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The fall season is one of the holiest times on the Biblical calendar. October holds three major festivals established by GOD; where HE commands us to celebrate with Him and receive a special blessing. The 7^th month on God’s calendar is called TISHREI and this year it falls in October.  The Fall Feasts are three High Holy Days that are prophetic shadows of Yeshua’s return. They are established by God in Leviticus 23:1-44:

The Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah), Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2019 – Leviticus 23:24
Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) October 9, 2019 (Fast Day) –  Leviticus 23:27
The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) October 13-20, 2019  – Leviticus 23:34

Sunday night, September 29, 2019 at sundown is the eve of Yom Teruah, or The Feast of Trumpets. It is  also referred to as “The Day of the Blowing of the Shofar (the ram’s horn).” Yom Teruah -The Feast of Trumpets marks the start of the fall feast season.  Almighty God established this “moed” or Appointed Time, in Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20. This holy day (holiday) was commanded by GOD as a feast day, in which no regular work was to be done by any of the Israelites or anyone in their household including hired workers. (Leviticus 23:2) God states,  “These are My appointed feasts, the appointed feasts of the LORD, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.”  In the original Hebrew scriptures of the Bible (Lev 23:24) this holy day is referred to as “Zikhron Teruah” which means “The Memorial of Blowing the Shofar (Trumpet)

 The Feast of Trumpets for us today is a dress rehearsal of the day Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ) returns to rule the earth and set up His Kingdom. On this feast day God ask us to take a day of rest, blow the shofar (ram’s horn) over our homes and families as a declaration of HIS manifest presence in our lives; tell the FATHER you are still in covenant with HIM and that you accept the responsibilities of being one of God’s people. Present a special offering to your house of worship and ask for forgiveness of your sins. Read Exodus 19. 

This holy day is a feast after all, so it is customary for families to gather for a holiday meal. In Jewish tradition, that meal begins with the blessing over two round challahs (egg bread) dipped in honey followed by a festive meal. The central theme of this holy day is repentance and prayers for forgiveness.  Forgive one another as Yeshua has forgiven you.  This is a day of self-examination for the sin in our lives and a conscious effort to turn away from past sins. Consider inviting friends and family over for a celebration and share this good news with them.

The Feast of Trumpets carries strong prophetic overtones; the blowing of the shofar announces GOD’s manifest presence.    It will not be a secret when Yeshua returns because the blast of shofar (trumpet) from Heaven will be so loud that the whole world will hear it. Just as the people heard shofar from heaven at Mount Sinai in Exodus 19:13 and were told to come meet the LORD at the foot of the mountain. It was a spiritual awakening for people to repent and return to God.

If you don’t understand God’s Appointed Times then how will you recognize His return? God has always performed His greatest miracles for mankind during His Appointed Times! According to the Messianic Prophecy Bible Project, in the biblical times of Israel, the shofar was blown for several reasons; some of these purposes are found in the book of Joel.

1. To draw God’s attention.
2. To mark the arrival of a new moon;
3. To celebrate a simcha (joyous occasion);
4. To proclaim liberty to the captives;
5. To hail a king at his coronation;
6. To warn of impending judgment;
7. To gather troops to battle;
8. To sound an alarm;
9. To call a sacred assembly and time of fasting;
10. To confuse the enemy camp.

Rabbinic Judaism observes a holiday called Rosh Hashanah on the same day as Yom Teruah –The Feast of Trumpets.  Rosh Hashanah literally means “Head of the Year”, commonly referred to as Jewish New Year.  Bible Scholar Kevin L.Howard explains, “This observance was established by the leaders of Rabbinic Judaism in the Second Century, A.D., more than 1,500 years after the institution of the original holy day. Following the A.D. 70 destruction of the Temple the observance was radically altered.”

According to Christianity Today Magazine, ” Some Christian Zionists, Holy Land pilgrims, and even worshipers at charismatic churches in the United States use the curled horn to call out in celebration and identify with the ancient heritage of their faith.” … ” Sounding the shofar often accompanies the opening prayer or worship set at events held by groups like Christians United for Israel (CUFI), the Christian Zionist organization founded by John Hagee.” …”Christian use of the shofar has grown in certain traditions over the past 25 years, along with interest in the Holy Land and dispensationalist understanding of the end times.”

Full knowledge of God’s original plan for mankind, a greater understanding of the Hebraic roots of Yeshua/Jesus’ teachings,  and the everlasting importance of God’s Biblical calendar and Appointed Times are dramatically changing how we practice our faith.

Next Post: More details on Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement on October 9, 2019 (Fast Day) and Sukkot – The Feast of Tabernacles, October 13-20, 2019.