The Feast of Trumpets - 5785 - יום זכרון תרועה

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        תשפ״ה 

The Feast of Trumpets instructs those who believe in the God of Israel, and of course His Only Begotten Son Yeshua, to remember what God has provided so that His people can receive the Promise of God. The primary commandment associated with this Festival is the sounding of the Shofar (Ram’s Horn). The purpose of hearing the Shofar directly relates to God’s provision, so His people can inherit His promise of the Kingdom. In regard to this article, I would like to focus on one verse from the book of Revelation,

αλλα εν ταις ημεραις της φωνης του εβδομου αγγελου οταν μελλη σαλπιζειν και τελεσθη το μυστηριον του θεου ως ευηγγελισεν τοις εαυτου δουλοις τοις προφηταις

“But in the days of the sound of the seventh angel, whenever it is about to sound and should be made complete the mystery of God, as He proclaimed of Himself, to the servants–the prophets.” Revelation 10:7

In order to properly understand this verse, one must remember the structure for the book of Revelation. Within this book are seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowls. The seventh seal, when it is opened, contains the rest of the book. In a similar manner, the seventh trumpet, when it is sounded, also contains the rest of the book.

It is also most essential for the reader to comprehend that the number seven relates to the concept of purpose. Therefore, when the seventh angel sounds his trumpet and the mystery of God shall be made complete, the reader should understand that it will be then that the purpose of God will be fulfilled. What is the primary objective of God? The establishment of His Kingdom. 

When examining New Covenant Scripture, several things are called a mystery. In 1 Corinthians 15:51, the Rapture is called a mystery. In Ephesians 3:4, and in several other passages as well, the Messiah is called a mystery. In Ephesians 5:32, the mystery is both the Messiah and the Church. In Ephesians 6:19, the Gospel is the mystery. When reviewing the concept of mystery throughout the New Covenant, it becomes clear that the various things which are called a mystery are all connected to the Kingdom of God. In other words, when the seventh angel sounds his trumpet, one should understand that this event is directly related to the establishment of the Kingdom of God. One should also realize that Revelation 10:7 is not speaking about a particular moment in time, but all the events which are contained in the rest of the book of Revelation.

Also mentioned in Revelation 10:7 is that the seventh angel will sound his trumpet. In the Greek language, the word which is translated as trumpet is σάλπιγξ. In the Bible, there are two types of trumpets which are mentioned. The first type relates to the two silver trumpets (See Numbers 10:1-10). The Hebrew word which appears here is חֲצֹצְרָה (Khatzotzrah). The Hebrew word which is used to describe the second type of Trumpet is שׁוֹפָר (Shofar). It is my opinion that it is the Shofar which best fits the context for the Greek word σάλπιγξ found in the New Covenant. If this is accurate, it has many important implications. The Hebrew root from which the word Shofar is
derived relates to a change which is an improvement. When hearing the sounding of the Shofar, one should remember what God has provided so this kind of change can be brought about.

When studying the traditional readings for the Feast of Trumpets, there is an emphasis on Isaac, the son of promise (See Galatians 4:28). When reading from Genesis chapter 22, God looks for and provides a substitute for Isaac, that he might live and the context for this provision is found in Genesis 22:17, where it is written,

                                                                                                                                     וְיִרַשׁ זַרְעֲךָ אֵת שַׁעַר אֹיְבָיו

                                        ״And your seed will possess the gate of his enemies.”

When one takes possession of the gate of his enemies, it is an idiom for victory. Hence Isaac, the child of promise, will be victorious and this victory is based on what God has provided; namely His substitute. This substitute points to the Messiah being a substitute for humanity on the Cross. Therefore, as believers in Yeshua, when we hear the blowing of the Shofar during the Feast of Trumpets, our substitutionar sacrifice Yeshua should be remembered and the outcome which faith in Him will bring about; namely, eternal life in the Kingdom of God. In returning to our primary verse for this article (Revelation 10:7), it would serve us well to examine the contents
of this Scriptural verse carefully.

αλλα εν ταις ημεραις της φωνης του εβδομου αγγελου οταν μελλη σαλπιζειν και τελεσθη το μυστηριον του θεου ως ευηγγελισεν τοις εαυτου δουλοις τοις προφηταις

“But in the days of the sound of the seventh angel, whenever it is about to sound and should be made complete the mystery of God as He proclaimed of Himself, to the servants–the prophets.” Revelation 10:7

First, it is very important to notice that the text states, “But in the days of the sound of the seventh angel,….” The fact that the word “day” is found in the plural is very significant. This means that this event is not one moment in time, but continues for an extended period of time. This fact supports what was stated previously that the seventh trumpet contains the remaining events in the rest of the book of Revelation.

Next, the verse says, “whenever it is about to sound and should be made complete the mystery of God…” There is no set time when this sounding will take place; but, whenever it is about to sound, its sounding will bring about the completion of the mystery of God.
Since it has been demonstrated that this mystery relates to the Messiah, the Church, and the Gospel, all of which are connected to the Kingdom of God, it is most obvious that all of these point to a Kingdom experience. A word of caution must be made at this time. One should not conclude that the Kingdom of God will be established on the Feast of Trumpets; rather we are simply called to remember Whom God has provided, the True Child of Promise, Messiah Yeshua, to which Isaac only pointed.

It is because of the work of Messiah Yeshua Galatians 4:30 can be fulfilled,

αλλα τι λεγει η γραφη εκβαλε την παιδισκην και τον υιον αυτης ου γαρ μη κληρονομηση ο υιος της παιδισκης μετα του υιου της ελευθερας

“But what does the Scripture say, Cast out slave woman and her son; for he will not inherit, the son of the slave woman with the son of the free.”

This means that those who are in slavery (to sin) will not inherit the Kingdom with those who have been set free by the blood of the Messiah, Who God has substituted for those who believe in the Gospel. An important question which must be asked is, what will be inherited? The answer is eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Revelation 10:7 concludes with the words, 

“as He proclaimed of Himself, to the servants–the prophets.” Please notice that John states, “as He proclaimed of Himself”. This means
that it was Yeshua Who is being proclaimed to His servants–the prophets. This has implications for every believer, as we are called to proclaim Yeshua in order to serve God. When we do this, we are proclaiming the same message which the Biblical prophets revealed through their prophecy. It is clear that the main message of the Scripture is the truth concerning the Messiah. This was Philip’s intent when he said to Nathaniel,

ευρισκει φιλιππος τον ναθαναηλ και λεγει αυτω ον εγραψεν μωσης εν τω νομω και οι προφηται ευρηκαμεν ιησουν τον υιον του ιωσηφ τον απο ναζαρετ

“Philip finds Nathaniel and says to him, ‘Whom Moses wrote in the Law and the Prophets, we have found Yeshua, the son of Joseph, the one from Nazareth.’” John 1:45

May you remember that God has provided His Only Begotten Son so that those who receive Him by faith, will receive the promise of the Kingdom of God.