The coming Feast of Trumpets, also known as “Yom Teruah” in the Hebrew, begins what is known as the annual “High Holy Days” on God’s Calendar. It also coincides with the Jewish New Year, known as “Rosh Hashana.” It begins a period of 10 days, which are also known as the “Days of Awe.” The tenth day of this period is the solemn Day known as “Yom Kippur,” the Biblical Day of Atonement. 5 days after Yom Kippur is the Feast of Tabernacles, known in the Hebrew as “Sukkot.”
Many Christians today are familiar with the names of these Feasts, but do not understand their meanings historically, spiritually, or prophetically. After reading this informative article, you will come away with a much greater knowledge of these all-important Holy Days. Let’s begin with the Feast of Trumpets…
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall you have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. You shall do no servile work therein: but you shall offer an offering.. unto the LORD.” – Leviticus 23:23-25 & Numbers 29:1
Rosh Hashanah marks “New Year’s Day” on the Jewish Calendar, but it actually falls during 3 different months in Israel and America. How is that possible? Well, for starters, it is day one of the first month on the Biblical Civil Calendar in Israel. It is also the first day of the seventh month, known as “Tishrei,” on the Biblical Religious Calendar. So, it is important for believers to know that there are two Calendars observed in Israel, and amongst the Jewish people today.
Also, the Feast of Trumpets is observed on America’s Julian (Solar) Calendar in our month of either September or October (9th or 10th month). This can confuse a lot of people, but it really isn’t that complicated. The Jews and Israel separate their Holy Calendar from their Civil Calendar, thus the Feast falls in different months on each calendar. The Calendar we use in the Western world is a Solar Calendar, while Israel uses the Lunar Calendar.
To make this all easier to understand, God dubbed the month of Nisan/Abib the “first month of the ecclesiastical (religious) year” for Israel – to commemorate Him delivering them from Egypt (Exodus 12:2 and 13:4).
Tishrei, though the seventh month on the ecclesiastical calendar, is also the first month of the nation’s civil year. That is why the “Feast of Trumpets,” beginning on Tishrei 1, is actually celebrated as “New Year’s Day” in Israel, though it falls much later in the year on their “Holy Days” Calendar.
This is also the reason why the holiday (Holy Day) has two Hebrew titles – “Rosh Hashanah” (Head of the Year) and “Yom Teruah” (Feast of Trumpets). Another thing that is confusing about the celebration of the Feast of Trumpets is that it lasts for two days.
Biblically – it is only observed for one day, as a “New Year’s Day” celebration would also be observed. The reason why it is currently celebrated as a two-day Feast is because of the uncertainty about observing it on the correct calendar day.
The designation of each new month in ancient times was done by the Rabbinical court in Jerusalem, and was dependent on the rising of the new moon. Due to the difficulty in those days of being able to alert the entire Jewish population of the exact start and end to the Feast Day, the 2-day observance was instituted in Israel.
Thus, the festival has become known as “one long day.” Now that I have addressed the confusions associated with Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah, I can finally share the meanings behind the Holy Season.
The Feast of Trumpets is known, Biblically, as “the Day of the Awakening Blast.” This also means the “sounding of the Shofar.” A trumpet in the Holy Bible is not the same as a modern-day trumpet. The trumpet was a ram’s horn, which was known as the shofar to the Jews. In ancient Israel, the shofar was blown on solemn occasions.
It was mentioned in connection with the revelation to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16). It was blown every Jubilee Year, announcing freedom from slavery and past debts. The shofar was also blown as an alarm in times of war. Most importantly (to our generation especially) its sounding heralds the coming of the King, Who is ultimately God Himself.
Both the Old and New Testaments speak of God’s arrival being preceded by the sound of a trumpet (Psalm 47:5 and 1st Thessalonians 4:16). The shofar will also be blown at the time of the Rapture (Matthew 24:31 and 1st Corinthians 15:52)! So, we Christians should not be caught sleeping during the Feast of Trumpets.
Obviously, the Rapture could occur at any hour, or on any day, in the near future; but if this Feast is meant to draw attention to the coming of our King, the Great God, our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ – we should all be observing it! We Christians should not make the mistake of ignoring the Feast of Trumpets because it a “Jewish festival.”
My method of thinking, as a believer, is that ANY Day or Feast that God has deemed as “holy” to Him in the Holy Bible – I’m going to do my best to keep it holy FOR Him. That also goes for the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles. This year, the Holy Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) falls on September 10th and 11th in America; but Biblical Days begin at sundown, so the Feast actually begins at nightfall on September 9th.
The next Holy Day on the Biblical Calendar, which is observed this month, is “Yom Kippur” (The Day of Atonement). It falls on the 10th day of Tishrei (September 18th at sundown until September 19th at sundown in America).
“Thus saith the LORD.. This shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It shall be a Sabbath of rest unto you, and you shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.” – Leviticus 16:29-31 & Numbers 29:7
Modern Jews still observe this solemn day with fasting, reflection, and repentance (afflicting their souls); but thanks be to God that we Christians do not need to do so. That is because our ultimate Day of Atonement came at Calvary’s Cross. Ancient Israel looked to their High Priest to make atonement for them, through the blood of animals sacrificed on behalf of their sins, but thanks be to God that the Lamb of God shed His Blood for us and died for our sins – once and for all.
It is still good for us believers to fast, reflect, and pray on Yom Kippur; but as a Christian, we should already be repenting of our sins and remembering what Christ did for us – daily. The Day of Atonement remains a day of affliction for those who have not yet accepted God’s ultimate Sacrifice on their behalf.
For us believers, though, it is a day to give humble thanks to God that Lord Jesus’ blood cleanses us of our sins EVERY DAY – not just on Yom Kippur. Yeshua is forever the High Priest Who sacrificed HIMSELF to make eternal atonement for the sins of those who believe (Hebrews 13:11-12). I thank God that I am counted as one of those. Thank you Jesus!
Finally, the third and final Holy Feast of this season is the Feast of Tabernacles – also known in the Hebrew as “Sukkot.”
“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.” – Leviticus 23:34 & Numbers 29:12
Sukkot is translated as “Tabernacles,” and is observed for 7-days. From the 15th day of the month of Tishrei until the 21st day. The 22nd day is also observed as the “Great Day” to close out the Holy Season. In this Feast, the Jewish people are commanded to build a sukkah (hut) and make it their home throughout this Holy Week.
The sukkot (tabernacles) are to be symbolic reminders of the temporary dwellings of the Israelites in the wilderness, who were brought out of Egypt. The Feast is meant to bring to remembrance God delivering the Jews out of their bondage in Egypt, and how He provided for them in the wilderness. It is to remind them, AND US, to always put our dependence in God alone for all of our needs.
Whether those needs be shelter, food, water, or finances, God is our sole Provider. We Christians, along with the Jews, should meditate on this truth and give praise to the LORD Who cares for us at all times. Another spiritual lesson for Christians, which we can learn from the Feast of Tabernacles, is that where we are dwelling now is “temporary”; and that where we are headed is truly our “Promised Land” – Heaven.
Also, these bodies in which we currently dwell are “temporary” and corruptible; but when we see Christ, we will receive our “glorified” bodies which are incorruptible. Sukkot is also known as the “feast of ingathering (harvest),” and Jesus told us that the harvest represents the “end of the age.” So, as with the Feast of Trumpets, Christians who ignore this Feast are making a costly error.
We are always to be watchful and ready for the Rapture, and for the imminent return of our Lord, but I believe that we should be especially watchful during God’s Holy Feasts. The reason being that Jesus fulfilled five of the Biblical Feasts in His first coming (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Weeks, and Day of Atonement).
Why is it farfetched to think that He would fulfill the final two Feasts as well? The Hebrew word for feasts, which is “moadim,” literally means “appointed times.” God has appointed a time and a season for everything prophetically, and so we believers need to be paying close attention to what we are doing with our lives during His Holy Days.
Are we solemnly observing them? Are we spending our time, during the Feasts, in prayer – Holy Bible study – repentance – turning our feet aside from doing worldly (secular) things – tithing – preaching the Gospel? We should be doing these things daily to live Holy lives anyways, but we should be especially focused on keeping ourselves undefiled by the world during the Holiest Days on God’s Calendar.
One other big reason why I believe that we Christians should be observing these Biblical Feasts, which are primarily referred to as “Jewish holidays,” is because the Holy Bible says that we will be celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles after Christ returns and is ruling and reigning on the earth (Zechariah 14:16).
If God will want us to observe the Feast when Christ comes back down, then why would He not want us observing it now? This year’s Feast of Tabernacles begins on September 23rd at sundown, and ends on October 1st at sundown. So, set aside time for our LORD.
I hope that all of you reading this have learned a lot more than you have previously known about these Biblical Feasts, and that you will do your best to keep them as holy as possible for our LORD. He refers to these Feasts as “Sabbaths,” so we need to treat them like a Sabbath Day by devoting our time to communion with God and obeying His commands.
There are so many signs in our day and age, which I write about on this website and in my new book (The Signs of Our Times), which point to the Rapture of God’s faithful coming soon. So, as God’s “appointed times” draw near – don’t be caught sleeping when the Master of the house arrives. LOOK UP… because the King is coming, and our redemption draweth nigh!
“These are the appointed times of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at the times appointed for them.” – Leviticus 23:4
“.. In the day of your gladness and in your appointed feasts, and on the first days of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your offerings.. and they shall be as a reminder of you before your God. I Am the LORD your God.” – Numbers 10:10
“Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and at the Feast of Weeks and at the FEAST OF TABERNACLES, and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.” – Deuteronomy 16:16
“What will YOU do on the day of the appointed festival, And on the day of the Feast of the LORD?” – Hosea 9:5
“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the TRUMPET of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” – 1st Thessalonians 4:16-18
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