09/14/2025
We are approaching the Feast of Trumpets or Yom Teruah, also known as Rosh Hashanah. This feast calls for a teruah, the awakening blasts of a shofar. The message of the shofar is divine.
First, a shofar blast proclaims royal coronations. God is already King. This day directs our hearts to submit to heaven’s King, and to Yeshua – our Messiah Redeemer who is King of Kings. Yeshua’s voice is shofar blast in Revelation 1:10 to prep us for coronation.
Next, a shofar sounds during the Acharit HaYamim or End of Days. We hear the sound of this season in Isaiah 27:31, Joel 2:1-11, Zephaniah 1:14-16, Matthew 24:31, and Revelation 8:2. In each instance, the transition between our present age and the Age to Come is marked by shofar blasts.
Then, a shofar blast awakens repentance. It calls for self-examination and turning to Him in teshuvah. As Maimonides declares, “Awake you slumberers from your sleep… Remember your Creator, you who forget truth in the vanities of the moment.”
Finally, a heavenly shofar introduces resurrection. At the last trump, the dead will rise (1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16). Rabbi Akiva says that seven shofars announce successive steps of resurrection based on Zechariah 9:14. While God controls the details, all who know this joyful sound are blessed.
A shofar blast does not only point to history or to the beginning of a new Hebrew year. Rather, it teaches us truths about our lives and our need to seize the moment. On this traditional Anniversary of Creation, we draw near to the Almighty, through the gate of Yeshua, because He first drew near to us. We say, L’shanah tovah tikateivu v’techateimu. May you be written and sealed for a good 5784. The number four is the letter Dalet. Since Dalet means door, this year is the year of open doors.