Sounding of the Trumpet

O. T. #291  "Sounding of the Trumpet"
May 19, 2014
Leviticus 23-Part 2
We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. 1 Cor. 15:51-52

LET IT GLOW

I remember one Sunday morning when a guy in our church went through the hall blowing his trumpet. We were studying that key verse in Sunday School. What a wake up call! What reality! One day that trumpet will sound and Christians will be taken to heaven. Are you ready?

This chapter tells about the seven feast which the Israelites were told to observe. We previously discussed the first four. Today we will look at the last three.

1. Passover
2. Unleavened Bread
3. Firstfruits
4. Pentecost

5. Feast of Trumpets (verses 23-25)

On the first day of the seventh Jewish month (Sept.-Oct.) was a time of the feast of trumpets. The Lord had given Israel instructions to follow whenever they heard the trumpets sound. It indicated a time for them to gather in an assembly and a time of war. This was a day of rest, intended to awaken Israel for preparing for the rest of the month's events.


6. Day of Atonement (verses 26-32)

Previously, this feast was discussed in chapters 16-17. It was to be observed on the tenth day of the seventh month. It was the day the high priest, Aaron went into the Holy of Holies, once a year, to offer the blood sacrifice for the removal, carried away, of the sins of the nation Israel. The blood was put on the Mercy Seat. These rituals did not remove the sins, since they were repeated year after year, but were covered with the blood. The Jews salvation came by faith in this process. Our comes by faith in the grace of God through Jesus' blood. His blood became an atonement for our sins. Have your sins been washed in the blood of the Lamb of God?

No work was to be done on that day from sundown on the ninth to sundown on the tenth, as Israel reckoned time. Instead, they were to see the work of the high priest. (Falwell)

7. Feast of Tabernacles (verses 33-44)

This feast was observed for eight days, from the 15-22 of the 7th month. On the first and last days of this feast, Israel was to observe a Sabbath of rest, in addition to the regular Saturday Sabbath.

This feast commemorated God's deliverance, protection, and provision during the wilderness wanderings of the Exodus. It was also known as the Feast of Booths and Feast of Ingathering. the people lived in booths or huts made from limbs, remembering their wilderness experience. It also celebrated the autumn harvest and will be celebrated in the Millennium. (MacArthur)

Has God delivered you from your wilderness.


LET IT GROW

How are these significant in the New Testament and today?

• The Feast of Trumpets illustrates the regathering of Israel when God's trumpets call them from the ends of the earth (Is. 27:12-13) and the words of Christ (Matt. 24:29-31). The church awaits the sound of the trumpet and the return of our Lord Jesus Christ in the air (1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:13-18). Once His children are off the earth, God will declare war on the nations. (Wiersbe)
• When God finally gathers the Jews together, He will reveal Christ to them. Israel's future Day of Atonement is described in Zech. 12:10-13:1). It will be a day of mourning for sin, a day of cleansing by the blood of the Lamb. Certainly at the Judgment Seat of Christ, the church will be cleansed of all defilement and be made beautiful for the marriage of the Lamb. (Wiersbe)
• The feast of Tabernacles speaks of the future millennial kingdom that God has promised the Jews. We don't know when the trumpets will sound, so we need to be ready for the coming of our Lord Jesus. 

Jesus attended the Feast of Tabernacles in John 7:2, 37). During this feast they brought water from the pool of Siloam and poured it out to remember how God supplied them with water in the wilderness.  Then, Jesus told men to come to Him and drink (John 7:37-39). Israelites lighted the area with torches to commemorate the fiery pillar in the wilderness. Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). (Falwell)

Are we ready for the final trumpet to sound and Jesus returns to take His children home?

LET IT GO

Be ready for the final trumpet.

Share the gospel of Jesus so others are prepared.

Keep praying for others.

Thank God for His deliverance from my wilderness wandering.