Should we observe the feast of tabernacles?

S

Simon2Peter Jun 23, 2007

A friend of mine is coming to the province in September to celebrate the feast of tabernacles and I'm not sure what to think of it. On the one hand I think it's refreshing to see someone try to live out the whole Bible; on other hand it scares me to think of people returning to some sort of legalistic religious system.

One scripture on the subject I have difficulty interpreting is Zechariah 14. The 16th verse says

"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."

The 17th verse says it will not rain on the families who do not come up to Jerusalem for the feast of tabernacles. It sounds like something that happens after Christ's return, perhaps during the millenial reign. One major problem I have with a return to the feasts is that most of them revolve around sacrifices. Jesus Christ was the sacrificial Lamb that abolished animal sacrifices.

I also find it interesting that in Acts 15 when the church in Jerusalem sent a letter to Gentiles they put no burden on the Gentiles but these:

"That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well."

I would appeciate your thoughts on this subject. God bless you all!

sermonindex Jun 24, 2007

Hi SimonPeter, and welcome

(I assume that's not your real name?)

I would like to hear some exposition on this too, as i haven't really heard any explanation that satisfies.

The only thing I can think of is that Tabernacles was the feast of ingathering, the ~~[i]~~~~[b]~~final harvest[/b][/i] at the year's end.

Symbolically that is very significant. But is it only symbolic, or should/will it be done literally as well?

The harvest of the Last Days.... Mmmmmm

Blessings

Jeannette

sermonindex Jun 24, 2007

Simon2Peter wrote:
"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."

Which Jerusalem will they come up to - the physical city or the spiritual of which it speaks???

One major problem I have with a return to the feasts is that most of them revolve around sacrifices. Jesus Christ was the sacrificial Lamb that abolished animal sacrifices.

He IS the Feast! But I still don't know if there's also a literal physical aspect to this.

I don't see any harm in re-enacting this feast, as I think it's the only one that Gentiles are supposed to attend.

But haven't looked into it deeply. If we're not Jewish, how should we celebrate it? If we know the Jewish Messiah - that He is already come and fulfilled all that ALL the Feasts and sacrifices represent, then should we be celebrating in the Jewish manner at all? And if not,then how? :-?

Thank you for raising this question, It's very significant, and I for one probably ~~[i]~~need[/i] to understand it better at this time.

in Him

Jeannette

U

UniqueWebRev Jun 25, 2007

LittleGift wrote:

Simon2Peter wrote:
"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."
Which Jerusalem will they come up to - the physical city or the spiritual of which it speaks???

One major problem I have with a return to the feasts is that most of them revolve around sacrifices. Jesus Christ was the sacrificial Lamb that abolished animal sacrifices.
He IS the Feast! But I still don't know if there's also a literal physical aspect to this.
I don't see any harm in re-enacting this feast, as I think it's the only one that Gentiles are supposed to attend.
But haven't looked into it deeply. If we're not Jewish, how should we celebrate it? If we know the Jewish Messiah - that He is already come and fulfilled all that ALL the Feasts and sacrifices represent, then should we be celebrating in the Jewish manner at all? And if not,then how? :-?
Thank you for raising this question, It's very significant, and I for one probably ~~[i]~~need[/i] to understand it better at this time.
in Him
Jeannette

Hey, Sand to Rock!

It will be required of those in the millenium, and presumably after, though one cannot tell about that. I doubt there will be sacrifices, although they are spoken of, in the old sense, but it the required duty of every able man, at the least, and should be a grand, yearly party, with Jesus the Host. It should be a great barbeque!

[color=993300]Zechariah 14:16. 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.
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.
19. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
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 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.[/color]

We will be there to see it, and the massive New Jerusalem will be able to hold all that come.

I can't wait!

Blessings,

Forrest

R

rookie Jun 25, 2007

The Feast of Tabernacles is meant to be a celebration of gratitude for what God has provided for His people. In the book of Leviticus we find that God institutes various feast days, three of which all men are required to pilgramage to Jerusalem. The Feast of Passover (the death and ressurection of Christ), the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and the Feast of Tabernacles (the future coming of Christ's kingdom on earth), are given to us in Scripture as a means to highlight God's plan of redemption for His people.

J. Vernon Mcgee, in his commentary on the book of Leviticus, says (paraphrase) "the book of Leviticus is probably one of the most important books of the Bible, once one has Christ." He goes on to say, "If the church would seek to understand this book in the Light of Christ, there would be no denominations, there would be no cults."

The book of Leviticus describes the way we are to worship God. The book of Leviticus describes how man is to approach God. The book of Leviticus teaches man of his sin nature.

Those who are part of the first ressurection will also be present at the Feast of Tabernacles.

In Christ
Jeff

sermonindex Jun 25, 2007

Jesus was born on this Feast. He tabernacled with man - in flesh. He wasn't born in December.
His life fulfilled the feasts on their exact day with just those future tense to go. But you can celebrate in December if you like, because He was conceived then.

No, the New Jerusalem is not here during the Millenial reign. Not till after the last rebellion.

No animal sacrifices during the Millenial reign. 'The Lamb' will be on the throne at that time.
There are other sacrifices besides just animal.
We're living sacrifices, or should be.

No, if you understand WHO and what these feasts represent, there is no problem joining those who take part in them. Could be a good time of witness and appreciation that our Bible is truly One book.

The first Church kept them, though we don't have to. Jesus was killed for Passover.
Not on the Friday before "Easter" (Astartes).
Hoy Vey. Ha.

The New Jerusalem is something that few really look into. Right now it's in Heaven, the "place being prepared for us". Our permenent address after the millenial reign.
But right now ... Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which engendereth to bondage, which is Hagar.
Gal 4:25 For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath a husband.
Gal 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

Making of the two one, gentile and jew is a beneficial to both experience ... the "law" we were freed from, did not necessitate that we can't respect the Feasts as Jesus did and does, by fulfilling them, as they all point to Him.

His whole timetable for His Coming, His work, His gifts poured out and His Return center on those same Feast Days, that He's never thrown out but will continue to fulfill on the days they fall on officially.

If they're His, I wouldn't mind attending more with folks. I've done Passover with my family ... knowing what the Messianic fulfilment was.

I think studying the Symbolism of the Feasts and seeing those He's fulfilled thus far and those yet to come is beautiful. It is all about HIM and HE's the One who made them ... and is fulfilling them each, one by one. Neat!

J

Josiah777 Jun 25, 2007

Simon Peter,

Should we celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles? Why yes, absolutely! Just as we should celebrate the Passover, Pentecost, the Sabbath, and the Year of Jubilee. All these Old Testament feasts were pictures (foreshadowings) of the Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 2:16-17 say how these were shadows but the body (NKJV says "substance") was Christ. That is to say, the feasts were likened to a shadow that is cast from the body. The shadow has some similarities but is not the substance, as we all know. Now that we have Christ the reality, we don't need to cling to the picture anymore (though if someone wants to help them to look to the reality, that's fine too, if it is done in faith and not judging others who don't hold onto the picture like themselves.)

Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us, come now let us keep the feast (1 Cor. 5:7-8). We today enjoy the real Lamb of God, slain to take away the sins of the world, not just the physical lamb that the Israelites killed. Thank God for the new and better covenant, one in which we have Jesus Himself, and not just pictures and shadows of Him!

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Ken

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Simon2Peter Jun 26, 2007

Thank You and God Bless You for the support.

R

RobertW Jun 26, 2007

I would say it is fine so long as you understand that it does not make you the more spiritual. Having begun in the Spirit you cannot be made perfect by the flesh. These things must not take the place of true holiness, which comes from continual infillings of the Holy Spirit.

Keeping the feasts does not make a person more righteous in God's sight either. ~~[i]~~Received ye the Holy Spirit by the works of the Law or by the hearing of faith?[/i] Some are in search of a more 'authentic' Christianity- so they try to get 'there' by keeping various 1st Century Jewish practices. But the road to authentic Christianity is not so much found in the means by which we express our faith but in the fruit of the Spirit which is the evidence of our faith. ~~[i]~~Be ye filled with the Spirit[/i] is the commandment.

Certainly I am not saying that these things have no value. But an effort has to be made to keep the main thing the main thing. And the main thing is the Holy Spirit front and center in your life.