“‘And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you.'”
Numbers 29:1Welcome to the first of the Fall Feasts! In modern Judaism, Yom Teruah or the Feast of Trumpets is commonly called Rosh Hashanah. Shana Tova means “May it be a good year.” Beginning on September 15th at sunset and ending at nightfall on the 17th, the Jewish New Year of 5784 will be celebrated by Jews in Israel and around the world. This commemorates the sixth day of creation when God created man after the world had been established. It also marks the beginning of the ten Days of Awe–a time of repentance of sins–which end on Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement.
From the Jewish perspective, I’d like to share a summary about Rosh Hashanah, taken from The Temple Institute. Click HERE to read.
Why do Christians celebrate the Jewish Feast Days?
The Jews celebrate their history, but Christians celebrate these days because they will ultimately be fulfilled by our Savior and Messiah, Jesus Christ. Right now Jewish people are taking this time to repent of all known sin and to restore broken relationships. Do you see a connection to Christianity? Through the blood and resurrection of Christ, all men have access to salvation through repentance and belief in Jesus.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
We are also instructed to try to live in peace.
Romans 10:10
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Romans 12:18
The significance of the shofar or trumpet
Additionally, hearing the shofar is vitally important. In Exodus 19:16-20, about three million Jews camped at the base of Mount Sinai where God sounded a loud shofar from heaven and then spoke to the people. Christianity teaches that this sound precedes the Rapture at the time Jesus returns for His church.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump 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.
And
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Behold, I shew 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Corinthians 15: 51-53
Studying the Jewish Feast Days completes and deepens our understanding of the Scriptures. The Old Testament mirrors the New Testament, fitting together perfectly. The Feast of Trumpets will announce the arrival of Messiah. Could it happen this year? Regardless, it is fascinating to live in such days when we wait and watch for their fulfillment to take place.
