Leviticus Lesson 18

Leviticus

Lesson 18

Hi again! And welcome back to the continuation of our study of the 7 Annual Feasts (Sacred Assemblies).

As you recall, in previous lessons we studied the first 4 Feasts, all of which occurred in the SPRING.

In this lesson we are going to look at the final 3 Feasts, all of which are observed in the FALL season of the year. Specifically, we will be looking at the Feasts of TRUMPETS, ATONEMENT, and TABERNACLES.

The Chart below summarizes the 7 Annual Feasts which we have been and will be studying. As we begin, put a CIRCLE around the group of the 3 Fall Feasts (Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles) which we will be covering in this lesson.

The 7 Annual Feasts (Sacred Assemblies)

Interestingly, and as was the case in our study of the 3 Spring Feasts, just as those Feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits) were often referred to collectively as "Passover", similarly, the 3 Fall feasts are sometimes corporately referred to as "Tabernacles." But, as with the Spring feasts, each Fall feast also has great importance and significance on its own; so, as before, we will study each separately. However, if perchance you hear someone referring to these 3 Fall feasts under the one name of "Tabernacles," don't be confused, for now you understand "why."

So, with that said. Let's begin.

And, first, by way of review and to help put these feasts into their proper perspective on the "Prophetic time clock", let's think about the first 4 Feasts which we have already studied -- ie. Passover, Unleavened Bread, FirstFruits, and the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). Based on what we have studied and learned, fill in the following chart. I will do the first two for you as an example of how to do this. (Note: We will complete the chart as we continue through this lesson, so only fill in the information for the first 4 feasts now.)

The 7 Feasts (Sacred Assemblies)

and what they Picture as Types & Shadows

This is going to be a very interesting and helpful Chart. So, as you continue through this lesson, when you find the information to fill in the rest of the boxes, do so! Then, when you have finished, you will have a wonderful and concise summary of the 7 Feasts and what they were intended to picture as shadows and types to the Jewish people and to all who would heed what God was and is trying to show and tell them (and us) through these 7 Annual Feasts (Sacred Assemblies.)

For example, you probably filled in the information concerning the Feast of Firstfruits (Feast 3) by noting that this was observed by the waving of the sheaf offering and that it pictured the promise of the fact that there is a harvest to come. Therefore, it prophesied the resurrection from the dead on "Easter Sunday" of the Lord God Jesus Christ. Jesus was the seed that was buried in death and He was, therefore, the Firstfruits of the dead. And all who believe in Him for their salvation will be part of the Harvest. So, this Feast pictures that Jesus, by His resurrection, is the Firstfruits of the Harvest of those who will live eternally with Him in His Kingdom.

And concerning the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), you surely noted that it was observed by the waving of 2 loaves of leavened (with yeast = sin) bread made of wheat. This Feast was also sometimes referred to as Shavuot because it occurred on the very day when the Old Covenant (the Law) had been given to the Jewish Nation by God when He descended and appeared in fire on Mt. Sinai after the Passover escape from Egypt. So, Pentecost (the Feast of Weeks / Shauvot) illustrated the giving of the Law (Old Covenant) and pictured the mystery of the coming replacement of the Old Covenant with the New Covenant. It also prophesied the "mystery of the Church" -- the Church which was revealed and established at the time of the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). For, It was on the very day of Pentecost that the Church began -- (when the tongues of fire of the Holy Spirit descended upon the new believers and the New Covenant was given and the Church was "born"). And this Church was and is comprised of two groups, Jews and Gentiles (represented by the two loaves of bread made with leaven and of wheat). In the Church Jew and Gentile are not separate, but they are one. Therefore, they are pictured as two loaves to illustrate that it is God's plan that all, Jew and Gentile, are one in Jesus.

Interestingly, the "wheat" harvest is a frequent term used to refer to the harvest of "believers" in the Church! In fact, this brings us to the next season on the Prophetic clock. For you will next see, as you look at the cycle of the Feasts, that the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) Ends the SPRING feasts and the prophetic clock now enters the SUMMER season. And, you will notice that there are ________ feasts during the Summer season.

No feasts during the summer!?! Correct. And why? Well, could it be that this is the time of the rest of the "wheat harvest" and the time of harvesting of the crops and of the tending of the crops (crops which are and will be part of the "Church")!?! Yes! That is apparently what "happens" during the Summer season on the prophetic clock.

So, as this lesson is being written (in October 2000), it is SUMMER on God's prophetic clock. The shadows and types of the first 4 feasts have been pictured and fulfilled! The question now is, what comes next? What do the next 3 Feasts teach, picture, shadow, and prophesy? And when will they occur?

Good questions! And, that is what we want to try to discover now. But, let me warn you. This will be more difficult to discover and to know "for sure" than for the previous feasts. Why? Because we do not have the advantage of the "Retro-specto-scope". What is a "retrospectoscope," you ask? Well, it is that "imaginary" instrument that people with the advantage of "hindsight" have. It is always so much easier to look BACK at a situation and circumstance and say "wow, that is what happened or what should have happened" or "yep, that is definitely what was being predicted". But, when you are on the other side of the event and the event has not yet happened, well, things are just not as "simple" as they seem later when looking back with your "retro-specto-scope."

I say all that to alert you that the things that we may see (or NOT see) in the final 3 feasts will be much clearer AFTER their final fulfilments in prophecy have occurred. So, any conclusions that we may see or draw in this lesson may or may not be 100% correct. Please keep that caveat in mind as we continue with this lesson.

However, we have already clearly and unequivocally seen the fulfilments of the first 4 Feasts, the Spring Feasts. (In the list below, fill in the blank with the Feast which fulfills each prophetic event listed on the "Time Clock")

1. The Feast of ______________ has been fulfilled by the Coming of Jesus Christ to die as the perfect sacrificial Lamb, without any blemish or defect.

2. The Feast of _______________ _________ has been fulfilled by Jesus being the Unleavened (sinless) Bread who died for our sins on "Good Friday".

3. The Feast of ________________was fulfilled by Jesus being raised from the dead on "Easter Sunday" as the Firstfruits of the (His) harvest.

4. The Feast of ______ (____________) was fulfilled by the birth of the Church and the establishment of the New Covenant, a Church comprised of two loaves picturing Jews and Gentiles who are ONE by trusting in the blood sacrifice of Jesus for their salvation.

Yes, you are absolutely correct if your answers were: Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of FirstFruits, and Feast of Weeks (Pentecost).

And now, we are in the SUMMER season, the season in which the Church is growing and being harvested as members of God's Kingdom.

Next, on God's Prophetic Time Clock, pictured in the 7 Annual Feasts (Sacred Assemblies), are the final 3 feasts, the FALL feasts, feasts which have NOT yet occurred on the prophetic clock, but which God gave to His Nation, the Jews, to show them and us what is coming in the future.

What do those final 3 Feasts picture prophetically and how and when will they be fulfilled? Well, that is what we want to try to discover now as we continue this study of the 7 Annual Feasts. But, again, as I mentioned earlier, since these future events have NOT yet occurred and since we do NOT have a "retrospectoscope", we may not be 100% correct in what we discover, but, let's see what we can learn. For God is NOT trying to keep this a secret! Indeed, He really does want us to know what has already happened and what is coming next.

So, with all that in mind, let's begin with the Feast of Trumpets!

The Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah)

So, what is and what happens on the Feast of Trumpets? Well, to answer that, let's begin by letting the Bible tell us. As you read the following Scriptures (printed here for you or you may look them up in your Bible), underline or highlight in RED (or a color of your choice) what happens (or happened) or what they were to do (or not do) on the Feast of Trumpets.

Leviticus 23:23-25

23. The LORD said to Moses, 24. "Say to the Israelites: `On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. 25. Do no regular work, but present an offering made to the LORD by fire.'"

...

27. "The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement.

Numbers 29:1-6

1. "`On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets. 2. As an aroma pleasing to the LORD, prepare a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. 3. With the bull prepare a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; 4. and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. 5. Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you. 6. These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and drink offerings as specified. They are offerings made to the LORD by fire--a pleasing aroma.

Now, look back at the Calendar in Lesson 15. What is the NAME of the MONTH that this feast (The Feast of Trumpets) and, indeed, all 3 of the Fall Feasts occur? ________________________

What month is this on the Jewish Sacred Calendar? = the ______th Month.

And, what month is this on the Jewish Secular (Civil) Calendar? = the _____st Month.

And, on what specific DAY of the month did the Feast of Trumpets occur? = _____ st day.

Is all this important? Is it important that Tishri (Ethanim) is the 7th Month on the Sacred calendar and the 1st Month on the Civil (Secular) Calendar? And is it important that it is on the very 1st Day of the month of Tishri (Ethanim) that this Feast of Trumpets occurs? Yes! Let's see why.

First of all, the name Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets / Yom Truah) literally means "the head of the year" and indeed it is the "head," the first month, of the Civil (Secular) calendar. This means, in simple terms, that it is "New Year's Day" on the Jewish Secular (Civil) Calendar! Wow! Now that is important and interesting.

Also, according to Jewish tradition, Adam was created on the Day of Rosh Hashanah 5761 years ago, which is why the Jewish Calendar has the "unusual" number of 5761 today (5761 = our 2000 AD at the time this Bible Study is being written.) For, according to Jewish Tradition, 5760 years have now passed since the creation of Adam. Hmmmm. Interesting.

Furthermore, the Feast of Trumpets is usually now observed on not one but on two consecutive days. Why is that, you ask? Well, as reported on the Messiah's Promise web site,

"... the (Jewish) day begins at sundown and ends just before sundown the next day. Similarly, the months were calculated from the New Moon. Each new month was solemnly proclaimed to begin by the priests only after two witnesses testified to the appearance of the crescent of the moon. Since Yom Teurah (Feast of Trumpets) is the only appointed feast that begins on the first day of the month, it is the festival about which Yeshua (Jesus) said, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (Matt 24:36). The next verse (36) tells us He is speaking about the day of His coming. No one knew for sure whether the New Moon (the first day of the new month) would fall at the end of the 30th day or the 31st day. They had to wait until they saw the moon's crescent. We know that the Lord's coming will be signaled by a trumpet blast -- the sound of a ram's horn. ... ... In the same way, the sound of the ram's horn ushers in the Feast of Trumpets. ...This festival ... is celebrated (therefore) for two days because of the uncertainty of the correct calendar day."

Also, just as the 3 Feasts of "Passover" are closely related and all 3 occurred in the First Month of the Sacred Calendar, these 3 Fall Feasts (of "Tabernacles") are, as we shall soon see, also closely related and also occur in one month, in this case the First Month of the Civil year. Again, very interesting. And perhaps this suggests that the events pictured and shadowed in the Fall Feasts will also occur in rapid succession, just as the events prophesied in the Spring Feasts occurred in rapid and significant succession. And perhaps they herald another "beginning" of things. Hmmmm. Just a thought.

Anyway, to continue.

Based on the Scriptures you just read (in Leviticus and Numbers), what is the MAIN thing that occurs on the Feast of Trumpets (hint: what is the name of this Feast?) = ______________ are blown.

Yes, you are exactly correct! Trumpets are blown (indeed, there are trumpet blasts accd to Lev. 23:23).

So, is there just ONE blast? Or MORE THAN ONE trumpet blast on this day? ________________

Correct, many (ie. more than one) trumpet blasts occur on this Feast day. Obviously, one of the main things that occurs on the Feast of Trumpets is the blowing of Trumpets. So, there is not just one but there are many many trumpet blasts. In fact, one source that I read said that there are 100 trumpet blasts during the Feast of Trumpets! Another source, however, said there were only 9. But, whether there are 9 or 100 or somewhere in between, there are more than one. And, the first of these blasts is with the Left horn of the Ram (a Shofar) and the last blast is with the Right horn of the Ram (Shofar).

And the "name" of the last blast is the "Tekiah Gedolah," and it is a single long blast that ends abruptly! In Jewish writings, this last blast is specifically called "the last trump (trumpet)" ! WOW ! Did you ever hear THAT term before? Sure you did. Let's read one of the references now. And, when you find the phrase "the last trump (trumpet)", underline or circle it in RED (or a color of your choice.)

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

35. But someone may ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?" 36. How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39. All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40. There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. 42. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43. it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44. it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45. So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being" ; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. 50. I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- 52. in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55. "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

So, based on what you now know about the Feasts of Trumpets and knowing that God, through these Feasts, was picturing future events, even though we can't use our "retrospectoscope" since this event has not yet happened, when Paul was telling the Church of Corinth that the resurrection of the dead would be at "the Last Trumpet", what particular specific "event" on the prophetic time clock do you think he was referring to? (Write your answer in the space below and explain why you answered as you did.)

Paul is referring to:

Because:

Good thinking. And, yes, this is very possibly referring to the Rapture of the Church. However, some people believe the rapture is pictured by the Feast of Pentecost. So, whether you think that the "rapture" is being pictured by this Feast or if you have another "view" as to what this Feast represents and pictures, enter your information on the Chart at the first part of the lesson. And Then return here and we will continue with this study.

Back? Great. So, let's continue.

As mentioned earlier, these 3 Feasts (Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles) are closely related and inter linked. So, that interconnection is what we now want to begin to consider as we look at the next Sacred Assembly (Feast), the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).

The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)

The Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement are separated by ________ days (hint: see Leviticus 23:27), and these days are known as the "Days of Awe" and are very important and significant days to the Jewish Nation and people.

On the day of the Feast of Trumpets ("New Year's Day"), the Jewish people are to recognize and honor God as their King. They also greet each other with the words "May your days be inscribed in the book of life." They do this because they believe that there are 3 books: the Book of Judgment, the Book of Life, and the Book of Neither. Realizing that sin will keep them from having their name inscribed in the "book of life", they spend the next 10 days, the "Days of Awe," trying to get right in their relationship with God and in their relationships with others. During this time there is much soul searching and self-improvement. They pay their debts, ask forgiveness, etc.

So, the 10 Days of Awe are a time of deep introspection, reflection, and contemplation leading up to the actual Day of Atonement, which is itself the most solemn of all the days on the Jewish calendar! In fact, this day, the Day of Atonement, though called a "Feast" day, is actually a day of Fasting and humiliation, a day in which they are commanded to "deny" themselves (in fasting and in refraining from all pursuits of pleasure and gratification.) Let's read about it in Leviticus.

Leviticus 23:26-32

26. The LORD said to Moses, 27. "The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present an offering made to the LORD by fire. 28. Do no work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the LORD your God. 29. Anyone who does not deny himself on that day must be cut off from his people. 30. I will destroy from among his people anyone who does any work on that day. 31. You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. 32. It is a sabbath of rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath."

Now, go back and re-read those verses, and this time, as you read them, underline or highlight in RED (or a color of your choice -- I used BLACK), every reference to what they are to do or not do on this most solemn of all the 7 Annual Sacred Assemblies.

You will recall that in Lessons 7 & 8 in this study and in Leviticus Chapter 16, we looked at the instructions, commands, requirements, etc. for this Day of Atonement in considerable detail. Look back at those two lessons and review what you learned about this most solemn Day. Then, answer the following questions:

? When is the Day of Atonement observed? ___ th day of the ___th month, which is the month of _________ .

? How many times a year is this day of Atonement observed? _________

? How many priests participated in the ceremonies of the Day of Atonement? Only ___ , and he was the ______ Priest.

? Who did the High Priest picture or shadow as a type or prophecy? __________

? What did the people do on the Day of Atonement? (Circle your answers from the choices below)

A. they partied partied partied

B. they fasted and did not eat (denied themselves)

C. they continued doing their usual work and activities

D. they played games and visited with each other

E. they did no work

F. they rested (just as they would do on a Sabbath)

? Were there any BLOOD sacrifices offered on this day? _______

? Who offered the Blood sacrifices? = ONLY the _______ Priest on behalf of the _________ .

? Where was the Blood sacrifice placed? = On the ___________ seat of the Ark of the Covenant.

? In your own words, What was the PURPOSE of the Blood sacrifice and why was it necessary?

? In your own words, what does "Atonement" mean? i.e. How would you explain it to someone who has no "clue" or idea as to what it means? (Hint, remember the definition of Atonement. Strongs # 3722 Kaphar).

Wow! This is really an important and very solemn and serious day, isn't it! And, now you see why we spent so much time and two lessons of this study considering the Day of Atonement. Atonement is VERY important and necessary because the ONLY way to have access to God is by being "at-one-ment" with Him. And, since sin blocks that access, it must be removed.

The ONLY way that sin can be atoned for is through a Blood sacrifice. ("The wages of sin is death"). On the Day of Atonement, it was the death and blood sacrifices of animals which provided the way to "at-one-ment" with God. But, this was only a temporary atonement and had to be repeated annually -- UNTIL Jesus came and provided the once and for all, final, blood sacrifice, the sacrifice provided by His death,

So now you know the purpose of the blood sacrifices. And you recalled that Atonement (at-one-ment) = to cover ... to expiate .. to cancel ... purge away ... to make reconciliation ... to purge ... and this is done through the offering of a suitable substitute to pay the penalty (death and blood) for the sins that need to be atoned for...

And by the way, in case you are wondering, the fill in the blank and other short answers to those questions above were: 10, 7, Tishri, 1,1, High, Jesus, (b,e,f), yes, High, the people (the Nation, Israel), Mercy (Atonement) seat.

So, Yes, The Lord God Jesus Christ (The Yeshua / Messiah) came to provide the final, once and for all, substitute atonement of His sinless and perfect life and blood to cover and atone for sins (yours, mine, and of all --Jew or Gentile -- who will accept His gift of His blood). Those who confess and forsake their sins and accept Jesus' gift of His substitute death and blood sacrifice to pay for those sins, have their sins covered, canceled, purged away -- and their sins are, thereby, atoned for and, therefore, they can be and are "at-one-ment" with God!

This is what the Day of Atonement pictured and shadowed -- the future coming of Jesus to pay the death penalty for sin and to rescue and redeem sinners from the penalty of sin. And, all who are "believers" in Jesus have already seen this fulfilled in their lives.

But, this day (Yom Kippur / Day of Atonement) also has another future fulfillment. Unfortunately, the Jewish Nation and people, for the most part, still have NOT understood what the Day of Atonement pictured. Therefore, they have NOT yet recognized Jesus (Yeshua) for Who He really is -- ie. their God and Savior / Redeemer (Atoner) and King. Yes, many Jews did understand, see, and believe that Jesus was and is their Yeshua / Messiah when He came about 2000 years ago. Many Jews, including many Rabbis, believed in and trusted Jesus for their salvation and they understood that He was the sacrificial lamb. But most did not. For most Jews there was a veil (a blindness) over their eyes at the time Jesus appeared to them 2000 years ago, and even today in the 21st Century, the Jewish Nation is, with rare exceptions, still blinded from being able to see and understand the truth that Jesus is their Yeshua, their Messiah!.

Romans 11:25-27 25

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer (Jesus) will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. 27. And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins."

John 12:37-41

37. Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in Him. 38. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: "Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" 39. For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40. "He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn--and I would heal them." 41. Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.

BUT, one day, this blindness will be removed. One day they will see the Lord God Jesus Christ, their Yeshua and Messiah, descending from Heaven in Glory, with His mighty armies, to rescue them from otherwise certain death and destruction at the Battle of Armageddon. It will be THEN that they finally recognize Him and acknowledge Him as their God, Lord, Savior, and KING!

Could it be that the Battle of Armageddon will come to its climax on the Day of Atonement? Could it be that it will be on that day that the Jewish Nation will finally see and recognize Jesus (Yeshua) for Who He really is -- their God and King -- as He rescues them at the very time when they are about to be annihilated by the forces of evil who have gathered around them and have encompassed them about with their armies?

Well, we don't have "retrospectoscopes"... so we can't be sure. But, it is a thought! And it seems possible that this is what is being pictured as the final shadow or type being presented in the Day of Atonement. For we do know that Jesus said in Matthew 23:36-39: "I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see Me again until you say, `Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord."

And, there is much more that could be said about the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), but we must continue on and look at the last of the 7 Annual Sacred Assemblies.

And, this last Feast of the 7 is perhaps the most interesting and unusual and exciting of them all. I am speaking, of course, of the Feast of Tabernacles. Let's look at it now.

The Feast of Tabernacles (Booths / Sukkot)

After Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), there was a short interval of time before the observance of the final Feast of the 7. Let's read about that interval and the Final Feast (the Feast of Booths / Tabernacles / Sukkot / Ingathering). As you read the following verses, as you have done before, underline or highlight in Red (or a color of your choice) what happens during this final feast.

Leviticus 23:33-44

33. The LORD said to Moses, 34. "Say to the Israelites: `On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the LORD's Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. 35. The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. 36. 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. 37. ("`These are the LORD's appointed feasts, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing offerings made to the LORD by fire--the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day. 38. These offerings are in addition to those for the LORD's Sabbaths and in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings you give to the LORD.) 39. "`So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the LORD for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. 40. On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. 41. Celebrate this as a festival to the LORD for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. 42. Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths 43. so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.'" 44. So Moses announced to the Israelites the appointed feasts of the LORD.

This Feast is also mentioned in some detail in Nehemiah. So, let's read those verses also. And, as you read these verses, as you did before, mark what happens.

Nehemiah 8:14-17

14. They found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in booths during the feast of the seventh month 15. and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: "Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make booths"--as it is written. 16. So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves booths on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim. 17. The whole company that had returned from exile built booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great.

Now, based on what you have studied, read, and marked, answer the following questions:

? When was the Feast of Trumpets observed? On the ____ day of the ____ th month.

? When was the Feast (Fast) of the Day of Atonement Observed? On the ____ day of the ____ the month.

? What are the days between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement called? Days of _________ .

? Briefly summarize in your own words what happens during the Feast of Trumpets, Days of Awe, and the Day of Atonement and explain how they are related.

? On what day did the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths / Sukkot) begin? On the ____ day of the ____ month.

? How many days are there between the Day of Atonement and the beginning of the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles / Sukkot)? = ______ days.

? What did the Israelites DO during the days between the Day of Atonement and the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles? (hint: see Leviticus 23:39).

? And, how many days does the Feast of Tabernacles last? ______ days.

? In what did the people LIVE during the Feast of Tabernacles? = In _____________

? What were the booths made of? (hint: see Nehemiah 8:15)

? What did "living in booths" picture or represent to the Jews about their PAST history? In other words, WHY did God tell them to do this? (Hint: Of what time and event was the "living in booths" intended to remind the Jews about their history?)

? What happened on the 8th Day of the Feast of Tabernacles?

Yes, you are correct, the Feast of Trumpets was observed on the 1st day of the 7th month and the Feast (Fast) of the Day of Atonement was observed on the 10th day of the 7 the month and the intervening days were called the Days of Awe. The Feast of Trumpets was the beginning of their New Year while the Days of Awe were solemn days of reflection and getting right with God and Man and these days culminated on the Day of Atonement when the final sacrifice required to provide access to God was given. We have discussed all of this in detail so will not go into the details now. But, I am sure that you gave a good summary and have an understanding of this.

So, to continue on with the answers to those "fill in the blank" questions, the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths / Sukkot/ Ingathering) began on the 15th day of the 7th month, and, therefore, began 5 days after the Day of Atonement. During those intervening 5 days, the Israelites worked in their fields, harvesting the final crop of the year. At the conclusion of that harvest, and with many of the harvested (ingathered) fruits and crops actually hanging on the walls of their booths (tabernacles / tents), the Feast of Tabernacles began, a feast which lasted 8 days (7 days of the Feast plus the Sacred Assembly which was held on the 8th day, so it is part of the Feast also).

The Feast of Tabernacles was a great Thanksgiving holiday, a fun and joyous harvest festival. (Indeed, some people believe that the Pilgrims in America patterned their first Thanksgiving celebration on this Jewish holiday.)

The Feast of Tabernacles occurred at the end of the fall harvest which concluded ALL of the harvests of the year. Their labors were finally over and a time of rest and fellowship and rejoicing began. The families were together, the harvest was over, and they could live together for a week (somewhat like camping out on a holiday or vacation of rest after a busy year of work) and rejoice in the fact that God had once again provided for them in every way during the year and through all the harvests, of which the final of the 3 annual harvests had been completed.

During the Days of the Feast of Tabernacles, the people lived in booths (tabernacles / tents) which were made of branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees. Living in booths was intended to remind the Jews of how their forefathers had wandered in the wilderness with no permanent homes or dwellings for 40 years after their exodus from Egypt. It was also intended to remind them that, during those 40 years of wandering, they had been totally provided for and constantly protected by their God. Therefore, during this festival, even to this very day, Jews, during the Feast of Tabernacles, live in booths and tents to remind themselves of these things.

Also, during those 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the Lord God Himself was a pilgrim with them and tabernacled (dwelt / lived) with them and among them. God not only dwelt with them, but he also led them, guiding and directing them by the pillar of cloud by day and by the Shekinah cloud of fire by night, through all of the 40 years, at the end of which He led them into their promised land.

On the 8th Day, and concluding the Feast of Tabernacles, there was a Solemn Assembly, another day of rest. We find this recorded in Leviticus 23:36b: 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.

So, on the last day of the feast, during the day of the Solemn Assembly and rest, there were various joyful celebrations. One of the events that occurred during this time of celebration was that the priest led a procession of Israelites down to the pool of Siloam in Jerusalem. At the pool, the priest filled a golden pitcher with water and then he and the others brought the water back to the temple where it was poured into one of two silver bowls at the altar. Then, as the feast ended, this bowl of water and the other bowl, which contained the wine of the drink offering, were poured out. Why is this important? Well, it is important because there is an event in the New Testament (recorded in John 7:2-39) which shows us the meaning and the FULFILLMENT of what this pictured.

Let's read that passage (John 7:2-39) and see what it is showing us as a FULFILLMENT of what this pictures. As you read this passage, underline or circle in RED (or a color of your choice), each occurrence of the name of the Feast being observed (or words, such as feast, the feast, it, etc., used in place of the name of the feast but which refer to it.) Also put a BLUE CROSS on or a BLUE CIRCLE around every occurrence of the Jesus words (such as Jesus, He, Him, You, Your, that man, this man, etc.)

John 7:2-39

2 But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus' brothers said to Him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples may see the miracles You do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world." 5 For even His own brothers did not believe in Him. 6 Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for Me has not yet come; for you any time is right. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify that what it does is evil. 8 You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for Me the right time has not yet come." 9 Having said this, He stayed in Galilee. 10 However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, He went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the Feast the Jews were watching for Him and asking, "Where is that man?" 12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about Him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others replied, "No, He deceives the people." 13 But no one would say anything publicly about Him for fear of the Jews. 14 Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?" 16 Jesus answered, "My teaching is not My own. It comes from Him Who sent Me. 17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own. 18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill Me?" 20 "You are demon-possessed," the crowd answered. "Who is trying to kill You?" 21 Jesus said to them, "I did one miracle, and you are all astonished. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a child on the Sabbath. 23 Now if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with Me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment." 25 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, "Isn't this the man they are trying to kill? 26 Here He is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to Him. Have the authorities really concluded that He is the Christ? 27 But we know where this man is from; when the Christ comes, no one will know where He is from." 28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, "Yes, you know Me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on My own, but He Who sent Me is true. You do not know Him, 29 but I know Him because I am from Him and He sent me." 30 At this they tried to seize Jim, but no one laid a hand on Him, because His time had not yet come. 31 Still, many in the crowd put their faith in Him. They said, "When the Christ comes, will He do more miraculous signs than this man?" 32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about Him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest Him. 33 Jesus said, "I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the One Who sent Me. 34 You will look for Me, but you will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come." 35 The Jews said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find Him? Will He go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? 36 What did He mean when He said, `You will look for Me, but you will not find Me,' and `Where I am, you cannot come'?" 37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let Him come to Me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this He meant the Spirit, Whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Wow!

What Feast was being observed in this passage? The Feast of ___________________ .

And, on what day of the 8 days of the Feast did this event recorded in John 7 occur? The ______ th day.

Underline in GREEN (or in a color of your choice) the verses, John 7:37 - 39.

Yes, on the last day (the 8th Day) of the Feast of Tabernacles, one of the events that occurred was that the priest led a procession of Israelites down to the pool of Siloam in Jerusalem. At the pool, the priest filled a golden pitcher with water and then he and the others brought the water back to the temple where it was poured into one of two silver bowls at the altar. Then, as the feast ended, this bowl of water and the other bowl which contained the wine of the drink offering were poured out.

Based on what you just read in John 7, you now know why is this water is important.

It is important because when Jesus says: "If anyone is thirsty, let Him come to Me and drink, He is referring to Himself as the __________ .

So, this event observed annually during the Feast of Tabernacles was picturing (shadowing as a type) the fact that ___________ is the water that is poured out as an offering..

And since God is Three-in-One (God the Father, God the Son / Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit), Jesus is explaining, in this passage in John, that not only is He (Jesus) the water, but that the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of God) is also the water, by saying:: Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

When Jesus said "Whoever believes in Me ... streams of living water will flow from within him."

Who is the "Whoever"? = ___________________________

Who is the "Me"? = _____________

Who is the "streams of living water" = the Holy _________ of God

Where is the "streams of living water" that flows= in the ________________

When will the "streams of living water" be in the believer? = ____________

Yes, anyone (Jew or Gentile) who believes that the Lord God Jesus Christ is God and confesses their sins to Him and accepts His gift of His death sacrifice for their salvation IS the "whoever" and Jesus is the "Me" and the "streams of living water" refer to both Jesus and His Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God, the Spirit that indwells believers.

But, since the events in John 7 occurred before Jesus' death on the Cross, therefore, Jesus said (in verse 39) that the Holy Spirit was not yet given but would be given later. We know this because verse 39 tells us "By this He meant the Spirit, Whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified."

Now, looking back at all of the 7 Feasts which we have studied,

What Feasts pictured and fulfilled Jesus' death on the cross = __________ & _____________

What Feast pictured and fulfilled Jesus' resurrection from the dead = ____________

What Feast pictured and fulfilled the giving of the Holy Spirit to Believers,

so that "streams of living water" flowed from them = ___________

WOW !!!!

And, I assume you correctly said that The Feasts which pictured and fulfilled Jesus' death on the cross were the Feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread and the Feast that pictured and fulfilled Jesus' resurrection from the dead is the Feast of Firstfruits. The Feast that pictured and fulfilled the giving of the Holy Spirit to the Believers, so that "streams of living water" flowed from them was the Feast of Pentecost (Weeks). This was, of course, the time when the "tongues of fire" (of the Holy Spirit) came upon the believers, indwelled them, and was manifested in them as the streams of living waters (the speaking in tongues and prophesying and doing good works and etc) which flowed from the believers.

So, In John 7, Jesus is explaining to the Jews some of the symbolisms and meanings of the Feast of Tabernacles, which were being pictured in the water and by the giving of the Holy Sprit, the fulfilments of which were soon to take place.

WOW again !!!!!

So, what does all of this mean? And, are there any other prophetic implications and pictures in the 7th Feast? Well, of course. The only "trouble" is, as mentioned before, that we do not have the benefit of the "retrospectoscope", so the conclusions we draw, may or may not be 100% correct. But, let's look at several more symbolisms and prophetic implications of this feast, the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths / Sukkot / Ingathering).

You recall that during the week of the Feast, the Israelites lived outdoors in "booths" or "lean-to" type structures which were of temporary construction and which were not meant to be permanent dwellings. Indeed, the "roofs" were such that when in the booths, one could look up and see the sky and stars. This was done on purpose, to remind the people that it was GOD Who had been their provider and protector during the years of wandering in the wilderness. But, It was also to remind them that God will always be with them and will always be their protector and provider if they will let Him be their God and Lord and Savior. Indeed, this is picturing as a future fulfillment, their coming protection by God during the Millennial (1000 year) time (still in the future) when they will tabernacle with God and he will be their protector and provider.

The branches of these booths were from different kinds of trees -- olive and wild olive trees, myrtles, palms, and (thick) shade trees. And, yes, just as you "suspected," these branches from which these temporary booths were made, are also symbolic pictures / shadows / types.

For example the shade trees ("thick trees" in KJV) picture the shade and Divine protection provided by God. Palm branches are used in many places in the Bible (especially in Psalms and Revelation) to picture the emblem of victory. The olive tree pictures peace and represents fatness and plenty. The myrtles ("willows" in KJV) picture a thriving and happy and blessed people who are planted by rivers of water.

And, there is prophetic and symbolic "typology" in the fact that the first and last days of this Feast were Sabbath rests. Again, without our "retrospectoscope" we can not be 100% sure, but it seems rather probable that the Millennial reign (the 1000 years) could likely be represented by the 7 days of the Feast of Tabernacles. And the 8th Day, the day of the Solemn Assembly, is likely picturing heaven and eternity, which begins at the conclusion of the 1000 years when the New Heavens and the New Earth are created and when those who have placed their trust in Jesus for their salvation will tabernacle with God forever in His eternal Kingdom.

So, yes, God tabernacled with and protected His people during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.

But, that is not all, God also tabernacled with His people almost 2000 years later, when He came, born of a virgin, to dwell on earth and to live and die to pay the final and perfect atoning sacrifice for sin and to redeem His people (and all who will come to Him for their salvation from sin).

Yes, the Lord God Jesus Christ was BORN on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles!!! Jesus was not born on Christmas day, but on the First day of the Feast of Tabernacles. We don't have time to go into this now or to give the details, but there is a short Bible Study on our web site http://BibleStudies.Net entitled "What really happened on Christmas Day?" which will explain this for you. And, wow, is it exciting !!! Be sure you check it out.

Anyway, continuing on -- The Feast of Tabernacles pictures for God's people (and us) several past, current, and future events

First, the Feast of Tabernacles was to be a reminder to the Jewish Nation of how God had provided for and cared for them during the 40 years of their wandering in the wilderness after their escape (exodus) from slavery in and to Egypt.

Then, the Feast of Tabernacles also pictured a coming future "tabernacling" of Jesus approximately 2000 years later.

And, The Feast of Tabernacles also pictured a Tabernacling of God with His people and with ALL who are His people, the Church (Jews and Gentiles who have put their faith and trust in Jesus for their salvation and atonement sacrifice). This Tabernacling was pictured and first fulfilled at the Feast of Pentecost when all who believed in Jesus for their salvation were filled with the streams of living waters of the Holy Spirit of God, the streams of living waters which enable the believers to live and serve their God.

But, this tabernacling of the Believer by the Holy Spirit is not only for those on the day of Pentecost. This filling (Tabernacling) of Belivers by the Holy Spirit of God and with His flowing streams of living waters is for ALL believers, from that day of Pentecost until the Lord returns to take His Church (the Believers) with Him to an unending and glorious time of rest, fellowship, and of serving and praising God in His Eternal Kingdom.

The purpose of this tabernacling and filling by the Holy Spirit is to empower the Believer and to direct and enable the "labors" and "works" of the Believer. Therefore, every person who acknowledges that he or she is a sinner and who accepts Jesus' gift of salvation is indwelled by the Holy Spirit of God, Who tabernacles with and within each and every believer. That is the meaning of the verses in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. I have printed them here for you.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Recalling what Jesus said in John 7, what does this confirm to us about the Holy Spirit? = That the Holy Spirit is _____ ALL believers.

Yes, since the Holy Spirit is IN all believers, He is, therefore, tabernacling with the believer. This means that the body of the believer is the ___________ / tabernacle / booth in which the Spirit dwells with the believer.

WOW!

Yes, The Holy Spirit is IN ALL Believers. The Holy Spirit is given to each individual believer at the time of the salvation of the believer (ie. when they trust in Christ for their salvation). Therefore, the Holy Spirit dwells in (tabernacles in) the body of the believer, the body which is a TEMPLE / tabernacle since the Holy Spirit of God is living within it.

But this not all that is pictured by the Feast of Tabernacles, there is still more. There is a still future Tabernacling of God with His people and with ALL who are His people (Jews and Gentiles who have put their faith and trust in Jesus for their salvation and atonement sacrifice). The next tabernacling that will occur (on the time-line of prophecy) is the 1000 years (Millennium) during which God will tabernacle with His People again. There will once again be a Temple of God in Jerusalem, the Holy city of God. This is the Third Temple which is Described in Ezekiel Chapters 40-48. And for 1000 years, God will dwell with His people (and with all who live on planet earth) and He will be their God and they will be His people.

And then, the final fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles will begin at the end of the 1000 year Millennial reign of God and will continue for eternity in the New Heavens and the New Earth.

WOW !!!!!

And, I wish we had the time to go into all of these various "Tabernacling" events in more detail but we really do not have time. These are very wonderful and involved topics and much is written about them in both the Old and the New Testaments (in Ezekiel, Daniel, Revelation, and in MANY other Books of the Bible).

But since we don't have the time to go into all the details, let's at least summarize some of what we have learned about the 7 Annual Feasts / Sacred Assemblies of God, Feasts which were decreed by God, in the Book of Leviticus, to be observed annually by the Jews, God's people.

The 7 Annual Feasts, as described in Leviticus, were important because they provided God's people, His nation of Israelites, a way to have temporary forgiveness and atonement for their sins so that they could have fellowship with Him.

But, these Feasts and the sacrifices in them were only temporary. The death and blood sacrifices of bulls and goats and other animals could only provide a temporary atonement for sin. A permanent and perfect atonement death and blood sacrifice was needed.

And that permanent and perfect sacrifice was was that of the Lord God Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah and Yeshua. Jesus is the Sacrifice, the Priest, and the King. It is the Lord God Jesus Christ and His once and for all perfect and atoning substitute sacrifice for sin who is clearly and repeatedly pictured in the shadows and types in these Feasts.

So, these 7 feasts, not only served as a temporary means of obtaining atonement, until Jesus came to be the ultimate and final sacrifice, but they also pictured, as shadows and types, their future fulfillments in Jesus, of the permanent and unending forgiveness, atonement, and fellowship with God which would be provided by Christ and which would be available to anyone who desired to obey and serve the Almighty Creator God of the Universe!

And, what were those prophetic types and fullments? Well, we have studied many of them in these 4 lessons on the Feasts. And, you will recall that at the beginning of this lesson there was a chart. Now, based on what we have studied, it is time for you to complete that chart. So, if you have not done that yet, do it now.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< Pause while you complete the chart <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

Well, in closing -- Yes, we have learned a lot about the 7 Sacred Assemblies (Feasts) which the Jewish people observe each year. But, there is so much more that these feasts picture and shadow for us -- much much more than we can even begin to cover in this "brief" study of the Feasts (Sacred Assemblies). This study only hit the highlights of a very rich understanding of what these Feasts picture and shadow as prophecies concerning Christ and future events. So, if you want to know more about the meaning of these things, I would suggest that you do extra reading and study. You will be thrilled at what you will learn.

And, there are many books which go into much more detail than we did in this brief study. One small book, which is a "classic", and which will give you more understanding and insights into the meaning of the Feasts and their components is: Thus Shall Thou Serve by C. W. Slemming. My paperback copy was published by the Christian Literature Crusade, Port Washington, Pa. in 1966. (ISBN # 87508-508-3). Ask your bookstore to order this for you if they don't have it.

And, there is a Video series (2 videos) which will add an even greater dimension to what you have learned. If you are doing this study with a group, you will surely want to include this video series as part of the study. And, even if you are studying on your own, you will still find this video set to be worth the expense. You can probably order it at your Christian bookstore or from the publisher. The Title of the series is The Holidays of God, Volumes 1 and 2 (it is a 2 video set). These were produced and published in 1997 by Discovery House Publishers Box 3566, Grand Rapids Michigan 49501, USA.

And, NO, we do NOT get ANY income or benefit from the sales of these or any Books, Videos, or any other materials that we recommend from time to time. We also had to purchase them at full price and only suggest them to you because we personally found them to be most helpful and edifying. We don't always agree with everything in them; but, much truth and many insights are provided in these supplemental materials. So, we suggest them for your consideration.

Well, there you have it, a very BRIEF overview of the 7 Feasts (Sacred Assemblies / Holidays) which the Jewish Nation is commanded to observe annually. And, as I said before, we have only touched the surface of all that is involved, pictured, and represented by these Sacred Assemblies.

In our next lesson, we will continue in this rich study of the Book of Leviticus. See 'ya there.

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