The Feast of Tabernacles will be here soon

Later this week, September 18 after sunset, is the start of the biblical Feast of Tabernacles. The “Feast of Tabernacles” along with the “The Last Great Day” is an 8-day Biblical pilgrimage festival, also known as the “Feast of Booths,” the “Feast of Tabernacles,” or simply “Tabernacles.”

In 7th day Church of God groups like the Continuing Church of God, it is one of the most important festivals as it lasts the longest and normally requires a great deal of preparation and travel to be able to attend. But it is normally the physical and spiritual highlight of the year for those that do observe it.

The Apostle Paul, after the Christ’s death and resurrection indicated that it was important to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. As it is noted in Acts 18:21,

21 I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.

The Feast of Tabernacles is significant for Christians. It pictures the reality of Christ’s reign on the earth and that this current world is simply temporal.

Perhaps it might be helpful to realize that Catholic scholars do admit that early Christians did observe the Feast:

St. Jerome (PL 25, 1529 & 1536-7) speaking of how the Judaeo-Christians celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles…tells us that they gave the feast a millenarian significance (Bagatti, Bellarmino. Translated by Eugene Hoade. The Church from the Circumcision. Nihil obstat: Marcus Adinolfi. Imprimi potest: Herminius Roncari. Imprimatur: +Albertus Gori, die 26 Junii 1970. Franciscan Printing Press, Jerusalem, p.202).

The faithful in the Continuing Church of God in the 21st century also believe that this Feast foreshadows the coming millennium. Millenarianism (a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth, often called the millennium) was taught by the early Christians.

Related to the Feast of Tabernacles, here is something from the Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God :

The Feast of Tabernacles, which shows a time of abundance, helps picture the millennial reign (Revelation 20:4-5) of Jesus Christ and His saints on the earth (Zechariah 14; Matthew 9:37-38; 13:1-30; Luke 12:32; John 7:6-14; Acts 17:31; Revelation 5:10, 12:9). This future paradise, following the near total destruction that humanity will have brought upon itself through its activities and the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord (Matthew 24:21-31), will help show humanity the advantages of God’s way of life. Every seven years, the law is to be read during this festival (Deuteronomy 31:10-13).

Christians who observe this festival believe that part of the reason that there will be peace is that people will all be taught the law of God, as teaching the law of God was an important part of this feast during the days of the children of Israel. Look at Deuteronomy chapter thirty-one, beginning with verse ten:

“At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of release, at the Feast of Tabernacles, when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the LORD your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess” (Deuteronomy 31:10-13).

Notice that this reading of the law was to happen every seven years. I had long felt that this needed to be done, but had been overlooked by most COG groups. But we in the Continuing Church of God plan to do that this year.

Out family is planning on observing the first half of the Feast of Tabernacles in Whangarei New Zealand, and expects to observe the second half in Santa Maria, California this year (see also Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2013). It is not too late for some others to attend either of those sites (or the one in Kenya).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians? Is this pilgrimage holy day still valid? Does it teach anything relevant for today’s Christians? What is the Last Great Day? What do these days teach?
The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time to Learn the Law The Bible teaches that every seven years that the law should be read at the Feast of Tabernacles. This is what I did at the first Feast site were I gave an actual sermon (as opposed to a sermonette) in 2006.
Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2013 This is information on the expected Feast of Tabernacles’ sites for the Continuing Church of God for 2013. The Feast in 2013 begins the evening of September 18.
Is Second Tithe and Third Tithe Still Valid Today? Should you save and use second tithe? Some in the COGs no longer teach payment of third tithe, is this biblically correct?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by the Tkach WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days. (Here is a related link in Spanish/español: Calendario Anual de Adoración –Una crítica basada en la Biblia y en la Historia: ¿Hay un Calendario Anual de Adoración en la Biblia?
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2024, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂 In the Spanish/Español/Castellano language: Calendario de los Días Santos.