THE DAY OF TERUAH
For many years there were tens of thousands of us who believed we had a very good understanding of how the 4th Annual Holy Day, which was commonly called “Trumpets”, would be fulfilled. We believed we knew what the event would be that would fulfill its purpose. And it would be an event that would “relate” to the instructions in the command to keep that Sabbath day holy. But the only instruction that is given is extremely brief and is found in Lev 23:24-25 and in Num 29:1. We simply accepted the literal reading of the verses that are found in the King James Version, as the basis for the understanding of this Annual Sabbath day. The KJV states that “the blowing of trumpets “ is the principal thing to do on this holy convocation.
Lev 23: 23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpetsH8643, an holy convocation.
25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
H8643 ter-oo-aw' or teruah From H7321; clamor, that is, acclamation of joy or a battle cry; especially clangor of trumpets, as an alarum: - alarm, blow (-ing) (of, the) (trumpets), joy, jubile, loud noise, rejoicing, shout (-ing), (high, joyful) sound (-ing).
Those verses, in the KJV, are a sad translation of the original Hebrew. As is so often the case with the KJV, it sent us in a wrong direction. That direction made it impossible to reach an understanding of the significance of this Holy Day.
My earnest expectation in is to prove that the actual meaning pictures the marriage of Christ to the firstfruits. I believe it will become evident how much God the father and Jesus Christ are anticipating this pivotal event. God has structured the path of the future salvation of mankind in such a way that the marriage of the firstfruits to Christ is required for the rest of mankind to enter into eternal life. The future children of Christ and his wife will be all those who will be “born of the Spirit” after the marriage of the lamb. The subject of the Bride is more fully developed in a paper tiled “THE BRIDE OF CHRIST (Her Abode and Her Destiny)”
In the search for the truth relating to the 4th Annual Holy Day quite a few areas will be covered, both in the O.T. and N.T. And, I believe the result of this study will help provide an appreciation of our God’s fervor for the fulfillment of this day. It will also give a more complete view of the events of the end of the age.
OUR MISDIRECTION
Many understand that each of the Annual Holy Days that were given to Israel through Moses are prophetic in nature. Each one has been or will be fulfilled as a principal part of the design that God has preordained for the creation of his literal children. The spiritual fulfillment of the first three Annual Holy Days has already occurred. The third one, “Pentecost”, was fulfilled by God on the Pentecost after Christ’s resurrection, by giving his Spirit to those he called to the truth. [this was written prior to the time I had a true understanding of the Day of Pentecost] God’s Spirit has not been given only to lead, but to actually dwell within those he calls and chooses. Just as the first three have a distinct spiritual fulfillment, so then the fourth Annual Holy Day will also have a very distinct spiritual fulfillment. Now, there seems to be an event, in proper chronological order, that sheds light upon the brief statement made in Lev 23:24 as it is translated in the KJV. It has to do with the “seven trumpets” referred to in Revelation 8:2 & 6, and most specifically to the “seventh trump”. The sounding of that trumpet is dynamically referred to in the N. T. I’d like to develop the picture that influenced us so greatly, by providing the verses that relate to the seventh trumpet sound.
Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
1 Cor 15: 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Thes 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:
Rev 10: 7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Rev 11: 15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
These verses are compelling evidence of the fulfillment of Lev 23:24 and Num 29:1 if we are only using the KJV as our guide. Especially, since these verses are the only times that the words trump, trumpet or trumpets are used in the N. T. that could even come close to something that fulfills Lev 23:24.
There is no doubt that it would be hard to imagine something more wonderful than being changed into a glorious immortal body that will live for eternity.
1 Cor 15: 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
This is going to be the destiny of all those who have God’s Spirit living in them by the end of God’s plan for humanity. The Bible gives us the evidence that that number will reach into the multiple billions. ······· But the Bible also gives us the evidence that this change to immoratlity is not what the fourth Annual Sabbath is all about. ······· What it is about is something uniquely precious in the eyes of God the Father and being most anxiously anticipated by God the son. I hope your patience in reading this paper will prevail. I am whole-heartedly assured that the result will be fully worthwhile. I have the earnest desire to be able to make the truth of the meaning of this Annual Holy Day clearly understood.
THE BLOWING OF TRUMPETS ???
Our studies have shown us that the literal meaning of the term “blowing of trumpets” is absolutely essential to understanding the meaningful significance of this day. We found that the group of words, “blowing of trumpets”, is actually a single specific Hebrew word. That word is “teruah”. When we looked for the meaning of that word we found no direct or specific connection to only the blowing of a trumpet. To further complicate an effort to understand its meaning in Lev. 23, “teruah” is used without a context in Lev. 23:24 and in Num 29:1. We have no alternative but to look at its root meaning and to consider the context of every single time that word has been used in the O. T. as a guide. That investigation is fully necessary if we are to understand the inspiring truth of the reason why this day was included in God’s plan for mankind. That plan is a progression of the principal elements that make it possible for mankind to be lead into immortality.
THE WAYS “TERUAH” IS USED
The number given by Strongs for teruah is 8643. The basic meaning given by Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon for this word is: tumult or a loud noise. But an examination of the ways it is used provides us with the dynamic nature of this very special word. It was used 38 times. Twenty times it was translated as shout or shouting; six times as an alarm; three times as rejoice or joy; two times out of the 38 as blowing of a trumpet. It was also used as: loud noise, Jubilee, blow and high sound. In the times that this word was used it was principally used in four ways.
1) shouting for the acclamation of joy
2) the sound of a charge to battle
3) the sound of silver trumpets to move the camp of Israel
4) as an alarm
But “teruah” takes on its special value when we look at all of the times in which it was used by God. There is a common denominator for the ways it has been used. This word essentially communicates the spirit of “great exuberance”. Whether it relates to the excitement of some joyous occurrence or the anticipation of being victorious in battle or the commencement of the movement of the camp of Israel there is the common factor of great exuberance. To give the sense of this element all we have to do is look at its root word. That word is “ruwa”. Its Strong's number is 7321 and it is principally defined as a loud noise: to cry out with a loud voice, a warlike clamor and to shout for joy. That sounds much like “teruah”. But the verses, in the places where they are both used, gives an understanding that reveals the unique dynamic nature of “teruah”.
1 Sam 4: 5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted (ruwa) with a great shout (teruah), so that the earth rang again (resounded).
1 Sam 4: 6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout (teruah), they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout (teruah) in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.
“teruah” does communicate "exuberance", great exuberance; in fact it is the strongest word showing exuberance that is in the Bible.
TAQA --- THE GATHERING SOUND
There is one more word that has to be considered. “Taqa” figures very prominently in the events pictured in Mat 24 , 1 Cor 15 and Rev 10. Even though it isn’t a, “Greek”, N. T. word, the way it is used in the O.T. helps us in understanding the nature of an important future event. This word is used in a wide variety of ways:
8628. taqa', taw-kah'; a primitive root; to clatter, i.e. slap (the hands together), clang (an instrument); by analogy, to drive (a nail or tent-pin, a dart, etc.); by implication, to become bondsman (by hand-clasping):--blow ([a trumpet]), cast, clap, fasten, pitch [tent], smite, sound, strike, suretiship, thrust.
Of all the ways “taqa” is used there is one in particular that relates to the understanding of “teruah”. This meaning will be made clear in the following verses.
Num. 10:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
3 And when they shall blow (taqa) with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
4 And if they blow (taqa) but with one trumpet, then the principal, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.
5 When ye blow an alarm (teruah), then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.
6 When ye blow an alarm (teruah) the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.
7 But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow (taqa), but ye shall not sound an alarm (ruwa).
This “taqa” sound is used to gather the people, not only in these verses but elsewhere in the O. T. This fact is a very important element of information that will help us better understand end time events. It is interesting to note that the New KJV translates “blow an alarm” in verses 5 and 6 as “sound the advance” which is a sound of teruah.
TERUAH EXAMPLES (bolded word or words are the single word "teruah" H8643)
First let’s look at the times that teruah was used for shouts of exuberance
Num 23:21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.
Psa 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
Psa 150:5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. (not functionally cymbals)
Josh 6:5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout(ruwa) with a great shout (teruah); and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.
Josh 6:20 So the people shouted (ruwa) when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted (ruwa) with a great shout (teruah), that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
So “ruwa” is a shout, but “teruah” is a GREAT shout.
1Sa 4:5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.
1Sa 4:6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.
2 Sam 6:15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.
1 Chro 15:28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.
2Ch 15:14 And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.
We were distinctly shown in the last two verses that “teruah” is a shouting that is apart from the sound of a trumpet.
In the next six verses, teruah is distinguished as a sound of joy.
Ezra 3:12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted) aloud for joy:
Ezra 3:13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted (ruwa) with a loud shout (teruah), and the noise was heard afar off.
Job 8:21 Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
Job 33:26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy : for he will render unto man his righteousness.
Ps 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
Ps 89:15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
I included all but one verse to show the weight of the evidence of its use in relationship to joyful exuberance. The one I left out is so awesome that it requires a very special consideration that will be done at the end of this study.
Now let's look at the examples of a teruah sound in going to battle and in some cases going into battle with the addition of the sound of a trumpet. Six of the eight times it is a shouting, two times the sound is ambiguous. .
Job 39:25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting .
Jer 20:16 And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;
Ezek 21:22 At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort.
Amos 1:14 But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:
Amos 2:2 But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kirioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting), and with the sound of the trumpet
Zep 1:16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
The following two may be considered ambiguous unless you consider the word "alarm" to be a "war cry".
Jer 4:19 My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
Jer 49:2 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD.
There is a time that H8643 indirectly refers to a "silver" trumpet as is used to move the camp of Israel. Teruah was used once as the word jubilee in Leviticus 25:19 t in Leviticus 25:12&13 a different word is used for jubilee. It may be that when there is a camp that comprises well over a million people that the silver trumpets give the signal to shout out the fact that the camp is moving.
Lev 25:9 Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubileH8643 (teruah) to soundH5674 on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.
H5674 aw-bar' A primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition
Lev 25:12 For it is the jubileH3104; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field.
Lev 25:13 In the year of this jubileH3104 ye shall return every man unto his possession.
H3104 yo-bale', yo-bale' Apparently from H2986; the blast of a horn (from its continuous sound); specifically the signal of the silver trumpets; hence the instrument itself and the festival thus introduced: - jubile, ram’s horn, trumpet.
There are two times that "teruah" is associated exclusively with a sound of a trumpet as an alarm.
2Ch 13:12 And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.
Num 31:6 And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand.
The verses that have been provided give the overwhelming essence of a teruah sound. It is very clear that the use of the word is describing the sound of shouting. Whatever the fulfillment of “The Day of Teruah” will be, it will have to reflect the dynamic nature of this special word. Particularly in the context of the spirit of the New Testament.
Rom_12:19 "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
In the spiritual fulfillment of this word we should look something other than warfare. That would naturally bring us to voices raised in great exuberance.
THE ANNUAL HOLY DAYS ONLY GIVEN TO ISRAEL
It is vital to reemphasize the fact that the Annual Holy Days or Feast Days were originally given to the nation that God set aside from all other nations. In doing that, Israel was to be an example to the other nations. Even though all nations will eventually be given the way of salvation, it will only come to them through the fruitful work of the realm of Spiritual Israel and the physical nation of Israel fulfilling their responsibility of being an example. Therefore, each of the Annual Holy Days has been, and will continue to be, fulfilled in a way that can only be described as “spiritual”. Revelation 21 makes it plain that the nations will eventually find their salvation through Israel, not physical Israel, but through “Spiritual Israel”.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, as crystal;
12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
The “Day of teruah” will not only be a day that resounds in exuberance, it will find its fulfillment though the architecture of "spiritual" Israel.
Each of the fulfilled Annual Holy Days give their testimony to the truth, that they provide the principal spiritual elements of the salvation that is offered to all mankind.
WHICH DEFINITION OF “TERUAH” RELATES TO LEV 23 AND NUM 29 ?
Lev 23: 23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets (“teruah”sound), an holy convocation.
It just says that on this day it will be a Sabbath and you will make a teruah sound and it will be a memorial. It is the only Annual Sabbath that is a memorial.
Being a memorial, we can ask the following questions;
Is it a memorial of the camp of Israel being moved when they were in the wilderness?
Is it a teruah sound to commemorate their past or future battles? There is a future battle that might qualify as an appropriate time to “teruah”. That final battle and the judgement it brings will be carefully examined.
In recalling the mention of teruah in Num 23:21, “the shout of a king” we can ask if they are to remember how God protected them from Balak’s desires, which were actually Satan’s desire to destroy God’s fledgling nation. (there is most likely an “earnest expectation” on the part of the King that is related to Num 23:21)
Are they simply to be engaged in a clamorous and exuberant noise on that day and remember that the day is to be a memorial?
The answer is dependent on the “reason” that the Annual Holy Days were given to Israel. They do proclaim the principal spiritual elements of the salvation that is offered to all mankind. Therefore it is a day that is looking to its holy, spiritual, life-giving purpose. It is a memorial but there is no tangible element in Lev 23 or Num 29 that gives us any clear evidence of the significance of the day. We are given distinct evidence for the purpose of Pentecost. And “The Feast of Tabernacles” clearly pictures Israel living under the canopy of God’s blessings. We simply are not able to go to the past to get a clear picture for teruah. We have to go to the future. We can determine that it is a “memorial” that is looking to a future holy, spiritual, life-giving, blessing.
Moving the “camp” of Israel and the future “Battle of Armageddon” doesn’t qualify, as will be shown later. Being protected from Satan’s desire to destroy Israel doesn’t qualify. There is no one particular time that Israel has been saved from Satan – Satan’s effort to destroy Israel has been continuous and his final effort will come just prior to the “white throne judgment”. Therefore, the only thing left is to find a time, in the future, that fully relates to the powerful meaning of this day as conveyed by the word “teruah” and understand why it should be the only feast day that should be memorialized.
IS TERUAH FULFILLED BY THE 7TH TRUMP ?
In the past we were taught that Mat 24, 1 Thes 4 and 1 Cor provided us with the picture and understanding of teruwah’s fulfillment.
Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
1 Cor 15: 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Thes 4: 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout (Strongs #2752: shout of command), with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
J. P. Green’s interlinear provides a more accurate translation of 1 Thes 4:16-17.
“Because Himself the Lord with a word of command by a voice of an archangel, and with a trumpet of God, will descend from Heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise again firstly, then we the living remaining together with them will be caught up in clouds to a meeting of the Lord.”
In these verses the single shout of command and the sound of a trumpet does not convey the clamor and exuberance of word teruah that has been so graphically defined for us. When we carefully discern the contents of these scriptures it becomes clear that the seventh trump is not that fulfillment. This is what these verses tell us.
The command of a shout and the sound of the trump signals the resurrection of the dead
in Christ and the living elect.
The angels gather together the elect from one end of heaven to the other.
The Lord Himself will be there, in the clouds, to receive the elect.
Remember how the blowing of the unique trumpet sounds in Num 10:3 was the signal to gather all the assembly to the door of the tabernacle? It is interesting that there is a distinct parallel with the verses in Mat.24, 1 Cor.15 and 1Thes.4 with the instructions of Num 10 that picture the gathering God’s people. What is most important to remember is that it was a “taqa” sound that was used to gather the people in Num 10. It was very clearly not the dynamic teruah sound.
The prophecies of Ezekiel were made over one hundred years after the house of Israel had been removed from their land. We know that Israel and in particular the “house of Israel” will be dispersed among the nations during the tribulation period.
Ezek 39:25 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;
26 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.
27 When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;
28 Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.
There is a very interesting verse in Isaiah that provides the evidence that it relates to the last days and the time of the resurrection of the saints.
Isa 27:13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.
There are two factors in Isa 27:13 that are of great importance.
The first is that the great trumpet that shall be blown makes a taqa sound. The word “blown” is the word “taqa”.
The second thing is that it is very likely that the sound of “the great trumpet” is the sound of the trump of God of 1 thes 4:16 and the “7th trump” that is spoken of in the New Testament. The sound of the 7th trump is great compare to the first six in that it is used at the creation of the spiritual bodies of the saints when they are gathered with Christ when he comes in the clouds. Therefore the 7th trump is likely to be the sound of “the great trumpet” that is not only a signal for the dispersed house of Israel to be gathered out from the nations but also the signal for the saints to be gathered together to meet Christ. And, “they shall come”, shows that the use of the word is consistent with the signal to gather together when the taqa sound is blown. In Ezek 39:25-28 there is a literal gathering of the people of Israel. Remember that it has been shown that the taqa sound is not the same type of sound as teruah.
IS TERUAH FULFILLED BY THE “BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON” ?
There are many examples of teruah being used in the context of going into battle. Could what is called the battle of Armageddon be involved with the “Day of Teruah”? It is by all accounts the most significant battle that will have ever been fought. By looking at the verses in Revelation and elsewhere that deal with that event, we can learn whether it is a teruah day. In addition, in searching for that knowledge, we find the convincing evidence that the so-called battle of Armageddon finalizes the renowned “Day of the Lord”. Also, since the location of the battle is in dispute, we will discover the evidence that will direct us to the battle’s actual location.
Rev 16: 12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
Rev 19: 11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
We should notice that the kings of the earth are gathered to the battle of that great “day of God” (day of the Lord), and there is not a hint of any trumpet sound or shouting leading a charge into the battle. Joel 3:14 shows us that this is the Day of The Lord. We should also take note that what is evidently the greater part of the battle, takes place in a valley that Joel calls “the valley of Jehoshaphat” and “the valley of decision”. It is revealing that the Hebrew meaning of Jehoshaphat is, “Jehovah has judged”.
Joel 3:12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision (Gesenius #2742: valley of judgement).
There are many who believe that the battle will take place in the Kidron valley. But the Kidron Valley was not called “Jehoshappat” until centuries after Joel gave his prophesy. The Kidron Valley being quite small, is situated between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives and is presently called the valley of Jehoshaphat. The following, from Unger’s Bible Dictionary provides this valuable information pertaining to the “valley of Jehoshaphat”. The underlining and “bold” accents are mine.
“From about the fourth century A. D. the valley of Jehoshaphat has been identified with the Kidron. This identification is based on Joel 3:2, 12 and particularly Zechariah, chapter 14, but since no actual valley bore this name in pre-Christian antiquity, Joel’s prophetic employment of it is figurative of the place where the judgment of the nations will take place prior to Christ’s Second Advent and the setting-up of the millennial kingdom.”
Har Megiddo (Armageddon) is a city adjacent to the five mile wide, fifteen mile long Valley of Jezreel. This valley would accommodate “multitudes, multitudes” for a battle and a bloody sacrifice. It is most difficult to picture these multitudes in the very small narrow valley located next to Jerusalem. There are also unique historical events that occurred in the valley of Jezreel that can relate to prophecies for the so called “battle of Arageddon”. But to get a more complete understanding of the day of the Lord, we have to consider the information in Rev 14:20 and Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39.
Rev 14:20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs (about 200 miles which is a approximate length of the land of Israel ).
Ezek 38:16 And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
Ezek 39: 2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
39: 17 And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.
18 Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
These verses show that the “wine press” includes the whole length of land of Israel, blood will splatter up to the horses bridles, that there will be no slaughter within the “city” (Jerusalem) and that the birds will devour the slain, not only in the valley of Jezeral, but also throughout the land of Israel. All of chapters 38 and 39 confirm this conclusion. It may well be that the concentration of the slaughter will be in the “valley of decision”.
Using the popular vernacular, the “battle of Armageddon” finalizes “The Day of the Lord”. I counted 20 times that “the day of the Lord” was used in the O. T. In eleven of the verses the context is placed in a period of time before the Day of the Lord. When the context is placed at the time of Day of the Lord there is never a mention of a teruah type charge into the battle. Verses in Jer., Zep. and Ezek. show us that this slaughter is referred to as a sacrifice. Being called a sacrifice, we are given a valuable help to understand the 5th Annual Holy Day or The Day of Atonement. The Day of the Lord is at the heart of the fulfillment of the “Day of Atonement” when the symbolic sacrifices of the sin offerings of Lev 16:3& 5 are perfectly fulfilled.
Rev 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared
Zep 1:7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.
Jer 46:10 For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.
It doesn’t say that they were sacrificed at the river but that “the Lord has a sacrifice” there, destined to be sacrificed. The place of their sacrifice will be in the valley of Jehoshaphat or the valley of judgement.
They will, in essence, be as “dead men walking” as they make their way to “the valley of decision” to be sacrificed. It is also important to notice that it is the “kings of the east” (and there armies) that are assembled at the Euphrates River. They represent a part of the “sacrifice” that God prepares for the “day of the Lord”.
Ezek 39 shows the part of the sacrifice other than the “kings of the east”. This part of the sacrifice includes the kings of the north.
Ezek 39: 2 and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
39: 17 And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the “mountains” of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.
CAN ZEHPANIAH 1:16 BE A PART OF “TERUAH’S” FULFILLMENT ?
Of the 38 times that the word teruah is used there is only one time (Zep.1:16) that the verse is clearly in references to the “last days”. So, the question arises; can what is described in this verse be a part of the fulfillment of the “day of Teruah”??? There are other reference of teruah to the end time or last days where the time element is less obvious. But for now the need is to consider Zeph 1:14-16.
Zep 1: 14 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
16 A day of the trumpet and alarm (teruah) against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
In the first reading of these verses, it can be easily concluded that “the great day of the LORD” of verse 14 is also “A day of the trumpet and teruah” of verse 16. But, there are three important factors that work against that conclusion.
The subject of verse 14 is the “nearness” of the day of the Lord, not the day of the Lord itself. “Nearness” is indicative of an indecisive period of time. The Hebrew word for day is “yom” and has a broad sense of meaning, from a literal day to an age. This makes it necessary to use the context to understand a particular meaning in any one verse. In order for verses 15 & 16 to be able to relate to the subject of verse 14, that subject being the nearness of the dreadful day of the Lord, the word “time” should be used in place of the word day as it is used throughout the two verses. “That time is a time of wrath, a time of trouble and distress, a time of wasteness and desolation, a time of darkness and gloominess a time of clouds and thick darkness a time of the trumpet and the sound of teruah against the fenced cities, and against the high towers”, ------- a time that is near to the great day of the Lord.
On the “Day of the Lord” there is a destruction of assembled armies that God calls a sacrifice. During the “Day of the Lord” there is no reference to any battles against fenced cities (plural) or high towers. The battles that Zephaniah is referring to involve gentile nations and happen before the Day of the Lord.
We have been given an example of gentile warring against gentile with the term “teruah” used in the context of the verses that describe the warfare. When Jeremiah wrote his prophecies the northern kingdom of Israel had long been taken captive and Judah was captive in Babylon.
Unger’s Bible Dictionary has this to say under the subject of “Rabbah”. Rabbah was one of the cities that was conquered by Nebechadnezzar.
“In the time of Amos, two centuries and a half later, it had again a “wall” and “palaces,” and was still the sanctuary of Molech- “the king” (Amos 1:14). So it was also at the date of the invasion of Nebechadnezzar (Jer. 49:2,3),”
Jer 49:2 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm (teruah) of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD.
Among the cities that Nebuchadnezzar invaded and plundered were Tyre, Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Jerusalem.
There will be battles between the gentile nations prior to the day of the Lord (Israel will have been subdued during this time). Those battles will easily invoke the passion of a “teruah” type battle charge. Mankind has been engaged in heated combat from the beginning of their creation.
The Annual Holy Days represents spiritual benchmarks in the creation of the children of God and picture important events that are necessary to the fulfillment of God’s purpose. The gentile battles, during the tribulation period, are not pivotal elements leading to the mankind’s salvation. Just because the word “teruah” is used in connection with these battles does not mean it has any reference to the “Day of Teruah”.
THE SPECIAL SACRIFICES ON THE ANNUAL HOLY DAYS
The purposes of the Annual Sabbaths or “High Holy Days” are dramatically revealed through the special offerings that are made on these days. The offerings that Israel was instructed in are given in Num 28 and 29. But Num 28:2 gives the overall sense of what God desires through the offerings.
28:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season.
A sacrifice made by fire is a “burnt offering”. Unger’s dictionary gives us the meaning of the value to God, of a burnt offering.
Burnt Offering. (1) Name (Heb. olah, ascending as smoke, the name given to this sacrifice because it was to be wholly consumed and to rise in smoke toward heaven). ······· with the exception of the skin, it was wholly and entirely consumed. The victims in the other sacrifices were only partially consumed upon the altar.
(2) Meaning. The burnt offering symbolized the entire surrender to God of the individual or of the congregation, God’s acceptance thereof, with a view to the renewal and sanctification of the entire man and consecration to a course of life pleasing to God. The law of sacrifice does not teach that the burnt offering had any reference to atonement or forgiveness of sins, provision being made therefore by the atoning sacrifices (sin and trespass offerings).
I should mention that before God could accept a burnt offering, all the person’s (or the nation of Israel’s sins in the case of the Day of Atonement) had to be “atoned” for by a sin offering.
The point I would like to make is that there were special or additional “burnt offerings” for every one of the Annual Holy Days. Those High Sabbath days are very special times that represent Israel’s and then the worlds surrender to God, and God’s acceptance or oneness with them all. The meaning of the Annual Sabbath day of “Yom Teruah” is going to be fulfilled in a way that brings that spirit of oneness with Jesus Christ, in a way that words cannot adequately describe.
THE INSPIRING EXAMPLES FROM EZRA AND NEHEMIAH
There are only four times that “the first day of the seventh month” (the Day of teruah) is referred to in all of the O.T. We are familiar with Lev 23 and num 29 being the commandment to observe it. The other two are in Ezra chapter 3 and Nehemiah chapter 7. Both of these historical references gives us valuable evidence of how God has used this “High Day” and that “joy” is related to them both. It deserves repeating these are the only times, apart from Lev 23 and Num 29, that the first day of the seventh month is directly referenced in all the Bible. In other words they represent the only direct example, giving details, of how God has used this day.
Ezra 3:1 And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.
2 Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
6 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.
10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.
11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout (teruah), when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted (teruah) aloud for joy:
13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout (teruah) of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout (teruah), and the noise was heard afar off.
There are two things that stand out in these verses. The first is that God used the Day of teruah to “begin” to instill, in these people, the idea or desire or even the need to be at one with himself through the burnt offerings.
The second is that when the people (who weren’t familiar with the first temple) saw the evidence of the reconstruction of the temple, they were crowned with joy. This overflowing joy could only come from their understanding of how vital it was to make it possible to have God within their midst. The “teruah” sound of joy truly dominated this day.
We also have, in the book of Nehemiah, an important example of God’s value for the first day of the seventh month.
Neh 8:1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.
2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:
6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.
8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.
12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.
This is the second and last time that the events on first day of the seventh month are documented, apart from the instruction in Lev. and Num. There can be no question that God orchestrated or timed the events, that occurred on this day, to fully complement the purpose of the day. It has much to give us that reflects God’s delight for this day.
The first question that may come to mind is; why were they grieved at hearing “the words of the law”? The temple had been finished about 70 years earlier and about four days earlier the wall was completed. They would have been in a natural state of wellbeing and gladness. But that feeling left them when they heard and understood the reading of the law. Why? I believe the key is that they were given the understanding of God’ law. They understood the love and grace that is embodied within that law and it gave them a personal relationship with their God. They could then come to a full realization the nature of the sins of their fathers who had turned their backs on that law.
They were quickly instructed not to be mournful. Through their understanding, they were able to rejoice in the knowledge that they could live in the care of their God through the law and it was repeated three times that that day was “holy”. In contrast to their joy, the last “high holy day”, the last Annual Sabbath Day, is a “solemn assembly” ··· more correctly a day of restraint. But, that was not how this day was to be observed. On this day they were to consider the “joy of the Lord” and that joy was their strength. Then they understood how they could have a part in bringing joy to their God. They understood why God would delight in and protect those who would keep his law. That “Day of Teruah” was a memorable day in the history of Israel.
There is something else that is very important to consider. The people were instructed to have a feast and none were to be excluded --- to have a feast and have great mirth --- be glad and joyful. God went to some length in Nehemiah chapter 8 to set the tone for this day. It is the only time in God’s Word, that we are given a body of detail that provides an example of how this day should be observed.
THE BOOK OF REVELATION
Up to now we have seen no evidence of a creditable disclosure in the “Word of God” of how “The Day of teruah” will be spiritually fulfilled. In the New Testament, there is nothing that would actually relate to the meaning of the word teruah, except for events that are written about in the Book of Revelation. In searching through that book, we should be looking for evidence of an exceedingly loud war cry or --- an expression of great exuberance that would likely be associated with loud acclamations of joy.
There are numerous dynamic sounds that are recorded in Revelation. Every single one of them, except for one, is associated with a single Greek word. That word is “megas”. It is Strongs # 3173
3173. megas, meg'-as [includ. the prol. forms, fem. megale, plur. megaloi, etc: big (lit. or fig., in a very wide application).
Those wide applications include: mass and weight, measure and height, number and quantity, degrees of intensity (including emotions), that affecting the senses, rank, things of importance, stateliness, blessings, pride.
The application that is used so often in the Book of Revelation is where the senses are affected. That word is used twenty one times to describe a big or loud voice. It is used four times to denote a big earthquake and one time for a loud or big thunder. There is never a time that that word is used in the context of rejoicing or joy or a charge into battle. Never. There is also never a time that an exuberant outpouring of joy is recorded in all of the New Testament, except for one place. There is never a time that would be an accurate reflection of the definition of the word “teruah”, in the N. T., except for that one place. In fact that place is the single most exuberantly exalted period of time that is recorded IN ALL THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE!
There was nothing that happened, on the inaugural annual Sabbath of the first day of the seventh month, that would have given Israel a clue as to why they were to “teruah” on that day. Yes, it was a memorial. But what was it a memorial of? This would in itself lead us to conclude that this day did not have much to do with “their” national experience, but given for an important time in the future.
Most of the whole New Testament is written directly to those whose hope is to become a part of the firstfruits of God, who are to become the bride of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the one place that records the quintessential dynamic expression of joy, in all of the Bible, is at the exalted occasion of the marriage of the lamb.
Rev 19:5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
There it is. ······· We have read verses 6& 7 for years without a full knowledge of the unique power of these two verses. This awesome combined voice of a multitude is like the powerful sound water (as Thayer’s puts it) and the sound of forceful thunderings. It is interesting that God didn’t use the word “mega” thunder. Mega is used everywhere else in the Book of Revelation to describe something big in nature. But not here. This is the only place in the N. T. that a sound is “forcefully” (# 2478) generated. The KJV does well to translate it “mighty” thunderings. Not just thunder, but repeated thundering. But what they are saying is what is so very revealing. “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him”. This IS the greatest demonstration of praise and joy in the whole Bible. Why does it happen? Because the marriage of the lamb had come and Christ’s wife had made herself ready. Those two verses picture the only time that the fulfillment of the definition of “teruah” occurs in the N. T. And, it is the most complete fulfillment of the definition of “teruah” that one could possibly imagine. The marriage of the lamb is truly one of the invaluable elements of God’s plan for bringing salvation to his human creation.
A VERY BRIEF REVIEW
There are two words in the Old Testament whose Hebrew meanings are defined in the New Testament in two specific events. These events are very important in the plan that God has for the salvation of all mankind.
The first word “taka” is a special sound that is made by the blowing of a trumpet or showphar that is often used as a signal to gather together. The saints are gathered together to meet Christ in the clouds at the sound of the 7th trump. During this same period the word “taka” is used in Isa 27:13 that describes the gathering of outcasts of Israel to Jerusalem at the sound of the “great trumpet”.
The second word is “teruah” whose principle use in the Old Testament is associated with a great sound of joy. There is only one place in the New Testament that can relate to any of the uses of teruah and that place is profound in it dynamic expression of the word. It occurs at the marriage of the lamb.
It is a day of the sound of “taka” when the saints are gathered together to meet Christ in the clouds. It is the day of the sound of “TERUAH” when “the marriage of the Lamb is come”.
THE GLORIOUS MESSAGE OF PSALM 47
Psalm 47 gives a sense of the great importance the bride of Jesus has to God. The KJV and the other translations that I have read have interpreted this psalm in such a way that its wonderful message is very much hidden. Without the lexicons and an understanding of end time events relating to the firstfruit the inspiring message could not be clearly understood. Appropriate definitions or comments are provided after the underlined words in question.
Psalm 47:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. O clap (taqa) your hands, all ye people; shout (ruwa) unto God with the voice of triumph #7442 (shout of joy).
2 For the LORD most high is terrible; #3372 (to be revered) he is a great King over all the earth. Can only happen after the “day of the Lord”
3 He shall subdue (#1696) as a result of God’s millennial rule the people under us, and the nations under our feet. The first-fruit (the bride) will rule with Christ
4 He shall choose our inheritance for us, God determines each saints’ position or reward the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
5 God is gone up #5927. (same as vr. 9) 'alah, aw-law'; a prim. root; to ascend, intrans. (be high) with a shout, #8643 ---------- “ t e r u a h” ------ the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. shophar
A shophar (not a trumpet) was sounded on the first day of each month. On the first
day of the 7th month the shophar would be sounded --- but this psalm resonates with the event that fulfills of the 1st day of the 7th month. --- God ascends with the shout of “teruah” --- and with the sound of a shophar
As we progress with the psalm you can see that it richly pictures the glorious fulfillment of the “Day of Teruah” and its’ blessing to the world.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. The most exuberant demonstration of praise to God, in all of the Bible, is at the marriage of the Lamb.
7 For God is the King of all the earth: After the “day of the Lord” sing ye praises with understanding. Who else than the bride could sing praises “with understanding”?
8 God reigneth over the heathen: During the millennium God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
9 The princes #5081 magnanimous ones of the people are gathered together, #622 happens before the marriage of the lamb even the people #5971. 'am, am; from H6004; a people (as a congregated unit); of the God of Abraham: for the shields #4043 protectors of the earth belong unto God: being Christs wife he is greatly exalted #5927 same as vr. 5 .
Of the 269 times that the word “princes” is used in the Old Testament, it is used only 8 times in this unique and positive sense. --- The saints are “gathered” prior to the marriage of the Lamb. --- The whole purpose of the wife of Jesus Christ is to be a help meet for him to bless, be protectors, and save the people of the earth.
This psalm helps us understand the great value that this day has to God. It is a day of “teruah” in its most wonderful sense. The following is a rendering that reflects the intended message of this Psalm.
1 O clap your hands, all you people; shout unto God with the call of a shout for joy.
2 For the Lord most high is to be revered; he is a great King over all the earth.
3 He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
4 He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
5 God ascends with the sound of teruah, the Lord with the sound of a rams horn.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing ye praises with understanding.
8 God reigns over the heathen; God sits upon the throne of his holiness.
9 The charitable ones of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of
Abraham; For the protectors of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.
PSALM 89:15-17
Psalm 89:15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound (TERUAH): they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.
These verses, again, proclaim the joy and blessing of “teruah” and allude to the fulfillment of the “Day of Teruah”.
The firstfruits, the bride and then wife of Jesus Christ, ARE the spiritual fulfillment of a people, called and chosen by God, who not only understand the immeasurable value of God’s law, but have grown to love that law in the way that David did. “O, how love I thy law”. They have lived as human beings, being guided by God’s spirit into an ever increasing completeness or perfection, through living that law of love. As the bride of Christ they are fully qualified to bring that understanding and that love to the world. This day is about the marriage of the firstfruits to Christ and what it means to this world. The first day of the seventh month is a day of rejoicing in God in a spirit of unbounded joy, looking forward to that glorious day of the marriage of the Lamb. .