Each year in the autumn, the people of God's church celebrate the Feast of Trumpets, a one-day Feast that requires arranging time off from work or school. The Feast of Trumpets is one of God's feast days, the fourth of the seven annual holy days, and the first of the fall holy days. It falls on the first day of the seventh month of God's sacred calendar, known as Tishri or Ethanim, marking the beginning of the administrative and financial year. This feast is a pivotal day, symbolizing a vast turning point in world history, representing the changeover from the age of man to the age of God, the World Tomorrow, the Millennium, and the Kingdom of God. Trumpet blasts are significant as they are associated with major events of the end times, the return of Jesus Christ, and the resurrection of the dead. We keep the Feast of Trumpets because God commands it, not to display His power, but for a meaningful reason. It serves as a 24-hour stop sign, urging us to pause our daily routines and focus on eternal matters such as the return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the end of the age of man, and the Kingdom of God. This feast is for all mankind, not just the Israelites, as God's church today is the New Testament congregation of Israel, a tiny fragment of God's little flock, called to be an example to the world. The appointed time for the Feast of Trumpets is on the first day of the seventh month, as a sabbath-rest and a holy convocation with a memorial of blowing trumpets. Unlike the Feast of Tabernacles, there is no specific location mandated for its observance, allowing it to be kept in home church locations. As we observe this day, we should anticipate and prepare for it with eagerness and joy, reflecting deeply on its details, meanings, and symbolism.

As we approach the Feast of Trumpets, an exuberant mood accompanies us, focusing on the return of Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords, and on our resurrection to glory that this festival depicts. Yet, alongside this joy, we must also consider the sobering and even terrifying meanings of this holy day, for it depicts a terrible time of judgment upon the people of this world. God commands us to keep this holy day each year to remember the significance of the blowing of trumpets, which symbolize a loud, warning cry of impending danger. These warnings, echoing through the prophets, signal the day of the Lord as a time of darkness and gloominess over man's society, urging the ministry to raise their voices to warn of sudden, terrifying destruction. These dire admonishments apply specifically to God's called-out children, as we live in the end time with an understanding of His plan and have the most to lose by ignoring these stern prophecies of death and destruction. The warnings stress repentance, fasting, and prayer, which are understood most deeply by God's elect. The Feast of Trumpets ties directly to these warnings through the seventh seal and the seven trumpets, announcing the Day of the Lord and the return of Jesus Christ, with the resurrection occurring at the last trumpet. Despite the destruction and death that must occur, God's actions are rooted in love, aiming to bring all to repentance and into His Kingdom. The church bears a responsibility to prepare as a fitting bride for Christ, cooperating with God to become holy, righteous, godly saints worthy of marrying His Son. The Feast of Trumpets also holds the joyous mystery that we will become immortal and incorruptible spirit beings at Christ's return, a vision that serves as a great motivator. While this festival pictures His return, the exact timing remains uncertain, yet the urgency to be ready through repentance, overcoming, prayer, and fasting is paramount as we anticipate the tumultuous times ahead.

The Feast of Trumpets stands as a pivotal holy day among the seven, with three preceding and three following. It bridges the focus on individual redemption and salvation from the past holy days to the broader scope of humanity's redemption in the days to come. This day serves as a keystone, holding the other holy days together, central to God's plan. It looks both ways, commemorating past events and anticipating future fulfillment. In ancient Israel, the Feast of Trumpets marked the beginning of the civil year on the first day of the seventh month with the new moon. The government ran its calendar from this day, kings counted their reigns from it, and many in the ancient Near East considered their birthdays to start on this day due to the lunar calendar's irregularity. This day symbolizes the beginning of God's reign and government on earth when fulfilled. Scripturally, God describes the Feast of Trumpets as a memorial of blowing of trumpets, literally a remembrance of shouting, though it remains obscure in meaning from the verses alone. The Hebrew term "teruw'ah" translates to a shout, often linked with the shofar or ram's horn, carrying meanings from alarm and loudness to joy and jubilee. Most frequently, this shout associates with the noise of war, reflecting the visceral, grating sound of the shofar that demands attention. The uses of trumpets, including the silver trumpets and the shofar, connect directly to the Feast of Trumpets. They signal war, gladness, appointed feasts, and the beginning of months, combining the new moon and feast elements on this day. The call to war emerges as a primary use, announcing significant conflict and divine judgment, aligning with the prophetic imagery of a time of darkness and destruction. The seventh trumpet, often termed the last trumpet, encapsulates the culmination of these themes. Its sounding, lasting for days, heralds a prolonged period of events rather than a brief fanfare. This extended duration underscores the gravity of the moment, announcing Christ's return and the establishment of God's Kingdom. The proclamation accompanying the seventh trumpet speaks of future events as certain, reflecting God's assurance that His plan will come to pass. This trumpet blast signifies both judgment and reward. It announces wrath upon the nations who resist God, paralleled by punishment for those who corrupt or destroy the earth through sin. Simultaneously, it heralds reward for the faithful—prophets, saints, and those who fear God's name—indicating a dual aspect of divine judgment. The imagery surrounding the seventh trumpet, with loud voices in heaven proclaiming the Kingdom's arrival, emphasizes the transfer of power from worldly dominion to the sovereignty of our Lord and His Christ.

The Feast of Trumpets, known as Yom Teruah or the Day of Shouting, is one of God's holy days. It is mentioned in Leviticus 23:24-25 as a memorial of shouting, or a remembrance of shouting. This day is significant because it acknowledges the importance of the sound of a trumpet in Israelite life. The Israelites were trained to listen for the sound of a trumpet, which was used in various ways, including on this holy day. The phrase "remembrance of shouting" could refer to the shout of the shofar or ram's horn, or it might mean literal shouting by the people. Some Jews believe this feast is a day dedicated to mentioning, praising, and shouting God's name, possibly gathering in a holy convocation to praise and shout God's name in unison.

The Feast of Trumpets holds a significant place in understanding the return of Jesus Christ. This holy day, described in Leviticus 23 as a Sabbath rest and a memorial of blowing of trumpets, focuses on the triumphant return of Christ. It brings us back to this subject at least once a year, ensuring we receive a heavy dose of what the day commemorates in advance. The underlying idea of the Feast of Trumpets is a remembrance or commemoration of shouting, often interpreted as the shout of a shofar, a ram's horn trumpet. The Hebrew word "terua" associated with this feast means to cry out, shout, raise a war cry, sound the alarm, or shout for joy, encompassing the concepts of loud noise, triumphant shouting, and raising the alarm of war. Through keeping the Feast of Trumpets, we gain a deeper understanding of Christ's return, having studied it extensively over many years. This annual observance compels us to delve into Scripture, compare timelines, and seek to comprehend the spectacular event of His glorious appearing. The Feast of Trumpets connects directly to the biblical imagery of loud noises, trumpet blasts, and shouts that accompany God's descent to earth, as seen in passages like Exodus 19, Joel 2, and Zephaniah 1. These elements are mirrored in I Thessalonians 4:16, where Christ descends from heaven with a shout, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God, all pointing to the same momentous event of His return. Thus, the Feast of Trumpets reinforces our understanding of the timing and significance of this singular, powerful event in history.

The Feast of Trumpets is a day of great hope for us, marked by a significant element of the resurrection from the dead. This day, also called a Memorial of Blowing of Trumpets, is literally a remembrance of shouting, interpreted as the blowing of the shofar, which sounds like a shout. When the Israelites heard this sound, God expected them to remember and consider certain things, bringing them to mind for reflection. In Psalm 47, we find a big hint about the meaning of this day, portraying God as a great King who will subdue peoples and grant an inheritance. The shout and the sound of the trumpet announce the inauguration of the reign of Jesus Christ on earth, implying that the whole earth will be in subjection to Him. This psalm fits well with prophecies of Christ returning as King of kings and Lord of lords, subduing all who oppose Him, and setting up His reign. In Matthew 24, the connection becomes clearer as it links His second coming with the great sound of a trumpet, gathering His elect from all over the globe. Revelation 11 further reveals that this great trumpet blast is the seventh trumpet, the last to sound, announcing the commencement of Christ's eternal reign on earth. It also shows Him coming as both King and Judge, bringing rewards to His prophets and saints, and punishments to those who destroy the earth. In I Thessalonians 4, the apostle Paul ties together the shout, the trumpet, and the voice of an archangel, all occurring when the Lord descends from heaven. At this time, the dead in Christ rise first, meeting Him in the air, followed by the living saints who are changed and join them in the clouds. This event, believed to occur on the Day of Trumpets, is a great announcement that will draw every eye and ear, signifying Christ's return. God wants us to remember, as a kind of pre-memorial, what is to occur on this day. When we hear the blowing of a trumpet or the shout of the shofar, especially on the Feast of Trumpets, He desires us to reflect on its meaning, to be encouraged, and to be filled with an enduring, confident expectation of hope that He will bring all to pass as promised. Our hope rests on the belief that God the Father resurrected Jesus from the dead, a pivotal event that assures us of our own resurrection when Christ appears on this day.

The Feast of Trumpets holds a significant place in the fall holy day season, often seen as the starting signal for the journey to the Feast of Tabernacles. In its fulfillment, this day heralds the beginning of The World Tomorrow, the Millennium, when the Kingdom of God is at hand. It emphasizes the critical events that must occur before that wonderful time can be realized: Christ must return at a specific moment, the saints in their graves must be raised, and the living saints changed in a twinkling of an eye. Additionally, the armies of mankind that turn to fight against our returning Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, must be destroyed. Thus, the Feast of Trumpets not only looks forward to Christ's return, the establishment of God's Kingdom, and the raising of the saints to eternal life, but it also signifies war. In Leviticus 23, the Feast of Trumpets is described as a memorial of blowing of trumpets, literally a remembrance of shouting, which is understood as the shout of the shofar. This day connects to the concept of war, as seen in Numbers 10, where the sound of the trumpet serves as a cry of alarm in the land, a call to action, and a call to arms for the people of Israel when enemies approach. God promises to remember His people when the trumpet of war is sounded. In Psalm 81, the blowing of the shofar on the new moon during this feast reflects both a historical memorial and an anticipation of future events, including freedom from bondage and the ability to worship God, as well as God's promise to fight against the enemies of His people. The Feast of Trumpets also reveals God as a God of war, known as The Lord of Hosts, The God of Armies, and The God of Warfare. Throughout Scripture, He is shown to fight for His people and deliver them from their enemies. In Revelation 19, when Christ returns, He engages in war against His enemies, leading an army of resurrected saints and angels to achieve victory. This day underscores that there is a time for war, specifically when God decrees it, to address wickedness or to defend His people against unprovoked attacks. The Feast of Trumpets thus marks the initial stage of war against the enemies of God, a necessary step before the earth can experience peace for one thousand years.

The Feast of Trumpets marks the beginning of the year 5765 on the Hebrew calendar. It is an annual Sabbath and a holy convocation, during which no customary work is to be done. An offering is to be made, as detailed in Leviticus 23:24-25 and Numbers 29:1. This day is a memorial of blowing of trumpets, translated as a remembrance of shouting or the shout of the shofar, a ram's horn that the Hebrews considered to shout rather than blow. A memorial, in this context, is something that keeps remembrance alive, akin to a monument, a commemoration, or a day set apart. The Feast of Trumpets looks forward to a significant future event, while also memorializing past events. One suggested memorial is the story of Joseph, potentially occurring on Tishri 1, the civil New Year, when birthdays were often celebrated in the Near East. On this day, Joseph was raised from prisoner to second in command under Pharaoh, likely accompanied by great shouting and announcement, though trumpets are not explicitly mentioned in the account. Another proposed memorial is the fall of Jericho, as described in Joshua 5 and 6. While the timing of this event is uncertain and may be in the spring rather than fall, the blowing of trumpets and shouting are central to the narrative. Seven priests blew seven ram's horns over seven days, with seven circuits on the seventh day, culminating in a long blast and a great shout that led to the walls collapsing. The presence of the Ark of the Covenant signified God's involvement, paralleling the themes of judgment and victory associated with this feast.

In the context of biblical imagery and history, the sound of trumpets carries profound significance. For many, it evokes the longing to hear the trumpet that heralds the return of Jesus Christ, signaling the end of man's misguided rule influenced by satan, and the cessation of the pain inflicted on humanity. Biblically, in Israel's history, the trumpet often served as an immediate warning of imminent war, death, and destruction. It also recalls the intimidating blast that grew in intensity as the Ten Commandments were about to be given, and the commands in Numbers 10 where the sound of a trumpet directed the movement of tribes. Furthermore, there is a revealed insight among God's Family that a final trumpet will be blown, marking a critical moment of change and judgment, though the world remains unaware of the utter devastation that awaits until that sound is heard.

The Seven Bowls or Vials of God's Wrath represent the culmination of divine judgment upon a disobedient world, as depicted in the sequence of catastrophic events following the sounding of the seventh trumpet. These seven last plagues, comprising the third woe, are poured forth on mankind as a final act of correction. They come after a series of devastating trumpet plagues that bring immense suffering, including vast military conflicts and natural disasters orchestrated by God to demonstrate His authority. Despite the horrors of preceding events, mankind remains unrepentant, filled with hatred and defiance against God's will. The pouring out of these vials signifies God's ultimate response to this rebellion, ensuring that every people, race, and nation finally listens to Him as everything else is stripped away. The last punishment within the seventh trumpet includes a great plague of hail, with hailstones weighing from 75 to 130 pounds, symbolizing the complete attention of the world to God's power. Through these vials, God brings an end to the wars and false beliefs that have plagued humanity for millennia, ushering in a time of unprecedented peace and national repentance.