|
BACKGROUND
THE FEASTS
EASTON
FEAST; FESTIVALS - RELIGIOUS; ATONEMENT; ATONEMENT, DAY OF; AZAZEL; PASSOVER; PENTECOST; TABERNACLES, FEAST OF:
NEW BIBLE DICTIONARY
PASSOVER; PENTECOST, FEAST OF; TABERNACLES, FEAST OF:
The
full background to this teaching is available online at this link
THE FEASTS - BIBLE DICTIONARIES
|
Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| INTERPRETATION OF THE FEAST |
|
 The Feast of Tabernacles is just so rich in meaning and revelation to us today. Together with the Day of Atonement, it reveals the potential future direction of our individual Christian walk and of the church as a whole. This is exciting and of crucial importance, for as the Feast of Tabernacles was the pinnacle of the Jewish religious year, so its spiritual fulfilment represents the glorious culmination of God’s plan of reconciliation between Himself and mankind. As the Feast of Tabernacles concluded the main Jewish religious festivities of the year, so it prophetically laid down the principles for God’s end-time Tabernacle church. As Passover set the pattern for the Traditional/Evangelical Church tradition and Pentecost the Pentecostal/Charismatic tradition, so Tabernacles establishes the pattern for the Tabernacle church promise to come. Let’s take a peek, and see what the future holds.
|
| 1. THE RAINS: |
|
 In scripture, both The Word and the Holy Spirit are represented by rain. We know that rain speaks of cleansing, purification, revival, refreshing and restoration. These are to be the features experienced by the Tabernacle church, in far greater measure than has been seen in the past. Why? Because the prophet Joel prophesied that in end times there would be an abundance of rain, leading to the very best of harvests.
Joel 2:23-24
|
|
|
 The first month spoken of here is based on the civil calendar. This relates to the seventh month of the religious one, the only time at which the vats would be full of wine and oil, the oil speaking of anointing. So, at the end of the age God is going to pour out an extra anointing on His people. How do we know this outpouring is to be in the last days? For Joel tells us so a few verses later.
Joel 2:28-31
|
|
|
Isn’t this amazing? Yes, in the days of Tabernacles, that seemingly impossible promise of Jesus that we have not yet experienced will be fulfilled.
John 14:12
Signs, wonders, healings and miracles will be a natural part of the Tabernacle church (The Bride).
|
| 2. THE HARVEST: |
|
 In much current teaching, there is an emphasis on the rain, which of course represents the work of the Holy Spirit. In large measure, this has been because the Church for the last hundred odd years has been experiencing the marvellous days of Pentecost. In the natural Jewish agricultural cycle, rain is necessary to get the growing seasons underway. For the early rain prepared the way for the germination and growth of the crops of barley and wheat, while the late rain enabled the fruit harvest to form and grow. The purpose of rain is to produce the harvest. It is the harvest, which is to be the focus of Tabernacles. For with the early and late rains coming at the right times, there is to be an end-time harvest of far greater proportions than the church has ever previously experienced. Joel continues,
Joel 2:32
|
|
|
 While this prophecy is widely accepted, it is not really being prepared for. What would you or your church do if your numbers doubled or tripled with new believers almost overnight? It is most important too, to understand the nature of this coming harvest. For not all the new ‘salvation’s’ will be the same. Not any more so, than in the church now. There will be those harvested as barley and those as wheat, maturing together with the tares or weeds, depending on your preferred translation. When asked by his workers whether to pull out the weeds sown amongst the wheat the farmer replied,
Matthew 13:29-30
|
|
|
 The order is interesting. The weeds are to be disposed of before the harvest commences! After burning the weeds, there will be three crops harvested.
a. Barley: Symbolic of Passover and the Traditional/Evangelical Church. Many people will be saved into these churches.
b. Wheat: Symbolic of Pentecost and the Pentecostal/Charismatic Church. Many people will be saved into these churches too.
c. Fruit: The traditional way of looking at the more varied fruit harvest has been as a representation of people from all different races and nations being saved. While it is true that many different people will be saved, is not the true meaning of the ‘Fruit Harvest.’ For the real fruit harvest consists of those mature Christians whose lives display the full fruit of the Spirit. Those who have been prepared to submit to the will of the Father in the living of their lives. Whose lives exhibit the traits of holiness and purity. Those seeking to fulfil the will of the Father, thereby being unified as one in the Spirit. Those who live a life of Atonement. Those who together form the basis of the Tabernacle church. Not another denomination, but a group of people united in fulfilling the Lord’s prayer.
Matthew 6:9-10
A people dedicated to fulfilling the Father’s will. While some have embodied these principles in the past, it is only now, as the Day of Atonement and Feast of Tabernacle principles are being fully revealed to the Church in an experiential way, that large numbers of Christians are recognising and starting to apply these truths. Only now is the true, end-time, ‘Fruit Harvest’ beginning to mature and ripen.
|
| 3. LIVING IN BOOTHS: |
|
 Booths were temporary dwellings made of tree branches. Spiritually speaking, different trees have their own symbolic meanings. For instance, the palm is symbolic of victory, the willow, naturally enough of weeping, the myrtle of joy and the olive of anointing. Each booth was unique, being created from a combination of the branches available, utilising the construction skills of the occupiers. Yet in a way they were all the same, for the motivation behind their construction was to glorify God. To give him thanks for his faithful provision throughout the year and to remember their deliverance from Egypt.
Leviticus 23:39-43
|
|
|
So it is with the Tabernacle church.
a. Temporary Dwellings: Not a denomination but a group of people within existing churches, awaiting their heavenly bodies, dedicated to fulfilling the will of the Father.
2 Corinthians 5:1-5
|
|
|
b. Uniqueness: Each individual is a unique example of God’s handiwork.
Matthew 16:27
|
|
|
c. Unity of Purpose: Each person is heading in the one direction, using his or her individual skills and abilities in the furtherance of the single will of the Father.
Matthew 7:21-3
|
|
|
d. A Worshipful People: Continually giving thanks and glory to the Father for His faithful provision.
John 4:23
|
|
|
 e. Centred in Jesus: As Passover was the pathway to freedom for the Jews, so the death of Jesus is our pathway to the Father. The beginning and the end are intricately intertwined. (John 14:6) This special relationship between Passover and Tabernacles can be seen too in their respective times of celebration. Passover is celebrated in the 1st month of the Religious Year, that is the 7th month of the Civil Year. Tabernacles, on the other hand, is celebrated during the 7th month of the Religious year, the 1st month of the Civil Year.
The relationship however, runs much deeper than this as follows next. Compare PASSOVER and TABERNACLES, line by line.
|
| Passover |
|
 Beginning
First – Seventh Month
The First day of Passover. Beginning of first month.
The Tenth Day. Lamb set aside to die.
The Fourteenth Day. Lamb slain in the evening making it then the fifteenth day.
Unleavened Bread kept for seven days. 15th – 21st
The Sheaf of Firstfruits. Waved on the eighth day.
|
| Tabernacles |
|
 Ending
Seventh – First Month
The first day – Feast of Trumpets. Beginning of the seventh month.
The Tenth Day – Day of Atonement. The Lord’s Goat dies.
The Fifteenth Day. The Feast of Tabernacles
Feast of Tabernacles kept for seven days. 15th – 21st
Closing Assembly – Feast of Tabernacles
Held on the eighth day.
Yes, Jesus is right there at the heart of both Passover and Tabernacles!
|
| 4. PERFECTION, FULLNESS AND COMPLETION: |
|
 As represented by the number seven, the Feast being of the seventh month. So the Tabernacle church movement will be one moving towards individual and corporate perfection and life in the fullness of Jesus Christ, our example and Saviour. The attainment of these goals will result in the completion of God’s plan, as Jesus is able to present His Church, His perfect bride, before the throne of the Father.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Ephesians 5:25-7, 1 Peter 1:18-20, Revelation 19:7
|
| 5. TOTAL SACRIFICE: |
|
 One of the features of the Feast of Tabernacles was the large number of sacrifices offered. (Numbers 29:12-34) This was no accident, being symbolic of the full sacrifice of self, required of mature Christians, even to the point of death!
“……they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” (Revelation 12:11)
That is simply the commitment the Father requires of us in these end times, in response to the ultimate sacrifice he made on our behalf.
John 3:16, Hebrews 9:11-28
|
| 6. NEW BEGINNINGS:
|
|
 The number eight in scripture speaks of resurrection and new beginnings. The last day of the Feast of Tabernacles
Leviticus 23:36
|
|
|
 looked forward to the beginning of a new year. After winter, the spring season of hope would again commence. Symbolically, this day represents the return of Jesus to rule and reign upon the earth for 1000 years.
Revelation 20:1-6
|
|
|
 Whether Jesus actually returns on this day in some future year, is purely a matter of speculation, to which we don’t presently have the answer. However it would be logical, in step with the pattern of the Feasts of Passover and Pentecost, should the Father decide to send Jesus on this particular day. We will just have to wait and see, but never forgetting to be prepared for His return on each of the other 364 days also! (365 in Leap years!) This 8th day was the culmination of the Feast of Tabernacles. Spiritually, the return of Jesus is the ultimate fulfilment of the Tabernacle church, and the purpose and goal towards which it’s whole existence and philosophy is oriented. To be a pure, unified church, prepared as the Bride of Christ.
Revelation 19:7-8
What an amazing future to look forward to!
|
| <i>NEXT WEEK</i>
A REVELATION OF... REVELATION 12:11
WALKING WITH JESUS |
|
 What to write about this amazing verse! Where do I start? When the Lord first gave me the verse to start this ministry, I had only the 29 words it contains. A very limited ministry in prospect!
Another illuminating study.
|
| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
|
 The heart of every true believer is to see the return of Jesus. So it is important that we understand the Feast of Tabernacles, for in type, it represents this great and glorious day!
Whirinaki: Pumice Cave
This is a reasonably extensive cave, carved by water action out of the layers of pumice that blanketed the area as a result of volcanic activity in the central North Island thousands of years ago, with the most recent being the cataclysmic eruption of Taupo in about 180 AD. This was the greatest volcanic eruption in recorded history! Fortunately, nobody was living in New Zealand at the time!
|
So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
|
A DAVID'S DOODLING
305. A foolish man can seek wisdom, the wise man godliness, while the godly man grows into the image of Christ.
David Tait
|
Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
PGIM! Weekly Encouragement Ezine : http://www.wwj.org.nz/wwword.php
Reports on past Ministry visits: http://www.wwj.org.nz/diary.php
Eagles Fly High!: http://www.wwj.org.nz/eagle.php
Eagles Fly High! (Pastors, Teachers and Students): http://www.wwj.org.nz/eaglepts.php
|
