THE FALL FEASTS OF THE LORD 
by Pastor Laurel Hofeldt

Just as the Spring Feasts were literally fulfilled at Jesus Christ’s first coming, so, too, we can anticipate the Lord’s appointed Fall Feasts will be literally fulfilled at His second coming.

       THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS (Yom Teruah)

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Exodus 23:23-25 (KJV) 23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 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. 25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

The Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah), also known as Rosh Ha Shana is prophetic of a Coronation and of a Wedding. According to the Jewish sages, it also represents the “day of judgment” and “resurrection of the dead.”  It is known as a day when the "books are opened" and the "gates/doors of heaven are opened." It is referred to as “the day no one knows” because it falls on the beginning of the month - a New Moon, and one is never certain of the siting of the new moon. The Minor Prophets (Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Zephaniah, Zechariah, & Malachi) all refer to a time known as “the day of the Lord, or on “that day.” This “day” begins with the sounding of the trumpet. In Judaism, there are three recognized shofarim (ram’s horn trumpets) - known as the First Trump, the Last Trump, and the Great Shofar (the Shofar HaGadol). According to the Jewish writings, the First Trump was blown at Mount Sinai. The Last Trump will herald the coming of the Messiah. The Great Trump is blown at the conclusion of Yom Kippur referring to the ingathering of the exiles at the Messiah’s literal second coming. The writings of the Jewish sages speak of the sounding of the Trumpet (Shofar) as a call to assemble, and a call to awaken from sleep (a resurrection) - known as “the day of the awakening blast” and the “last trump.” On this day, during Temple times, and in synagogues today, the shofar is sounded100 times.

PROPHETIC FULFILLMENT: Jesus Christ spiritually fulfilled this feast by being the Messiah represented by Abraham’s ram caught by his horns in the thicket (thorns) who became the substitute sacrifice for Isaac.  The ram’s horn (shofar) is an idiom for the Messiah.  He was the Passover Lamb, who wore a crown of thorns upon His head, who was the substitute sacrifice for all men. He is the Lamb of God (Rev 5:5-6)  who is seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven.  He came to call (awaken) all who would have ears to hear - to come to Him for salvation, that they may be written in the Lamb’s book of life.  He will soon return with the awakening blast.  He will sound the trumpet at His return for His bride, the "last trump," and the dead in Christ shall be raised incorruptible, and we who are alive shall be changed (I Cor 14:52).  Jesus Christ has made a way for sinful man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, to dwell with a Holy God, through His atoning death at Calvary.  Jesus Christ has become “the door” that was opened by His shed blood (John 10:9).  He is “the way, the truth, and the life,” and no one comes to the Father but by Him (John 14:6).  He sits as King and Judge.  He is the righteous judge (Rom 14:10, II Tim 4:8) who will judge both the righteous and the wicked.

 FUTURE PROPHETIC FULFILLMENT: This Feast of Trumpets may be the “last trump” referred to by the Apostle Paul in I Cor 15:50-55. Paul understood the original Jewish writings that this last trump was associated with the “day of the Lord,” and that it referred to a day of judgement - a time of a resurrection of the dead, and the coming of the Lord (I Thes 4:13-5:11). According to Acts 10:42-43, Jesus Christ is “ordained of God to be the Judge of the quick and the dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”  He is the righteous Judge who will reward the faithful saints. This is symbolized in Revelation 4:1 "a door was opened in heaven...a trumpet talking with me which said, ‘Come up here.’" This scene in Revelation 4 shows there has been a resurrection, as the 24 elders, representing the priesthood of Melchisedec, are bowing to the Lamb upon the throne - a KING (the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Lamb who was slain - Yeshua Jesus Christ). They have received their rewards, and are wearing white raiment and crowns of gold, which they cast down before Him (Rev 4:4).  They have received their “crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to all them that love his appearing” (II Tim 4:6). They declare, “We have been redeemed by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue and people, and nation, and has made us unto our God kings and priests" (Rev 5:9).  They have arisen and ascended to heaven as the  completed “body of Christ” -  now joined to the head, who is Jesus Christ (Col 3:1). They are the “church of the firstborn (Heb 12:22) who have been “born of the spirit,” children (sons) of God by faith in Jesus Christ (Gal 3:26-4:6).  They will return with Him as the army of the King of Kings in Revelation 19:11-14. The Feast of Trumpets is known as the “day of judgment” when “the books are opened.” The redeemed  are before the throne as the seven-sealed book is opened.  The Lamb (Jesus Christ) opens the seven-sealed book, judgements come upon the earth.  They will return with Him to rule and reign 1,000 years. After His 1,000 year reign, Jesus Christ is seated on the Great White Throne, who opens the books to judges those whose names are written in the book of life, according to their works. Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

SPIRITUAL APPLICATION: An Army and a Bride:
An Army: Having received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the believer is empowered for spiritual warfare - the sound of the trumpet. As a good soldier in the LORD’S Army, he must be awake and alert as a watchman, and be prepared for warfare to advance the Kingdom. He must be disciplined to walk according to the Word of God as an overcomer, to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.  He must have the mind of Christ, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. He must be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might, put on the whole armor: the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the sandals of the gospel of peace, and he must take up the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph 6:10-13).  The blowing of the Trumpet points to a time of judgment. The believer must also judge his own actions, walk in truth and righteousness, so he will be prepared to stand before the judgement seat of Christ (Rom 14:10).
 
A Wedding (a Bride): In the ancient Jewish wedding, when the preparation for his bride is complete, and his father gives the order.  The bridegroom comes for his bride with the sound of the Trumpet. He comes “as a thief” in the night and “steals away” his bride. The bride is veiled, so no one knows who has been taken until she emerges later, out of the wedding chamber, with her bridegroom for the wedding feast. The bridegroom takes her to his father’s house where they then spend seven days together in the wedding chamber (chupah). 
So, too, the bride of Christ (born again believers) must also be watching for her Bridegroom to come to take her to his wedding chamber (John 14:1-3; I Thes 4:13-17). She must be prepared, for she does not know the day nor the hour in which He will come. She looks forward to the day when she will stand before her Bridegroom/the King, and he will reward her for her faithfulness. She must prepare for her wedding day - making sure her wedding garments are without spot or wrinkle (Eph 5:27) - the white linen of righteousness. She must have oil in her lamp (be filled with the Holy Spirit) - watching and waiting for the sound of the trumpet of the Bridegroom (the “last trump” - I Cor 15:52).