PREFACE
Deuteronomy 16:16
Deuteronomy 16:2-3
Exodus 12:27
This feast was to be observed by the sacrificing of the passover on the
season which they came out of Egypt (Deu. 16:1,6). This foreshadowed that
which was to come. It signified God's Chosen would be brought
out of bondage by Christ, their passover sacrifice. As Israel was freed
from the rule of the taskmaster Pharaoh, so the Children of God are freed
from subjugation in their bondage to the taskmaster, Satan. It is by
the sacrifice of Christ that the Sons of God are set free from
captivity to Satan. This is why Christ had to be sacrificed precisely on
the passover, the season which the Children of Israel were brought out of
bondage to Egypt. Because Christ is the antitype, the fulfilment of the
shadow which was looking forward to this deliverance. Thus, by His death
as a passover sacrifice, the Children of God are "passed over" in the
judgment. Christ is the prophesied deliverer who brings us out of spiritual
bondage. All who eat of this feast, which is his body, and drink of the wine
which is his blood (John 6:53), are brought out of Egypt by this
passover sacrifice. This is indeed what the passover sacrifice of a lamb
by Israel signified! The loosing of the bonds wherein we served in fear,
and the deliverance of the captivity.
Hebrews 2:14-15
Christ freed the Church (the Children of God) from bondage to Satan, by His
death and resurrection.
Revelation 11:8
Spiritually, speaking, where our Lord was crucified was Egypt!
It's because that is where we were when He brought us out of that horrible
place of Bondage, by the sacrifice of Himself. He was the fulfillment of
the feast. Or to put it another way, the type which was the feast of
passover that the Children of Israel observed, looked forward to
it's fulfillment (completion) in Christ! And with it's fulfillment, the
type (which was merely a shadow of the true) is not to be observed anymore.
Which is of course why Christians today do not observe the passover feast.
Because that would be signifying that Christ hasn't come yet, and that we
are still look forward to His sacrifice on the cross. The real efficacy of
Old Testament observance of the feast of passover was accomplished in the
sacrifice of Christ.
Likewise, the feast of weeks [Hag Ha Shavout], the second of Israel's three
major feast days celebrated annually, was also a signification or "type"
which had it's fulfillment in the sacrifice of Christ. Jesus ascended to
the Father after His work on the cross, that the bounty which this feast
signified should be made manifest! It was this broken body on the cross
that brought the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the feast of weeks
(pentecost), which fulfilled that feast Old testament Israel celebrated. The
feast of weeks (just as the feast of passover) was celebrated that the
Children of Israel should remember that they were Bondmen or slaves in
egypt.
Deuteronomy 16:10-12
This feast is also called the feast of firstfruits. Pentecost is the
name by which most Christians know it today. This is the Greek word
[pentekoste] which means fifty. This feast in Greek is called
fifty because it begins on the 50th day after the Passover Sabbath
(Leviticus 23:15-16). It is this old testament celebration of the feast
of firstfruits or weeks which again parallels "exactly" it's fulfillment
or completion in Christ. He sent the Holy Spirit that we also are the
firstfruits of harvest. We read in Acts 1:3 that when Jesus was risen from
the dead He was seen of the Apostles forty days. Then He ascended into
Heaven, and in 10 days (precisely on the 50th after passover sabbath) He
sent the Holy Spirit (On the feast of firstfruits, 50 days after the
Passover Sabbath). This is what we know as Pentecost! Again, the fulfillment
of the "type" where the Children of God receive the Holy Spirit of God,
and become firstfruits of God to go forth and to give as they have been
Blessed! Just as the shadow or ceremony which the Children of Israel
observed, signified.
Of course, we could go on considerably with scripture and significance of
these two feasts, but they are not the scope of this study. It is
indeed curious that so many of the Church understand the "type"
cast in the feast of the Passover, and the feast of Firstfruits, but
have little discernment about the third feast which was linked with
these two, and which also was to be observed each year. Many have
said that we don't know what the third feast signifies, or
that we shouldn't even bother examining it. Some say it's pertaining
to Israel, and to be fulfilled later. Still others say we can't
understand it now, but we might understand it by and by. Are we to
think God placed the third feast there just to take up space? It would be
biblically illogical to think anything but that Christ fulfilled the feast
of tabernacles just as He has the feast of Passover and of Pentecost. All
three of these linked feasts observed each year were fulfilled in Christ!
There is "no" sacrifice feast of Israel, but in Christ! And He was
sacrificed once, at the cross. It cannot be a future event, all of the Old
Testament sacrifices were types of Christ, and thus were fulfilled in Christ.
In partaking of Christ, we partake of the Passover feast, our Firstfruits
feast, and the Tabernacle feast! It is in Him wherein we keep these feasts
forever as required by God's Law! Those laws aren't done away with, they are
fulfilled or completed in Christ! The fact is, either Christ fulfilled that
feast of tabernacles, or else we should still be observing this type in
it's old testament ordinance "as if" Christ had not Come. This is what some
Theologians do not understand. Unless it's fulfilled in Christ, then we must
continue it (and some misguided souls do) as an unfulfilled ordinance.
For just as the Passover and Firstfruits feasts, it was commanded by God to
be observed forever!
In truth, it's just a matter of studying the pertinent scriptures. The
answers are found in the same place of discernment of the other two Feasts.
By the examination of the scriptures concerning it, we get an enlightened
view of The Feast of Tabernacles. It is relatively easy for us to look into
the scriptures to see just what God intended it to signify, and how it would
be fulfilled. The basic fundamentals involved in rightly dividing the word
of truth, starts with comparing scripture with scripture. It is this sound
hermeneutic process which must be the starting point in any correct
understanding. With this in mind, we take on the task of study of this feast.
And may the lord who is Gracious above all, give us the wisdom to discern
His truth..
These were the three major feast days which God instituted for the Children
of Israel upon their deliverance from Egypt, and were all to be observed
every year. They were "types" of great signification of the bounty
which would be fulfilled in the deliverance of Israel by the coming Messiah.
The feast of unleavened bread in the passover week is well documented and
readily understood by most Christians. It was a signification or "type" of
the sacrifice of Christ that was to come, that the Children of God be not
destroyed. The celebration of this sacrifice was in remembrance of God
passing over their houses in Judgement as they were brought out of the
bondage of Egypt.
The Feast Of Tabernacles
(Fulfilling Prophesy)
by Tony Warren
We begin our examination where Israel was commanded to observe the feast of Tabernacles.
Leviticus 23:41-43
- "And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month".
- Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:
- That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God".
The Hebrew word translated feast is [chag] and means a solemn festival, or celebration. These feasts were to be accompanied by a sacrifice, which was an indication that they would ultimately find their fulfillment in Christ's death! They prefigure or are a "type" of God's work delivering the whole body of believers. Note carefully that God gives the same reason for this feast, as He did for both the feast of passover, and the feast of weeks. Obviously a tireless reminder that it was because of His deliverance of the children of Israel from bondage in the land of Egypt, and because He cared for them in their wilderness journey to the Promised land. The reason for this continual bringing to recollection the deliverance of Israel is quite clearly because God wants us to know that this typology is a figure of a greater deliverance for Israel. Typology, which every Theologian understands, does not take away the historical importance of the type, rather it reveals it's relationship to the true. It was the shadow of a coming deliverance which this historical occurrence looked forward to. Thus, this was something which was never to be forgotten because it is so "intimately identified" with the true deliverance of Israel, which the coming sacrifice of Christ would bring!
Upon Israel's deliverance from bondage, God carried them as on eagles wings to protect them in the wilderness before they entered into the promised land to receive the inheritance. Generally speaking all know this, but what many did not know is that this was also a signification or "type" of things which were to come. It pointed to the fact that in the fulness of time, God would fulfill this shadow with the completed reality. Namely, the freeing of the Children of God from spiritual captivity to the taskmaster Satan, and how God would tabernacle with them, watching over His children and bearing them up on eagles wings. With the accomplishment of this by Christ's death and resurrection, New Testament Israel likewise has a wilderness journey in this world before they reach the promised inheritance. Old Testament Israel was a "type" of the true Israel of God, which is in Christ. An Israel in which those who are a part of it, are there by promise (Romans 9:6-8). Ultimately, Israel is the Son of God, Christ our Lord! In Him we are only is man brought out of Egypt.
Hosea 11:1
- "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt."
Matthew 2:14-15
- "When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
- And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son."
Hosea 11:1 in conjunction with it's fulfillment in Matthew 2:15 clearly illustrates that Christ is ultimately the Israel of God, and it's only in Him that anyone is brought out of captivity in spiritual Egypt. In other words, Israel the nation, "represented" the congregation of God. Much like a literal slaughtered lamb's blood, represented Christ's blood. At no time was all the nation of Israel Saved, there was always a remnant chosen by Grace. That remnant had part in the true Israel of God, because they were circumcised in Heart, being justified by faith! That is why we read in verses such as Romans 9:6, "They are not all Israel which are of Israel." There, God is declaring that He will be the one to define who Israel is. And it's not a political nation, or a blood line, or genealogy, or race, it's a Chosen people. Chosen by God a people of promise. Jacob, yes, Esau, no! The Children of God were primarily from within the nation of Israel before the cross, because God used the congregation Israel as a "type" of the Israel of God as Hosea and Matthew illustrate. The New Testament is the New Covenant (same words) with the Israel of God (see the Israel of God study). This is the Israel that Christ freed from bondage at the cross.
The Feast of tabernacles Israel observed was a sacrifice feast which was to be understood as celebrating their deliverance from bondage, and their dwelling in tabernacles en route to the Promised Land (Lev. 23:42,43). i.e., their walk on the way to receive their promised inheritance. The week of the feast of tabernacles is "typifying" the New Covenant week, the wilderness journey of the Children of God on their way to the Promised Inheritance. In other words, it was a picture of where covenant history was headed. We are indeed keeping the feast of Tabernacles by being in Christ. He is our Sacrifice feast, kept! He is the tabernacle, tent, booth, in which we dwell, and in which we find the Peace and Safety promised Israel.
Isaiah 4:4-6
- "When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.
- And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
- And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain".
This is that prophesied tabernacle, Christ! This is the fulfillment of the feast the Children were commanded to celebrate forever. And the Church has been keeping this feast from the moment they were delivered from Bondage, and translated into The Kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13). The Millennial kingdom and reign of Christ has come, and whosoever has not been translated into His Kingdom, is not coming up to Jerusalem, and is not keeping the feast in Christ. They do not have Peace, nor have they the rain which is the showers of Blessings, nor have they been freed from the captivity, nor are they blessed in all their increase. All these things which the feast week of Tabernacles symbolized. This 7 day Feast week signifies the week in which the Covenant is Confirmed (made strong )in Christ's Blood! He is that Tabernacle wherein we dwell in the wilderness watched over, and He is the burnt offering made by fire (signifying judgment), which was the offering prescribed by God for this feast week.
End of the World Fulfillment?
Because this Feast so identifies with our journey in the wilderness of this world, there are many theologians which think that the feast must be fulfilled in the future, at the end of the world. While this is somewhat understandable, each feast "must" of necessity be fulfilled in the death of Christ. He is that sacrifice that each feast "required" for the celebration thereof. At the cross He became the offering which made the atonement, the offering for firstfruits, and offering which makes the ingathering possible. All roads lead back to the cross as the three feast fulfillments. The Efficacy of all these feasts were instituted by Christ's death. The feast of tabernacles points to the end of the world in that the wilderness journey lasts to the end of the world. Just as the feast of Firstfruits points to pentecost, but had it's efficacy in Christ's death.
Keep in mind that these three major feasts had an everlasting requirement that all males of Israel were commanded to travel to the Temple in Jerusalem (Ex. 23:14-19). These feasts can "only" be kept as everlasting ordinances if in Christ. Christ fulfilled them much like He fulfilled the law of the 7th day Sabbath, our Sabbath of rest, which also points to the end of the world, and which also was fulfilled in Christ. He is our ultimate Sabbath or rest. In Christ is how we keep the law of the Sabbath forever, as required by old testament law. The same principle is at work, Christ fulfilled the law of celebrating the feast of tabernacles, which was commanded to be observed forever. So this commemorating week points to our journey in Christ (our tabernacle) in this wilderness to our final inheritance. Just as the Children of Israel kept the feast of tabernacles in the wilderness before they received their inheritance.
Deuteronomy 16:13-15
- Thou shalt observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:
- and thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.
- seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose: BECAUSE the Lord thy God shall Bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore, thou shalt surely rejoice".
The word translated tabernacles in scripture is [cukkah] or [sukkot] and means booths. These were their habitations made of branches of the palm trees (lev 23:39-40). They were to dwell in these tabernacles 7 days. Like the feast of Passover and weeks, this feast has a dual significance. The historical narrative, and the prophetical. We rejoice because in Christ, there is this bounty that has come out of the earth, and we are keeping this feast, the Covenant week, in Him! Jews and Gentiles, strangers and the levite, we all keep this festival in the place where the Lord has Chosen. Christ, the New Jerusalem, the Holy place! In Him do we keep the everlasting law of going to Jerusalem (the Holy City) for these three feasts. If not, then every Church member is in serious violation of God's Law which states that these laws are everlasting, and that he who doesn't keep the Feast of tabernacles, the Lord will smite them, and upon them shall be no rain! The fact is, All three feasts were everlasting Laws (thus must be kept), and all three are Fulfilled in Christ's death.
We can readily see from the scriptures that the feast of tabernacles has it's climax in the end of the year harvest. It doesn't take much discernment to equate this old testament harvest as a picture of the end of the world, and believers as workers in the field bringing in the increase. The end of year harvest of Israel that God speaks about as when all of the labors were to be gathered in out of the field, are intimately tied to the end of the world harvest when all of the labours of the Children of God are gathered in out of the field (which is the world). An example is when Jesus told the parable of the Wheat and the Tares (Believers and unbelievers) that were sown in the field? He explained the meaning of it as:
Matthew 13:28-29
- "The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
- the enemy that sowed them is the devil; The Harvest is the end of the World; and the reapers are the angels."
Clearly the field is a symbolic term for this world in which we live. The Children of The kingdom are the Children of God. We reign in this millennial Kingdom now, and are the servants in this Kingdom, sown of God! The wheat and tares (believers and unbelievers) would remain in the world together until the time of the harvest. Not the unbelievers coming out first, and not the Church coming out first, but both remaining until the harvest. And the harvest Jesus explains (verse 39), is the end of the world. Is God equating the harvest of the field, with the end of the world as just an unrelated coincidence? Of course not! God knows what He is doing, even when we do not. Throughout scripture the harvest is consistently linked with the end of the world. But it's important to distinguish between the two harvests that are spoken of in scripture. #1. The harvest which is the harvest of Firstfruits (which started in Christ and is signified by Pentecost), and #2, what God calls the end of year harvest, (which started in Christ, and is completed in the harvest at the end of the world).
Exodus 23:16
- "And the feast of harvest, the Firstfruits of thy labors, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of in gathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labors out of the field."
You see here God puts the two feasts together. The feast of the harvest of the firstfruits, and the feast of Tabernacles (appropriately called ingathering), when they gather in the harvest at the end of the year. The three feasts were to be observed in a year, but the last feast commemorated the end of year harvest when the last gathering in of the labors of the field take place. Note also how God marvelously uses the wordings here for firstfruits of harvest as labors that are sown in the field (which is Pentecost, pointing to the Holy Spirit), but for the end of year Tabernacles harvest, God uses the language of them being gathered "Out" of the field (Which points to the increase). Literally,
"..and the feast of the in gathering, in the out-going of the year, in thy gathering thy works out of the field"
God is contrasting the feast of Firstfruits as sowing in the field, and the feast of tabernacles as the end of year gathering out of the field. In these three feasts, we have the completion or fulfillment of the New Covenant Period. On the exact day of harvest of Firstfruits (Pentecost) the pouring out of the Holy Spirit occurred that many would be the firstfruits of God, by that Spirit!
James 1:18
- "Of His own will begat He us with the Word of Truth, that we should be a kind of Firstfruits of His creatures."
We are the firstfruits, because Christ was the Firstfruit and we were raised up with Him. The Firstborn of God from the dead! There is a great harvest of Souls going on because of Christ's pouring out of the Holy Spirit. As said the prophet Joel of the pouring out of the Spirit, "the floors shall be full of wheat." Indeed they are! This is the fulfillment of the feast of Firstfruits. But at the end of the world will be the final harvest. There will be no more plantings in the world, but a gathering out of the world. The tabernacle week completed!
God had these feasts that Israel was to observe each year planned from the start. The number three illustrates God's Purpose or God's Will (see the number three study). He Predetermined that the Passover sacrifice which the Children of Israel were to make, pointed to Christ. He predetermined that the Firstfruits of the increase of the field pointed to Christ. He predetermined that the sacrifice by fire of the Feast of tabernacles pointed to Christ! Anyone thinking that the feast of tabernacles isn't also pointing to Christ, has certainly not been reading the scriptures very carefully. From the time of Christ's death, (the sacrifice for this feast) to the time of Christ's return (the harvest), we (Christians) are keeping the feast of Tabernacles, by that burnt sacrifice. It's our week of the Covenant Wilderness Journey after Christ delivered us from the bondage of spiritual Egypt!
Isaiah 49:1-3
- "Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;
3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified."
This Israel is Christ, who was prophesied to come and deliver Jacob from captivity, and that is exactly what Christ did. Isaiah continues:
Isaiah 49:5-9
- "And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.
- And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
- Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.
- Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
- That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places."
In our being delivered from the prison house of the devil, we must also dwell in tabernacles in the wilderness before we enter the promised land. Delivered from one house and translated into another. That tabernacle or house is Christ. We dwell dwell in Him, a fulfillment of scripture (He is the Temple or tabernacle wherein men dwell).
The "one week" the Children of Israel were commanded to keep the Feast of Tabernacles, was a celebration of the journey in the wilderness from bondage, to the promised land of inheritance.
When we define the feast of tabernacles from a solid Biblical hermeneutics perspective, we see clearly what it signifies. The first thing we must look for in determining what it was pointing to, is to find any information in scripture as to why it was to be observed. Comparing scripture with scripture:
Leviticus 23:42-43
- "Ye shall dwell in tabernacles seven days; and all that are Israelites born shall dwell in tabernacles:
- that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in tabernacles, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God."
We should make note again that this word "Booth" [cukkah] or [sukkah]is the "exact" same word that is translated "Tabernacle!" So let there be no confusion about that. It's the exact same words. Here in this verse we see that all that were born Israelites were to dwell in tabernacles one week, "AS" a indication of their being housed in tabernacles when God brought them out from the bondage of Egypt. In other words, this feast was to let the Generations know that the Sons or Children of God was made to dwell in tabernacles after their deliverance from bondage and God watched over them. We can readily see that this correlates perfectly with Christ delivering us from Bondage to Satan, and we consequently dwell in the tabernacle which is Christ on our journey to the Promised land. I.e., between the release from bondage at the cross, and the receiving of the promised inheritance, the Children of God are made to dwell in the tabernacle for this week. This week signifies the New Covenant Kingdom, or the Millennial reign of peace and safety in Christ's kingdom. God instituted this feast to typify this. These tabernacles were the Houses of the Children of God for this spiritual week. Indeed, that's why it was called, "The Feast of Tabernacles". It commemorates or was the celebration of the promised Messiah's fulfillment of his tabernacling here with the children of God.
Hebrews 9:11
- "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;"
We build tabernacles by hand, but the tabernacle which is Christ is perfect! This is why When Jesus' brethren asked him to come up to the Feast of Tabernacles with them, Jesus responded that "His time" had not yet full come (John 7:8). In other words, Spiritually speaking He's saying that it's not yet His time to go to the cross and sacrifice Himself as the fulfillment of the feast wherein we would tabernacle. Nevertheless, He went anyway to the feast of tabernacles as the faithful priest who kept the law. It's the exact same principle that we see when Jesus's mother said that they had no wine for the wedding feast (John 2:3). Jesus responded with what might be considered harsh words, as he said "Woman, what have I do do with thee, My hour is not yet come!" ..and then He made the wine anyway. But you see, it only seems harsh words if we do not understand that Jesus was talking about, "the Woman, the church, and the wine, which is his blood shed for her, and that it was not yet His hour to go to the cross and shed it that we might have to drink." Nevertheless, He did (again) go ahead and turn the purifying water into wine. These both are significations that it wasn't time to fulfill the purifying blood, or the raising up of the tabernacle wherein we would dwell, yet! He would only do that at the time of the Cross. Then would be the time of fulfillment! But these things are spiritually discerned.
The Church (just as national Israel was), is as strangers and pilgrims here in this wilderness. In other words, this is not our real home. Sure, God has made us to dwell in tabernacles here, but our real home is found at the end of this wilderness journey. The "Wilderness" typifies this world in which we live in all it's dry, desolate and barren nature. Just as John the Baptist was a voice crying in the wilderness, typifying that He was like a breath of fresh moist air in a dry and thirsty ground, or like a soothing voice in a barren place where there is but wasteland. This is how the Gospel is. It's as rivers to water a barren ground and make it spring forth with life. This is how we dwell here during this keeping of the feast of Tabernacles. We reign with Christ as kings and Priests in the New Covenant or Testament with Israel. Our bellies show forth living waters as we reign with Christ in the Kingdom until it shall be delivered up to God, at the end of the world.
Again, Revelation Chapter 12 speaks of the Woman who gave birth to the Man Child (Christ). That Woman was symbolizing Israel, of which Christ was born, and verse 14 says after His ascension to the throne, this Woman (the Congregation Israel) was given wings of an eagle to fly into her place in the Wilderness! Here again, the wilderness is typifying the world where the Church resides, tabernacling in Christ. The wings she is given symbolize the Care, Protection, and Security of God for His Church. This Woman is the Congregation (the Children of God) both before the cross, and after. This chapter of Revelation symbolizes that Christ is the Man Child who comes to Rule, and who casts down and binds Satan, and delivered Israel (This woman) from bondage to Satan (Remember, there Satan was casting the stars of heaven to the ground before this man child came to deliver them. Stars symbolize the messengers). But by this man Child, Satan fell from heaven as Lightning falls from the sky (in other words, the stars will no longer be cast down by him). And the woman is now protected on eagles wings "in the wilderness". This is God using symbolism to put forth many Spiritual truths. And note, it is an exact parallel with the nation Israel when she was freed from bondage to Egypt. Israel then had to go through a wilderness journey before she could enter the promised land. Likewise here in Revelation 12, this woman must spend time in the wilderness after she is delivered of the man child.
This Woman is keeping the feast of tabernacles journey of Israel before she can enter the land of promise just as the "type" which preceded her. And the Lord will bring this Woman unto Himself, just as He brought the nation Israel unto Himself. By no stretch of the imagination would we think that any of these things are coincidences. God is not the author of coincidence, He's the author of faith. And yet there are some who try very hard to convince themselves it is not parallel, nor a type. But you would really have to be trying very hard not to see this truth illustrated here. The Wings that the Woman is given in Revelation 12 corresponds to the wings God has "always" provided for Israel to bring her securely unto Himself. For example, God said to Moses of the bringing out of Israel..
Exodus 19:4
- "Ye have seen What I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on Eagle's Wings, and brought you unto MYSELF."
This is how God always cares for His Children. When He brought Israel out of bondage, He protected her on eagle's wings. The same thing in Revelation 12 when He brought this woman, the Church, out of bondage to spiritual Egypt. He provided those same eagles wings for her protection and security in the wilderness. God isn't playing word games here, He wants us to know that Israel of old was a "type" of the Israel of God, who He would deliver by the man child at the cross. The Woman is the bride of Christ. God gathered her in Peace and safety under his eagles' wings. Those wings symbolize His protection.
Scripture is replete with tabernacle imagery. Christ is our Tabernacle, our Holy Temple (1Co 12:27), and likewise scripture says we are Holy Temples of the Lord (for Christ dwells within us). After our Millennial reign with Christ when our wilderness sojourn is through, we will put off this temporary tabernacle, which is our body where Christ dwells, and receive our permanent habitation. Then shall this reign, this Kingdom, be delivered up to God whereby we will receive a house wherein dwelleth righteousness.
1st Corinthians 15:24
- "Then cometh the end, when He shall have Delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the father, when He shall have put down all rule and Authority and Power."
Then is the end, when the Millennial reign is over and it's delivered up to God, and the tabernacle of God is opened in Heaven (Rev 11:19), and we shall join Him. This is the "marvelous" way that God uses His Word almost like a gigantic spiritual picture puzzle to Illustrate truths to us. As Israel of old sojourned in tabernacles in the wilderness, so we (The Israel of God) must do the same. Christ is our permanent tabernacle, and our bodies are our temporary tabernacles in this world. As Abraham, we look for a better habitation which is our real home. As Hebrews 11 speaks of this as Abraham who sojourned in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles, who looked for a city whose builder and maker is God, and he confessed that he was a stranger and a pilgrim on earth. He knew, he understood that his true home was in heaven. Earth was his temporary abode. He looked for a house, a city, made not by man, but by God. Made not of bricks, stones, mortar or Flesh as some theologians today look for, and not a city in 70 AD, or one constructed in middle eastern Jerusalem. But a City of God!
2nd Peter 1:14 says,
- "Yea I think it meet, as long as I am in this Tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this Tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me."
He was talking about his decease. He knew that his tabernacle (Body) was a temporary Holy temple, a temporary home in his wilderness sojourn to the promised land. Just as Christ had shown Him when He died and put off the temple or tabernacle, and ascended up to God. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God! The man of God is a Spirit, and he's not at home in this body of flesh, for he longs to be in his real home which is in the consummation. The Kingdom of God we dwell in spiritually while we inhabitate earth is just the temporary habitation. God marvelously ties all these truths together very neatly in His Holy Word.
2nd Corinthians 5:1
- "For we know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:"
That's what the Israelites coming out of bondage to Egypt and their wilderness journey in tabernacles, was pointing to. Those temporary houses (tabernacles) were a type. As Israel had to dwell in temporary tabernacles, so does the Israel of God in their flesh. but not alone, for God tabernacles with us. He dwells within us, and we in Him. He has fulfilled his prophesy of tabernacles.
Leviticus 26:11-13
- "And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.
- And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
- I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright".
Ezekiel 37:26-27
- "Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.
- My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people".
Christ is that tabernacle set among us forever. The New Testament is that everlasting Covenant/Testament. This is what that old testament feast festival commemorated. God tabernacling with men after they are brought forth out of Egypt. That's how God has made us His people, and He our God. He came to earth the tabernacle of God to dwell with us forever (John 1:14). This is illustrated with equal clarity in verses like 2nd Corinthians where God says the same thing about being our God and we his people. And the emphasis is on the Temple, the tabernacle of God being with us.
2nd Corinthians 6:16-18
- "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
- Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
- And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty".
So we see that this is the fulfillment of those scriptures which spake about God tabernacling with us. This is what the rejoicing of the feast or festival of tabernacles looked forward to. The reign of Christ's kingdom, as He dwells with us. We are both in Him the Holy temple, and He dwells within us as our body is spoken of as the Holy Temple of God "because" Christ be within us making it a Holy Temple. As Christ said, destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. He spake of Himself! He fulfilled the prophesy of old that the Messiah would restore the fallen tabernacle of David (Amos 9:11, Acts 15:16). He restored the Temple in Christ! Christ being the Chief corner stone of that rebuilding. This is the tabernacle of God dwelling with us. This is the Lord gathering the lost sheep and freeing the captivity.
The entire New Covenant period is the "complete" time from the cross to the return of Christ (thus it's spoken of as a week or seven days). It's interesting to note that various offerings prescribed for use in the feast of tabernacles are divisible by 7. The number 7 to typify the complete or totality of efficacy of the sacrifice in the fulfilment of the Covenant. This feast was to take place in the seventh month and to last for seven days, which signifies the totality of the wilderness sojourn we have in tabernacles after being freed from bondage before we we receive the inheritance! The Feast of Tabernacles shows it's great and glorious significance to the Church as it is a picture of the 1,000 year reign of Christ's Kingdom which is called the Millennium. It immediately follows Christ's ascension to the throne to reign. I.e., He has established His kingdom. the New Covenant established in Christ's blood.
As an illustration, look at the prophecy in Daniel chapter 9. It talks about how Messiah the Prince (Christ) must come to confirm (Strengthen) the Covenant for One Week! That word (KJV) translated confirm there is the word [gabar] and means to strengthen or to "make strong" the Covenant. There are some who make the outrageous claim that this Prince is an antiChrist, but that is a ludicrous form of exegesis considering the wording there (see the 70 weeks of Daniel 9 study). It is precisely as said there, Messiah the Prince strengthens the Covenant for one week, and in the midst of the week He shall cause sacrifice and offering to cease. And if that is indeed so, the Covenant week is the entire New Covenant/Testament period. And He strengthened this Covenant by His own Blood. Indeed, as confirmed in Hebrews chapter 9.
Hebrews 9:16
- "For where a Covenant is, there must of necessity be the Death of the covenantor.
- For a Covenant is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of No Strength at all while the Covenantor liveth.
This Covenant was without strength until Christ went to the Cross and Died! This is the Covenant that was strengthened one week by Messiah the Prince. Not by antiChrist, not by Romans, or Cyrus, but by Messiah! And this week is the New Testament/Covenant period, the week to which the keeping of the feast of Tabernacles by the Children of Israel pointed. It's Fulfilled, completed, and kept, in Christ! The New Covenant with Israel is the New Testament with Israel. If you are part of the New Testament congregation, then you are part of the New Covenant with Israel. It was made strong at the cross by the death of Messiah, the Prince.
Malachi 1
- "..and the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to His Temple, even the Messenger of the Covenant whom ye delight in.."
This is the Prince that confirmed the Covenant one week. He Confirmed (made it strong) by the sacrifice of himself. By the term in Daniel chapter 9, of, "..made strong one week," God is illustrating to us that this is the week we keep the feast of Tabernacles. This is our period to live in the wilderness as strangers and pilgrims as God tabernacles among us, until we reach our promised inheritance.
Zechariah 14?
There are many who have misunderstand the prophesy of Zechariah chapter 14 (which is understandable, as it is a indeed one of the most difficult Chapter in the Bible). There it talks about the Coming of Christ, when Living Waters shall go out from Jerusalem, and the Lord is King over the whole earth. This is the fulfilment of Christ at the cross, but because there are some verses which are (even to the learned in scripture) difficult to understand, many Theologians have concluded that this must be a future event. But the fact is, Jerusalem "is" dwelling safely Now, because the Jerusalem that was in view is not a literal city, but the city spoken of in Isaiah chapter 40 where it says, "Comfort ye Jerusalem, thy warfare is accomplished." That's not a literal Holy City, that's the body of believers! That's not a literal earthly warfare, that's spiritual warfare. We are safe in this city when we make Peace with God! Then is our warfare with Him that is accomplished or finished. It has nothing to do with literal battles in a literal city in the middle east! The Prince of Peace is He who has brought that Peace and Safety to Jerusalem. When false Prophets say Peace and Safety, they are lying, for there is no Peace nor Safety in earthly cities, earthly kingdoms, earthly treaties or Covenants. Only in the true Holy City of God is there true Peace and true safety. The camp of the Saints is "now" that Beloved Holy City which dwells safely because Christ has bound the taskmaster Satan, and delivered them from his house of bondage. This is the Peace the Prince of Peace brought to the City. That Satan cannot deceive them and he is bound from hurting them. In this Holy place alone do men "dwell in safety!" These things have nothing to do with the literal land/nation Israel. It's a Covenant with an Israel far superior than any land, nation or any blood line. It's a Covenant of Grace, not Race. And it's an inheritance far more secure than any plot of dirt in the middle east, or any earthly rule or reign could ever be. It's the peace and security of a people who are dwelling with God. The nation Israel, the typology, was a figure of this.
| Historical | Egypt | Wilderness | Canaan |
| The sacrifice is instituted, and they eat of the lamb and dwell in the tabernacle in the wilderness before they enter the promised inheritance in remembrance of how God brought them out of the bondage to the King of Egypt. |
They were made to serve with rigor under the taskmaster king Pharaoh and they called upon their God who sent them a deliverer, who freed them from captivity. |
The Children of Israel spent 40 years sojourning in the wilderness, in tabernacles, fed by Manna, drinking from the Rock, and God sustained them on eagles wings on their way to the promised inheritance. |
The typology, entrance into the Promised inheritance, fulfillment of the promises God had made to the children of Israel concerning the literal home land. |
| Prophetical | Bondage | The World | Inheritance |
| The sacrifice is fulfilled, and we eat of the Christ and dwell in the tabernacle in the world before we enter into our promised inheritance, in remembrance of how God brought us out of bondage to Satan. |
We were made to serve with rigor under the taskmaster Satan, and we called upon our God who sent us a deliverer, who freed us from captivity. |
We, the Children of Israel spent the week of tabernacles sojourning in the world, fed by Manna, drinking from the Rock, and God sustains us on eagles wings on our way to the promised inheritance. |
The consummation, entrance into the Promised inheritance, fulfillment of the promises God had made to the children of Israel concerning the eternal home land. |
In regards to the prophesy of tabernacles I am sometimes asked, "but what about what it says in Zechariah of the plagues that came upon those who fought against Jerusalem? How do you explain that?" Which of course is a whole study in itself (too much to get into here), but briefly, this was the Curse that came upon Israel for their rejection of Christ. They were blinded (in part). That's what it means by their eyes consume away in their holes. That symbolizes their blindness, or that they're not being able to see anymore. i.e., it's symbolism that they have "no more eyes" with which to see. It's not talking about a prophesy of people's eyes "literally" disappearing. I'm amazed that some people actually think this, for we need to discern biblically how God uses symbolism. We read of the feast of Tabernacles in verse 16.
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. And it shall be, that whosoever 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."
This is our "warfare" accomplished or finished! We go up to worship this King and keep the law of the Feast of tabernacles (the everlasting law). Christ is this king of Kings and Lord of Hosts that we go up to the Holy City yearly (as is required by the law of lev.) For Theologians to actually think God would re-institute "literally" a ceremonial Old Testament law fulfilled in the death of Christ, is quite reckless! We of every nation (when we become Saved), come up to that Holy City and keep the feast of tabernacles. We don't come up literally to a literal mountain in Israel, not a literal city Jerusalem in the Middle east, and not a literal Temple made with hands. But we've come up in Christ to a City wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Hebrews 12:22-24
- "But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
- 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,
- And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel".
"This" is the Holy City Jerusalem which we have come unto, not a city in the middle east. A Spiritual city whose builder and maker is God. In this City we keep the feast of Tabernacles for ever as required by law. We are tabernacling with Christ, who hath brought the fulfillment. The Church is the families of the earth whom Zechariah says worship Him and call Him king of all the earth. Being the Israel of God, they are those who have been delivered from bondage, and are keeping the feast in Him. The unbelievers (those not in the blood of the New Covenant with Israel) are the ones who do not keep the feast of Tabernacles. And the reason of course is that they were not brought out of the land of bondage. They're still there! They don't serve this king of Kings, they serve their master in the house of bondage. And their servitude is of slavery to sin (john 8:33-34), and their judgement for sin is that they shall have no rain. Isaiah 5:6-7
- "And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
- For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry."
No rain is symbolism of the judgement of God upon Israel. And this is precisely what God did to Israel when He left their house desolate. The Prophesy fulfilled that, "on these who won't come up to the Holy City, Zechariah declares there shall be no rain." There will be no showers of Blessings, the cleansing rain of Living waters which Christ poured upon all those who go up to worship the King.
Psalms 68:9
- "Thou O God, didst send a plentiful Rain, whereby thou didst Confirm Thine inheritance, when it was weary."
The Confirming of the Covenant one week is with living waters upon us. This is the rain upon which those who don't keep the week of the feast of tabernacles, it will not fall. They have no part in the confirmation of the inheritance performed by Christ wherein there is the rain for the Children of God. Again, it's demonstrating that the Church are those keeping the feast of Tabernacles. This is the week that Messiah Confirmed, and the Covenant He strengthened in His Blood at the cross (Gal. 3:17, Hebrews 9:17). It's the entire New Covenant period from the Cross, and Firstfruits poured out at Pentecost the sowing in the field, to the end of world harvest, the gathering out of the field. It's from our Deliverance from Bondage, to our entrance into the Promised land. The inheritance! It's the one week that Daniel chapter 9 says Messiah (Christ) confirmed the Covenant with Israel, before the Consummation!
Rejoice all ye who go up to the Holy City, and who keep the feast of Tabernacles. A City whose warfare is ended, and whose iniquity has been pardoned. A Holy City that dwells so Safely that the gates of Hell shall never prevail over it. For it is the Holy City of God.
It is this deeper, fuller, significance of the feast of Tabernacles that so many theologians miss. It's not a simple memorial celebration, it holds a very spiritual meaning, as the prophet Zechariah made very clear. When our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ came from heaven with living waters to be king and to reign on the throne of David, He fulfilled Zechariah. By His death and ascension to that throne, we are brought out of bondage, and God tabernacles with us in this wilderness until that time when we reach the promised Inheritance.
Zechariah 14:8
- "And it shall be in that day that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
- and the Lord shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and His name one."
Ephesians 4:5-6
The Prophesy of one lord, one king and in us all, is thus fulfilled, That day that living Waters went out from Jerusalem has come in the Lord. It's not a future prophesy of tabernacles, it's a fulfilled (completed) Prophesy! He is the Living Waters! He is the waters whereby if any man shall drink, He shall have Eternal Life, and shall never die, nor shall he ever thirst again. Compare scripture with scripture and discern God's truth of the matter. The Feast of Tabernacles is spoken about in John chapter seven. The week of this feast and rejoicing were followed of course by the eighth day, the greatest day of the feast. It "signified" a new day, a new sabbath, (sunday) the eighth, in which the old things are passed away and all things are made new in Christ (Lev. 23:35-36). John tells us of this eighth day.
- "One Lord and One faith, One baptism,
- One God and father of All, who is above all and through all, and in you all."
John 7:37
- "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink".
Note the correlation to the Feast of tabernacles and Christ declaring of the living waters from Jerusalem that Zechariah spoke of. This tabernacle is where those living waters from Jerusalem would be found, and it's no coincidence that God says this on the feast of tabernacles. He's illustrating that He is the fulfillment of that prophesy of living waters.
Jesus told them that, as the Scripture hath said, out of the belly shall flow rivers of living water. It's confirmation of fulfillment of scripture that would take place at his crucifixion. The completion or fulfillment of scriptures concerning Jerusalem.
Just as in Israel's wilderness journey, they received water from the Rock that was struck, so Christ was that Rock, and it is He that bringeth forth waters to us (by His stripes we are Healed) that the wilderness (desolate places) be turned into a fruitful field.
1st Corinthians 10:2-5
- "And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
- And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
- And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
- But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness".
As usual, the correlation between historical Israel and their journey in the wilderness, and the Church and theirs. And the Rock from which came water, which "signified" Christ! These things are spiritually discerned. Things which are fulfilled in Christ.
So what manner of man will be waiting for that which has already come? ..waiting for the fulfillment of that which has already been fulfilled? The Kingdom of God has come (as Jesus told the Pharisees), and Satan is cast out by the Power of God. The Millennial reign has begun. Christ has already set the captives free, and we whom God hath chosen have been translated from the Power of Satan, and translated into this Kingdom of Christ.
Colossians 1:13
- "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son"
Who then is looking for a reign and a kingdom which has already come? Who is looking for a coming King that we'll serve in His kingdom, when He has already established His kingdom and we already serve in it? Who is looking for a binding of Satan which "had" to be at the cross, or else none of us would be set free (Matt. 12:28-29) from the strong ruler, Satan! The fact is, Israel of the captivity has been delivered, Peace has come, Christ does reign, we are safe from our enemies, we do reign with Christ as kings and Priests unto our God. And if that be true, we're keeping the feast of Tabernacles one week in the Covenant which Daniel says Messiah would confirm. The New Covenant with Israel before the Consummation.
The fact is, Christ has no Feasts left to fulfill! He fulfilled all by His sacrifice on the cross. He's not going to the cross a second time to sacrifice, therefore all feasts were fulfilled in His broken Body! The historical ceremonies were everlasting laws looking forward to the true, which when Christ came, this shadow passed away. He made complete the deliverance of Israel, and set the captivity free. Wherein, we can rejoice that by his work, we keep the everlasting laws faithfully, in Him! Through faith.
The Cross! The
Messiah frees Promised
the captivity! Inheritance!
|------------- Covenant confirmed 1 week -------------|
| by Messiah, the Prince |
| Keeping the Feast of Tabernacles! |
|------------- (Our Wilderness Sojourn!) -------------|
| |
| | |
| | |
| Time, Times and 1 half | Time, Times and divide |
| (Revelation 11,12) | (Daniel 7:25) |
| | | |
| 1260 1290 1335
End of 62 weeks Testimony Abomination The
Messiah cut Off Finished! of Desola. Consummation
We Free from Bondage (Midst of Week) Temple
Knowing many of these things gives us a better insight on why God uses the
phrase, "The last day" only in connection with either the end of the World,
or with the feast of Tabernacles. Nowhere else in scripture is that
phrase ever used! With each spiritual puzzle piece we get
a little better understanding of why God uses the feast of
Tabernacles as the "end of year" harvest of the gathering of our
labors out of the field, and why Jesus said, The harvest "is" the
end of the world. We can Better understand why when Israel was
freed from bondage, they had to spend time in the wilderness as
strangers in Tabernacles, temporary homes, before they could
enter into their inheritance, which was a "type" of our walk
in the wilderness in tabernacles before we come into our inheritance.
The Word of God is like a "Gigantic Spiritual Picture Puzzle" and when
you have it right, every piece fits. There are no left over pieces, nor
are you missing any pieces, nor are there pieces which don't conform to
the picture. That's how you know that you have truth. On the other hand,
inconsistency is the hallmark of error! The Bible is it's own interpreter.
As Righteous Joseph said, "Do not interpretations belong to God?" ..indeed!
Comparing scripture with scripture we can come to receive what God
has written. No wresting or twisting scripture is necessary. The New
Covenant period is our walk in tabernacles secured by the burnt sacrifice.
It is only by careful study of the scriptures that we will come to the
knowledge of this.
2nd Timothy 2:15
- "Study to shew thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, Rightly dividing the Word of Truth."
In these times when there is so much unrighteousness in the Church, and it appears that we are very near the end of the world, we need to study scripture with a eye/ear to receive it. So much of the eschatology in scripture has been misunderstood, ignored, twisted, and interpreted in any way some theologians see fit, that it's become thoroughly confusing. But it's now time to "return" unto the Lord and keep His Word faithfully. God requires faithfulness. No, it's not the reason anyone is Saved, it's the "evidence" of Salvation. As 2nd Timothy 2 says, we need to rightly understand God's Word. That says three things. Number one, we can rightly understand it, and number two, we must Study it in order to do so, and number three, if we don't, we will have need to be ashamed! The Bible is The Word of God, and it testifies of itself that it is true and trustworthy, by the Holy Spirit. All the signs are in place for the coming of the Lord. Strengthen the things that remain. Keep the feast of Tabernacles by being in Christ that you know this world is not your home, and you are a stranger and pilgrim here with a job to do. And may the God of Mercy bless your efforts to bring others up to that Glorious Holy City.
Copyright ©1993 Tony Warren
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