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Today we start a series looking at the third and final (and most marvellous) of YAHUSHA'S APPOINTED TIMES & SEASONS: the FEAST OF TABERNACLES (OFTEN CALLED BOOTHS OR SUKKOTH). It's a Feast which Yahusha's people seem to know or understand very little about, (or how to celebrate it today) but it turns out that this Feast is alluded to by the Prophets more than all the other Feasts combined! It was (for the Israelite people) the consummation and completion of their full agricultural year in service to their Alahim Yahuah, and it was the "FEAST OF ALL FEASTS" as far as the Hebrew mind was concerned. But more than that, it was an `Appointed Time' (MOEDIM IN HEBREW) which means it was . . .
'an appointed occasion, an enactment and appointment of time, space, quantity, labor and usage - a commandment, custom, decree, law, fulness of the moon (i.e. its appointed festivals) - a fixed time or season, festival, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose), technically the congregation/assembly and (by extension) the place of meeting - a signal (as appointed beforehand) - appointed sign and time, a mass of people organized for war (an army, battle, company, host, service), a campaign for hardship and worship - soldiers waiting upon warfare)'.
TRULY THERE MUST BE SOME EXPERIENCE TO BE HAD ON THIS MOST SET-APART AND APPOINTED OF TIMES ??
THE POWER OF THE FEASTS IS NOT IN THE USE OF CONFUSING HEBREW WORDS AND CUSTOMS, BUT IN THE SUPERNATURAL EXPERIENCE TO BE HAD EACH TIME!
Between Pentecost and Tabernacles there was an interval of time of 3 months, these being the 4th, 5th and 6th months. Passover and Pentecost were linked together by just a few weeks, but Tabernacles stood alone at the end of the year, separated from the previous Feasts by several months. These months were DRY MONTHS, when generally no rain fell. There were no set-apart gatherings either, for the nation to meet before Yahuah and His Sanctuary. So there is definite significance in the time-lapse between Pentecost and Tabernacles, the dry months. Hence, this Feast of Tabernacles is generally recognised as the FEAST OF PROPHESY — that is, a Feast which has yet to find complete physical fulfilment in Yahusha. In Israel, no one could experience Tabernacles without Pentecost and Passover first. All must follow Yahuah’s order in the Feasts according to their respective months. No one could experience the last Feast without partaking of the first Feast first!
Likewise we must all know Yahusha as our Master and Deliverer and experience Him as the PASSOVER LAMB who died to cleanse us, destroy our old heart with it's corrupt seed and give us a new heart and spirit, before we can ever experience PENTECOST and have His New Blood-Covenant written on our new hearts through the planting of the incorruptible seed of His Set-Apart Spirit. Only then can we proceed on in Yahusha to EXPERIENCE the truth of TABERNACLES maturity. This is true for both Jew and Gentile in His Yahusha's New Blood-Covenant, for there can be no Feast outside of Yahusha, for everything spoken, shadowed and prophesied in Scripture finds it’s life, meaning, fulfillment and completion in Him!
Yahusha called His appointed times 'REDEMPTIVE FEASTS' because when we peel away the old outside layer of agri-cultural application, we find that all the feasts are a SHADOW OF OUR DELIVERANCE PATH from darkness to light, babe to maturity, foolish to wise and trusted servant, feeding His sheep and working His harvest !
FEASTS UNFULFILLED IN ISRAEL'S WANDERINGS
Paul tells us that most of the things that happened to Israel were for types, examples and shadow-teachings to the New Blood-Covenant Fellowship of believers. One of the most remarkable historical types in Israel's history is that which pertains to the set-apart Feasts (appointed times) of Yahuah.
A. NATURAL ISRAEL - THE FIRST BRIDE
The Historical-Type & Shadow.
Israel experienced the Feast of PASSOVER in Egypt and the mighty deliverance which resulted there. They understood the concept of the blood and the unleavened bread in their separation from the land of bondage through 'immersion into the Red Sea and the Cloud' (1 COR 10). The journey brought them to the foot of Mt. Sinai where the nation experienced the Feast of PENTECOST in the third month. Yahuah's intention was then to bring Israel into the land promised to Abraham over 500 years prior (Canaan) where they could enter into the third and final Feast of TABERNACLES and partake of the land's first fruit, rains and blessings of peace, security, comfort and ... a home of their own!
It is evident that the new generation, after crossing the Jordan, kept the Feasts of Yahuah. So the new generation experienced Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. Joshua and Caleb (as overcomers) also enjoyed the Feasts of Yahuah in Canaan land at the end of the 40 years wanderings in the Wilderness. They had a kind of rebirth/refresh in spirit, and they wholly followed Yahuah.
In Egypt Israel knew and experienced the PASSOVER Lamb, the blood and the unleavened bread. At Mt. Sinai they knew and experienced the Marriage Covenant at PENTECOST. But only in the promised land of Canaan could they know and experience and enjoy TABERNACLES. The great tragedy is seen when the nation came to Kadesh-Barnea, and there, Yahuah's chosen son Israel rejected the land promised to his fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and in rejecting the land of Canaan he also rejected the greatest Feast, the FEAST OF TABERNACLES. So for 40 years Yahuah allowed Israel to wander in the Wilderness until all that generation died out. Only Joshua and Caleb lived to enter into the land of Canaan with the new generation. And the national sin was that of UNBELIEF!
The same rebirth is being established again today in Yahusha's New Covenant Assemblies !
B. YAHUSHA'S NEW SUPERNATURAL BRIDE
The Historical-Fulfilment
The Old Blood-Covenant scene may be superimposed upon the history of the New Blood-Covenant Bridal-Fellowship in remarkable comparison. The Historical Books of the New Blood-Covenant writers show the fulfilment of the first two Feasts beautifully.
THE FOUR GOSPELS PRESENT YAHUSHA AS THE HISTORICAL FULFILMENT OF THE FEAST OF PASSOVER AND THE SHEAF OF FIRSTFRUITS, WHILE THE BOOK OF ACTS SHOWS REMARKABLY THE HISTORICAL FULFILMENT OF THE FEAST OF WEEKS, OR PENTECOST IN THE FELLOWSHIP. BUT WHERE, IN THE HISTORY OF THE NEW COVENANT BRIDE, CAN ONE FIND THE FULFILMENT OF THE THIRD AND FINAL FEAST, THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES? This is the one remaining Feast of Prophecy — the Feast (not quite fully) fulfilled in the Bridal Fellowship yet. The fact remains that the Feast of Tabernacles is the only shadow in the Old Blood-Covenant which has not yet been fully fulfilled by Yahusha physically (though He is indeed alive inside us). The New Blood-Covenant Bride must follow the patterns given to the Old Blood-Covenant Bride. First the natural (earthly), then the supernatural (spiritual), first the type, then the antitype - first the shadow, then substance!
As natural Israel wandered for 40 years after Passover and Pentecost, and failed to enter into Tabernacles in Canaan (through unbelief) so the New Covenant Bridal Assembly has followed suit and has been wandering (so to speak), through History in so much unbelief of Yahuah's promises. Generations have passed on, dying in the Wilderness, never experiencing Yahusha's supernatural presence !
Through conflicting ideas and dischord, the Early Assemblies lost their lampstands (presence of Yahusha) and ushered in nearly 2K years of dark ages ... only to be revived today!
MOST STILL REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE NEW COVENANT !
It is not that this third Feast is not dealt with in the New Blood-Covenant writings, for it is alot. Hebrews and Revelation especially deal with this Feast of Tabenacles and its integral parts. However, YAHUAH HAS KEPT THE FULLNESS OF THIS FEAST FOR THE END-TIME GENERATIONS WHO WILL WHOLE-HEARTEDLY BELIEVE AND FOLLOW HIM ... AND ENTER INTO HIS PROMISES. The Old Covenant Bride (nation of Israel) wandered for 40 years in the wilderness of dead unbelief with very little to no supernatural experience. Likewise the New Covenant Bride has been wandering for approximately 40 Jubilees (40 x 50 yrs = 2000 yrs) in the same dead wilderness of unbelief. But the wilderness wanderings are now ending. A NEW GENERATION IS ARISING. They are supernaturally experiencing Yahusha as their Passover Lamb, being cleansed in His blood. They are supernaturally experiencing the Feast of Pentecost by having not only His Instructions written on their new hearts, but a SUPERNATURAL LOVE for Yahusha and their neighbour (a new commandment), which are brought to life by His Set-Apart Spirit. And they won’t just stop there but will move on and on to exercise and supernaturally experience the MATURITY and set-apartness of the Feast of Tabernacles and all the truths shadowed within it.
THERE IS A STRONG FORCE STANDING IN THE DOORWAY TO STOP THE PEOPLE FROM GOING 'UP TO JERUSALEM' (WITHIN) TO OBSERVE THE FEASTS IN SINCERITY, SPIRIT AND TRUTH. BUT ALL IMMERSED BELIEVERS IN YAHUSHA'S NAME HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO THE THRONEROOM OF THE DIVINE ZION, THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, WHERE `ONE GREATER THAN SOLOMON' SITS ON THE THRONE IN ALL ESTEEM AND AUTHORITY IN THE ROYAL CITY OF DAVID ... BUT WE MUST ENTER THROUGH OUR BELIEF .... NOT INTO THE EARTHLY NATURAL DEAD-SHADOWS OF ISRAEL (AS THE DRAGON DESIRES) BUT INTO THE DIVINE SUPERNATURAL EXPERIENCE OF YAHUSHA'S LOVING-KINDNESS AND JOY!!
FEAST OF TABERNACLES OUTLINED
Passover had three integral parts to it (BLOOD OF LAMB - UNLEAVENED BREAD - FIRSTFRUITS) though only 2 High Sabbaths - while Pentecost stood alone - then Tabernacles had three integral parts to it in 3 High Sabbaths (TRUMPETS - ATONEMENT - TABERNACLES). All together the three Feasts equal 7 HIGH FEAST SABBATH DAYS in their respective months, times and seasons.
Leviticus sets out the three parts of this Feast of the seventh month :
1. The Feast Day of TRUMPETS
LEVITICUS 23:24-25 “Speak to the children of Israel saying, ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you have a rest day, a remembrance of blowing of trumpets, a set-apart assembly. You do no servile work, and you shall bring an offering made by fire to Yahuah.’ ”
2. The Feast Day of ATONEMENT
LEVITICUS 23:26-32 "On the 10th day of this 7th month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be a set-apart assembly for you. And you shall afflict your beings (fast) and shall bring an offering made by fire to Yahuah ... You do no work – a law forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It is a Sabbath of rest to you, and you shall afflict your beings. On the 9th day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you observe your Sabbath.”
3. The Feast of TABERNACLES
LEVITICUS 23:33-44 "On the 15th day of this 7th month is the Festival of Tabernacles for 7 days to Yahuah. On the 1st day is a set-apart assembly: you do no servile work. For 7 days you bring an offering made by fire to Yahuah. On the 8th day there shall be a set-apart assembly for you, and you shall bring an offering made by fire to Yahuah. It is a closing festival, you do no servile work that day either . . .
On the 15th day of the 7th month, when you gather in the fruit of the land, observe the festival of Yahuah for seven days. On the 1st day is a rest, and on the 8th day a rest. And you on the 1st day you shall take the fruit of good trees, branches of palm trees, twigs of leafy trees, and willows of the stream, and shall rejoice before Yahuah your Alahim for 7 days. And you shall observe it as a festival to Yahuah for 7 days in the year – a law forever in your generations. Dwell in booths for 7 days, all who are native Israelites dwell in booths, so that your generations know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt ... I am Yahuah your Alahim.’"
Other Scriptures dealing with the more intricate details of the sacrificial Feast offerings may be found in NUM 29:1-40 while LEV 16 goes into greater detail regarding the day of Atonement, the Priests, blood and Mercy Seat etc ... and of course the Book of HEBREWS explains WHO all these shadow observances were pointing to and where they find their ultimate fulfillment - at the feet of Yahusha Himself!
NUMBERS 10:1-10 “And in the day of your gladness, and in your appointed times, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your Burnt (ascending-near) Offerings and over your Intimate-Peace Offerings. And they shall be a remembrance for you before your Alahim Yahuah".
THE FEAST-TIME OF TABERNACLES
HISTORICALLY & PROPHETICALLY
There has been a historic shadow and fulfilment of Passover and also of Pentecost, but while there has been many shadows, there has not been a complete historic fulfilment of Tabernacles by Yahusha yet (althought we can certainly see how Yahusha arriving on this earth to `tabernacle' among us in such humility 'for the ultimate purpose of atonement from sin' ... was in itself the greatest 'trumpet-blast' annoucement - atruth now echoed and shining within His New Bride!) Consistency of interpretation demands that this Feast (as the previous two) also find historic fulfilment. Not only must there be an historic fulfilment by Yahuaha physically in Himself, there must also be an EXPERIENTIAL fulfilment in His Bridal people. THE HISTORIC-SHADOW FULFILMENT POINTED TO THE HISTORIC-EXPERIENTIAL FULFILMENT. As this Feast is studied it will be seen that certain elements in this Feast have indeed been fulfilled historically in Yahusha and His work of deliverance. But the full-truth shadowed has to also find its fulfilment in the MATURITY/DELIVERANCE EXPERIENCE OF THE BRIDE also. Hence, in studying the details of this final Feast, it is necessary to clearly understand and abstractly-discern that which Yahusha has already fulfilled and that this has to be fulfilled in His New Bridal-Assembly also. And it's important to understand that which is historic and that which is prophetic, otherwise misunderstanding and misinterpretation will result.
THE CHALLENGE THEN COMES TO ALL BELIEVERS AS TO WHICH FEAST THEY WILL STOP AT, WHICH EXPERIENCE WILL THEY STOP AT: PASSOVER? ... PENTECOST? …
OR TABERNACLES?
ASSEMBLY HISTORY SHOWS HOW YAHUAH'S PEOPLE HAVE STOPPED AT EITHER THE FIRST FEAST OR THE SECOND FEAST. YAHUSHA'S BRIDE (WISE & FOOLISH) HAVE BUILT THEIR MANY GROUPS AND NATSARIM / MESSIANIC MOVEMENTS AROUND THE VARIOUS TRUTHS OF THESE TWO FEASTS, THEN
ALLOWED THE SURROUNDING RELIGIONS, CULTURES AND SHADOW-TRADITIONS TO SEEP INTO THE MIXTURE SWILL OF THEIR WORSHIP BEHAVIOUR, COMPLETELY EXTINGUISHING THE SUPERNATURAL EXPERIENCE IN EXCHANGE FOR DEAD-SHADOWS!
AND THE SAD HISTORY OF THE ASSEMBLY SHOWS THAT THOSE WHO EXPERIENCED PASSOVER TRUTHS VIOLENTLY OPPOSED THOSE WHO WENT ON TO EXPERIENCE PENTECOST TRUTHS AND THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED PENTECOST TRUTHS NOW OPPOSE THOSE WHO SEEK TO KEEP GOING AND FOLLOW ON TO MATURITY - TO KNOW YAHUSHA (MOMENT BY MOMENT) IN ALL FULLNESS OF HIS INDWELT-PORTAL TABERNACLE TRUTH!
WHAT COULD THIS MEAN FOR YOU ?
THE FEASTS ARE PART OF OUR REDEMPTION TRAINING SO THE APPOINTED TIME MUST BE OBSERVED (JUST LIKE THE WEEKLY SABBATH) - HOWEVER TO ABSTRACTLY AND GENUINELY DISCERN & ACKNOWLEDGE & REMEMBER THE BODY & BLOOD OF YAHUSHA AND HIS WORK OF DELIVERING HIS BRIDE, WE MUST NOT SIMPLY & BLINDLY DO THE SHADOW-TEACHINGS GIVEN (AS THOUGH SOME RIGID FORMULA OR LITURGY) ... BECAUSE THEY WERE FOR AN AGRICULTURAL BASED SOCIETY ...BUT WE MUST STUDY, LISTEN AND ASK YAHUSHA TO REVEAL TO US PERSONALLY WHAT EACH SHADOW MEANT AND WHAT TRUTH IT TEACHES US TODAY SO WE CAN FULLY EXPERIENCE HIM IN EACH FEAST !!
WHAT'S YAHUSHA GETTING YOUR ATTENTION ABOUT THIS YEAR AND HOW?
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