Special Feast of Trumpets/Rosh HaShana edition 5785
“But if the watchman sees the sword come and does not blow the shofar, the people are not warned. Then the sword does come and takes a person from among them—he is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’” Ezekiel 33:6 TLV
Chag Sameach, dearly beloved,
A blessed and happy Yom Teruah/Feast of Trumpets for all who love the God of Israel and His People.
This year is a defining year for all mankind, especially for the nations in relation to Israel. Some nations that have opposed Yah’s Land Covenant with Israel will be judged severely, others will be presented with a second chance to do right by Israel due to the earnest prayers of the saints, and some – very few – are being positioned into the blessing of Sheep Nations. Israel is the centerpiece of all that will be unfolding.
“Blow the shofar in Zion! Sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all living in the land tremble—for the day of Adonai is coming—surely it is near!” Joel 2:1 TLV
The Day of Adonai is a fearsome occasion for Israel. This is like the existential war that Israel has been forced to fight since the invasion and massacre of Hamas on October 7, 2023, against Iran and all its proxies. However, this day is also a warning to the nations at the time of calamity. This evil started in Israel, but the nations that side with Israel’s enemies and do not help Israel are next.
For the day of Adonai is near against all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head. For just as you have drunk on My holy mountain, so all the nations shall drink continually. Yes, they will drink and gulp down, and then be as though they had never existed. Obadiah 1:15-16 TLV
YHVH promised to deliver Israel, but He has no such promise for any other nation unless they do right by Israel.
But on Mount Zion there will be deliverance, and it will be holy. Then the house of Jacob will dispossess those who dispossessed them. The house of Jacob will be a fire, and the house of Joseph flame, while the house of Esau will be straw—they will set them on fire and consume them. So there will be no survivors of the house of Esau.”—for Adonai has spoken. Obadiah 1:17-18 TLV
The most serious judgment of the nations is looming as antisemitism and antizionism have escalated to the highest degree since World War 2.
For Adonai is enraged at all the nations and furious at all their armies. He will utterly destroy them. He will give them over to slaughter. For Adonai has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the hostility against Zion. Isaiah 34:2, 8 TLV
Yom Teruah/Feast of Trumpets/Rosh HaShana
This momentous day is a day of remembrance by the blowing of Shofars. It happens on the 1st day of the 7th month, the month of Tishri; hence, it is a very important Rosh Chodesh (New Moon).
“Speak to Bnei-Yisrael, saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a Shabbat rest, a memorial of blowing (shofarot), a holy convocation. You are to do no regular work, and you are to present an offering made by fire to Adonai.” Leviticus 23:24-25 TLV
The day of crowning Elohim, the God of Israel, as the King of the Nations.
“God is gone up amidst shouting, Adonai amidst the sound of the shofar. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth. Sing praises with a skillful song. God reigns over the nations. God sits upon His holy throne.” Psalms 47:6-9 TLV
It opens the season called the 10 Days of Awe, or HaYamim Hanoraim, days of repentance and introspection leading to Yom HaKippurim, the most solemn fasting day of the Biblical Year. The day when the Almighty decides who is to live and who is to die. His books and His Heavens are opened on that ominous day. Either with extreme mercy or with unprecedented judgment.
“And I saw the dead—the great and the small—standing before the throne. The books were opened, and another book was opened—the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what was written in the books, according to their deeds.” The Revelation 20:12 TLV
Rosh HaShana is also celebrated as the day when Elohim created Adam and as the New Year for civil affairs such as buying and selling land; hence, Rosh HaShana, or “the Head of the Year.” This is taken from the laws of buying and selling according to the Jubilee, the Shmita year, and the release of slaves. These laws are all connected with the blowing of the Shofars on the 7th month, starting with the Feast of Trumpets and ending in Yom Kippur.
“You are to count off seven Shabbatot of years—seven times seven years, so that the time is seven Shabbatot of years—49 years. Then on the tenth day of the seventh month, on Yom Kippur, you are to sound a shofar blast—you are to sound the shofar all throughout your land.” Leviticus 25:8-9 TLV
The Mishnah and the Talmud mark Yom Terua/Rosh Hashanah as the day when God judges the world.
On this day, all creatures of the world pass before God and stand before Him for judgment. Yeshua spoke of this in the Book of Matthew, separating the sheep and the goat nations.
“All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on His left.” Matthew 25:32-33 TLV
Photo: Amir Levy/Getty Images
The defining factor is and will always be how the nations treated the least of Yeshua’s brethren (the Jewish People) at the time of their distress, like the terrible massacre of October 7th, 2023, by Hamas from Gaza. And of course the ensuing existential war against all of Israel’s enemies that have vowed to annihilate her. How the UN, the ICC, the worldwide church, national governments, families, and individuals related to Israel during this time will determine if sheep or goat, if to the blessing or to the curse If mercy or judgment.
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You? Or thirsty and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger and invite You in? Or naked and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “And answering, the King will say to them, ‘Amen, I tell you, whatever you did to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Then He will also say to those on the left, ‘Go away from Me, you cursed ones, into the everlasting fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:34-41 TLV
Offerings of Restitution
The shofar used to be blown in the Temple in Jerusalem when offerings were presented. Like in every Biblical feast, offerings are required. In this case, even First fruits offerings, since this is the head of the 7th month.
“Also at your days of rejoicing, feasts, and new moons, you are to blow on the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. They will then be a reminder for you before Adonai, your God. I am Adonai, your God!”” Numbers 10:10 TLV
It is good to release His favor and mercy by giving charity and offerings of restitution, especially if we wronged someone. In this case, if your nation has wronged the Jewish People through antisemitism and Israel by espousing the Palestinian cause instead of God’s Land Covenant with Israel.
I will bow down My knee to bless, favor, do good, and exalt those who bow down their knee to bless, favor, do good and exalt You (Israel). And I will decree a curse of misfortune and total destruction to those who dishonor and disrespect you (Israel) by taking you lightly. Genesis 12:3 STB
Many nations and millions of people are hanging in the balance this year because of following the wrong god and his anti-Israel agenda. We are called to warn them and call them to repentance before it is too late.
“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness shines out brightly, and her salvation as a blazing torch.” Isaiah 62:1 TLV
Your Israeli American Mentors and Friends
Archbishop Dominiquae and Rabbi Baruch Bierman
Watch: Sounding Shofars in Sderot
