The Ark, the Open Door, and Rosh Hashanah

After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in the sky, and the first voice that I heard—as of a trumpet speaking with me, saying, 'Come up here, and I will show you what must come to pass after these things'; and immediately I was in [the] Spirit, and behold, a throne was set in Heaven, and on the throne is [One] sitting (Rev. 4:1-2, LSV).

At the conclusion of the Church Age (a.k.a. the "Dispensation of God's Grace," Eph. 3:2), a span of time portrayed in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, the apostle John suddenly sees an open door in heaven, hears a voice like a trumpet, transitions immediately from being in the flesh to in [the] Spirit and rises up from the earthly realm to God's throne in heaven.

These opening lines from the 4th chapter of Revelation are widely believed among the watchmen to represent the (Pre-Tribulation) Resurrection and Rapture of the Church. Moreover, the combined elements of a door opening, trumpet sound, bodily transformation, and sudden translation to heaven add further support to the belief that chapter 4 is the "open door" of the Body of Christ's escape from the coming Tribulation on earth (Rev. 3:8, 10; cf. 1 Thess. 4:16-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-52).

Granted, if you've got thick wax clogging up those spiritual ears of yours, then there isn't much use in trying to explain the beauty and simplicity of the transition from chapter 3 to chapter 4 which represents both the end of the Church Age and the Pre-Tribulation escape of the Body of Christ. I don't know what else to tell you. The intended meaning is evident from the symbology, word order, and textual arrangement concerning what the Spirit is telegraphing. If you are a believer and can't see this, pray for a divine Q-tip swabbing!

I am using Revelation 4:1-2 as the starting point for this current study, because many in the Body are already on board with the understanding that these verses represent the "last trump" of 1 Cor. 15:52 and the Church's entrance into the throne room of God (see also "Who are the 24 Elders?"). My focus in this presentation regards the timing of the events in chapter 4:

When does the door to God's temple in heaven open so that the Church may go up and go in? What does Scripture say?

My hope is that this study will serve as a supplement to a previous article, 2020 Rapture Theory: The Third-Day Birthday, adding further weight and support to a highly anticipated "Third-Day" birth into glory for the entire Body of Christ this September 2020. The end of summer and conclusion of the third year after the Revelation 12 sign just-so-happens to converge and align with the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar. Moreover, the seventh month is also a beginning—i.e. Rosh Hashanah—the start of what is commonly referred to as "the civil year" (as distinct from the religious or ecclesiastical year).

Therefore, take heed to the mystery: seven is one, and one is seven...

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Seven is One, and One is Seven

As I was gathering research for this study, I was shown an interesting pattern in the book of Revelation involving a phrase that is repeated four times with slight variation throughout the book. Here is the phrase in its root form:

And there were flashes of lightning, voices, and peals of thunder...

When read together as a unit, all four passages containing this phrase have similar themes and appear to build toward a climactic end. Take a look for yourself:


(1) Revelation 4:5

And out of the throne proceed lightnings, and thunders, and voices; and seven lamps of fire are burning before the throne, which are the Seven Spirits of God (LSV).

(2) Revelation 8:5-6

And the messenger took the censer, and filled it out of the fire of the altar, and cast [it] to the earth, and there came voices, thunders, and lightnings, and an earthquake. And the seven messengers who are having the seven trumpets prepared themselves that they may sound the trumpets (LSV).

(3) Revelation 11:19

And the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and the Ark of His Covenant was seen in His temple, and there came lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail (LSV).

(4) Revelation 16:17-18

And the seventh messenger poured out his bowl on the air, and there came forth a great voice from the temple of Heaven, from the throne, saying, 'It is done!' And there came voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and a great earthquake came, such as has not come since men came on the earth, so mighty an earthquake—so great! (LSV).

There is a lot that could be gleaned by observing this peculiar thread throughout Revelation, however, I will highlight one significant discovery that relates to our current study on Rosh Hashanah (the first and seventh month; i.e. "the one and seven").

Here is the big idea: All four passages signal both an end and a beginning of something. The number seven represents divine completion, perfection, or rest, and the number one represents unity, primacy, and a beginning.

Chapter 4 has already been discussed as both the end of the Church Age and the beginning of the Tribulation Period (i.e. the final week of seven [years]; see Daniel 9:27). Before the Lamb of God takes the scroll of judgment and opens any of its seals, the complete and glorified Body of Christ is present in the throne room of God. Regarding Rev. 4:1-5, perhaps this is why we do not find any mention of "hail" or an "earthquake" added to "lightnings, voices, and thunders," because the seven-sealed scroll has yet to be opened until the entire Body of Christ has been taken up to God's temple in heaven.

Chapter 8 begins with the opening of seal number seven (Rev. 8:1). Then we find mention of seven angels and seven trumpets (Rev. 8:2, 6). Thus, the second citation of "lightnings, voices, and thunders" in this storyline confirms the proposed theme of both an end and a beginning—the end of the seals and the beginning of the trumpets.

Chapter 11: Rev. 11:15-19 is curiously and intentionally wedged between the account of the two witnesses and the central passage of the book: Revelation 12. Note that when angel number seven blows his trumpet, this signals the beginning of several things: (1) The reign of the LORD and His Christ - Rev. 11:15; (2) God's wrath against the nations - Rev. 11:18; (3) The judgment/reward of dead saints - Rev. 11:18; and (4) The opening of God's temple in heaven - Rev. 11:19.

Chapter 16 signals the end of the Tribulation with the climactic battle of "Armageddon" (Rev. 16:16). Therefore, the final mention of "lightnings, voices, and thunders" solidifies the theme of a simultaneous end and beginning (i.e. the end of the Times of the Gentiles and the beginning of Christ's reign on earth). Yet again, we see angel number seven in action emptying out bowl number seven and thus completing God's wrath against Babylon the Great and the rest of the nations of the world (Rev. 16:17-21). It is the end of this present age, and the start of a new one—the 1,000 year millennial reign of Christ.

And so, as you can see from the above pattern, there is something going on in the last book of the Bible regarding a significant overlap between "one" and "seven." At key junctures throughout Revelation, John employs the "lightnings, voices, and thunders" phrase to signal the completion of one thing and the commencement of another.

Thus, based on this one/seven pattern in Revelation, I submit to you that we are hurtling toward the most highly anticipated one/seven alignment in two millennia. At the time of publication, we are days away from the end of Summer and the start of the Fall season. And even before the equinox, we must first reckon with the first of Tishri (9/17-18), which is the start of both the first and seventh month according to the two main calendars found in the Bible*

*Chronologically, Ethanim/Tishri began as the first month and did not become the seventh month until the time of Moses and the birth of Israel as God's chosen nation. After the Exodus, Aviv/Nisan became the first month cf. Ex. 12:1-2; 13:3-4; Lev. 23:5; Est. 3:7.

According to the biblical evidence, the "one/seven" overlap on Rosh Hashanah this year holds tremendous promise to be the official end of the Age of Grace and the beginning of the events shown to us in Revelation chapter 4 (e.g. first the Resurrection/Rapture/Glorification of the Body of Christ, and then the subsequent 7-year Tribulation period).

Furthermore, there is only one period of time during the calendar year when the sun clothes the woman in the sky, and we have entered that season once again (cf. Rev. 12:1-2). Also, it wouldn't be the first time a Christ-birth event occurred at this particular crossroad on the calendar. Earlier I alluded to another notable one/seven event that took place two millennia ago. Indeed, many believe based on astronomical and biblical evidence that the Lord Jesus himself was born in Bethlehem on Tishri 1, Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets in 3 B.C.

In support of a Tishri 1/Feast of Trumpets date for the birth of Christ, here is a brief excerpt from Dr. Michael Heiser's book Reversing Hermon:

[A] trumpet was to be blown on Tishri 1, which in the rabbinic period came to be viewed as the beginning of the New Year. God's eschatological judgment of all people was expected to fall on this day...the New Year trumpet also proclaimed hope in the ongoing and ultimate kingship of God, in God's judgment and reward according to people's deeds, and in Israel's final restoration...the astronomical reconstruction of the circumstances of Revelation 12:1-7 that produces a birth date for the Messiah of September 11, 3 B.C., was also the beginning of the Jewish New Year in 3 B.C. (Rosh Ha-Shanah)—Tishri 1, the Day of Trumpets. The Feast of Trumpets/Tishri 1 was also the day that many of the ancient kings and rulers of Judah reckoned as their inauguration day of rule. This procedure was followed consistently in the time of Solomon, Jeremiah, and Ezra. This is a powerful piece of evidence for the astronomical reading of Revelation 12:1-7 as celestial signs of the birth of the messianic king (66, emphasis mine).

If Jesus was born on Tishri 1/Feast of Trumpets in 3 B.C. as the astronomical data suggests, and since we know that the precise fulfillment of Rev. 12:1-2 didn't occur until September 23, 2017, then it is likely that the Body of Christ has an upcoming due date on the Feast of Trumpets—the Head of the New Year (Rosh Hashanah). Think about it: This birthday celebration would be the most compelling "one-seven" convergence of all time. On the only "one/seven" day of the year (Tishri 1), the seven churches would be permanently united and joined to their one God and Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13)!

Recall from the above citation that Rosh Hashanah was also the day when the kings of Judah held their inauguration (in a similar vein, a newly elected President of the United States gets inaugurated at the beginning of the new year in the month of January). Is there evidence of a one/seven birth and "inauguration" event within the surrounding context of Revelation 12?

Yes!

Note the proximity of the seventh angel who blows the last trumpet (Rev. 11:15) and the start of Christ's iron-rodded rule in the following verses (Rev. 11:16-18). The Body of Christ is also given the same authority to rule in the nearby passage of Rev. 12:5. And even if the final sound of the seventh trumpet occurs at some point toward the end of the Tribulation, the apostle John and the Holy Spirit have other intentions besides communicating a strict chronological sequence of events. The textual arrangement of the seventh trumpet, inauguration of Christ's rule, God's temple in heaven opening (Rev. 11:19), and the Revelation 12 "birth" and rapture of the Body of Christ are all interrelated thematically.

In other words, this one/seven pattern goes deep...really deep (1 Cor. 2:10).

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The Open Door and the Appearance of the Ark

Types and shadows abound in the Old Testament, but Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment and reality of these prefigurements (Col. 2:17; Heb. 8:1-6; Rev. 19:10). The Ark of the covenant is no exception. In a word, Jesus is the Ark (so get on board while there's still time)!

In Revelation 11:19 (the third "one/seven" passage listed above), we find the only mention of "the Ark" in a book that is loaded with Old Testament imagery and symbolism. However, instead of the earthly copy and shadow, the Ark that appears in God's heavenly temple is actually Jesus himself. And this "Ark" does not appear in the temple of God empty-handed. On the contrary, as soon as that temple door opens, the "Ark" of Rev. 11:19 will arrive carrying precious cargo—those who have taken refuge in Him (Ps. 2:12; 34:8)!

Bonus: I've observed that several brothers and sisters have seen the number 717 (seven, one, seven) repeatedly over these past few years, whether through dreams, visions, or during their day-to-day routine. Perhaps the "one/seven" pattern highlighted in this article relates in some way to these supernatural confirmations. And check this out: I looked up the root of the Hebrew word most commonly translated as "ark" in the Bible (Strong's 727), and wouldn't you know—"aron" comes from "arah," which is Strong's 717, meaning "to gather, to pluck!" Hello, harpazo!

I had never considered Revelation 11:19 as a "Rapture" passage until very recently. Like many of you, I had assumed this verse was talking about the end of the Tribulation, so it couldn't possibly refer to the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. However, there is more going on in this text than the surface-level reading. As I stated earlier, John and the Holy Spirit are not communicating a strict chronology of end-time events—they are retelling (or, reshowing) the same story over and over using different words and symbols (hence, this is why Rev. 12:5 is equal to Rev. 4:1, and vice versa; cf. Rev. 10:11, "...you must prophesy again...").

One could also make the case that Revelation 11:19 functions as a "hinge" or "linchpin" verse that stands all on its own. It could serve as the conclusion of 11:15-18, but then again, it could also be the prelude to 12:1-17. And it could be both! Remember, the one/seven principle goes deep! Is it the last trump to end the Tribulation and start the Millennial reign, or is it the last trump of the Rapture to start the Tribulation? What if it's not an "either-or" but a "both-and"?

Perhaps the layers of depth and meaning found in Rev. 11:19 and its preceding context of 11:15-18 help to explain why some jump to conclusions and place the Rapture of the Church late in the Tribulation at the seventh trumpet. It's possible they are not willing or able to recognize the overlapping layers of fulfillment.

Anyway, if you are tracking with me at this point, let's investigate the rest of Scripture to see if we can determine when the temple of God opens in order that a righteous nation may enter in (Isa. 26:2, 20). As I hope to demonstrate through a survey of Old Testament passages, the "one/seven" principle, the Ark, and Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets are interwoven throughout this thread which ultimately ties back to the open door of Rev. 4:1-2; 11:19 and the appearance of Jesus and His Church ("the Ark of the [new] covenant") in God's temple in heaven.

Genesis 8:13

In Noah's six hundred and first year, on the first day of the first month [Ethanim/Tishri], the waters had dried up from the earth. So Noah removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry (Berean Study Bible, brackets mine).

On Noah's 601st birthday (cf. Gen. 7:11), on the first day of the first month, water is taken away so that dry land will appear again (recall Gen. 1:9-10). Note: The first day of the first month in this text is not referring to Aviv/Nisan; it is referring to the first of a month that would eventually be named in Scripture as Ethanim/Tishri. Noah's act of removing the covering from the ark is highly suggestive of a future time when heaven will open for God's people to see the light of a new day and experience a new beginning. The Hebrew word mikseh ("covering") found in this verse is the same word used for the cover of the Tabernacle, or Tent of Meeting (Ex. 40:19; Num. 3:25). And keep in mind that this temporary dwelling, or meeting place (ohel moed, lit. "tent of the appointed time"), was a shadow of the heavenly Tabernacle (see Heb. 9:11; Rev. 11:19)!

Exodus 25:22

And I have met with you there, and have spoken with you from off the propitiatory covering [mercy seat] from between the two cherubim, which are [are] on the Ark of the Testimony, all that which I command you concerning the sons of Israel (LSV).

The overarching biblical theme of "the Ark" of salvation continues as YHWH instructs another deliverer, Moses, to build "the Ark of His covenant/testimony." Again, the Ark of Testimony is a shadow and prefiguring of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice via the New Covenant. Moreover, instead of physical tablets of stone placed inside a wooden box, believers who are reconciled to God under the New Covenant now have the Law placed inside their own hearts (2 Cor. 3:3; Heb. 10:14-18).

Leviticus 23:23-25

And YHWH speaks to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first of the month, you have a Sabbath, a memorial of shouting [teruah], a holy convocation; you do no servile work [rest], and you have brought a fire-offering near to YHWH (LSV, brackets mine).

Likely the most well-known and authoritative Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets passage. Yet, in comparison to the other feast days, the information given in these verses about the fifth moed ("feast/appointed time") is brief, cryptic, and less developed. Probably intentional on God's part if this feast is the culmination of the "mystery" of the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 15:51-52; Eph. 5:32). Going forward, note the specific date (first of the seventh month), the word zikkaron ("memorial/remembrance"), and teruah ("shouting, blast [of the trumpet]"). Teruah, as in Yom Teruah (Day of Shouting/Trumpet Blast), comes from the root word rua, which sounds awfully close to ruach—breath, wind, and spirit (as in Holy Spirit; cf. Isa. 26:17-18, "...we gave birth to wind..."; Acts 2:1-2; 2 Thess. 2:3, 7; Rev. 4:1-2)!

Numbers 29:1

And in the seventh month, on the first of the month, you have a holy convocation; you do no servile work; it is a day of shouting [teruah] to you (LSV, brackets mine).

This passage in the book of Numbers confirms what we've already seen in Leviticus 23. As far as typology and fulfillment, there isn't too much that we could add except further etching the first of the seventh month and teruah into our minds.

Joshua 6:4-6 

And seven priests carry seven horns of the rams before the Ark, and on the seventh day you go around the city seven times, and the priests blow with the horns, and it has been, in the prolonging of the horn of the ram, in your hearing the voice of the horn, all the people shout [with] a great shout [teruah], and the wall of the city has fallen under it, and the people have gone up [alah], each straight before him.' And Joshua son of Nun calls to the priests and says to them, 'Carry the Ark of the Covenant, and seven priests carry seven horns of the rams before the Ark of YHWH (LSV, brackets mine).

The first time I saw this passage cited as a reference to the Rapture of the Church and the Feast of Trumpets was back in 2008 from a Zola Levitt presentation called "The Seven Feasts of Israel." There is a lot of gold in this entire chapter, but I will draw your attention to the repetition of the number seven, the shofar ("ram's horn/trumpet"), our key word teruah from Lev. 23:24, and all the people going up (Heb. alah, "to ascend," this is the same word from our Third-Day Birthday article that occurs 888 times; e.g. Gen. 22:4; 40:20; Ex. 19:20). Lastly, in relation to Rev. 11:19, after the walls fall (i.e. "the open door"), note that Joshua (a.k.a. Yeshua/Jesus) leads His people to carry the Ark up to the city!

1 Samuel 20:5, 18, 24

David said to Jonathan, 'Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit at the table with the king. But let me go, that I may hide myself in the field till the third day at evening...[t]hen Jonathan said to him, 'Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty...So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food (ESV).

A lot of confirmation in this one. David, the covenant king and royal ancestor of the Messiah, hides himself on...Rosh Hashanah! How do we know that this isn't just any ol' new moon? Take a look at 1 Sam. 20:6. We are given a major clue from the phrase, "annual/yearly sacrifice," which is a sure-fire reference to Yom Kippur ("Day of Atonement"), a feast that occurs ten days after Trumpets on the tenth of the seventh month based on Lev. 23:27. As an added bonus, we have mention of "the third day," sitting at the table/feasting with the king, and "being missed" on the day of the new moon in the seventh month.

2 Samuel 6:15-17

And David and all the house of Israel are bringing up the Ark of YHWH with shouting [teruah], and with the voice of a horn, and it has come to pass, the Ark of YHWH has come into the City of David, and Michal daughter of Saul has looked through the window and sees King David moving and dancing before YHWH, and she despises him in her heart. And they bring in the Ark of YHWH, and set it up in its place, in the midst of the tent which David has spread out for it, and David causes burnt-offerings and peace-offerings to ascend [alah] before YHWH (LSV, brackets mine).

Here we see David again, the royal seed who foreshadows the future Messianic King, "bringing up the Ark" to Mt. Zion with teruah and shofar (trumpet) blast. The presence of the Ark in God's dwelling place is cause for excessive celebration—gasp, even dancing!—much to the chagrin of the self-righteous and unbelieving. Additionally, in conjunction with the Ark finally making its way home to rest in God's tabernacle, David's sacrificial offerings alah ("ascend"—our 888, new beginning term).

P.S. When the temple door opens and once we're taken up to the Father's house, I'm looking forward to seeing your dance moves on God's great dance floor!

2 Chronicles 5:2-14

Then Solomon assembles the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, princes of the fathers of the sons of Israel, to Jerusalem, to bring up [alah] the Ark of the Covenant of YHWH from the City of David—it [is] Zion. And all the men of Israel are assembled to the king in the celebration—it [is] the seventh month; and all [the] elders of Israel come in, and the Levites lift up the Ark, and they bring up the Ark, and the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy vessels that [are] in the tent; the priests, the Levites, have brought them up... (LSV, brackets mine).

This one is a gold mine! Our Rosh Hashanah–one/seven–Ark of the Covenant matrix coalesces beautifully in this action-packed account of Solomon's dedication of the First Temple. If I had to choose just one solid type and prefiguring of Rev. 4–5; 11:19, then I would go with this passage: You've got a gathering of elders to the King, musical arrangement, and something akin to the "lightnings, voices, and thunderings" from our one/seven passages in Revelation (see 2 Chron. 5:13-14; cf. Deut. 31:14-15). And don't miss the detail about the timing of this event in Israel's history! Solomon's dedication of the temple and the ascent and arrival of the Ark into the Holy of Holies took place on the feast of the seventh month—Rosh Hashanah (2 Chron. 5:3; cf. 1 Kgs. 8:2)!

Ezra 3:1-2

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. Then stood up Jeshua [Jesus] the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests...(KJV, brackets mine).

In order to see this Rosh Hashanah/Rapture connection, you'll have to get as close to the original Hebrew as possible because the precise word order is a major factor. I was shown this passage after praying and seeking the Lord for confirmation about a possible departure on the first of the seventh month (according to the "one/seven" discovery). To my surprise, not only do God's people gather together in Jerusalem on the first of the seventh month, more literally they assemble as "one man" (cf. Eph. 2:15; 4:13). And then, in verse two, the Hebrew reads literally: Then stood up Jeshua [Yeshua/Jesus]...and his brethren the priests!

Nehemiah 8:1-12

And all the people are gathered as one man to the broad place that [is] before the Water Gate, and they say to Ezra the scribe to bring the Scroll of the Law of Moses, that YHWH commanded Israel. And Ezra the priest brings the Law before the assembly, both of men and women, and everyone intelligent to hear, on the first day of the seventh month (LSV).

This passage mirrors Ezra and confirms that all the people gathered together as one man on the first of the seventh month. For brevity's sake I only quoted the first two verses above; however, take a look at the rest of the chapter. This momentous scene in Israel's history echoes the First Temple's dedication ceremony, which we've covered already (see 2 Chron. 5). Note that on this particular Rosh Hashanah, the people of God were told explicitly not to mourn or weep (repeated three times for emphasis; Neh. 8:9, 10, 11). Remind you of a New Testament parallel? How about 1 Thess. 4:13-18?

Psalm 27:5-6

For He hides me in a dwelling place in the day of evil, He hides me [sathar] in a secret place of His tent, He raises me up on a rock. And now my head is lifted up, above my enemies—who surround me, And I sacrifice in His tent sacrifices of shouting [teruah], I sing, indeed, I sing praise to YHWH (LSV, brackets mine).

As a result of being raised up, hidden, and concealed on the day of evil/trouble, the psalmist in turn "sacrifices" with shouts of joy—teruah. Sure sounds like a good fit for the Resurrection and Concealment of the Church on a future day of shouting and singing (Lev. 23:24; cf. Isa. 26:20-21; Zeph. 2:1-3; Rev. 3:10; 5:8-14). The Hebrew word sathar ("to hide, conceal") is found in one of our previous "one/seven" passages, when David hides on the day of the new moon in the seventh month (1 Sam. 20:5, 19, 24). Also, check out another occurrence of this term in Deut. 32:20, which immediately precedes Deut. 32:21!

Psalm 47:3, 5, 9

He subdues nations beneath us, and peoples under our feet...God has ascended [alah] amid shouts of joy [teruah], the LORD with the sound of the horn...the nobles of the nations have assembled as the people of the God of Abraham; for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted (Berean Study Bible, brackets mine).

This one is surprising. It's not as well-known as the other Rosh Hashanah/teruah-related psalms, but it aligns perfectly with what we've seen so far. As it pertains to the Rapture of the Church, note the part about God subduing people underfoot (Mal. 4:2-3; Rom. 16:20; Heb. 2:5-13), the rua ("shout") in verse one and God ascending (alah) amid teruah in verse three, and the curious addition regarding the nobles/princes of the nations assembling [as] the people of the God of Abraham. Amazing!

Psalm 81:1-3

Cry aloud to God our strength, shout [rua] to the God of Jacob. Lift up a song, and give out a timbrel, a pleasant harp with stringed instrument. Blow a horn in the month, in the new moon, at the day of our festival (LSV, brackets mine).

Ironically, the true origin of the Hebrew word often translated "full moon" in verse three has been hidden and obscured erroneously. I don't know why many English versions continue to perpetuate the error, but even Strong's incorrectly labels the Hebrew as #3677 ("full moon"), when it should be #3680 ("to cover"). I double-checked the Masoretic Text on my Bible software as well as the text that is posted on sites like Bible Hub and Blue Letter Bible and confirmed the lexical misattribution. See for yourself and look carefully: The word in Ps. 81:3 transliterated kasah ("to cover") has the Hebrew letter hey as the third and final consonant, not aleph (compare with the keseh, "full moon," in Prov. 7:20). Therefore, verse three should read something like, "Blow the shofar (trumpet) on the new moon, on the [day of] covering, on the day of our feast." The rest of the Psalm after the Rosh Hashanah joy and trumpet blast (81:1-3) reads like a Deuteronomy 32 judgment against Israel (i.e. "Jacob's Trouble").

Psalm 89:15-16

O the blessedness of the people knowing the shout [teruah], O YHWH, they habitually walk in the light of Your face. They rejoice in Your Name all the day, and they are exalted in Your righteousness, for You [are] the beauty of their strength, and in Your good will is our horn exalted (LSV, brackets mine).

Indeed, if you are ready for the trumpet call of God and know what teruah means, then you are blessed! Note that the people who "know the shout" will be exalted/lifted up in YHWH's righteousness, which is none other than Jesus, the Messiah—the Ark of YHWH's covenant (Jer. 23:5-6; 1 Cor. 1:30). Also relevant to our seventh month theme is the superscription to this Psalm, (see Ps. 89:1, "...Ethan the Ezrahite..."). Ethan is the root word of Ethanim (Tishri)!

Psalm 132:8-9

Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. May Your priests be clothed with righteousness, and Your saints shout for joy (Berean Study Bible).

I've included this psalm, because it parallels Ps. 47 (especially verse 5) and foreshadows Rev. 4–5; 11:19. Also, the Hebrew term menuchah ("resting place") is used in Isa. 66:1 as a slight toward unbelieving Israel as they build the Third Temple, "...where is the house that you would build for Me, and where is the place of My rest?" However, before God opens the floodgates of His final judgment on Israel (Isa. 66:4), a voice, voice, voice (x3) from God's temple in heaven (Isa. 66:6; cf. Rev. 4:1) gives the go-ahead to lift up the Ark (the male-child of Isa. 66:7; Rev. 11:19; 12:5) above the earth to rest on Mt. Zion in heaven, the New Jerusalem!

Bonus: There is a 717 nugget hidden in Gen. 8:4. The ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat (from Heb. arar, "curse") on the seventeenth day of the seventh month (717), which back then would have been Aviv/Nisan 17. By God's design, this event during Noah's day prefigured the relief and reversal of the curse (Gen. 5:29) and occurred on the very same day that Jesus would eventually provide relief from the curse of sin by rising from the dead (cf. Lev. 23:9-14; Lk. 24:1-8)!

Jeremiah 3:16

'In those days, when you multiply and increase in the land,' declares the LORD, 'no longer will they say, 'The ark of the LORD's covenant.' It will never come to mind, and no one will remember it or miss it, nor will another one be made (Berean Study Bible).

This passage sheds light on an accurate interpretation of Rev. 11:19. The earthly copy and shadow will not be missed, salvaged, or reconstructed, because the eternal Ark of YHWH's covenant (Jesus) will be forever present with God's people.

Ezekiel 46:1

Thus said Lord YHWH: 'The gate of the inner court that is looking eastward is shut [during] the six days of work, and on the day of rest it is opened, and in the day of the new moon it is opened (LSV).

This is an excellent passage to summarize and cap off this Rosh Hashanah/Rapture/Ark of the Covenant thread: When is God's temple in heaven opened so that a righteous nation may go up and go in? According to the template for the future Millennial Temple, the gate of the inner court that faces east opens on the Sabbath and in the day of the new moon. Recall that Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden in an eastward direction (Gen. 3:24). Thus, the entrance back into paradise faces east, and the Body of Christ will make its way back there soon (Rev. 2:7). Let's go!

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A September to Remember

There has been no other time like this in history. We are coming up on the third Feast of Trumpets since the starting line of 9/23/2017 (Rosh Hashanah 2017 doesn't count because it missed the cut by a hair, occurring on 9/20-22 that year). Prior to three complete years after the Revelation 12 sign, we will arrive at the first of the seventh month, Rosh Hashanah 2020 (September 18-20). We've been around this track before and made it through a couple of dress rehearsals back in 2018 and 2019—but now we're "seasoned" and ready for the main event.

In addition to the Third-Day Birthday paradigm discussed in a previous post, we've now got a "one/seven" pattern and a buffet of Rosh Hashanah/Rapture types and shadows to add to the list. Oh, and if you haven't heard about this yet, brother Brandon Haynes discovered that Deuteronomy 32:21 is the 5780th verse in the Bible...yes, that Deut. 32:21, the first explicit prophecy regarding the Rapture of the Church in the Old Testament (see here)! Well, it gets better. According to the popular Jewish calendar recognized the world over, the current year 5780 is coming to a close—on Rosh Hashanah 2020!

Side note: Didn't a famous rabbi mention something about 5780 being "the year of corrections" with an additional note about war in heaven on Rosh Hashanah?!?! Is all of this a happy accident? Ha!!!

Here's all the ammunition in a bullet-point salvo to make the case for a September to Remember this month:

• Third-Day Birthday Paradigm (3rd Rosh Hashanah after Rev-12 sign)
• One/Seven Factor (Rosh Hashanah, an ending + a new beginning)
• Year of Corrections, 5780, ending on Rosh Hashanah 2020
• Deuteronomy 32:21 is the 5780th verse of the Torah
• Kaduri's prophecy: War in heaven on Rosh Hashanah and his quote, "He will lift up the people and prove that His word and law are valid."

And before I close, I've got one last loose end to tie up regarding the word zikkaron from Lev. 23:24.

Remember! Rosh Hashanah/Trumpets is explicitly referred to as a memorial of shouting. The word translated as "memorial" can also mean "remembrance." Recall that when Scripture says "God remembers," it is a signal that He is about to act upon an original covenant promise given to His people (Gen. 8:1; 19:29; 30:22; Ex. 2:24; et al).

Also, do you remember "the book of remembrance" from Malachi 3:16? This special book refers to God's salvation of the Body of Christ prior to the Day of the LORD (see my article "Here Comes the Son"). Moreover, the word "remembrance" in Mal. 3:16 is the exact same word as found in Lev. 23:24 (for another possible type and shadow of the Church's exaltation, see zikkaron in Est. 6:1). And if the "book of remembrance" connection to Rosh Hashanah wasn't enough, the root word of zikkaron is zakar, which means "male"—and the only usage of this word in the book of Isaiah is in our Pre-Tribulation Rapture text of Isa. 66:7.

Finally, as this off-the-charts, sky-high Rapture watch relates to me personally, this month marks the 15th anniversary of my father's death which will be on September 17th, 2020—the eve of Rosh Hashanah. Back in September of 2017, I wrote about my testimony and how the LORD used this tragic event in my life to get my attention, to wake me up (see "When September Ends").

I am filled with hope and anticipation that the LORD will finish what He has started (Php. 1:6), and I am leaving the door open that He just might "remember" what I've lost exactly 15 years ago—in a major way. Will the dead in Christ be raised this month, even as soon as the 17th, here in the West? That day would certainly fit the 717 pattern (Sept = Seven; thus, it would be the 17th day of what used to be the 7th month on Greco/Roman calendar).

O, LORD, let it be so!

BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHEN YOU HEAR THAT JOYFUL SHOUT, GET READY TO ASCEND AND ADVANCE!!!

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