Step 4
The Feast of Trumpets

As we've seen, the first three of God's commanded Festivals come in the first few months of the sacred year--during the newness of spring--symbolizing the beginning steps of God's master plan to redeem mankind. However, the last four Festivals don't come around until much later, that is, until the seventh month--when summer turns to fall. If we may apply God's frequent use of the number seven, this would be the month of completion and perfection. And as the Feast of Trumpets, the next of God's Festivals, occurs on the very first day of the seventh month, we may understand it to picture the ushering in of the final events of His plan.

Notice God's original command to ancient Israel concerning this Holy Day: "In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation" (Lev. 23:24). Just what is this Festival intended to portray?

An Alarm of War!

In ancient Israel, blowing silver trumpets was used as a call for the people to assemble, a signal to take some action such as moving the camp or an alarm of war! (Num. 10:1-9). Indeed, God said, "When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved from your enemies" (v. 9). The trumpets were then used to muster troops and assemble the people in the midst of battles.

These silver trumpets were also blown on the Feast of Trumpets. In fact, they were blown on every Festival (v. 10). But on the Feast of Trumpets, something else was regularly sounded. Jewish tradition records that the shofar or ram's horn was also blown on this day--a fact supported by Scripture. You see, like modern brass instruments, the silver trumpets could produce a variety of musical notes. By contrast, the ram's horn produced only a loud, piercing blast. Often referred to as a "shout" or "noise," this blast was not considered to be musical in nature, but rather served as an unmistakable and urgent warning. In Leviticus 23:24, quoted above, the phrase "blowing of trumpets" does not actually include the word "trumpets" in the original Hebrew--although it is understood. Rather, the entire phrase is a translation of the word teruah, which is defined by the Enhanced Strong's Lexicon as "alarm, signal, sound of tempest, shout, shout or blast of war or alarm or joy"--in fact, it is perhaps best rendered as an "awakening blast." And this was only produced by the shofar.

Again, the trumpet, or ram's horn, was used as an alarm of WAR. Its sound filled those who heard it with fear because they knew it heralded the horror of imminent war! (cf. Jer. 4:19-21). It is this dire warning that sets the Feast of Trumpets apart from God's other Festivals and gives this joyous occasion a contrasting note of solemnity.

Let's not forget that the greatest time of war, chaos and world upheaval is yet ahead of us! Notice this inspired prophecy from the book of Joel: "Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the LORD is coming, for it is at hand: a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, like the morning clouds spread over the mountains. A people come, great and strong, the like of whom has never been; nor will there ever be any such after them.... The earth quakes before them, the heavens tremble; the sun and moon grow dark, and the stars diminish their brightness. The LORD gives voice before His army, for His camp is very great; for strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; who can endure it?" (2:1-11). Thus, the blowing of trumpets here sounds the alarm that the prophesied "Day of the Lord" is at hand!

Incredibly, this evil age of human self-rule will end with the human race standing on the very threshold of mass extinction. Indeed, the Bible has much to say about a terrible World War to come that will engulf the whole earth in the near future. To learn about this horrific time called the "Great Tribulation" (Matt. 24:21) and the circumstances that will bring it about, please write for our informative booklet, The Beast of Revelation, and our color brochure, America and Britain in Prophecy. Both are available free of charge.
Colossians 2:16-17God's Feasts a Mere Shadow?

In Colossians 2, the Apostle Paul writes, "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ" (vv. 16-17). Many claim this was written in opposition to the need for observing God's Holy Days. But is that so?

It should first be noted that the above verses have been mistranslated. The words "in food or in drink" should actually be rendered "in eating or in drinking" (W.R. Smith, Expositor's Greek Testament, vol. 3, p. 530). Next is the word "regarding." According to the Enhanced Strong's Lexicon, the Greek noun meros is actually used here, meaning "part" or "portion" (No. 3313). So "regarding" should be replaced with "in part of" or "in a portion of." Clearly, then, the Gentile Christians Paul was addressing (cf. v. 13) must have been keeping such Festivals, New Moons and Sabbaths in order to be judged by others over some "part" or aspect of their observance! (Incidentally, true Christians today still observe the New Moon in the sense that we accept the lunisolar Hebrew calendar as the means of determining God's appointed times.)

Apparently, the Gentile converts were being judged for eating and drinking AT these very times. As a number of commentaries acknowledge, in the book of Colossians Paul warned against a false teaching known as Gnosticism--a blend of pagan and Jewish philosophies teaching that the flesh and physical pleasure was evil. Paul refers to their ascetic regulations as "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle" (v. 21). He also mentions their "false humility and worship of angels" (v. 18). So Paul was certainly not attacking the Feasts of GOD. Rather, he was attacking the "commandments and doctrines of MEN" (v. 22).

Many gnostic practices came from a Jewish sect known as the Essenes. Incredibly, according to first-century Jewish historian Josephus, they kept the Sabbath so strictly that they would not even take care of bodily functions during it (Wars of the Jews, bk. 2, chap. 8, sec. 9). No wonder the Gnostics were unhappy at Christian rejoicing and feasting on God's weekly and annual Sabbaths!

Paul, therefore, told the Colossian converts not to let these outsiders judge them as to how they were keeping these days, "which are a shadow of things to come" (v. 17). Yet many see this clause as casting the Festivals in a negative light--as no longer being necessary since they were a mere shadow of the reality that has now come in Christ. But notice that Paul said they ARE a shadow--not WERE a shadow. Thus, they are still to be kept.

So why did Paul call them a shadow? Because they are! As this booklet shows, they point to the great acts of God in His plan to save mankind. And Paul was trying to get the Colossians to focus on this fact. He was essentially telling them, "Look, don't worry about these outsiders criticizing you based on their picky ideas about not eating, drinking or even using the bathroom on these days. Instead, focus on the BIG PICTURE of what these days really represent!"

Professor Troy Martin writes of this in the Journal of Biblical Literature: "These Christian practices may comprise the shadow, and they are not presented negatively except by the opponents.... The tense is present and affirms that these things are NOW shadows.... The text affirms a PRESENT, albeit temporary, validity to the shadows" (Summer 1995, p. 249).

Why, then, does Paul say in verse 17, "...but the substance is of Christ"? The answer is--he doesn't! In every other New Testament occurrence of the Greek word soma, here translated "substance," it is rendered "body." The original King James Version says, "...but the body is of Christ"--the word "is" in italics meaning that it was added by the translators. Much more natural would be to leave it as "...but the body of Christ." The phrase "body of Christ" can refer to the Church of God (1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 4:12). And this is consistent with Paul's other references in Colossians. Christ, he writes, "is the head of the body, the church" (1:18). And just two verses after the scripture in question, Paul says that the gnostic critics were "not holding fast to the head [Christ], from whom all the body [the Church]... grows with the increase that is from God" (2:19).

So what is Paul saying? Professor Martin explains that the word "is" was the wrong word for the translators to have inserted (pp. 252-253). Instead, he cites the example of 1 Corinthians 10:24, which states, "Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well being." The second clause is understood to be "but [let] each one [seek] the other's well being." Colossians 2:16-17 is very similar: "Let no one judge you [in how you keep God's Festivals, etc.]... but the body of Christ." In other words, "...but [let] the body of Christ [judge these matters]." Clearly, then, how to observe "a festival or a new moon or sabbaths" is to be determined not by outside critics, but rather by the Church, which is guided by Christ.

Thankfully--before it's all over--humanity will be prevented from utterly destroying itself by the intervention of the Great God (v. 22). For then, the day of man will be over--and the Day of the Lord will commence. Yet it will not begin with peace and joy for everyone. Rather, the Almighty will have to enforce peace upon rebellious humanity--by first breaking its stubborn will. Thus, our Creator will intervene to show HIS POWER and remind a wayward civilization that HE is the ultimate RULER of heaven and earth.

Therefore, other titanic, earth-shattering events will follow the Tribulation. For notice what is going to happen during the Day of the Lord, the year between the Tribulation and Christ's return: "So the seven angels who had the SEVEN TRUMPETS prepared themselves to sound. The first angel sounded: and hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up" (Rev. 8:6-7). With the next trumpet, a "great mountain burning with fire" falls into the sea (vv. 8-9)--an asteroid meteor perhaps? Next, a "great star" falls from the sky, "burning like a torch" (vv. 10-11)--a comet impact? Even if we can't know for sure what the literal fulfillment of these prophecies will be, it's certain that they indicate violent cataclysms that will literally rock this planet! And each introduced by the sound of a trumpet blast.

The Last Trumpet

It should be noted that trumpets were also used to herald the coronation of a new king, as in the case of Israel's King Solomon (1 Kings 1:34, 39). And the peaceful rule of Solomon, following the wars of his father David, was a type of the coming rule of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Kings 4:25; 1 Chron. 28:5).

Thus, finally, at long last, the Living Jesus Christ will supernaturally intervene to SAVE a rebellious humanity and to bring genuine PEACE to the world. Returning to the last of the seven trumpets of Revelation, we read, "Then the seventh angel sounded: and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'" (11:15). Jesus, then, will return to this earth as "King of kings and Lord of lords" (1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 19:6).

Therefore, Christ will return at the seventh trumpet! He told His disciples, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 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" (Matt. 24:29-31).

What is the significance of Christ sending angels to gather His elect at this time? We've already seen part of what the Apostle Paul said in this regard: "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Cor. 15:20). But notice what he further stated: "For since by man [Adam] came death, by Man [Christ] also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits [i.e. the first of the firstfruits], afterward those who are Christ's at His coming [i.e. the rest of the firstfruits]" (vv. 21-23).

And when will it all happen? Paul says, "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" (vv. 51-52). Perhaps there is nothing more encouraging than this amazing fact. Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Church:

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord [1 Thess. 4:13-17].

How staggering and wonderful this is! At Christ's return, those who have God's Spirit will be changed from powerless, flesh-and-blood human beings into divine, immortal spirit beings bearing the very glory and appearance of our Savior Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:45, 49; Rom. 8:11; 1 John 3:2). We will then be full, glorified "sons of God, being sons of the resurrection" (Luke 20:36) who are "filled with all the fullness of God"! (Eph. 3:19).

No wonder King David understood the Feast of Trumpets, as all of God's Feast days, to be a day of singing and shouting for joy (Ps. 81:1-3). Indeed, this was a statute in Israel (v. 4). For in spite of the solemnity of the shofar blast, the Feast of Trumpets is a day of gladness and great rejoicing--because the shofar not only signals war, but the "awakening blast" of the shofar will one day literally wake the dead! This was actually understood by many of the Jews. In fact, according to the Talmud--the Jewish commentary on the Scriptures--the resurrection of the dead will occur on this very day (Rosh Hashana 16b). And it might indeed. For isn't it interesting that the spring Festivals had major aspects of what they pictured fulfilled on the exact days of their observance? This should not surprise us, for remember that these are God's scheduled "appointments." And as Christ has come to fulfill the former season, He will fulfill the latter season in like manner (cf. Hosea 6:3).

The Day of Trumpets represents the most pivotal moment there will ever be: the MASSIVE intervention of God in human affairs climaxing in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ as King of kings at the seventh, or last, trumpet. Can we picture a great, blinding LIGHT so radiant that human beings cannot even look at it? That is how the risen Christ's face will appear as He returns in GLORY. Can we imagine a deafening trumpet blast literally SHAKING the earth as Christ returns in all the infinite power of God? Can we picture God's true saints, now resurrected from the dead and born of the Spirit, rising to meet Christ in the air to be crowned as divine kings and priests to RULE this planet with Him? (cf. Rev. 2:26-27; 5:10). What a day that will be!

Yes, all of these things will occur at the last trumpet! For although the Feast of Trumpets pictures the horrifying WARS and PLAGUES at the end of this human civilization, it also pictures the glorious INTERVENTION of the Creator God, who will finally restore order and bring genuine PEACE and JOY to a chastened humanity that is at last ready to listen to Him and follow His righteous ways.

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