A) JOSHUA AND THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

B) TRUMPETS.

C) THE HEBREW WORD KEREN.

D) IN REGARDS TO HORNS.

E) THE SHOPHAR.

F) FIRST CENTURY CHRISTIANS.

 

 

A) JOSHUA AND THE BOOK OF REVELATION

 

 

It is interesting to notice the parallels in design between the Book of Joshua, in the Old Testament, and the Book of Revelation, in the New Testament.  Joshua’s name is in Hebrew, but in the Greek it could be rendered, “Jesus.”  Joshua’s mission is to dispossess the usurpers from the Land on behalf of God’s people.  While in the Book of Revelation, Jesus’ mission is to dispossess the Planet Earth of the usurpers.

 

Joshua initially sends ahead two witnesses (with the Bible calling them spies; Jos. 2:1).  While the “two witnesses” of Revelation, Chapter 11, are a prominent element.  In addition, we observe that in the initial attack on the Amorite capital of Jericho, in the Book of Joshua, every rule of the “Torah” was violated:  such as, the Levites were exempt from military duties, yet they lead the procession; the Israelites were to do no work on Sabbath Day, yet here they march around Jericho once a day for six days, and then seven times on the seventh day (surely one of those days, if not the Seventh Day Itself, is the Sabbath of the Lord)!

 

Another interesting point is that Israel is to keep silent until the final trumpet blast.  What becomes thought-provoking is that the Seven Trumpets in Revelation are introduced after a strange silence (Rev. 8:1-2).  It seems that in Revelation we have the final “Joshua,” dispossessing the Planet Earth of its usurpers on behalf of God’s people (the Second Coming), in a manner that is remarkably parallel.  Therefore, more study of the conquering of Jericho should or may be in order.

 

 

B) TRUMPETS

 

 

Trumpets were of a great variety of forms and were made of “divers” materials.  Some were made of silver (Num. 10:2), and were used only by the priests in announcing the approach of festivals, and in giving signals of war.  Some were also made of “rams’ horns,” Joshua 6:8.  They were blown at special festivals, and to herald the arrival of special seasons (Lev. 23:24; 1Ch. 15:24; 2Ch. 29:27; Psa. 81:3; 98:6).  “Trumpets” are also used as symbols in the Book of Revelation as a voice, Revelation 1:10; 4:1; meaning that the “trumpets” of Revelation Chapter 8 [Chapter 8 only], may be what the angels are saying as opposed to being an actual instrument.

 

We must also note that in Scripture, the blowing of a “trumpet” symbolizes the intervention of our Lord into history.  An example would be the sounding of “trumpets” in the Old Testament that meant a summons to battle as authorized or Commanded by God (see Jud. 3:27; 6:34; Jer. 51:27).  By contrast, it was also an announcement of the coronation of an Israelite king in Second Samuel 15:10; First Kings 1:34 & 39; Second Kings 9:13; 11:14.

 

Trumpets were also used to call for a gathering of the people in Numbers 10:2-7; First Samuel 13:3-4; Nehemiah 4:20; Isaiah 27:13; Joel 2:15-16.  The blowing of a trumpet was also a warning of approaching danger, as seen in Jeremiah 4:5 & 19-21; 6:1-17; Ezekiel 33:3-6; Amos 3:6.  Trumpets were likewise used in organizing the Lord’s army for a tour of duty (see Num. 31:6; 2Ch. 13:12-15; 29:26-28; Ezra 3:10).  And, it was the trumpet blast that ultimately caused the destruction of Jericho (Jos. 6:4-16); while Gideon used trumpets to terrorize the enemy into a panic (Jud. 7:19-20).  According to Numbers 10:8-10, trumpets were used to announce the “alarm” to go to “war.”  And Joel 2:1 explains that they announce the coming of “The day of the Lord.”

 

Therefore, of most importance, the blowing of a trumpet to announce the approaching of “The day of our Lord” (Joel 2:1; Zep. 1:16; Zec. 9:14; Mat. 24:31; 1Co. 15:51-53; 1Th. 4:16-17), is what Christians need to hear (or be awhare of).  And in an interesting note, whenever our Lord appeared to John in the Book of Revelation, John spoke of Jesus, referring to whenever He spoke, that His voice was like a “trumpet,” Revelation 1:10; 4:1.  Thus, whenever our Lord appears, a trumpet will succeed Him.

 

 

C) THE HEBREW WORD KEREN

 

 

Trumpets were at first called “horns” (Hebrew, “keren”), perforated or “curved” at the tip, and used for various purposes (Jos. 6:4-5).  The Hebrew word “keren,” also denotes the peak or summit of a hill (see Isa. 5:1, where the word “hill” is the rendering of the same Hebrew word).  This Hebrew word is used metaphorically also for “strength” (as in Deu. 33:17) and “honour” (in Job 16:15 and Lam. 2:3).

 

However, in most cases, trumpets were used in religious ritual services in the context of the Temple liturgy and holy wars (see Lev. 25:9; Num. 10:9-10; Jos. 6:4-20).  However again, the most important Biblical text for the use and meaning for the use of trumpets in Scripture, is when it is Commanded by our Lord, as found in Numbers 10:8-10:  “(8) And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations. (9) And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the Lord your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. (10) Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God:  I Am the Lord your God.”

 

It is also important to recognize the Biblical fact that having a trumpet blast present at crucial events is very imperative.  This is clearly seen in the fact that one was present at Sinai (Exo. 19:16; 20:18).

 

In regards to the plagues, judgments, or consequences for the blowing of these trumpets in the Book of Revelation, it must be remembered that John (Jesus) makes it perfectly clear that they fall upon, “only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads,” Revelation 9:4.  However, to say that the chosen people of God will not be affected by these judgments would be ridiculous.

 

 

D) IN REGARDS TO HORNS

 

 

Horns are emblems of power, dominion, glory, and fierceness, as they are the chief means of attack and defense with the animals endowed with them (Jos. 6:4-5; 1Sa. 2:1; 16:1 & 13; 1Ki. 1:39; 22:11; Psa. 75:5 & 10; 132:17; Dan. 8:5; Luke 1:69, etcetera).  The expression, “horn of salvation,” as applied to Christ, means a salvation of strength, or a strong Savior (Luke 1:69).  To have the horn “exalted,” denotes prosperity and triumph (Psa. 89:17 & 24).  To “lift up” the horn is to act proudly (Zec. 1:21).  Horns are also the symbol of royal dignity and power (Jer. 48:25; Dan. 8:24; Zec. 1:18).  Do you see Christ Coming with “power” and “great glory” in any of this?  Thus, horns can be present with trumpets.

 

 

E) THE SHOPHAR

 

 

The “shophar” was a trumpet, curved at the end like a horn, and no doubt, originally was a horn of an animal (Ram).  The “shophar” was used in early times, chiefly, perhaps exclusively, for warlike purposes (Christ’s Second Comingwill be with power).  It gave the signal “to arms,” Judges 6:34; First Samuel 13:3; Second Samuel 20:1; warned of the approach of the enemy, Amos 3:6; Jeremiah 4:5; 6:1; Ezekiel 33:6; was heard throughout a battle, Amos 2:2, etcetera; and sounded the recall, Second Samuel 2:28.  Afterward, it played an important part in connection with religion.

 

It was blown at the proclamation of the Law (Exo. 19:13, etcetera); and is not Christ The Law Giver?  Also, the “shophar” was used at the opening of the Year of Jubilee (Lev. 25:9); and heralded the approach of the Ark of the Covenant (2Sa. 6:15).  Does this not find its place in the Second Coming of our Lord?  It hailed a new king (2Sa. 15:10); or in Christ’s Second Coming analogy, the new form of reigning to take place at His Coming; and is prophetically associated with the Divine judgment and restoration of the chosen people from captivity (Isa. 18:3).  Does this not surely show that Christ is Coming to set His captives free?

 

 

F) FIRST CENTURY CHRISTIANS

 

 

First Century Christians were well familiar with the Hebrew cultic system of the daily sacrifice, known as the “Tamid.”  It was well known that the end of the daily sacrifice was announced by the blowing of trumpets.  After the sacrificial lamb had been placed upon the “Altar of Burnt Offering,” and the blood of the sacrifice was poured out at the base of the Altar, the assigned priest would then take the Golden Incense Censor inside the Temple, into the Holy Place, and offer the incense from the Golden Censor upon the “Golden Altar of Incense.”  During the time that the priest was in the Holy Place, the people in the court were waiting quietly in prayer.  At the moment the priest came out to bless the people, the seven priests blew their trumpets, marking the end of the daily sacrifice ceremony.

 

My point is, that in Revelation, Chapter 5, is clearly seen Jesus’ sacrificial death upon the cross by John’s visual language of “a Lamb as it had been slain,” Revelation 5:6.  In Revelation, Chapters 8-11, we are simply waiting for the “seven trumpets” to sound in order for us to know that our Father accepts the Sacrifice of our Lord and that the end of this ceremony is over, such that He can Come a Second Time.