SUKKOT (Feast of Tabernacles) an explanation

[Jacob Ben Avraham]

SUKKOT" (The Feast of Tabernacles) a brief explanation

Bible verses to read: EX 23:16 , LEV 23:34; 42-43, DEUT 29:5, 1 KINGS 8, JOHN 7


The Torah tells us that there are 3 important feasts that are to be celebrated, as the scripture tells us . "going up to Jerusalem" these are the "moedim" the Hebrew word for "feast" the Torah explains these as "times and seasons' not referring to the "weather" but to important days in YHVH's calendar of events during the year. these events are ;

1. Passover, "Shavuot" or the "Feast of weeks" in other words, "Pentecost" and the "Feast of Tabernacles" or "Sukkot", other words are the "Feast of the Ingathering" the "Feast of Booths".

Some ask why these feasts are important? aren't they Jewish feast? These are feasts that will be celebrated during the Millenium, by ALL believers in ALL nations. and those nations that don't celebrate, will NOT receive rain.

"Sukkot" is the plural word for "Sukkah" which is a "temporary dwelling" in the desert, the Israelites lived in tents. YHVH also lived in the Tabernacle or in Hebrew "Mishkan" Since they were always on the move, God moved with them, guiding them all the steps of the way

"Sukkot"symbolizes; "The provision of YHVH for his people" and the "presence of God with his people" YHVH came down on Mt. Sinai to join together all 12 tribes as ONE NATION, then he came down to dwell with his people in the Mishkan . a thousand years later, God came to earth again, but this time in the flesh, as YESHUA who was born around this time (not on the 25th of December) as this date is pagan and comes from Rome. The next time, YHVH came to his people on "Shavuot" or "Pentecost" in the form of the Holy Spirit to indwell in the bodies of ALL believers. We have his presence today with us, within us. Our own bodies are "sukkot" to retain the Spirit of God until HE decides to tak us home. The next time, Yeshua will return to govern the whole earth during the Millennium, and we will be with him then as well.

Sukkot is a time of harvest, the harvest of the fruit of the earth, such as grapes, olives, dates, etc. During the Spring time, during Passover, it was the Barley harvest, then during the summer, at Shavuot, the wheat harvest. then during the fall, we come to "Sukkot".

This feast time reminds us of the American holiday of "Thanksgiving" which was fashioned after "Sukkot" giving the thanks to God for all of his provision, in that case, God used the "Wampanoag" Indian tribe to assist and teach the pilgrams how to grow food.

In 1 Kings 8, King Solomon finishes the temple on
Sukkot, on of the things he did was to sacrifice 70 bulls
We ask "why 70?" there were 70 original nations that came from the seed of Noah, from his sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. This symbolizes the provision of YHVH for ALL nations of the world, through the blood of Messiah Yeshua, ALL nations have eternal life through Messiah Yeshua, but it is still an individual choice to either accept or reject the gift of salvation.

This feast of Sukkot lasted 7 days, symbolic of 7000 years of earth history, the year 7 thousand being the millennium (for a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day). On the 7th day, the "Great Day" (Hoshana raba) the priests went down to the pool of Siloam and brought pitchers of water, and poured out the water at the base of the altar, another priest poured out wine, mixing the two together. This symbolizes the "blood and water" that came from Messiah's side when the Roman soldier pierced the side of Yeshua with a spear.

It was at this time, that Yeshua spoke to the people and said, "I AM the living water" a revelation of him being the Messiah (read John 7) The priests and people had in their hands three classes of green plants,

1. Palm branches, myrtle, and willow, there was also an "etrog" which is similar to a lemon, but it is bigger
These are waved to the North, South, East, and West, Up and down, the etrog is placed in the left hand and next to the heart, the etrog symbolizes the "beauty of our Messiah, Messiah's heart of love, The palm branch symbolizes our righteousness through Messiah, our "steadfastness" in our faith. The myrtle = praise and rejoicing, and our "eyes" on HIM. The willow= humility, humbleness, as our suffering servant had.

When these are shaken 3 times to the North, South, East and West, Up and down, we can see this as Messiah's provision for ALL people, in all 4 corners of the world The willows are also beaten on the ground, symbolizing what our Messiah had to go through for us, being beaten by a Roman whip .

There is the 8th, day, in which we celebate "Simchat Torah" or "rejoicing in having God's WORD with us" this is when the scroll is rolled back to Genesis again, the number 8 is the number of "new beinnings" the Torah begins again, a never-ending cycle of study and fellowship.

Remember that this Feast is for ALL believers to celebrate, no matter what denomination of Christianity you might be a part of, as well as all Jewish denominations.

Ben Avraham