At this time of year we Christians celebrate the baby Jesus’ coming and are called to remember that He promised that He would come back as Our King. Just as there were signs before, during, and after Jesus’ birth, there are promised signs before our King returns. In previous newsletters I have pointed out signs in the sky like a group of stars that form what has been called “The Hand of God” and another one called “The Crown of Thorns.” This year I heard of another phenomenon. There appeared a circle of clouds and the sounding of trumpets (like shofars) over the city of Jerusalem on October 1, 2016. You can see actual footage of this event on the internet if you search for “Jerusalem trumpets.” As I was checking this out I also heard of many unexplained booms heard in various countries this past year (U.S., Canada, Philippines, Germany, Russia, Australia, Hungary to name a few). The people who heard them said that they sounded like explosions, but the authorities checked it out and found that there were no explosions in the area. NASA has explanations for all of this and calls it normal. They say that the earth makes many vibration sounds, some that we cannot hear. I say that the Lord told us that “the very stones would cry out” (Luke 19:40) if the people were silent as he made his way into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday. How much more will the earth cry out in preparation for His next appearance?
It is interesting in the timing of the circular cloud and the sound of trumpets over Jerusalem on October 1st. The next day began the feast of Rosh Hashanah, which in the Jewish calendar is the Jewish New Year, but their new year’s celebration is not like our January celebration. Yes, they reflect on the last year and plan changes for the next year, but this is a holy time of reflection and repentance. The morning begins with the blowing of a ram’s horn, commonly called a shofar. It is blown to wake listeners from their slumber and to alert them to the coming judgment of the Lord. A total of 100 notes in various configurations are sounded in synagogues on each day of the 2 day feast. No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah, and most of the day is spent in the synagogue focusing on God’s sovereignty or the “coronation” of God as King of the Universe!
Once we know all of this about Rosh Hashanah it is not surprising that God would display such a sight in the sky and the sound of trumpets one day before the Rosh Hashanah trumpets. He certainly would not want to be confused with human trumpeters! Both Matthew 24 and I Thessalonians 4 say that the Lord will appear with the sound of trumpets. Do you think that this might be a dress rehearsal, a chance for us to take a moment to think over our need for repentance and our hope at seeing Jesus return to earth as the King of the Universe setting everything right once again?
As we look toward Christmas and the sights, sounds, and signs of a Savior born to a virgin so long ago may we remember:
“For unto us a child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government shall be upon His shoulder,
And His name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and of peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.” (Is. 9:6-7 NKJV)
MERRY CHRISTMAS
FROM CHARLENE AND ALAN WOODLEE
