The Feast of Tabernacles
BEHOLD, I WILL DO SOMETHING NEW
Isaiah 43:18 Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.
Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall sprout; shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.
Today, this prophecy is fulfilled!
INTRODUCTION
For some years now we have heard prophecies to the effect that God will do something new amongst us. So far we have not seen the fulfilment of these prophecies. I believe that the time has come for these prophecies to be realised, and that we need to look to Scripture in order to understand what God is doing amongst us so that we can become a part of what He is doing. If we look back to the two previous major moves of God in the Church, ie the Lutheran movement and Pentecost, we see that these were both foretold in the first two major feasts that the Lord commanded His people to keep for all time. Therefore I consider it reasonable, and in fact the Lord has led me, to look at the feasts in order to understand what lies ahead. The following is a very brief look at the feasts and how they fit into the Church today.
Keeping the Feasts
God’s instruction to Israel was that His Feasts were to be kept for all time. In particular these Feasts consisted of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles.
My adventure started with the Lord asking me why I thought the three main feasts, Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles were to be kept for all time. I replied that perhaps there was some significance in them to the end of time. He affirmed this and took me into Scripture and began to teach me about the Feasts in a way I had never seen or heard before.
This is not a comprehensive study of the Feasts, but rather an overview to show the meaning and significance of the three major Feasts which are to be kept for all time.
Isaiah 43:18 Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.
Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall sprout; shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.
Today, this prophecy is fulfilled!
INTRODUCTION
For some years now we have heard prophecies to the effect that God will do something new amongst us. So far we have not seen the fulfilment of these prophecies. I believe that the time has come for these prophecies to be realised, and that we need to look to Scripture in order to understand what God is doing amongst us so that we can become a part of what He is doing. If we look back to the two previous major moves of God in the Church, ie the Lutheran movement and Pentecost, we see that these were both foretold in the first two major feasts that the Lord commanded His people to keep for all time. Therefore I consider it reasonable, and in fact the Lord has led me, to look at the feasts in order to understand what lies ahead. The following is a very brief look at the feasts and how they fit into the Church today.
Keeping the Feasts
God’s instruction to Israel was that His Feasts were to be kept for all time. In particular these Feasts consisted of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles.
My adventure started with the Lord asking me why I thought the three main feasts, Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles were to be kept for all time. I replied that perhaps there was some significance in them to the end of time. He affirmed this and took me into Scripture and began to teach me about the Feasts in a way I had never seen or heard before.
This is not a comprehensive study of the Feasts, but rather an overview to show the meaning and significance of the three major Feasts which are to be kept for all time.
Passover
Overview
For 400 years Israel was held captive and enslaved by Egypt. At the end of this period God raised up a man called Moses who was to lead Israel out of Egypt, thus ending their captivity. Because Pharaoh was hard hearted he refused to let Israel go, so God initiated a series of plagues to come upon Egypt, but still Pharaoh refused to let Israel go. The last of these plagues was a plague of death, ie. the death of the firstborn of every house and animal.
Initiation
The Passover came about because the blood of the perfect and sacrificed lamb was placed on the door of the house (in the shape of a cross) at the time when the Lord sent the angel of death over Egypt to kill the firstborn of every house and animal. The houses that were covered by the blood of the lamb were “passed over” by the spirit of death and none died in that household. The Feast of Passover actually commemorates Israel leaving Egypt, because this is what the angel of death was sent to achieve.
The Meaning
It is clear from the events above that the Feast of Passover is all about Jesus. The Word of God who was with God and was God in the beginning was made flesh and was called Jesus. Jesus was sacrificed (the Lamb of God) on the cross so that all who receive Him have the right to become sons of God. Thus we come out of death (separation from God) and into a new phase of life, a journey which takes us into a new life in Him.
Church Status
If you consider that while in Egypt the Israelites knew of God, but did not know Him as such. They had endured 400 years of separation. This is much like some of the early churches that know about God, but don’t know Him. They have a religion and the Bible, but the personal relationship is missing. Their leaving Egypt after the sacrifice of the lamb is in fact a picture of people who have received Christ and leave the old life behind to start a new life in Him. The Evangelical churches, or Jesus churches were started as a result of people becoming born again through receiving Jesus. The Salvation Army and Brethren churches were examples of these.
Overview
For 400 years Israel was held captive and enslaved by Egypt. At the end of this period God raised up a man called Moses who was to lead Israel out of Egypt, thus ending their captivity. Because Pharaoh was hard hearted he refused to let Israel go, so God initiated a series of plagues to come upon Egypt, but still Pharaoh refused to let Israel go. The last of these plagues was a plague of death, ie. the death of the firstborn of every house and animal.
Initiation
The Passover came about because the blood of the perfect and sacrificed lamb was placed on the door of the house (in the shape of a cross) at the time when the Lord sent the angel of death over Egypt to kill the firstborn of every house and animal. The houses that were covered by the blood of the lamb were “passed over” by the spirit of death and none died in that household. The Feast of Passover actually commemorates Israel leaving Egypt, because this is what the angel of death was sent to achieve.
The Meaning
It is clear from the events above that the Feast of Passover is all about Jesus. The Word of God who was with God and was God in the beginning was made flesh and was called Jesus. Jesus was sacrificed (the Lamb of God) on the cross so that all who receive Him have the right to become sons of God. Thus we come out of death (separation from God) and into a new phase of life, a journey which takes us into a new life in Him.
Church Status
If you consider that while in Egypt the Israelites knew of God, but did not know Him as such. They had endured 400 years of separation. This is much like some of the early churches that know about God, but don’t know Him. They have a religion and the Bible, but the personal relationship is missing. Their leaving Egypt after the sacrifice of the lamb is in fact a picture of people who have received Christ and leave the old life behind to start a new life in Him. The Evangelical churches, or Jesus churches were started as a result of people becoming born again through receiving Jesus. The Salvation Army and Brethren churches were examples of these.
Pentecost
Overview
During their wanderings in The Wilderness Israel was guilty of displeasing God on a number of occasions and their behaviour brought them to a place where God needed to lay down some rules for them to abide by, hence at Mt Sinai Moses met with God and received the 10 Commandments.
Initiation
Although the Feast of Pentecost was originally called by other names (Feast of Weeks, of Harvest etc) and celebrated the harvest of crops and first fruits, it also commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments. There is an interesting link between these two seemingly separate events that this feast celebrates, as explained in the next section.
The Meaning
For us today, the Feast of Pentecost ties in with the giving of the Holy Spirit as explained in Hebrews 10:16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,”
So the Law, which was written in stone in the Old Testament is written on the heart of the believer in the New Testament. Once a person has received (or been baptised in) the Holy Spirit the Law is written on their hearts, but more than this, they also start manifesting the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit as He makes these available, so you can see from this how the Law and First fruits (or Harvest) in the Old Testament have a very clear link to the relationship with the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. Jesus started ministering in miracles, wisdom and teachings after He received and was empowered by the Holy Spirit. This same Holy Spirit also empowers us in accordance with God’s will.
So we can safely conclude that, as Passover is all about our relationship with Jesus, Pentecost is all about our relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Church Status
There were many Pentecostal churches that sprang up when God chose to give His Holy Spirit to mankind in the later churches. These were initially rejected by the “traditional” church of the time, and is still rejected by many churches today.
Overview
During their wanderings in The Wilderness Israel was guilty of displeasing God on a number of occasions and their behaviour brought them to a place where God needed to lay down some rules for them to abide by, hence at Mt Sinai Moses met with God and received the 10 Commandments.
Initiation
Although the Feast of Pentecost was originally called by other names (Feast of Weeks, of Harvest etc) and celebrated the harvest of crops and first fruits, it also commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments. There is an interesting link between these two seemingly separate events that this feast celebrates, as explained in the next section.
The Meaning
For us today, the Feast of Pentecost ties in with the giving of the Holy Spirit as explained in Hebrews 10:16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,”
So the Law, which was written in stone in the Old Testament is written on the heart of the believer in the New Testament. Once a person has received (or been baptised in) the Holy Spirit the Law is written on their hearts, but more than this, they also start manifesting the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit as He makes these available, so you can see from this how the Law and First fruits (or Harvest) in the Old Testament have a very clear link to the relationship with the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. Jesus started ministering in miracles, wisdom and teachings after He received and was empowered by the Holy Spirit. This same Holy Spirit also empowers us in accordance with God’s will.
So we can safely conclude that, as Passover is all about our relationship with Jesus, Pentecost is all about our relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Church Status
There were many Pentecostal churches that sprang up when God chose to give His Holy Spirit to mankind in the later churches. These were initially rejected by the “traditional” church of the time, and is still rejected by many churches today.
Tabernacles
Overview
Israel had spent 40 years wandering in The Wilderness and there were many events during that time that were of great significance, but the Feast of Tabernacles is not only the last of the three Feats, but is also the most significant. The previous Feasts were necessary to bring Israel to this final and conclusive Feast. Here is a celebration like no other. The coming home of the wanderers, the end of a very long journey and the end of one era and the beginning of a whole new one.
Initiation
The Feast of Tabernacles commemorated the end of the wanderings in The Wilderness and preceded entering the Promised Land. Each of the three Feasts marked the end of one era and the beginning of another.
The Meaning
The Feast of Tabernacles (also called Sukkot because they dwelt in tents) is the most significant of the Feasts, because just as Passover represented our relationship with Jesus, and Pentecost represented our relationship with the Holy Spirit, Tabernacles is all about our relationship with God our Father! This is the reason Jesus came, to restore us to the Father, and this is the reason the Holy Spirit was given us, to show us the way to the Father and here we are, about to end our wanderings and to come into that relationship, how awesome! Let me explain…
The Feast of Tabernacles celebrates the end of the Wilderness journey and the going forward into the Promised Land. This Feast takes us into a relationship with our Father, it's all about Him. Prior to entering the Promised Land (the new relationship with Father) we must cross the Jordan. At this point the Lord told me to look up the Jordan in my Bible Dictionary. I found that the name Jordan translated into English means descender. I also found that it was described as the deepest depression on Earth. The Lord asked me what I thought the deepest depression was representative of. After some thought I replied death. He affirmed this. The Jordan crossing is a death experience, not of the body, or death as we know it, but of the soul, or our identity. Only after this death can we be raised up in newness of life in the Promised Land ie. our new relationship with Father. At this point all things become new once again. Christianity takes on a whole new meaning and Pentecost becomes a thing of the past. That doesn't mean we leave Jesus or the Holy Spirit behind in any way, but we are with the Father now.
My Jordan Crossing
The Lord came to me one night. I couldn't see Him, but I knew it was Him and exactly where He was standing. He asked me if I would give up my motorbike for Him. As much as I loved my motorbike I did not hesitate to say yes. He then left. The following night He came back again. He asked me if I was prepared to give up all of my possessions. I said yes Lord and He left once more. On the third night He returned and asked if I was prepared to give up my family (I was single then, so it meant Mum, Dad and siblings), I said yes and He left. The following night He returned and asked if I was prepared to give up my girlfriend. I was reluctant to do this but said yes and He left. On the 5th night He returned and I asked Him what He wanted as I had given Him everything. He replied that there was one more thing He required of me. Mystified, I asked Him what that could be. He replied that He wanted me to give up my identity. The frightening truth of this hit me hard as I replied to Him, "Lord, if I give you my identity I will cease to exist!" He replied that this was indeed the case. With fear in my heart and tears flowing I said yes to Him. I felt my life become extinguished.
When the Lord took me through the Jordan it was the most frightening experience of my life and I had to totally trust Him. The resurrection was equally glorious. When I was raised up He showed me a vision. There was a vast field before me, like a crop of maize or wheat or the like as far as the eye could see. He told me this vast field represented my new life in Him where everything was new and yet to be explored.
The 23rd Psalm
He then told me to look at the 23rd Psalm and showed it to me in a different way. He pointed out that the first verses were outside, obviously in the Wilderness because they had to be led to green pastures and still waters. Then there is the death experience. This is the Jordan crossing. After the death experience there is the dwelling in the house of the LORD forever (hence Tabernacles) where the head is anointed and the cup overflows. This is my experience.
Psalm 84
My Soul Longs for the Courts of the Lord
Psalm 84:1 To the Chief Musician. On Gittith. A Psalm for the sons of Korah. How lovely are Your tabernacles, O Jehovah of Hosts!
Psalm 84:2 My soul longs, yea, even faints for the courts of Jehovah; my heart and my flesh shout for joy to the living God.
Psalm 84:3 Even the sparrow has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young, Your altars, O Jehovah of Hosts, my King and my God.
Psalm 84:4 Blessed are they who dwell in Your house; they will still praise You. Selah.
Psalm 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You; Your ways are in their hearts.
Psalm 84:6 Passing through the valley of weeping, they will make it a fountain; the early rain also covers it with blessings.
Psalm 84:7 They go from strength to strength, appearing in Zion before God.
Psalm 84:8 O Jehovah, the God of Hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.
Psalm 84:9 Behold, O God, our shield, and look on the face of Your anointed.
Psalm 84:10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Psalm 84:11 For Jehovah God is a sun and shield; Jehovah will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Psalm 84:12 O Jehovah of Hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You.
Church Status
The churches that I am aware of have not entered into Tabernacles. A prophecy the Lord gave me to bring to one Pentecostal church some time ago went like this; "Behold I have new wine for you, but you will not receive it because of your old wine skins." When I later asked the Lord what He meant by old wine skins, He said just one word, "Traditions".
Overview
Israel had spent 40 years wandering in The Wilderness and there were many events during that time that were of great significance, but the Feast of Tabernacles is not only the last of the three Feats, but is also the most significant. The previous Feasts were necessary to bring Israel to this final and conclusive Feast. Here is a celebration like no other. The coming home of the wanderers, the end of a very long journey and the end of one era and the beginning of a whole new one.
Initiation
The Feast of Tabernacles commemorated the end of the wanderings in The Wilderness and preceded entering the Promised Land. Each of the three Feasts marked the end of one era and the beginning of another.
The Meaning
The Feast of Tabernacles (also called Sukkot because they dwelt in tents) is the most significant of the Feasts, because just as Passover represented our relationship with Jesus, and Pentecost represented our relationship with the Holy Spirit, Tabernacles is all about our relationship with God our Father! This is the reason Jesus came, to restore us to the Father, and this is the reason the Holy Spirit was given us, to show us the way to the Father and here we are, about to end our wanderings and to come into that relationship, how awesome! Let me explain…
The Feast of Tabernacles celebrates the end of the Wilderness journey and the going forward into the Promised Land. This Feast takes us into a relationship with our Father, it's all about Him. Prior to entering the Promised Land (the new relationship with Father) we must cross the Jordan. At this point the Lord told me to look up the Jordan in my Bible Dictionary. I found that the name Jordan translated into English means descender. I also found that it was described as the deepest depression on Earth. The Lord asked me what I thought the deepest depression was representative of. After some thought I replied death. He affirmed this. The Jordan crossing is a death experience, not of the body, or death as we know it, but of the soul, or our identity. Only after this death can we be raised up in newness of life in the Promised Land ie. our new relationship with Father. At this point all things become new once again. Christianity takes on a whole new meaning and Pentecost becomes a thing of the past. That doesn't mean we leave Jesus or the Holy Spirit behind in any way, but we are with the Father now.
My Jordan Crossing
The Lord came to me one night. I couldn't see Him, but I knew it was Him and exactly where He was standing. He asked me if I would give up my motorbike for Him. As much as I loved my motorbike I did not hesitate to say yes. He then left. The following night He came back again. He asked me if I was prepared to give up all of my possessions. I said yes Lord and He left once more. On the third night He returned and asked if I was prepared to give up my family (I was single then, so it meant Mum, Dad and siblings), I said yes and He left. The following night He returned and asked if I was prepared to give up my girlfriend. I was reluctant to do this but said yes and He left. On the 5th night He returned and I asked Him what He wanted as I had given Him everything. He replied that there was one more thing He required of me. Mystified, I asked Him what that could be. He replied that He wanted me to give up my identity. The frightening truth of this hit me hard as I replied to Him, "Lord, if I give you my identity I will cease to exist!" He replied that this was indeed the case. With fear in my heart and tears flowing I said yes to Him. I felt my life become extinguished.
When the Lord took me through the Jordan it was the most frightening experience of my life and I had to totally trust Him. The resurrection was equally glorious. When I was raised up He showed me a vision. There was a vast field before me, like a crop of maize or wheat or the like as far as the eye could see. He told me this vast field represented my new life in Him where everything was new and yet to be explored.
The 23rd Psalm
He then told me to look at the 23rd Psalm and showed it to me in a different way. He pointed out that the first verses were outside, obviously in the Wilderness because they had to be led to green pastures and still waters. Then there is the death experience. This is the Jordan crossing. After the death experience there is the dwelling in the house of the LORD forever (hence Tabernacles) where the head is anointed and the cup overflows. This is my experience.
Psalm 84
My Soul Longs for the Courts of the Lord
Psalm 84:1 To the Chief Musician. On Gittith. A Psalm for the sons of Korah. How lovely are Your tabernacles, O Jehovah of Hosts!
Psalm 84:2 My soul longs, yea, even faints for the courts of Jehovah; my heart and my flesh shout for joy to the living God.
Psalm 84:3 Even the sparrow has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young, Your altars, O Jehovah of Hosts, my King and my God.
Psalm 84:4 Blessed are they who dwell in Your house; they will still praise You. Selah.
Psalm 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You; Your ways are in their hearts.
Psalm 84:6 Passing through the valley of weeping, they will make it a fountain; the early rain also covers it with blessings.
Psalm 84:7 They go from strength to strength, appearing in Zion before God.
Psalm 84:8 O Jehovah, the God of Hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.
Psalm 84:9 Behold, O God, our shield, and look on the face of Your anointed.
Psalm 84:10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Psalm 84:11 For Jehovah God is a sun and shield; Jehovah will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Psalm 84:12 O Jehovah of Hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You.
Church Status
The churches that I am aware of have not entered into Tabernacles. A prophecy the Lord gave me to bring to one Pentecostal church some time ago went like this; "Behold I have new wine for you, but you will not receive it because of your old wine skins." When I later asked the Lord what He meant by old wine skins, He said just one word, "Traditions".
Keeping the Feasts
The Lord explained to me that because we are born again and remain in Christ, we are indeed keeping the Feast of Passover. We don’t have to celebrate this Feast as Israel does, because we are celebrating it by living it. We have in full what Israel celebrates in part, as is also the case with the other Feasts.
Because we have received and live by the Holy Spirit, we are in like manner keeping the Feast of Pentecost.
As many as have entered the Promised Land through death and resurrection, these are keeping the Feast of Tabernacles.
Testimony
I received an email from a young man who read this page and he shared the following experience with me:
I had a dream one night in which I was at the coast and the Lord told me to go out into the water and stand on the rock that was there. I waded out and stood on the rock as He told me. The tide was coming in and the waters rose so I asked the Lord if I should now swim for the shore. He answered "stand on the rock", so I remained there as the waters continued to rise. The water was up to my chin now and once again I asked the Lord if I should swim for the shore, but once again He said "stand on the rock", so I remained there thinking He would rescue me at the 11th hour. The water was now over my mouth and entering my nostrils and I was finding it hard to get breath, but still He said "stand on the rock". In the dream I eventually drowned, but then was resurrected by Him into a glorious new life! This was my death and new life experience, entering the Promised Land as described in your article. The rock of course was Jesus.
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The Lord explained to me that because we are born again and remain in Christ, we are indeed keeping the Feast of Passover. We don’t have to celebrate this Feast as Israel does, because we are celebrating it by living it. We have in full what Israel celebrates in part, as is also the case with the other Feasts.
Because we have received and live by the Holy Spirit, we are in like manner keeping the Feast of Pentecost.
As many as have entered the Promised Land through death and resurrection, these are keeping the Feast of Tabernacles.
Testimony
I received an email from a young man who read this page and he shared the following experience with me:
I had a dream one night in which I was at the coast and the Lord told me to go out into the water and stand on the rock that was there. I waded out and stood on the rock as He told me. The tide was coming in and the waters rose so I asked the Lord if I should now swim for the shore. He answered "stand on the rock", so I remained there as the waters continued to rise. The water was up to my chin now and once again I asked the Lord if I should swim for the shore, but once again He said "stand on the rock", so I remained there thinking He would rescue me at the 11th hour. The water was now over my mouth and entering my nostrils and I was finding it hard to get breath, but still He said "stand on the rock". In the dream I eventually drowned, but then was resurrected by Him into a glorious new life! This was my death and new life experience, entering the Promised Land as described in your article. The rock of course was Jesus.
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