No matter where in the world you live, you've probably heard a siren of some sort sound. We have fire truck sirens, police sirens, air raid sirens, and now more than ever natural disaster sirens. Each of the sirens sound different from any other siren. Why is that? Simply put, so they can be recognized and understood what warning they are conveying to the population. How tragic would it be to hear an air raid siren which tells you to hunker down beneath your desk, when in reality it was a warning for an impending earthquake in which you are to evacuate outside any building?
Back in the ancient days their version of sirens came in the form of trumpet blasts or calls. Trumpets could be heard for miles when blown correctly.(a) Israel however used an ancient horn called a shofar. This was made from sheath of a curled ram's horn. When blown the shofar produces a low pitched tone, which travels further than higher pitches that come from a trumpet.(b) The shofar was used by Israel for thousands of years before its destruction at the hands of the Roman legions in 70 AD.(c) They were used since the days of Moses. Differing blasts could do everything, calling the Israelites together for war, meetings, and even worship their God, Yahweh. In Deuternomy it was to summon the children of Israel together for worship, marching through the wilderness, or to gather for a general meeting. Other times it was used to warn them of God's coming judgment. The Lord used the trumpet blasts by Gideon's men to sow confusion upon the enemy. Trumpets were also used to herald the arrival or crowning of a king. And of course the one that was used most often, was to warn of an approaching enemy army by watchmen at the walls. But the least known time that shofars were blown was at the Jewish New Year, called the Feast of Trumpets. (a) A trumpet creates a sound intensity level, Trumpet That Can be Heard Up to Tens Kilometers (6.2 miles) (b) Do High Pitched Sounds Travel Further? (c) Siege of Jerusalem by Titus |
Leviticus 23:24
“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation” Leviticus 25:9 Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. Numbers 10:8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations. |
Jewish New Year
The Feast of Trumpets begins with Rosh Hashanah which begins the Jewish High Holy Days. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and celebrated on the first day of the Hebrew month of Tishri (September or October). During Rosh Hashanah the trumpet is blown for a total of 100 blasts. All the blasts were sounded from the southern corner of the Temple Mount. Even right now there is a stone block there inscribed in Hebrew "To the Place of Trumpeting.(d)
The 100th blast is a long blast on the shofar and is known as the "Last Trump". The exact time of sounding of this "Last Trump" is not known as it is sounded when two priest visually spot the appearance of the New Moon. A New Moon is hard to spot as it is completely dark and during the full brightness of the daytime.(e) This mirrors the "last trump" spoken of by Paul that would call up the Church in the rapture. Just like the "Last Trump" called up the believing Jews to the Temple Mount for the Jewish New Year, the Lord Jesus said that out of two people, one would be taken and the other left. The non-believer would be the one usually left because they cared nothing for the call to worship.
The Feast of Trumpets begins with Rosh Hashanah which begins the Jewish High Holy Days. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and celebrated on the first day of the Hebrew month of Tishri (September or October). During Rosh Hashanah the trumpet is blown for a total of 100 blasts. All the blasts were sounded from the southern corner of the Temple Mount. Even right now there is a stone block there inscribed in Hebrew "To the Place of Trumpeting.(d)
The 100th blast is a long blast on the shofar and is known as the "Last Trump". The exact time of sounding of this "Last Trump" is not known as it is sounded when two priest visually spot the appearance of the New Moon. A New Moon is hard to spot as it is completely dark and during the full brightness of the daytime.(e) This mirrors the "last trump" spoken of by Paul that would call up the Church in the rapture. Just like the "Last Trump" called up the believing Jews to the Temple Mount for the Jewish New Year, the Lord Jesus said that out of two people, one would be taken and the other left. The non-believer would be the one usually left because they cared nothing for the call to worship.
1 Corinthians 15:52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Matthew 24:38-42 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. |
Unlike western or asian new year celebration Rosh Hashanah is a solemn event that kicks off their Ten Days of Repentance, culminating on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). It is very likely Jesus crucifixion took place on this Day of Atonement as we find the the Bible account mentioning it is one of these High Holy Days.
John 19:31
The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an HIGH DAY,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. |
On this final day of the High Holy Days, Jewish tradition tells how God opens the Book of Life and studies the words, actions, and thoughts of every person whose name he has written there. If a person's good deeds and thoughts outweigh or outnumber their sinful acts and thoughts, his or her name will remain inscribed in the book for another year. However if they have done MORE BAD THAN GOOD, then God would actually BLOT OUT THEIR NAMES OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE. So, Rosh Hashanah and the Ten Days of Repentance provide God's people with a time for reflection, turning away from sin, and doing good deeds, allowing them a more favorable chance of having their names sealed in the Book of Life for another year.
(e) http://christianity.about.com/od/biblefeastsandholidays/p/feastoftrumpets.htm|Spotting the New Moon| Understanding new moon
(d) http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases.phtml
(e) http://christianity.about.com/od/biblefeastsandholidays/p/feastoftrumpets.htm|Spotting the New Moon| Understanding new moon
(d) http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases.phtml
What Feast of Trumpets meant for the Jews
The purpose of this trumpet was to call all Israel, regardless of what they were doing at the time to come to the Temple. The believing Jews, who were out in the fields mid-harvest would drop what they were doing and head for the Temple. But more importantly as we see above, it was not a time of joy and festivities but rather a time of contemplation and worry. This was the time for believing Jews to take tally of their thoughts and deeds of the past year. If they found themselves having more bad thoughts and deeds, they would have to increase their number of sacrifices made on the Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) to cover for those transgressions. All that in the hopes that it would be enough to get Yahweh to leave their name written in the "Book of Life" for one more year and not blot it out. |
The obvious problem is that if anyone was truthful to themselves and God they would find themselves having multiple transgressions, more than any amount of sacrifices could possibly cover. Even if, like the Pharisees, they were able to keep the law perfectly in deeds (like don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't worship other gods, etc), we are dealing with a God who also sees into your heart and knows your thoughts and motives.
Under that circumstance who could ever say they were good enough even in a day, much less a month or a year, to remain in God's "Book of Life". And God says whoever is not found in the "Book of Life" is thrown into the Lake of Fire for all eternity because you are unfit for Heaven.
Under that circumstance who could ever say they were good enough even in a day, much less a month or a year, to remain in God's "Book of Life". And God says whoever is not found in the "Book of Life" is thrown into the Lake of Fire for all eternity because you are unfit for Heaven.
Revelation 20:15
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. |
This is the Old Testament salvation plan, a salvation based off merit and works. As you can see it doesn't work because our thoughts, intentions, and motives count just as much as our actions. This transforms the Jewish Feast of Trumpets into a trumpet herald of doom and hopelessness, in place of the joyous new year most of us are familiar with.
God's Provision
If the story stopped there would be nothing but despair and hopelessness. But instead the truly joyful news is that while we were all yet sinners in both thoughts, intentions, motives and deeds, God sent His son Jesus in the form of man to lead the perfect life (in thoughts, intentions, motives and deeds), the requirement for entrance into Heaven, and then paid the death penalty the law required for us sinners. In this way He gives us credit for His perfect life while He took our place for the death penalty we owed.
God's Provision
If the story stopped there would be nothing but despair and hopelessness. But instead the truly joyful news is that while we were all yet sinners in both thoughts, intentions, motives and deeds, God sent His son Jesus in the form of man to lead the perfect life (in thoughts, intentions, motives and deeds), the requirement for entrance into Heaven, and then paid the death penalty the law required for us sinners. In this way He gives us credit for His perfect life while He took our place for the death penalty we owed.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. |
Jesus died for all of us and then rose on the 3rd day to prove to us that He was God Himself. Now He holds out as gift to all of us, his payment for our sins which is salvation from the penalty of the law of God. That way by accepting His gift we get, for free, entrance to Heaven. All we need to do to accept is believe in Jesus as our own Lord and Savior. Pray this prayer and mean it and you will be saved.
Dear Lord God. I know I am a sinner and need your gift of salvation from my sins. I BELIEVE IN JESUS, the Son of God, as my personal Savior. I believe that His death on the cross and resurrection provides forgiveness for ALL my sins past, present, & future. Please forgive all my sins and come into my heart and life. I hereby trust in Jesus FINISHED WORK alone, and NOT upon me & my "good works", as sufficient to make me right with you and fit for Heaven. Please forgive ALL my sins and come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Seal me with your Holy Spirit until the day you come to take me home. In your Son Jesus’ name. Amen.
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