The season of the Biblical fall holy days is here, and it begins with Yom Teruah, which means Day of the Trumpet Blast in Hebrew; it’s also called the Feast of Trumpets. Rosh Hashanah is its more common designation, however, because it’s also the first day of the Jewish new year … Rosh Hashanah means the head of the year.
This year, this significant holy day took place on September 5th. (“Significant” is actually superfluous because all the Biblical festivals are significant!) Its symbolism and traditions probably aren’t as well known as certain other Biblical festivals, but I’ve learned some fascinating things that I’d like to share.
Jesus’/ Yeshua’s first coming fulfilled the spring holy days … He died on Passover, was buried on Unleavened Bread, resurrected on First Fruits, and the Holy Spirit filled His followers on the Feast of Weeks. His second coming will fulfill the fall holy days … the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles.
The imagery of Yom Teruah foreshadows the day that Yeshua will return.
Yom Teruah is the first day of the seventh month according to the religious calendar (Lev. 23:24, Num. 29:1), and since the first day of every month is determined by the new moon, in ancient times people could never be exactly sure when the new month would start because they would have to wait for witnesses to see that the moon was new and thus declare that the month had begun. Hence this nickname for the festival: Yom HaKeseh, “The Day of Hiding” or “the Hidden Day.” When the new month was declared, trumpet blasts would sweep the Jewish communities to announce it. Likewise, no man knows the day or the hour when our Messiah will return! (Mat. 24:36) He will come down from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God (1 Thes. 4:16).
That verse continues, “and the dead in Messiah shall rise first.” Even in traditional Judaism, Yom Teruah is linked with the resurrection of the dead.
In Jewish and Biblical wedding tradition, the bridegroom comes for his bride at an unexpected hour, like the parable of the bridesmaids in Matthew 25:1-13. Yeshua is our bridegroom, and we as the bride should be ready for His arrival.
The kings of ancient Judah were always crowned on Rosh Hashanah, since it was the first day of the civil year. So it stands for coronation day … like the day the High King of Israel will be crowned!
It’s interesting that so many things associated with this festival will happen on the day Yeshua returns! So every year, this day could be a day to celebrate the fact that He’ll be coming for us.
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