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The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me (Moses) from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear (Deut. 18:15; NKJV used throughout; Ed. note in parenthesis added). 

I will raise up for them a Prophet like you (Moses) from among their brethren, and will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him (Jn. 7:16-18; 8:28, 38; 12:49-50). ¹⁹ And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which he speaks in My name, I will require it of him (Deut. 18:18-19; Ed. notes in parentheses added). 

And he (Simeon) came by the (God’s Holy) spirit into the temple, and in the parents’ bringing in of the child Jesus for them to perform according to the law concerning him, ²⁸ then he (Simeon) received him (Christ) into his arms, and praised God (Almighty), and said, ²⁹ “Now Master, release your servant in peace according to your word, ³⁰ “for my eyes have seen Thy salvation (through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ; cf. Isa. 52:13-15), ³¹ “whom you have prepared (Rev. 13:8) before the face of all nations. ³² “A light (which ancient Israel failed to be; cf. Jn. 7:19) of revelation ( SHD # 602; disclosure of truth; instruction) to the Gentiles ...” (Lk. 2:27-32a; RNT, Ed. notes in parentheses; emphasis added).

Because Almighty God sent Jesus Christ to be a light to the Gentiles, he would provide the way through which they could observe God’s Holy Days (Jn. 14:6), despite Israel’s failure to do so,

And he (an angel of Almighty God) said to me (Ezekiel): ‘Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day (Eze. 2:3; cf. Jn. 7:19; Ed. notes in parentheses).

During Christ’s earthly ministry there were a number of outstanding examples of Gentiles trusting in, and desiring to obey, the word of Almighty God. These individuals would be among the first of the Gentile nations to obey God’s Holy Days following their repentance and baptism,

And having entered Capernaum, a (Roman) centurion came toward him, entreating him, ⁶ and saying, “Lord, my servant-boy has been cast down in the house, paralyzed, being exceedingly tormented.” ⁷ And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” ⁸ But the centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy for you to come under my (a Gentile’s) roof, but just say the word, and my young servant will be healed. ⁹ For I, too, am a man under authority, with soldiers under me (as Jesus Christ was under his Father’s authority, cf. Josh. 5:13-15; Mt. 26:53), and I say to the one ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to the other ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my servant ‘Do this!’ and he does. ¹⁰ And Jesus, hearing this, marveled, and said to those following, “Amen, I say to you from no one in Israel have I found such faith” (Mt. 8:5-10 cf. Ac. 8:26-38; 10:1-48; RNT, Ed. notes in parentheses; emphasis added)

It is only by faithfully obeying God’s Holy Days that a person can begin to understand Almighty God’s plan of salvation for all who have sinned. This world’s holidays, which are primarily of pagan origin, are a deception by the Adversary to hide the truth about this plan,

You (Jewish religious leaders – but it applies to all the religious systems of this world) are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning (Gen. 3:1-14), and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him (Satan has rejected God’s law, including God’s Holy Days). When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it (Jn. 8:44; Ed. notes in parentheses).

So the great dragon was cast out (of the City of God), that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him (because they too rebelled against God’s law) (Rev. 12:9; Ed. notes in parentheses).

With this brief background, God’s Holy Day which falls on the first day of the seventh month, can now be examined more closely,

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ²⁴ ‘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 (SHD # 8643), a holy convocation. ²⁵ You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord’ (Lev. 23:23-25; Ed. note in parenthesis).

And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. For you it is a day of blowing trumpets (SHD # 8643) (Num. 29:1; Ed. note in parenthesis).

The reason Israel was instructed in the use of trumpets was to make various announcements to the entire nation at one time. To distinguish the difference between announcements, those blowing the trumpets would have to make different blasts and those heard them would need to know what each blast meant, and this is something the apostle Paul commented on,

Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? ⁸ For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle? (1Cor. 14:7-8). 

Ancient Israel was given clear instructions regarding the different signals that were to be given using two silver trumpets,

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ² “Make two silver trumpets (SHD # 2689) for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them for calling the assembly and for directing the movement of the camps. ³ When they (sons of Aaron; cf. vs. 8) blow both of them (possibly a steady and continuous blast), all the assembly shall gather before you at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. ⁴ But if they blow only one (possibly a steady and continuous blast), then the elders, the heads of the divisions of Israel, shall gather to you. ⁵ When you sound the advance (SHD # 8643; blast for marching – possibly interrupted blasts of only one trumpet; cf. vs. 9), the camps that lie on the east side shall then begin their journey (cf. Nu. 2:3). ⁶ When you sound the advance the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall begin their journey; they shall sound the call for them to begin their journeys (until all four divisions of Israel were on the move; cf. Nu. 2:10-34). ⁷ And when the congregation is to be gathered together, you shall blow (steady blast), but not sound the advance (interrupted blasts). ⁸ The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and these shall be to you (ancient Israel under the Levitical priesthood) as a statute forever throughout your (the nation of Israel’s) generations. ⁹ When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets (both of them – possibly in an interrupted manner), and you will be remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be saved from your enemies. ¹⁰ Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months (Nu. 28:11), you shall blow the trumpets (both of them) over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the Lord your God (Num. 10:1-10; Ed. notes in parentheses).

In the section of scripture above, God instructed ancient Israel on the use of two silver trumpets for assembling, journeying, and preparing for war, and over their festival offerings. As Israel was still wandering in the wilderness when these instructions were given (Nu. 10:11), the intricate work of fashioning these two trumpets would not occur immediately. Regarding the work of the tabernacle in the wilderness, all the silver gathered was cast into sockets of the sanctuary, bases of the veil, hooks for the pillars, overlaid their capitals, and made bands for them (Ex. 38:27-28). There is no mention of any of silver being allocated for trumpets, and it appears that almost thirty-eight years would pass before these silver trumpets would be used for the first time (Nu. 31:6). God instructed Israel to use trumpets made from ram’s horns when Joshua led them to Jericho,

And the Lord said to Joshua: ‘See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. ³ You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. ⁴ And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets (SHD # 7782) of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times and the priests shall blow the trumpets. ⁵ Then it shall come to pass when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat… (Josh. 6:2-5a; Ed. note in parenthesis).

So far in this document, the English word “trumpets” has been translated from a number of different Hebrew words (SHD #’s 8643, 2689, and 7782). In order to understand the purpose behind observing the holy day on the first of the seventh month, the Hebrew meaning of SHD # 8643 needs to be examined because this is the word used in both scriptures associated with this appointed time (Lev. 23:23-25; Num. 29:1),

1)     alarm, signal, sound of tempest, shout, shout or blast of war or alarm or joy

a)     alarm of war, war-cry, battle-cry

b)    blast (for march)

c)     shout of joy (with religious impulse)

d)    shout of joy (in general)

This word is associated with an action more than a specific type of trumpet. From the definitions above it can be seen that the main theme is success in battle, which Joshua experienced when the walls of Jericho came down (Josh. 6:2-5a). In the book of Revelation, there are visions of a heavenly battle involving spirit-beings and trumpets are blown in heaven,

When he (Jesus Christ) opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God and to them were given seven trumpets (Rev. 8:1-2; Ed. note in parenthesis; emphasis added).

As mankind does not wrestle against flesh and blood, but with unseen rebellious spirit-beings, the visions in the book of Revelation are described using symbolic language, and most of the activities are directed against these spirit-beings, 

For we (human beings) do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly (spiritual) places (Eph. 6:12; Ed. notes in parentheses).

The judgments described in the book of Revelation are aimed first and foremost at Satan and the fallen host who followed him (Rev. 12:4, 9). Therefore, when phrases such as “a third of the trees” are used (Rev. 8:7), these symbolic terms should be understood in the context of  spiritual forces of evil,

To which of the trees in Eden will you (Satan) then be likened in glory and greatness? Yet you shall be brought down with the trees (other rebellious spirit-beings) of Eden to the depths of the earth; you shall lie in the midst of the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword (these evil spirit-beings will become flesh and blood, and die) (Eze. 31:18a; Ed. notes in parentheses; emphasis added).

Many claim to understand the book of Revelation, but they fail to see that most of the activities in this prophetic work are directed toward the fallen host of heaven whose judgment will occur at the return of Jesus Christ. This important truth is essential to correctly understanding God’s Holy Day on the first day of the seventh month of each year,

Then I saw an angel (of Almighty God) coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit (a place of restraint for the fallen host) and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1; Ed. notes in parentheses; emphasis added).

Part of the judgment in the book of Revelation will involve battles between Christ’s army and that of the fallen host,

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And he (Jesus Christ) who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war (Rev. 19:11; Ed. note in parenthesis; emphasis added). 

As Satan was bound in the bottomless pit (Rev. 20:1), Satan and his system of governing, including the other rebellious angels, symbolically comprise “the beast” that Christ is going to overcome in battle,

The beast that you saw (in vision) was (actively functioned), and is not (was restrained for awhile; cf. Rev. 20:1-2), and will ascend out of the bottomless pit (after the millennium under Jesus Christ) and go to destruction (Rev. 17:8a; Rev. 20:7-10; Ed. notes in parentheses; emphasis added). 

And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads (Satan and his epochs of government) (Rev. 12:3; Ed. note in parenthesis).

This beast represents Satan and his system of governing in the realm of the fallen host. Satan grants certain privileges and positions to certain fallen angels that he feels can serve his agenda. As the return of Christ challenges Satan’s position and authority, he will cater to those under him in order to garner all their support. This way Satan will have a united front, or confederation, against Christ’s forces,

And the ten horns which you saw (in vision) are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet (some of the fallen host have been given a title by Satan, but no jurisdiction), but they receive authority (a jurisdiction from Satan) for one hour as kings with the beast (Satan and his system of governing; cf. Rev. 13:2). ¹³ These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority for one hour (limited period of time) to the beast (they will cooperate and support Satan and his government system). ¹⁴ These will make war with the Lamb (Jesus Christ; cf. Jn.1:29), and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings (by delegation from Almighty God); and those who are with him are called, chosen, and faithful (Rev. 17:12-14; Mt. 20:16; Ed. notes in parentheses). 

It is this period of time leading up to the judgment of Satan, and his forces, that the holy day described as “a day of blowing trumpets” pictures, in a prophetic sense. It falls annually on the first day of the seventh month on God’s calendar (not the secular calendars in use today; see the studies under: God’s Holy Days). This holy day coincides with the New Moon of the seventh month, and by the burnt offerings that God commanded ancient Israel to provide, it can be seen that this day is to be regarded as a High Day (cf. Jn. 19:31). All the offerings given on a regular New Moon (Num. 28:11-15) were to be increased by another ten animals and their associated grain and drink offerings (Num. 29:1-6).

Joshua’s battle at Jericho, during which seven trumpets were blown, was a forerunner of the battle that will take place at Christ’s return with seven trumpets being blown in the heavenly realm. So Joshua’s battle was a type of the battle that will occur in the future under Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the name “Joshua” in Hebrews 4:8 is translated from the Greek word “Iesous” (Jesus), which came from the Hebrew name Yeshua. Yeshua is translated “Joshua” in the Old Testament. Therefore, the words Joshua and Jesus have the same meaning. Joshua went against a spiritually unclean nation (Gentiles) and Jesus Christ will likewise fight against the unclean spirits that have influenced mankind for thousands of years.

Therefore, each year that “the day of blowing trumpets” is observed, those faithfully observing this holy day are being reminded that Jesus Christ’s return to judge the fallen host, and mankind, will commence with trumpets being blasted in the heavenly realm. When this event occurs, Satan and his rebellious host will know their time to influence affairs on this planet is coming to a quick conclusion,

Therefore rejoice O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time (Rev. 12:12).

Those who are keeping God’s law and commandments will be aware of the fulfillment of the holy day on the first day of the seventh month,

Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets (Am. 3:7). 

No longer do I (Christ) call you (his disciples) servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you (Jn. 15:15; Ed. note in parenthesis). 

The secret things belong to the Lord our God; those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law (Deut. 29:29; emphasis added). 

The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him (Ps. 25:14a).

Only those who have a deep respect for God’s law (Ps. 25:14a) and are seeking to follow the will of Almighty God, as expressed in His law and commandments, are going to be aware when trumpets are blown in heaven. They will be given the ability to know when this activity occurs because they are observing God’s Holy Day on the first day of the seventh month according to God’s calendar. For everyone else alive at that time, Christ’s return will come suddenly and unexpectedly,

“For just as the days of Noah, so shall be the presence of the Son of Man (Jesus Christ). 38 “For as they were in those days before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day in which Noah went into the wooden vessel, 39 “they did not know until the flood came and took up everyone; so also will be the presence of the Son of Man (Mt. 24:37-39; RNT, Ed. note in  parenthesis).

God’s Holy Days are an overview of God’s plan of salvation, and only those who observe them each year are able to understand His plan and be aware of events as they unfold. The first day of the seventh month is a High Day that pictures an announcement in heaven proclaiming that Satan’s system of governing is going to be replaced swiftly by God’s government under the leadership of Jesus Christ. Then, and only then, will the law and commandments of Almighty God be “done on earth as they are in heaven” (Mt. 6:10), 

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord (Almighty God) and of His Christ, and He (Almighty God) shall reign forever!” (Rev. 11:15; cf. 1Cor.15:24-28; Ed. notes in parentheses).

This document is the collaborative work of individuals who believe God's truth should be given freely (Mt. 10:8; 1Cor. 2:12; 2Cor.11:7; Rom. 10:14-21) and the message of the one true God should be made available to all nations (Mt. 24:14) as a prerequisite to the return of Jesus Christ as King of kings (Mt. 17:10; 19:17; Mk. 9:11; Lk. 1:17; Rev. 19:11-16).

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