I am celebrating 2 anniversaries back to back this year.
Tonight is Rosh Hashanah on the Jewish calendar, since Biblical days are observed sundown to sundown. Literally, it means “head of the year”, or what we would call “New Year’s Day”. However, it is so much more than that.
In the Bible, it is called “a memorial of blowing of trumpets” (Lev 23:24). It hails in the fall Holy Day season, and it is followed by the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles and what we in the Church of God call the “Last Great Day”.
Today is my 23rd wedding anniversary. My wife and I have been through a lot over the years, but she has been a blessing to me (and I hope I am to her).
You know, John the Baptist called Jesus “the bridegroom”.
And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
~ Jn 3:26-29
Jesus called Himself the “Bridegroom”.
And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
~ Mk 2:19-20
Yes, the Feast of Trumpets symbolizes so much more than the beginning of a new year, which in reality is only a civil calendar to boot (cf. Ex 12:1-2). It symbolizes the trumpets that herald the return of Jesus Christ to the earth. What happens when He returns? He holds a marriage ceremony!
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
~ Rev 19:6-9
I find it interesting that the beginning of the physical existence of human beings involves the creation of a man named Adam and a marriage to his wife Eve. The beginning of Christ’s Millennial rule involves the second Adam being married to His Church. We are celebrating the anniversary of this marriage in advance.
God speed that day!