Meaning of the Feast of Trumpets

(Properly Feast of Acclamation)

The Feast/Day of Trumpets (Feast of Acclamation) celebrates the marriage of the ascended Church to Christ.  This marriage provides the foundation for expansion of the family of God – those in the second resurrection are the children whom the wife will help Christ bring into the family of God.

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Pentecost is the Holy Day picturing completion of the first stage of God’s plan of salvation – the entire first stage being about preparation of the bride (the Church) for marriage to Christ after the first resurrection.

Rev 19:7 

“…Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;…” [RSV].

The Feast of Trumpets, this festival, is a particularly joyous occasion, as it celebrates the marriage of the Lamb (Christ) to the Church – at that time the Church being the ascended Saints. This marriage, as with all marriages, provides the foundation for creation of a new family through producing children – the children being those who choose God’s way of life after taking part in the second resurrection. These spiritual children will be the result of the marriage and are what the second stage of the plan of salvation is about. There is also an associated meaning to the Feast of Trumpets, which explains why the Day is commanded to be a memorial (Lev 23:24) – it has to do with ancient Israel remembering its marriage vows to God at Sinai (symbolizing the spiritual union in the New Covenant, after the first ascension).

These matters will now be addressed in detail, thereby explaining the true meaning of this Festival.

Clarifying the Name of the Festival

Compared to the other Holy Days it seems we are not told very much about this festival, except that it is to be a memorial (Lev 23:24). However, to a large extent, the real meaning of the festival has been hidden in the poor rendering of a crucial word in some of the more well-known translations of Lev 23:24 and Num 29:1, which means the memorial event is also not understood properly. The mistranslation relates to the name of the festival itself and accordingly, this is the aspect to be addressed first.

In the New King James translation of Lev 23:24 we have the following:

“…‘Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation’…” [NKJV].

However, in Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) we have a faithful rendering of the original Hebrew word “teruwa” and it reads as follows:

“…'Speak unto the sons of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first of the month, ye have a Sabbath, a memorial of shouting, a holy convocation;’…” [YLT].

Green's Interlinear Bible (GIB) supports Young’s rendering and uses the word “acclamation” to portray the sense of the Hebrew word “teruwa”:

“…'Speak to the sons of Israel saying, In the seventh month, on the first of the month, you shall have a Sabbath, a memorable acclamation, a holy gathering…” [GIB].

The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) echoes both Young and Green in using the word “acclamation”:

“…'Speak to the Israelites and say: "The first day of the seventh month will be a day of rest for you, of remembrance and acclamation, a sacred assembly…” [NJB].

Also echoing the sense, but more literally, Keil translates the Hebrew word “teruwa” as “joyful noise”.

Regarding the phrase “blowing of trumpets”, in the authorized version and other well known translations, Barnes states,

“Here and in Num 29:1, literally ‘shouting’. There is no mention of trumpets in the Hebrew text of the Law in connection with the day.”

Simply by looking at the word which names the festival, already we can see a very different meaning coming through which is in opposition to the traditional understanding concerning the Day. On the surface, the different name of the festival may not appear to be a very important difference in translation, but the reality is precisely the opposite – the two Hebrew words normally used for trumpet are as follows: 

shophar (shofar) – horn or ram’s horn: meaning trumpet or cornet and generally used in a call for war (also seen in Judge 3:27; 6:34; 1Sam 13:3; 2Sam 15:10; and 20:1); and

chatsotserah (khatsotseraw) – trumpet or clarion: meaning trumpet and was used as the priest’s sound of alarm (also seen in 2Chron 13:12-16 and Num 31:6). 

These trumpet calls have nothing to do with the Feast of “Trumpets” per sé. They (trumpets) were also to be sounded at the beginning of every new month and at the time of various offerings (Num 10:10). Accordingly, while it is certain that trumpets would have been sounded, this was simply a matter of course for every month of the year and every annual festival and has nothing to do with the name of this festival. Trumpets would simply have been part of the musical accompaniment in accordance with the command in Num 10:10. This festival would be more appropriately called Day of Acclamation, or the “Feast of Acclamation”, which also portrays the sense of approval and joyfulness, as opposed to war and alarm.

Why the Feast of Acclamation is to be a Memorial

Not only is this festival to be centred on acclamation, it is to be a memorial or remembrance of something deserving of acclamation:

Lev 23:24

“…'Speak to the Israelites and say: The first day of the seventh month will be a day of rest for you, of remembrance and acclamation, a sacred assembly’…” [NJB].

The Oxford Dictionary defines acclamation as, “loud and eager assent to a proposal and/or shouting in a person’s honour”. The very first instance where we see an acclamation is in Job 38:7, which is where it is recorded that ALL the angels sang and shouted for joy after the original creation of the universe by the Word (Christ) – creation of the universe being the setting of the foundations for Earth.

Job 38:6-7

“…6 ‘To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?’...” [NKJV]

The word “teruwa” comes from the Hebrew “ruwa” (used here in Job), which is translated as joyful shouting. This is the first recorded acclamation in the Bible and it was given by all the angels. Furthermore, it had to do with the foundation that commenced the physical phase of God’s creation – it provided the cosmological foundation for Earth, which would be both the cradle and the testing ground for mankind. The angels looked forward with eagerness to fulfil their purpose in being ministering spirits to the “heirs of salvation” (humanity) – Heb 1:14.

However, impressive as it was, creation of the universe as the foundation for Earth was only a type of the true foundation, which was the creator himself – the Word (Jesus). He is the personification of God's way of life, which is the foundation for the Kingdom of God. As the foundation of God’s way of life he is shown in Eph 5:24-25 as the head of the family, the husband who gave his life for his wife and ultimately for the entire family. The foundation to be celebrated is none other than God's way of life which is bound up in the marriage covenants, old and new. As this foundation expands, by being embraced by those not in the Godhead, God's plan of creation expands; His government expands and this is done symbolically through marriage. Fully participating in God’s way of life can only be through marriage, which is shown by the Old and New Covenants (see section below headed, "Marriage of the Church to Christ").

For the New Testament Church, the Feast of Acclamation/Trumpets is both a memorial of the Old Covenant (marriage contract) between God and physical Israel, as well as a shadow pointing to the future New Covenant (eternal marriage contract), thereby being the cause for great  celebration. These Covenants, which are marriage contracts, are both about living God's way of life. Not holding onto the Old Covenant as a memorial was a continual curse for Israel, whereas had they remembered the Covenant and that they were married to God they would have reaped the blessings of the Covenant and been an example to the surrounding nations.

Jesus as the Foundation

As the Word, Jesus brought (taught) God’s way to the first humans through the tree of life and that way was freely available to them: 

Gen 2:9, 16-17

“…9 And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground — trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil…”

“…16 And the LORD God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.’…" [NIV].

In the NT Christ further indicates, in John 6:63, that it is his words, his teachings, that are the way to life:

“…‘The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.’…” [NIV].

These words, these teachings from Jesus that give life are actually from God about His way of life, which is why “they” give life – John 8:28:

“…‘So’ Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am [the one I claim to be] and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.’…” [NIV].

Jesus received the way of salvation (God’s way of life) directly from the Father and he taught that way to the very first humans. After teaching that way, he came to Earth as a human himself and lived that way, perfectly, as an example for us. This is why Jesus is the foundation – he is God’s way personified. God's way of life is embodied in the Old and New Covenants as marriage contracts – so, by remembering the Covenants we remember and strive to live God's way of life, of which Christ is the foundation.

The Foundation Expands

The principal analogy God uses to describe His spiritual nation, His Church, is that of a building – a temple. In this analogy we have a picture of how God's people are to function individually and what will be their individual rewards and responsibilities. However, all these individuals operate as one in accordance with one way of life – God's way of life – which is the foundation for all proper activity. The most visual expression of the expanding foundation, way of life, or government is given to us in Dan 2:34-35;

"...34 You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth..." [NKJV].

Initially, Christ alone was the foundation – the cornerstone is actually the foundation of the foundation:

Isaiah 28:16:

"…‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;’...” [NKJV].

After the Father taught of the way of salvation to the Word he passed on those teachings to the prophets, then to the apostles. They, as teachers and doers of that way, then also became part of the foundation of God’s way:

Eph 2:20

“…built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone…” [NIV].

The people of this age may not be able to understand Biblical examples regarding foundations as readily as those in the first century Church, simply because foundations are not the same these days as they were then. The typical building foundation of today consists of a slab of concrete atop footings (deeper concrete) around the perimeter of the slab. However, anciently the foundation consisted of many solid blocks of stone which were hewn to fit perfectly together – the surface of the finished product looking like a floor with huge tiles. The starting point would be at a corner (the chief cornerstone) and the position of this block would determine the line and level of the remaining blocks in the foundation. Jesus is referred to as “the chief cornerstone”, because he set us the example we are to follow – just as the blocks of stone in an actual foundation follow the line and level of the chief cornerstone.

Like the prophets and apostles, we too are to follow the example of Jesus in living God’s way of life:

1Peter 2:21:

“…To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps…” [NIV].

In the analogy given in Ephesians chapter 2, it is the firstfruits alone who will be the temple built on this foundation:

Eph 2:20-22

“…20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,  21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit…” [NKJV].

How the Name Affected Traditional Understanding

Because this Day is both an annual High Day (Holy Day) and because it is always on the first day of the month, there would have to be a double sounding of trumpets in accordance with the Biblical instruction regarding new moons and offerings made on Holy Days (Num 10:10 and Psa 81:3). It is most likely this is how the festival acquired the misleading name “Feast of Trumpets”. To the Israelites trumpets were the significant and audible physical difference which separated this festival from the others and therefore applying the term “trumpets” to it would have seemed reasonable. While the obvious colloquialism has endured, it has had serious repercussions regarding understanding the true meaning of the Day.

Due to the traditional name of this festival, the Churches of God have always associated the day with “sounds of alarm” and “the call to war”, which led to the view that the day pictured the return of Jesus to Earth and the time when there would be literal war between him and the nations of Earth. To the Church of God, the festival became synonymous with celebrating a call to war. God has never advocated such celebration. In fact God expresses sorrow in Joel 1:15, where He speaks of the “Day of the Lord” – triggered by the battle of Armageddon, which is just prior to the return of Jesus:

“…Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come…” [KJV]

In Amos 5:18 God expresses personal sorrow for those who long for the destruction of others at this time:

 “…Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD? That day will be darkness, not light…” [NIV]

We ought to be celebrating this festival, but for the right reason and that reason is NOT war – the reason has to do with “joyful shouting” or “acclamation”, which meaning is far removed from an alarm of war. The name of this festival has to do with joyful acclamations NOT an alarm of war – celebrating something JOYFUL is the real meaning of this festival and is therefore diametrically opposite to that which has been previously taught in the Church of God!

In view of the above, henceforth this festival shall be referred to by its correct name, the “Feast/Day of Acclamation”.

Marriage of the Church to Christ – Fulfilment of the New Covenant

Some have thought to attach Christ's return to the Feast of Acclamation and have that event as the cause for celebration, but since his return is to be prior to the first resurrection (ascension), such celebration would have to be prior to the Feast of Pentecost, not after. The Feast of Pentecost depicts the first resurrection and the very next spiritual event following our ascension is marriage of the Church to Christ, the Lamb of God. In this section it will be shown how that marriage relates directly to the Feast of Acclamation.

Who or what is the bride of Christ? For those who participate in the first ascension this is an important question, because the Church of God always taught that the bride is the Church which will be married to Christ at his second coming. Are we, the Church, indeed to be the bride of Christ? The answer to this question is an emphatic, "yes" and is given to us very plainly in Rom 7:4,

“…Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another — to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God…” [NKJV].

Just as God’s Old Covenant with ancient Israel was a marriage contract between it and God, so too is the New Covenant a marriage contract between the Church (spiritual Israel) and the Word of God (Jesus). The Old Covenant was the physical type for the New Covenant and it was the marriage that was to be remembered – the contract to live God's way of life in exchange for Him being the provider and protector. The Old Covenant relationship is made clear in Jeremiah 3:14, where God said:

"…‘Return, O backsliding children,’ says the LORD; ‘for I am married to you.’…” [NKJV].

However, as the New Covenant is an agreement involving the promise of eternal life the actual marriage cannot take place until we are made immortal through the resurrection. Although, at present the Church is said to be betrothed, not yet married, the symbolism in the Bible makes it plain that the Church is to behave as though it was already married. Christ is already described as the head of the Church, which figuratively is the body (the wife):

Col 1:18 

“…And he is the head of the body, the Church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence…” [KJV].

Eph 5:23 

“…For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church: and he is the saviour of the body…” [KJV].

Of course, knowing that there is to be no marrying or giving in marriage in the Kingdom of God (Matt 22:30) may cause some to have concerns with this view. However, there is no need for unease because the bride is always spoken of in terms of analogy. The marriage analogies are prophecies that always intend to define the new level of working relationship that will exist between Jesus and the resurrected saints. The physical marriages with which we are familiar are only shadowy types of the real marriage, working relationship, that is to take place between the Lamb (Jesus) and the Church. The prospect of this marriage gives rise to three principal questions, as follows:

1. Are we, the Church, indeed to be the bride of Christ?

2. What happens as a result of the marriage?

3. What is the purpose of the marriage?

1.   Are we, the Church, indeed to be the bride of Christ?

Yes! The answer to this question is given to us very plainly in Rom 7:4:

“…Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another – to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God…” [NKJV].

2.   What happens as a result of the marriage?

The result of any marriage is that the two become one and this is given to us in Gen 2:24:

“…Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh…” [NKJV].

Spiritually, the Church becomes one with Christ – of one mind, purpose, intent and spirit. Individuality is retained, but character and purpose become alike to the extent that the entities are equally predictable in nature. While the individual entities go to form the temple of God (Eph 2:21-22) and the foundation (Eph 2:20), as the wife they are now collectively part of the one living, dynamic building which is to grow and fill Earth entirely.

3.   What is the purpose of the marriage?

The purpose of any marriage is to multiply and indeed this is a command from God as seen Gen 1:28 when He spoke to Adam and Eve:

“…Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply;’…” [NKJV].

In this regard, the spiritual reality is no different than its physical type and this is shown in Rom 7:4:

“…Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another — to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God…” [NKJV].

In this verse, the Greek word karpophoreo is rendered “bear fruit”. This particular word can either mean literal fruit, produce, or good works. The context of the Scripture concerns marriage to Christ and bearing fruit in the future tense. Under the circumstances we may conclude that this bearing of fruit refers to increasing the family of God by being a suitable helper to Christ in bringing the remainder of humanity into the family of God as His children. When these people are ascended to the family of God at the Last Great Day they will also become part of the great stone of Dan 2:35 (typifying God's government) – expanding exceedingly to complete this phase of the plan of creation involving man. The promise of the ongoing nature of God’s plan of creation is given to us in Isaiah 9:7:

“…Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and for ever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this…” [NIV].

The celebrations surrounding the marriage of the Lamb of God (Christ) to the spiritually ascended Church may now be properly understood. The resurrected saints, being God entities, also have the nature of God and therefore do not involve themselves in self-indulgent activities. Accordingly, the wedding feast is NOT a celebration for the purpose of the recently ascended congratulating themselves on a job well-done. The wedding feast is celebrated as a festive occasion on this Feast Day of Acclamation because the way is now prepared for the purpose of benefiting the remainder of humanity – helping them to become literal spirit-born children of God in the second and final stage of God's plan of salvation for mankind. Accordingly, the Feast of Acclamation being understood as symbolizing the Lamb's marriage properly sits between the two stages of God's plan of salvation for man – the first stage preparing the way for the marriage of the Lamb of God and the second stage being the result of the marriage of the Lamb of God to the ascended Church.

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 God’s annual Holy Days, showing the plan of salvation.

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The Day of Atonement pictures the reconciliation to God, of those in the second resurrection, through Jesus paying the death penalty for their sins. It also pictures God literally binding Satan during their time of testing.