Could the Rapture happen on the Feast of Trumpets?
Nathan Jones: Another Rosh Hashanah has come and gone this year, leaving a lot of disappointed Christians behind who have been anxious for Christ’s return. Some have already begun looking to October 2-4, 2024, which is the next Feast of Trumpets, as a possible return. Are they justified in putting any hope on that date?
Tim Moore: I find out of the seven Jewish feasts the most exciting to be the Feast of Trumpets. This feast in particular is something that many Christians have been looking forward to for a long time. We are joined by Dr. David Bowen and our Jewish expert, Dr. Richard Hill, who is the messianic Jewish pastor of Beth Yeshua Messianic Congregation in Las Vegas, to help us better understand if the Feast of Trumpets is significant to the Rapture. Should Christians be excited about the Feast of Trumpets?
David Bowen: I don’t know about the Jewish side of this feast, but from the Gentile side, when we Christians all hear a trumpet blast, then we know that something good is about to happen — the Rapture of the Church.
Richard Hill: As a Messianic Jew, I too am looking forward to the Rapture.
Tim Moore: Okay, Richard, as our Jewish expert, where did we get this idea that the Feast of Trumpets is tied to the Rapture of the Church? What references in Scripture point to this conclusion?
Richard Hill: We have to turn to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”” There’s that little blessing at the end in verse 18, “Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
Tim Moore: That does sound comforting, but I don’t read the word “rapture” in that verse.
Richard Hill: “Rapture” may not be written there, but in verse 17 we read “caught up” or “snatching away.” That term is harpazo in the original Greek. The word “rapture” comes from the Latin translation of the Greek which is rapio or rapturo, and transliterated into the English word “rapture”. So, this passage in 1 Thessalonians 4 contains the teaching about being taken or snatched away from this earth. Critics will claim the word “rapture” is not there, but the meaning is. And, if anyone wishes to read the Latin translation of the Bible — Jerome’s language — they will find the word spelled out.
David Bowen: Will there be a one-world government someday? Will there be a one-world monetary system? Will there be a one-world religion? Yes, there will, but the Bible doesn’t use those words, and yet the teaching is there. You cannot find the word “trinity” in the Bible. Nor is the word “Bible” in the Bible. And yet, these are words we use to explain concepts in or about the Bible.
When it comes to understanding the concept of the Rapture, it’s important that we understand its roots in the Jewish feasts. When the trumpet was blown during the Feast of Trumpets, the blowing signified repentance and pointed to the covenant relationship the Jewish people had with God.
So, concerning the Church, how does one get raptured? We have to repent. We have to be in that right relationship with God. If we don’t have repentance and relationship, as the Jewish roots of the Feast of Trumpets teach us, then we’re not going to hear the trumpet blast associated with the Rapture.
Nathan Jones: Dr. Hill, how then does the Rapture tie to Rosh Hashanah? Many Christians are waiting to be raptured, but why are some considering the Feast of Trumpets — Rosh Hashanah — as the event that points to the Rapture?
Richard Hill: Rosh Hashanah is the term that is used by the rabbis today for Yom Teruah. We go back in the Scriptures to Leviticus 23 where we see this mystery feast that involves a day for blowing the trumpets. Does anybody really know why they blow the trumpets? Yes, the blowing of the trumpet is a call to repentance for the Jewish people who actually repent later on Yom Kippur. So, we have one feast looking forward to the next feast. What do you do on this feast? You blow the trumpet, you rest, and you worship God.
Hearers of the Trumpet Blast
Nathan Jones: Likewise, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 teaches that during the great catching up — the Rapture — a trumpet is blown calling those saved up to the clouds to meet Jesus in the air and who will take them to Heaven. I’ve always wondered, though, if the Rapture trumpet when it is blown only heard by believers in Christ, or will all people on the earth hear it. I don’t think the Bible addresses this question, but what’s your take?
Richard Hill: There’s nothing really in the Scripture that indicates that the shofar blast will be heard by the whole world. I do personally believe that it will be heard by just believers and that the trumpet is actually going to be blown from Heaven. And so, it’ll be a call just for Christians — just the believers in Christ — the Church. The trumpet calls Christians up to meet Jesus in the air.
David Bowen: Remember that the Jewish people alone heard the call of the trumpet as they were the only ones celebrating Rosh Hashanah. Hearing the trumpet was part of the celebration. And, the key to this feast was listening to the trumpet. It was an obligation to be fulfilled. They had to hear it with the right heart and the right attitude. Once they heard the trumpet, they also had to willingly obey it by repenting. Christians, too, have to be willing to obey God’s word and repent. This concept ties together both the Old and New Testaments.
Tim Moore: I’m reminded of Jesus who said, “My sheep hear my voice” (John 10:27). Not everyone hears Christ’s voice as He calls, but his sheep certainly can hear His voice. That’s why I believe the Rapture trumpet will only be heard by believers in Christ.
Richard Hill: There’s a second fulfillment to this feast as well for the nation of Israel and that involves a future repentance. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the Jewish people have to hear a trumpet from Heaven, as they’re blowing the shofar here on Earth and all over the world. They’re calling to national repentance is going to occur during the Tribulation time period.
Nathan Jones: Is that why there are the “Ten Days of Awe” that follow the Feast of Trumpets? After the Rapture, there will be a short gap of time followed by seven years of the Tribulation?
Richard Hill: Likely, yes. That’s why the Tribulation primarily prepares the Jewish people to come to repentance at the end of the Tribulation period — that “time of Jacob’s trouble.” At the end, coinciding with the Feast of Atonement, that is when the Jewish people as a nation will be saved (Romans 11:26).
A Marriage Restored
Tim Moore: I think it’s important for Christians, both Gentile and Jew, to realize that we’re looking forward to the Feast of Trumpets because it does indeed symbolize Jesus Christ coming for His Bride, the Church. The Rapture first takes place before the Tribulation. Christ collects the Church and brings us to the place that He’s prepared for us — Heaven.
But, that’s not the end of the sequence of the feasts or of redemption. There’s another feast that follows, that is the Feast of Atonement, also called Yom Kippur, for the redemption of Israel and the Tribulation Saints. The Rapture, therefore, is only a part of Christ’s redemption story. God’s promise and provision to the Jewish people continues after the blowing of the trumpet and the collecting of the Church as described in 1 Thessalonians 4.
Richard Hill: But, that’s not the end of the story. God has a plan for the redemption of Israel. You could say that God “remarries” His “divorced wife” Israel, at the end of the Tribulation period. That’s when God’s redemptive plan all comes together as Jesus returns with the Church and together we enter into the Messianic Kingdom.
Tim Moore: This glorious Good News is not just for the Gentile, but for the Jew as well. God has not forgotten His promises to redeem His people. Christians can serve as a conduit of God’s blessing by sharing the glorious good news of our Jewish Messiah and how once saved they will participate in the Rapture. We hope that believers in Christ are looking forward to our blessed hope and listening for the sound of a trumpet to rapture the Church up to Heaven.
Nathan Jones: And perhaps during one of the upcoming Feast of Trumpets; we shall see.
Well done, and thorough.
Nathan,
I would like to purchase an electronic version of the Bible I can read on Kindle or read online. Could you please let me know which version/s you believe are the best to read as far as accuracy of translation? I don’t want a version that is woke or of the Joel Osteen type spin or altered for an agenda or not to offend anyone. If you have the time to respond I would appreciate it very much. Thank you.
Article comment: Could the Rapture happen on the Feast of Trumpets? Yes, absolutely it could. Then again, it may not. No one knows when. I don’t favor trying to link the Rapture to any date or event because then you aren’t truly watching for the return of the Lord at any second of any day, rather you are restricting your watchful expectation. Because of the state of this awful world due to our sinful human condition I want it to be soon but temper my want with patience, first for the sake of those who still have the chance to accept Jesus before the Rapture and second because it may not happen for years or even decades for all we know.
I just downloaded the Blue Letter Bible for my Kindle, and enjoy it…there are also many Internet Bibles which you can pull up with the Kindle browser if you have wifi. For off line reading though…the Blue Ribbon Bible is pretty good.
Nathan, I noticed you use link to Bible verses which reference from NASB 1995. Would this be the answer to the question I asked you about in my previous comment about which would be the best available Bible translation for the type of person that trusts Lamb & Lion Ministries? Thanks.
Dr. David Reagan and Tim Moore prefer the NASB, now called the Legacy Standard Bible, because it is the closest English translation to the original Hebrew and Greek. Because of the Eastern versus the Western way of arranging our wording, the NASB can be awkward at times, and that’s why I prefer the NKJV and the NIV84. The ESV and Holman Christian Standard Bible are newer and also recommended. We stay away from paraphrases like The Message.
I have read articles about the Feast of Trumpets and also Pentecost being a likely date for the rapture of the church. Another article I read recently, but can’t find at the moment, discussed “raptures” and “types of raptures” in the Bible: Enoch, Elijah, Jesus, and even Phillip after baptizing the Ethiopian man. (Probably others that I can’t remember) The author of the article pointed out that none of these events were tied to a date. That has been encouraging to help me remember the imminence of Jesus’ return.
The seven feasts of Israel have a parallel in Christianity. Jesus fulfilled the first 4 feasts of: Passover (crucifixion), Unleavened Bread (burial), First Fruits (resurrection) and Pentecost (Holy Spirit). The next feast is Trumpets. Yes, no one knows the day or the hour of the Rapture. Having said that, Rosh Hashanah takes place over a two-day period on the Jewish calendar, which is a three-day period on our calendar. So, it can take place anytime during that three-day period without anyone really knowing the day or the hour.
You guys are always thorough, thats awesome.
When the Trumpet blast happens, I think those that are going will hear it loud and clear. Others will hear it but not as we do, it will be frightening to them and will not know what’s going on.
Whenever the rapture takes place, I am available, but meantime, I get to work on some things like to rent the veils in my own heart from top to bottom which can only be done by the work of the Holy Spirit.
The enemy of spiritual growth is the veil in our own hearts and needs to be rent from top to bottom, that veil is woven by the fine threads of the self-life, the hyphenated sins of the human spirit. It’s not what we do it’s what we are.
Before the rapture happens, I hope I can rent my self-sins like, self-righteousness, self-pity, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-admiration, self-love, self-promotion, wait there’s more…
Sorry, I’m reading The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer, but man! I can’t put this book down.
I’m serious about unblocking these things in my own heart so I can walk with God uninterrupted by the sin that don’t need to be there. Thats my pursuit in the meantime, if the rapture doesn’t happen in the next 5-10 years, I can only imagine where God will have me by then.
Baruch Haba B’Shem Adonai
A question for Nathan or Tim. Brothers, first off thank you so much for being watchmen. I too am unabashedly a believer of the truth in Scripture declaring the pre-tribulation rapture of the bride of Christ. I fully believe that He is coming soon for His Church. My question is about a Scripture passage that has always confused me greatly. 2 Peter 3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, IN WHICH THE HEAVENS WILL PASS AWAY WITH A GREAT NOISE, AND THE ELEMENTS WILL MELT WITH FERVANT HEAT; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” That “melting” and the new heaven and the new earth do not occur until after the Millenium, which of course is after the Tribulation. So, first off why is that event called the “day of the Lord”, which in dual respect refers to the rapture and then also second coming at the end of the 7 year Tribulation? Secondly and more distinctly confusing, how would the event of the new heavens and the new earth… experienced only by fully glorified eternal believers… be something that is referenced as coming upon them “as a thief in the night?” Thank you in advance for your helping me understand this passage. God bless and maranatha!
Marshall, Peter in 2 Peter 3:10 is compacting all of end time history into one quick summary statement. His goal is not to explain in detail the end time order of events, but as verses 11-18 show, point out that knowing this world will pass, he describes how should we be living.
In 1st Thessalonians 4, Paul is referring to the teaching of Jesus Christi in his Olivet discourse. The word harpazo is not unique to Thessalonians 4, it is used throughout the new testament and has different applications.
So, the word ‘harpazo’ cannot be used to separate Paul’s teaching from Christ’s teaching in Mathew 24. It is just another word used to describe the same event.
The truth is that the whole world will see Christ returning with his angels whereupon they will be sent with the sound of the trumpet to gather/rapture the dead in Christ and those in Christ who are still alive. This is the rapture and it will be visible to the whole world.
“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”
As Christians we are saved from the wrath of God which will be dispensed after we have been raptured. But the wrath of God is dispensed after Christ’s glorious return which happens AFTER the great tribulation.
The ‘elect’ are the church which includes both Jewish and gentile Christians. There is no separation between Jew and gentile in the body of Christ. We are all one.
The Olivet discourse contains the teaching about being taken or snatched away from this earth. Jesus does not use the word ‘harpazo’ / ‘rapture, but his teaching on the rapture is clear and is describing the very same event which Paul mentions in 1st Thessalonians.
It’s worth noting that Paul does NOT say that the rapture will happen before the great tribulation.
“And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.”
– Mark 13:27; Matthew 24:29-31
The “gathering” you are referring to is not the Rapture of the Church, but the Sheep-Goat Judgment at the end of the Tribulation.
Luke 21 along with Matthew 24 and Mark 13 tell about the signs of the times that will proceed the return of Jesus Christ at the Second Coming at the end of the Tribulation.
Daniel 12:11 gives us 1,290 days from the mid-point of the Tribulation then 1,335 days, giving us 30+45=75 extra days past the two “1260 days” periods which ends the Tribulation. These 75 days will most likely be used by Jesus to judge the world in the Sheep/Goat Judgment (Matt. 25:31-46) and rebuild the planet.
The judgment of those who survive the Tribulation and the cleansing of the Earth from the Tribulation judgments can be found in the Parable of the Weeds found in Matthew 13:36-43, 49-50 and again in Matthew 25 concerning the Sheep/Goat Judgment that will occur during the 75 day interlude between the Second Coming at the very end of the Tribulation and the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom (Dan. 12:11-12).
The survivors of the Tribulation are gathered by the angels and judged before Christ, with those who have accepted Jesus (the sheep) living on into the Millennial Kingdom and those who have rejected Christ (the goats) are sent to punishment in Hades awaiting the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the Millennium and the Lake of Fire/Hell.
One thing for sure…HE IS COMING!
It’s so nice to hear this discussion by Pastors and Rabbis. I have always loved Israel and the Jewish people, and am so glad that many have come to the truth of the Holy One of Israel. We will share their joy in the the Rapture, and from all indications, sooner than we think.
the Bible is blunt that the last days would be perilous and filled with unruly and selfish people. It says society would be given over to depravity. Romans 1:20-32. Several scriptures stand out, they would be lovers of themselves, II Timothy 3:2 and They would be always learning but never coming to a knowledge of truth. II Timothy 3:7, and they would do what’s right in their own eyes. Judges 21:25. They would be in favor of everything unnatural because they would be without natural affection. II Timothy 1-3.
But, God placed us here for such a time as this, and we are here on assignment and not by accident. We should be salt and light in these times.
I would be interested in hearing your input on the Solar/Lunar calendar of the Essenes. Ken Johnson, who I also follow regularly has a lot of information on it although many people have worked on it. The Feasts fall on slightly different times than the Orthodox Jewish calendar. This year on the Gregorian calendar it started evening of Sept 19. On certain years the Essene Calendar and the Orthodox calendar line up but I couldn’t tell you when. The Essene calendar has 4 Tekufas in the year plus 360 days and a leap week every 3 to 4 years instead of the Leap Month of the Jewish Orthodox. Thanks for your input.
I love Amber’s definition of her reading cue for the Rapture. Very sensible and Holy.
Good balanced article based on the Jewish roots to rapture teaching based on the Galilean Wedding.The trumpets reference is a key indicator from the scripture that there may be a significant link here which gentile minds need to ponder and reflect on.Tend to agree that we have another year because God is patient and not wanting anyone to perish as 2 Peter faithfully points out.
Howdy, I read and enjoyed this article on the Feast of Trumpets and have always believed that it would be during this holy convocation that the rapture of the Church would occur. I look at the seven Feasts in Leviticus 23 as God’s blueprint for “the mystery of God”, initiated in Genesis 3:15 and ended in Revelation 10:6-7. However, I was surprised that no mention of the blowing of 100 trumpet blasts was mentioned, nor I Cor 15:51-52 referenced where Paul tells us that we will “all be changed at the last trump”. This last trump is one long blast on the shofar and is called the “Trump of Salvation”. Can’t get any more convincing than that, yes? Shalom Shalom
Excellent compilation, copying details also.
Dr Jones, I have a question . on one of Dr Reagan Tv programs he said when he was a young man in church he ask the Pastor to explain a bible verse about a prophecy in the bible and the Pastor said ” I know what it says there but it does not mean what it says” Could you give me the name and verse in the Bible that he was talking about?
Thank You very much.
Ray, that’d be Zechariah 14, particularly verse 4 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zech.+14&version=NKJV).
Hello Richard,
the answer is very simple and we should not mislead anyone with fog ideas and fog discussions.
Scripture tells us very clear: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.”
It is very clear that the Lord Himself is coming with a shout and with the trumpet of God.
We can read nowhere that the Lord is coming when people on earth are blowing the trumpet.
So, this is the answer! Everything else is misleading.
For what it’s worth, could I share my thoughts on the significance of Rosh Hashana? I hold a Ph.D. in OT Interpretation, so I have some familiarity with the topic of Jewish feasts.
The Jewish feasts are about Israel – not the Church, so this feast does not point to the rapture of the Church. It must be directly prophetic of a Jewish event. Furthermore, there is a clear pattern established with the Spring Feasts wherein they were all fulfilled by Christ within the same calendar year. Based upon this pattern, we should expect the Fall Feasts to find fulfillment all within the same calendar year. If this feast were pointing to the rapture, then the next feast (Yom Kippur) would not find fulfillment until a full seven years later, at the end of the tribulation. This does not fit the pattern!
Trumpets were used in Israel to assemble the nation: either (1) for a sacred assembly (2) for war. I suggest the second cause is represented in this feast’s prophetic significance. That is, Rosh Hashana points to the beginning of the Battle of Armageddon. The nation will be called to war: the most important and difficult battle it will ever fight for its existence. 10 days later (that same calendar year), on Yom Kippur Christ will return to fight on behalf of Israel and save the nation. Five days later, the Millennium will officially begin on the Feast of Sukkot.
No man can know for sure the year, day, or hour of Christ’s second coming, but based upon Hos. 6:2 it will likely be about 2,000 years after His first coming. Using this as a base, I would tentatively suggest – as a mere possibility – not a definitive “prediction” – that Christ’s 2nd advent will occur on Yom Kippur in 2033. I derive this based on the decree to rebuild Jerusalem being on Monday, March 5, 444 BC, which would culminate Daniel’s 69 weeks with the Triumphal Entry on Monday, March 30 (Nisan 10), A.D. 33.
This then gives us the following sequence of events:
1. Rapture: Monday, Nov. 9, 2026
2. Abomination of Desolation: Easter Sunday, April 21, 2030
3. Battle of Armageddon Begins: Saturday, Sept. 24, 2033 (Rosh Hashana)
4. Christ returns: Monday, Oct. 3, 2033 (Yom Kippur)
5. Millenium begins: Saturday, Oct. 8 (Sukkot)
6. Temple cleansed/rebuilt (75 days after tribulation ends, Dan. 12:11-12): Saturday, Dec. 17, 2033 (Hanukkah)
Based upon this proposed date scheme, there are several interesting observations here:
1. Seven weeks after Christ’s resurrection (on Firstfruits), the Church was begun (Pentecost); and 7 weeks after Yom Kippur in the year 2026 (Sun., Sept. 20), the Church will be raptured (Mon., Nov. 9).
2. Christ always comes on a Monday: Triumphal Entry, Rapture, & 2nd Coming
3. The Millennium (typified by the Sabbath) actually begins on the Sabbath (a Saturday). Likewise, the temple is cleansed & dedicated on the Sabbath day.
4. In the year 2033, the first Jewish holiday (Passover) occurs on a blood moon, and likewise the last holiday (Tabernacles) occurs on a blood moon.
5. The Anti-Christ commits the Abomination of Desolation on Easter (Sunday, Apr. 21, 2030), and during the week of Passover.
Ken, fascinating analysis! Something to consider.
Does it seem likely that there will be a seven year gap between the Feast of Trumpets and the Sixth Feast (Day of Atonement)? Once the last three start being fulfilled, they will only be separated by a few days in keeping with their normal flow/sequence. They are a unit, just like the first three of the seven feasts. This view is where many prophetic writers have put forth.
Surely, the Feast of Trumpets is the 2nd Coming (and not the rapture), and a few days later, all Jews who have yet to come to believe in Jesus as Messiah and Savior will by the time the Day of Atonement is over.
Furthermore, they are for Israel, not Church Age Saints.
But then Pentecost was for the Church, so there can be an argument that other feasts have prophetic significance to the Church.