At sundown on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 (the Hebrew month Tishri), Jewish people around the world will celebrate Rosh Hashanah (also called the Feast of Trumpets), which is the festival that marks the Jewish New Year. This holy Jewish holiday is also rich in significance for those who are eagerly awaiting the return of Christ Jesus.
Rosh Hashanah is traditionally known as the day of creation of the world when God remembers all His creatures. Jewish people also believe God passes judgment on His people on Rosh Hashanah and it is called “The Day of Judgment” (yom hadin). A traditional greeting on this day is: “May you be written down in the book of life for a good year.” It is believed that the names of people who are good are written down by God in a book for good — and for life. Those who are not good are blotted out of the book of life. On the first and second days of Rosh Hashanah, the Torah readings include Genesis 21:1-34 and Genesis 22, which chronicle the birth and offering of Isaac.1 Prophetical readings include 1 Samuel 1:1 to 2:10 and Jeremiah 31:2-20.1
Dressing in white on Rosh Hashanah is a sign of the confidence Israel has in God as it comes before Him in judgment. At the end of the devotions, the coming period of repentance — which leads up to Yom Kippur, the “Day of Atonement” — is announced by the loud blasts of a shofar, which is a curved wind instrument made from a ram’s horn. In ancient times, a shofar was used for signals or alarm, to signal an attack, stop an armed pursuit, announce an important event, or for the return home.1
The date of Rosh Hashanah coincides with a new moon. Pastor Mark Biltz of El Shaddai Ministries and others have pointed out that Rosh Hashanah is a festival that: "of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father" (Mark 13:32). The reason for this is that in ancient times, on the 30th day of the month, a special council would gather together to hear the testimony of witnesses who said they had seen the new moon. If there were two trustworthy witnesses who said they saw the new moon that day, the first day of the new month was proclaimed to begin on that day (each Jewish month begins with a new moon).1
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 tells us:
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (emphasis mine)
While we do not know the day or the hour when the Bridegroom will return for His bride, I will certainly be looking up with anticipation this Rosh Hashanah — and future Rosh Hashanahs, should the Bridegroom tarry.
Reference:
1. Universal Jewish Encyclopedia. Varda Books. Skokie, IL, 2009.
