ROSH HASHANAH FROM A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Rosh Hashanah doesn’t easily or naturally roll off the tongues of most Christians in today’s culture. Most of us prefer calling this day The Feast of Trumpets. Some groups do graduate to Rosh Hashanah eventually. To take this thought even further, it might be best to call this day Yom Teruah. That wasn’t my usual custom, but through the deeper Torah studies, I find myself fine-tuning traditions constantly. Now I celebrate Yom Teruah instead of calling it Rosh Hashanah.
At first is was amazing to discover the truth about this season. Over time, God showed me even more truth. This happens to every believer. He has a way of doing that. As His children we have to be open to constant change. We are trying to be true to Torah. Our path is toward the ancient ways. Yet, sometimes we are too human, too quick to jump to conclusions.
We don’t want to mix the holy things of God with things that evolved simply from cultural teachings. I say that because of the thoughts with the following linked article. There are also other teachings I have recently found which say the same: https://torahroad.org/2025/09/24/yom-teruah-vs-rosh-hashanah-clearing-the-air-from-a-karaite-lens/.This new direction toward more light has me revising some of my past thoughts on Rosh Hashanah. I’m now calling this celebration Yom Teruah instead of Rosh Hashanah. It makes good sense to me. Thus, our articles here will be adjusted accordingly.
CELEBRATING YOM TERUAH
At sunset on Friday, September 15th in the year of 2023 we began that year’s annual observance of Yom Teruah. Previously we called this day The Feast of Trumpets and or Rosh Hashanah. The Feast of Trumpets still seems an appropriate name, but some of our thoughts previously tied to Rosh Hashannah have evolved and changed. It is clear that God changed the time of the new year for His people to Nissan. We have known this fact for a long time. It is recorded in Exodus 12:2, “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.”
Our thoughts of Rosh Hashannah being a New Year have been put aside now. God changed that when the people entered The Promised Land. YHVH did a new thing for us! Today we want to honor what He did. No more use of the word Rosh Hashanah or New Year is needed. It has become a day of shouting and rejoicing, a day of the blowing of trumpets.
So, this day in the fall season is no longer considered to be a new year. As He often does, God has changed everything for the better. Now we use Yom Teruah for the label of this date. On Yom Teruah, which means “day of blowing” or “day of sounding,” we will celebrate the joyous occassion of coming into The Land of Promise. This day will be full of celebrations. It will begin with noisy shouts and trumpet blowing. We are no longer celebrating a new year. It is much better than that. We are now celebrating a new life. We are celebrating how God always blesses us by keeping His promises to us.
THE FIRST OF THREE HOLY TIMES IN THE FALL
Yom Teruah is the first of the three Fall Holy Days which God established through Moses. These days were given at the same time as the Ten Commandments. The scriptures say they are to be kept throughout all generations. Yom Teruah isn’t a High Sabbath. The three annaul High Sabbaths when each male of every household is to appear before God are Passover, Pentecost and Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles.) Therefore, the celebration of Yom Teruah is considered to be a festival, not a feast day. It is still noted as a very important day on God’s calendar. We are commanded to keep this day annually.
On first glance, it may not be obvious that the commandment which read “Thou shalt keep The Sabbath,” includes the observance of these three High Sabbath Holy days. However, when you go back and read the Torah, especially Exodus and Leviticus, the pattern becomes clear. You slowly begin to realize God was teaching and commanding the keeping of His High Sabbaths (The Holy Days) during the very same time-period while He was teaching the commandments to all of His people. YHVH accomplished this by giving the commandments to Moses on the Mountain called Sinai.
THREE TIMES EACH YEAR
A part of the commandment which starts “thou shalt keep the Sabbath” also refers to keeping God’s High Sabbaths. Those keeping the regular Sabbaths are to be keeping these High Sabbaths. These “High Sabbaths” are what we typically call YHVH’s three commanded Holy Days. Surrounding each of these three High Sabbaths, we have various festivals that tie into their meanings. It all flows together, but everything is centered around the observance of these three main days. Each male is to come before God in the name of his family during these days. It isn’t a request, it is a commandment.
All of these days (both feasts and festivals) were given at the same time as The Commandments. The Ten Commandments teach us how God wishes for us to live. Personally; I believe God established these Holy Days when He first created the world. I think the giving of the commandments at Pentecost was just a refresher. This became a public and official reminder of the facts to the people led by Moses.
A PERMANENT ORDINANCE
This is one of the scripture references I like to use to back up the fact that God reminded us about The Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) and The Fall Holy Days when Moses received The Ten Commandments: “Now this day will be a memorial to you and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD, throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance. (Exodus 12:14 )
A MEMORIAL DAY
God calls this day a “memorial” day. We are to celebrate it with feasting through all our generations. It is a permanent ordinance. The Jewish people, though they have not yet believed in Yeshua as Messiah, have been faithful to these rules God gave to Moses for His people to keep forever.
Yes, they may have thrown in the old new year as opposed to the new year God established later. Humans do make mistakes. Jewish people do make mistakes. Christians also. The Christian people who DO believe in Yeshua as Messiah have failed to stay true to the very holy days that speak in types and shadows of His coming, His life on earth, His death, His Resurrection and His soon coming return. This defies all the creeds many Christian congregations recite week-after-week. It reduces them only to words without deeds.
THE IRONY
I know – it is so ironic.
However, for the many believers who do keep these days and try their human best to keep them properly, the story of Yeshua plays out in ten thousand different ways through each year’s observances.
What a joy it is to know that God was already telling His story, even before the facts happened. This is one of the things that proves He is God. He knows our beginnings from our endings. We can trust Him to lead us through life.
It is such a delight to keep these three main high Sabbath days as well as the festival days surrounding them holy. As we do this, we also look forward to more fulfillment and deeper revelations of their meanings in the future.
ADOPTED AND FAITHFULLY KEEPING THE FAMILY TRADITIONS
I was not born Jewish. Also, I have not converted to Judaism. My Hebraic-thinking heart has received salvation. It is a gift from Yeshua. I believe He is the heavenly bridegroom who is one day returning to take us to The marriage supper of the Lamb. That will be the feast of all feasts. There we will pledge our love to Him forever. We will serve with Him in eternity.
“Christian” is my official title. The word Christian is defined as “one who follows Yeshua.” The hebraic translation of the name of Jesus is Yeshua. Therefore, since Jesus was Jewish, I desire say His name this way. A Christian is one who follows Yeshua as Messiah. That is the core of who I am. This is the center of my being as I worship and relate to YHVH. I bow before God Almighty and His Son the Messiah. Humbly, I offer my life as a sacrifice. My life is that of servant to The Kingdom of Heaven.
Does it seem strange to you that I observe this day which I have come to call Yom Teruah?
What seems strange to me is that almost all Christians have been tricked and deceived by the enemy of God into forgetting this important day which is often referred to as The Feast of Trumpets.
THE MYSTERY OF ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH
As a Child of God, and a born-again baptized Christian, I have every right to observe this day. My Christian Bible tells me that I have been adopted into the family of God. I love that biblical illustration that is often used to symbolize this fact. It is the one where the example is given of the wild olive branch being grafted into that strong old natural Olive Tree which symbolizes Israel.
In Romans 11:25-31 the Apostle Paul (the Apostle to The Gentiles) speaks of the way we (both Jews and Gentiles who follow Yeshua) should all relate to one another.
ROMANS 11:25-31
“Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers; a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.” (Romans 11:25-31 (ESV))
The day is coming when we ALL will unite under the Headship of Yeshua Our Messiah. That will be a wonderful day indeed.
THE WILD OLIVE TREE HAS BEEN GRAFTED IN
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. (Romans 11:17-18)
In the meantime; Christians are the part of that wild olive tree that has been grafted in. The nation of Israel was the pattern that was used to bring about Christianity. They are the olive tree which we have been grafted into. Best of all; this great nation was used to give us Messiah.
The scriptures say that we should NOT be arrogant toward one another. From the Jews came Christianity, and from Christianity will come salvation of the Jews.
Pray for the day we all will be One.
REMEMBER THE STORY OF RUTH
During this fall harvest festival called Yom Teruah, I love to remember the stories of the bloodline of Ruth. God used a faithful Moabite Gentile woman to bring about the bloodline of Messiah. Boaz was as Jewish as one could get. Ruth was as Gentile as one could be. When they united in love, a Messiah came from their bloodline.
God is speaking of more than two people with this lovely story. He speaks of one holy nation of people birthed from the nation of Israel, with the other gentile nations of believers being “grafted in.”
WE ARE ALL ONE IN YESHUA MESSIAH
We are all one in Yeshua, Messiah. This fact is still hidden from many of the Israeli/Jewish culture. However, that doesn’t make it any less true. We share a Father who sent His Son to save us. One day every eye will be opened to this fact. All will know the Messiah has come. His name is Yeshua.
I’ve come into the family through the blood of Yeshua Messiah (the only perfect Jewish man who ever lived.) He is the Son of God. Also, I’ve come through physical adoption. My legal adoption is made possible through the shed blood of Yeshua on the cross. As a Christian I’ve come through spiritual adoption; God’s Holy Spirit living in me.
REMEMBER JOSEPH’S ADOPTED SONS
Remember how, on his dying bed, Jacob adopted Joseph’s two foreign sons? This is a similar adoption to what I have from God The Father where He is adopting me into the spiritual nation called Israel which will eventaully be making up and rule The Kingdom of Heaven.
The covering of the blood of Yeshua Messiah has been placed over me. This makes me a blood-relative as well as an adopted, grafted-in child of The Kingdom.
It is a fact that the blood of Yeshua Messiah has sealed the deal. We are in covenant. This makes things official for more people than those who were born with Israelite heritage. Now we all are able to be a part of the family who belongs to God The Father. Remember, the ancestor of the Jews ( Abraham) was a Gentile. Israel was not yet a nation at the time of God’s promises to Abraham.
THE BLOOD OF SEVENTY NATIONS
The family of God is truly made up of the genes and bloodlines of all 70 of the original nations which have covered and multiplied in the earth. God created each of us for a specific purpose in His Kingdom. We all are given the opportunity of becoming membersof God’s family.
Nationality or race are irrelevant. Skin color doesn’t matter. God is color-blind. Yeshua Messiah died for all people. His spiritual blood runs red through all veins. This is His Father’s Holy Day. It belongs to God, the One and Only True God who is over every nation of the earth. He invites us to join Him in this sacred time which He set aside before He formed the earth.
YHVH sanctified the space and time for this day before He created the world and placed mankind inside its boundaries. God issued a formal invitation through his servant Moses. Later, on a more personal note, we were invited through His Son Yeshua Messiah who extended His welcome to all of mankind by laying down His life as redemption.
KEEPING THE FAMILY TRADITIONS
In the meantime; we have inherited certain family traditions. These were handed down to Moses by God Our Father. The Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) is one of those family traditions.
Family traditions are usually passed from generation-to-generation. They are obseved and kept for important reasons to the family. If you are of God’s family, He will speak to you of such things when you come through faith to help Him continue to keep these family traditions.
FORMS OF OBSERVANCES
Though I am a nondenominational Christian who thinks Hebraicially, I’ve kept these Fall Holy Days for many years now. I observe them side-by-side with Christian and Jewish brothers and sisters. Our worship and praise has become united under Yeshua Messiah.
I usually like to keep these times quietly within my own home with my family, (some years our gathering is only two people consisting of my husband and I. However, most years everyone in our immediate family joins in and participates in the celebration.)
HOPE FOR OUR CHILDREN
Hopefully our grown children who can’t always be with us will be celebrating with their children wherever they are on this day. We hope and pray that we have instilled God’s Holy Days deep inside their hearts. It is our sincere desire that these things will be passed on to our grandchildren and to their children after them.
As a whole, the typical Christian Church isn’t doing this for us. Only a small (but growing) number of congregations celebrate these truths annually. Most Christian Churches still do not keep the seventh day Sabbath. All Holy Days of God evolve around and from The Seventh Day Sabbath. You can’t keep one without keeping the other. As Christians and true believers, we must obey God and do this part of worship ourselves. We can simply pray that the eyes of other Christian leaders are opened. It is our desire that they come to this place of greater fullness.
GATHERING TOGETHER
I like it better when our family can gather together under one roof. However, with everyone so scattered (some living in other states) and on different schedules, it has been hard to plan for everyone every year.
Nevertheless, we do always try. Our children laugh at how often they have heard me say “this day is on God’s schedule not ours. We can’t just rearrange to make it more convenient for anyone else.” Coming out of the mindset of the world gets comical sometimes. Go ahead and laugh, but just continue to keep God’s family traditions.
KEEPING THE FAMILY TRADITIONS
Laughter is good for the soul. Sarah and Abraham will confirm that. Nonetheless, my husband and I will ALWAYS observe Yom Teruah somewhere, whether it be with many or a few. Our services at home typically follow the services of Jacob’s Tent on-line. They are nearly the only congregation we have found with like-mind and like-kind which lines up with our beliefs. There is another group called River Of Life which we also relate too. We join in with them from time-to-time also. For lack of a nearby congretation, we have most of our Holy Day services within our own home. However, we have goals to travel to these two congregations sometimes in the future.
We’ve also enjoyed other Hebraic thinking congregations with the goal of One New Man. These are congregations such as Kurt Landry’s Ministries. My point in telling you this is to let you know we hold to some accountability from others, and haven’t pulled our customs, traditions and beliefs out of a hat. Our goal is to always be Torah-based and biblically correct. Of course, we are just as human as the other groups where we see mistakes. Our own mistakes may not always be obvious to us. We trust God for guidance and correction whenever needed. In the end we are simply trying to move as close to God as we possible. This means diligently working with what The Holy Spirit feels we can comfortably handle. Each year is full of new growth and opportunities.
WE ARE NOT TRYING TO BECOME JEWISH
Some may think it strange to note we do not go to a Jewish congregation to observe this festival/memorial day called Yom Teruah. Actually, the Jewish congregations we know might only be observing Rosh Hashanah instead of Yom Teruah. Or maybe both. Also, nothing is valid to us unless it includes Yeshua Messiah. It is our belief that all Holy Days, feasts and festivals point to Yeshua Messiah.
So, we try to stick strickly to the observance of Yom Teruah. We did observe the traditions of Rosh Hashanan in the past. The distinction of only Yom Teruah is a pretty new revelation for us. Once we observed Rosh Hashanah thinking it applied to The Feast of Trumpets and Yom Teruah.Now we only observe Yom Teruah as The Feast of Trumpets. We are open to changing our minds whenever something proves to be biblical.
IMITATAING THE WORSHIP OF DAVID
Mainly, we do not go to synagogue because we know Yeshua Messiah as our Savior. With lack of a location in our area which worships and includes Yeshua Messiah, we follow the patten set by David in the use of The Tabernacle of David. We worship within our homes. The pattern of the worship from The Tabernacle of David is near and dear to our hearts. One goal YHVH has placed in our heart’s is to see the worship of both Jew and Gentile together, with all saved under the covering of Yeshua, Messiah. We feel worship should follow the pattern set in Heaven which is given in Galations 3:27-28, which claims that God’s congregation is neither Jew nor Gentile.
For all of you who were baptized into Yeshua Messiah have clothed yourselves with Yeshua Messiah. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Yeshua Messiah. (Galations 3:27-28.)
ROMANS 2:11
This can also be verified in Romans 2:11, For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.
Because we believe that Yeshua Messiah died once for all, we include the worship of Yeshua Messiah in ALL of our celebrations. Our form of worship is open to all people from all walks of life. There is one main requirement, KNOW and FOLLOW YESHUA, MESSIAH. Everything else is secondary.
HONORING OUR FATHER
Our observance is ALWAYS in light of the fact that Yeshua is The Messiah. With this in mind, it makes sense that some of our observances might be slightly different from our Jewish Brothers and Sisters who are still seeking Messiah.
Yet; we both, as Christian believers and Jewish believers, DO believe in and base our beliefs in the same Father, YHVH. With this being true we recognize that many of our observances are also the same. Note it is the PEOPLE who disagree here; not the Godhead. One day God will set that straight. At some point, we ALL will agree on one message TOGETHER. God hasten the day!
BECOMING ONE
I cherish the fact that my Jewish brothers and sisters have been so true to God’s word. They have kept the traditions YHVH gave to His family for all these thousands and thousands of years. Their teachings and practices are so wonderful. So many of them are helpful as we go through this season of celebrating God’s Fall Holy Days. Ironically, they help me to see more clearly. This better sight serves to confirm the fact that Yeshua is Messiah.
These devout Jewish observers who have taught us to celebrate the feasts and festivals, belong to the people whom God favored to show us the best patterns of life. It is the nation of Israel. YHVH taught the ways that He desires for us all to live to them first. They set the standard for the rest of us.
The people of Israel heard it first from God. Generations have now passed the observance of this sacred time on to us and the rest of the world. This is just as Yeshua told us it would happen.
KEEPING THE FEAST FROM THE HEART INSTEAD OF THE LAW
All of that explanation has led me to where I am today. As a Torah follower and a Christian believer in Messiah, I have learned to keep the feast days. I do not observe them legalistically. My celebrations and observances come straight from my heart. This is simply a tool for another way to honor God, and not as a legality of the law.
My choice of keeping the Holy Days is purely out of love, honor and thanks to a God who is merciful and forgiving. I celebrate believing in a Great God who deserves to be worshiped in the way He has chosen.
God spelled out how He wished to be worshiped. He instructed the Israelites about how He wanted to relate to mankind on certain days. YHVH set aside the time from the beginning. As for Yom Teruah, it all happened up on that magnificent mountain with Moses a very long time ago.
I choose to honor His wishes.
God never changes.
PERFECTED AND FULFILLED THROUGH CHRIST
Now that law given to Moses has been perfected through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Not done away, but perfected. It is now a fulfilled pattern for us to follow. These Fall Holy Days set an example of how we all can best love God and our fellow man.
Jesus lived out every letter of the law with perfection. He never broke a single law. We are to follow His example as best we can.
Besides the above facts; I have found observing these Holy Days, especially in light of the fulfillment of Yeshua Messiah, makes life rich. Observance of God’s calendar has a special way of drawing God’s people closer to God.
The Holy Days bring an annual amount of joy and balance to the busy and hectic seasons of our lives. Their rhythms give us a sense of rest, peace and balance. It is during these set-aside times that our hearts can fill and live within the harmony of God.
The Holy Days of God are great times to pause and realize what is most important about life.
PREPARING THE HEART TO BE READY
Like any other worthwhile pursuit, the key to keeping each day is preparation. There should be much time before the day of Yom Teruah arrives spent in prayer, meditation and worship. Those who observe this season spend the weeks before the Feast of Trumpets/Yom Teruah and Day of Atonement/Yom Kippur meditating and examining the days of their lives in the light of God’s Word, Torah.
Getting prepared is a very important part of the time leading up to these holy days. This happens during the Hebraic month of Elul, while waiting on Yom Teruah to arrive on Tishrei 1. When the day of Yom Teruah comes it is a solemn, yet celebratory time. The mix is important to the message being delivered.
This holy day has certain elements that are serious and somber. The loud blast of the shofar, if unfamiliar to you, might even sound a bit frightening. At the same time, these days might also inspire you and give you hope for the future. The elements of the day will surely stir you, yet intimidate you.
In many ways the trumpet blasts are presenting a warning to get our hearts right with YHVH. Getting our hearts right with God is always refreshing, restoring and relieving. Yom Teruah is a day like no other.
LISTENING FOR THE SOUND OF THE SHOFAR
As the shofar sounds at the beginning of The Feast of Trumpets you realize it is the set-time to come closer to God. The sound of the shofar is a very important part of this day. We are commanded to be waiting and listening for it to happen. Waiting and listening should be important to children of God.
A shofar has a beautiful, haunting sound. Each blast calls us to awaken to our real reason for living. This is simply to give glory to God with the days and times of our lives.
PUTTING FEET TO WORSHIP
As well as listening for the shofar, gathering to eat certain festive foods together, and participating in a service with one another, it is also good to DO. Try to DO something in the spirit of this memorial festival. This could come in the form of giving to others, or performing good deeds. It could be about seeking forgiveness from anyone you have wronged this year. Also, it could involve telling those around you how much you love and cherish them.
These are things we should be doing each and every day of our lives without neglect. However, at Yom Teruah we receive the call to remember.
MAKE EVERY ACTION TRUE AND FROM THE HEART
These acts should never become rote actions. They should always come from a kind, loving and willing heart. All things that are done should be performed expecting nothing in return. We simply do them out of love.
God knows the condition of our hearts. Should we find ourselves just going through the motions, He will know the truth, even if no one else does. If you find yourself in the mode of just going through the motions and not performing these good deeds with a pure heart from love, the first thing you should do is to seek God’s help. Ask forgiveness for this state of the heart. It is a season for examining our hearts and turning them from stone to flesh. Pour your heart out to God. He will hear you, show mercy to you, help you, and honor your prayers.
RECOGNIZING THE PROPER CALENDAR DATES
In Nissan we passed the time of the turning of the sacred year. The old times passed away. All things came into a new sacred year. Though the Jewish congregations still observe their New Year celebrations called Rosh Hashanah, we have already done this in the month of Nissan, way back in the Spring of the Year. It isn’t something we need to do.
So we are not celebrating a new year. However, we ARE walking into a new season. We turn the page of the sacred calendar to a new season of life before God. Though we have quit observing the Jewish traditional new year called Rosh Hashanah, we have continued the seasonal observance called Elul. The season of Elul is beautiful. It prepares our hearts for the Fall Holy Days.
MEN CAN’T CHANGE GOD’S CALENDAR
That party you might have attended back in January was mankind’s own version of a new year’s celebration. The Rosh Hashanah parties in the Jewish cultures of today also celebrate a new year that is no longer part of YHVH’s calendar. He gave us the date in Nissan, the time when the entry was made into The Promised Land by His people.
Those other customs are based on men’s own ideas for a world of mere men who often forget to acknowledge their Creator. Those dates are made for those who want to think only of themselves. Such a day would hold no sacred moments. Men stole some of God’s original ideas when they decided to made up their own new year’s celebrations. They changed times and seasons. This is not pleasing to YHVH. He alone is the keeper of the calendar of sacred times. The true calendar belongs to God. It is set and cannot be changed by men.
This time of The Feast of Trumpets/Yom Teruah is different and opposite of mankind’s selfish ways. It is a time of listening for the voice of God.
ONLY YHVH CAN CHANGE GOD’S DATES AND TIMES
God has set aside appointments with mankind by the times and dates on His original calendar. These appointments have happened for millennium, actually ever since He created the world and put all of us here inside of time.
Our Creator God is the One who made the calendar that the Hebrews have always used. Within this sacred calendar He created time for all of mankind. He set the days in motion by the patterns and cycles of the moon. Each new moon became a month. He told the years by the rotations of the sun. The movement of the sun, moon and stars were coordinated from the days of creation.
YHVH’S PERFECT PATTERNS
God declared the day for the changing of each year would now happen in the Spring, not the Fall. By the time we reach each fall season, we have journeyed a long way into each year. Perhaps each fall season is a good time to review and take note of how each year is going.
So we recognize the fact that we are coming into God’s annual marked-off time for us to begin a review of where we are in this sacred spiritual year. Think of how a business typically reviews their books from quarter-to-quarter. They conduct this practice in order to know where they stand BEFORE they reach the end of the year. This is how God wishes us to see the time in the season called Elul. It is time to review where we are.
REVIEWING THE PAST
On Yom Teruah God begins the task of looking over everything that has happened during the past year. He reviews the conduct of our lives from Nissan to Elul to see where we are standing within His ways.
Time is a sacred gift God gave to us the moment we were created. During this season called Elul, God is thinking about what we did with the gift of our time during the last year of our lives. He is pondering what our destiny will be during the next year of our lives. We are free to decide this for ourselves. However, God examines our decisions and decides whether they are good or bad for The Kingdom of Heaven. The goal YHVH has for each and every man is to be transformed into a place where he is ready to live inside the Kingdom of Heaven.
This process of examination begins anually on Yom Teruah. It lasts for ten days, with its ending on Yom Kippur. All of these ten days together are called The Days of Awe. The goal is always to be ready by Yom Kippur.
THE DOORS OF HEAVEN ARE OPEN
It is said that during this time the doors of heaven are opened wide. They open up in order to show mercy and forgiveness on Yom Teruah. Many believers know that God is deciding His plans for mankind for the next year. What you have done in this year will matter to what your purpose becomes for next year.
YHVH is carefully listening to what men have to say to Him during this time period. It is a season of divine mercy. God desires to show us favor, if only we will seek His face. During this season God is hearing people offer their prayers. These personal and individual as well as national conversations are what sets the stage for God’s considering of the destiny of mankind for the next year of life.
Do you ever think about how many decisions God must make each second? It is mind-boggling to consider.
WHAT WILL BE WRITTEN FOR YOU?
During the season of Elul and The Ten Days of Awe, God will decide who will die. He will also decide who will be born during the upcoming year. It is thought that He will decide what fate is to befall every single individual of the earth. Our Father is always inscribing His notes about our lives as we discuss them with Him. He doesn’t forget one conversation.
The Books are opened. God begins writing His notes to Himself on Yom Teruah. Did you know there is a recording of every breath you took in Heaven? Much of your history has been blotted out though. If you are a Christian believer you can rejoice in that fact. Once we repent God blots out the sin with the blood of Yeshua Messiah, He remembers it no more. What we do in the time leading up to The Feast of Trumpets helps with this miracle. It is a time of deep meditation, examination, repentance and growing closer to YHVH.
God doesn’t stop observing and writing down His notes for 10 days. He is looking and judging. Our Great God is a very fair judge, full of mercy and grace. His decisions for each of us are better for all of us.
A LOVING AND MERCIFUL JUDGE
Yes, contrary to what a lot of people want to think; God still judges people. However, He is a loving and merciful God. This means He allows us time to talk and reason with Him. We have every opportunity for repentance and turning. Time is given to us during this season of Elul. It is our yearly reminder to seek God’s Face.
Our heavenly Father is merciful. He forgives us when we repent and turn. YHVH wants to hear from each and every one of us. He listens especially closer during this time of deliberation and decision-making about the future.
A day will come when God looks down and shuts His books forever. What is done will be what is finished. In that day He will declare that time for men to come to Him in repentance is no more. This is yet another reason for living our lives with intention, focus and purpose. During this season of Elul God is helping us to do that very thing.
A SEASON TO PREPARE
Until God closes out the books, we have the season of Elul and The Ten Days of Awe between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur to prepare. We must consider the affairs of our hearts and lives. This is the time to come before God for mercy. The lines of communication are open. At Pentecost YHVH sent down His Holy Spirit to connect us directly to Him. All we have to do is talk. Our Father is listening. He is waiting and willing to show favor. Divine mercy is plentiful and abundant during this season.
Of course you may already be making confession and repenting every day, all year long. If so, good for you. That is wonderful. However, some will surely forget. This is the annual reminder that time is drawing short. The season reminds us that our relationship with God is a very important matter to consider. We must stay prayed up.
This is why we often study the commandments during the days of Elul. We ponder these ways of God during the times leading up to and following Yom Teruah. The trumpet sounds remind us to listen and pay attention. It is also considered a good time for meditations and devotions which help us to grow closer to Our Father and His Only Begotten Son.
Thankfully, because of Yeshua Messiah, there is much mercy to go around.
TRANSFORMATION BEFORE THE DAY OF ATONEMENT
On Yom Kippur (often called The Day of Atonement), ten days after Yom Teruah, God seals what He has inscribed. The seal makes all things final for the year. I’m reminded of the biblical phrase used by Yeshua, “It is finished.” The decisions for our lives for this year are done.
The doors of heaven close on another season of God’s allotted time for mankind. There will be a day when the last Yom Kippur happens. No one but God knows this date. Each year we get a reminder. Every year COULD turn out to be the very last year, or the final seal.
SHANA TOVA GREETINGS ABOUND
On Yom Teruah we say to each other: “Shana Tova!” It means “may you be inscribed for a good and sweet year.” It all makes sense now that you have explored the facts of this season. In greeting each other this way we are remembering the fact that God will be examining our lives. He will be writing in His book. We are all hoping He inscribes a good year to come for us.
It is traditional to dip apples in honey to symbolize this wish for sweetness. We hope for the best as we symbolically taste the beginning of a sweet new year on our tongues. This greeting isn’t to imply a new calendar year, it is to imply a clean slate, a new chance to live righteously before our God. If we have done the work of Elul, this is very possible.
A DAY OF RICHNESS AND FULLNESS
Though it is plainly not a new year turning, in many ways, Yom Teruah serves as a huge annual mile-marker. It is a marker that is marking the progress of the days of our lives. We want to be ready and prepared to meet God by the time the Day of Atonement arrives.
The whole experience is as much about the season of days leading up to Yom Teruah as the day itself. As we carefully mark our time and try to transform to God’s will for our lives, we listen for the shofar. Most of us have to wonder when that last trumpet will sound and time will be no more.
The shofar blast is a call to pay attention.
A TIME OF AWE
As we hear the sound breaking into our silent waiting world, we stand in awe. We worship our Creator. In this sounding to take notice we celebrate His goodness and mercy toward us. All believers acknowledge that we are thankful. We offer up humble hearts and hands for further service in YHVH’s Kingdom.
Love and fellowship toward all of mankind is enjoyed and cherished. Sometimes we dip apples in honey and hope that the new season of our lives will be one that is sweet. We pray for the presence of God’s Holy Spirit filling our hearts and souls up to the brim.
It is a great time to share the wonder of belonging to a merciful God.
Yom Teruah is so rich and so full. There are many other aspects of this festival day to ponder, but these are the ones I have on my heart to share today.
Shana Tova!