[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World whiteboard.]

What Is the Feast of Trumpets?

The Feast of Trumpets is the fourth step in God’s plan of salvation for all mankind, revealed in the seven biblical festivals.

This video will explain the biblical meaning, and you’ll learn how this holy day points to the Day of the Lord, Jesus Christ’s return, and the resurrection of true Christians.

Leviticus 23:24 says:

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.

This celebration is one of God’s seven annual holy days, often called the Feast of Trumpets. It’s also known by the Hebrew name, Rosh Hashanah, meaning “head of the year.”

Two Purposes of Trumpets Also Symbolize Prophetic Events

Trumpets play an important role in its meaning.

In the Old Testament, trumpets were used for several purposes. Two of those reasons apply directly to the Feast of Trumpets.
One is the announcement of imminent war and destruction. We can see this in Numbers chapter 10.

And the Lord spoke… saying: “Make two silver trumpets for yourself… When you go to war in your land against the enemy…then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets…” (Numbers 10:1–9).

The other key reason trumpets were blown was the coronation of a king. We see this in 1 Kings 1:34, where Solomon was anointed king.

Anoint him king over Israel; and blow the horn, and say, “Long live King Solomon!”

Now, let’s use Scripture to build our understanding of what the Feast of Trumpets means. We’ll examine end-time prophecies where trumpets are key, revealing three major end-time events proclaimed by this holy day.

#1: The Feast of Trumpets pictures the Day of the Lord.

The Day of the Lord is the period immediately before Jesus’ return, during which the seven trumpet plagues of Revelation will be unleashed on mankind.

From Isaiah, we learn that this time lasts for one year. Isaiah 34:8 says:

For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, the year of recompense for the cause of Zion.

And Isaiah 63:4 says:

“For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come.”

In Joel 2:1 we read:

Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm… Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord is coming, for it is at hand.

Now let’s read this prophecy from Zephaniah.

For the day of the Lord is at hand… The great day of the Lord is near… The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter… That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of devastation and desolation… a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet and alarm (Zephaniah 1:7, 14–16).

The future Day of the Lord that will bring about terrible destruction on a worldwide scale will be announced with trumpet blasts.

Bible prophecy in the New Testament describes the Day of the Lord.

Now, let’s look at some end-time prophecies that Jesus Christ revealed concerning the Day of the Lord.

In Matthew 24:29–31, He said:

“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 He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet….”

So, we see after the Tribulation there will be disturbances in the heavens and then the blowing of a trumpet.

We see an even more detailed description of this period in Revelation chapter 6. Here we see the first four seals opened releasing the four horsemen, then the fifth seal pointing to the Great Tribulation and martyrdom of the saints of God.

After that, we see the sixth seal opened, describing cosmic disturbances that put the world on notice that the Day of the Lord is coming, the Day of God’s wrath against a rebellious, disobedient humanity.

The chapter ends with mankind hiding in caves and in the mountains saying:

“Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:16–17).

The seventh seal in the book of Revelation begins the seven trumpet plagues.

The very next seal, the seventh seal, is one of trumpets announcing death and destruction such as the world has never seen. This is the one-year Day of the Lord leading up to the return of Jesus Christ.

When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour… I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets (Revelation 8:1–2).

Now, let’s summarize what each trumpet announces.

Starting with verse 7:

The first angel sounded… And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up (Revelation 8:7).

Then the second angel sounded… And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed (Revelation 8:8–9).

The third angel sounded: And a…third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter (Revelation 8:10–11).

The fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars… A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night (Revelation 8:12).

After the fourth trumpet blast, this warning is made about the final three trumpets:

Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels…(Revelation 8:13).

This announcement is warning about the most devastating military exchange the world has ever known.

Then the fifth angel sounded… [which describes implements of warfare that were not to kill] but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion… In those days, men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them (Revelation 9:1,5).

Then the sixth angel sounded… 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 (Revelation 9:13,15).

The very next verse reveals that this involves a military force of 200 million (Revelation 9:16). But the destruction is not over.

The seven bowl plagues happen after the seventh trumpet of Revelation.

After the seventh trumpet is sounded, Revelation 16 describes the seven final plagues poured out on mankind, which we may cover in a future video. Let us know in the comments if you’re interested.

In short, these bowl plagues are the culmination of the wrath of God on mankind and include:

• “Foul and loathsome sores”
• Every living thing in the sea dying
• All fresh water becoming blood
• People scorched with fire
• Darkness and severe pain
• The Euphrates River drying up and the gathering of the world’s armies to fight Jesus Christ
• Massive earthquakes and destructive hail

All of this is why Zephaniah says:

The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter… That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of devastation and desolation… a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet and alarm (Zephaniah 1:14–16).

And why Joel says:

For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; who can endure it (Joel 2:11)?

Thankfully, after the bowl plagues are poured out on mankind, we’re told in Revelation 15:1, “the wrath of God is complete.”

But sadly, even after all this, it’s prophesied that mankind “blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great” (Revelation 16:21).

#2: The Feast of Trumpets also pictures the return of Jesus Christ.

In contrast to the sobering nature of the first six trumpets and the final bowl plagues of the seventh, the seventh trumpet also announces two events to be celebrated every year at the Feast of Trumpets.

The first of these events brings us to point number two: the return of Jesus Christ.

Remember we saw how trumpets were used to announce the coronation of a king? Well, the seventh trumpet announces Jesus Christ’s return to earth as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Let’s read what happens when the seventh trumpet initially sounds.

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” (Revelation 11:15).

We also read in 1 Thessalonians 4:16,

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.

This seventh and final trumpet blast announcing the reign of Jesus Christ over the whole earth will be the turning point of history and the most spectacular event ever to happen. The One who came to this earth and gave up His life to offer salvation to all mankind will take over the rulership of this world as King of kings and Lord of lords, put Satan away, and will bring peace and prosperity that this world has never experienced.

#3: The Feast of Trumpets pictures the first resurrection—for true saints.

Now, the third and final event to be celebrated at the Feast of Trumpets, point number three: The resurrection of the saints.

Let’s read it from Scripture.

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).

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 (1 Corinthians 15:52).

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 24:31).

The first resurrection is the hope of all those mentioned in Hebrews 11, as well as all faithful Christians. Those who rise during this time will rule with Jesus Christ as kings and priests during the Millennium (Revelation 20:4).

Every year at the Feast of Trumpets, we’re reminded about the most pivotal events that will happen in human history, such as the coming Day of the Lord, the return of Jesus Christ, and the resurrection of the saints. These events will change the world and the trajectory of history yet to be made.

Christians should keep the Feast of Trumpets.

Those who observe the Feast of Trumpets each year and the teachings of Jesus Christ will understand what is ahead as the Day of the Lord approaches, and will order their lives appropriately.

God designed each of the holy days to point to key parts of His plan for mankind.

If you’re interested in observing the Feast of Trumpets, as well as the Sabbath and other biblical holy days, with others who take the Word of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ seriously in their life, click the link to check out the Living Church of God, the sponsor of Tomorrow’s World. We’d love to hear from you.

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