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Feast of Tabernacles
October 17, 2016

Last Wednesday was the Day of Atonement, a day of fasting, abstaining from food and beverages. Historically, it signified the time when the high priest was pure and could directly intercede on behalf of the people with God. For Christians who observe this day, with Jesus Christ as our high priest, we have access to God through the Holy Spirit, and this day means much more to us and should remind us of those in need around us whom we see each and every day. Today we observe the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, a celebration over eight days that begins with a Holy Day and ends with a Holy Day. Christians who observe this day recognize that this feast points forward to the time when the Kingdom of God will be established on earth and that the evils we see on a daily basis are no more. Today we will start with the historical account of this feast.

Leviticus 23:33-36
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.

The Feast of Tabernacles is the final feast of the year with a holy day on the both the first and eighth day. On these holy days, no work is to be done.

Leviticus 23:39-43
Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

The Feast of Tabernacles looks forward to the time when the Kingdom of God is established on earth as it celebrates the fall harvest. Those who are native born Israelites are to dwell in booths during the seven days as a reminder of when the Children of Israel were brought out of Egypt. First century apostolic Christians who observe the Feast of Tabernacles cannot prove they are a native born Israelite, nor could they be a spiritually born Israelite if they indeed believe one is born again at the resurrection from the dead; therefore the requirement to live in booths does not apply to observing first-century apostolic Christians. While the first and eighth day are holy days with no work to be done, the days in between are to be a feast, and on these days in between there is not a requirement to not work, provided one is able to rejoice; nor is there a requirement for holy convocations on these days as there are on the holy days.

Hebrews 9:8-14
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Because Jesus Christ is our high priest, we no longer need to make offerings to God as recorded during the time of Israel, and instead should be reminded of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ when He paid the price for our sins. It is this gift that makes all things possible, including the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth which the Feast of Tabernacles looks forward to.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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