How to Watch for the Second Coming
We are about to start the most exciting month in God’s calendar – a month
that teaches us what to expect when our Saviour Yeshua (Jesus) returns to this
earth. Currently, we are nearing the end of the sixth Biblical month. As soon as
the current moon cycle finishes waning and we have a dark phase for a day or
two, we will then see a glimpse of the new moon, probably around October 1. When
that sliver of moon becomes visible, we start the first day of the seventh
Biblical month, a day that is called the Day of Trumpets.
Just like every seventh day (Sabbath) and seventh year (Sabbath year) is sacred
to YHVH, so too is the seventh month. Of all of the holy days in God’s calendar,
the Day of Trumpets is the only holy day for which no man knows the day or hour
in advance. Every other holy day falls at least ten days after the first of the
month, thereby giving a ten day advance notice, but the Day of Trumpets comes a
bit like a thief in the night. Those watching for it will know it is close, but
until you actually see that first sliver of the new moon, we don’t know exactly
when it will be.
That is a perfect picture of the coming of Christ. He has given us signs, and
told us repeatedly to watch. Even the name of the day, Day of Trumpets, should
call to your mind the many times we see trumpets in Scripture associated with
Christ’s return to this earth. Just like his first coming fulfilled the spring
holy days in type and timing, the second coming could very well do the same with
the fall holy days. Matthew 24:31 says that he comes “with a great sound of a
trumpet”, 1 Thessalonians 4:16 says that he comes “with the trump of God”, and 1
Corinthians 15:52, “…at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound...” In
Revelation, the final trumpet signals our world becoming the “kingdoms of our
Lord of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).
All of these passages could be clues for us to watch for the second coming
during this time of year.
Even when Scripture tells us to “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day
nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 25:13), that could be a
clue pointing to the Day of Trumpets, as it is the one feast day that no man
knows the day or hour until that sliver of moon is seen. We know it is close,
but until it is seen, the exact hour is not known. When Revelation 3:3 tells us
that “if therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt
not know what hour I will come upon thee”, doesn’t that imply that those who do
watch will know? In fact, Yeshua calls those who do not discern the time
hypocrites (Luke 12:56).
The Day of Trumpets is called Yom Teruah in Hebrew. Teruah is defined in the
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew lexicon as: alarm, blast, war-cry, and shout of joy.
The root word, ruwa, is defined in Strong’s concordance as: to split the ears
with sound, to shout for alarm or joy, make a joyful noise, and triumph. This is
a day that we will celebrate the return of our Saviour, shouting for joy that he
has come back for us like he promised.
Between the Day of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement, there is a ten day period,
called the Days of Awe. During these ten days, we are to search our hearts
diligently, earnestly seeking to remove all known sin from our lives. While
Scripture doesn’t give a specific reason for this being a ten day period, some
Biblical scholars have hypothesized that we are to spend one day on each of the
Ten Commandments, and their related statutes, searching to be sure that we have
no remaining unconfessed sin in each area of God’s holy law.
I invite you to watch the western sky each evening around sunset, watching for
the glimpse of the new moon. When you see it, give a shout for joy (or blast of
the trumpet) to your Redeemer, keep the day holy for Him, and during each of the
next ten days, search your heart like you never have before, as if your very
life depended on it. Because it does.
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