The trumpet-blast holds significant theological and symbolic importance throughout the Bible, serving as a divine signal in various contexts, from worship and warfare to eschatological events. The trumpet, often a ram's horn or "shofar," is a recurring instrument in biblical narratives, symbolizing God's presence, authority, and the call to action or attention.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the trumpet-blast is frequently associated with pivotal moments in Israel's history. One of the earliest mentions is at Mount Sinai, where the sound of a trumpet signaled God's presence as He descended upon the mountain to give the Law to Moses. Exodus 19:16 states, "On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled."

The trumpet was also integral to Israel's worship and warfare. In Numbers 10:1-10, God instructs Moses to make two silver trumpets for summoning the congregation and directing the movements of the camps. These trumpets were blown during times of war, festivals, and sacrifices, signifying God's guidance and blessing.

The fall of Jericho is another notable event involving a trumpet-blast. Joshua 6:20 recounts, "So when the rams’ horns sounded, the people shouted, and when they heard the blast of the trumpet, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed." Here, the trumpet-blast is a divine instrument of victory and judgment.

Prophetic and Eschatological Significance

The prophets often used the imagery of the trumpet to convey messages of warning and impending judgment. In Joel 2:1 , the prophet declares, "Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near." The trumpet-blast serves as a call to repentance and preparation for the Day of the Lord.

Ezekiel 33:3-6 emphasizes the role of the watchman, who must sound the trumpet to warn the people of approaching danger. The trumpet-blast here symbolizes the responsibility to alert others to spiritual and physical threats.

New Testament and Apocalyptic Imagery

In the New Testament, the trumpet-blast takes on an eschatological dimension, particularly in the context of Christ's return and the resurrection of the dead. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 proclaims, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first." The trumpet-blast heralds the culmination of history and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.

The Book of Revelation further expands on the apocalyptic role of the trumpet. Revelation 8-11 describes a series of seven trumpets, each unleashing divine judgments upon the earth. These trumpet-blasts serve as both warnings and instruments of God's sovereign will, leading to the ultimate establishment of His kingdom.

Symbolism and Theological Implications

The trumpet-blast symbolizes divine intervention, authority, and the call to readiness. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the need for vigilance and obedience among His people. The trumpet's sound is both a call to worship and a signal of impending judgment, urging believers to live in anticipation of Christ's return and the fulfillment of God's promises.8643. teruah -- a shout or blast of war, alarm, or joy
... sound (1), resounding (1), shout (10), shout of alarm (1), shout of joy (1), shouted
(1), shouting (4), shouts of joy (1), signal (1), trumpet blast (1), war ...
/hebrew/8643.htm - 6k

Introduction.
... The first note of this trumpet blast, "The Kingdom apperteineth to our GOD," shows
us the vast difference between the way in which men regarded the Almighty ...
//christianbookshelf.org/knox/the first blast of the trumpet/introduction.htm

Continual Sunshine
... the force of this exclamation is increased if we observe that the word that is rendered
'joyful sound' is the technical word for the trumpet blast at Jewish ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/continual sunshine.htm

Oration on the Palms.
... To-day, [3112] the trumpet-blast of the prophets have roused the world, and have
made glad and filled with joyfulness the churches of God that are everywhere ...
/.../methodius/the writings of methodius fragments/oration on the palms.htm

God's Commands to the People
... the third day, when morning came, there were thunderings and lightnings and a thick
cloud rested upon the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast sounded, so ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/gods commands to the people.htm

Letter x. To the Bishops of the Province of vienne. In the Matter ...
... in such a way that the Truth, which before was confined to the announcements of
the Law and the Prophets, might through the Apostles' trumpet blast go out for ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/letter x to the bishops.htm

Heath
... commentary on his hymn," says Duffield, "that its author should have failed in the
very mode against which his stirring trumpet blast ought effectually to have ...
//christianbookshelf.org/nutter/hymn writers of the church/heath.htm

Of the Erythr??an Sibyl, who Pointed in a Prophetic Acrostic at ...
... Shall soothe, no fountain slake the parched ground. Around, afar, shall roll the
trumpet's blast,. Voice of wrath long delayed, revealed at last. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xviii of the erythraean sibyl.htm

The Third Exile, 356-362.
... The Sirmium blasphemy' was indeed a trumpet-blast of defiance. ... Now the trumpet-blast'
of Valens gave birth to the Semi-Arians' as a formal party. ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 8 the third exile.htm

The Doctrinal Position of the Anglican Church and Her Relation to ...
... have retained it under Elizabeth, had he not (together with his teacher and friend,
Calvin) incurred her personal dislike by his trumpet-blast 'against the ...
/.../ 77 the doctrinal position.htm

Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna
... Yea, let the clouds drop the dew of righteousness upon the world; let the foundations
of the earth sound a trumpet-blast to those in Hades, for the ...
/.../the writings of methodius fragments/oration concerning simeon and anna.htm

Trumpet-blast (2 Occurrences)
Trumpet-blast. Trumpet, Trumpet-blast. Trumpeter . Multi-Version
Concordance Trumpet-blast (2 Occurrences). Matthew ...
/t/trumpet-blast.htm - 7k

North (164 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:31 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet-blast, and they
will bring together His own People to Him from north, south, east and west ...
/n/north.htm - 43k

Loud (222 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:31 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet-blast, and they
will bring together His own People to Him from north, south, east and west ...
/l/loud.htm - 37k

Gloom (29 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 12:18 For you have not come to a material object all ablaze with fire, and
to gloom and darkness and storm and trumpet-blast and the sound of words ...
/g/gloom.htm - 15k

West (110 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:31 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet-blast, and they
will bring together His own People to Him from north, south, east and west ...
/w/west.htm - 42k

Trumpeter (1 Occurrence)

/t/trumpeter.htm - 7k

Extremity (46 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:31 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet-blast, and they
will bring together His own People to Him from north, south, east and west ...
/e/extremity.htm - 22k

Material (61 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 12:18 For you have not come to a material object all ablaze with fire, and
to gloom and darkness and storm and trumpet-blast and the sound of words ...
/m/material.htm - 24k

Ablaze (19 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 12:18 For you have not come to a material object all ablaze with fire, and
to gloom and darkness and storm and trumpet-blast and the sound of words ...
/a/ablaze.htm - 11k

South (170 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:31 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet-blast, and they
will bring together His own People to Him from north, south, east and west ...
/s/south.htm - 46k

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