Happy Sukkot, ( The Feast of Tabernacle)

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).

Join us at the Celebration of Sukkot ( the Feast of Tabernacle) in Yeshua Tomorrow here at our Friday Messianic Fellowship Night beginning at 6 PM., if you are interested, call us at 413-770-4711

"On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord’s Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. For seven days present offerings made to the Lord by fire, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present an offering made to the Lord by fire. It is the closing assembly; do no regular work." (Leviticus 23:34–36)

Today is the first day of the week long Festival of Sukkot (Tabernacles).

In Israel and around the world, the Jewish People are spending time in the sukkot (plural of sukkah) that they built when Yom Kippur ended just days ago.

This holiday is a pilgrimage festival linked to the harvest, so it is also known as Chag HaAsif (Festival of Ingathering). In ancient times, every Israelite went up to Jerusalem to celebrate Sukkot at the Temple.

In the Gospel of Matthew and Prophet Isaiah we read “ The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Matt. 4:16 / Is. 9:2). The ceremony of the illumination of the Temple in Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacle was instituted during the time of the second temple. It was symbolic of the Shekinah that once filled the Temple and was closely allied in symbolism with the water pouring ceremony. The dedication of Solomon’s Temple and the descent of the shekinah occurred at the feast of tabernacles.

The well-known Messianic Jewish author, David Baron, described the illumination of the Temple as follows: “At the conclusion of the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles the worshipers congregated in the Court of the Woman, where a great illumination took place. Four huge golden lamps or candelabras were there, each with four golden bowls, against which rested four ladders. Four youths of priestly descent ascended these with large pitchers of oil from which they filled each bowl. The old worn breeches and girdles of the priests served for wicks for these lamps. So great and brilliant was the light that, according to a saying, “There was not a court in Jerusalem that was not lit up by the light of the ‘house of water-pouring’.”

Most believers in the Messiah are convinced that it was against this backdrop of the glorious illumination of the Temple that Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8.12). Only the Messiah – God with us, could dare to make such a claim. In him was life, and that life was the light of men” (John I: 4).

Contemplating the words of Jesus within the framework of this ceremony gives us a wonderful picture of the glorious illumination that occurs when the light of the knowledge of God is shed abroad in our hearts: “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness, ‘made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us (2 Corinthians 4: 6- 7).

We have this treasure and this bright light shining within us, but it is contained within the clay of this earthly body awaiting the glory that will be revealed. “. . . our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed” (Romans 8:18). God has put his seal of ownership on us by putting his Spirit in our hearts. Although the glory is veiled in the flesh we have the assurance that we are being transformed into his likeness through the work of the Holy Spirit within us.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).

THE FULFILLMENT OF TABERNACLES Tabernacles pointed ahead to the time when people of all nations would flock to Jerusalem to worship the Lord (Zech. 14:16). This is being fulfilled as the Lord gathers people from every tongue, tribe and nation to worship in the new Jerusalem – “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly . . .” (Heb.12:22). At the end of the age the glory of this Jerusalem is unveiled:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:1-4).

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever (Revelation 22:1-5).

The original intent of the Garden of Eden and the purpose of man to glorify God and enjoys him for ever.

This will be the restoration of all things. The way to the tree of life is opened, the curse is lifted and man is fully restored to the glorious state from which he fell to dwell in the presence of God forever. There is no longer a temple for the Lord God is the temple, and there is no need for the light of a lamp or the light of the sun for He will give them light.