Today is the start of the High Holy Days in Israel. Today is Rosh Hashana—the start of the Jewish new year (5779 in case you were wondering). Next week is Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement. Just a few days after that is Sukkot; what we know in the Bible as the Feast of Tabernacles. Then on October 1st, is Simchat Torah, the celebration of Torah and completion of the annual reading cycle. It’s a busy holiday season.
Rosh Hashana is noted by the blowing of the shofar (ram’s horn). Jews will also have special services and prayers in the synagogues on Monday and Tuesday. Traditionally, apples with honey are eaten as a symbol and hope for a sweet new year.
Last night, a few of us went down to the Kotel (the Western Wall of the former 2nd Temple platform) to observe the festivities. We didn’t get to hear any blowing of the shofar, but there was a good bit of prayer, singing and celebration. I was able to catch a little of it on video.
Stepping into the Jordan 
I love how they are all wearing white. To the Messianic Jew, this is the day (Rosh HaShanah) the Lord will take us all up in the air (the “rapture” if you will). This is a picture of the “catching away” of the bride of Christ. It’s beautiful because the bride is wearing white. One day, the Jewish people will accept Christ and will be the Bride of Christ along with the Gentiles. They don’t even realize they are practicing for it!
“Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.” – Romans 11:12
“For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, “Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” – Matthew 23:39
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It’s interesting the references to the Shofar in the NT. For example: “For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet (shofar), will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” 1 Thes. 4:16
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Yes! We are reviewing Joshua right now in BSF. Joshua is an image of Jesus where we have the 7 blasts of the shofar and then Joshua leads them into the Promised Land. In Revelation, we read about the 7 blasts of the Trumpets (shofar) and then Jesus leads us into the true Promised Land. The Jews sound the shofar every day in the month of Elul, leading up to Rosh Hashanah, and it means “Wake up! Be prepared, you’re King is coming!” It’s on Rosh HaShanah (which is the Feast of Trumpets) that is the setting for the book of Revelation. Rosh Hashanah is also the Coronation Day of Christ. In Revelation, John is taken up in spirit (resurrection), we see Christ on the throne (Coronation Day) and we all throw our crowns at His feet, there are the trumpets blasts, and in the end, we are led into the Promised Land (the New Jerusalem). Just like Christ fulfilled Passover-Pentecost perfectly in His first coming (the Spring feasts), He will fulfill the fall feasts perfectly in His second coming. It’s so amazing! Only a truly sovereign God could plan and fulfill this!
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I find it interesting that the one of the Texts they read around Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is the binding of Isaac.
My Rabbinic Literature professor told us that they blow the Shofar at the end of Yom Kippur to remind God that he provided the subsitute sacrifice for Isaac (the ram). It’s a way of saying remember your people and how you provided the sacrifice in the past.
The Christian parallels are amazing.
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Yes, I think it’s also said that the mountain that Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac on was Mount Moriah.
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