Posted on 10/03/2009 7:01:58 AM PDT by DouglasKC
In his first inspired sermon after receiving the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, the apostle Peter summed up God's instruction for mankind: "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:19-21).
What are these "times of refreshing" and "times of restoration" of which Peter spoke?
God's plan for mankind involves restoration. The Feast of Tabernacles symbolizes the restoration process, which will start with the return of Jesus Christ, pictured by the Feast of Trumpets, and the banishment of Satan, depicted by the Day of Atonement. Once these events have taken place, as represented by the previous Holy Days, the foundation is in place for the restoration of the creation to peace and harmony with God.
The seven-day Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:27, 34) pictures the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ over the earth after His second coming (Revelation 20:4). This period is often called the Millennium, which simply means "1,000 years."
This Feast also reflects the "rest" symbolized by the weekly Sabbath (Hebrews 4:1-11) that celebrates the great harvest of humanity when all living people will learn God's ways. Humanity will at last be restored to a right relationship with God (Isaiah 11:9-10).
In the beginning, God created mankind to cooperate with Him in a beautiful relationship characterized by love, peace and obedience to His laws. At the completion of His creation, "God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good" (Genesis 1:31).
This time of peace and harmony abruptly ended because of Satan's deception and man's disobedience (Genesis 3:1-6). Disobedience cut mankind off from God's way (Genesis 3:21-24). Genesis 6:5 describes the tragic result: "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."
This broken relationship between God and man has continued through history to our time. Paul reflected upon this state: "... Through one man [Adam] sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned ..." (Romans 5:12).
Paul knew that Jesus Christ would heal the breach created by man's disobedience: "For since by man [Adam] came death, by Man [Christ] also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).
God used the prophet Isaiah to reveal parts of His magnificent plan for restoring the world. Written at a time during which Israel faced punishment for continued disobedience, the book of Isaiah was inspired by God to give the nation encouragement through the promise of a better world ahead.
Jesus Christ, after reading in the synagogue one of Isaiah's prophecies, acknowledged the special understanding given Isaiah: "These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him" (John 12:41). Isaiah not only prophesied of Christ's earthly ministry; he wrote of Christ's return in power and glory (Isaiah 66:15-16).
The basis for the messianic rule of Jesus will be God's law. Again, as Isaiah foretold, "it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.' For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem" (Isaiah 2:2-3).
After Christ's return, He will bring the creation in its entirety into harmony with God, and peace will no longer be the exception. King David said, "Great peace have those who love Your law" (Psalm 119:165). Imagine what the world will be like when everyone knows God's law and lives by it!
More than just knowledge is needed to bring about this amazing transformation. A spiritual change will take place among people. God, speaking through the prophet Ezekiel, describes how it will happen: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them" (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
The Spirit of God will influence people to willingly and enthusiastically obey God from their hearts. People will begin to place the interests of others before their own. They will start thinking of others as "better than themselves" (Philippians 2:3, KJV). Instead of exclusive self-concern, their goal will be to help their fellow human beings. Theft will cease. Disregard for others' property and feelings will be eliminated. Because the world will finally be at peace, countries will "beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore" (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3).
During this 1,000-year period, God will change even the nature of wild animals, reflecting the peace that will descend upon society. Describing this idyllic time, Isaiah 11:7-9 says: "The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain ..."
God will heal physical infirmities. Isaiah 35:5-6 prophesies of this time during which "the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing ..."
Of even greater importance will be the spiritual healing that will take place. Isaiah prophesied that Jesus Christ will complete the healing He began during His ministry on earth: "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion ..." (Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 4:18-19). The accumulated results of generations of humans following Satan's sinful ways will begin to be reversed.
The Feast of Tabernacles is also called the Feast of Ingathering (Exodus 23:16). This name signified the completion of Israel's annual harvest. In this setting, God said, "you shall rejoice before the LORD your God" (Deuteronomy 12:12, 18; 14:26). The Feast is a time of celebration for the abundance God has given.
This same bountiful harvest theme continues in the future fulfillment of this festival. Through Isaiah, God spoke of the desert becoming productive land, "for waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water" (Isaiah 35:6-7).
At that time the earth will produce bountiful harvests. "Behold, the days are coming," God says, "when the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow" (Amos 9:13).
The name of the Feast of Tabernacles derives from God's command to ancient Israel to build temporary "tabernacles," sometimes called "booths," to live in during the festival. The Israelites left their houses and built temporary dwelling places (Hebrew succah, meaning "hut of woven boughs") to live in while rejoicing before God. These reminded them of their release from slavery and their dwelling in booths when God brought them out of Egypt (Leviticus 23:34, 41-43). In stark contrast to the hardship of slavery, this festival emphasizes rest, peace and prosperity as it meets the needs of all people, including strangers, widows and the poor.
The Bible emphasizes that, as with booths or temporary dwellings, our physical life is transitory. The apostle Paul's writings reflect this theme: "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle 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" (2 Corinthians 5:1-2, KJV).
Hebrews 11 recounts the examples of many of God's faithful servants down through the centuries. It then concludes that "these all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (verse 13).
The Feast of Tabernacles is an annual reminder of our temporary state and that we also "seek a homeland" (verse 14). This lesson is reinforced when we travel to a site of the Feast of Tabernacles and stay in temporary dwellings such as hotels and campgrounds.
This festival reminds us that, in spite of our material possessions, we are still mortals in need of a literal transformation so we may possess eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:50-54).
In the accounts of the vision that has come to be called the "transfiguration," Jesus gave a glimpse of the Kingdom of God to Peter, James and John. Christ appeared to be talking with Moses and Elijah. Peter's immediate response was to suggest that they quickly construct three tabernacles. He seemed to understand the important connection between tabernacles and our quest for eternal life in God's Kingdom (see Matthew 17:1-9; Luke 9:27-36).
The judgment of the inhabitants of the earth who live during the 1,000 years as pictured by the Feast of Tabernacles (Isaiah 2:4; 51:4-5) begins in earnest as Christ brings "many sons to glory" (Hebrews 2:10). These scriptures show that this judgment is a time of universal opportunity for salvation. For this purpose God has allocated 1,000 years during which the resurrected saints, the firstfruits of God's harvest, will reign with Christ on earth as kings and priests so many others can enter God's Kingdom (Revelation 5:10; 20:6).
Jesus promised that "he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations" (Revelation 2:26). People whomGod resurrects at Christ's return will experience the unparalleled opportunity to work with Him to help all nations build a relationship with God. (For more details, be sure to request our free booklet, What Is Your Destiny?)
The foundation for this relationship begins with instruction on God's law and these very Holy Days. Notice Zechariah's words: "And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles" (Zechariah 14:16). Other prophets described the time as an era of God's law covering the earth "as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14).
Many will assist Jesus Christ in this universal educational program of helping others understand God's way. Speaking of this time, Isaiah says teachers "will not be moved into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left" (Isaiah 30:20-21).
The chance to help others understand and be reconciled to God is a wonderful calling. Each who serves in this way will be called "the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In" (Isaiah 58:12).
God calls people out of the world at this time to become His chosen people, sanctified and redeemed by Him (2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1). They are to live exemplary lives as God prepares them for service during Christ's millennial reign and beyond.
"Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul," the apostle Peter wrote, "having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation" (1 Peter 2:11-12).
All through God's plan for saving humanity, He never forces anyone to obey Him. Every person is free to choose what he or she will do and whether to accept or reject God's way of life.
After the 1,000 years, God will allow Satan to test the spiritual convictions of the earth's inhabitants. Revelation 20:7-10 describes this time. God will loose the devil from his place of restraint and allow him to deceive those who are not convicted of the perfect righteousness of God's way. God will destroy by fire those who follow Satan in this rebellion. Satan's futile efforts will be thwarted. This final, tragic rebellion against God will come to nothing, and Satan's destructive, deceitful influence over humanity will finally draw to a close.
The stage is now set for the events depicted by yet one more Holy Day. The Feast of Tabernacles offers a marvelous opportunity for salvation to those left alive at Christ's return, as well as their physical descendants during the Millennium. But what about the thousands of millions of people of past generations who have lived and died without ever understanding—or even hearing—God's truth? And what about those who will die in the cataclysmic upheaval preceding Christ's return? How will God offer them salvation? The next chapter provides the answer.
There is an association insofar as the Passover was the old covenant expression that has been replaced by the new covenant reality of the Lord’s Supper.
Since old covenant Passover was a bloody sacrifice with a particular cultic expression, and since the sacrifice of the Lamb of God ended all the old covenant bloody sacrifices and universalized the sacrament, there is no direct relationship anymore. Therefore the Church, as the new covenant people of God, royal priesthood and holy nation, celebrates it in a different fashion. No animals, no distinct priesthood (we are all priests of God) and weekly (“often”) as opposed to annually (1 Cor. 11:17ff).
Do you celebrate Pesach ?
If you are speaking of the old covenant, cultic ritual, the answer is “no.” No one does.
Christ is our Passover. I celebrate Him.
Apparently? Really?
The Sabbath was a creation ordinance and is universal. The thing that changed from old covenant to new was the day, from the last day of the week (relating to the first Adam) to the first day of the week (relating to the second Adam).
The other festivals and feast days all had to do with the covenant God made with Israel in the wilderness from Egypt to Sinai. They were all bloody and they have all passed away.
You nailed it.
I don’t think so.
This is simply not true. The Feast days were in existence prior to Sinai as Douglas has indicated by his scripture references. As indicated in my previous post I believe they also proceeded the captivity itself. Irregardless....the Feast Days had nothing to do with the Old Covenant.
If they have all passed away why do you suppose God would be having the Nations all celebrating Tabernacles during the Millennium [Zechariah 14:16-19]? Wouldn't that be somewhat redundant?
Can you tell us all when they were abolished. Is there a record in the new scriptures?
“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ The Lord.” Luke 2:11.
Is this a past or future event in your theology? Has it already happened?
I think it makes sense that God revealed his feasts to his followers very early. For example:
Gen 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.
Melchizedek was a priest of God. Apparently there was some sort of worship system in place. I think it's reasonable to assume that Israel got immersed into the pagan culture of Egypt and had to be reacquainted with the ways of the Lord after coming out of captivity.
Yup.....you're right! My favorite example has always been: [Genesis 22:1-8] 1 And it cometh to pass after these things that God hath tried Abraham, and saith unto him, 'Abraham;' and he saith, 'Here am I.' 2 And He saith, 'Take, I pray thee, thy son, thine only one, whom thou hast loved, even Isaac, and go for thyself unto the land of Moriah, and cause him to ascend there for a burnt-offering on one of the mountains of which I speak unto thee.' 3 And Abraham riseth early in the morning, and saddleth his ass, and taketh two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and he cleaveth the wood of the burnt-offering, and riseth and goeth unto the place of which God hath spoken to him. 4 On the third day -- Abraham lifteth up his eyes, and seeth the place from afar; 5 and Abraham saith unto his young men, 'Remain by yourselves here with the ass, and I and the youth go yonder and worship, and turn back unto you.' 6 And Abraham taketh the wood of the burnt-offering, and placeth on Isaac his son, and he taketh in his hand the fire, and the knife; and they go on both of them together. 7 And Isaac speaketh unto Abraham his father, and saith, 'My father,' and he saith, 'Here am I, my son.' And he saith, 'Lo, the fire and the wood, and where the lamb for a burnt-offering?' 8 and Abraham saith, 'God doth provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son;' and they go on both of them together.
God has selected Isaac on the 10th day [Exodus 12:3] and in our example [Genesis 22:2].
The next day (verse 3) Abraham gets up, takes Isaac and two of his men and sets out for Mt. Moriah. This would be the 11th day of the month. Mt. Moriah is Jerusalem itself, [II Chronicles 3:1].
On the 3rd day from the morning they set out (verse 4, now the 14th of the month)[Exodus 12:6] they see the place in the distance and Abraham, telling his men to await him..... takes his boy up the mountain. He makes Isaac carry the wood for the sacrifice the same as a later Son, who was sacrificed by His Father also.....carried His own wood in the form of a crucifixion stake. This latter sacrifice also took place on Mt. Moriah..... on Passover in preparation for The Feast of Unleavened Bread. It also was a Lamb of God (verse 8) that was sacrificed [I Peter 1:19].
Verse 2 is the first place in the scriptures where love for another human being is expressed, and it speaks of a father's love for his son. Isaac is called Abraham's "Only" son (verse 2) much the same as this scripture tells us: [John 3:16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his "Only" begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Also [John 3:35] The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
This is true...but only if one elevates tradition over scripture. Biblically, and thus authoritatively, the 7th day sabbath is, was and always will be the sabbath of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's enshrined in the 10 commandments:
Exo 20:8 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exo 20:9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
Exo 20:10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.
Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The other festivals and feast days all had to do with the covenant God made with Israel in the wilderness from Egypt to Sinai.
As seen in earlier posts these feast days ARE the property of the Lord Jesus Christ and exist independently of any covenant relationship. They were all bloody and they have all passed away.
The other festivals and feast days all had to do with the covenant God made with Israel in the wilderness from Egypt to Sinai.
As seen in earlier posts these feast days ARE the property of the Lord Jesus Christ and exist independently of any covenant relationship.
Hi Doug and everyone else:
It has been a while since I’ve posted but your article caught my attention. I agree with the general theme of what he is saying about what the feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) represents but he doesn’t really get to the meat. It needs a bit of polishing up to bring up the clarity and much more specific points which I’m about to bring up. For the sake of time, I’ll try to keep it as short as possible. All of the feasts (Unleavened bread, Pentecosts, Sukkot) were given in the Old as signs so that in the future when a major event on earth occurred it would be associated with a feast and Hashem’s people would recognize or associate the event with the meaning of the feast. Keep in mind that the celestial bodies in the heavens also play an important role since the true calendar for these feast days is lunar and there is much more just on this topic. The solar calendar is Roman and I think most of us know who “changed the times” in order to confuse Hashem’s people so they would not recognize the “time” of their redemption when it would arrive. Let’s continue, for example, Yeshua’s death is the event in the New that fullfils the prophetic event of the Passover and the feast of Unleavened bread of the old. It represented freedom from being a captive of Satan(sin). Just as Moses led the Israelites from the captivity of Egypt on the Passover/Feast of Unleavened bread, Yeshua died on the same date and feast so his people could recognize that he was setting them free from captivity (dispersed from their inheritance) that is spoken of so many times which refers to sin (idolatrous practices) which is from Satan. His death was not the redemption (it was the price he paid for the bride), but made it possible, provided she was obedient to his commandments, the future redemption of a remnant (not all) of his people. Reason being for not all is there are many that have fallen into apostate religions (”Come out of her my people”). How many keep the 7th day Sabbath which, by the way, is a prophetic sign of a future event.
Now let’s get to Sukkot. The feast of tabernacles is when redemption occurs and the remnant returns to their inheritance of the perpetual Abrahamic pact which was lost in the Old due to idolatry (1kings11, 2kings17). The last day is the 8th day (22nd day of the feast) and represents a day of solemnity. It is a sabbath. That prophetic day is prophetically fulfilled in the year beginning 1 Tishri 5776 (2015) which is the beginning of a Jubilee (means return to your possession or redemption in the earthly kingdom) of Jubilees (50 forty-nine year periods)since the first Jubilee (3326) after the restoration of the second temple Zorababel/Ezra/Nehemia. Another point. The following year is 5777. Three sevens in a row. The number 7 represents completion. As a good study assignment, investigate some more signs such as to eclipses of the moon and the sun around those specific dates. It may amaze you.
A little off topic, but my mother used to always make Sukkotash which is a common dish in south Louisiana. She new nothing about Scripture and much less about Sukkot. If anyone has any clue or info concerning this dish and it’s origin, please advise.
Blessings in your search for Truth.
Hi Harry,
Long time, no see!
Webster’s spells it succotash and says the name is of Algonquin (American Indian) origination. It is corn and beans cooked together and probably is not related to anything Hebrew.
Thus says your tradition.
As seen in earlier posts these feast days ARE the property of the Lord Jesus Christ and exist independently of any covenant relationship.
Hardly.
They were all bloody and they have all passed away.
Amen.
It is still future.
I would have to see more proof to say yes or no. Remember the current day feast of Ingathering used by some churches is really the feast of Sukkot which we also commonly call Thanksgiving and comes in the fall after the harvest. The early European settlers (Pilgrims, Puritans) were all very Christian Bible followers and traded corn with the Indians. I find it strange that the American Indians would have the word “succot”ash as part of their language. That would be like saying McPatrick is a Japanese name. I think anyone with a little common sense can see that “succot” appears more like “sukkot” than Algonquin which almost seems like the same origin as Obama. Just kidding of course. I’m through with that.
Blessings in your search for the TRUTH.
It just smacks of Scripture twisting.
There were no obligatory, annual festivals/feast days formulated anywhere in the Bible apart from Moses and the children of Israel as they ventured from Egypt to Sinai. They were all part of the temporary shadows given to the children of Israel to point to the coming Messiah. They were all bloody. They have all passed away since the once-for-all-time sacrifice of the lamb of God.
Not at all, since I’m able to understand all those promises/prophecies in light of the fuller revelation of the NT. They are all fulfilled in Christ Himself. All the Scripture is about Christ (Luke 24:27).
Succotash (from Narragansett msíckquatash, "boiled corn kernels") is a food dish consisting … ( Wikipedia)
Nothing to do with Sukkot.
Neither does msíckqua.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.