In giving His laws to Moses, God said: “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord,” (Leviticus 23:34). This was not just an Old Testament commandment, it also applies to Christians today.
The seven-day Feast of Tabernacles, which begins with an annual Holy Day (Leviticus 23:35), pictures the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ over the earth after His second coming (Revelation 20:4). This period is often called the Millennium, which simply means “1,000 years.” It celebrates the great harvest of humanity will at last be restored to a right relationship with God (Isaiah 11:9-10) and all people, then alive, will learn His ways.
Jesus Christ, set us the example by observing this feast: “But when His brothers had gone up, 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?’” (John 7:10-11). It was Jesus Christ’s lifelong practice to keep God’s festivals, even when His life was threatened. The early Church continued to follow His example and also celebrated these feasts.
In order to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, God told the Israelites to do something that might seem strange. They were to observe the Feast in “tabernacles” or “booths,” which is a temporary sheltering structure or similar dwelling (Leviticus 23:41-43). Christians today observe the Feast by leaving home and temporarily living in other accommodation, reminding us we are strangers and pilgrims on this earth, and that this world isn’t our real home. Our goal is eternal life in God’s Kingdom, and we are exhorted to come out of the present world. The Apostle Paul’s writings reflect this theme: “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” (2 Corinthians 5:1-2).
During this time of unparalleled peace and harmony, the basis for the messianic rule of Jesus will be God’s law, as Isaiah foretold, “It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:2-3).
The Feast of Tabernacles is an annual reminder of our temporary state and that we also “seek a homeland” (Hebrews 11:13-14). It is a time to learn how to better fear and respect God. To this end there are church services each morning with relevant messages followed by an afternoon and evening to spend with friends who have come together for the festival. Some festival sites are small while others have many hundreds of members, many who have traveled from interstate and even overseas.
God’s plan for mankind involves restoration and the Feast of Tabernacles symbolises that restoration process, which will start with the return of Jesus Christ, pictured by the Feast of Trumpets, and the banishment of Satan, depicted by the Day of Atonement. Once these events have taken place the foundation is in place for the restoration of the creation to peace and harmony with God.
