The Holy Feast Of Tabernacles

Have you ever heard of the Feast of Tabernacles? Did you know that the Savior of mankind Yahshua the Messiah celebrated it in the first century? Did you know that, even today, thousands of genuine Christians follow His example by observing it once every year? Why is it so important to many true Christians the world over to take time off of work and away from school to gather together, staying in temporary dwellings, to worship Yahweh and Yahshua. There is great significance to this Holy Day for true Christians today. In today’s message, we’ll take a look at what this sacred festival means and why it’s so important to our Father in heaven Yahweh that you observe it too. As always, we’ll ask the Holy Spirit to help and give us wisdom in teaching you this very important holy feast. This is not a man-made and pagan “holiday” like Easter and Christmas! This Feast is one of the seven annual festivals and holy day of the living Elohim of the Bible that you really need to know and observe. This true biblical festival holds an incredible meaning for all of mankind!

You may be thinking that the Holy Feast of Tabernacles is just an Old Testament festival for the Jews. It’s not. It’s a real Christian thing! Why? It is because the Old Testament directly links the reign of Yahshua the Messiah on the earth with the observance of this sacred feast. Read what the prophet Zechariah had to say about this! “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, Yahweh of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:16). The Bible further states, “And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Yahweh of hosts, on them there will be no rain. If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which Yahweh strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:17-19). Additionally, in Old Testament times, the Israelites would gather together in Jerusalem and dwell in small huts or booths made from leafy branches of trees, and they would rejoice in the worship of Yahweh on this day (Leviticus 23:40). The Jews call this festival Sukkot.

Now, let’s fast forward to the New Testament. The apostle Paul refers to the Feast of Tabernacles when he daparted from Ephesus: “I must by all means keep this coming Feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, Elohim willing” (Acts 18:21). In that statement Paul was referring to the Feast of Tabernacles as simply “the Feast.” And who was the ultimate being who taught and obeyed this holy festival? It’s no other than the Savior himself, Yahshua the Messiah! The book of John records that Yahshua and His brothers going to Jerusalem for this feast: “But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the Feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought Him at the feast and said, “Where is He?”…Now about the middle of the feast Yahshua went up into the temple and taught” (John 7:10-11, 14). Did you notice that everyone expected Yahshua to be at the Feast of Tabernacles? Why? Because it was His lifelong practice to celebrate Yahweh’s festivals as required in Yahweh’s laws. Even when His life was threatened, He went to celebrate the Holy Feast of Tabernacles! You see, Yahshua knew that this was a commanded yearly celebration, and it wasn’t intended just for the Jews. They weren’t just feasts for Israelites or celebrations just for the Jews. Yahshua the Messiah set the example by showing they were for everyone and that they continue to be Yahweh’s festivals! Yahshua celebrated this feast every year and taught about its great significance. The Bible clearly instructs us that, as His followers, we are to walk as He walked—to live as He lived (Isaiah 25:6-7). Now, if at this point you still don’t believe the Savior of mankind at His own works, then who else would you believe?

In addition, in the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah foretells this feast period in many of his exciting prophecies. Isaiah says: “He (Yahweh) shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nations shall not lift up sword against nation” (Isaiah 2:4). Isaiah also states: “The eyes of the blind shall be opened, ad the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wildreness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water” (Isaiah 35:5-7). What’s more, again, let’s fast forward in the New Testament, in the book of Revelation, where the apostle John says: “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of Yahweh is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. Yahweh Himself will be with them and be their Elohim. And Yahweh will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done!” I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. “He who overcomes shall inherit all things,” and I will be His Elohim and he shall be My son.” (Revelation 21:3-7). Think about this! Can you imagine yourself in the company of our Father in heaven Yahweh, our Savior Yahshua, and the rest of all the Saints or genuine Christians in that time?

Furthermore, during the coming Millenium period (1,000 years) reign of Yahshua the Messiah, Yahweh’s laws are to be written in the hearts and minds of His people all over the earth. This means that Yahweh’s people will observe all His feasts, including His magnificent spiritual law, the Ten Commandments! The Bible tells us: “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says Yahweh: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their Elohim and they shall be My people” (Jeremiah 31:33). The book of Revelation tells us that Yahshua the Messiah’s 1,000 years reign on the earth will create what human government has not been truly able to accomplish for many thousands of years—lasting peace, true justice and the opportunity for holy knowledge to flourish within the human family! At Yahshua’s return, the foundation will be in place for the restoration of all things to peace and harmony with Yahweh. The Feast of Tabernacles foreshadows a changed world when people will say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the Elohim of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths” (Isaiah 2:3). This Holy Day is also known as the Feast of Ingathering, as it celebrates the fall ingathering harvest (Exodus 23:16), which symbolizes the harvest of untold millions of people in the age to come. Keep in mind that the Feast of Tabernacles will be fully fulfilled in the future reign of the Prince of Peace, Messiah Yahshua, upon His return to earth (Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:9-10).

In closing, the Feast of Tabernacles is an annual reminder to us all of our temporary state and that we also “seek a future homeland.” This lesson is reinforced when we travel to a site of the feast and stay in temporary dwellings such as hotels and campgrounds. This festival reminds us that, in spite of our material possessions, we are still physical, mortal human beings in need of a literal transformation so we may possess eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). This Holy Feast pictures an incredible time. The symbolism in this unique Christian festival is astounding, and the lessons will change the way you think about Almighty Yahweh’s plan for your life. Celebrating the Feast gives us a glimpse of the world beyond today—an incredible preview of the age to come! Please take the time to learn more about it. Don’t miss out on this wonderful spiritual opportunity. We hope you’ll make celebrating the sacred Feast of Tabernacles a powerful statement of your faith! All genuine Christians should be preparing now to learn and practice Yahweh’s laws and His way of life so that they will be able to teach these things to others in Yahshua’s soon-coming world government! The apostle Paul admonished true Christians: “Do you not know that the Saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? (1 Corinthians 6:2-3). It is plain and clear that all nations will learn to keep this feast in a very few years from now under the very loving and righteous direction of the Savior of mankind Yahshua the Messiah. It is only then that those who may at first have resentments against the law of the Ten Commandments and anything “Jewish” will learn to observe the annual Holy Feast of Tabernacles—and all of Yahweh’s commanded holy Festivals! We hope the Holy Spirit of Yahweh opens your heart, and your eyes, and your mind to this true and faithful Kingdom teaching. May the Most High Yahweh bless you and keep you. All these things we ask and pray in the name of our Master and Savior, Yahshua! Amen. Wishing you all peace and love, especially to our brethren in faith. Halleluyah, Shalom!