The Prophetic significance of Yom T’Ruah

Introduction

In the article that we published last year, we covered all the basic aspects of the appointed time of Yom T’Ruah. We looked at the instructions we received for keeping this appointed time and also touched on some of the bad and good traditions of this feast. In this article, we will do a study on the prophetic significance of this day for us as believers in Y’Shua the Messiah.

We know that all feasts are a picture of things to come and that the first grouping of feasts (spring feasts) was fulfilled at the first coming of the Messiah. The second grouping of feasts (fall feasts) should therefore give us the picture of Y’Shua’s second coming. As the first feast in this group, Yom T’Ruah should give us some clues as to what will happen during this second coming.

Overview of the cycle of feasts

The Fall feasts consist of Yom T’Ruah, Yom Kippurim and Sukkot. Yom T’Ruah is the first feast after Shavuot (Pentecost), the last of the Spring feasts. If we accept that these groupings give us the picture of Y’Shua’s first and second coming, then the period between these two feasts is then also for us symbolic of the time that we are currently in. Yom T’Ruah (the feast of Trumpets/Blowing/Shouting) is symbolic of the announcement of the start of the second coming of Y’Shua the Messiah. Yom Kippurim (Day of Atonement/Covering), the next fall feast, symbolizes the judgment that will take place after the second coming of Y’Shua and Sukkot (Feasts of Booths/Tabernacles) is the first feast that the Bridegroom will celebrate with His bride. (Some people see the 8th day of Sukkot as a separate feast, we see it as the 8th day of Sukkot as it is described in Scripture).

The feast of Yom T’Ruah

Leviticus 23:23–25
²³ Again YHVH spoke to Moses, saying, ²⁴ “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. ²⁵ ‘You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to YHVH.’ ”

Numbers 29:1–6
¹ ‘Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. It will be to you a day for blowing trumpets. ² ‘You shall offer a burnt offering as a soothing aroma to YHVH: one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs one year old without defect; ³ also their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram, ⁴ and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs. ⁵ ‘Offer one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you, ⁶ besides the burnt offering of the new moon and its grain offering, and the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings, according to their ordinance, for a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to YHVH.

From the scriptures above we see that this feast is to be kept on the first day of the seventh month and that it must be a day of blowing. From the scripture in Leviticus, you will note that the words “of trumpets” are printed in italic in your Bible.  This is to indicate that these words do not exist in the original source text (Hebrew) of the Bible.  These words were inserted by the translators for the sake of clarity or readability. This normally leads to some doctrine or theology of the translators slipping into our translations. The Hebrew word being used here is תְּרוּעָה (târuwʿah) transliterated in English as T’Ruah. From the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament we find the following explanation of the word:

Thus we see that the more common name for the feast, “Day of Trumpets” is not wrong, but it is also not completely accurate and could lead to ideas that we MUST blow a shofar.  This is not true, the most literal translation would require us to make a shout or noise. Blowing a shofar or trumpet is not wrong, but it is also not a requirement.

The second interesting part of this feast is that it is the only one of the moedim that is to be celebrated on the first day of the month.  Thus the feast will also fall on Rosh Chodesh (the beginning/head of the month).

Psalm 81:3–4
³ Blow the trumpet at the new moon, At the full moon, on our feast day. ⁴ For it is a statute for Israel, An ordinance of Elohim of Jacob.

Why does Asaph state that it is a commandment from YHVH to blow the trumpet on the new moon and the full moon? There is no Scripture that requires us to celebrate the full moon as an appointed time.  Rather, what we do have is the cycle of the fall feasts that have Yom T’Ruah on the first day of the month and the beginning of Sukkot on the 15th day of the month.  These feasts are holy convocations where the priest would have blown the silver trumpets in the temple over the offerings of the feast

Numbers 29:12
¹² ‘Then on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work, and you shall observe a feast to YHVH for seven days.

As Rosh Chodesh always happens on the sighting of the new moon, we can never be 100% certain when the first day of the seventh month would be.  This is the reason why this day is also referred to as “the day nobody knows”.  This is also the message that Y’Shua closes the parable of the ten virgins with. Thus, reminding us to always be ready for His second coming.

Matthew 25:13
¹³ “Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

The significance of the feast

When the disciples of Y’Shua asked Him about the day of His return, he did not give them a direct answer.  However, we do find a number of signs that he has given to ensure that we are not being misled.  Y’Shua also explains that after the tribulation, He will appear again “just as lightning comes”.

Matthew 24:29–31
²⁹ “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. ³¹ “And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

In the last verse, we find a connection to Yom T’Ruah.  We see that His angels will be sent out with a great trumpet to gather His remnant from among the nations where He has scattered them.  This is however not a new message.  This same message has been spoken by more than one of the earlier prophets.

Isaiah 27:13
¹³ It will come about also in that day that a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were perishing in the land of Assyria and who were scattered in the land of Egypt will come and worship YHVH in the holy mountain at Jerusalem.

Zechariah 9:14–16
¹⁴ Then YHVH will appear over them, And His arrow will go forth like lightning; And YHVH Elohim will blow the trumpet, And will march in the storm winds of the south. ¹⁵ The Elohim of hosts will defend them. And they will devour and trample on the sling stones; And they will drink and be boisterous as with wine; And they will be filled like a sacrificial basin, Drenched like the corners of the altar. ¹⁶ And YHVH their Elohim will save them in that day As the flock of His people; For they are as the stones of a crown, Sparkling in His land.

Zechariah 10:6–10
⁶ “I will strengthen the house of Judah, And I will save the house of Joseph, And I will bring them back, Because I have had compassion on them; And they will be as though I had not rejected them, For I am YHVH their Elohim and I will answer them. ⁷ “Ephraim will be like a mighty man, And their heart will be glad as if from wine; Indeed, their children will see it and be glad, Their heart will rejoice in YHVH. ⁸ “I will whistle for them to gather them together, For I have redeemed them; And they will be as numerous as they were before. ⁹ “When I scatter them among the peoples, They will remember Me in far countries, And they with their children will live and come back. ¹⁰ “I will bring them back from the land of Egypt And gather them from Assyria; And I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon Until no room can be found for them.

We see in all these scriptures that there will be a calling of the remnant, either by a trumpet blown by YHVH or YHVH will whistle to them. The Bible Knowledge Commentary gives us an explanation of the imagery being used here by Zechariah.

From the context of Zechariah 9-11, we can see that the whistle being referred to here, is most likely the shepherd calling his sheep to return to him.  This is symbolism for the remnant being called from among the nations to return to the land that was promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This could also be seen as the noise being raised by an instrument as per the definition of T’Ruah earlier.

Thus the significance of this feast is that it starts the second coming of the Messiah by calling His people to return. This return can be seen as both spiritual, as in repentance, and physical, back to the land. We get some very clear prophecies from the prophets of who it is that will return.

Jeremiah 16:14–15
¹⁴ “Therefore behold, days are coming,” declares YHVH, “when it will no longer be said, ‘As YHVH lives, who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ ¹⁵ but, ‘As YHVH lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries where He had banished them.’ For I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers.

Jeremiah 30:3
³ ‘For behold, days are coming,’ declares YHVH, ‘when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.’ YHVH says, ‘I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers and they shall possess it.’ ”

Ezekiel 34:13
¹³ “I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land.

Isaiah 43:5–7
⁵ “Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, And gather you from the west. ⁶ “I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring My sons from afar And My daughters from the ends of the earth, ⁷ Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”

Zechariah 10:9–10
⁹ “When I scatter them among the peoples, They will remember Me in far countries, And they with their children will live and come back. ¹⁰ “I will bring them back from the land of Egypt And gather them from Assyria; And I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon Until no room can be found for them.

We see that it is Judah, Israel and “Everyone who is called by My name” that will be called from the North (Assyria), South (Egypt), East and West to return to the land that was promised to the seed of Abraham. Those who are called by His Name could be interpreted as the people who accept the authority of YHVH in their lives (see also Galatians 3:7-9 ).

From the prophet Ezekiel, we see that the return process will include a process of judgment and purification of His people.  This is the purpose of the second appointed time in the cycle, Yom Kippurim.

Ezekiel 20:33–38
³³ “As I live,” declares the YHVH Elohim, “surely with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I shall be king over you. ³⁴ “I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out; ³⁵ and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. ³⁶ “As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” declares YHVH Elohim. ³⁷ “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; ³⁸ and I will purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Thus you will know that I am YHVH.

Those who have accepted YHVH’s authority will be called back and will then be cleansed from those who are rebels and those who transgress against Him. What does this exactly mean.  Let us start by looking at the definitions of the Hebrew being used:

From these definitions, we see that these refer to the people who purposefully defy Him and sin by transgressing His commandments. What would this mean for those who know the commandments have not been done away with, but yet they refuse to obey?  Are they in rebellion and resisting His authority with forethought? Could the same be said for those who do not celebrate the Sabbaths of YHVH? How do we decide what YHVH will consider as revolt?

Zephaniah 3:18
¹⁸ “I will gather those who grieve about the appointed feasts— They came from you, O Zion; The reproach of exile is a burden on them.

Ten days

It is interesting to note that the first of the two Fall feasts (Yom T’Ruah and Yom Kippurim) has no connection with the agricultural calendar. The other feasts can be linked to the harvest being ripe or harvested, but these two are the exception.  Normally in the Bible, the exception is used to draw our attention. It would also imply that these two feasts form a grouping of some sort. That would then imply that the 10 days between them also form a part of this pattern. If Yom T’Ruah is the calling and Yom Kippurim is the opening of the Book of Life (more about this in the next post), these ten days are symbolic of the time we have to ensure that we will not be seen as one of the rebels or transgressors.

As stated earlier, Yom T’Ruah is the one feast that is celebrated at the beginning of the month.  The beginning of the month is also the time of darkness.  We have very little illumination during this time of the moon cycle.  As we move towards Yom Kippurim we are moving towards the light (full moon) and we reach this full light during the feast of Sukkot on the 15th.  Thus, the pattern is to move us from darkness during our calling to the light in order for us to celebrate with our Bridegroom, that is the Light.

John 8:12
¹² Then Y’Shua again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

John 12:35–36
³⁵ So Y’Shua said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. ³⁶ “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Y’Shua spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.

We also see that the period of ten days is known in the Scriptures as a time of testing and tribulation. We see how Daniel and his friends were tested for 10 days to see if they will be blessed if they keep the commandments of YHVH. They were faithful and were blessed in the end.

Daniel 1:12–15
¹² “Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ “Then let our appearance be observed in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.” ¹⁴ So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days. ¹⁵ At the end of ten days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food.

In the future, we also see in the book of Revelation that the congregation of Smyrna will have to face a ten- day tribulation. They are encouraged to be faithful until death and that those who overcome will not be hurt by the wages of sin – death.  We see that those who overcome the tribulation of the ten days will not be hurt by eternal death.

Revelation 2:8–11
⁸ “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: ⁹ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰ ‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. ¹¹ ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’

Romans 6:23
²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of YHVH is eternal life in Messiah Y’Shua our Elohim.

Conclusion

The first two appointed times in the cycle of the fall appointed times are significant in that they make us aware of what the second coming of our Messiah will be about.  We see that we will be called.  Let us not get stuck on the fact that the calling must be a shofar blast, it could be a blast, a shout or a whistle.  We need to keep our spiritual ears attuned to be able to hear His calling. In order to be brought into the bond of the covenant that will allow us to be in the land that was promised to Abraham and his seed, we need to ensure that we are not judged to be a rebel or a transgressor.

We then have a relatively short period to ensure that we are under His covering.  Like the husband provides the covering for his wife, so the Bridegroom provides the covering for His bride.  In order to be His bride, we need to believe in the Light so that we become the sons of the Light.  We also hear from Y’Shua what it means to love Him.

John 14:15
¹⁵ “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

John 14:23
²³ Y’Shua answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.

Thus, if we love Him and keep His commandments, thus moving to the Light, we will be given the crown of life and not be hurt by the second death, the wage of sin.

Let us use Yom T’Ruah and the ten days leading to Yom Kippur as a time of introspection to ensure that we hear His calling and that we are not found to be rebels or transgressors. If we do this, He will provide a covering for us and abode with us during the Feast of Sukkot.

 

References

1. White, W. (1999). 2135 רַֻע. In R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (839). Chicago: Moody Press.
2. Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Zec 10:8–10). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
3. Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.