Lev 23:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Concerning The Feasts of The LORD

This Bible study will show how the Old Testament feasts of the Lord portrayed the major events of the church, including a pre-tribulation "rapture", through the teaching of similitudes.

Hosea 12:10 I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.

Lev 23:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts... 4 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.

In the book of Leviticus, there are laid out, seven feasts that the children of Israel were commanded to keep. Those seven feasts are:

1. The Lord's Passover,

2. The Feast of Unleavened Bread,

3. The feast of the Firstfruits,

4. The Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost,

5. The Feast of Trumpets,

6. The Day of Atonement, and

7. The Feast of Tabernacles, or Ingathering.

These feasts of the Lord, all seven, represent major historical events. Some have already passed, and some are yet to come. It is very important that we notice, therefore, what these feasts were intended to foreshadow, and their chronological order in God's unfolding plan.

Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God… for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.

These feasts also are called in the word of God, a shadow and example to us…

Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Let us consider each one carefully.

1. The Lord's Passover

Lev 23:5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover.

Now, as we Christians well know, Jesus fulfilled the Passover, by being Himself, the Passover Lamb…

1 Cor 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.

In the religious year, lasting seven months, the first event is the passover. Just as in ushering in the church age, though not the very first thing, but the first major thing in regards to our salvation, Jesus offered Himself as a sacrificial Lamb.

It is not coincidental that the next feast was so close to the first as to being practically one and the same feast…

2. The Feast of Unleavened Bread

Lev 23:6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

Lev 23:7 In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 8 But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

The scriptures show that this feast was so directly tied to the Lord's passover, that it was even referred to as the passover…

Luke 22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

Mat 26:17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?

Christ, our passover, was unleavened with sin, and was the ultimate unleavened bread!

1 Cor 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

John 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Just as 1 Cor. 5:7 taught, that we should not keep the feast with the leaven, or sins, of malice and wickedness, so Jesus said, that "eating" Him, did not mean actually eating His flesh, but partaking of His life free of sin…

John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

So many today, steeped in tradition rather than scripture, miss the spiritual application, by not understanding the way Christ taught in parables, but here He speaks plainly, so that they are without excuse. "As… I live by the Father: so… live by me. This is that bread… not as your fathers did eat"

For those with ears to hear, this couldn't be plainer. Jesus still spoke of the wine, not as being real blood, but as the fruit of the vine.

Luke 22:18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

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3. The Firstfruits.

Lev 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:

Lev 23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD. 13 And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin. 14 And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

And once again, in perfect chronological order, we have Christ Himself fulfilling this next feast being Himself the firstfruits of them that slept.

1 Cor 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

These first three feasts represented Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. The next feast, was fulfilled in the church itself.

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4. The feast of Weeks, or Pentecost

Lev 23:15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: 16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.

Lev 23:17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD. 18 And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD.

This feast was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, almost two thousand years ago…

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

And through this, and through the passage in Leviticus that says "they are the firstfruits unto the Lord" we can understand that we are also firstfruits, as was Christ THE firstfruit…

Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

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.

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And so ends the first round of religious feasts of the first couple months of the Jewish religious season. After the feast of Pentecost, there are no feasts until near the end of the Jewish religious calendar year.

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5. The feast of Trumpets

Lev 23:23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. 25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Not much is written, or understood about this feast. We do find this passage in Numbers…

Num 29:1 And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you. 2 And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish: 3 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram, 4 And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 5 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you: 6 Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.

In fact, so little is known about it's significance, that it could very well be called a mystery.

A mystery that is, until one reads the Apostle Paul…

Behold I Show You a Mystery

1 Cor 15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Yes, the feast of trumpets itself is a mystery. That is, until one considers it in significance with the pre-tribulation rapture (catching away) of the church! The feast of trumpets has no meaning for the mid, or post-tribulationist. They must ignore it. It has no meaning for those who claim that there will be a great revival, and a fulfillment of all the feasts before the end of the church age. For nothing about such is mentioned in regards to any trumpets in scripture. To all of these opinions, the feast of trumpets must remain an enigma. Out of place, out of time, and out of understanding.

But nothing could be clearer in scripture, than the fact that the trumpets are an integral component of the catching away of the saints in Christ. All must concede this fact whether they are ready to concede to pre-trib or not. And that feast of trumpets (catching away of the Holy Ghost oil filled) happens before the last two feasts of atonement, and of the ingathering! This is where many post-tribulationists get confused, as a matter of fact, by confusing the (feast of) trumpets with the (feast of) "gathering together". For they were two distinct events in the feasts, foreshadowing the fact that they are two distinct events in the future. Though they have admittedly similar elements, no one can deny, the feast of trumpets, and the feasts of ingathering are distinct and separate occasions. And these things were a shadow, and they were written for our admonition.

Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Consider the gap of time between the feast days of Pentecost and Trumpets. The feast of Pentecost foreshadowed what was to be fulfilled in the church as the beginning of the church age. The feast of trumpets signaled the beginning of the end of the religious year, thereby foresahadowing the event of the beginning of the end of the spiritual church age.

At the Last Trump

And why not? Why should it not be called "The Last Trump"?

We call the passover feast that Jesus ate, "the Last Supper" yet we still eat supper today! But there is another reason it was the last passover than the fact that it was Jesus' last meal before His death by crucifixion. And that is because it was that passover- His death, that fulfilled the feast! The fulfillment was the last true passover feast.

Luke 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

The Last passover, which was the last one Jesus ate, was the last passover that God recognized, because it fulfilled what the feast foreshadowed.

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The feasts of Passsover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstsfruits have been fulfilled in Jesus. The feast of Pentecost has already been fulfilled in us, the church. The feast of trumpets then is obviously the next feast which was, or is yet to be fulfilled.

1 Cor 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

If Jesus having fulfilled the Passover, thereby rendered it the Last Passover, how then shall not our fulfilling the feast of the trumpets, not with the old leaven, but in sincerity and truth, be as to make such a fulfillment to be likewise the LAST TRUMP?

1 Cor 15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery… we shall all be changed, 52 …AT THE LAST TRUMP: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit…

Flour Mingled with Oil

There is a special significance in this small statement. The first time that we find flour mingled with oil, we saw it in the feast of the firstfruits, the third feast, which, as we've seen, pertained to Jesus.

Lev 23:10 …ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits…. 12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish... 13 And the meat offering thereof shall be… of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.

This is talking about the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, the flour representing humanity, and the oil representing the fact that He was filled with the Holy Ghost.

Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit

John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

Interestingly, at the next feast, Pentecost, the fourth, instead of flour mingled with oil, we find leavened flour…

Lev 23:15 …number fifty days (Pentecost); and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD… 17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD. 18 And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD.

Now this would appear to be an enigma. For leaven has always represented sin (1 Cor 5:6-8 below). How is it that the feast which represents the day of Pentecost contains a feast of LEAVENED bread?

Let us remember…

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Let us not forget that we cannot be free from sin UNTIL we get the Holy Ghost! We do not get ourselves sinless (without leaven), and THEN get the Holy Ghost! We get the Holy Ghost so that we may THEREBY walk in holiness!

Eph 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Yes we repent before receiving the Holy Ghost, and therefore the feast teaches to offer the seven lambs without blemish.

Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

But, like Ephesians 2:5 says, we were quickened when we were dead in sins. We die out to those sins when we repent, but we are still DEAD IN SIN (leaven) until we receive the Spirit which is life because of righteousness…

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is DEAD BECAUSE OF SIN; (leaven) but the Spirit (oil) is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

The day (fulfillment) of Pentecost found a bunch of people (flour) mingled with leaven (sin) waiting on God (making themselves living sacrifices to God) in hopes of being an acceptable sacrifice to God.

But now, when we come to the feast of Trumpets, we don't find any leaven mixed with flour any more! The former things are passed away! The man has put away childish things! We find here in the feast of Trumpets, just as with the feast of firstfruits, which pointed to our sinless Jesus, only fine flour mingled with OIL! No more leaven. No more sin.

Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection!

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

1 Cor 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

2 Tim 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

The point is, Jesus came to the feast with, and ready to offer a sacrifice of flour mixed with oil. The 120 came to the day of Pentecost with, and ready to offer a sacrifice of flour mixed with leaven. Therefore, we are to come to the feast of Trumpets with, and ready to offer a sacrifice of flour mixed with oil, and it being without leaven, in order that we may keep the feast in sincerity and truth.

Deu 16:16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:

My friend, if you think you are going to make the rapture, and you are still offering unto the Lord a (living) sacrifice of flour (humanity) mixed with leaven (sin), you are keeping the WRONG FEAST in the wrong time at the wrong place!

Hear then the parable of the ten virgins!

Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

If you want to make the rapture, the fulfillment of the feast of Trumpets, you had better purge out the old leaven, and you had better keep yourself full of the oil of the Holy Ghost! Don't be found as a foolish virgin! Don't neglect to pray in the Holy Ghost!

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, BUILDING UP YOURSELVES on your most holy faith, PRAYING IN THE HOLY GHOST, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

1 Cor 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5 I would that ye all spake with tongues,

1 Cor 14:14 For IF I PRAY IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE, MY SPIRIT PRAYETH, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father IN SPIRIT AND in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him MUST worship him in spirit AND in truth.

Build yourself up in the Holy Ghost keeping yourself in the love of God brethren!

Pray in an unknown tongue (as the Spirit gives the utterance) that you may build yourself up in the Holy Ghost and the love of God!

Pray in an unknown tongue (Spirit), not only in the understanding (truth), so that you may worship God in Spirit and in Truth as the word of God (Jesus) teaches you must do! Worship in Spirit AND in truth! And if you pray in an unknown tongue, your spirit prays, therefore your spirit worships!

Beloved, keep your lamps trimmed and burning! Be ready to keep the feast of trumpets with flour mixed with oil, NOT mixed with the leaven of sin!

Luke 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. 45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, AND PREPARED NOT HIMSELF (NOT building up themselves in the Holy Ghost, NOT praying in tongues, NOT worshipping in spirit), neither did according to his will (NOT walking in truth and NOT walking in true holiness), shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. 49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

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6. The Day of Atonement

Lev 23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Lev 23:28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. 29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. 30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. 31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

This feast day of affliction, and offerings by fire, clearly foreshadows the events prophesied to take place in the period of time known as The Great Tribulation.

Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Mark 13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. 20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Rev 8:6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. 7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

There are some key points to this particular feast that I would like to point out.

Whatsoever Soul Shall Not Be Afflicted Shall Be Cut Off.

This clearly signifies that during Great Tribulation, whoever will relieve themselves from the affliction by taking the mark of the beast, will be cut off from God's people.

Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

So why is this feast called the Day of Atonement, if Jesus had already atoned for our sins?

These Have Washed Their Robes, And Made Them White In The Blood Of The Lamb

See the great mercy of our God on these souls. For here is their day of Atonement, they who had rejected Jesus during the "easy" days of grace, are given one more opportunity to atone for themselves through His blood in the day of their affliction.

How Great is our God! How longsuffering, and full of mercy! He loves us, and provides a way, even when we are dead in sins. Even though we weren't seeking Him.

Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

Luke 13:30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

The Day of Atonement

Lev 23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.

Finally, there is one point more about the Day of Atonement that bears a closer look. That is the simple fact, that of all the feasts, it is called, not the "feast of ____," as the others are called, but THE DAY of atonement. It seemed to me there must be some significance to this, as the point was repeated several times.

What is it about the fact that this feast was one day, yet it foreshadows a period of several years during tribulation and judgment that are obviously longer than one day?

An answer is found in the definition of the Hebrew word for "day."

3117. yowm, yome; from an unused root mean. to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether lit. (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or fig. (a space of time defined by an associated term)…

"to be hot… as the warm hours… literally from sunrise to sunset."

Surely, if there is one thing about the days of Tribulation and Judgment, it is the fact that from beginning to end, from it's rising until it's setting, it shall be hot, literally from beginning to end!

Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

Mal 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

~~~

7. The Feast of Tabernacles, or Ingathering

Lev 23:34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.

So then, after the feast of trumpets, and after the day of atonement, comes the final feast, called the Feast of Tabernacles, or the ingathering.

Lev 23:35 On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. 37 These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day: 38 Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD. 39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. 40 And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and YE SHALL REJOICE before the LORD your God seven days. 41 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. 42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: 43 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. 44 And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.

Notice that this feast, unlike the day of Atonement, isn't a feast of affliction, but a feast of rejoicing!

This feast represents what is called in scripture, The Day of The Lord.

2 Pet 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Joel 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible (thousand years) day of the LORD come. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. 3:1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather ALL NATIONS, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

First, Joel 2:31 points to events that are to occur during the tribulation and judgment periods. The sun turning into darkness and the moon turning into blood are to happen before the day of the Lord. This is the same that Jesus said in Matthew 24:29-

Mat 24:29 Immediately after (3326) the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

After- Strong's #3326. "meta, met-ah'; a prim. prep. (often used adv.); prop. denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (gen. association, or acc. succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between G575 or G1537 and G1519 or G4314; less intimate than G1722, and less close than G4862):--after (-ward),X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-) on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-) to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence."

Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

The things that Jesus and Joel were talking about, were things that are to happen at the close of the 3-1/2 year tribulation period, or into the judgment period immediately following that…

Rev 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

Simply put, the day of atonement (or synonymously called the Great Tribulation and Judgment) with it's signs of the sun and moon becoming darkened, comes before the feast of tabernacles, or "ingathering".

This "gathering together" of the feast of tabernacles differs from the rapture. Whereas the catching away foreshadowed in the feast of trumpets was only for Holy Ghost (oil) filled saints, signified by the flour mixed with oil, this "gathering together" is of ALL NATIONS.

Notice the sacrifices are different than the other feasts. This feast doesn't specifically mention the flour and oil, or flour and leaven. In it's wording, this feast incorporates all of that (in generalization), plus!

Lev 23:37 …a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, EVERY THING upon HIS DAY: 38 Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD... 40 AND ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook…"

Remember, these are the things that are to be brought to the feast, not what comes from the feast…

Deu 16:16 …appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast… and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:

All these offerings are to be brought and made specifically in the first day of the feast, specifically, HIS day, and kept throughout the seven days of the feast. The number seven signifying completely through the fulfillment of the 1,000 year reign of Christ!

Lev. 23:40 And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. 41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year.

Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.

In Zechariah, we have clear biblical proof that the feast of tabernacles is fulfilled during the 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth…

Zec 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.

The phrases "in that day", "the Day of The Lord", "the Lord's day" and "the feast of tabernacles" are all synonymous!

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Rev 11:13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. 15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Praise the Lord! At the end of the tribulation, and the end of judgment, the wrath of God has kindled fear of the Lord, and there are multitudes of souls that FINALLY do give glory to God! And then those same one's, people's of The kingdoms of this world, are become the kingdoms of our Lord! And this is what is signified by the offerings of the boughs of goodly trees etc. in addition to the all the other offerings! And that is what is meant by the feast of ingathering!

The Boughs of Goodly Trees

The anti-christ is identified in many places in scripture as the Assyrian. In Ezekiel 31:3-14 we see the things that were the Assyrian's symbolized by such things as boughs and brances. In Rev. 11:13 above, it is evident that these things have been taken away from anti-christ, and have been gathered together unto the Lord in the Day of the Lord, otherwise known as the feast of tabernacles. These sayings represent the kingdoms of the world becoming the kingdoms of our Lord.

He that hath ears, let him hear…

Ezek 31:3 Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs. 4 The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field. 5 Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth. 6 All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations. 7 Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters. 8 The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty. 9 I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him. 10 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height; 11 I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness… 14 To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.

This is a picture of anti-christ. Therefore the trees are the peoples of kingdoms- or "The Nations"! This is a parallel passage with…

Isa 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

These are graphic descriptions of the kingdom of anti-christ (satan) being exalted (by himself) above all nations. The multitude of waters represent the numbers of people who have fallen from God to support him. After all, satan could be nothing if no one bowed to his deceptions.

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

But in the day of the Lord, the fulfillment of the feast of tabernacles, all nations will be "gathered together" in one, in Jesus Christ.

Gather All Nations

Joel 3:1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather ALL NATIONS, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

It doesn't say that just saints and believers will be gathered to Him, it says that He will plead with them there.

Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth…

He that has the sword is Jesus.

Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

Rev 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

And the sword is the word that proceeds out of His mouth. By mere words He destroys those who oppose Him. But through heading His pleading words, He also forgives those who repent at His word.

Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

This is the "ingathering" or feast of tabernacles. So we see that not all are destroyed in the Great Tribulation and Judgment, but only those who cannot be redeemed, and still truly refuse to conform to the Truth of God. In fact, the scripture teaches that at this point only a remnant (Rev 19:21, above) are destroyed, so we see that multitudes (nations) are restored (gathered) to Jesus at this time. These are the "nations" that the raptured, and tribulation saints will rule over, with Christ, during the 1,000 year reign.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years…

Joel 3:2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

Ten Virgins

In contrast with the feast of trumpets, or the rapture, remember the parable of the ten virgins? God didn't plead with the five foolish. The ones who were caught up to the marriage supper simply were or weren't ready.

Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

So in the "plead with them there" at the "gathering together" of Joel 3:2 it is again obvious that the "catching away" is NOT the same event as that "ingathering". It is therefore, not the rapture of the Spirit filled saints, but only the "gathering together" that happens after the tribulation in Matthew 24…

Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (And Mark 13:27)

Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

He Came With Ten Thousands of Saints

Another point proving that the rapture happens before the ingathering of the nations, is that the saints come back to this ingathering with Jesus…

Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

These are not the created angels. They are clothed in white linen, signifying that they are saints.

Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Just as prophesied in Deuteronomy…

Deu 33:2 And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.

This time, this ingathering or "day of the Lord", is the hope of all that long for His appearing, but it will mean destruction for those who don't long for His appearing.

Jer 46:10 For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.

Isa 13:6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: 8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. 9 Behold, the day of the LORD

It is this time, not the "rapture" or feast of trumpets, that is spoken of in the following verses (which are often confused together with the rapture…

2 Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

2 Pet 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Mat 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

2 Pet 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

2 Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ ("the Day of the Lord" or the fulfillment of the feast of tabernacles) is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (The Lord's Day) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

The First Day, Seven Days, and the Eighth Day

There is one final point about the feast of tabernacles that points to the day of the Lord, and His thousand year reign as being signified in this feast.

Lev 23:35 On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.

The arrangement of days on this feast correspond precisely with the impact of the events upon the return and 1,000 year reign of Christ.

The first day obviously represents the day of the return of Christ, when He returns to plead with the nations, and fight against those who oppose Him with the sword of His mouth. The seven days represent the complete period of the 1,000 years. In other words, the gathering together will last completely throughout the period. The eighth day of the feast signifies the importance of the end of the 1,000 year reign…

Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

This has been God's desire from the beginning, that He should dwell with men, and they should dwell with Him. This is also what men dwelling in booths in the feast of tabernacles signify. For in the days of the fulfillment of the feast of tabernacles, and for ever more, God and men shall dwell (tabernacle) together, similar to the days when God led them out of Egypt to the promised land, but yet a far sight better and more glorious than that!

Amen!

by Tom Raddatz