This article contains a combination of two articles (Sedliacik R. MINISTUDY: The Feast of Trumpets Shows Why Christ Must Return, Good News, June-July 1983; Kackos GM. The Feast of Trumpets and YOUR Future. Good News, August 1982), plus other literature quotes and many scriptures, some edits, and original writings and research done by Dr. Bob Thiel, AKA COGwriter. Two related sermons are available: Seven Trumpets: Jesus Returns and The Trumpet Warnings.
The Feast of Trumpets is on September 16 in 2023, and October 3 in 2024 (its observance begins the evening before the Roman calendar date and runs until sunset on the Roman calendar dates shown).
Should you pay attention to this holy day? Does it point to anything in the New Testament? Are there trumpet warnings in the Old and New Testaments?
Most of those who claim Christianity believe that God's Holy Days, including the Feast of Trumpets, were "done away with." Some say that they were some type of shadow of things (Colossians 2:16-17), but that they do not need to be observed today:
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ (Colossians 2:16-17, KJV).
(Note: The word 'is' above is in italics in the KJV to show it was added by translators and is NOT part of the original Greek scripture. More on the mistranslation is included in the article Which Laws Are Done Away? Which Remain?) and the free online book: Should You Observe God's Holy Days or Demonic Holidays?).
Anyway, many have a misunderstanding of that verse.
The Literal Standard Version understands the translation matter, but apparently because of faulty tradition, it put in "is" --but at least does so in brackets:
16 Let no one, then, judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of a celebration, or of a new moon, or of Sabbaths, 17which are a shadow of the coming things, but the body [is] of the Christ; (Colossians 2:16-17)
The Holy Days are not done away. Yes, they do picture things to come--things for God's people to understand. And the Apostle Paul is writing, that it is the church, the body of Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:12), that should judge how God's Sabbaths, including the Holy Days, are observed. The judgment is not to come from those who are not part of the true faith as true Christians contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints (cf. Jude 3)--meaning the original faith, not one changed by councils of men (cf. Acts 5:21-29; Mark 13:9-13).
While most who claim Christianity accept and understand that Passover pictured Jesus our Passover sacrifice (1 Corinthians 5:7) and that the New Testament church began on Pentecost c. 31 A.D. (Acts 2:1-40), they do not consider that the since what the Fall Holy Days picture have not yet been fulfilled, that they too should be kept by Christians. This is somewhat odd as they hypothetically keep Passover, not knowing that what is now called Easter is supposed to be Passover and they somewhat keep Pentecost, though they do not understand its full meaning.
The view that most who profess Christianity have is based more on traditions of men than the Bible. Clearly consider that the Bible teaches that the Holy Days are a shadow of things to come, and those events related to the last four have NOT happened yet!
A related sermon is available: Trumpets and Jesus' Return.
(More on the biblical holy days can be found in the free online booklet Should You Observe God's Holy Days or Demonic Holidays?)
The Feast of Trumpets is the fourth of seven annual festivals of God picturing His master plan for reproducing Himself. God uses the spring and fall agricultural harvests of Palestine as symbolic types of His spiritual "harvests" of mankind.
God intends His spring festivals to illustrate to His Church every year that all those He has called to become His Spirit-begotten children since Christ's first coming are now the "firstfruits" (James. 1:18 "Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures"), the relatively small beginning of His eventual spiritual harvest of all mankind into His universe-ruling Family.
Then in the fall, the festivals of the much larger autumn harvest season picture God's calling of the rest of the billions of humanity to salvation and sonship in His glorious Family after Christ's return.
God begins His annual festivals with the Passover. As we observe this solemn occasion every year, we are reminded that Christ's Passover sacrifice (I Corinthians 5:7 "Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us") paid the penalty of our sins (Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord").
Next, the Feast of Unleavened Bread reminds us of our continual need to put the "leaven" of sin (I Corinthians 5:8 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.) from our lives and to obey God.
Then the day of Pentecost, the final spring festival, is observed as a memorial of God's sending forth of His Spirit (Acts 2) to spiritually beget and strengthen the firstfruits of God's plan.
But the firstfruits cannot be reaped into God's Family unless they are "born again":
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:3-8)
The 'born-again' are resurrected and changed into spirit (see also Born Again: A Question of Semantics?). And that resurrection will not occur until Jesus Christ appears again at the last trumpet of God, which brings us to the fourth festival (Passover, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost are the first three).
The Feast of Trumpets portrays a pivotal event in God's plan. It not only pictures the coming of Christ to resurrect the firstfruits from the dead, it also pictures the terrible time of world war just ahead and the intervention of Jesus Christ to save the living from total annihilation and to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. Let's understand exactly how this festival fits into God's great master plan.
When is the fourth annual festival to be observed?
23 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘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. 25 You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.’” (Leviticus 23:23-25)
This festival is normally in the early Autumn, during September in most years.
Is this another annual Sabbath of rest from one's regular work? Verses 24-25
The number seven in God's plan signifies completion and perfection. The seventh month of God's calendar is called Tishri or Ethanim (1 Kings 8:2) by the Jews. It contains the final four festivals, picturing the completion of God's great master plan for mankind. The festival that falls on the first day of this month marks the beginning of the final events in God's plan.
Notice also that it was to be a memorial of blowing of trumpets. Verse 24
It is from this ceremony that the Feast of Trumpets draws its name. There is a great deal of symbolic meaning tied in with the blowing of these trumpets, especially with regard to the end time in which we're living. It should be noted that the modern Jewish name for this date, Rosh Hashanah, is not biblical nor even original for the Jews.
It was something that they adopted centuries after God gave it to them (the time of the primary development of the Talmud was 70-500 A.D.):
"Rosh Hashana, which literally means head of the year" {it was} "not called Rosh Hashanah until Talmudic times" (Kramer, Amy J. Rosh Hashana Origins. Copyright © 1998-1999 Everything Jewish, Inc. http://www.everythingjewish.com/RoshH/RH_origins.htm 9/16/04).
Elul 29, 5778/September 9, 2018
“And in the seventh month, on the first day, there shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall not perform any mundane work. It shall be a day of shofar sounding for you.” (Numbers 29:1)
Alongside special offerings in the Holy Temple, Torah assigns one single commandment to be performed on Rosh HaShana: The sounding of the shofar. In fact, Torah doesn’t refer to the first day of the seventh month as Rosh HaShana, (which is a later appellation), but merely as Yom Hatru’a – the Day of the Shofar Blast. (Temple Institute Newsletter, September 9, 2018)
Well, to be technical the term for Shofar is not in the verse, a Hebrew word for trumpeting sound here , is transliterated into English as teruw'ah (Strong's #8643). Therefore, it is appropriate to call the day the Feast of Trumpets.
It is a time to learn God's ways and rejoice:
1 Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. (Nehemiah 8:1-3)
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.
10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
11 So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them. (Nehemiah 8:9-12)
Rejoice, despite your imperfections and keep this day.
Here is more information about it:
1 'And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. For you it is a day of blowing the trumpets. 2 You shall offer a burnt offering as a sweet aroma to the Lord: one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year, without blemish. 3 Their grain offering shall be fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram, 4 and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs; 5 also one kid of the goats as a sin offering, to make atonement for you; 6 besides the burnt offering with its grain offering for the New Moon, the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings, according to their ordinance, as a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord. (Numbers 29:1-6)
The blowing of the trumpets term is teruw'ah (Strong's #8643). The Jewish Bible translates that word as shofar there and the Tanakh says it is a horn.
In Psalm 81, the actual word shofar (Strong's #7782) is used:
3 Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon,
At the full moon, on our solemn feast day.
4 For this is a statute for Israel,
A law of the God of Jacob. (Psalms 81:3-4)
Historically, we have had our youngest child blow a plastic trumpet on this day. We also sometimes will listen to the sounds of a Shofar that nowadays can be found on the internet to remind us that God has many trumpet warnings.
Trumpets were blown to announce God's solemn feasts, as well as call God's people to assemble:
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them for calling the congregation and for directing the movement of the camps. 3 When they blow both of them, all the congregation shall gather before you at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. ...
10 Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the Lord your God.” (Numbers 10:1-3, 10)
Trumpets were also blown as an alarm of invading armies and impending warfare:
9 “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. (Numbers 10:9)
19 O my soul, my soul!
I am pained in my very heart!
My heart makes a noise in me;
I cannot hold my peace,
Because you have heard, O my soul,
The sound of the trumpet,
The alarm of war.
20 Destruction upon destruction is cried,
For the whole land is plundered.
Suddenly my tents are plundered,
And my curtains in a moment. (Jeremiah 4:19-20)2 “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, 3 when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’ (Ezekiel 33:2-6)
Trumpets were used as an alarm of war. This terrifying sound filled the people of ancient Israel with fear, because they knew the horror of war was imminent. It is this warning of war that sets apart the Feast of Trumpets from God's other Holy Days.
Who was commissioned by God to blow these trumpets?:
8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and these shall be to you as an ordinance forever throughout your generations. (Numbers 10:8)
God's priests in the Old Testament were the sons of Aaron. Today, Jesus Christ is our spiritual High Priest (Hebrews 6:20 "where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek").
Notice that God has commanded His "watchmen" — His ministers — to warn people of their sins:
7 “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. (Ezekiel 33:7-9)
Are they to lift up their voices like trumpets?
1 “Cry aloud, spare not;
Lift up your voice like a trumpet;
Tell My people their transgression,
And the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1)
Is there a work doing this now? Yes! (See also, for example, Preparing for the 'Short Work' and The Famine of the Word watch also Go, Set a Watchman.)
Was there to be a Work in these last days that would be preaching a special message to the world? What is that message?
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)
Is that happening today? Yes. (See also The Final Phase of the Work and Preparing for the 'Short Work' and The Famine of the Word.)
Notice when did Jesus say that God's coming Kingdom would be established:
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” ...
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:3, 6-8)
31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. (Luke 21:31)
Many dismiss teaching prophecy in the 21st century, and this too was prophesied:
1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation — as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, (2 Peter 3:1-15)
But also consider that the last book of the Bible is prophecy and that Jesus gave a series of prophecies for the end time in Matthew 24 and Luke 21. He would not have had them recorded if He did not want them to be taught.
Jesus said that the time would come when all human life could be destroyed from the face of the earth:
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22)
A trumpet warning of World War III (and IV) is being sounded today! See also World War III: Steps in Progress.
And God's faithful ministers are preaching the good news of the coming government of God, to be set up on earth at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ--see also The Gospel of the Kingdom of God and The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government.
At the same time, they are warning the world that before God's government is restored, there must first come wars and rumors of wars as Jesus prophesied, ending in the most terrifying warfare this world has ever experienced.
The book of Revelation outlines God's future use of trumpets. This message is for the entire world, and concerns events before and including the return of Jesus Christ, who will soon return to rule this earth with God's government (see also the free online booklet: The Gospel of the Kingdom of God).
We in the Continuing Church of God are working to perform as that modern-day watchman today (watch also Go, Set a Watchman). We boldly tell of sins of society and how world events are aligning with properly understood prophecy--which we also explain (see the free online booklet Where is the True Christian Church Today? and/or the article The Laodicean Church Era).
Revelation shows book that has seven seals:
1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, 'Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?' (Revelation 5:1-2)
The first four seals involve the ride of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (see Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse).
The opening of the fifth seal is the start of the Great Tribulation:
9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. (Revelation 6:9-11)
The Bible shows that the saints that are not protected during the great tribulation (cf. Revelation 12:14-17), will be persecuted for 3 1/2 years:
4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. (Revelation 13:4-7)
25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High,
Shall persecute the saints of the Most High,
And shall intend to change times and law.
Then the saints shall be given into his hand
For a time and times and half a time. (Daniel 7:25)
This 42 months of persecution includes time associated with the sixth seal:
12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" (Revelation 6:12-17)
So, the opening of the sixth seal ushers in the time of the Day of the Lord. Here are some mentions of this in the Hebrew scriptures:
8 For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance,
The year of recompense for the cause of Zion. (Isaiah 34:8)12 For the day of the Lord of hosts
Shall come upon everything proud and lofty,
Upon everything lifted up —
And it shall be brought low —
13 Upon all the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up,
And upon all the oaks of Bashan;
14 Upon all the high mountains,
And upon all the hills that are lifted up;
15 Upon every high tower,
And upon every fortified wall;
16 Upon all the ships of Tarshish,
And upon all the beautiful sloops.
17 The loftiness of man shall be bowed down,
And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low;
The Lord alone will be exalted in that day,
18 But the idols He shall utterly abolish.19 They shall go into the holes of the rocks,
And into the caves of the earth,
From the terror of the Lord
And the glory of His majesty,
When He arises to shake the earth mightily.20 In that day a man will cast away his idols of silver
And his idols of gold,
Which they made, each for himself to worship,
To the moles and bats,
21 To go into the clefts of the rocks,
And into the crags of the rugged rocks,
From the terror of the Lord
And the glory of His majesty,
When He arises to shake the earth mightily. (Isaiah 2:12-21)
Notice also:
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3 To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:1-3)
While Jesus fulfilled Isaiah 61:1-2a (Luke 4:17-21), it may be that He will have His two witnesses fulfill verses verses 1-3.
Anyway, we see the term one year associated with the Day of the Lord.
There is also a gap of time between the opening of the sixth seal and the blowing of trumpets in Revelation 8--which starts after the opening of the seventh seal.
Presuming that the first of the seven trumpets begins on the Feast of Trumpets, this would mean that the last one would be less than a year later. For this reason, while we in the Continuing Church of God teach that Jesus returns at the last trumpet, we do not specifically teach that will be on the Feast of Trumpets.
Consider also the following from Jesus:
22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:22)
20 And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days. (Mark 13:20)
Now, this calls for some speculation. IF humans were created on or near the Feast of Trumpets (which is the position that many Jews hold) and God is working out a 6,000/7,000 year plan (see Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?), we know that somehow the time will be shortened. Presuming the first trumpet is blown on the Feast of Trumpets and the seventh trumpet is blown prior to the following Feast of Trumpets, then the DAYS WILL HAVE BEEN SHORTENED--which Jesus said would be necessary for humanity to survive. Otherwise, the 6,000 years would have ended on the Feast of Trumpets (or technically, the day before).
Anyway, this message about God's end-time use of trumpets begins with the opening, in heaven, of Revelation's seventh seal. Seven angels are given seven trumpets to blow. The blowing of these trumpets represents God's intervention in world affairs just after the world has endured Satan's wrath and the heavenly signs. Seven angels will sound seven trumpets, representing seven consecutive colossal world events. These are to be physical punishments from God as warnings to the nations not to go further into national and personal sins.
As far as the specific trumpets of Revelation go, here is information on the first six trumpets (italics shown below are not in the Bible, but were added by commentators/editors):
8:1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. 6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
First Trumpet: Vegetation Struck
7 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.
Second Trumpet: The Seas Struck
8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
Third Trumpet: The Waters Struck
10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.
Fourth Trumpet: The Heavens Struck
12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night. 13 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!"
Fifth Trumpet: The Locusts from the Bottomless Pit
9:1 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. 3 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them. 7 The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. 8 They had hair like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. 9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. 10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon. 12 One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.
Sixth Trumpet: The Angels from the Euphrates
13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. 18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed — by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm. (Revelation 8:1-13, 9:1-19)
So, a lot of trumpets are blown in the Book of Revelation, and a lot were to be blown on the Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24)--hopefully many can see the connection.
Notice what happens when the first four trumpets are blown:
These terrible plagues are released on the earth by a righteous God, who, essentially will be forced to shake carnal, rebellious humanity to its senses!
We come now to the final three trumpet plagues or "woes" (Revelation 8:13).
When the fifth trumpet is blown, the bottomless pit is opened (Revelation 9:1-11). What emerges is the beast power described in Revelation 17:8-14, the final resurrection of the 'Holy Roman Empire.' This beast will have ensnared the world in its satanically inspired, Babylonian religious and political system. And with the sixth trumpet, angels that are to kill a third of humankind are released.
And yet, as unbelievable as it may seem, despite the trumpet plagues, humankind still will not repent:
20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. (Revelation 9:20-21)
The third "woe" -- God's final trumpet plague -- is yet to occur.
While people may wonder why most of the world will not repent, the reality is that most Christians will not properly repent to be saved from the coming hour of trial (see also Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?).
Now, the most important, in a sense, trumpet could be considered to be the last, the seventh one. Here is what Revelation 11 teaches (again, italics not in the Bible, but added by commentators/editors):
The Witnesses Killed
7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
The Witnesses Resurrected
11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly. (Revelation 11:7-14)
Notice that a third woe is coming. Revelation 11 continues with:
Seventh Trumpet: The Kingdom Proclaimed
15 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!" 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth." 19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail. (Revelation 11:15-19)
The coming Kingdom of God is some of what Jesus wants His servants to proclaim now and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).
While this is good news for Christians, many in the world will not think so. That is part of why this the seventh trumpet is the third woe!
Jesus Christ will return in power and resplendent glory to seize control of this world (Revelation 19:11-21) and the saints will be resurrected to eternal life to rule with Christ (I Corinthians 15:51-52, Revelation 5:10).
These are those whose name is written in the Book of Life. The Apostle Paul wrote:
3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3).
According to current Jewish tradition:
After Rosh Hashanah services, as the congregants leave the synagogue they say to each other ... "May you be inscribed in the Book of Life"" (The Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah. High Holy Days on the Net. http://www.holidays.net/highholydays/rosh.htm accessed 9/21/16).
So, on the Feast of Trumpets, Jews tie this in with the Book of Life, which presumably they also tie in with a coming resurrection of God's people.
And that is associated with the final trumpet in the New Testament when Christians rise as the firstfruits, the firstborn of this age.
Notice also:
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect (Hebrews 12:22-23).
John recorded:
5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels (Revelation 3:5).
Thus, it is the saints are the ones who are written in the Book of Life. And these saints are those that are resurrected at the last trumpet.
But the last trumpet is also a major warning.
Despite the resurrection of God's people, it will take the seven last plagues, which are part of the result of the seventh trumpet, to complete the job of bringing mankind under the control of God.
These final plagues are described in Revelation 16:
1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth."
2 So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.
3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.
4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying:
"You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due."
7 And I heard another from the altar saying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments."
8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.
10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. 11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame."
16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.
Let it be mentioned that most of the trumpet plagues had an ante-type (were proceeded by something similar historically) with the plagues of Egypt (see Reasons, Proofs, and Ramifications of the Ten Plagues of Exodus). Despite the plagues of Egypt, relatively few Egyptians actually repented.
First, painful sores will appear on those still subservient to the beast (Revelation 16:2). The second and third plagues turn the seas, rivers and springs of water into blood (verses 3-7).
The fourth plague turns the normally life-giving sun into a life-destroying power as the sun heats the earth to incredible temperatures. This fourth plague will still not bring mankind to repentance (verses 8-9). The fifth plague plunges the beast's realm into darkness (verses 10-11.)
With these nightmarish plagues completed, mankind will be united to fight Christ at His return. Satan the devil, working through the beast (the end-time military leader) and the false prophet (religious leader) will gather the "kings of the east" to join the armies that remain from the devastated beast power. The gathering location will be Armageddon (verses 12-16), the site of ancient Megiddo, in the valley of Jezreel about 20 miles south of the modern port of Haifa. Many wars have been fought at this site. I once visited it (see the video Armageddon).
The sixth angel sounds and an army from east of the Euphrates River — an army of 200 million men! — emerges, wielding more frightening weapons.
But the combined efforts of these Satan-inspired powers will be to no avail. The seventh and last plague will seal their fate. The mightiest earthquake in history will occur. Dormant volcanoes will erupt. Hailstones weighing 100 pounds (the modern equivalent of a "talent") will fall from the skies:.
17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great. (Revelation 16:17-21)
Christ's climactic battle with these armies will occur at Jerusalem:
1 Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst. 2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then the Lord will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle. 4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south. (Zechariah 14:1-4).
Notice something in Isaiah that seems to be related:
4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, Like that of many people! A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together! The Lord of hosts musters the army for battle. 5 They come from a far country, From the end of heaven — The Lord and His weapons of indignation, To destroy the whole land.
6 Wail, for the day of the Lord is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore all hands will be limp, Every man's heart will melt, 8 And they will be afraid. Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; They will be in pain as a woman in childbirth; They will be amazed at one another; Their faces will be like flames.
9 Behold, the day of the Lord comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it. 10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not give their light; The sun will be darkened in its going forth, And the moon will not cause its light to shine. (Isaiah 13:4-10)
The world's armies that will dare to fight against the returning Jesus will be defeated. God's government will be established. Those of us who qualify to be born into the Family of God will start the process of reconstructing the world — the right way, this time — through the remaining human beings.
Will those who turn to God be protected from these trumpet plagues?
10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. (Revelation 3:10)
2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” (Revelation 7:2-3)
6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. ...
14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. (Revelation 12:6, 14)
Is it for the sake of these "elect" that Christ will intervene in world affairs to cut short the time of great age-end trouble and rescue mankind from nuclear annihilation?
22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:22)
The "elect" of God include the firstfruits of His great master plan. They are the ones God has called out of this world to be among the firstfruits harvest of the divine Family He is creating.
Jesus promised to send His angels to gather His elect at the blast of a great trumpet:
30 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. 31 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. (Matthew 24:30-31)
Notice that the sounding of this trumpet is the time of the resurrection of the dead in Christ:
16 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. 17 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 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
The Apostle Paul also wrote:
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed — 52 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. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." (1 Corinthians 15:50-54)
The LAST TRUMPET, the seventh one, is WHEN Jesus returns.
The idea that Jesus will return at the last trumpet, during the time known as the Day of the Lord, and that the dead will be raised then, seems to have been understood by early second century leaders such as Polycarp and Polycrates who, respectively, wrote:
Wherefore, girding up your loins," "serve the Lord in fear" and truth, as those who have forsaken the vain, empty talk and error of the multitude, and "believed in Him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and gave Him glory," and a throne at His right hand. To Him all things" in heaven and on earth are subject. Him every spirit serves. He comes as the Judge of the living and the dead. His blood will God require of those who do not believe in Him. But He who raised Him up from the dead will raise up us also, if we do His will, and walk in His commandments, and love what He loved (Polycarp. Letter to the Philippians, chapter II. Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1 as edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885.)
For in Asia also great lights have fallen asleep, which shall rise again on the day of the Lord's coming, when he shall come with glory from heaven, and shall seek out all the saints. (Polycrates Letter to Victor as reported by Eusebius. Church History. Book V, Chapter 24).
Is this trumpet the seventh and final one of the seven introduced in Revelation 8? Yes. Notice something else about those in the first resurrection then do:
6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)
Many Protestants might be surprised that Martin Luther did NOT endorse the millennium but taught against it. It is also officially taught against by the Eastern Orthodox, and seemingly more forcibly against by the Church of Rome. But it will happen (see also Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism?).
Furthermore, notice:
13 So it shall be in that day:
The great trumpet will be blown;
They will come, who are about to perish in the land of Assyria,
And they who are outcasts in the land of Egypt,
And shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem. (Isaiah 27:13)
Jesus comes with the great sound of a trumpet (Matthew 24:31).
The Bible shows that God's people will be pleased, but others will not when Jesus returns:
1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! 2 For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her." 3 Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!" 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!" 5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!"
6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
9 Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'" And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great."
19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:1-21)
The seventh trumpet is a warning, but many will not heed it.
Why will people fight against the returning Jesus?
Well, they would have already not repented after the other trumpet plagues.
Because Satan has a plan (see Satan's Plan), and part of that plan seems to be recorded in Greco-Roman prophecies that will result in many in the world believing that the Beast and False Prophet are good (see Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies?) and that Jesus is actually Antichrist (see Do Certain Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies About Antichrist Warn Against Jesus?). One of the reasons that they will claim that Jesus is the Antichrist is that Jesus will keep the biblical holy days. The old Radio Church of God once understood and taught this (see Christ or Antichrist? and Will You Be Deceived by Antichrist?), but many who claim to be in the Church of God no longer seem to understand how Satan has used non-biblical prophecies as part of his plan (see also Satan's Plan).
If you keep the biblical Holy Days you are much less likely to be deceived as the world will be (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).
If you wonder if God is calling you, we have a free online book (Is God Calling You?), sermon (Could God be Calling You?), and animation (Is God Calling You?) to assist.
Did the Apostle Paul keep the Feast of Trumpets?
Notice some statements he made:
17...Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers (Acts 28:17)
4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (Philippians 3:4-6)
Since Paul kept the customs of his people, he, too, kept all the Fall Holy Days including the Feast of Trumpets. If not, he could not have made that statement which is in Acts 28:17 nor the one being blameless in the law in Philippians 3:4-6.
Some may wonder if after the time of Paul, whether early Christians observed the Feast of Trumpets. And the answer is yes, the faithful Christians did. And they did in Gentile-dominated areas.
For example, the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Church of God Saint Polycarp of Smyrna kept the Fall Holy Days:
I will give the narration in order, thus coming down to the history of the blessed Polycarp… So also he pursued the reading of the Scriptures from childhood to old age, himself reading in church; and he recommended it to others, saying that the reading of the law and the prophets was the forerunner of grace, preparing and making straight the ways of the Lord, that is the hearts, which are like tablets whereon certain harsh beliefs and conceptions that were written before perfect knowledge came, are through the inculcation of the Old Testament, and the correct interpretation following thereupon, first smoothed and levelled, that, when the Holy Spirit comes as a pen, the grace and joy of the voice of the Gospel and of the doctrine of the immortal and heavenly Christ may be inscribed on them. And he said that they could not otherwise receive the impression of the seal which is given by baptism and engrave and exhibit the form conveyed in it, unless the wax were first softened and filled the deep parts. So also he thought that the hearts of the hearers ought to be softened and yield to the impress of the Word. For he said that it unfolded and opened, like closed doors, the minds of recent comers; and accordingly the prophet was bidden by God, Cry out mightily and spare not, Raise thy voice as a trumpet. What must one say, when even He that was gentler than all men so appeals and cries out at the feast of Tabernacles? For it is written; And on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried saying, If any man thirsteth, let him come to Me and drink. (Pionius, Life of Polycarp (1889) from J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 3.2, pp.488-506.)
Polycarp, according to the above, seems to have endorsed the Fall Holy Day season which begins with the Feast of Trumpets, includes the Feast of Tabernacles, and ends on The Last Great Day.
A late first/early second century document called the Didache teaches:
16:6 And "then shall appear the signs" of the truth. First the sign spread out in Heaven, then the sign of the sound of the trumpet, and thirdly the resurrection of the dead: 7 but not of all the dead, but as it was said, "The Lord shall come and all his saints with him." 8 Then shall the world "see the Lord coming on the clouds of Heaven." (Didache. Translation by K. Lake. In Apostolic Fathers, Kirsopp Lake, 1912--Loeb Classical Library)
While that does not prove the Feast of Trumpets must have been observed, at least part of the message was understood by some professors of Christ.
In Asia Minor, it is recorded that late into the fourth century, John Chrysostom condemned professors of Christ who observed the Feast of Trumpets:
The festivals of the pitiful and miserable Jews are soon to march upon us one after the other and in quick succession: the feast of Trumpets, the feast of Tabernacles, the fasts. There are many in our ranks who say they think as we do. Yet some of these are going to watch the festivals and others will join the Jews in keeping their feasts and observing their fasts. I wish to drive this perverse custom from the Church right now…If the Jewish ceremonies are venerable and great, ours are lies…Does God hate their festivals and do you share in them? He did not say this or that festival, but all of them together. (John Chrysostom. Homily I Against the Jews I:5;VI:5;VII:2. Preached at Antioch, Syria in the Fall of 387 AD. Medieval Sourcebook: Saint John Chrysostom (c.347-407) : Eight Homilies Against the Jews. Fordham University. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/chrysostom-jews6.html 12/10/05).
The wicked and unclean fast of the Jews is now at our doors. Thought it is a fast, do not wonder that I have called it unclean…But now that the devil summons your wives to the feast of the Trumpets and they turn a ready ear to this call, you do not restrain them. You let them entangle themselves in accusations of ungodliness, you let them be dragged off into licentious ways. (John Chrysostom. Homily II Against the Jews I:1; III:4. Preached at Antioch, Syria on Sunday, September 5, 387 A.D.).
If any of you, whether you are here present or not, shall go to the spectacle of the Trumpets, or rush off to the synagogue, or go up to the shrine of Matrona, or take part in fasting, or share in the Sabbath, or observe any other Jewish ritual great or small, I call heaven and earth as my witnesses that I am guiltless of the blood of all of you. (John Chrysostom. Homily I Against the Jews Section VIII. Preached at Antioch, Syria in the Fall of 387 AD.).
Now, while many of John Chrysostom's arguments are in error, the fact is that he would not have given at least two messages related to it if none who professed Christ did not observe the Feast of Trumpets and the other Fall Holy Days. (For more on John Chrysostom himself, please check out the article John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople and Antisemite.)
Additionally, comments by Jerome and Epiphanius near that time concerning the Nazarene Christians would also seem to support that those who kept the Holy Days, such as the Feast of Trumpets, were located in several areas at that time (see Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes?).
Furthermore, notice that the Sabbath-keepers in Transylvania in the 1500s (and probably later) kept the Fall Holy Days such as the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Trumpets (called Day of Remembrance below):
The Sabbatarians viewed themselves as converted Gentiles ... They held to the biblical holidays ... The Day of Atonement was a day of fasting, although they emphasized that pentinence is more easily achieved by a peaceful and quiet meditation on the law and one's life than by fasting. The Day of Remembrance (New Year, which they celebrated in the Fall of the year) was the day on which they thanked God especially for the creation of the universe. (Liechty D. Sabbatarianism in the Sixteenth Century. Andrews University Press, Berrien Springs (MI), 1993, pp. 61-62)
Of the 110 poetical compositions which are to be found in three manuscripts of this old Sabbatarian hymn-book, no less than 44 relate to the Sabbath, which, on account of the special regard in which its celebration was held, gave the sect the name they bear. FIVE songs belong to the NEW MOON, 11 to the FESTIVAL OF PASSOVER, 6 to the FEAST OF WEEKS, 6 to TABERNACLES, 3 to the NEW YEAR, and 1 to the DAY OF ATONEMENT. Besides these, there are 3 funeral hymns, 26 hymns of varied contents, and 5 didactic poems. The foregoing summary shows what position the Jewish festivals occupied in the ritual of the Sabbatarians. They kept, of course, only the festivals enjoined in the Pentateuch ... Although the feast of the first of Tishri is not designated the New Year festival in the Pentateuch, yet they celebrated it as the 'New Year' with special emphasis, as a contrast to the papal invention of the Christian new year.' In attempting to understand this celebration of the Jewish festivals by the older Sabbatarians, it must be remarked as particularly characteristic, that they maintained that, in adhering to these observances, they were following THE EXAMPLE AND TEACHING of Jesus. (Bacher W. The Sabbatarians of Hungary. The Jewish Quarterly Review, Volume 2. Macmillan, 1890, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized Nov 10, 2008, pp. 473-474)
People attempting to be faithful to the Bible have observed the Feast of Trumpets and we in the the Continuing Church of God continue to do so in the 21st century.
The meaning, then, of the Feast of Trumpets, which helps picture Christ's return to establish God's Kingdom on earth, is revealed by the various uses of trumpet warnings throughout the Bible.
Old Covenant Israel had a limited, physical understanding of the Feast of Trumpets. But the Philadelphia era of God's Church understands, through God's Word, and with the help of God's Holy Spirit, its commission to offer this dying world this tremendous news about the future. We are to provide the trumpet blast that gives the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this world.
God's Festival of Trumpets is both a solemn day and a time of rejoicing. On the one hand, it pictures terrifying world events culminating in warfare that will threaten the extinction of all life on this planet. But, on the other hand, to those firstfruits who have voluntarily placed themselves under the government of God in God's Church now, this is also a day of great rejoicing.
The Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God teaches:
The Feast of Trumpets helps picture the blowing of the seven trumpets in the Book of Revelation announcing events taking place during the ‘Day of the Lord’ (Revelation 8,9,11:15-18; 15:1-8; 16:1-21; 19:1-20). The last trumpet signals the resurrection of the saints, “For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52) “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” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Every seven years, a year of land-rest and debt release begins with this Holy Day (Leviticus 25:1-7; Deuteronomy 15:7-11).
At the sound of the seventh trumpet, when Jesus Christ returns, the saints — the firstfruits of God's plan — will be born into the Family of God! God will then have reaped the smaller spiritual harvest of human beings into His Family. They will then begin to help Christ rule the earth and reap the much greater spiritual harvest during and after the Millennium. The last three festivals, to be covered in the final three studies of this series, picture the details of how this will be accomplished.
A trumpet will be blown to gather Israel from the places in which they have been captive. The Israelites will be brought to the land of Israel to live and worship God (Isa. 27:12-13).
The late Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:
Unless Christ returns to resurrect the dead, we would never gain eternal life — if there is no resurrection "then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished" (I Cor. 15:18). Christ directly intervenes in world affairs at the seventh or the last trump (Rev. 11:15-19).
A trumpet is a symbol of war. He comes in a time of worldwide war — when the nations are angry! As soon as the work of gathering in the firstfruits (pictured by Pentecost) is completed at the end of this present age, then Christ will begin to set up again the tabernacle of David (Acts 15:16) — to set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people (Isa. 11:11) — to search out and to find His lost sheep that the ministers of the churches have failed to search out and save during this period (Ezek. 34:1-14). Notice exactly when this takes place! "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they [Israel] shall come which were ready to perish ... and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem" (Isa. 27:13).
When will Israel be regathered? At the sound of the trump — at the Second Coming of Christ. Because the churches have forgotten the Festival of Trumpets, many think that the return of a part of the Jews to the Holy Land and the setting up of a nation called Israel now is the fulfillment of this prophecy! Christ's direct intervention in world affairs will be the next event in the plan of redemption. And perhaps the glorious Second Coming shall occur, in whatever year it may be, on this very day of the Feast of Trumpets- -who knows?
While we cannot say for certain, yet cannot we see this possibility? The crucifixion was upon the Passover day — the very day! The Holy Spirit came, beginning the selecting of the firstfruits of salvation, on the very day of Pentecost. Had not those 120 disciples been observing this annual Sabbath — had they not been assembled there in holy convocation — could they have received that blessing of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit?
Repeatedly Jesus warned us to watch, regarding His Second Coming! Could it be possible that, unless we are observing the Feast of Trumpets, as the first-century Church of God was observing Pentecost, that we shall not be ready, or caught up to meet Him? We do not — we cannot, of course say; but we do ask the question. Is it not possible? Let us humbly and willingly yield to walk obediently in all the light. (Armstrong HW. Pagan Holidays or God's Holy Days)
A new age will dawn upon mankind — an age filled with happiness, abundance and true peace, which the world has not known since creation.
We should keep this day because it was commanded in the Bible.
We should keep this day because Jesus, the Apostle Paul, and the disciples kept it. So did other early professors of Christ.
We should keep this day because it pictures that trumpet blasts and plagues that will hit the world, so that we and the world will have a warning. We need to believe, heed, and support the proclamation of these warnings, both now and when they occur.
God is going to the world trumpet blast warnings before Jesus returns.
These blasts will be a witness to God and to the fulfilling of His plan.
The Feast of Trumpets pictures the future blowing of trumpets and the reality that Jesus will come and establish the Kingdom of God on the earth. The good news of coming Kingdom of God is a big part of what Jesus wants His servants to proclaim now (Matthew 24:14; 28:19 - 20), and then the end wi ll come (Matthew 24:14). The Feast of Trumpets points to Christ’s victory over this world.
We should keep the Feast of Trumpets because we know that one of the trumpets in the Bible, the last one, pictures the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of His Kingdom.
The Feast of Trumpets is not obsolete nor done away with. God has placed great meaning in it.
We who hope to be in the Book of Life (see also The Book of Life and the Feast of Trumpets?) need to rehearse that meaning each year by keeping this Festival. By doing so, we show our obedience to God's Word. We proclaim our belief in God's warning messages, the return of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of the saints. In addition, we prepare ourselves for the Family of God.
Truly, God has been gracious to give us this holy Festival as part of His plan.
So, please keep it!
Three related sermons are available: Trumpets and Jesus' Returnand Seven Trumpets: Jesus Returns and The Trumpet Warnings.
More on the biblical holy days can be found in the free online booklet Should You Observe God's Holy Days or Demonic Holidays?
Thiel B. Feast of Trumpets: Why Should You Keep It? COGwriter (c) 2015 2017 2019 2023 0908 http://www.cogwriter.com/trumpet-plan.htm.