September 'Alignments' 

The United Nations, President Trump’s Speech, Israel’s Shofars, and the Hope of Return

Setting the Scene

This week, the world’s attention centred on New York as the United Nations convened its 80th session, including a High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine. The General Debate opened on 23 September, when heads of state delivered speeches before the UNGA.  

President Trump’s UN address was forceful and confrontational. He criticised what he framed as the failures of the United Nations, lambasted immigration and open border policies, denounced climate/energy agendas as harmful to “Western civilization,” and charged that many nations were being “ruined” by their policies. He pressed European allies over energy dependence, accused them of undercutting security, and warned that many are undermining their own societies via mass migration. 

Trump also addressed the Israel-Palestine conflict: warning that recognizing a Palestinian state in the context of ongoing war would “reward terrorism.” He urged the release of hostages, and stated that Hamas had rejected “reasonable efforts to make peace.”

President Trump’s UN address was forceful and confrontational.

Notably, after harsh criticisms of the U.N., in a later bilateral meeting, Trump told U.N. Secretary General Guterres that “the U.S. is behind the United Nations 100%,” saying “I may disagree … but the potential for peace in this institution is great.”  

He also framed free speech and religious liberty as vital, calling Christianity “the most persecuted religion” in the world and urging protection of those rights globally. Thus the address mixed strong critique with a nod toward restoring the U.N.’s purpose under reformed principles.

The alignment of these issues may be spiritually suggestive.  Some Christian watchers note that 23rd September 2025 overlapped with Rosh Hashanah / The Feast of Trumpets (on the Hebrew calendar), a feast biblically associated with trumpet soundings and prophetic expectation.  Israel has uniquely arranged a global broadcast of 100 shofar blasts – a public trumpet proclamation with eschatological symbolism.

Combine this with the ancient line of expectation around a red heifer being prepared for Temple purification rites, a sign long watched by Jewish (and some Christian) circles as heralding restoration of Temple worship – when I look at all these converging events through the lens of biblical typology (especially Jesus’ allusions to His return in connection with trumpet sounding), I see a tapestry of possible meaning beginning to emerge.

Israel has uniquely arranged a global broadcast of 100 shofar blasts — a public trumpet proclamation with eschatological symbolism.

Biblical Resonances: Trumpet, Return, Purification

1. Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah (Lev 23:23-25; Num 29:1-6) is the first of the fall feasts, a day of blowing trumpets, gathering, and awakening.  Jesus’ teaching about His return (cf. 1 Thes 4:16, “the trumpet of God”) is often tied to that imagery.
2. The blowing of shofars is a Hebraic sound of calling, alarm, gathering and coronation of the king.  In prophetic Christian Zionist thought, Israel broadcasting 100 shofars worldwide is read as Israel publicly sounding an invitation or warning to the nations.
3. The red heifer (Num 19) is central to biblical purification ritual.  In Jewish eschatological expectation, a perfect red heifer is needed to reinstitute full Temple worship.  Some see its preparation as a sign that God is readying the way for restoration.
4. Therefore, trumpet, purification, gathering, and return are interwoven motifs in Scripture (e.g. Zech 9:14, Zech 12:10, Rev 11:15-19). A global UN meeting on Israel/Palestine, a world leader’s speech on the same day, and Israel’s trumpet broadcast can, to the spiritually discerning, appear as signposts in the prophetic calendar.

The confluence is an invitation to prayer, intercession, and prophetic clarity.

Living Ready for the King

To “be ready” also means to submit daily to His reign “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness”, and to embody His justice, mercy, and humility as citizens of His Kingdom.

1. For the Peace of Jerusalem:  “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you’.” (Ps 122:6)  Ask God to guard Jerusalem in the UN debates, thwart plots to divide her, and cause righteous outcomes in international forums.
2. For Divine Vindication of Israel:  Pray that God will expose false accusations, overturn biased resolutions, and bring justice upon those who seek to delegitimise Israel.
3. For President Trump’s Influence in Prophetic Alignment:  Pray that President Trump’s UN address would be heard within the Western World with divine wisdom, supporting justice for Israel, resisting anti-Israel momentum, and aligning with prophetic purpose rather than political expediency.
4. For Global Awakening via the Shofar Sound:  Pray that Israel’s 100 shofar broadcast awakens hearts in nations, stirring spiritual revival, recognition of God’s covenant with Israel, and turning toward Christ.
5. For Purification and Readiness in the Body of Christ:  Pray that the red heifer preparation and trumpet symbolism would prompt the Church toward holiness, repentance, unity, and readiness for Christ’s return.

Glossary of Scripture References (Key Verses & Allusions)
 
Leviticus 23:23-25           The Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah)
Numbers 29:1-6              Trumpet blowing on the Feast
Numbers 19                     The red heifer & purification
1 Thessalonians 4:16      The trumpet of God at Christ’s return
Zechariah 9:14                 YHWH sounding a trumpet on that day
Zechariah 12:10               “They shall look on me, whom they pierced” (mourning)
Psalm 122:6                     “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem”
 
May this meditation stir your heart, sharpen your eyes, and strengthen your prayers for Israel, for Jerusalem, and for the coming of our Lord. Maranatha.