Awaiting the Trumpet Call

It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown.

 For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever.

 And we who are living will also be transformed.  1 Corinthians 15:52

I may not know when the Rapture will happen, but I know the fall Jewish feasts are upon us and I  look forward to them!

I like this time of year.  Two-thirds of summer is past and the next season brings cooler temps and lower electric bills.  Fall is a special time for me spiritually.  The month of Elul began last week on the Jewish calendar.  Studying our Jewish Roots is interesting because it parallels Jesus’ return.  Traditionally, the month of Elul signifies deep searching of the heart and God’s forgiveness.  We begin each morning with the blast of the shofar remembering that Jesus, on the cross, bought back our authority and conquered our enemies.

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Colossians 2:13-15

Personally, I’m glad we live way out in the country.  I’m sure we would be thrown out if we lived in an apartment with that loud blare every morning before our Bible study!  But it is a good reminder to me and my family that our enemies are conquered.  Those demons that love to destroy our homes, children and relationships are defeated.

Elul ends with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, a wonderful celebration.  I always ask the Lord for a word for the coming year even though I follow a different calendar.  He’s never failed to give me a special word to reflect upon and to pray over my life and others.  This past year was “favor.”  You can imagine the party in His Word with all the references to favor!  My journal is full!

My Jewish cookbooks come off the shelf at Rosh Hashanah.  There are so many good recipes to use and we always mix up a fresh batch of Challah.  My daughter tells of how her daughter likes to dip cut up apples in honey at her house; it’s another tradition that’s fun and delicious at this time. Most importantly, Christians ponder the scriptures that refer to Jesus coming for us.  We like to think of it as a bridegroom coming for his bride.  Our family planned a wedding this past year and it truly is a joyous time of expectation.  That event was all we could think about for months!

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

My heart is open and I’m ready for my Bridegroom.  Are you?