jeudi 1 juin 2017

About The Feast Of Trumpets

By Matthew Sanders


The Jewish people have many ancient 'feasts' in their calendar. Seven of these special sabbaths (days of rest and observance) were ordained by God. The Feast of Trumpets (a biblical term for Rosh Hashanah) is an autumn, two-day festival that occurs in the seventh month and is the start of the Jewish New Year.

This festival that marks the Jewish New Year (based on the agricultural cycle) was traditionally announced by great noise, shouting and the blowing of shofars ( ram's horns) and priestly instruments. It is not a happy time but rather one of self-examination and repentance and is considered a most important observance for Jews.

The intended role of this feast was to call the people to a time of self-examination and repentance in preparation for the Day of Atonement, which happened later that same month. On the Day of Atonement, no work was to be done, and the priests offered sacrifices and sin offerings on behalf of the people. The Day of Atonement was a high holy day, which was to be taken with the utmost sincerity and solemnity.

The theme is one of warning. The sound of horns was a sign of imminent danger, calling the people to be ready, to be on their guard. The shouting was similar to that which would be heard if the city were threatened and the enemy was at the gates. The 'watchmen' on the walls needed to be alert, and the people needed to realize that their lives were in danger. Rather than physical danger from a human enemy, the people were in danger of straying from God's laws and sinning against him.

The Bible tells us that 'the wages of sin is death'. The Christian Old Testament is the Jewish Torah; both books set out ritual sacrifice to cleanse people of sin. The New Testament tells Christians that the death of Jesus was a final, complete sacrifice that paid for the sins of the whole world. Those who believe and accept that sacrifice with true repentance will find eternal life.

While the Jewish people still celebrate this solemn event, Christians recognize its prophetic significance. They see it as symbolic of turmoil, fear, and danger in the days before the second coming of the Lord. Jesus will return as a conquering king to reveal the fullness of his kingdom on earth. His coming will be signaled by the blast of a heavenly trumpet and will witnessed by all on earth.

The Day of Atonement, which occurs later in the same month, foreshadows the final Judgement Day, when all mankind will stand before the throne of God and find out the eternal destiny that awaits. This fearful, fateful day is appropriately preceded by a call to awe and repentance. The feasts are seen as important days on which events will take place during the 'end times'.

The feast still has original significance for orthodox Jews, and many Christians value the Jewish traditions that are the roots of their faith. The feasts fall at different phases of the moon, and scripture gives significance to the signs in the skies.




About the Author:



Aucun commentaire:

Enregistrer un commentaire