Shofar Day 2 Hearing The Shofar: Digging Deeper
January 20, 2026
Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
Revelation 1:4-8
To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood, 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father - to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7 Look! He is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see Him,
even those who pierced Him.
And all the tribes of the earth
will mourn over Him.
This it is to be. Amen.
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "the One who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
The Original Intent
1) What does the introduction of this book tell us about the type of literature being written? (verses 4-5)
Viewed as apocalyptic literature (symbolic imagery, visions and divine judgment within a cosmic scenario) by most Bible scholars, the book of Revelation also contains elements of prophecy in the form of an epistle (letter). Understanding its apocalyptic nature provides readers with a basis to interpret many of its vivid symbols and dramatic events as metaphorical representations of spiritual truths and celestial battles. (Ephesians 6:12)
As a letter, it was written from and to someone with a purpose in mind. Most traditional Bible commentators hold the view that Revelation was written by the disciple John (Mark 3:17), though his identity is not explicitly mentioned. The message given to John was understood as being “of” or “from” Jesus (verses 1-2 and 5), meaning Jesus is both subject and revealer of the hidden realities unveiled in this book. (Faith Study Bible)
We know this kind of writing was common in times of persecution, offering hope to believers by affirming their eternal salvation and declaring God’s ultimate victory over evil. (2 Timothy 4:1-8, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:50-58, 2 Peter 3, 1 John 2:26-28) John wrote with this same purpose of informing and encouraging the believers.
The seven churches mentioned in Revelation 2-3 were not the only ones in the region of Asia, but they were influential due to their prime location. Symbolizing perfection or completion (Bible Study Tools), the number “seven” is used often by John throughout Revelation, therefore we should not miss its significance. Considering John’s use of this number, it’s reasonable to conclude that the “seven” spirits are representative of more than a mere number. John is possibly referring to the sevenfold description of the Spirit in all His fullness. (Isaiah 11:2-3) If so, this reiterates that this is a message from the Triune God as Father, Spirit and Son specifically to His people, the Church.
The Everyday Application
1) What does the introduction of this book tell us about the type of literature being written? (verses 4-5)
I don’t know about you, but it is tempting for me to get caught up in the unknown parts of Revelation and miss its whole purpose. Several Bible interpreters challenge our perspective by saying, “If you’re not comforted by Revelation, you’re reading it wrong.” Oh, Sister, be encouraged as you read these words, “Grace and peace to you from the One who is, who was, and who is coming; from the seven spirits before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness […]”. (verses 4-5)
Although we likely read this book with many questions swirling in our minds, there is no need to allow those questions to lead to fear. It is true that Revelation appeals to the readers’, or hearers’, imagination, but we want to carefully guard what the text actually says and means. Some would rather just ignore the book altogether, missing the beautiful promise of blessing we find therein. (Revelation 1:3)
Sweet Friend, don’t miss the purpose of John’s words. He wasn’t writing to hide or obscure the message from Jesus, but to encourage believers that our suffering will end! Neither did John distribute these words to the churches in order to satisfy their curiosity about the future. Rather, he wanted to encourage their faith as they were intensely persecuted. The encouraging words of John were meant to keep us from believing the false narrative that what we see around us is all there is to see. Sister, the daily headlines do not define our reality! We live in light of Christ and His kingdom even now as we continue to long for His appearing.
The Original Intent
2) Who is at the center of the message of the Revelation? (verses 5-6)
In the book of Revelation, God is delivering a message through John about Jesus, the Christ. The message is loud and clear: The time is near! (Revelation 1:1-3) We know this is a message about the Lord Jesus, God Himself (John 20:28-31), because of the clear connection made to the deity of Jesus elsewhere in the book of Revelation, as well as other New Testament Scriptures. (verses 7-8, Revelation 1:12-13, Revelation 3:14, John 1:1-3, Hebrews 1:1-9, Colossians 1:14-20) Jesus is the forever One!
The concept of God’s eternal nature is not new to the New Testament. It echoes the Old Testament revelation of God as He identifies Himself as the “I AM” in Exodus 3:14-16. This self-identification indicates His self-existence and eternal presence. As verse 6 is often understood to refer to both God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son, it highlights their unity and co-existence for all eternity. “To Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever!” (verse 6) What an astounding proclamation!
As westerners, most of us read Scripture silently. Even if someone is reading it aloud, we are following along silently with the words in front of us. Most of us probably don’t take time to imagine sounds accompanying these words. If we were hearing these words with Jewish ears, however, we would possibly envision the sound of a trumpet, or shofar (Exodus 19:16-19), accompanying the announcement, “The time is near! The One who was and is and is coming […] to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:1-6)
From Joshua (Joshua 6:2-5) to Nehemiah (Nehemiah 4:16-20), the shofar was a ready tool for alerting the people of what was ahead. Central to the book of Revelation is the essential message about the King of all kings: He is coming! (Revelation 1:5, Daniel 7:13-14)
Sound the Amen!
The Everyday Application
2) Who is at the center of the message of the Revelation? (verses 5-6)
The hymn writer put it like this, “When He shall come with trumpet sound, oh, may I then in Him be found. Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.” (Christ, the Solid Rock) At the center of Revelation stands the One who is worthy of all our praise and honor. He is the One, the only One, who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals. (Revelation 5:9-10)
Friend, it’s time to sound the horn for His victory! It’s interesting to note that the shofar has remained unchanged from ancient times. Let’s take a moment to listen with our ears, read with our eyes, and believe in our hearts that we are hearing the very words of Jesus! (sounds of the shofar) Sister, can you hear it … the sound of His coming?
Just after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to a couple of His disciples and began to explain to them how every story in the Old Testament had been about Him all along! (Luke 24:13-27) Although the resurrection of Jesus is itself convincing proof of His deity, He must have believed it would be even more convincing to reveal to those disciples that every single page of Scripture was all about Him. (Think about it! All those books in the Old Testament written by more than 40 different authors over the span of 1,500 years had consistently told one story!!)
Although we don’t know exactly what Jesus taught about Himself that day, we know He is at the center of everything we have in Scripture from the beginning to the end! At the sound of trumpet, we can do nothing less than fall down and worship Him.
The Original Intent
3) Who will be revealed in a Day that is coming? (verses 7-8)
Just as the Lord marked the sign of His presence with a sound (Exodus 19:16-19), the trumpet continues to sound to awaken the people spiritually and to call them to God. The book of Revelation ties the sound of a shofar to the voice of Christ and the coming of His Kingdom. (Revelation 4:1-3)
There will be A Day! (1 Thessalonians 5:2 and 22, Matthew 24:36-42) It is a Day when Jesus will return and “every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him”. (verse 7) This specifically references those who participated in the physical crucifixion of Jesus, but a poignant truth to note is that, not only were those physically present at the cross of Jesus complicit in His death, but all people who have sinned against Him have also ‘pierced Him’. (Acts 2:36, Romans 3:23) On The Day that is approaching, everyone who has confessed and has not confessed Jesus will see Him as the Lord and King over all. The declaration of Jesus’ sure return is central in all of Scripture, especially the New Testament. (Matthew 16:27, Matthew 24:30-31, Matthew 26:64, Luke 21:27-28, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, verse 7)
The Bible declares to us that Jesus’ return as King will be two-fold; He’s coming to judge (2 Timothy 4:1) and He’s coming to justify (Romans 3:22-25). As King, Jesus has all authority and wisdom to pronounce the correct verdict for every human. (John 5:19-23, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 2 Corinthians 1:19-22) Through His servants and prophets, God identified Himself in the Old Testament by declaring His just judgment to come. (Psalm 9:7-10, Psalm 76:8-9, Isaiah 3:13-15) Here, in His own words, Jesus declares Himself as the God who is coming again, “I AM the Alpha and Omega … the One who is coming!” (John 1)
The Everyday Application
3) Who will be revealed in a Day that is coming? (verses 7-8)
Too-too-too-TOOOOM!! Do you hear it, my Friend? One day, the world will shake with the sound of the shofar again as Jesus the Messiah descends to the Mount of Olives. (Zechariah 14:1-4, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) It is no coincidence that our warrior King will come at the sound of a trumpet. It is to Him we give all the glory forever!
Do you recognize these lyrics?
“No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground.
He comes to make His blessings flow
far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of His righteousness
and wonders of His love.”
(Joy to the World)
While we usually sing it during the Christmas season, the hymn “Joy to the World” is probably not referencing Christ’s birth. Written by Isaac Watts, the song reveals A Day when all things will be made new and no tears will be present. Only joy and worship will rule the day. (Psalm 98, Revelation 21:1-7) As I read Revelation and ponder Watts’ lyrics, it is evident his lyrics are intended to celebrate the future reign of Christ and the restoration of all creation. (Though His future reign certainly includes His first coming!)
As I consider this joy, I delight in how the book of Revelation is drenched with multi-ethnic worship that centers on the victory of the Lamb who was killed, was raised, and now reigns forevermore. (Revelation 7:9-11) Too-too-too-TOOOM!! Oh, my Friend, the shofar is so much more than a sound; it’s a divine instrument used throughout Scripture to rouse, alert, gather, and proclaim an urgent message from the Lord. Let’s hear the sound, watch for His return, and worship Him with all nations! (How Great is our God)
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