Lesson 3: Tabernacles – The Final Feast Of Prophecy

 

Leviticus 23:33-34  33 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 34 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.

Leviticus 23:39-41 39 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. 40 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. 41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.

·        The Feast of Tabernacles is alluded to in the Major and Minor Prophets more than all the other Feasts combined, yet we know very little about it compared to Passover and Pentecost.

·        For Israel, it was the consummation of the sacred year and “the Feast of all Feasts.”

·        It comprised three Feast Days:  Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles.

·        It stood alone at the end of the sacred year, separated from the other feasts by the dry months.

·        Almost all expositors recognize the significance of this time lapse and recognize Tabernacles as the Feast of Prophecy, a feast which has yet to find fulfilment – the only major unfulfilled OT type!

·        Some scholars teach that Tabernacles refers only to Israel after their “dry season” in a 2000-year dispersion:  a) the Feast of Trumpets is their regathering to their nation, b) the Day of Atonement is their national repentance, c) the Feast of Tabernacles is their blessing in the Millennium.

·        All of these things will happen for Israel – BUT, it is inconsistent to apply Passover and Pentecost spiritually to the church and apply Tabernacles only to Israel physically!  Until a person (Jew or Gentile) experiences Christ as their Passover Lamb and receives their personal Pentecost, they cannot experience Tabernacles.  The Feasts must be experienced in the order God gave them!

·        Other scholars teach that the “spiritual interpretation” of the Feast of Trumpets refers only to the Rapture of the Church after their “dry season” in 2000 years of the Dark Ages.  However, they overlook the fact that Tabernacles had three integral parts:  Trumpets (call to assemble before God) pointed ahead to the Day of Atonement (repentance) and Tabernacles (ingathering of the harvest).

·        The three-fold Feast of Tabernacles will find its physical fulfilment in Israel, but it will find its greatest spiritual fulfilment in the Apostolic Church of the last days, just BEFORE the Rapture.  After 2000 years of “spiritual drought” will be the “Feast of all Feasts!”  THIS IS OUR DAY!

TABERNACLES:  THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS  (LEVITICUS 23:23-25)

·     The three-fold Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh month began with the Feast of Trumpets on the first day of the month.  Trumpets sounding throughout the nation called the people to prepare for the coming Day of Atonement.  It was New Year’s Day on the civil calendar of Israel.

Month	Nisan (Abib)	Zif	Sivan	Thammuz	Ab	Elul	Ethanim (Tisri)	Bul	Chisleu	Tebeth	Shebat	Adar
Sacred Year	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	(8)	(9)	(10)	(11)	(12)
Civil Year	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6
Feast	Passover		Pentecost				Tabernacles
English	A p r	M a y	J u n	J u l	A u g	S e p	O c t	N o v	D e c	J a n	F e b	M a r

·        The truth conveyed here is that God’s endings are also new beginnings.  He closed the Old Covenant to open the New Covenant.  He closes one door only to open another.

·        Revelation 1:8    I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

·        Seven is the number of PERFECTION, MATURITY and FULNESS (used over 600 times in Bible).  The endtime call to the spiritual Feast of Tabernacles is a call to spiritual maturity!

·        There were two kinds of trumpets used in Israel:

·        Trumpets of Ram’s Horns, which came from the sacrifices.  They were used in the Year of Jubilee and at the fall of the walls of Jericho, and represent deliverance and liberty.

·        Trumpets of Silver, which came from the atonement money (silver) offered to God.  Two trumpets were used to be able to give distinctive calls to Israel.  Two is the number of witness or testimony in the Bible.  These trumpets represent the voice of God’s ministry.

·        Numbers 10:8  And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.

·        Isaiah 58:1  Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

·        1 Corinthians 14:8  For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

·        Trumpets represent the call of the ministry to bring deliverance and liberty to God’s people.  When we look at the different calls given in Israel, we see a beautiful picture of NT ministry:

TRUMPET CALL	OLD TESTAMENT	NEW TESTAMENT	REFERENCES
Calling of Assemblies	12 tribes gathered together as one nation	ministry calls believers to assemble in unity	Numbers 10:2
Journeying of the Camp	called camp to follow God when cloud moved	ministry calls church to follow God’s leading	Numbers 10:2
Calling of the Princes	one trumpet called leadership to assemble	ministry gathers together to hear God’s voice	Numbers 10:4
Blowing of Alarms	warned people of that which was coming	ministry warns church of signs of the times	Numbers 10:5-7
War & Enemy Oppression	God heard this trumpet and fought for Israel	ministry helps church call on the Name of the Lord	Numbers 10:9
Days of Gladness	trumpets blown as they rejoiced before God	ministry exhorts church to worship in exhuberance	Numbers 10:10
Solemn Assemblies	called people to solemn prayer and fasting	ministry calls church to prayer and fasting	Numbers 10:10
Beginning of Months	trumpets kept God’s “seasons” in mind	ministry calls church to “seasons” of spiritual life	Numbers 10:10
Offerings & Sacrifices	trumpets marked each sacrifice offered	ministry exhorts church to offer spiritual sacrifices	Numbers 10:10
Anointing of the King	trumpets blown as they cheered their new king	ministry leads worship to the King of Kings	2 Kings 11:14
Year of Jubilee	trumpets marked the Year of Liberation	ministry preaches the only message of deliverance	Leviticus 25:9
Dedication of the Temple	trumpeters literally called down God’s glory	ministry leads church into the glory of God’s Spirit	2 Chronicles 5:13

·        Simply put, the church must experience the Feast of Trumpets (yield to the trumpet calls of Scripture given by New Testament ministry) before they will be ready for the Final Trumpet!

·        Romans 10:14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

·        Revelation 2:29    He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

TABERNACLES:  THE DAY OF ATONEMENT  (LEVITICUS 23:26-32)

·        The Day of Atonement was held on the tenth day of the seventh month.  It was the most solemn of all feast days, a day of national and sanctuary cleansing.  Two goats were offered; one was slain and the other was taken into the wilderness, bearing away the sins of the people.  On this day only, the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies to sprinkle the blood on the Mercy Seat.  This sin offering covered the sins of the people, letting them experience Blood Atonement and reconciliation to God.

·        This feast was fulfilled in Christ HISTORICALLY, but is fulfilled in the church EXPERIENTIALLY.

·        There is no doubt that complete Atonement was made by Christ on the cross; there is also no doubt that the Church has never completely appropriated all that the Atonement has provided!

·        Many prophetic parallels to the church are found in the Day of Atonement:

OLD TESTAMENT DAY OF ATONEMENT	ENDTIME APOSTOLIC CHURCH
A Solemn Assembly	The church is serious about the things of God, not taking His commandments lightly (Joel 2:17)
A Day of Fasting (the only Feast Day that involved fasting)	The church subjugates fleshly appetites, realizing this is the only way to power with God (Mark 9:29)
A Day of Affliction of the Soul (anyone who refused was cut off from Israel)	We accept God’s dealings, judging ourselves so we will not be judged of the Lord (1 Cor. 11:31)
The Golden Censer Taken Inside the Veil (Aaron could not approach God without incense)	The church realizes that fervent prayer is the only acceptable way of approach to God (Psalm 141:2)
A Special Washing of Water	The church submits to the “washing of water by the Word” to be right in God’s sight (Eph. 5:26)
High Priest Put on White Linen Garments	Without holiness no man will see God (Heb. 12:14)  Fine linen is the righteousness of saints (Rev. 19:8)
Blood Sprinkled Seven Times on the Mercy Seat	The endtime church will see the fullest manifestation of the power of the blood of Jesus (Rom. 5:20)
High Priest Entered the Shekinah Glory of God	The endtime church will shine with the glory of God as a witness to the last days generation (Hab. 2:14)

·        All of these signs will increase within the Endtime Apostolic Church as we see the spiritual fulfilment of the Day of Atonement.  The last days church will be the most powerful church!

·        One final type must be mentioned in regard to the Church.  On the Day of Atonement, two goats were used.  One was offered as a sacrifice, but the other was used as a scapegoat.  In several ways, this peculiar ceremony portrays Christ and His church:

THE TWO GOATS	CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH
Both goats were to be without spot or blemish	Christ was without spot or blemish (1 Peter 1:19) The church must also be pure and holy (Eph. 5:27)
Both goats shared in ministry of reconciliation	Both Christ and the church are involved in the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18)
The Scapegoat was taken outside the camp	The church bears the reproach of Christ  – that’s what “scapegoat” means! (Hebrews 13:13)
The Lord’s Goat DIED to reconcile The Scapegoat LIVED to reconcile	Jesus died to save us, but the church lives to preach the message of salvation (2 Corinthians 5:20)

TABERNACLES:  THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES  (LEVITICUS 23:33-44)

·        Once the last harvest of the year (fruit harvest) was gathered in, Israel was to set aside seven days unto the Lord, from the 15th to the 21st of the seventh month.  They were to leave their homes and dwell in booths made of various trees and rejoice before the Lord.  The whole feast pointed back to the first feast of the year, because Tabernacles was the consummation of what began in Passover.

·        The Feast of Tabernacles was also called the Feast of Booths (pointing back to the Wilderness Wandering when they dwelt in tents), the Feast of Ingathering (indicating the fruit harvest, the last harvest of the year), the Solemn Feast (because Tabernacles included the Day of Atonement), and the Feast of the Seventh Month (indicating the consummation of the Sacred Year).

·        This was the time of the latter rain, which fell in abundance to ripen the fruit harvest.  Because of the dual calendar in Israel (7th month sacred calendar = 1st month civil calendar, and vice versa), Joel spoke of both former and latter rain in the FIRST month.  RAIN EQUALS REVIVAL!

·        Joel 2:23    Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately (TEACHER RAIN), and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. (DOUBLE PORTION)

·        As there were two great seasonal rains, there were also two great harvest times.  The first harvest was called the CORN HARVEST, when barley and wheat were gathered in.  After the dry season came the FRUIT HARVEST, when wine and oil were produced in the end of the year.

Many Scriptures link the two harvests; the first harvest was the firstfruits – it pointed ahead!

·        Deuteronomy 11:14    That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.

·        Many commentators believe barley and wheat are types of the Jewish and Gentile converts of the early church, and fruit is a type of the vast multitude of converts in the end of the age.

·        The Old Testament prophets promise a DOUBLE PORTION HARVEST to the last days church which will more than compensate for the long dry season of the Dark Ages:

·        Joel 2:24-25 24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

·        Amos 9:13   Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed (DRAWETH FORTH); and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.

·        Romans 9:28    For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

·        The Hebrew word for “Tabernacle” is “Sook-kaw” which means “a hut of entwined boughs.”  The Israelites were to make booths of goodly trees:  the palm (symbolic of victory), the willow (symbolic of weeping), the myrtle (symbolic of joy), the olive (symbolic of anointing), and other trees also.

·        The Jews left their homes and rejoiced before the Lord in these booths, which reminded them of their deliverance from Egypt and their time of pilgrimage.  Tabernacles was the most joyous feast of the year and the one at which the most sacrifices were offered in appreciation of the harvest.

·        Nehemiah 8:15   And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.

·        THE PARALLELS ARE OBVIOUS FOR THE ENDTIME CHURCH, WHICH HAS BEEN DELIVERED FROM A WORLD IN WHICH THEY WALK AS A PILGRIM PEOPLE, REJOICING IN THEIR GOD.

·        THE ENDTIME APOSTOLIC CHURCH APPRECIATES THE GREAT HARVEST GOD IS GIVING!

WHAT THE ENDTIME CHURCH SHOULD EXPECT IN THE “FEAST OF TABERNACLES”

1.  THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES WAS THE FEAST OF THE OPEN BOOK

·     At the end of every seven years, at the Feast of Tabernacles, the Levities were to take the Book of the Covenant out of the side of the Ark and read it to the people.  (Deuteronomy 31:9-13)

·     Every Jewish king was to write for himself a copy of this Book and keep it in the throne of his kingdom, where he could read it and meditate in it day and night.  (Deuteronomy 17:14-20)

·     The Book was read at Tabernacles!  Thank God for the truths of Passover and Pentecost, but it is Tabernacles in the end of the age that will bring the greatest illumination of the Open Book!

2.  IN JOHN’S GOSPEL, TABERNACLES WAS THE FEAST OF THE LIVING WATER

·     The Jews added some Post-Mosaic ceremonies to the Feast of Tabernacles.  One was the “Outpouring of the Waters.”  Jesus identified Himself as the fulfillment of this observance!

–      John 7:2   Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.

·     On the last day (21st) of the Feast the priests circled the altar 7 times in remembrance of God’s victory at Jericho.  On the last time, trumpets were blown and a golden pitcher of water drawn from the Pool of Siloam was poured out before God.  At that precise moment, Jesus interrupted:

–      John 7:37-38 37  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

·     It was on this very same day (21st) that Haggai prophesied of the last days revival:

–      Haggai 2:1, 9  1 In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying, … 9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

·     Note that Jesus spoke His promise on the Feast of Tabernacles (last days), not Pentecost!

3.  IN NEHEMIAH, TABERNACLES ENDED THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY

·     The Temple of the Lord had become defiled by sin and idolatry; in due time God’s glory departed and Israel came under judgment.  God allowed the Jews to be carried into Babylonian Captivity.  Even in captivity, God sent a message of restoration which was received by a small remnant.

·     When the remnant returned to Jerusalem, they began the work of restoration amid much opposition.  Ezra read the Book of the Law distinctly and “gave the sense” to the people.  They began again to keep the Feast of Tabernacles, in a celebration unrivaled since Joshua’s day.

–      Nehemiah 8:8    So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

–      Nehemiah 8:17   And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.

·     The early church became defiled by apostasy and the glory of God departed as men substituted their ideas for the Word of God.  God allowed the church to enter the Dark Ages of captivity to empty religion.  Even throughout that time, small groups of Apostolic believers existed.

·     The call to the church today is to come out of Babylonian Captivity (“Babylon” means “religious confusion”) and restore the Apostolic message, in spite of opposition.  This can only be accomplished as men understand the absolute necessity of obedience to all of God’s Word.

·     The endtime “Feast of Tabernacles” will bring rejoicing not seen since the first century church!

4.  IN ZECHARIAH, TABERNACLES IS THE FEAST OF “HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD”

·     Zechariah prophesied that those who fail to keep the endtime “Feast of Tabernacles” will have the rains of blessings withheld from their lands.  (This must be an endtime prophecy, because no foreign nations ever celebrated Tabernacles with Israel in history.)

–      Zechariah 14:17-18 17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. 18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

·     Endtime believers and churches who do not enter into the Feast of Tabernacles will have God’s rain of blessing withheld.  They will have spiritual barrenness and a loss of harvest!

·     The distinguishing characteristic of this endtime spiritual Feast will be “Holiness unto the Lord” as typified in the Old Testament Tabernacle (High Priest’s mitre) and prophesied by Zechariah.

–      Zechariah 14:20-21 20 In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’S house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be (INSCRIBED – implied) holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

·   The name “Canaanite” means “trafficker.”  In the endtime revival, those that “traffic” in sin and rebellion will be cut off.  The distinguishing mark of God’s endtime revival will be holiness!

5.  ISRAEL MISSED TABERNACLES BY A WRONG CHOICE IN “INCONSISTENT HOLINESS!”

·     Israel experienced their “repentance” at Passover (Exodus 12) and their “water baptism” in the Red Sea and the Cloud during Unleavened Bread (Exodus 13-15).  (Firstfruits was not celebrated until they were permanent residents of Canaan and had their own fields.)  They experienced their “Holy Ghost baptism” at Mount Sinai when their nation was born at Pentecost in the third month.

–      1 Corinthians 10:1-2  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

·     God wanted them to then move into Canaan and experience the Feast of Tabernacles.  Canaan is not Heaven!  There are no battles in Heaven!  Canaan is our spiritual life here on earth.

·     Only in following God’s leading in your spiritual life can you experience Tabernacles!

·     A great tragedy happened at Kadesh-Barnea when Israel rejected their chance to move into the Promised Land.  (Some wanted to go, but they were outnumbered.)  KADESH means “holiness” and BARNEA means “an inconsistent or fickle son.”  It was at the place of “inconsistent holiness” that Israel rejected her chance to participate in the greatest feast of all – Tabernacles!

·     It is clear in Scripture that the new generation, when they entered Canaan after the long dry season of wilderness wandering, kept all the feasts of the Lord – including Tabernacles.

6.  IN 1 KINGS 12, ISRAEL’S LEADERSHIP SUBSTITUTED A FALSE FEAST OF TABERNACLES

·     After Solomon’s death, his kingdom was split between his SON Rehoboam and his SERVANT Jeroboam.  Jeroboam had the MAJORITY (10 tribes) called Israel, while Rehoboam had the MINORITY (2 tribes) called Judah.  BUT, Rehoboam also had the priestly tribe of Levi and the Temple in Jerusalem, THE PLACE GOD PUT HIS NAME.

·     Jeroboam feared that the kingdom would turn to Rehoboam, so he set up a counterfeit religion with two golden calves – one in Bethel and one in Dan – and his own priesthood.  IT DIDN’T MATTER TO HIM WHERE THE PEOPLE WENT OR HOW THEY WORSHIPPED, AS LONG AS THEY DIDN’T GO TO JERUSALEM – THE PLACE GOD PUT HIS NAME!

–      1 Kings 12:26-30 26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: 27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. 28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. 30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.

·     As the leadership descended into sin, they took many innocent Israelites along with them.

·     Jeroboam also postponed and substituted the Feast of Tabernacles, celebrating it as he wanted.

–      1 Kings 12:32-33 32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. 33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.

·     God sent a prophet to warn Jeroboam, but he refused to repent and went even further into sin.

·     Many modern religious leaders offer an easy spiritual experience that they have devised, BUT GOD STILL HAS A PEOPLE WHO WILL ONLY SETTLE FOR “THE PLACE OF THE NAME.”

7.  CHURCH HISTORY TELLS US PEOPLE USUALLY STOP AT THE FIRST OR SECOND FEAST

·     Denominations have been built around the truths of Passover (repentance), Unleavened Bread (water baptism), Pentecost (Holy Ghost baptism) – but they stopped prematurely!

·     Those who experienced Passover truths have usually opposed those who experienced Pentecost truths; but history is repeating itself, with those who experienced Pentecost truths opposing those who seek to follow God in Tabernacle truths!

·     Which feast will YOU stop at?  Passover? Unleavened Bread? Pentecost? or Tabernacles?

8.  IT WAS DURING THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES THAT THE GLORY FILLED THE HOUSE!

·     The dedication of Solomon’s Temple took place during the Feast of Tabernacles!

–      2 Chronicles 5:3    Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month.

·     The Law (Tabernacle of Moses) was dedicated during Passover; the Early Church was dedicated during Pentecost; the Endtime Church (Temple of Solomon) is dedicated during Tabernacles!

·     The endtime church will experience God’s glory as never before!

–      2 Chronicles 5:13-14 13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; 14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

–      Haggai 2:6-9 6 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. 9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.