At the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere, it is time for the three fall festivals of Israel, which kick off with the Feast of Trumpets. This was a one-day festival associated with the blowing of the ram’s horn.

In most translations today, the ram’s horn (shofar) is translated as a trumpet.  The trumpet was blown to warn and sound an alarm in the face of a threat, but also to make an announcement.

We read of the great drama at Mount Sinai centuries ago when the enslaved people stood in awe and astonishment at the foot of the mountain and experienced the sound of the ram’s horn along with the powerful and almost overwhelming manifestation of the majesty of God.  

Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 

And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 

Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. 

And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.   (Exodus 19:16-19)

The ram’s horn grew louder and then God spoke.  The blast of the trumpet symbolizes God’s voice.  Within the nature-drama of smoke, fire, lightning, and thunder, the Law was given to the people – the highest authority in the Covenant.  It was to the people the Word of God, the stone tablets of heavenly principles that would elevate them above all the nations of the world as God’s own. (Psalms 29)

Rosh Hashanah is known as the Jewish New Year. It is according to the directives in Leviticus.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “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. 

You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.’ “ (Leviticus 23:23-25)

The Psalms confirm this:

Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon,
At the full moon, on our solemn feast day. (Psalms 81:3)

The ram’s horn announced the renewal.  At Sinai, God spoke and brought salvation in the ordinances of God.  This is confirmed by the prophecy in Joel:

Blow the trumpet in Zion,
And sound an alarm in My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble;
For the day of the Lord is coming,
For it is at hand: (Joel 2:1)

Indeed, we can rightfully ask where the ram’s horn, the trumpet, is in our Christian existence, since all the festivals of Israel have come to fulfillment in Jesus.  The Feast of Trumpets, Rosh Hashanah, celebrates the voice of God within us and in the world around us.  He is a God who speaks.  (Psalms 29; Isaiah 52:6)

Jesus warned Peter that he would deny Him before the rooster crowed three times.  Commentators point out that it was unlikely for chickens to be kept within the walls of Jerusalem because the ground was considered holy, and the priests would have prohibited it.

The trumpet, which announced the changing of the Roman guard at three in the morning, was called the rooster crow.  It was about the same time as when a rooster would crow.  When Peter heard it, he immediately remembered Jesus’ words.

The sound of the trumpet made him think of Jesus’ words; it was as if Jesus Himself was speaking to him in his mind.  Along with that, Jesus looked at him, not with reproach – I told you so – but rather with the most perfect look of love from the eyes of the Source of Love that saved Peter’s life.  He wept bitterly, but we find him with his brothers, already restored from the gaze of love.  He was there in Galilee when Jesus welcomed them on the beach.

Then we “hear” the blast of the trumpet in Revelation – tremendous and overwhelming.  Seven trumpets are blown by the angels.  In our study, we have followed the early church’s interpretation and analyzed the vision as a warning and announcement of what is happening around us.

For a moment, we can pause and listen to understand, not just hear. 

(Revelation 8 for the first four trumpets, 9 for the fifth and sixth, and the end of 11 for the wonder of the seventh trumpet.)

[See Pebbles 52-55 for a complete explanation of all the trumpets]

The first trumpet – hail and fire mixed with blood were thrown to the earth.  A third of the earth was burned, a third of the trees were burned, and all the green grass was burned.

A third of the earth is not everything, but a significant minority.

The second trumpet – something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea.  A third of the sea became blood, a third of everything living in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

The third trumpet – a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.

The fourth trumpet – a third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day had no light, and the night also.

The fifth trumpet – then locusts came out of the smoke onto the earth. They were given the same power as scorpions on the earth. They were instructed not to harm the grass of the earth, the plants, or the trees, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. (Revelation 9)

Know that satan and his infernal locusts have been released upon humanity from the “bottomless pit,” but they cannot harm the children of God who are sealed. (Revelation 7)

The sixth trumpet – then the sixth angel blew his trumpet.  I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God.  The voice said to the sixth angel, who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great Euphrates River.” The four angels who were prepared for this hour, day, month, and year were released to kill a third of humanity.

The significant minority of people die in judgment. Remember, judgment takes place to affirm the integrity of God’s Word and invite humanity to call upon God, always opening the channel of salvation.  Physical death is nothing to fear. It is the gate to God, the unseen realm.

“See” the natural disasters, the raging evil, the war and crime, and more importantly, “hear” in all of this the voice of God (the trumpet) calling humanity to salvation and redemption.

Let us look, deeper  and longer, until we understand.  Revelation 9:20 predicts that many people will not repent and continue to worship the idols they have made for themselves.

Then, Church of Jesus, look up and “hear” the seventh trumpet. (Revelation 11)

Worship together with the elders (24 = 12 tribes and 12 apostles – thus, the Church) and sing the song of heaven.

“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.
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.”  (Revelation 11)

The “result” of this worship is entering into the Presence of the Most High just like Moses at Sinai.

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.

Remember that the end times began in 70AD with the destruction of the Temple when Biblical, priestly Judaism ceased to exist.

In the calamities and suffering we see around us, we “hear” the trumpet of God.  He calls us to salvation and worship.  We witness nations reacting with anger, but we sing the song of dominion over the whole earth.

The Ark of the Covenant becomes visible. The miraculous Presence of God Himself is the promise in the heat of the fiercest battle. He manifests in nature just as He did at Mount Sinai when He appeared to His people and delivered His Word to them. (Exodus 19:16)

The trumpet blows: the voice of God is not silent.  Listen, and your soul will live.

Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you—
The sure mercies of David.   (Isaiah 55:3)