didn’t read last week’s article, you may want to do so.
Since Rosh Chodesh requires observance, that is, the new moon must be sighted – and that from within the land, its appearance cannot be calculated. As Yom Teruah occurs on and is essentially a new moon, we can see that we have a mo’ed (appointed time) in which no one could know the day or the hour…
Some reading this will undoubtedly peg me for a “date-setter” because of this assertion, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m not saying I know when the Messiah is going to return – at least not the day or the hour.
Is it possible however, that He told us the season in which it would happen? Could it be that the disciples did not question Yeshua for further regarding his statement of no one knowing the day or the hour because they actually understood it? Could it be that the risen King will return at a time when the entirety of the Land of Israel, His chosen people are sounding the shofar?
Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:51 – 52
Trumpets herald arrival. Trumpets call us to assemble. Trumpets sound the alarm. Trumpets call us to battle.
Sound the shofar…
חג שמח – Chag Sameach – Joyous Festival
שלום עליכם – Shalom Aleichem – Peace Be Upon You