COMFORT TO ZION, Jerusalem, Israel
#26 of 29 The Feast of Tabernacles
Segment Seven of Seven, Section One of Four
TRIUMPHAL ENTRY
“Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!” Exodus 15:1
INTRODUCTION:
Here we are, friends, at the last Feast. It was an extraordinary journey for Moses and the people. And the Lord sought Moses out in an odd place, found him, knew he would obey, and married Moses at the revelation of the fiery angel in the form of a bush. And through one man’s heart being melted in the Beloved, we have the Feasts presented as a special meal in preparation of our Marriage Supper Feast with our Bridegroom. The wonderful events in the Old Testament clearly point to Revelation and the Hosanna cry, when we will Tabernacle with Him forever. There is much to express with the Feast of Tabernacles and the release of the seventh seal which is a prelude to Revelation 8:1 and the heralding of the seven trumpets when there will be silence in heaven for half an hour. Preparation during this segue is now made for the seven angles to signal the sound for the climax of all things on earth and heaven. It has to be the most deafening silence that ever was or ever will be. Imagine no sounds of worship and praise to our King, only silence. The elders, angelic hosts, the cloud of witnesses, and all those that have gone before us must be in silent attention perceiving the beginning and ending of all things. They understand the catastrophic events ready to be unleashed, they are sobering, silencing and yet on the other side is Eternal Joy for the TRIUMPHAL ENTRY is at hand for us that adore Him and have pleased Him. Hebrews 12; 2 encourages us today, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, despising the sham and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Crossing over into the final destination and plan of the Lord is both devastating and delightful. There is a great schism now, as He said in Matthew many were invited but few came to the marriage supper. From the 1st to the 6th Trumpet there is continual pressure in nature just as when Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh time and again, which spans from Exodus 7:14-11:10. Pressures of waters contaminated, turned into blood, which not only became undrinkable, but all fish died and rivers stank. In Revelation as well as Exodus people were struck with diseases, animals were struck, there was pestilence never known before. There are specific times that the Lord chooses to reveal Himself, as in Exodus 8:18, 19, “Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, ’this is the FINGER OF GOD.’ but Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had said.” The sorcerers were trying for awhile but did not succeed in duplicating the wonders of the Lord with plagues, etc, but SUDDENLY the Lord did not allow it anymore. It was for a time to prove He is the I AM. We must heed the warnings, pray and watch; even during times of deliverance deception is rife. We must know and be able to divide the truth from a lying wonder. The Word says in Proverbs to ask for and cry out for discernment, insight and understanding. Even so, in the mercy of God, he gave warning ahead of time as in Exodus 9:18-21 (He is shouting warnings in our lives everyday; seek the Lord while He may be found). In Verse 20 of Exodus 9, “He who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to their houses.” We must all be heeding and listening to Him alone. They heard and obeyed the puzzling command to apply the blood to their doorposts and He would Passover. Surely, a great test of faith.
THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES:
“”Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘ the fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the FEAST OF TABERNACLES for seven days to the Lord. Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the Lord for seven days; on the first day there shall be a Sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a Sabbath-rest. And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the book; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 23:33, 34, 39,40,42,43.
This Feast taking place in the seventh month is the busiest season of the Hebrew year. The Feast of Trumpets introduced the seventh month as well as the civil New Year; ten days later came the Day of Atonement, on the fifteenth day the joyous FEAST OF TABERNACLES commenced. Fifty means Jubilee, this final procession will be executing His order from heaven to bring us to Himself. The Feast of Tabernacles was and is a memorial to Israel’s wilderness journey and the temporary huts they lived in for forty years. The Hebrew name Succoth (meaning huts or booths) is a reference to the Israelites’ first encampment after leaving Egypt; on Succoth they experience their first taste of freedom. And so they constructed replicas of the booths of their forefathers and lived in them seven days. This acted as a memorial reminder of some of the hardships of their ancestors. Most importantly, they rejoiced in gracious provision and protection of the Lord. The Lord’s command is to celebrate this forever in Leviticus 23:41.
And now, as we live this side of heaven, we have His promise “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17 This feast of rejoicing arrived at the end of the fruit harvest in the fall, allowing it to incorporate elements of a harvest celebration. Crops of olives, grapes and many other fruits are picked prior to the festivities. The celebrants then use the branches of their fruit trees and leafy palms to construct the booths, Only God could have been the architect of this surgical timing and event.
During this Feast the Israelites adopted another tradition by gathering citron or ethrog, binding together branches of palm, myrtle, and willow. Wherever they went for seven days they carried the visible symbols of the celebration: citron in the left hand and bundles of branches (lulav) in the right as a wave offering. The palm spoke of victory, the willow of a happy, thriving condition; and the olive peace. Isn’t this a wonderful parallel of believers gathered as a wave offering to Him?
During Jesus’ sojourn here when He arrived in Jerusalem during His last week on earth, crowds briefly waved their lulavs with shouts of Hosanna, recognizing Jesus as the Son of David and rightful king. This celebration was short-lived.” And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried saying, “Hosanna to the Son of Davd! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! ” Matthew 21;8, 9 Luke shares when Jesus was entering Jerusalem He requested a colt, specifically one that was tied and never ridden before, for them to loose and bring to Him. Compare that to your walk, no one else can walk your walk. Also, this was a beast of burden. He has something fresh and new to reveal to you, it is TRIUMPHANT and you will enter into His rest in Him in VICTORY. Allow Him to carry the burden that He already has conquered through the cross. And John described a future and lasting celebration in Revelation 7:9, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes with palm branches in their hands.”
We must always remember that we are being lead by the hand of our Living God. It is evident in John 7:2-14 that Jesus’ family celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles with the requirements of the Torah. Jesus is our light and domain of Tabernacle of life. Of all the celebrations Jesus attended, the Feast of Tabernacles was the one with the most piercing and clear revelation of His second coming as THE TRIUMPHANT KING. Zechariah 14:16 is a guidepost to the Jews toward this future Feast that will draw all nations together. “And it shall come to pass that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.”
Living in Jerusalem, as I do, is both exquisite and excruciating, knowing Y’shua and observing all the outward efforts to please God that are of no avail unless the inward heart is Feasting in the Lord Jesus. Many people go through tremendous effort to celebrate this feast. Some of their Booths are fabulous, others are simple, and others are lavish and equipped with lighting, music, beds and are beautifully enclosed dwellings for the week. When I have taken walks during this time singing and rejoicing is heard and wonderful fragrances waft through the atmosphere of succulent foods being prepared and served. The types and shadows of the rejoicing in the Booths for seven days distinctively direct us to the time and place of our Tabernacle in the one who dwells in unapproachable light.
It is a blessing to understand that this Feast pointed back to the very first Feast, Passover, as the Feast of Tabernacles was the consummation of that which began in Passover Feast. We can shout for joy because of Y’shua being our Passover Lamb, redeeming us with His eternal living blood, and carrying us into the Tabernacle of His life and heart to rest hidden in Him. This is TRIUMPHAL ENTRY on earth, and as we finish our sojourn here the glorious and final TRIUMPHAL ENTRY into the full scope of eternal rest.
The parallels are fabulous; this Feast is the harvest time, and gathering of the fruits. This climatical time will be the finale of the gathering of those that love Him and have hearts of worship and praise toward Him. We are the fruits of His finished work, the final wave offering for our Messiah to present to the Father of Glory. Not only is this the seventh Feast, but this celebrating number again points to the fullness and completion in Him.
There is so much to expound upon regarding this Feast, the former and latter rains are life giving and integrally part and parcel of the harvest and ingathering, as the old song said, “You couldn’t have rain without having flowers, and so on.” And without the rain of the washing of the pure water of His word, we would not be the rose that blossoms in the desert place. Joel 2:23speaks of the former and latter rain in. These rains are indicative of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit; the rains depict revival, refreshing and restoration. It is gorgeous in its’ overlaying with the first Feast of Tabernacles, as the Israelites were revived, refreshed and restored when they were released from Egypt and rested in their booths at the time of harvest. This is a glorious resting place for us in Him. He said He has prepared a place for us; this is it, the heavenly Tabernacle through our TRIUMPHAL ENTRY.
Friends, there is no mistaking the double portion ingathering, the Jew and Gentile entering through the blood forever to be Hidden in the light of His love, where there is no need for sun or moon for He is the Tabernacle that is all light and love and purity.
“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. “Hebrew 6:19, 20
Let us remember that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (Tabernacles). John 1:14. Paul spoke of our physical body as being an earthly house, a tabernacle in which we groan, waiting for our house from heaven. See 2 Corinthians 5:1-15. As that day approaches we are convinced that eventually the Tabernacle of God, the heavenly Jerusalem, will be with men. See Revelation 21:3 The basic meaning of the Hebrew and Greek is that of a temporary dwelling place, tabernacle. We are provoked to remember that our earthly dwelling in our flesh is temporary for this pilgrimage on earth. And on the seventh day God rested. This is the Seventh Feast, celebrated for Seven days. It is time to enter His rest now and make that TRIUMPHAL ENTRY.
There are so many aspects to this Feast and the relationship to the other Feasts, it necessitates more in-depth exposition. In summary, it is noted that Passover was the first month of the Sacred year as well as being the seventh month of the Civil year. Tabernacles were the seventh month of the Sacred and the first of the Civil year. It is notable that the Lord wanted to draw attention to the relationship of both Feasts. And so we have Passover, Unleavened Bread and the Sheaf of First fruits presenting the work of Christ in His first coming, in his death, burial and resurrection.
Pentecost presented its two wave loaves before the Lord on the fiftieth day after the countdown wave offering of the Sheaf of First fruits it set in motion the work of the Holy Spirit in the church composed of both Jew and Gentile. This overshadows the forthcoming Pentecostal age between the first and second advents of Christ. Then the Feast of trumpets, Day of Atonement, Tabernacles and the Ingathering sets the stage for the final manifestation of the Lord God in the earth prior to and at the second coming of our Lord Jesus. The stage is set for the gathering of the saints to the Lord, the spotless church by the power of the atoning blood and the final harvest of souls before His appearance. The completeness of this Feast in the seventh month will pour over into the Seventh Day of the Lord, His Kingdom age and we will Tabernacle with Him forever.
It is vital for us to remember that there is always an intricate relationship between heaven and earth in the Feasts. It is mostly impossible to disconnect them. When a Feast took place on earth there is something which took place in heaven. Earth is dependent on heaven, always was and will be until His return. That is why it is a reminder to us, that without Him we can do nothing. “All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on Earth.” Matthew 28:18
Our Lord is with our every breath, every moment that we are here on earth, He is with us, watching over His word to perform it. In closing this section and completing the brief study of the Feasts let us remember as the shadow moved on earth, the substance in heaven witnessed to the same activity. At Passover, Jesus died on earth; the sun in heaven was darkened by the Father. In the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Sheaf of First fruits, Christ was resurrected from the grave on earth and ascended to heaven where He presented Himself as the Rock and Security for all believers. At Pentecost, Jesus ascended into heaven 10 days prior, and then the Holy Spirit was released from heaven to earth the disciples patiently waiting in anticipation of the mysterious power they were to receive, unaware of what and why and how this power would be used. They formed the church, in its conception. Jesus entered within the heavenly veil as our Atonement sacrifice. We as believers have free access through His shed blood into the Holiest of All.
Finally the last trumpet is ready to sound, and Jesus will descend in a cloud from heavens abode to earth to receive His own. At last the TABERNACLE OF GOD will be with men and He will dwell with them. And it will be a marriage of heart to heart, face to face as we dwell with Him. Jesus has united us from heaven to earth through His atoning work and closed the breach through the cross, that we may Feast and Tabernacle with Him. WE HAVE MADE OUR TRIUMPHAL ENTRY. “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”2 Corinthians 2:14
Next: The Seventh Seal
POINTS TO PONDER:
Rejoice, we will make our TRIUMPHAL ENTRY
He is our resting NOW, Tabernacle with Him
Receive the former and latter rain, a double portion to carry you through
This is it! Our final destination is drawing closer every second, ARE YOU READY for so grand an entrance?
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