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Sunday, September 24, 2017

The Christian Feast of Tabernacles




Overview

The Feast of Tabernacles is celebrated on the 15th day of the 7th month of the biblical calendar for eight days.  This feast is also known as the Feast of Booths.  When using the solar calendar documented by Enoch,the book of Jubilees and the Dead Sea Scrolls, this feast is normally starts the first Wednesday in October.  All feasts of joy are on Wednesdays and the ‘Great Last Day’ is also on a Wednesday.

Historically:  They made a temporary structure out of tree branches to live in for eight days. They read the laws of Moses during this time.  They presented food offering and sacrifices each of the eight days.  It was a celebration of the final harvest for the year and a celebration of being chosen by our Father in Heaven to be HIS people.  Jesus was circumcised during the Feast of Tabernacles when he tabernacled with us 2020 years ago

Today it is a celebration of being HIS chosen people and to give thanks for the fall harvest.  We are to gather together and to celebrate by living in a temporary structure for eight days. During this time we are to read the laws of Moses.  It will prepare us for Jesus’ return when the law will be fulfilled.  We are to celebrate the final harvest of the year (like Thanksgiving) and give thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father. We are to remember that our bodies are our temporary dwellings known as tabernacles.  The first day and the eighth day is a holy assembly and we should not perform any work except meal preparation.

Prophecy:  We are the final harvest when Jesus returns.  The eighth day of the feast is called ‘The Last Great Day’ and it is also known as the feast of completion and the expiration of sin.  On this date when Jesus returns, all the goats will have been burnt in the ‘lake of fire’ and that is why it is also called the expiration of sin.  It will be a day of celebrating Jesus tabernacling with us forever.

The First Feast of Tabernacles


The book of Jasher records Abraham celebrating the first Feast of Tabernacles:

And in this month Abraham moved from Hebron, and departed and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur in the mountains of Gerar. And in the middle of the fifth month he moved from thence, and dwelt at the Well of the Oath. And in the middle of the sixth month the Lord visited Sarah and did unto her as He had spoken, and she conceived.  And she bare a son in the third month, and in the middle of the month, at the time of which the Lord had spoken to Abraham, on the festival of the first-fruits of the harvest, Isaac was born.  And Abraham circumcised his son on the eighth day: he was the first that was circumcised according to the covenant which is ordained for ever. And in the sixth year of the fourth week we came to Abraham, to the Well of the Oath, and we appeared unto him [as we had told Sarah that we should return to her, and she would have conceived a son.  And we returned in the seventh month, and found Sarah with child before us] and we blessed him, and we announced to him all the things which had been decreed concerning him, that he should not die till he should beget six sons more, and should see (them) before he died; but (that) in Isaac should his name and seed be called [probably called out, invited, summoned] And (that) all the seed of his sons should be Gentiles, and be reckoned with the Gentiles; but from the sons of Isaac one should become a holy seed, and should not be reckoned among the Gentiles. For he should become the portion of the Most High, and all his seed had fallen into the possession of God, that it should be unto the Lord a people for (His) possession above all nations and that it should become a kingdom and priests and a holy nation.  And we went our way, and we announced to Sarah all that we had told him, and they both rejoiced with exceeding great joy.  And he built there an altar to the Lord who had delivered him, and who was making him rejoice in the land of his sojourning, and he celebrated a festival of joy in this month seven days, near the altar which he had built at the Well of the Oath.  And he built booths for himself and for his servants on this festival, and he was the first to celebrate the feast of tabernacles on the earth.  And during these seven days he brought each day to the altar a burnt-offering to the Lord, two oxen, two rams, seven sheep, one he-goat, for a sin-offering, that he might atone thereby for himself and for his seed.  And, as a thank-offering, seven rams, seven kids, seven sheep, and seven he-goats, and their fruit-offerings and their drink-offerings; and he burnt all the fat thereof on the altar, a chosen offering unto the Lord for a sweet smelling savour.  And morning and evening he burnt fragrant substances, frankincense and galbanum, and stacte, and nard, and myrrh, and spice, and costum; all these seven he offered, crushed, mixed together in equal parts (and) pure.  And he celebrated this feast during seven days, rejoicing with all his heart and with all his soul, he and all those who were in his house; and there was no stranger with him, nor any that was uncircumcised.  And he blessed his Creator who had created him in his generation, for He had created him according to His good pleasure; for He knew and perceived that from him would arise the plant of righteousness for the eternal generations, and from him a holy seed, so that it should become like Him who had made all things.  And he blessed and rejoiced, and he called the name of this festival the festival of the Lord, a joy acceptable to the Most High God.  And we blessed him for ever, and all his seed after him throughout all the generations of the earth, because he celebrated this festival in its season, according to the testimony of the heavenly tables.  For this reason it is ordained on the heavenly tables concerning Israel, that they shall celebrate the feast of tabernacles seven days with joy, in the seventh month, acceptable before the Lord--a statute for ever throughout their generations every year.  And to this there is no limit of days; for it is ordained for ever regarding Israel that they should celebrate it and dwell in booths, and set wreaths upon their heads, and take leafy boughs, and willows from the brook. And Abraham took branches of palm trees, and the fruit of goodly trees, and every day going round the altar with the branches seven times [a day] in the morning, he praised and gave thanks to his God for all things in joy.” http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/jub/jub37.htm

At this celebration they circled the altar seven times.  The seven times maybe a reference to one time per thousand years since a day to our Father in Heaven is a thousand years (2 Pet 3:8).  This reminds me of the Israelite camp that circled the tabernacle with the Ark of the Covenant in it.  This is like the Mazzaroth that circles the sun; therefore that is why I say circle seven times represents seven thousand years.  See more information aboutthis here

They held tree branches in their hand which could represent the future family tree branches of Isaac that would be the called out ones (called out or chosen from Adam’s seed or offspring).  So it was truly a real celebration of being our Father in Heaven’s chosen people.





Also see:
1884 Madonna Pietra degli Scrovegni

Feast of Tabernacles Law


The Feast of Tabernacles was to be observed at the temple in Jerusalem.  Here it is called the Feast of Completion since in prophecy this is when the laws of Moses will be fulfilled on the eighth day of this feast that is called ‘The Last Great Day’.  It says at the end of the year since the religious and agriculture year starts on the Spring Equinox and the civic year started at the Feast of Trumpets

Keep ye a feast to me three times in the year. Take heed to keep the feast of unleavened bread: seven days ye shall eat unleavened bread, as I charged thee at the season of the month of new corn, for in it thou camest out of Egypt: thou shalt not appear before me empty. And thou shalt keep the feast of the harvest of first-fruits of thy labours, whatsoever thou shalt have sown in thy field, and the feast of completion at the end of the year in the gathering in of thy fruits out of thy field. Three times in the year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God.” Sep Exo 23:14-17

The Feast of Ingathering happens prior to the Feast of Tabernacles since the harvest is gathered and brought to the Levites as offering and to bless the crop.  Plus a tenth of the crop would be a tithe to bring to the festival.  The Feast of Tabernacles is about being thankful for the harvest; therefore the ingathering of the harvest must be completed prior to the actual feast day. In prophecy, our Father in Heaven will gather us together prior to the feast so that we can be present for the feast. The Dead Sea Scrolls record that the last offering brought to the Levites was the Wood Offering and that occurred about September 15th of each year on our current day calendars. (See more about this here.) 

“And thou shalt keep to me the feast of weeks, the beginning of wheat-harvest; and the feast of ingathering in the middle of the year. Three times in the year shall every male of thine appear before the Lord the God of Israel.” Exo 34:22-23

The Levitical law to be followed for the Feast of Tabernacles is explained below.  I believe the reason we are to make our tents or booths from trees is because people are referred to as trees many times in the bible.  Today we still refer to ourselves as a tree when we call our ancestry a ‘family tree’.

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month, there shall be a feast of tabernacles seven days to the Lord. And on the first day shall be a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work. Seven days shall ye offer whole-burnt-offerings to the Lord, and the eighth-day shall be a holy convocation to you; and ye shall offer whole-burnt-offerings to the Lord: it is a time of release, ye shall do no servile work. These are the feasts to the Lord, which ye shall call holy convocations, to offer burnt-offerings to the Lord, whole-burnt-offerings and their meat-offerings, and their drink-offerings, that for each day on its day:  besides the sabbaths of the Lord, and besides your gifts, and besides all your vows, and besides your free-will-offerings, which ye shall give to the Lord. And on the fifteenth day of this seventh month, when ye shall have completely gathered in the fruits of the earth, ye shall keep a feast to the Lord seven days; on the first day there shall be a rest, and on the eighth day a rest. And on the first day ye shall take goodly fruit of trees [karpos:the fruit of the trees, vines, of the fields], and branches of palm trees [phoinix: a purple-red, purple, a palm tree, the date-palm], and thick boughs of trees [klados: a young tender shoot], and willows [itéa:willow], and branches of osiers [agnós:pure, chaste, innocent, undiluted] from the brook, to rejoice before the Lord your God seven days in the year. It is a perpetual statute for your generations: in the seventh month ye shall keep it. Seven days ye shall dwell in tabernacles: every native in Israel shall dwell in tents [skēnē: a covered place, a tent, tabernacle, abode, dwelling, cloth hut]  that your posterity may see, that I made the children of Israel to dwell in tents, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” Sep Lev 23:33-43

And you shall take to you on the first day the fruits of the fairest tree, and branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God. And you shall keep the solemnity thereof seven days in the year. It shall be an everlasting ordinance in your generations. In the seventh month shall you celebrate this feast. And you shall dwell in bowers seven days: every one that is of the race of Israel, shall dwell in tabernacles: That your posterity may know, that I made the children of Israel to dwell in tabernacles, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” DR Lev 23:40-43



The law of the Feast of Tabernacles in Deuteronomy:

Thou shalt keep for thyself the feast of tabernacles seven days, when thou gatherest in thy produce from thy corn-floor and thy wine-press. And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite, and the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow that is in thy cities. Seven days shalt thou keep a feast to the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose for himself; and if the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy fruits, and in every work of thy hands, then thou shalt rejoice. Three times in the year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: thou shalt not appear before the Lord thy God empty. Each one according to his ability, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he has given thee.” Sep Deu 16:13-17

Therefore we must all appear before our Father in Heaven at the Feast of Tabernacles with a food offering to be eaten at the feast.  Notice that his is not an invitation to attend; it is a direct order (law) from our Father in Heaven to attend. 

The Reading of the Law


According to the laws of Moses we are to read the law:

And Moses wrote the words of this law in a book, and gave it to the priests the sons of Levi who bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to the elders of the sons of Israel. And Moses charged them in that day, saying, After seven years, in the time of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, when all Israel come together to appear before the Lord your God, in the place which the Lord shall choose, ye shall read this law before all Israel in their ears,  having assembled the people, the men, and the women, and the children, and the stranger that is in your cities, that they may hear, and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God; and they shall hearken to do all the words of this law. And their sons who have not known shall hear, and shall learn to fear the Lord thy God all the days that they live upon the land, into which ye go over Jordan to inherit it.” Sep Deu 31:9-13

The book of Nehemiah reflects that the Israelites read the laws of Moses during the Feast of Tabernacles:

And on the second day the heads of families assembled with all the people, also the priests and Levites, to Esdras the scribe, to attend to all the words of the law. And they found written in the law which the Lord commanded Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths, in the feast in the seventh month: and that they should sound with trumpets in all their cities, and in Jerusalem. And Esdras said, Go forth to the mountain, and bring branches of olive, and branches of cypress trees, and branches of myrtle, and branches of palm trees, and branches of every thick tree, to make booths, according to that which was written. And the people went forth, and brought them, and made booths for themselves, each one upon his roof, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the streets of the city, and as far as the gate of Ephraim. And all the congregation who had returned from the captivity, made booths, and dwelt in booths: for the children of Israel had not done so from the days of Jesus the son of Naue until that day: and there was great joy. And Esdras read in the book of the law of God daily, from the first day even to the last day: and they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.”  Sep Neh 8:1318 

Historian Josephus documents that the laws of Moses were read during the Feast of Tabernacles.

Now when they kept the feast of tabernacles in the seventh month, and almost all the people were come together to it, they went up to the open part of the temple, to the gate which looked eastward, and desired of Esdras that the laws of Moses might be read to them. Accordingly, he stood in the midst of the multitude and read them; and this he did from morning to noon. Now, by hearing the laws read to them, they were instructed to be righteous men for the present and for the future; but as for their past offenses, they were displeased at themselves and proceeded to shed tears on their account, as considering with themselves, that if they had kept the law, they had endured none of these miseries which they had experienced; but when Esdras saw them in that disposition, he bade them go home and not weep, for that it was a festival, and that they ought not to weep thereon, for that it was not lawful so to do. He exhorted them rather to proceed immediately to feasting, and to do what was suitable to a feast, and what was agreeable to a day of joy; but to let their repentance and sorrow for their former sins be a security and a guard to them, that they fell no more into the like offenses.”  Antiquities.11.5.5:154-156


Offerings at the Feast of Tabernacles


The table below shows the required food sacrifices for the Feast of Tabernacles.   The goats are always a sin offering that must be completely burnt and never eaten.  The goats being completely burnt represents their fate in the eventual lake of fire documented in the book of Revelation. Notice that the flour and oil is in tenths since tithes are in tenths.

And no offerings for sin, of whose blood there shall be brought any into the tabernacle of witness to make atonement in the holy place, shall be eaten: they shall be burned with fire.” Sep Lev 6:30 

But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats; and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. “ ASV Mat 25:31-33
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels:” ASV Mat 25:41



Your tithe was to be brought to the feast and enjoyed before our Father in Heaven:

Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy grain, or of thy new wine, or of thine oil, or the firstlings of thy herd or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill-offerings, nor the heave-offering of thy hand; but thou shalt eat them before Jehovah thy God in the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before Jehovah thy God in all that thou puttest thy hand unto.”  ASV Deu 12:17-18


Thou shalt tithe a tenth of all the produce of thy seed, the fruit of thy field year by year. And thou shalt eat it in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to have his name called there; ye shall bring the tithe of thy corn and of thy wine, and of thine oil, the first-born of thy herd and of thy flock, that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. And if the journey be too far for thee, and thou art not able to bring them, because the place is far from thee which the Lord thy God shall choose to have his name called there, because the Lord thy God will bless thee; then thou shalt sell them for money, and thou shalt take the money in thy hands, and thou shalt go to the place which the Lord thy God shall choose. And thou shalt give the money for whatsoever thy soul shall desire, for oxen or for sheep, or for wine, or thou shalt lay it out on strong drink, or on whatsoever thy soul may desire, and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice and thy house, and the Levite that is in thy cities, because he has not a portion or inheritance with thee.”  Sep Deu 14:22-27  

Day One


 “And on the fifteenth day of this seventh month ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord seven days. And ye shall bring near whole-burnt-offerings, a sacrifice for a smell of sweet savour to the Lord, on the first day thirteen calves of the herd, two rams, fourteen lambs of a year old; they shall be without blemish.   their meat-offerings shall be fine flour mingled with oil; there shall be three tenth deals for one calf, for the thirteen calves; and two tenth deals for one ram, for the two rams. A tenth deal for every lamb, for the fourteen lambs. And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; beside the continual whole-burnt-offering: there shall be their meat-offerings and their drink-offerings.”  Num 29:12-16 

Day Two


And on the second day twelve calves, two rams, fourteen lambs of a year old without blemish. Their meat-offering and their drink-offering shall be for the calves and the rams and the lambs according to their number, according to their ordinance. And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; beside the perpetual whole-burnt-offering; their meat-offerings and their drink-offerings.” Num 29:17-19

Day Three


On the third day eleven calves, two rams, fourteen lambs of a year old without blemish.  Their meat-offering and their drink-offering shall be to the calves and to the rams and to the lambs according to their number, according to their ordinance. And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; beside the continual whole-burnt-offering; there shall be their meat-offerings and their drink-offerings.”  Num 29:20-22

Day Four


On the fourth day ten calves, two rams, fourteen lambs of a year old without spot. There shall be their meat-offerings and their drink-offerings to the calves and the rams and the lambs according to their number, according to their ordinance. And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; beside the continual whole-burnt-offering there shall be their meat-offerings and their drink-offerings.” Num 29:23-25

Day Five


On the fifth day nine calves, two rams, fourteen lambs of a year old without spot. Their meat-offerings and their drink-offerings shall be to the calves and the rams and the lambs according to their number, according to their ordinance. And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; beside the perpetual whole-burnt-offering; there shall be their meat-offerings and their drink-offerings.” Num 29:26-28

Day Six


On the sixth day eight calves, two rams, fourteen lambs of a year old without blemish. There shall be their meat-offerings and their drink-offerings to the calves and rams and lambs according to their number, according to their ordinance. And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; beside the perpetual whole-burnt-offering; there shall be their meat-offerings and their drink-offerings.” Num 29:29-31

Day Seven


On the seventh day seven calves, two rams, fourteen lambs of a year old without blemish. Their meat-offerings and their drink-offerings shall be to the calves and the rams and the lambs according to their number, according to their ordinance. And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; beside the continual whole-burnt-offering; there shall be their meat-offerings and their drink-offerings.”  Num 29:32-34

Day Eight – The Last Great Day & Expiration of Sin


And on the eighth day there shall be to you a release: ye shall do no servile work in it. And ye shall offer whole-burnt-offerings as sacrifices to the Lord, one calf, one ram, seven lambs of a year old without spot. There shall be their meat-offerings and their drink-offerings for the calf and the ram and the lambs according to their number, according to their ordinance. And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; beside the continual whole-burnt-offering; there shall be their meat-offerings and their drink-offerings. These sacrifices shall ye offer to the Lord in your feasts, besides your vows; and ye shall offer your free-will-offerings and your whole-burnt-offerings, and your meat-offerings and your drink-offerings, and your peace-offerings.” Sep Num 29:35-39

Josephus Regarding the Feast of Tabernacles


First century historian Josephus documented that the Feast of Tabernacles was still being celebrated after Jesus’ death.  This does prove they thought the laws were still in effect and that they thought they should follow the laws of Moses.  He tells us that the Israelites continued the law to carry branches in their hands.


Upon the fifteenth day of the same month, when the season of the year is changing for winter, the law enjoins us to pitch tabernacles in every one of our houses, so that we preserve ourselves from the cold of that time of the year; as also that when we should arrive at our own country, and come to that city which we should have then for our metropolis, because of the temple therein to be built, and keep a festival for eight days, and offer burnt offerings, and sacrifice thank offerings, that we should then carry in our hands a branch of myrtle, and willow, and a bough of the palm tree, with the addition of the pomecitron.  That the burnt offering on the first of those days was to be a sacrifice of thirteen bulls, and fourteen lambs, and fifteen rams, with the addition of a kid of the goats, as an expiation for sins: and on the following days the same number of lambs, and of rams, with the kids of the goats; but abating one of the bulls every day till they amounted to seven only.  On the eighth day all work was laid aside, and then, as we said before, they sacrificed to God a bullock, a ram, and seven lambs, with a kid of the goats, for an expiation of sins. And this in the accustomed solemnity of the Hebrews, when they pitch their tabernacles.”  Antiquities.3.10.4:244-247



Myrtle was important in Greek history.  At the Veneralia, women bathed wearing crowns woven of myrtle branches, and myrtle was used in wedding rituals.

Myrtle in a wedding bouquet is a general European custom.  A sprig of myrtle from Queen Victoria's wedding bouquet was planted as a slip, and sprigs from it have continually been included in royal wedding bouquets.

Sources:
Used for holiday fruit cakes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citron


We are the Tabernacles and Final Harvest


The New Testament explains that our bodies are tabernacles and they are our temporary dwelling place.

“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle [Greek 4636, skénos, a tent, tabernacle; fig: of the human body] were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.”  KJV 2 Cor 5:1-4

“But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle [Greek 4633], not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;”  KJV Hebrews 9: 11

“Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle [Greek 4638, skénóma, a tent pitched, a dwelling, tabernacle] to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;  Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me”. KJV 2 Pet 1:12-14

“Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle [Greek 4633, skéné,  a tent, booth, tabernacle, abode, dwelling, mansion, habitation], which the Lord pitched, and not man”. KJV Hebrews 8:1-2



The Harvest of Revelation


The Book of Revelation talks of the final harvest and ingathering.  It is the prophecy of our Heavenly Father gathering HIS tabernacles and tabernacle with us.  During this time he will be eliminating un-ruling Billy goats and throwing them in the lake of fire.  The process of removing the goats starts during the Day of Atonement and I have explained this further in this article.   Once all the goats are eliminated on the ‘The Last Great Day’ of the Feast of Tabernacles all sin will be removed from the earth and the laws of Moses will be enforced.  Our Father in Heaven’s last Will and Testament will be executed (read more about HIS Will & Testament here).

“And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.”  KJV Rev 13:6

“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand.  And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, "Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe."  So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped”. Rev 14: 14-16

“And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever”. KJV Rev 15:5-7

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle [Greek 4633, skéné,  a tent, booth, tabernacle, abode, dwelling, mansion, habitation] of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away”. KJV Rev 21:1-4

Our Father in Heaven promised that Isaac’s seed would be invited or summoned to be HIS chosen people.  Isaac’s seed will be summoned to gather for the Feast of Tabernacles and to the Wedding Feast.

But God said to Abraam, Let it not be hard before thee concerning the child, and concerning the bondwoman; in all things whatsoever Sarrha shall say to thee, hear her voice, for in Isaac shall thy seed be called [kaleō ; I call, invite, name, summoned]. “ Sep Gen 21:12 

Family Trees & Fruit Offspring


The branches used during the Feast of Tabernacles represent family trees and their offspring of good fruit.  As stated above in Jubilees, Abraham used ‘fruit of goodly trees’ and Leviticus (above) also statesgoodly fruit of trees’.  There are several verses that prove this fact; here are examples:

And God said, Behold, Adam is become as one of us, to know good and evil, and now lest at any time he stretch forth his hand, and take of the tree of life and eat, and so he shall live forever.”  Sep Gen 3:23 

“And Jacob was angry with Rachel, and said to her, Am I in the place of God, who has deprived thee of the fruit of the womb?” Sep Gen 30:2 

Nephthalim is a spreading stem, bestowing beauty on its fruit.” Sep Gen 49:21 

Out of the fruit of righteousness grows a tree of life; but the souls of transgressors are cut off before their time.” Sep Pro 11:30 

The knowledge of the commandments of the Lord is the doctrine of life: and they that do things that please him shall receive the fruit of the tree of immortality.” Sep Sir 19:19 

He declared the proverbs of Solomon, who saith, He is a tree of life to all those who do His will.” 4Mac 18:16 


Beware of false prophets, who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and the evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down, and shall be cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them. Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.”  DR Mat 7:15-21


The symbol of the Tree of Life became part of our culture (more info here).


Zechariah - The Coming Day of Jesus


Zachariah documented the prophecy of Jesus’ return and he reflects that we will be celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles in the kingdom.

Behold, the days of the Lord [κυρίου - kurios: supremein authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)] come, and thy spoils shall be divided in thee. And I will gather all the Gentiles [έθνηethnos: a race, people, nation] to Jerusalem to war, and the city shall be taken, and the houses plundered, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, but the rest of my people shall not be utterly cut off from the city. And the Lord shall go forth, and fight with those Gentiles [έθνηethnos: a race, people, nation] as when he fought in the day of war. And his feet shall stand in that day on the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave asunder, half of it toward the east and the west, a very great division; and half the mountain shall lean to the north, and half of it to the south. And the valley of my mountains shall be closed up, and the valley of the mountains shall be joined on to Jasod, and shall be blocked up as it was blocked up in the days of the earthquake, in the days of Ozias king of Juda; and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with him. And it shall come to pass in that day that there shall be no light, and there shall be for one day cold and frost, and that day shall be known to the Lord, and it shall not be day nor night: but towards evening it shall be light. And in that day living water shall come forth out of Jerusalem [see John 7:37-39 below]; half of it toward the former sea, and half of it toward the latter sea: and so shall it be in summer and spring. And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day there shall be one Lord, and his name one, compassing all the earth, and the wilderness from Gabe unto Remmon south of Jerusalem. And Rama shall remain in its place. From the gate of Benjamin to the place of the first gate, to the gate of the corners, and to the tower of Anameel, as far as the king's winepresses, they shall dwell in the city; and there shall be no more any curse, and Jerusalem shall dwell securely. And this shall be the overthrow with which the Lord will smite all the nations, as many as have fought against Jerusalem; their flesh shall consume away while they are standing upon their feet, and their eyes shall melt out of their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. And there shall be in that day a great panic from the Lord upon them; and they shall lay hold every man of the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall be clasped with the hand of his neighbour. Juda also shall fight in Jerusalem; and God shall gather the strength of all the nations round about, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. And this shall be the overthrow of the horses, and mules, and camels, and asses, and all the beasts that are in those camps, according to this overthrow. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall be left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem, shall even come up every year to worship the king, the Lord Almighty, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever of all the families of the earth shall not come up to Jerusalem to worship the king, the Lord Almighty, even these shall be added to the others. And if the family of Egypt shall not go up, nor come; then upon them shall be the overthrow with which the Lord shall smite all the nations, whichever of them shall not come up to keep the feast of tabernacles. This shall be the sin of Egypt, and the sin of all the nations, whosoever shall not come up to keep the feast of tabernacles. In that day there shall be upon the bridle of every horse Holiness to the Lord Almighty; and the caldrons in the house of the Lord shall be as bowls before the altar. And every pot in Jerusalem and in Juda shall be holy to the Lord Almighty: and all that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and shall seethe meat in them: and in that day there shall be no more the Chananite in the house of the Lord Almighty.” Sep Zec 14:1-21  

The Last Great Day


Below are verses regarding ‘The Last Great Day’

“On the last day of the feast [of Tabernacles], the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. '" Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.  Jesus will tabernacles with us”. John 7:37-39

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." Rev 21:1-4

Conclusion


Jesus will return and fulfill the fall feast days.  He will gather HIS tabernacles to HIM.  The Day of Atonement feast is meant to prepare us for the Feast of Tabernacles since we must repent of all sin prior to tabernacling with HIM.  These are important feast days.   I cannot be sure how Jesus will fulfill these feast days; I can only share my understanding.  I share my understanding since only by understanding the feast days will we truly know if it Jesus has returned.  Understanding the feast days ensures we are not deceived by goats.

Just as the Mayflower Pilgrims celebrated Thanksgiving (which was the Feast of Tabernacles) here in America to celebrate the harvest; other places in Europe also celebrated the harvest and gave thanks to our Father in Heaven for the harvest.  These festival traditions clearly started with Abraham’s first Feast of Tabernacles; however, they did not keep the feast exactly like Abraham and our bibles state.

Harvest Festival Information:




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