Feast of Trumpets Sermon 2025

September 23, 2025

When thinking about the meaning of the biblical Feast of Trumpets it can be tempting to jump into “end times” mode and speak about the return of Jesus and the establishment of His rule on earth. There is certainly nothing wrong with that, since every aspect of the Passover, Unleavened Bread Feast and Pentecost/Feast of Weeks have been fulfilled in Jesus already. Because there is still some unfinished business that Jesus intends to fulfil, it is only natural to associate the autumn festivals with Jesus’ return, His final judgment and the new heavens and new earth.

Like a beautifully cut diamond, there are many facets that the festivals can present to us if we have eyes to see. One way to examine the Feast of Trumpets, for instance, is to find out how the use of trumpets is presented in the Bible. I have certainly done so in previous posts, so that will not be the approach here.

This time we will look at a biblical incident that highlights the phenomenon of the embedded sevens that characterize the unfolding of the book of Revelation. Revelation has seven churches. The scroll has seven seals. When the seventh seal is opened there are seven trumpet blasts which introduce seven plagues. The seventh trumpet blast introduces seven plagues of God’s wrath that are symbolically poured out from bowls.

Joshua 4:14-5:1 – Israel crossed the Jordan River on 10th day of the first month. That is the day they were to set aside the Passover lamb from the rest of the flock in preparation for the Passover on the 14th. The book of Revelation also speaks of a people who are set apart from the world’s evil system in order to worship only the true God.

Joshua 5:2-9 – The entire male population were circumcised. This was a preparation to partake of the Passover in the Promised Land. Once they arrived, only males who were circumcised were allowed to eat the Passover meal. In Revelation the people of God must be pure – redeemed from sin “by the blood of the Lamb.”

Joshua 5:10-12 – They held the Passover on the 14th. The next day they ate from the harvest of the land, and the manna they had been eating for 40 years abruptly stopped the very next day. Israelites were only allowed to eat from that year’s harvest after the ceremony of the Wave Sheaf offering to God. A sheaf of new grain was waved in the air toward God, then baked on the altar (Leviticus 23:9-14). In Revelation the people of God are willing to die for their testimony about Jesus, just as Jesus Himself died for them.

Joshua 5:13-15 – A man with a drawn sword walks up to Joshua and identifies Himself as “Commander of the armies of the LORD.” Joshua takes his shoes off and bows before Him. In Revelation 1 and 19 we find Jesus armed with a sword coming out of His mouth. This reminds us that it is Jesus’ word that creates or destroys. As the LORD must be the one who lets Joshua’s people into Canaan, so Jesus is the “door” to life eternal.

Joshua 6:1- 5 – The LORD is the Man with the Plan: March around the city once a day for six days with the Ark of the Covenant and blow trumpets. On the seventh day, march around seven times, blowing trumpets. At the end of the seventh time, blow the trumpets and shout! God has given you the city. Once the wall falls down, go in and wipe out all the inhabitants and their animals and property, but keep the gold and silver for God’s tabernacle treasury. In Revelation the people of God are the ones “who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus.” (Rev. 14:12) We need to obey Jesus’ instructions about how to live our lives.

Joshua 6:6-20 – Joshua Implements the Plan. The city is circled seven days and seven times the seventh day. They have obeyed the LORD’s instructions.

Joshua 6:20-27 – The Plan’s Results: the walls fall down and the Israelites easily defeat the inhabitants, rescuing Rahab and her family, who will now live among and intermarry with the Israelites because of her faith. In Revelation 20:4-6 we find the saints of God given positions of authority on thrones in Jesus’ kingdom. They reign with Jesus for a thousand years, then live with Him forever in a new heavens and a new earth (Revelation 20 & 21)

This day represents the day of Jesus’ Coming, conquest and coronation. The Seven Trumpets of Revelation are a reminder that Babylon the Great will fall, just as Jericho did.

Until it does, we are in a spiritual war. Once we know who the enemy is we can figure out what strategy will be needed to win. Any army must be trained and receive their “kit” of armor and weaponry.

Eph. 6:10-18 tells us what “armor of God” is available to all Christians through the Holy Spirit.

The New Revised Standard Version gives us the most useful translation of Eph. 6:15 “As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.” That refers to our training: learn to explain the gospel to people who do not believe. Be prepared to do so. One clue as to the proper understanding of the “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel” is in Isaiah 52:7. “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”

Now that we have our equipment and training, what is the battle plan? Matthew 28:18-20 Make disciples from all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (one Name) and teach them to observe everything Jesus commanded His disciples. Remember that Jesus is with us always to the end of the age.

The end result? Rev. 12:11 “But they have conquered [the Devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not cling to life even in the face of death.”