
The fifth moed (Festival) of YAHWEH prescribes in Leviticus “a remembrance of blowing of trumpets” which traditionally known as “Yom Teru’ah” (Day of Trumpets.) ‘Yom’ bearing the Hebrew meaning of ‘Day,’ and ‘teru’ah’ means mighty shout made by human voices, shofar or trumpet. According to Jewish tradition based on the rabbis writings, the first day of the seventh month is ‘Rosh HaShanah’ (“Rosh” is the Hebrew word for “head”, “ha” is the definite article (“the”), and “shanah” means year.) Thus, “Rosh HaShanah” means ‘head of the year’, and is referring to the Jewish day of New Year. Rosh Hashanah is a two-day celebration that begins on the first day of Tishrei, which is the seventh month of the Scriptural year. Contrasting to the Scriptural year where the first month Aviv/Abib the Passover month marks Israel’s exodus from Egypt and the beginning of months in a year (Ex 12:2), Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Jewish civil year. It is also their traditional anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, and the inauguration of humanity’s role in the Creator’s world according to the teachings of Judaism. The Mishnah (the first written record of the Jewish “Oral Law”) contains a reference to Rosh Hashanah (Yom Teru’ah) as the “day of judgment” (Yom haDin), while the Talmud account on Rosh Hashanah states that three books of account are opened on Rosh Hashanah, wherein the fate of the wicked, the righteous, and those of the intermediate class are recorded. The names of the righteous are immediately inscribed in the book of life and they are sealed “to live”. The intermediate class is allowed a respite of “ten days” until Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) to reflect, repent and become righteous, while the wicked are “blotted out of the book of the living forever.” The Karaite Jews do not adhere to this Rabbinical Judaism tradition. Additionally, Karaites believe the adoption of “Rosh HaShanah” in place of Yom Teru’ah is the result of pagan Babylonian influence upon the Jewish nation that began during the Babylonian exile with the adoption of the Babylonian month names, instead of the numbering present in the Torah (Lev 23; Num 28).
TRUMPETS IN YAHWEH’S APPOINTED TIMES
Therefore, do not let anyone pass judgment on you in matters of food or drink, or in respect to a festival or new moon or Shabbathoth. These are a foreshadowing of things to come, but the reality is Messiah. (Col 2:16-17 TLV). The ‘trumpets festival’ is one of the seven annual Moedim (Appointed Times) of the LORD YAHWEH, outlines in Leviticus chapter 23. These ‘festivals’ and Shabbathoth (plural for Shabbat) are shadows or type of things to come with the MESSIAH being the fulfilment (the reality) of them all as Sha’ul (Paul) described in Colossians 2:16-17.
Leviticus chapter 23 outlines the Moedim (the Appointed Times/FEASTS) of YAHWEH eight (8) in totals including the weekly Sabbath. The first coming of Yahshua Messiah fulfilled four of these annual Feasts and Kadosh (holy) days, namely; the Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits and Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), while Trumpets, Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) await with anticipation their fulfilments on His second coming.
YAHWEH’S ultimate plan of deliverance (salvation) for man-kind through YAHSHUA MESSIAH, displays magnificently on His Appointed Time/Festivals that all who are in covenant with Him, are to observe continuously in their respective day of the week and time of the year, until Yahshua returns to finish His redemptive work of man-kind. These Feasts and Appointed Times instructions YAHWEH gave Mosheh before the Israelites left Mitsrayim (Egypt) (Exodus chapters 12 & 13) and on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34.)
All these Appointed Times including the Ten Words (Commandments) are part of YAHWEH’S instructions given to Mosheh on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34), for Isra’el and believers from all nations that have been grafted in to the Root of the olive tree (Romans 11), there is one Torah for the Congregation of YAHWEH (Numbers 15:15; Exodus 12:49.)
The LORD YAHWEH’S instructions for the fifth moed (festival); יהוה (YAHWEH) spoke to Mosheh, saying, “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you have a rest, a remembrance of blowing of trumpets, a set-apart gathering. ‘You do no servile work, and you shall bring an offering made by fire to יהוה.’ (YAHWEH) ” (Leviticus 23:23-25 The Scriptures 1998+)
(Other Scripture translations render; “memorial or reminder of blowing of trumpets”) This “remembrance” or memorial of blowing trumpets begins on the first day of the seventh Scriptural month that usually falls on late September or early October in the Gregorian/world calendar. It is a day for a miqra qodesh (holy convocation/gathering), a day in which no laborious work is to be done. [Lev 23:23-25; Num 29:1]
Throughout the Scripture especially the Tanak (Old Testament), when the trumpet (also known as ‘ram’s horn) sounded, it was either a signal or a warning of something that was about to happen i.e. war, signaling the people to come together or separate to their respective areas, and when announcing a new crowned king. (Num 10:5, 7; Judges 3:27. 6:34. 7:17; 1 Samuel 13:3; 1 Kings 1:34, 39; 2 Kings 9:13; 2 Chronicles 13:14; Nehemiah 4:20)
When the Israelites and the mixed multitudes journeyed out of Mitsrayim (Egypt) to the Promised Land, YAHWEH visited them on Mount Sinai. There, YAHWEH instructed Moshe to have the people consecrated (to make holy/hallow/set-apart) and that when the trumpet sounds long, let them come near the mountain. Moshe recorded this event that on the third day when the people gathered at the foot of the mountain that there were thunders and lightnings, a thick cloud on the mountain and the sound of the trumpet (ram’s horn) was very loud that caused all the people who were in the camp trembled with fear. (Exodus 19:13, 16. 20:18)
The Prophet Isaiah says, a signal will be given on the mountains and everyone on the earth will hear a trumpet. Moreover, at the time of Israel’s deliverance, the great trumpet will sound, and those who were perishing in the land of Assyria and the outcast in Mitsrayim (Egypt) will return to worship the LORD YAHWEH on His set-apart (holy) mountain in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem). (Isaiah 18:3; 27.)
The major theme of the book of the prophet Joel is “The Day of YAHWEH”, which is also mentioned by the prophets Amos, Obadiah, Zephaniah and Malachi. However, the Word of the LORD YAHWEH through Joel is to blow the trumpet (shofar) in Tsiyon (Zion) on His set-apart (holy) mountain, let the inhabitants of the earth tremble for the Day of YAHWEH is near. Blow the trumpet and call upon Isra’el to repent, turn back to YAHWEH their Elohim with all their heart, with fasting, weeping and with mourning, tear their hearts and not their garments and return to YAHWEH who will show them favour and compassion. (Joel chapter 2)
The Trumpet Calls
In the Festival cycle, after the Feast of Weeks (Lev 23:15-22) there is almost four month silence, this silence is interrupted by the sounding of trumpets on the first day of the seventh month followed by Atonement on the tenth day, and Tabernacles on the fifteenth day of the same month. The number seven is YAHWEH’S special number signifying completion and perfection. The seventh month marks the final stage or completion of His plan reveals in His seven annual festivals.
This day of Trumpets has two-fold purposes in the ultimate plan of the LORD YAHWEH for salvation display in the Moedim (Appointed Times).
- The blowing of trumpets is a calling for the people to prepare for the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur.) YAHWEH instructs the people of Isra’el and those who are grafted in (Romans 11) to afflict his or her soul and present an offering made by fire to make atonement on their behalf before Him (Leviticus 23:26-32), and to call for Repentance for the DAY of the LORD YAHWEH is at hand. (Joel 2) (more details on the teaching ‘the Day of Atonement’)
- In Revelation chapter 8 through chapter 11 verse 15 the seven messengers (angels) sound seven trumpets, each announcing a plague preceding the return of MESSIAH YAHSHUA. Most of these plagues resemble the plagues the Mitsrayim (Egyptians) encountered in Mosheh’s day for their disobedience to the LORD YAHWEH’S commands. The last trumpet announces the victory of YAHWEH and His MESSIAH over all the kingdoms of this world (Revelation 11:15). YAHSHUA the MESSIAH will return at the sound of a trumpet (1 Thessalonians 4:16). At a great sound of a trumpet YAHWEH’S messengers (angels) gather His people from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other (Matthew 24:31). For the last trumpet, for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
YAHWEH’S Appointed Times and Feasts are prophetic, they display His redemption plan for humanity of which YAHSHUA, His brought forth Son is the reality.