This year, Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles, was celebrated beginning October 2 at sundown and lasts 7 days. We are given a glimpse of the future of this festival in the book of Zechariah.
Zechariah 14:16:
16 Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain. 18 If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
Below is a description (in yellow) of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) from Jonathan Bermis of Jewish Voice Ministries:
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Sukkot
Finally, we have the Feast of Tabernacles, third of the Fall Feasts, which is also known as the Feast of Booths* or Sukkot. This is the third pilgrimage feast when all the men of Israel were to celebrate together in Jerusalem. “The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Say to the Israelites: On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the LORD’s Feast of Tabernacles begins.’ ” (Lev. 23:33-34)
Notice how close it is to the other feasts: the Feast of Trumpets is the first day, the Day of Atonement the ninth day and six days later, on the 15th day, the Feast of Tabernacles begins and lasts for seven days. “You shall keep it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations.” (Lev. 23:41)
All native Israelites are required to live in booths for seven days. The word booth also means tabernacle, and is similar to the word John used when he wrote that Jesus became flesh and dwelled (tabernacled) among us. (Jn. 1:14)
When Yeshua came He literally tabernacled among us. This is why some theologians speculate that Yeshua was born on Sukkot the Feast of Tabernacles.
Sukkot is the final wheat harvest of the year. The Feast of Tabernacles is symbolic of the final gathering of souls into the Kingdom of God before Yeshua returns to Earth. This is what Matthew 24:31 is referring to when the angels gather God’s elect “from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” The final shofar blast takes place during this festival, signaling the final ingathering of all souls into the Kingdom of God.
The Jewish People are to live in booths to remind them of the great Exodus out of Egypt when they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. They dwelt in simple tabernacles so that when the cloud moved by day or the pillar of fire moved by night they could follow. The pillar and cloud represented the presence of God. Believers today can learn from this example: we are to live transient lives, not becoming too attached to anything in this world, so that when the LORD moves we are prepared to move with Him. It is a reminder that just as the Children of Israel were called to follow God and trust only Him for their protection and provision, we are to do the same.
Just as the redemptive work of the spring “mo’adim” were fulfilled by the First Coming of the Messiah, the Fall Feasts are prophetically connected with His Second Coming and will be realized in the fullness of time of God’s plan for the People and the Nation of Israel.
He is coming back for Jew and Gentile. One glorious redeemed community God called us to be a part of for all eternity.
* Booth, TabernacleSukkah: A temporary shelter, built of lightweight wood or PVC, it does not have a solid roof, but is generally covered with palm fronds so the stars can be seen. It is large enough for the family table and gaily decorated with fruit and lights. The family gathers for daily meals, and the men sleep in it for the entire Feast.
Lulav (Hebrew: ckuk) is a ripe, green, closed frond of the date palm tree. It is one of the Four Species, seen here bound together, used in the daily prayer services during the biblical holiday of Sukkot. The biblical reference to the four species can be found in Leviticus 23:40.
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