The season of the Fall Feasts of the LORD has begun. Today is the Feast of Trumpets, or Yom Teruah. Many of the Jewish faith mix the secular and the holy significance of this feast, referring to this day by its civil calendar name of Rosh Hashanah, but wishing each other the blessing, "May you be inscribed (in the Book) for a good year." The Book mentioned here is the Book of Life, and that Book belongs to the Lamb of God, the Messiah, Jesus, which we shall see later. Many who go to the synagogue to observe this feast, dress in white linen clothing. We will see how this practice has special meaning to the Church as well.
The Feast of Trumpets cannot begin until the new moon is physically sighted by at least two people. This is called "the hidden day", because no one can predict exactly when the new moon will be sighted. That new moon is the first glimmer of light that reappears after a phase of lunar darkness. As with the return of Christ, we may know the times and the seasons, but we cannot know the exact moment, or day of His return. When the new moon is sighted, the signal is given and the shofars, or trumpets, begin sounding (click above under the photo to listen), signaling the beginning of the feast. The trumpets made of rams' horns make an awesome, majestic sound, the last trumpet blast in the series is a long, drawn-out note called the teruah gadol: the last trump, the great trump. All Israel is filled with the sound of the shofars made from the ram's horn. To what are these trumpet blasts calling God's people?
Some of the themes of Yom Teruah are: repentance, reconciliation, helping the needy, and preparation. The Feast of Trumpets begins the "ten days of awe" - the days of spiritual preparation for the Feast of Atonement, Yom Kippur. These are the days when the judgment of God hangs in the balance.
This feast is also associated with the crowning of kings, the wedding of the Messiah, and the resurrection of the dead. Everyone in the Church should understand the significance of these events. Yom Teruah is also known as "The Day of the Wake-Up Trumpet", because of its association with the resurrection of the dead. The Apostle Paul wrote of this connection:
"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. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words." 1 Thess. 4:16-18
The "Wake-Up Trumpet" is also meant to awaken God's people from a spiritual indifference, or slumber. No one could sleep through the sounding of these trumpets! Jesus warned against that spiritual slumber and lack of preparation in His parable of the ten virgins. Five were prepared for the coming bridegroom, but five had not properly prepared. All ten, however, were slumbering and sleeping on that fateful night of His coming. At the rousing sound of His coming, all awoke, but those who were unprepared were not able to go into the marriage supper (Mt. 25:1-9). They are called "foolish" in scripture. We know that "fools" are those who do not believe God (Ps. 14:1, Ps. 53:1). Much of the Church right now is like those five foolish virgins: unprepared and asleep. Will they also be "foolish" like those who don't believe God? After the Bridegroom comes, He enters His chamber with His Bride, and the door is shut. There is no allowance for a late arrival (v. 10-12). Jesus gave the warning of the Feast of Trumpets, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." The day of His coming is surely like "the hidden day" of this feast. We must be prepared, even as this feast is about preparation. Paul also warned about the suddenness of the day of Christ's return:
"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night...But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief...Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch (give strict attention to) and be sober."
1 Thess. 5:1-6
Jesus warned the Church at Sardis. "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee....He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." Rev. 3:3-5
The white raiment mentioned here is also written of in Rev. 7. Those who wore the white raiment came out of great tribulation, and having washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, now stood before the throne of God, and the Lamb.
Sardis means "red ones". It was once a luxurious capital city of Lydia, but became an obscure village of ruins. Did the Church of Sardis heed that warning of Jesus before the judgment of God came upon that city, or were they unprepared?
The new moon appears, the trumpets sound, and as Jesus did with the Church at Sardis, the warning to repent and prepare goes forth, the warning to watch goes forth, to wake from slumber, for the judgment of God approaches. The King has been crowned, and the time for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white... (Rev. 19:7-8)
The Feast of Trumpets is not about setting a date for Christ's return. It is about being aware of the signs, the times, and the seasons. It is about preparing, repenting, washing our garments in the blood of the Lamb, and watching so that day does not find us asleep, unprepared, unaware, or in unbelief.
To Contact/Support the Ministry/Submit Prayer requests/To Order the new book, "NAZAH":
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
http://endtimeschool.com/
To Watch Dr. Stevenson's Complete Message:
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
Some of the themes of Yom Teruah are: repentance, reconciliation, helping the needy, and preparation. The Feast of Trumpets begins the "ten days of awe" - the days of spiritual preparation for the Feast of Atonement, Yom Kippur. These are the days when the judgment of God hangs in the balance.
This feast is also associated with the crowning of kings, the wedding of the Messiah, and the resurrection of the dead. Everyone in the Church should understand the significance of these events. Yom Teruah is also known as "The Day of the Wake-Up Trumpet", because of its association with the resurrection of the dead. The Apostle Paul wrote of this connection:
"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. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words." 1 Thess. 4:16-18
The "Wake-Up Trumpet" is also meant to awaken God's people from a spiritual indifference, or slumber. No one could sleep through the sounding of these trumpets! Jesus warned against that spiritual slumber and lack of preparation in His parable of the ten virgins. Five were prepared for the coming bridegroom, but five had not properly prepared. All ten, however, were slumbering and sleeping on that fateful night of His coming. At the rousing sound of His coming, all awoke, but those who were unprepared were not able to go into the marriage supper (Mt. 25:1-9). They are called "foolish" in scripture. We know that "fools" are those who do not believe God (Ps. 14:1, Ps. 53:1). Much of the Church right now is like those five foolish virgins: unprepared and asleep. Will they also be "foolish" like those who don't believe God? After the Bridegroom comes, He enters His chamber with His Bride, and the door is shut. There is no allowance for a late arrival (v. 10-12). Jesus gave the warning of the Feast of Trumpets, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." The day of His coming is surely like "the hidden day" of this feast. We must be prepared, even as this feast is about preparation. Paul also warned about the suddenness of the day of Christ's return:
"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night...But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief...Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch (give strict attention to) and be sober."
1 Thess. 5:1-6
Jesus warned the Church at Sardis. "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee....He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." Rev. 3:3-5
The white raiment mentioned here is also written of in Rev. 7. Those who wore the white raiment came out of great tribulation, and having washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, now stood before the throne of God, and the Lamb.
Sardis means "red ones". It was once a luxurious capital city of Lydia, but became an obscure village of ruins. Did the Church of Sardis heed that warning of Jesus before the judgment of God came upon that city, or were they unprepared?
The new moon appears, the trumpets sound, and as Jesus did with the Church at Sardis, the warning to repent and prepare goes forth, the warning to watch goes forth, to wake from slumber, for the judgment of God approaches. The King has been crowned, and the time for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white... (Rev. 19:7-8)
The Feast of Trumpets is not about setting a date for Christ's return. It is about being aware of the signs, the times, and the seasons. It is about preparing, repenting, washing our garments in the blood of the Lamb, and watching so that day does not find us asleep, unprepared, unaware, or in unbelief.
To Contact/Support the Ministry/Submit Prayer requests/To Order the new book, "NAZAH":
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
http://endtimeschool.com/
To Watch Dr. Stevenson's Complete Message:
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
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