The Wayside Pulpit No.25  

10th September 1999

Rosh Hashana - the Feast of Trumpets  

At 6 p.m. this evening, wherever you are in the world, it is the beginning of the first day of the Hebrew year, the 1st of Tishri, known as Rosh Hashana, "Head of the Year", and in Leviticus 23 it is designated "the memorial of blowing of trumpets." Of course, this happens, and has happened, every year, and it may seem superfluous to mention it, any more than it is necessary to remind everyone on January 1st that it is the start of the Gentile year.  

But we are living in exciting times. Just as the next January 1st will be of the year 2000, so many believe that today ends 6000 years of history from Adam. I cannot be sure of this, having spent many hours in the past grappling with O.T. chronology, but I  feel pretty certain that it is around this time.  

A study of Biblical history reveals the fact that Abraham's birth and call were quite near to the 2000th year from Adam, and that Solomon's reign and the building of the Temple marked the 3000th, and that our Lord's birth and ministry were somewhere around the 4000th year. None of these dates are necessarily EXACT to the millennial year, but do seem to obey what I would call the "cluster principle", in other words, when a millennium comes to the end, a cluster of important spiritual events has frequently occurred.  

On the Sabbatic principle, in other words the symbolism and typology of the seven-day-week, the 7000th year should quite soon usher in the Millennial Rest Day spoken of in Revelation as lasting 1000 years. This is also the first phase of the Kingdom of God, and according to many prophecies, must be preceded by the return of Jesus Christ. That is why such an atmosphere of excitement is being generated amongst God's children just now, and rightly so. Although none of us know, or can know, the "day and hour" of His return, let us lift up our heads for the day of our redemption most assuredly draws nigh.  

The "Memorial of blowing of trumpets" is a bit of a misnomer. The Hebrew says "A Memorial, or Remembrance, of Shouting." What remembrance? Who was shouting? The Lord gave the answer Himself in His address to Job, when speaking about the foundation of the world, "when all the stars sang together and the sons of God shouted for joy." Yes, it is the festival of remembrance of creation, and as such it is a most joyful time. Much of this truth is lost by bad translation.   Whether of Jewish descent or Gentile, we now wish all our readers a very happy new year, with many shouts of joy, and our daily prayer is "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth."  "Even so come Lord Jesus."