The Feast of Trumpets announces the most earth-shaking event in all of human history — the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The blowing of trumpets pictures the proclamation of the Messiah's return, the resurrection of the saints, and the beginning of the establishment of God's Kingdom on earth.
What is the Feast of Trumpets?
The Feast of Trumpets — called Yom Teruah in Hebrew, meaning "Day of Shouting" or "Day of the Blowing of Trumpets" — is the first of the four fall holy days and the fifth of God's seven annual holy days. It is observed on the first day of the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar.
In ancient Israel the blowing of trumpets had great significance — it announced the arrival of kings, the assembly of the people, the beginning of a new year, and most importantly, war and judgment. Each of these meanings points forward to the prophetic fulfillment of this day — the return of Jesus Christ as King of Kings.
"Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, at the full moon, on our solemn feast day. For this is a statute for Israel, a law of the God of Jacob."
— Psalm 81:3–4The Return of the King
The Feast of Trumpets pictures the Second Coming of Jesus Christ — the single most important event yet to occur in human history. The Bible describes this event with the sound of the trumpet: a great trumpet will sound when Christ descends from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel (1 Thessalonians 4:16). The trumpet announces His arrival as King.
This is the day the saints have waited for — the day God's Kingdom will begin to be established on earth. The resurrection of the dead in Christ will occur, and the living who are His will be changed in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump (1 Corinthians 15:52).
"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first."
— 1 Thessalonians 4:16The Seven Trumpets of Revelation
The book of Revelation depicts seven angels sounding seven trumpets — each announcing a successive stage of God's end-time judgment upon a rebellious world (Revelation 8–11). The seventh and final trumpet is the most significant of all — it announces the completion of God's mystery, the resurrection of His saints, and the beginning of His reign on earth.
Each year the Feast of Trumpets reminds God's people that these events are coming — that the day is approaching when all the kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ (Revelation 11:15).
"Then the seventh angel sounded: and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'"
— Revelation 11:15How We Observe It Today
The Feast of Trumpets is an annual Sabbath and holy convocation — a day on which no regular work is done. The Church of God International gathers for worship services, reflecting on the prophetic meaning of this day and the certainty of Christ's return. In 2026 it falls on Saturday, September 12.