The Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:22-42)

10th to the 18th October 2019

This Feast was celebrated by the Jews as a remembrance of their redemption from slavery in Egypt and sojourn in the wilderness for 40 years when they lived in temporary Sukkots or booths or tabernacles. Today, they build these temporary Sukkots with fresh leafy branches, fruits and flowers. They spend 7 days with family and friends, reminding themselves of how God redeemed them from slavery and lived among them in a Tabernacle and protected, fed and watered them, that their clothes and shoes did not wear out. Sadly, only Caleb and Joshua, out of the 601,730 men who had crossed the Red sea, also crossed the Jordan. Numbers 26:51

Many believe that Yeshua was born in the Sukkot (Tabernacle) sometime in September, on the first day of the Sukkot and circumcised on the last day of the Feast. We have romanticized the cowshed and the manger with cows and donkeys, but every farmer knows that by morning the place becomes filthy and stinky. More likely, he was born in a Sukkot of the farmer and kept in a manger which was a wooden feed box for the sheep.

It is believed that in Bethlehem Ephrathah (Micah 5:2) farmers raised lambs for sacrifice for the Feasts. Bethlehem means 'house of bread,' "Jesus is the Bread of life, which came down from heaven" (John 6:51) and "Ephrathah, refers to fruit. Jesus identified his blood with the “Fruit of the Vine” I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes" (Luke 22: 18). Thus Bethlehem Ephrathah symbolizes all three aspects of Jesus, the Lamb, the Bread and the Blood.

The tabernacle, as a dwelling place for God, was but a shadow of things to come (Col.2:17), and now under the new covenant of Yeshua, we are the tabernacles of God (2 Cor.6:16). God does not dwell in earthly tabernacles made with human hands (Acts 7:48,9). All the other Feasts like the Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, and Yom Kippur (Atonement) will have been fulfilled, only the Feast of Tabernacles will remain. This is because once Yeshua returns after the seven years of severe persecution, and establishes the Millennial Kingdom, here on earth, those remaining on earth with go to Jerusalem to greet the King of kings. As there will be no more environment polluting air planes and vehicles, pilgrims will be going on foot, riding donkeys or on ox carts. On the way pilgrims will be living in tabernacles built by locals. Because the curse of the land will be removed, there will be super abundance of food, they will be very glad to feed you.

On the 8th day of the Feast, as the High Priest, went down to the Pool of Siloam, accompanied with large crowd of priests and people rejoicing. As they were coming up brining water in a golden jar to be poured at the altar and then to pray for the rains for next year’s harvest, “On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’” John 7:37,38

Who will enter that Millennial Kingdom:

1. The last biblical scene is that of a mega crowd from all the 16,000 nations, 6,500 tongues and unnumbered tribes will be standing before the Throne, singing praises to God. Revelation 7:9,10

Question – Whatever you are doing now, will that enable any tribe or tongue to stand in that crowd?

2. God lived and wandered in a Tabernacle from Moses to David for 430 years. Jesus tabernacled with us, being born in a Tabernacle. He will Tabernacle again with his people in the new earth. (Rev. 21:3)

Q. – Whatever you are doing now, will that build Tabernacles of Emmanuel (God with us) in the 2.5 million villages of the world? Think globally, act locally. Matt. 1:23

3. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in Me, ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him…’”

Q. – Has that happened to you? Resulting in expediting the return of Yeshua back to this earth, to establish His millennial Kingdom. If not, then better get moving. 2 Peter 3:10-12

4. Yeshua promised, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Matt. 4:19

Q. – As a follower of Jesus, have you become a prolific fisher of two-legged fish? If not, better start your own fisherman’s training club. Remember your judgement depends on your fruitfulness (souls saved), faithfulness and obedience, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptize, equip and send them on to do the same.” Matt. 28:18-20; 7:20; Eph. 4:11-13; Isaiah 64:6

Shalom, V.