By Christine Darg, Jerusalem Channel

In the Bible what we call the Feast of Trumpets is Yom Teruah, the day of shouting, or the day of blowing of trumpets, in Leviticus 23:24. According to Jewish tradition, this holiday is called Rosh (head) HaShana (of the year).

Yom Teruah begins the Ten Days of Awe, a season of introspection and repentance leading up to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, on the 10th of this new month of Tishri.

Having buried on Friday Shimon Peres, the last of their modern founding fathers, Israel’s mood is mixed with expection of coming Redemption, optimism born of new foreign relations with India, China and some Arab nations, but also sombre due to war in Syria, the evils of ISIS and Iranian threats. In some ways the funeral of Peres was prophetic of times to come when representatives from all the nations will come up to Jerualem to make homage to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, King Messiah.

I wrote in an earlier blog how many events were converging at this time: a black moon, the new moon, the  Feast of Trumpets, Peres’ passing, financial instability in the nations, solar flares, earthquakes but also the Jewish and Muslim calendars are converging at this time.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on his Facebook page New Year greetings not only to his people but also to the Muslim citizens of Israel, “Please accept my warm greetings on the occasion of the Hijri new year, which coincides with the Hebrew new year. I wish you success, prosperity and a good life. The beginning of the two new years symbolizes the coexistence in the State of Israel, which should serve as an example for others. I continue to work to ensure your integration in all fields of life in Israel. Happy new year!”

Concerning tonight’s new moon, My friend Karaite Jew Nehemia Gordon wrote, “I was so blessed to see the New Moon of Yom Teruah tonight. It is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my life!”

Why? We think of the full moon as being beautiful. But tonight’s new moon was truly beautiful because it’s a sign that God is in full control of his calendar and he is keeping covenant with his people.

And for Christians, this day is like the day that “no man knows” because sometimes the moon cannot be sighted so easily. Last year a sand storm of Biblical proportions obscured the region and darkened the skies.

Yom Teruah is a prototype of the Rapture of the Church and is a Levitical festival yet to be fulfilled by Yeshua. The Apostle Paul taught that the Lord Himself will descend into the atmosphere with a shout of the archangel and the trump (shofar) of God and the dead in Messiah will be raised first and then those of us who are alive and remain, will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord and so we will always be with the Lord. Comfort one another with these words.

Yom Teruah Sameach! Happy Day of Shouting!