Sukkot

The Feast of Tabernacles is an eight-day Biblical pilgrimage festival, also known as the Feast of Booths, the Festival of Tabernacles, or Tabernacles. it is celebrated by a small number of Christians who have revived some Old Testament festivals. Among followers, it is one of the most important holy days as it lasts the longest and normally requires a great deal of preparation and travel to be able to attend. It is celebrated on the 15th of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar (October), the same date of the Jewish festival Sukkot, with which it shares its origin.

In the New Testament

Some Christians believe the New Testament shows Jesus kept the Feast of Tabernacles. The reference cited for this belief, among others, is in John chapter 7:10-26:

But when His brothers had gone to the feast, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, "Where is He?" And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, "He is good"; others said, "No, on the contrary, He deceives the people." However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews. Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying, "How does this Man know letters, having never studied?" 16 Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?" The people answered and said, "You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?" Jesus answered and said to them, "I did one work, and you all marvel. Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." Now some of them from Jerusalem said, "Is this not He whom they seek to kill? 26 But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ?

Current observances

An estimated 50,000 Christians observe the Feast of Tabernacles today. The United Church of God is one of the largest groups that observes this festival, as well as the other appointed times of God. Most of those that do observe it were at one time affiliated with the Worldwide Church of God, though some associated with the Church of God (Seventh Day) and even with the Seventh-day Adventist Church (a very small minority) also observe it, though it is not an official practice of those latter two churches.

Most ministers do not limit their observance to Jerusalem, but observe it in several hundred places around the world.

There was a feast on the eighth day after Tabernacles began. It was the end date – the leave-taking of the Feast of Tabernacles. It completed the feasts of the seventh month as well (A memorial of Trumpets (seventh month): New Year (Lv 23:23); The Day of Atonement [the seventh month] (Lv 23:26); & the Feast of Tabernacles [seventh month] (Lv 23:33).

This final day was the consummation, or great high point, of the feast. It was the eighth day – the first day of the season of rest. The day itself was to be a complete rest; no work whatever was to be done. The planting, the cultivating, and the harvesting had all been accomplished. Now it was time to rest.

That eighth day was a type of the new creation – the day that never ends – the day “when all our labors and trials are over.” It is the day of the establishment of the eternal kingdom of God in its fullness. All is completed. All is renewed. All is at rest. The true New World has begun. It is the fulfillment of the work of Christ for us.

Definition of Tabernacle/Sanctuary: The Holy of Holies or Most Holy Place - The place in the Old Testament Tabernacle or Temple, containing the Ark of the Covenant, the dwelling place of God. Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement, but now our high priest Jesus Christ has entered the Most Holy Place on the Day of His Ascension, 40 days after His Resurrection (Acts 1:9-11).

External links

In the New Testament

Current observances

Further reading

External links