Jesus and the Feast of Trumpets
Unpacking the Prophetic Significance

Introduction: What Does Jesus Have to Do with the Feast of Trumpets?

The Feast of Trumpets, known as Yom Teruah, is one of the Lord’s fall feast days and holds profound prophetic significance in relation to the second coming of Jesus (Yeshua) the Messiah. As we delve into this topic, Pastor Jim Staley explores the relationship between Yeshua and this ancient celebration. How does the Feast of Trumpets fit into God’s prophetic calendar? What role does the trumpet, or shofar, play in the end times? Is the rapture real? These are just a few of the questions Pastor Staley addresses in his in-depth exploration.

Understanding the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah)

The Feast of Trumpets, which falls on the first day of the seventh month in the Hebrew calendar (Tishrei), is part of the Lord’s appointed feast days. Pastor Staley explains that the trumpet blast on this day signals the start of a prophetic timeline that points to the Second Coming of Christ. The blowing of the shofar is a rehearsal for the future, when a great trumpet will sound, heralding the return of Yeshua as King.

In ancient Israel, kings were inaugurated on Tishrei 1, symbolizing the coronation of a new ruler. In the same way, the final trumpet will mark the day when Yeshua will be crowned as King of kings, and every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that He is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). This prophetic moment fulfills God’s plan to establish His Kingdom on Earth.

The Prophetic Power of the Trumpet

The trumpet, or shofar, carries significant meaning in the Scriptures. It is a symbol of strength, courage, and judgment. It is blown to gather the people for battle, to declare victory, or to signal a divine event. In Leviticus 23:23-24, the instruction is given to blow the trumpet on the Feast of Trumpets, serving as an annual rehearsal for the ultimate trumpet blast that will accompany the Messiah’s return.

Throughout the Bible, the sound of the trumpet marks pivotal moments. For example, in Joshua 6:20, the walls of Jericho fell after the Israelites marched around the city seven times and blew the trumpet. This event symbolizes the ultimate fall of the enemy’s stronghold when the seventh trumpet sounds in Revelation. The blowing of the trumpet signifies both God’s judgment and the rescue of His people.

The Rapture: Biblical or Misunderstood?

A significant portion of Pastor Staley’s teaching addresses the rapture and its timing in relation to the Feast of Trumpets. He challenges the commonly held belief of a pre-tribulation rapture, explaining that this theology has been influenced by Western Christian traditions, particularly those stemming from Roman Catholicism.

The rapture will occur at the sound of the final trumpet, after the Great Tribulation, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. At that moment, the dead in Christ will rise, and those who are alive will be caught up to meet the Lord. This happens at the end of the three-and-a-half-year Great Tribulation, not before. Pastor Staley points out that believers will go through trials and tribulations, much like the Israelites did in Egypt during the plagues, but will ultimately be protected by God’s mercy.

The Great Tribulation is a three-and-a-half-year period of intense suffering, often misunderstood as being seven years long. Pastor Staley emphasizes that this misconception is rooted in modern theological interpretations rather than Scripture. The Bible specifically refers to the tribulation as lasting for three and a half years, followed by the sounding of the seventh trumpet, which signals the end of the tribulation and the return of the Messiah.

When the seventh trumpet sounds, Yeshua will return to destroy His enemies and establish His millennial reign on Earth. This moment is also the fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets, when Yeshua is inaugurated as King, and the final judgment begins.

The Battle of Jericho: A Prophetic Foreshadowing

The story of Jericho’s walls falling down after the trumpet blast (Joshua 6) serves as a powerful prophetic picture of what will happen at the end of the age. Pastor Staley explains that just as the walls of Jericho fell after seven trumpet blasts, so too will the barriers between the heavenly and earthly realms collapse when the seventh trumpet sounds in Revelation.

In this prophetic vision, only one family—Rahab’s family—was saved in Jericho. Similarly, when the final trumpet sounds, only those who are covered by the blood of Christ, symbolized by the scarlet cord in Rahab’s window, will be saved. This story illustrates the redemptive power of the blood of Christ and the final victory of God over His enemies.

Revelation 10:7 speaks of the mystery of God being finished at the sounding of the seventh angel. Pastor Staley refers to this mystery as the culmination of God’s plan to reunite His people through the coming of the Messiah. At the end of the tribulation, when the seventh trumpet sounds, Yeshua will return, and the mystery of God’s redemptive plan will be fully revealed.

The Last Trumpet and the Coming of Yeshua:
Unraveling the Prophetic Feast of Trumpets

Yeshua’s Return at the Last Trumpet

According to scripture, Yeshua (Jesus) will reveal Himself as the Messiah at the sound of the final trumpet. This event is tied directly to Yom Teruah, the Feast of Trumpets, one of the Lord’s appointed festivals. At the last trumpet, Yeshua will gather His elect, fulfilling the prophetic significance of this ancient feast. As we explore the scriptures, we will uncover how the trumpet blast, commonly associated with the rapture, relates to the return of the Messiah, the resurrection of the dead, and the ultimate fulfillment of God’s divine plan.

Also connected to this moment to the two houses of Israel (Identity Crisis) and the ram caught in the thicket during Abraham’s test of faith (Genesis 22). These biblical images point to the fulfillment of God’s promises through the Messiah and the final gathering of His people.

We, as believers are urged to be prepared for the sound of the final trumpet. The importance of understanding God’s prophetic calendar and the Feast of Trumpets, is to reveal the timing of Yeshua’s return. The trumpet blast is a call to repentance, judgment, and redemption for those who are in Christ. The Feast of Trumpets is not just an ancient celebration, it is a prophetic rehearsal for the events that will unfold at the end of the age. As we approach these times, we are encouraged as believers to remain vigilant, study the Scriptures, and be ready for the return of the King!

The sound of the trumpet is not only a warning but also a message of hope for those who trust in Yeshua. The ultimate victory belongs to Christ, and His return will bring about the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan for humanity.

The Last Trumpet: Gathering the Elect

The Feast of Trumpets holds a significant place in the timeline of God’s plan for the end times. Matthew 24:31 says,

“And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Many interpret this as the rapture—the moment when the dead in Christ are raised and those who are alive are caught up with them. In 1 Corinthians 15:52, Paul writes,

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

This event is often misunderstood. The rapture occurs not at the beginning or middle of the tribulation but at the end, coinciding with the sound of the last trumpet on Tishrei 1, the first day of the seventh month in God’s calendar. At this moment, Yeshua will return, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Those who remain alive will be caught up with Him, and this marks the beginning of His millennial reign on Earth.

The 10 Days of Awe: God’s Wrath and the Final Battle

Immediately following the resurrection and rapture is a period known as the 10 Days of Awe. During this time, God’s wrath will be poured out upon the earth. These 10 days represent the final phase of judgment, where the armies of God, led by angels, destroy the remaining enemies of the Lord. The events align with the pattern of ancient Israelite battles. First, the spiritual armies of God will strike, then the people of Israel, in their glorified bodies, will take possession of the land.

The culmination of this process sees the people of God, now purified, reigning alongside Yeshua for 1,000 years. At the sound of the trumpet, the dead are raised, God’s wrath is poured out, and His people claim victory.

Misunderstandings of the Rapture: Timing and Tribulation

The concept of the rapture is often misinterpreted, particularly regarding its timing in relation to the tribulation. Western Christian theology has popularized the notion of a pre-tribulation rapture, suggesting that believers will escape the tribulation altogether. However, this interpretation deviates from Hebrew culture and scriptural patterns. In reality, believers will endure trials and tribulations as a process of purification.

Scriptures like 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, which describe the rapture, are often read out of context. The Lord’s return, accompanied by the trumpet blast, occurs after the Great Tribulation, not before. Many misunderstand this because, as is pointed out in the full teaching, Western theology tends to avoid the idea of suffering. However, God’s people have always been purified through trials. In this context, the tribulation is not God’s wrath but rather a refining process for His people.

The Great Tribulation: Enduring Until the End

In Matthew 24, Yeshua provides a detailed account of the events leading up to His return. He warns of wars, famines, earthquakes, and pestilences—events that signal the beginning of sorrows. Believers will be delivered into tribulation, many will be killed, and false prophets will arise. Yet, Yeshua emphasizes that “he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13). This indicates that the rapture happens after believers have endured tribulation, not before.

Yeshua also mentions the abomination of desolation, prophesied by Daniel, as a key event during the Great Tribulation. When this occurs, those in Judea are instructed to flee. Yeshua’s words in Matthew 24:20-21 show the importance of observing the Sabbath, even in the last days. He says, “Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath,” highlighting the significance of the seventh day, despite modern views that have minimized its importance.

The Return of the King: The Son of Man Appears

After the tribulation, Yeshua describes His return in stunning detail. The sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven. Then, “the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). At this point, the trumpet will sound, and the elect will be gathered.

This marks the fulfillment of Yeshua’s role as the King of kings. He will destroy His enemies, establish His Kingdom on Earth, and prepare for the marriage supper of the Lamb during the Feast of Tabernacles. This begins the 1,000-year reign, known as the millennial reign of Christ.

At the end of Yeshua’s millennial reign, the remaining dead will be resurrected and judged. Those whose names are not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire. This final judgment ushers in a new heaven and a new earth, with the New Jerusalem descending from heaven. This is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan, where eternity begins in perfect harmony with the Father.

Conclusion: The Feast of Trumpets and God’s Prophetic Calendar

The Feast of Trumpets serves as a crucial marker in God’s prophetic timeline. It not only symbolizes Yeshua’s return but also foreshadows the final events of the age—the rapture, the 10 Days of Awe, and the millennial reign. By understanding the significance of this feast and its connection to the return of Yeshua, believers can be prepared for what lies ahead.

Understanding God’s calendar is essential. The patterns of the feast days reveal His plan, and we must align our lives accordingly. The trumpet is sounding, calling God’s people to be ready for the return of the King. Will you heed the call?

If you have not yet accepted Yeshua as your Lord and Savior, now is the time. His return is imminent, and only those covered by His blood will enter into eternal life.

Watch the full teaching of this article here:

TRUMPETS AND THE RAPTURE

Jim Staley