09 The Feast Of Trumpets
CHAPTER NINE
THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS (Leviticus 23:23-25) The last three feasts of the Lord, yet to be fulfilled, have to do primarily with Israel’s future.
- The feast of trumpets is prophetic of the re-gathering of Israel in the land of Palestine;
- The feast of atonement will find its fulfillment in the return of Christ in glory, to be received by Israel as her Messiah;
- The feast of tabernacles speaks to us of the millennial reign of the Lord Jesus over the house of David.
These three “holy convocations” will follow one another in rapid succession after the long interval of this Church Age comes to a close.
As has already been stated, this present dispensation of grace and the translation of the Church were not revealed in Old Testament times; but the prophets wrote often and fully concerning the re-gathering of Israel and the return of Christ in glory.
Let us see how these prophecies regarding the reassembling of God’s chosen people in their own land were foreshadowed in the feast of trumpets.
Little ceremony was connected with this feast, about which we read in Leviticus 23:23-25. For several months there had been no holy convocation in Israel; then the priests blew a loud blast on the silver trumpets to call the people together for worship.
The Day of Atonement followed almost immediately; and without a doubt the assembling of the people was only preparatory to that remarkably significant day, the feast of atonement.
That was the one day in the year when the high priest went into the Holy of Holies and came out again unto the people, symbolically making an atonement for the sins of the year that had passed. It points on to the day when Christ, the Great High Priest, will come out of the Holy of Holies, even heaven itself, and appear unto Israel-having made a full atonement for their sins.
God has not told us the day or the hour of His appearing; but “the signs of the times” seem to indicate that He is getting His ancient people ready for the blowing of the trumpets. But let us keep in mind this important fact: What we see coming to pass in Israel today is only preparatory to that great event. Before the feast of the trumpets is fulfilled, the Church must be translated; this long interval must come to a close. Then God will begin to deal again with Israel as a nation.
We see the Jew turning his face toward Palestine today; but the real re-gathering that will take place at the feast of the trumpets will excel and eclipse everything which we see now coming to pass. After the Church has been translated, the Antichrist will be revealed; and the covenant which he will make with Israel will cause the nation to seek her own land as never before. Then Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones will begin to find its real fulfillment. (See Ezekiel 37:1-14.) For centuries Israel has been buried nationally; but even in our own day God seems to be preparing His ancient people for the blowing of the silver trumpets, as it were-just prior to the appearing of her Messiah and Great High Priest, even Jesus. Let us consider, for a moment, Israel’s future in the light of current events.
1. The Zionist Movement, the beginning of which our own generation has seen, is a literal fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah concerning Israel: “They shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward” (Jeremiah 50:5).
Zionist societies have been formed all over the earth. The organizations have been legally incorporated, and vast sums of money have been subscribed for the carrying out of their objectives. Children are being taught that the glory of Israel is at hand, and are taking upon their lips once again the ancient name “Zion.”
This movement was begun by Dr. Theodore Herzel, an Austrian Jew. Its objects are two-fold:
(1) To foster the national idea in Israel;
(2) to promote the colonization of Palestine by Jews.
It was given a tremendous impetus by the Balfour Declaration made in 1917, which declared “that the British government looks with favor upon making Palestine a national home for the Jew.”
A hundred years ago there were not more than six thousand Jews in Palestine; today there are over a hundred and fifty thousand. And so great has been Jewish immigration toward the land of promise that the British government has found it necessary to restrict it. The Jew is already the preeminent factor in Jerusalem. He controls its business, and his synagogues are rising within the shadows of the Mohammedan mosque. At the close of the World War the British government appointed Sir Herbert Samuels to be the first Governor-general.
It is interesting to know that he was the first Jew to have jurisdiction of life and death in Palestine since the days of Nebuchadnezzar. So eager is the Jew to reestablish himself in Palestine, and so assured is he that Zionism will become a political fact, that he has created his own national flag, which has in its center the Star of David.
Some time ago I was asked to attend a Zionist meeting, held in a large synagogue in a southern city. The building was crowded and on the platform were seated Zionist representatives, who addressed the gathered company on Zionism and the Jewish colonization of Palestine.
In the middle of one of the messages an old Jew stood to his feet and, raising his hands, he cried, “Blessed be the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who has permitted me to see this day!”
While I sat there, watching “the fig tree” once again putting forth her leaves, a friend who was with me turned to me and asked, “What do you think a meeting like this means to the average Christian?”
My reply was, “You can get your answer by looking around to see how many Gentiles are in this gathering.”
We looked and saw that we two were probably the only Gentiles there. When we came out of that synagogue with our hearts solemnized, we saw throngs of people coming and going, on business or in search of pleasure, seemingly unaware of and indifferent to, the fact that right in their midst the “fig tree” was beginning to bud-the sign the Lord gave of the nearness of His return to the earth.
2. The Prominent Place of Jews in the World Today.
The leading business men in our great commercial cities are Jews. The Jew is in control of New York’s Broadway. Most of the signs in the business establishments on New York’s White Way bear Jewish names. The greater number of bankers in the world-at-large are Jews. The Jew has also excelled in music, science, philosophy, statesmanship. In spite of every attempt made by the nations of the earth to shackle him, he comes to the forefront unshackled. He is playing today an important role in every nation of the world.
In England there are only 215,000 Jews! And yet they control the clothing business, the tobacco, fruit, oil, wine, and lumber industries; and a great number are connected with banks and the stock exchange. Not so many months ago five Jews held positions in the Cabinet; one had served as Lord Chief Justice of England and leader of jurisprudence. One was viceroy of India; five were privy counsellors; five, members of the House of Lords; sixteen, baronets; eighteen, Knights of the Garter; and thirty, members of Parliament. Sir Matthew Nathan served England during the World War as the Secretary for Ireland. And at the outbreak of the war Sir E. Goshen, G. C. B., was the British ambassador to Germany. All of these were Jews.
The Jew occupies just as important a place in France, Belgium, Russia, Austria, and America, and Germany, which is now trying to get rid of the Jew, has given to the world some of its most brilliant leaders- sons of Abraham. The total Jewish population of France is a little over one hundred thousand. During the World War in the regular army there were eight Jewish generals, fourteen colonels, twenty-one lieutenants, sixty-eight majors, and one hundred and seven captains, while over ten thousand served in the ranks.
General Heimans, a Jew, was in charge of one of the army corps; five Jews held important positions in the Cabinet; and the Rothschilds are among the prominent families of that nation. Today in every department of French life the Jew is altogether out of proportion to his number. This is especially true in politics, in the press, and in finance. Over two hundred French Jews occupy chairs in the leading universities. In Belgium there are 15,000 Jews, many of whom rendered invaluable service to the country in her crisis period. Her ambassador to the Court of St. James during that period was M. Hymans, a Jew.
In Italy it is impossible to get the present status of the Jew. The total Jewish population there, however, is 45,000; and in recent years this ancient people has provided Italy with a Prime Minister, Signor Luigi Luzzatti, who previously served as Minister of Finance on six occasions.
During the war sixteen members of Parliament and fourteen senators were Jews. It was Baron Sidney Sonnieo, a Jew, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who influenced Italy at the beginning of the war to withdraw from the Teutonic powers and cast her lot with the allies.
In spite of all the nefarious propaganda to stimulate anti-Semitism in Germany, the Jew has played a great part in the affairs of that nation. Karl Marx laid the scientific foundation to Socialism, and La Salle founded the German Social Democratic Party. Both these men were Jews. Dr. Von Dernberg served as ambassador to the United States. The secret measure of success achieved by the German army lay in the wonderful organization of transportation. To pick up an army of a million men and transplant them from one scene of war to another was an undertaking of tremendous responsibility. The Kaiser entrusted this responsibility to Herr Arthur Ballin, a Jew.
And so the story continues all through the social and political life of every nation under heaven. During 1914 to 1918, the most tragic period the world has ever known, the Jews were especially prominent.
It is interesting to note that here in the United States the Jew controls 45% of the boot, shoe, and clothing business; 85% of the tobacco business; 90% of the amusements; 80% of the liquor; and that he plays a great part in the control of national railroads; namely, the Baltimore and Ohio, the Southern Pacific, the Illinois Central, and the New York Central. Some of our largest newspapers are also controlled by the Jew. In every trade, profession, and department of human genius he is at the forefront.
3. The Restoration of Palestine as a Jewish National Home.
We hear a great deal about patriotism in these days. But there is no patriotism that can excel that of an orthodox Jew.
For almost two thousand years these people of the wandering feet have been out of their land, but ever longing for home. The personal sacrifices on the part of some Jews for their nation are unparalleled.
The large hearted millionaire, Baron De Hirsch, laid on the altar his whole fortune of seventy-five million dollars to transplant Jewish people from Russia to Palestine. In 1916 Dr. W. E. Weizmann, a Russian Jew, discovered a chemical for the manufacture of the highest explosive known-T. N. T.-for which formula the British government would have been glad to give him millions of dollars. But Dr. Weizmann gave it, and then gave himself to oversee its manufacture, asking but one thing: that the British government favor the reestablishment of his people in the land of Palestine. The Jew loves his money, but there is proof that he loves his nation and the city of Jerusalem more than he does his gold!
Great schemes are under way, not only to increase the number of Jews returning to Palestine, but also to develop the land by building new cities and restoring the old ones. The city of Tel-Aviv is a thrilling illustration of the new life that everywhere is in evidence throughout the land of Palestine.
Until recently its site was desert sand. Now there is a modern city of nearly 50,000 inhabitants, all of them Jews. Should you visit Tel-Aviv, you would see concrete streets, electric light and power, beautiful boulevards, modern homes, and up-to-date hotels. Thriving cities are also springing up in other parts of the land. Millions of vine cuttings have been planted on the hills, and territories that have been for years desert waste are being turned into beautiful gardens.
The harbor at Haifa is being constructed so that large steamers may soon be able to moor alongside its docks. A syndicate of Jewish capitalists under the leadership of such men as Lord Reading and Baron De Rothschild, have secured concessions in regard to the Dead Sea. As a result of their efforts, the extraction of its enormous wealth will soon be an established fact.
Many other things might be said concerning the marvelous transformations that are taking place in Palestine under Jewish leadership. Surely “the fig tree” is beginning to bud. God is allowing the anti-Semitic movements in all parts of the world today, in order that the Zionist Movement may be accelerated. The one thing that was clearly settled as a result of the recent World War was that Turkish and Mohammedan rule ended in Palestine, and plans were set afoot for the turning of that country to its rightful owner.
4. Israel’s Changing Attitude toward Christ.
As a nation the Jews will not accept the Lord Jesus as their Messiah until He comes again-in fulfillment of the feast of atonement; but proportionately more Jews are accepting Him as Saviour and Lord today than in any other nation. Evangelism among God’s ancient people has for many centuries been a slow and difficult task, but the many Hebrew Christians in the world today bear witness to a changing attitude toward their Messiah and Lord.
Again, and possibly more significant, is the fact that orthodox Jews are taking a decidedly different attitude toward Christ.
Once bitter and relentless in their hatred of Jesus, many of their leading rabbis are now admitting that He was not only one of their prophets, but the greatest of them all. Our current newspapers and magazines are announcing the assembling together of influential Jews in France to re-try the case of Jesus, reserving judgment until they consider it anew.
Think of it! In comparison with the bitterness of Israel toward her Messiah for nearly two thousand years, this is nothing short of a miracle! And while the prophetic Word of God plainly states that the nation will return to Palestine in unbelief, yet God is surely preparing their hearts, unrealized by them, for the great Day of Atonement, when they shall look upon Him whom they have pierced!
There are fifteen million Jews in the world today-scattered among the nations, yet marvelously preserved as a separate people by their God.
And what He is doing for them in our own generation is an infallible sign that “the times of the Gentiles” will soon come to a close, and the times of the Jews will begin once more.
In fulfillment of the feast of the trumpets, ancient Israel will go back to her own land; her Great High Priest, even Jesus, will appear; and then He will establish His kingdom, sitting upon the throne of His father, David, to rule over the house of Jacob forever.
If the Zionist Movement is a sign of the nearness of the Lord’s return to the earth, how much more is it a sign of the nearness of the translation of the Church; for the rapture of the Church must precede the revelation of the Antichrist, the great tribulation, and the return of our Lord in glory!
Let me ask you this question, my friend: Are you ready for His coming? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).
~ end of chapter 9 ~