Many people have a very limited perspective of Jesus Christ. They think only of His first coming as the suffering Savior and Lamb of God, but when Jesus Christ returns the second time, it will be to establish His rule and true peace on earth, fulfilling many Old Testament prophecies that speak of the Messiah coming to rule with power and authority over all nations.
The end-time sequence of events leading up to Christ’s return is pictured in Revelation chapter 5 by Christ unrolling a scroll and breaking open its seven seals one by one. This is the same sequence of events Jesus described in response to His disciples’ questions. He mentioned religious deception, wars, famines, disease, earthquakes and other calamities (Matthew 24:4-13), characterizing the time of His return as an era of hatred and lawlessness, but also concluding by stating that: “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations….” (Matthew 24:14).
The Resurrection Of The Saints
A major event occurring at Christ’s return is the resurrection of God’s faithful servants — the saints. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament frequently use the word “saints” to refer to the faithful followers of God. In the New Testament, they are also called the “elect,” those selected or chosen (as in Matthew 24:31).
The Apostle Paul describes this in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ [the saints who have died] will rise first. Then we [saints] who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
The Symbolism Of The Feast Of Trumpets
The Feast of Trumpets warns of global catastrophes and war while, at the same time, celebrating the coming of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of the saints, paving the way for peace on earth when Jesus sets up His Kingdom and begins to rule the world!
This festival symbolizes everything that happens from the angel blowing the first of seven trumpets, mentioned in the book of Revelation, to Jesus Christ conquering resistance when, incredibly the nations of earth will gather to fight against Him at His return to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, (Zechariah 14:1-4).
Even though tragic events lie ahead, the good news is God will intervene to save humanity and guide mankind into His abundant way of life. This is the inspiring meaning of the Feast of Trumpets.
(In 2023 the annual observance of the Feast of Trumpets begins at sundown on Friday, September 15 and ends at sundown on Saturday, September 16. Church services marking this important holy day will be held in United Church of God congregations around Australia.)
