GOD'S PROGRAM FOR HIS PEOPLE PREDICTED IN ISRAEL'S FEASTS

VII. The Feast Of Tabernacles: God's Blessing Of Israel In The Millennial Kingdom

(Leviticus 23:33-44)

I. Introduction

A. The Leviticus 23:1-44 feasts for Israel typologically predict God's program for His people in history (Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 208), what is valuable for us to study today in view of unsettling current events.

B. The seventh feast is The Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33-44), and it typifies God's future blessing of Israel in the Millennial Kingdom, Zechariah 14:9-20; Ibid.

C. We thus view Scripture to understand the truths of this feast in God's program for His people (as follows):

II. The Feast Of Tabernacles: God's Blessing Of Israel In The Millennial Kingdom, Leviticus 23:33-44.

A. The last feast, the Feast of Tabernacles, is connected to the Feast of Trumpets and the Feast of the Day of Atonement: where the Feast of Trumpets occurred on the first day of the seventh month, and the Feast of the Day of Atonement came on the tenth day of that month, the Feast of Tabernacles occurred the fifteenth through to the twenty-first days of the seventh month, Leviticus 23:24, 27, 34; B. K. C., O. T., p. 208.

B. This was the final and most important of the feasts of the year when 189 sacrifices were offered (Numbers 29:12-38; Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Leviticus 23:34-43) to commemorate (1) Israel's agricultural thanksgiving at the end of the fall fruit harvest (Exodus 34:22; Deuteronomy 16:13-15; Ibid.) and (2) "God's protective care during the 40-year period in the wilderness between Egypt and Canaan when Israelites lived in tents (thus the name Feast of Tabernacles, or 'booths,' Lev. 23:43)," Ibid. (3) Typologically, this feast also anticipates God's future, ultimate protective care of Israel in the Millennial Kingdom when He has put down all of her enemies and blessed the nation and world with rich livelihood provisions as described in Zechariah 14:9-21, Ibid. Also, Zechariah 14:16-17 predicts that the Feast of Tabernacles will be observed worldwide in the Millennial Kingdom, that any Gentile nation that will not come to Jerusalem to observe this feast will receive no rain for its crops, and if Egypt does not observe the feast, it will experience a plague!

C. The first and the last days of the Feast of Tabernacles are both Sabbath Day rests (Lev. 23:39b), teaching that the provision of the Millennial Kingdom in all of its blessings will be the product of God's grace, that the Kingdom will not be the product of man's meritorious work, but a divine institution as God's gift to believers!

D. During the seven days of the feast, the people of God were to dwell in booths made of tree branches in order to recall how God had made Israel live in booths in her wilderness journey during the Exodus from the land of Egypt en route to the Promised Land, Leviticus 23:40-43.

E. The offerings made during the Feast of Tabernacles were profuse and elaborate, highlighting the thanksgiving to God the people of Israel were to express (as follows):

1. The first day, a Sabbath, saw 13 young bulls, 2 rams and 14 male lambs a year old, all without defect, offered with the appropriate grain offering for each sacrifice, along with a kid of the goats as a sin offering besides the regular burnt offering and its meal and drink offering for the day, Numbers 29:12-16.

2. On the second day, "everything was the same as the first except that 12 (not 13) young bulls were offered and the appropriate drink offerings were also included," Ibid., Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 250.

3. Then, "(o)n each successive day the number of bulls was reduced by one (vv. 20-31) till on the seventh day there were 7 bulls (v. 32). This total of 7 bulls on the seventh day certainly has symbolical significance, perhaps as an expression of perfection," Ibid.

4. On the eighth day of the feast came the final Sabbath (v. 35) "on which were offered the same sacrifices as on New Year's day (vv. 1-6) with the exception of the New Moon elements, but with the addition of drink offerings" to signify joy in the future Millennial Kingdom, Ibid.

F. Accordingly, the abundant blessings of livelihood provisions and protection for God's people will be cause for joyful celebration of the bounty of God's grace in Christ in providing redemption that makes it possible for a world of believing Jews and Gentiles, saved by God's grace, to enjoy God's Millennial Kingdom blessings. All of the sacrifices and ceremonies will then glorify God for His unmerited favor in Christ for believers.

Lesson: The Feast of Tabernacles anticipated God's future ultimate supply of livelihood provisions and protection for His people in the Millennial Kingdom all based on His grace to His people through Jesus Christ.

Application: Since the Church will be on the earth with Christ during the Millennial Kingdom (cf. 1 Thessalonians 3:17), we will then also celebrate God's grace to us, so may we praise Him NOW for His grace to us in Christ!