When the Trumpet Sounds
1 Thessalonians 4:17. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
The term heritage is a broad term referring to anything inherited or passed down from the one generation to the next. It encompasses tangible elements like historical buildings, objects, and natural landscapes, as well as intangible elements such as traditions, customs, skills, beliefs, and stories. Many countries in the world celebrate heritage day. Spain celebrates its heritage day on Fiesta Nacional de España which falls on the 12th October each year. Ireland dedicates a whole week to celebrating its heritage which takes place in August each year and the USA celebrates Independence day on the 4th July each year. On this day these countries honour their unique cultural traditions, history, and diversity to foster unity and national identity.
South Africa's Heritage Day, celebrated this year on September 24, evolved from "Shaka Day," It was a provincial holiday honouring the Zulu King Shaka, and evolved into a national event in 1995. It aims to foster unity after apartheid by celebrating the country's diverse cultural heritage. President Nelson Mandela's government expanded the day to encourage all South Africans to share and embrace their unique cultural traditions, acknowledging both individual and collective identities within the nation. As can be seen from the South African history, it is the collective memories of a people, and traditions valued and preserved to be passed on to future generations.
The fabric of heritage day is not unique to modern societies. It is deeply rooted in the biblical narratives. God told Abram that he would become the father of a great nation, God was establishing a new people, the nation of Israel through Abraham. He gave them the Promised land, today known as Israel, which would become the heritage of Abraham and his descendants.
Throughout the Bible God fulfilled His promise to Abraham. After their exile to Babylon the prophet Jeremiah confirmed this promised, Jeremiah 29:14. It reads, “I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore you from captivity and gather you from all the nations and places to which I have banished you, declares the Lord. I will restore you to the place from which I sent you into exile. I will bring you back to land.” This promise was fulfilled in 1947 when the United Nation passed resolution 181 to recognise Israel as a state. Israel became a state on 14 May 1948. On this day Israel took possession of the heritage that God promised Abraham approximately 3 850 years before.
Just to pause a moment on Israel’s heritage, on Friday 13 September 2025, the United Nations voted in a 140-10 vote to divide the land of Israel into two states. This contradicts God’s plan for Israel and in fact is one of the two reasons God will enter into judgement with the nations. The prophet Joel wrote. “I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land,” Joel 3:2.
This decision was made at the 80th General Assembly of United Nations which started this year on the 9th September. The High-Level Week of general debate starts its first day on Tuesday 22 September. This date coincides with the Jewish feast the Feast of Trumpets, Yom Teruah. The biblical feast Yom Teruah, will begin at sundown on Monday, September 22, 2025, and conclude at nightfall on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. The Feast of Trumpets marks the beginning of ten days of consecration and repentance before God. It is one of Jewish feasts appointed by the Lord, Leviticus 23:24 and Numbers 29:1-6.
In the Leviticus passage, the words trumpet blasts are a translation of the Hebrew word teruah, which means “a shout” or “a blowing.” The shofar, ram’s horn, was to be blown at this time, as prescribed in the Levitical Law. Jewish tradition indicates that both the ram’s horn and the priestly silver horns, hazozerah, were used in the Feast of Trumpets.
There is another time that the Bible records when there will be a loud trumpet blast. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 states: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.”
This event signifies the return of Jesus at the end of the age. Jesus will return to rule and reign for a thousand years. After this time, the New Testament speaks of a time when the saints will take possession of their eternal inheritance, according to 1 Peter 1:4. This inheritance will not pass from one generation to the next, it is an eternal inheritance which is kept in heaven for the saints.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,”
