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Soon, very soon, a trumpet shall sound and one of the greatest announcements to be made since the beginning of the time will occur. Are you preparing for this announcement? You won't hear it on CNN, CBC, or CTV because it will come from the heavens above.

Each year, the Church of God International and other groups observe the Feast of Trumpets, one of the seven annual festivals, or Sabbaths that the Almighty God describes in Lev. 23 as "my feasts." This year, it falls on September 23, 2006 a Saturday, so the church will observe what is commonly referred to as a "double Sabbath."

What is the significance of this Holy Day that the Christian world at large fails to acknowledge?

The mention of the word "trumpet," is significant in scriptures because of the fact that a trumpet shall sound to usher in the return of the Messiah, Jesus, the Christ.

Hence, the meaning of the festival signifies that time yet future when the trumpet shall sound and the dead in Christ shall rise first and those whom are alive (in Christ) shall rise to meet him in the air. I Thess 4:16 and I Cor 15:52.

This will be the first resurrection. The firstfruits of God's harvest will be in this one describe as a better resurrection.

Indeed, the Feast of Trumpets is significant. It will mean change from this life into the next made possible by the shed blood of Jesus Christ at Calvary.

A trumpet in the bible is also used as a symbol to warn of impending danger. In Isaiah 58:1, we are told "Cry aloud, spare not lift up thy voice like a trumpet and show my people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins."

No one wants to hear about sin nowadays. If it were in the power of some people that word would be rendered obsolete. People just don't want to be told about sin, especially if it has to do something with them personally.

Yet we are not without sin. The scriptures tell us that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." We need God, we need the shed blood of Jesus, which makes grace available to those who willingly surrender their lives to him. When we do we are justified, or made righteous through our faith because without faith it's impossible to please God.

Many people would rather see a God they can see and touch and it's no wonder society embraces so many idols, be they singers, movies stars, sports figures, and so on. The people of God are a people of faith and must worship him in spirit and in truth.

The bible speaks of a time in the future described as "the wrath of the Lamb." Who shall escape except those who have God's Holy spirit leading them?

Rev. 9:6 tells us of a time when "men shall seek death and shall not find it, and shall desire to die and death shall flee from them." This will be a time when God's wrath will be wage on sin and wickedness. God will not put up with sin forever. He will destroy sin once and for all and those who refuse to repent.

Therefore, the message as we lead up to the Feast of Trumpets is for those whom God is calling to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.
Jesus says if anyone knocks on the door he will in now wise cast away.

Furthermore, he is not willing that anyone should perish but that all should come to repentance. Everywhere he went Jesus preached repentance because he knew that was the only hope for the future.

A child of god must get his or her own priorities right. If not, when that trumpet shall sound, we will be caught off guard. Remember he is coming like a thief in the night but only for those who are not watching. Repeatedly we have been told to watch and pray...watch and pray for we know not the hour. Yet we can know when the season is nigh. Today, we see so many signs and wonders of which Matt. 24 speak.

We know not the hour when that last breath will be taken and we will return to the dust from whence we came. It's incumbent on us to answer the call of God, to come into his fold, become a part of the body of Christ, the church, and await one of the greatest announcements to be made since creation.

"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 forever and ever." Rev..11:15.

What will the sound of the trumpet mean to you?