The Trumpet Sounds during Elul

It’s the biblical month of Elul and for many of you that might not mean much. You may be scratching your head saying, “Elul what?”

Most of us are familiar with the standard Gregorian calendar that runs from January to December. These are months on the solar calendar followed by the nations of the world.

Elul is not listed on the Gregorian calendar because it’s not part of the Gregorian system. Why? Because the Gregorian calendar was not created by God. It was created by man.

God’s calendar is much different and it’s been around since the very beginning. The Bible describes events happening in biblical months on the Hebrew calendar.

The names of the biblical months are as follows: Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Av, Elul, Tishrei, Heshvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shevat and Adar.

Elul is the 6th month on the biblical religious calendar and it precedes the month of Tishrei. The High Holy Days fall in the month of Tishrei so this gives Elul special significance. The Feast of Trumpets falls after the last day of Elul on Tishrei 1. The Day of Atonement falls on the 10th of Tishrei and this is considered the holiest day on the Hebrew biblical calendar. Next, comes the Feast of Tabernacles, which begins on the 15th of Tishrei.

On the Gregorian calendar, Elul falls in August or September, depending on the year.

This year, Elul began on August 21, 2020 and it will last until sundown on September 18, 2020. This will usher in the Feast of Trumpets, which is the first of the High Holy Days. (These dates will vary from year to year on the Gregorian calendar because it is a solar calendar, whereas the biblical calendar is a lunar/solar calendar. The best way to keep up with the dates is to get yourself a Hebrew/Jewish calendar as seen in the picture above, or you can search the dates on the Internet.)

ELUL IS THE MONTH OF PREPARATION AND REPENTANCE

Because the Holy Days fall right after Elul, it is sometimes called the month of preparation. Believers prepare for the High Holy Days during Elul. It is also known as THE MONTH OF REPENTANCE because repentance is an essential part of preparing for the annual Holy Days. Actually a better word to use for these Holy Days is FEASTS. The word feast in this case does not mean a large meal. The word translated as feasts in the Bible is moed. In Hebrew this word means appointment. So essentially, the Holy Days are appointments with God. Elul is the month that gets you ready for your appointment with God!

THE SHOFAR

The shofar or trumpet is an essential part of the month of Elul. In both Messianic and Orthodox synagogues, the shofar (trumpet) will be played each day of the month of Elul. So that means the shofar is played in the synagogue every day from August 21, 2020 through September 18 , 2020. Next year in 2021, Elul will begin August 9 and last through September 6, 2021 -so the shofar will be played during those times. Keep in mind this is done in Messianic synagogues (Jews who know Jesus as the Savior) and Orthodox synagogues (Jews who do not know Jesus as the Savior).

When Elul has finished and the Feast of Trumpets arrives, the shofar/trumpet will be played 100 times! The last blast to be played, or the 100th trump, is called THE LAST TRUMP. This last trump is played for as long as the shofar player can blast the sound.

Does the last trump sound familiar?

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—  in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.  When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory,” 1 Corinthians 15:51-54.

This why the trumpet is associated with the resurrection of the dead.

Each day the shofar is blown is meant to be an awakening blast. The sound is supposed to rouse the believer out of their spiritual sleep. The shofar reminds them the King is coming back and they need to get their hearts ready.

THE RAM’S HORN: ABRAHAM AND ISAAC

The trumpet or shofar is tied to some amazing things in the Bible. The biblical shofar is not made with brass or metal. It’s made from a ram’s horn. Blowing the ram’s horn is a reminder of the story of Abraham and Isaac. God told Abraham to sacrifice his only promised son Isaac. Abraham was obedient and went to Mount Moriah to perform the sacrifice. At the last minute, God stopped Abraham and provided a ram as the sacrifice instead. Because of this, the ram’s horn is tied to God’s mercy. This is why the month of Elul is also called the MONTH OF MERCY.

The Story of Abraham and Isaac Foreshadows Jesus’ Sacrifice on the Cross

Of course Christians know the story of Abraham and Isaac is a foreshadowing of Jesus. God sacrificed his only son Jesus on the cross to pay for the sins of the world. Even the site where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac is a foreshadowing of Christ because this is where both Holy Temples would one day stand (ancient Mt. Moriah). Jesus, of course, is the Living Temple, who cleanses us of sin. In this way, the shofar (which is made of the ram’s horn) reminds us of Jesus’ sacrifice for us. The blast of the shofar should wake up all those in Christ and remind them to turn to him in thanksgiving and repentance.

THE SHOFAR HAS MANY JOBS

The shofar has other jobs in the Bible such as for assembling/gathering people together and signaling the arrival of the biblical holidays (Feasts of the Lord). In biblical times trumpets (shofars) were also used to alert armies to gird their loins and get ready for battle. In addition, they were used warn people about God’s judgment.

The shofar is also tied to God’s voice. Exodus 19 highlights the sound of the trumpet when God made his presence known at Mt. Sinai.

“On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.  Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently.  As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him,” Exodus 19:16-19.

The shofar (trumpet) is also tied to Jesus’ voice.

“On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: ‘Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna,Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.’

 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,  and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sunshining in all its brilliance.” Revelation 1:10-15

These verses describe not only Jesus’ voice, but also his appearance.

“After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” Revelation 4:1

The voice speaking like a trumpet is Jesus.

In ancient times trumpets were blown when kings were crowned. They were played to announce the arrival of the King. It makes perfect sense for the King of Kings’ voice to sound like a trumpet.

The Shofar and Repentance

Among all these jobs, however, there is one that stands ahead of the rest. The shofar’s main jobs is to awaken believers to repentance. Hearing the shofar (trumpet) is supposed to rouse the spirit within every believer and draw them closer to God. The piercing sound of the trumpet blast should stir one’s heart and open blinded eyes.

The trumpet itself is a reminder of the Holy Spirit that resides in all believers in Christ. To make a sound on the shofar you must blow air into one end. This air moves through the shofar (trumpet) and makes a loud blast. This air can be likened to the wind of the Holy Spirit. In the Bible the Holy Spirit is compared to a wind as seen in John 3:8.

“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit,”

When the Holy Spirit moves through believers, it allows us to speak the truth. It allows us to walk and live in truth. The wind of the spirit wakes us up and helps us recognize sin. The blast from the trumpet is saying, “WAKE UP AND TURN FROM YOUR SIN”.

“And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed,” Romans 13:11.

The shape of the shofar (trumpet) is curved. This curved position is a reminder to bow down and resembles someone kneeling before God.

That being said, Elul is a time to really look at one’s life and see how our lives mirror Christ. It’s the time when we take a good hard look at the sin in our life and confess it to Jesus. In order to change, we must recognize sin.

If you miss the bullseye on a dartboard, you are well aware of it. If the dart or arrow hits anywhere but the bullseye, you know it has not hit its intended mark or spot. Sin is the same way- even though many people choose to ignore it. In Hebrew to sin means to MISS THE MARK. It means you have missed the bullseye. When this happens, you have fallen short of God’s expectations.

Thanks be the God, Jesus forgives us when we miss the mark. He gives us another chance. But, the first step is realizing you have missed the mark to begin with.

My son’s archery instructor will definitely let him know when he’s missed the bullseye. My son could argue all day long about it, but the target doesn’t lie. At the end of class he gets his paper target back and he can see exactly where the arrows hit. You can’t argue with the truth in front of your face. Sometimes, we may try to lie to ourselves about our sin, but God can see the target. The bullseye lines up with his Holy Word and when we miss the mark he knows. The great thing is that he forgives us. The only way to improve is to recognize our mistake and let the Grand Instructor guide us- Jesus through the Holy Spirit. He will help us hit the mark!

Right now at this time in our nation, the month of Elul is more important than ever! There’s a giant dartboard shaped like the United States and we are missing the mark. In fact, we may not even be hitting the dart board! Many people have no idea just how far off the board we are.

The division in our land is so great we are like the Titanic splitting in two. Believers must band together and repent, as well as call others to repentance. The trumpet is sounding right now! Our country needs to listen. Our dart has hit an iceberg, rather than God’s target. If we don’t want to sink, we must call on him and hear the shofar being blown.

Perhaps one of the biggest sins our nation is guilty of is idolatry. This is the same thing as cheating on God. Our nation has made money, sex, drugs, abortion, “Hollywood” and social media their god. A large portion of our citizens want nothing to do with God. They have pushed him out of our schools, government, businesses and daily life. They have replaced him with other things. Sadly, a large percentage of Christians do not even believe Jesus is the only way to heaven.

Our national sins keep multiplying as millions of babies are aborted with no end in sight. This is considered normal. Rainbow flags grace the homes of thousands, but these flags do not honor God. Instead they honor an agenda that is far from God’s plan and is straight out of the playbook of Sodom and Gomorrah. The rainbow encircles God’s throne in heaven and it’s being used to encircle an ungodly alliance of those who do not respect or believe that God says marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not saying I dislike gay or transgender people. It is the sin I’m referring to. Approval does not equate to love. You can love someone, but that doesn’t mean you approve of their behavior. Jesus loves us but he doesn’t approve of our sins. He asks us to turn from them, not celebrate them. We love the sinner but not the sin.

In addition to all I mentioned above, our nation is seeing hate and discord among fellow Americans. Lies are being spewed by the media and the truth is being censored. There’s no telling what Election Day will look like. A nefarious plan has been hatched by the Left and they do not hide their intentions. There’s a palatable tension in the air.

I don’t write about these kinds of things often on my blogs for this website. I save that for my 67owls.com posts. But, since we are in the month of Elul, I feel it’s not only appropriate, but essential to our survival as ONE NATION UNDER GOD. The month of Elul is known as the time when God is in the field. On HIS calendar, Elul is the month of repentance. Certainly I’m not saying this is the only time to repent. We repent every single day. But, as you will learn later in this post, God’s calendar is tied to his appointments- especially his feasts/holidays. These holidays/appointments lay out an amazing picture of his plan for the world, and are shadows of Jesus.

THE TRUMPETS OF JERICHO

Trumpets were blown at Jericho to secure victory for the Israelites. They marched around the city for six days and on the 7th day they marched 7 times around the city. They blasted the trumpets as they marched. On the 7th day and the 7th time around the last trump was played. The wall fell down flat and victory was secured! Their enemies were crushed.

“So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city,” Joshua 6:20.

They key to understanding this story is to realize the Israelites acted in obedience. They followed God’s instructions exactly. The plan to take down the city of Jericho was a bit strange as far as battle plans go. Nonetheless, the Israelites followed the plan and because of this, God gave them victory.

America Must Listen to the Shofar’s Call

This is what America needs right now. We need a clear, direct plan from God that will lead us to victory. We need to listen to the shofar (trumpet) Jesus is sounding!

Where do we find Jesus’ plan? Well, there’s a book called the Bible that’s 66 books long and it tells the story of a Savior who came to redeem mankind and lead them to victory. Another amazing weapon of warfare is THE SHOFAR (TRUMPET) within us! Those who have received Christ as their savior are already equipped with a trumpet in hand. The Holy Spirit plays a daily tune- a bugle call in our hearts so to speak. It’s our job to heed the blast and carry this message of salvation to the world.

We must also be brave and not afraid of those who may seem bigger than us! It doesn’t matter how big they think they are- it matters how BIG GOD IS ! Believe me, he’s the one with the power. His will is sovereign. He placed the trumpet within you for a reason. He wants you to share truth, love and to have courage in the midst of darkness.

As you’ve already learned Elul is called the month of repentance. This is tied to a special Holy Day on God’s calendar called THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS. This is one of the Feasts of the Lord mentioned in Leviticus 23. Below is the verse that describes this Feast, or Holy Day.

“Then the LORD spoke to  Moses saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it ; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.'”  Leviticus 23: 23-25

The Feast of Trumpets is a holiday centered on blowing the trumpets. It’s also a holy convocation. The word convocation is the Hebrew word miqra, which means dress rehearsal! This special feast day is a dress rehearsal for something Jesus will do in the future! That’s an exciting detail.

The Feast of Trumpets comes right after the the month of Elul ends. It is also known as Rosh Hashanah, which means head of the year. Even though Elul is the 6th month on the religious calendar, it is the first month on the civil (fiscal) calendar. It is known as New Year’s Day for those who follow the biblical calendar.

There are many names for this Feast (appointment). One of the names I find intriguing is the Day of Opening the Gates and Doors. This name is used because according to Jewish tradition, it is on this day that God opens the gates/doors of heaven. During this time that the gate/door is open, it’s believed God will inscribe your name in the Book of Life for another year, if you have repented and turned from your sin (which was done during the month of Elul). If on the Feast of Trumpets, you have not fully repented, then you have ten more days to repent, which would bring you to the Day of Atonement (also known as Yom Kippur). By the Day of Atonement you should have fully repented- that was your last chance. If you have repented, then your name will be written in the Book of Life for another year.

This is why they say, “On the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) it is written, but on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), it is sealed.

If we are in Christ, we know he forgives us the moment we repent. Our names are placed into the Book of Life when we receive him as Lord. They are inscribed forever and no one can snatch us from Jesus’ hands. We are sealed by his blood.

Should Christians observe Elul or the Feast of Trumpets?

That’s a great question. Firstly, I want to let you know that observing these things will not earn you extra points or increase your chances of getting to heaven. If you’ve received Christ, you have your ticket already! You are saved and your name is in the Book of Life!

To me, Elul and the Feast of Trumpets are appointed times that remind me of the importance of repentance, and the promise of Jesus’ return. The Feasts of the Lord and God’s calendar are shadows of Christ.

“These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ,” Colossians 2:17.

The Feasts and God’s calendar point to future events. The Feasts of the Lord are shadows of Jesus and what he has done and will do. It’s also amazing when we study God’s calendar and we see how history has played out in interesting ways according to biblical dates. For instance, the destruction of both Temples happened in the month of Av. Also, it’s interesting to note that hurricanes usually hit during the month of Elul. I notice this more than most being that I live in Florida.

You are not required to observe the biblical calendar, but keep in mind you can gain prophetic insight by studying the feasts because the feasts are prophetic.

Jesus died on the Feast of the Lord known as Passover. He was in the grave on the Feast of Unleavened Bread. He rose from the dead on the Feast of First fruits. The Holy Spirit arrived on the Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost). These were celebrated at the appointed time for over 1000 years before they were fulfilled by Jesus on the exact Feast day. For a list of the appointed feasts see Leviticus 23.

The Feast of Trumpets and the Rapture

The Feast of Trumpets points to a future fulfillment where Jesus will come and get his Bride from earth. Thankfully, our names are already in the Book of Life. This is also known as the Rapture of the Church, or “catching away” of the Bride of Christ. The Feast of Trumpets is tied to the blowing of trumpets. We know Jesus will return at the sound of the LAST TRUMP.

We are not driven by legalism to celebrate the Feast of Trumpets. However, God still honors his appointment times. As I said before, the Bible calls the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement holy convocations. The word feast is the Hebrew word moed, which means an appointed time. A convocation in Hebrew is the word miqra, and this means dress rehearsal! So in essence, the Feast of Trumpets is a rehearsal for something!!!!! Scholars argue about what exactly, but many have tied it to the day the Bride is raptured and taken to heaven at the sound of the trumpet.

The High Priest and the Feast of Trumpets

Some interesting history might open your eyes about this Feast that happens after the month of Elul. Back in biblical times, once the Feast of Trumpets was finished, the High Priest would go to the Temple and hide himself in a chamber for seven days. During this time he would prepare for the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). He was hidden away from the people. He would not come out again until the Day of Atonement and this is when he would go into the Holy of Holies. It is here that he would plead with God for the forgiveness of Israel’s sins. If their national sins were forgiven, they would not suffer judgment.

This is amazing because you can see a picture of the Church as the Bride of Christ at the Rapture. The seven days of being hidden reminds us of the Bride being taken to the hidden place in heaven for seven years.

The Tribulation will last for seven years on earth. But during this time the Bride will be taken to the hidden place or sanctuary in heaven. This seven years is symbolic of the seven days the ancient Jewish Bride would be taken to the marriage chamber on the property of the Groom’s father. They are alone in the marriage chamber for those 7 days and the marriage is consummated. This translates to the 7 years that the bride is hidden away with Christ in the marriage chamber in heaven.

Here is something fascinating to ponder- the Feast of Trumpets is the only appointed time (feast) that occurs at a new moon. The Feast of Trumpets occurs at sundown on Tishrei 1 (right after Elul has ended). The moon will be barely visible at this time. In fact, it is often referred to as a HIDDEN MOON because you can barely detect it in the sky. Back in ancient times you had to have two witnesses to attest that the new moon was spotted before the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) could begin. This is why is was often called THE FEAST WHERE NO ONE KNEW THE DAY OR THE HOUR. The Feast of Trumpets could only start when this hidden moon was spotted. For this reason the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) is celebrated for two days. For more info about new moons click here.

It is possible this hidden new moon is a foreshadowing of the hidden Bride of Christ who is summoned by the last trump.

During the Tribulation, God’s wrath is being poured out on the earth and those who rejected Jesus. During this time the Bride is protected in the Heavenly Temple of God (heaven).

This picture is also seen in the ancient Jewish wedding. The Groom and Bride were betrothed first. They shared a cup of wine and bread. A contract called a ketubah was signed saying they were legally married. A price was also paid to the Bride’s father by the Groom.

Once betrothed, the Groom would leave the Bride so he could prepare a place for them on his Father’s Property. This would be a room that was added on to the Father’s house. It would take time to do this, but no one knew how long it would take. For this reason the Bride did not know when the Groom would return. He would only come back when the room (marriage chamber) was ready. Until then, the Bride had to wait patiently, knowing the groom could return at any moment.

John 14 paints a beautiful picture of this:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ;believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

The Father is preparing a place for his Son’s bride in heaven. One day, at the sound of the trumpet, Jesus will return to get his Bride.

1 Thessalonians 4:16

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Yom Teruah is another name for the Feast of Trumpets. This means THE DAY OF SHOUTING. Did you see both the trumpet and the shout in the verses above? When Jesus returns at the Rapture there will be a shout, and the trumpet of God will blast!

There are some amazing connections to shouting in the Bible. For instance, in Matthew 27:50, Jesus cries out with a loud voice.

“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.  They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and  went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”

Here we see the shout or crying out is tied to the resurrection of the dead.

In John 11:41-44 we see Jesus shout or cry out in a loud voice:

“So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.’

 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’”

Again we see the resurrection of the dead- in this case it was Jesus’ good friend Lazarus. who had been dead four days!

A shout or Teruah is tied to the trumpet or shofar! It’s like an alarm clock blasting and saying, “WAKE UP! IT’S TIME TO GET GOING! TAKE OFF YOUR GRAVE CLOTHES!”

Joel 2:1 says:

Blow the trumpet in Zion,
And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! 
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; 
For the day of the LORD is coming, 
For it is at hand.” 

As you can see, the Feast of Trumpets and the month of Elul are tied to some pretty amazing things! We don’t know when Jesus will return to wake up the dead, but we know it will happen. Will it happen on the Feast of Trumpets? It is possible. We still wouldn’t know the day or the hour because the Feast of Trumpets comes every single year just like Christmas or Thanksgiving.

However, I do believe our time is short. The clock is ticking. Every year when the month of Elul rolls around I prepare my heart for the day when Jesus will return. I don’t know if it will happen at the Feast of Trumpets one day in the future. I just spend the month thinking about his return and reviewing my life over the past year. I pray to Jesus and ask him to help me line my life up with his kingdom purpose.

PRESIDENT TRUMP’S NAME

It’s fascinating to realize that we have a President whose name is TRUMP! His name actually means trumpet, or an awakening blast. I know not everyone may like him, but he has done some amazing things during his time in office. He has boldly sounded the trumpet for the rights of the unborn. He is the most pro-life President we’ve had since Roe vs. Wade. He has also sounded the trumpet by standing up to Middle Eastern leaders in countries like Iran, Turkey and Syria. He also ended the Iran nuclear deal. In addition, he rejects the ideas of the World Economic Forum, whose goal is to destroy capitalism. He stands against the climate agenda. Some of you may think the climate agenda is good, but it is fraught with lies. It is a One World Agenda that seeks to control the businesses and societies of the world. Most importantly, President Trump sounded the trump (announced to the world) that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel on December 6, 2017. This occurred during the Jubilee year because it was the 50th anniversary of when the UN General Assembly voted on Resolution 181, which would create the state of Israel. The trumpet is always sounded during Jubilee years. Talk about an awakening blast!

Here’s something else to consider: On the Feast of Trumpets, the shofar (trumpet) is sounded 100 times. The 100th trump is called THE LAST TRUMP. Mike Pence is the Vice-President under Trump and guess what PENCE means……………..one hundredth! Even more interesting is the fact that Mike Pence’s birthday is June 7. It was on June 7, 1967 that Israel unified the capital city of Jerusalem. During the Six Day War they captured East Jerusalem, the city where the Temple stood. They gained control over both West and East Jerusalem.

Even the number 67 in 1967 reminds me of something! The word ELUL is equal to the number 67. Hebrew is an alphanumeric language so each letter is assigned a specific number value. Add the letters of ELUL and you get 67– the number of Jerusalem! By the way, we know Jesus is returning to Jerusalem and will rule and reign from there. In addition, the word ELUL means HARVEST. This month is tied to the harvest of God’s people who have been forgiven through the blood of Jesus! During Elul I take extra time to pray for those I know are lost. I want them to be part of the harvest when Jesus returns.

I forgot to mention above that Trump’s grandmother is named Elizabeth Christ. This was her maiden name. In addition, Trump was born on a lunar eclipse in 1946. Total lunar eclipses are tied to Israel because their calendar relies on the sightings of the moon.

I am not saying Trump is a savior! What I’m saying is that God is using all sorts of events and people in history right now to remind us that our time is short. It’s time to turn to him and we must turn quickly. Events are moving like a speeding bullet. With the COVID-19 crisis, we can see it’s only a matter of time before the One World Government moves onto the stage. They are waiting in the wings. If you want more information on that, check out my blog post on 67owls.com called The Tower of Babel, or Behind the Mask.

Also, keep in mind we were quarantined during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some people are still being quarantined. The word quarantine means FORTY! Immediately I think of the 40 days that pass from Elul to the Day of Atonement. Forty points to a time of testing. As we live through the days of the pandemic and the political and social tension, we must respond to this time of testing with repentance and thanksgiving. More than anything, we need to turn to Jesus and heed the shofar’s call. Elul is a great time to do this!

As we approach election time in November, we must be in deep prayer about our nation and our lives. I’m not saying that Elul is a magical time to pray. But, biblically it is a time on God’s calendar that was set aside to focus on repentance and listening to the shofar. I guess you could call it a time of inner cleansing through the Holy Spirit. The High Holy Days will be celebrated in both September and October, reminding us to dwell in the Lord. This will get us prepared for what’s coming. I will list the dates at the end of this blog.

Jonah went to Nineveh to preach repentance during ELUL

Did you know it was Elul when the prophet Jonah went to Nineveh and told the nation to repent? They were given 40 days to repent, which led straight to the next appointment on God’s calendar- The Day of Atonement, which is also known as the day of national repentance.

It’s no accident that God sent him during this special time on the calendar! As I said before, Jesus forgives every day, but Elul is an appointed time on the calendar. This calendar is honored throughout the Old and New Testament. It will also be honored in future prophetic events as well.

JESUS AND THE MONTH OF ELUL

Jesus was in the desert being tempted during the month of Elul. He was fasting, praying and getting himself ready for his ministry. After this time of 40 days was complete, he went to the synagogue and proclaimed freedom for the captives.

Luke 4:14-20 describes what happened when he went to the synagogue after these 40 days of fasting and repentance.

“Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.  He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read,  and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
  because he has anointed me
 to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilledin your hearing.” Luke 4:14-20

You’ll notice that Jesus returned in the power of the spirit after his 40 days. Jesus had no sin so he didn’t need to repent, but he went in the desert to draw closer to his Father- God. He went there to prepare himself for his ministry. He entered into the desert to become strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

It’s amazing to me that while he was in the desert the shofar was being played each day in the synagogue. This is a reminder of the Holy Spirit and the awakening blast that draws us to our Creator. Jesus was giving us the perfect example of turning to the Father. It’s also symbolic that he went into the desert. Elul reminds us that our lives have been parched as we walk in the desert, and the only way to get them back on track is by receiving the Living Water- Jesus. He is the Way in the Desert.

Notice that after the 40 days Jesus went in the synagogue and declared FREEDOM FOR THE CAPTIVES! When we hear the shofar’s call- the trumpet blast in our heart- we can turn toward the sound and boldly declare freedom.

This is a special word for our lives right now, but it also has future fulfillment. Someday in the future Jesus is going to snatch his bride and take her to the Father’s House in heaven. The trumpet will sound and a loud Teruah (shout) will ring out. Freedom for the captives will be fulfilled literally as we are taken from a broken world. But also, the nation of Israel will experience freedom. This will happen when they finally recognize Jesus as their Messiah. This will be at the end of the Tribulation, though some will receive him in the midst of it. Many scholars believe Zechariah 12:10 will be fulfilled on the Day of Atonement because this Feast is the only time the High Priest could make atonement for the nation by appealing to God. Jesus, of course, became the High Priest so it is possible he will make atonement and declare freedom for the captives on this holiday (appointment) someday in the future. Keep in mind all the biblical appointments come every single year just like your birthday occurs every year!

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son,” Zechariah 12:10.

2020 has been an eye opening year for all of us! Every day our eyes open a little more. More is coming. What exactly? Only Jesus knows. But, I can tell you this for certain. Whatever is coming we are going to need Jesus to get through it. I am preparing myself during the the High Holy Days through repentance, prayer and extra time with Jesus. I am going to try to fast as well- though I admit I am weak in this area. Each day of Elul, I’m trying to listen a little harder, pray a little stronger and dig a little deeper. Elul is also tied to the word BINAH which means wisdom.

I’m going to end this blog by reminding you of an amazing tradition followed by Jewish families on the Feast of Trumpets (also known as Rosh Hashanah).

They bake challah (bread) in a round shape to resemble a CROWN. Here is a link that will show you all the different ways to showcase the crown shaped challah. To Orthodox Jews or Jews who do not recognize Jesus as the Savior, this crown represents God- the King of the Universe. They also believe a Savior is coming- they just don’t realize it’s Jesus! To Messianic Jews and Christians, this reminds us that THE KING IS COMING BACK. In fact, one of the names for the Feast of Trumpets is called the Wedding of Messiah and the Coronation of the King. Long live King Jesus!

Every time I think about the CORONA VIRUS I remind myself that the word CORONA means CROWN. All events are pointing to his return!

I can tell you for a fact that HE IS COMING BACK! Let the month of Elul and the High Holy Days remind you of this truth.

As they say on the Feast of Trumpets, Shana Tovah! See 2020 dates below……..

DATES FOR HIGH HOLY DAYS 2020:

FEAST OF TRUMPETS 2020 will begin at sundown on September 18 and end at sundown on September 20.

THE DAY OF ATONEMENT 2020 (also known as Yom Kippur) will begin at sundown on September 27 and end at sundown on September 28.

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES 2020 (also known as Sukkot) will begin at sundown on October 2 and end at sundown on October 9.