The Day of Trumpets (No. CB139)

Introduction

The Day of Trumpets is the fourth of seven annual Holy Days and is a pivotal point in joining the spring and fall feast periods together. It is celebrated on the first day of the seventh month in God’s Calendar. This is in the fall (autumn) and usually occurs in the month of September.

Leviticus 23:24-25 "Say to the people of Israel, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. ²⁵You shall do no laborious work; and you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD." (RSV)

The whole chapter of Leviticus 23 gives an overview of God’s Holy Days. These days, including the weekly Sabbath, are all referred to as feast days.

Leviticus 23:2 "Say to the people of Israel, The appointed feasts of the LORD which you shall proclaim as holy convocations, my appointed feasts, are these. (RSV)

The word for feasts that is used here is mow’ed (SHD 4150). It means appointed time or sacred season. It encompasses all of God’s Holy Days, Sabbaths and days of solemn assembly.

Even though all of the holy days, including Trumpets, are described as feast days (SHD 4150), not all of them are considered pilgrimage feasts (SHD 2282 – Chag or SHD 2287 – Chagag). The three feasts that are designated as pilgrimage feasts are Passover/Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles. These are the three times a year that we leave our homes and travel to a place outside of our city gates where God has placed His name. These are also the three times a year when we are commanded to bring an offering.

Deuteronomy 16:16 “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God at the place which he will choose: at the feast of unleavened bread, at the feast of weeks, and at the feast of booths. They shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed; ¹⁷every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which he has given you. (RSV)

When we go to these three feasts we have the privilege of giving an offering to Eloah. We see Trumpets is not mentioned and we are not to give an offering on the day of Trumpets. It is also permissible to celebrate the feast day of Trumpets in our own homes. However, just like the weekly Sabbath, if we have the opportunity to fellowship with others of like mind, we should strive to meet together and celebrate this special day of worship.

The Day of Trumpets

Just like all of God’s annual Holy Days, the Day of Trumpets points us toward an important aspect in God’s plan of salvation. The Day of Trumpets looks forward to the return of Jesus Christ at the sounding of the 7^th trumpet.

Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever." (RSV)

This will be the second coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ said in a parable that he had to go away and then return (Lk. 19:12). The first time he came over 2000 years ago it was to fulfil his priestly role and qualify to be our High Priest. When he returns again, it will be as King Messiah. He will come in power, as King, accompanied by the Host of Heaven.

Matthew 25:31 "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. (RSV)

His coming will be clearly visible as lightning in the heavens and we will see Christ coming in the clouds of heaven with power and glory (Mat. 24:27,30). Jesus Christ will reign in power with the resurrected saints (Rev. 20:4).

The Messiah will come to the Mount of Olives. With his elect he will establish the government of God. He will rebuild the Temple (Acts 15:16). He will reintroduce the biblical system including the annual Holy Day periods. All nations will be required to send their representatives to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles or they will receive no rain in due season (Zech. 14:16-19). Messiah will connect or tie the Law of Eloah to what the Church and the Witnesses have been preaching and expand on areas that have not been restored to date. See also the paper Trumpets (No. 136).

Which Trumpets were blown on the Day of Trumpets?

The Bible describes several types of trumpets. There is the shofar, or ram’s horn (SHD 7782), the chatsotserah (sometimes referred to as hazozarah), or silver trumpets (SHD 2689), and yowbel (SHD 3104), which is translated as ram’s horn, trumpet, or primarily jubilee. They can be used for music, sounding an alarm, calling an assembly, a signal for war, and announcing the presence of God (this is not an exclusive list). As with most things in the Bible, the various types of trumpets have spiritual significance. The shofar often represents God the Father and the two silver trumpets point us toward the physical and spiritual creations of God the Father.

In the paper The Shofar and the Silver Trumpets (No. 047), we read:

“Leviticus 23:24 reads:

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, in the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation

It should be translated as:

Leviticus 23:24:

Speak unto the children of Israel saying,

In the seventh month - Tishri

In the first day of the month - new moon,

Ye shall have Sabbath,

A memorial day of blowing (SHD 8643) – teruwah i.e. make acclamation through clanging the trumpets as in Psalm 47:5.

The text does not mention trumpets, neither shofar nor

hazozarah (the two silver trumpets). From this text and Psalm 81:3, we are commanded to blow both sets of trumpets on this day, signifying the reunion of (Yehovah, the Father) the shofar, and the elohim (the creation, angelic and earthly), the two hazozarah.”

So it is very interesting that on the Day of Trumpets, we are commanded to blow both the shofar (since it is a new moon, Ps 81:3) and the two silver trumpets (since it is a Holy Day, Num 10:10). The two silver trumpets and the shofar together signify calling both man and spirit beings to be in the presence of God the Father. The Day of Trumpets looks forward to the return of Jesus Christ.

The breath needed to sound the trumpets represents the Holy Spirit. It is the power that comes from God and the power that allows us to become all in all with God the Father.

Eloah alone is the creator. There are two parts to His creation: man and Host (or spirit beings). They complement each other currently. Both aspects of creation are necessary for Eloah to become all in all (1Cor. 15:28; 1Thes. 5:9; Eph. 4:6).The simultaneous blowing of both trumpets together with the shofar looks forward to a time where all aspects of the creation, both angelic and physical, are gathered together as one under and with God the Father. (For much more detailed information on the 2 silver trumpets and times when the Shofar and or Trumpets are to be blown see The Shofar and the Silver Trumpets (No. 047)).

More Information on the Shofar and Two Silver Trumpets:

Shofar (SHD 7782):

The shofar is made from a ram’s horn. The shofar is typically used to announce God’s presence and is also used in battles that God ordained to be fought. It announces the jubilee year (Lev. 25:9-10).

In Exodus 19, we see an early example of the shofar in the Bible.

Exodus 19:14-19 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. ¹⁵And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives. ¹⁶And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that were in the camp trembled. ¹⁷And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. ¹⁸And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. ¹⁹And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

The trumpet here was being blown by angels, and was announcing God’s presence through the Angel of the Lord that spoke to Moses on Mt. Sinai.

In Genesis 22, when Abraham was instructed to bring his son Isaac to the land of Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering, he was given a substitute offering, a perfect ram without blemish. This ram represented Jesus Christ and looked forward to the redemption of mankind through his shed blood. The ram provided a shofar which represented Eloah in the process of providing salvation for mankind.

Two silver trumpets (SHD 2689):

The two silver trumpets were made from one block of silver.

Numbers 10:2 Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. (KJV)

The two silver trumpets are blown to call an assembly, and also to sound an alarm. They are blown on all of the Holy Days and over all of the burnt offerings.

Numbers 10:10 On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts, and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; they shall serve you for remembrance before your God: I am the LORD your God." (RSV)

We are instructed to remember God when the trumpets are blown.

The two silver trumpets represent the two aspects of creation, the physical and the spiritual. They show us that the angels and man were both created by God the Father and are of the same family. The significance of the one lump of silver points to both man and angels being co-heirs with Jesus Christ.

There are various reasons why the shofar and 2 silver trumpets are blown; some examples are listed below:

They were blown as a:

1. Signal to assemble (Judges 3:27 & 34; Neh. 4:18; Jer. 4:4)

2. Signal for action (Judges 7:16) or restraint (2Sam. 2:27; 2 Sam. 18:15)

3. Signal to receive news and to make announcements (1Sam. 13:1; 2Sam. 6:14; 2Sam.15:10; 2 Sam. 20:1; 2Sam. 20:22; 1Kings 1:34-41).

4. Signal (including prophetic) of war (Jer. 4:18; Jer. 42:11; Isa. 18:1-5; Amos 2:1, 3:6; Zeph 1:14-18)

Concepts regarding the two silver trumpets

What is silver and why was it used to make the two trumpets? Most of us know silver is a shiny metal. Yet what other qualities does it contain? Silver is a soft, white, lustrous transition metal; it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver

The significance of the trumpets being made from silver, rather than gold, bronze or some other kind of metal, is tied to the symbolism of the silver in the trumpets. In scripture, silver (SHD 3701) is used to make items, used as money and used figuratively. It is primarily translated as either silver or money. So when reading through scripture it is easy to read over a word such as money and fail to realize the actual word is silver.

In Exodus we learn of the atonement tax of ½ a shekel of silver:

Exodus 30:12-16 "When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them. ¹³Each who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as an offering to the LORD. ¹⁴Every one who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the LORD's offering. ¹⁵The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the LORD's offering to make atonement for yourselves. ¹⁶And you shall take the atonement money (SHD3701) from the people of Israel, and shall appoint it for the service of the tent of meeting; that it may bring the people of Israel to remembrance before the LORD, so as to make atonement for yourselves." (RSV)

Therefore, silver can also be tied to redemption and Atonement. The atonement temple tax, because it was the same price for all, shows us that we were bought with a price, and are no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to God the Father and therefore follow His Laws (1Cor. 7:23; Rom 6:22). Through the perfect acceptable sacrifice of Messiah we are reconciled, or reunited, back to the Father. We know Messiah freely gave his life for us all. He was a slave to Eloah and clearly lived by all the Laws of his Father.

We know the words of the Lord are like silver that has been purified seven times.

Psalm 12:6 The promises of the LORD are promises that are pure, silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.

It is through the blowing of the 2 silver trumpets that Man and Host are called together for the worship of Eloah. (See The Shofar and the Silver Trumpets (No. 047).)

We have already seen that the Messiah has two advents – the first as High Priest and the second as King. We have seen the positive application to redemption and atonement.

We read above in Numbers 10:2 that the two silver trumpets were used to summon the community and set the divisions or tribes into motion. God alone calls us to His way of life. Once we are called, we each have a responsibility to go to His commanded assemblies, live by His Law and take the Gospel to the world making disciples of all nations (Mat. 28:19). The Lord, Jesus Christ, is our Shepherd. We should always hear his voice and follow where he leads.

We know from Revelation 11:15ff. that the seventh trump sounds and Messiah returns. The seventh trump signals Messiah’s return and subjection of the planet and leads us to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 14:1ff.). In Numbers 10:2, the trumpets summoned or called the community. At the return of Jesus Christ, the elect will be set in motion for the Marriage Supper and will be given responsibility to assist Messiah as Spirit beings with the subjection of the planet and to usher in the period of Just Rule.

Man and Host will not be fully united until the Last Great Day and the resurrection to correction is completed and God is all in all (1Cor. 15:28; 1Thes. 5:9; Eph. 4:6).

Consequences of Messiah’s Return to the Earth

The Day of Trumpets pictures the 7th trumpet being sounded and Messiah returning to the planet to replace Satan as the Day Star, or ruler of the planet. This time Christ will return to the earth in the function of a King, and he will enforce God’s system of Law and order. The Day of Trumpets clearly focuses on the subjection of the planet and the Day of Atonement focuses on the reconciliation back to the Father. There is a period of time from when Jesus Christ returns to the earth until Satan is put in the bottomless pit (Rev. 20:1-3). For more information on Trumpets see Trumpets (No. 136), The Seven Seals (No. 140), The Seven Trumpets (No. 141) and The Advent of the Messiah: Part 1 (No.210A). For more information on the Day of Atonement see Atonement (No. 138) and Azazel and Atonement (No. 214).

When Christ returns to the planet there will be a reunion with the elect. This is called the Marriage Supper (Rev. 19:7-10). The gospels tell us about the people referred to as the elect. Some of the elect are those termed as being “asleep” (1Cor. 15:6,18; 1Thes. 4:13-16; 2Pet. 3:4). These people died after knowing and worshipping the One True God and having obeyed God’s Laws during their lives. With them will be those of the Church who are still alive when Messiah returns. These people will be changed from physical humans to spirit beings (1Cor. 15:51-52). It is still like a death but it will happen in a moment. All of these people will go to be with Messiah at Jerusalem at his return to help him rule the planet (see also Rev. 20:4-6). This event is referred to as the First Resurrection. The Bible says it is a better resurrection (Heb. 11.35). When Messiah returns no one else is admitted to the First Resurrection.

Summary

The first New Moon of the 7^th month is also the Day of Trumpets. It is kept as a Sabbath and we gather together with those who believe like us (Lev. 23:24,25; Num. 29:1).

Deuteronomy 5:15 reminds us of when we were slaves/servants in the land of Egypt. We are to impress on our minds and reflect on the fact of being slaves each Sabbath. We also know the New Moons and Feasts and Holy Days of God are all Sabbaths. Therefore, each Sabbath we should be reflecting and remembering how Eloah redeemed us from sin/ Egypt.

On the Day of Trumpets we are not only remembering our exodus from Egypt in a physical sense many years ago, but also we are calling to mind, declaring or proclaiming or thinking of when the 7th Trumpet sounds and Messiah returns to the planet (Mat. 24:31; Rev.11:15ff.).

The Day of Trumpets signals the subjugation of the planet, a time when God’s Laws will become known to everyone. We know from Revelation there are 7 vials of the wrath of God that follow from Messiah’s return. Messiah returning is a clear signal to the planet; the elect are changed in a moment, a twinkling of an eye, to spirit beings and assist with the loyal Host as Messiah begins to subjugate the planet. For more information on the day of Trumpets see Trumpets (No. 136) and God’s Holy Days (No. CB22).

It is our responsibility to blow this warning as a witness to the Churches and to all nations (Ezek. 33:1-7; Jer. 51:25-28). This activity is a notification of our duty and a reminder of whom we worship. It is a witness and it is a perpetual statute in spiritual Israel, although most refuse to listen (Jer. 6:16).

It is the responsibility of the Church to blow the trumpets and to give clear messages. It is our responsibility to show people when and where to gather for worship and activity. It is our responsibility to listen and hear the sound and to follow its instruction.

Let us all listen and work to assist in the proclamation of the gospel and reconciliation of the planet. The safety of the elect is in God’s hands if we obey His words (Jer. 6:1; 42:11; Isa. 27:1-13; Mat. 26:30).

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