All mankind is to love YHWH our Elohim with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength. Understanding this, many have said that any day is a good and proper day to worship YHWH. This is true. But rather than observing the Festivals YHWH has used to reveal His plan for mankind, many have substituted many holidays, Christmas, Easter, New Year's Day, and many more in place of YHWH's Festivals. Because of this, man has lost sight of YHWH's wonderful plan of salvation and man's true destiny!

Read this article and check it out in your Bible...You may be surprised. Remember what the wise writer of Proverbs said, "He that answers a matter before he hears it is folly and shame unto him." - Proverbs 18:13

In the 12th chapter of Exodus, while the Children of Israel were still in Egypt, prior to the time when YHWH revealed to Moses and the Israelites that He would make a covenant with them — we find YHWH’s annual Festivals being observed.

In the 23rd chapter of Leviticus we find a summary of these annual Festivals or set feasts. The reason for calling them Appointed or Set-Apart Days is because as each day is given it states that this day is a "Set-Apart Convocation," Set-Apart assembly.

Now when YHWH made the Sabbath for man, He gave man a rest-day carrying great significance and purpose. To His Assembly in the wilderness, YHWH said that the Sabbath was a covenant Sign between Him and His people. (Exodus 31:13) A sign is a supernatural proof of identity. It is the sign by which WE KNOW that He is Elohim. How does it prove that to us? "“For in six days יהוה made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore יהוה blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart." It is a memorial of Creation.

And creation is the proof of the existence of YHWH. Creation identifies YHWH. The Sabbath is a weekly memorial of creation. A weekly reminder of YHWH’s power to create. Therefore it identifies YHWH to us. — It keeps us in the true memory of true worship of the true Elohim. Many have said we should worship YHWH every day, and this point is conceded. But could worshipping YHWH on any other day but the Seventh day of the week have that great a significance and meaning? Worshipping YHWH on the Seventh day was designed to keep us in the true worship of YHWH.

The Purpose of YHWH’s Festivals

Now in like manner, when YHWH gave His People seven ANNUAL Sabbaths, YHWH, in His wisdom, had a great purpose. These days, too, were given to keep YHWH’s children in the true memory and worship of YHWH by keeping us constantly in the understanding of YHWH’s great plan of redemption. For these annual days picture the different epochs in the Plan of spiritual creation and mark the dispensations, and picture their meaning.

The whole story of spiritual regeneration was, in these Festivals, to be reenacted year after year continually. They have vitally important symbolism and meaning. These Festivals or Set-Apart Convocations, were commanded to be kept by YHWH’s chosen people for ever. We ask the reader to retain an open mind.

Thus YHWH purposed to impress the truths these Festivals and "high" Sabbaths picture upon all the minds of His children through all time, keeping His Assembly in the true understanding of HIS PLAN!

Passover

This is the beginning of YHWH’s plan for mankind. Starting in Exodus 12 and skimming through verses one through fourteen (1) "

Exo 12:14 ‘And this day shall become to you a remembrance. And you shall observe it as a festival to יהוה throughout your generations – observe it as a festival, an everlasting law.

The slain lamb, without blemish, represented Our Messiah. As the children of Israel had to come under the blood of this slain lamb, we, too, have to come under the blood of Yahshua Messiah for salvation. Many places in the Bible mention Messiah as a lamb. When John saw Jesus approaching him he said, "Behold the Lamb of Elohim who takes away the sins of the world." John 1:29. Also Peter says in 1st Peter 1:18, 19, "You were redeemed by the precious blood of Messiah, as a lamb without blemish and without spot."

The night before He was taken to be impaled, while eating the last meal Messiah used bread and wine to symbolize truth. Knowing that He was going to fulfill the real meaning of the Passover, "He took bread and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave it unto them saying, This is my body which is given for you; this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you." Luke 22:19, 20. In John 13:4, 5 he writes, "He (Messiah) rose from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded," John 13:13, 14. He continues, “You call me Teacher and Master, and you say well, for I am.

Joh 13:14 “Then if I, Master and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

Messiah was the Lamb sacrificed on Passover. But should we not take bread and wine as a memorial to Messiah’s death? Do you see the wonderful meaning? Do you grasp the true significance of it all? Do you see YHWH's purpose? The Passover pictures the death of our Messiah for the remission of sins that are past. Now let us consider the second part of YHWH’s plan for the redemption of mankind.

Exo 12:16 ‘And on the first day is a set-apart gathering, and on the seventh day you have a set-apart gathering. No work at all is done on them, only that which is eaten by every being, that alone is prepared by you.

Let us learn the full significance of this. Why did YHWH ordain these Festival days? What was His great purpose? Turn now to Exodus 13 verse 3 - "Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which you came out from Mitsrayim." "Seven days thou shall eat unleavened bread, and the seventh day shall be a Feast unto the Eternal". . .

Exo 13:10 “And you shall guard this law at its appointed time from year to year.

Do you grasp the true significance of it all? Do you see YHWH’s purpose? The Passover pictures the death of Messiah for the remission of sins that are past. The accepting of His blood does not forgive sins we shall commit. It does not give us license to continue in sin — therefore when we accept it, our sins are forgiven only up to that time.

Shall we stop there with only past sins forgiven? We are still flesh beings. We still suffer temptations. Sin has held us in its clutch! We have been slaves to sin, in its power. And we are powerless to deliver ourselves from it. We have been in bondage to sin just like the Israelites were in bondage to Mitsrayim! To what extent shall we come out of sin? Not partly but completely! And as leaven is also a type of sin — leaven puffs up, and so does sin — and as seven is looked upon as YHWH’s number symbolizing completeness, the Passover is followed with seven days of unleavened bread.

Shall we leave Our Messiah symbolically hanging on the tree? The seven days of unleavened bread following Passover, picture to us the complete putting away of sin, and obedience to YHWH’s instructions after our past sins are forgiven. They picture the life and work of the risen Messiah who ascended to the throne of YHWH where He is now actively at work in our behalf as our High Priest, cleansing us of sin. . . delivering us completely from its power. . . The early assembly observed the Days Of Unleavened Bread, notice Acts 20:6 "We sailed away from Philippi, after the Days of Unleavened Bread." Paul and his companions plainly had observed the days of unleavened bread at Philippi. The Set-Apart Spirit would not have inspired these words otherwise. Likewise notice Acts 12:3-4, "Then were the days of unleavened bread," why this, if those days had in YHWH’s sight, ceased to exist. This was after the impalement and resurrection. The days of unleavened bread still existed, or the Set-Apart Spirit would not have inspired "then were the days of unleavened bread."

Pentecost or Feast of First-fruits or Feasts of Weeks

Next in order of YHWH’s plan for mankind comes Pentecost. The word "Pentecost" is a Greek word, used in the Apostolic Scriptures (sometimes erroneously referred to as the New Testament), but not in the Tanakh (sometimes erroneously referred to as the Old Testament.. It signifies "fifty." In the Tanakh (Torah, or Law, Prophets, and Writings) this day is called "Feast of First-fruits," and "Feast of Weeks." In Leviticus 23:9-10-11, "

Lev 23:11 ‘And he shall wave the sheaf before יהוה, for your acceptance. On the morrow after the Sabbath the priest waves it.

(The Israelites were not allowed to harvest any early grain crop until this day.) This was a very important event in that it foreshadowed the resurrection and acceptance of the Son into heaven by the Father. Verse 15-16

Lev 23:16 ‘Until the morrow after the seventh Sabbath you count fifty days, then you shall bring a new grain offering to יהוה.

Verse 21 "And on this same day you shall proclaim a set-apart gathering for yourselves, you do no servile work on it – a law forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations." This is the very feast that Yahshua's disciples were observing as recorded in Acts 2:1 "And when the day of (Feast of First-fruits) was fully come, (being observed) they were all with one accord in one place." This is the day YHWH manifested His Set-Apart Spirit to the Assembly. Messiah had told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for this power.

In Palestine there are two annual harvests. First produced by the early rain, is the spring grain harvest, second, produced by the "latter rain," comes the main harvest . . . the much greater fall harvest. YHWH intended His Festivals to picture to His Assembly repeatedly year by year the fact that only those He Himself calls during this age can become His begotten children now. We are merely the first fruits of the great spiritual harvest. As Passover symbolized Messiah’s sacrifice for the remission of our sins and the days of unleavened bread, the coming out of sin. Feast of First-fruits pictures the first part of the spiritual harvest — the calling out of the Assembly or Congregation— the called-out ones which began with the Feast of First-fruits recorded in Acts 2. — On that day the fullness of the Set-Apart Spirit came to dwell within flesh, as prophesied in Joel 2:28.

The two wave-loaves were brought out of the habitations of the congregation as the first fruits unto the Elohim. So the assembly was gathered out of an apostate, Messiah-rejecting congregation of Yahudim, as the first fruits of His salvation. (Leviticus 23:17).

Most Not Now Called

YHWH has not cast away His people, Israel. But He allowed them to blinded themselves until the end of Gentile Times, so that through their fall, salvation came to the Gentiles, who, through Messiah, are individually grafted in, or spiritually adopted into, the family of Israel. (Please see elsewhere in other articles the explanation that the lost tribes, sometime referred to as Ephraim, were considered and called "Gentiles" by the Yahudim in the time of Our Messiah. Our Messiah said he came only to the lost tribes).

Act 15:17 so that the remnant of mankind shall seek יהוה, even all the gentiles on whom My Name has been called, says יהוה who is doing all this,’

Tabernacle can signify worship. During this present Assembly age, the peoples of Judah and Israel are blinded. Their assembly "tabernacle" is fallen down. However, Messiah will return, and then the rest of men — blinded Israel, and Gentiles alike, will seek after YHWH when Satan is chained, and Messiah reigns as King of kings!

Those of the First fruits of His salvation, made immortal, will then reign with Him, as kings and priests in the wonderful work of building a new civilization.

During this time Israel is mostly blinded until the fullness of the Gentiles come in; and so (Rom. 11:26) all Israel shall, then, be saved from sin; for the deliverer shall come out of Zion! All Israel shall be brought to repentance and saved from sin — how? Because Messiah turns ungodliness from mortal Israel by forgiving sin and allowing them to obtain mercy.

Our Father's great Plan of redemption is so great and so wonderful, when we understand it, as we see it pictured in these annual Festivals of YHWH!

Only First Harvest Now

In James 1:18, Romans 8:23, for example, the saints of this dispensation are called the first fruits of Elohim’s salvation. This dispensation, and the picking out of these people to bear His name began on the Festival of Pentecost. This feast annually pictures this great event — in YHWH’s redemptive plan!

Notice, too, that these Festivals, Unleavened Bread, and Feast of First-fruits, fell at the spring of the year, and the great events they pictured occurred at the beginning.!

The remaining Festivals coming at the end of the harvest season all symbolize tremendous events in YHWH’s Plan of redemption to occur, yet future, at the end of the dispensation! They all come in the seventh month as YHWH recognizes time.

We must ask, what is YHWH’s plan for the rest of mankind—those who are not a part of the “first-fruits” at this time?

Are they — the majority of all living, eternally Lost because they never heard — are they lost and condemned? A common teaching is that God has cast away His people Israel, and they are eternally doomed and lost. (Please see The Judgment).

During this time Israel is blinded in part — but only until the completion of this Gentile dispensation. During this time, only the minority of Gentiles have heard and understood that salvation is through the name of Yahshua Messiah.

The Good News of the coming Kingdom of YHWH, and disciples of Messiah are to be made of those who come to repentance. However, though many have been called during this time, only few actually chosen, and still fewer have remained faithful to the end.

Those now gathered are the First fruits, only, of God’s Plan of Salvation. This period, then is calling and choosing the "first-fruits" of those to be saved. They are being tried and tested to be prepared for positions as kings and priests in the coming Kingdom of Elohim, to affect, then, the real salvation of the world.

They shall be made immortal and shall reign with Messiah as kings and priests. Israel’s blindness will be removed. They were blinded until the end of Gentile times and the heavens received Messiah until these times of restitution of all things (Acts 3:21).

When Messiah Returns

It is then that YHWH shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people — Israel (Isa. 11:11).

Isa 66:16 “For by fire and by His sword יהוה shall judge all flesh, and the slain of יהוה shall be many –

. . . “And I shall set a sign among them, and shall send some of those who escape to the nations – Tarshish and Pul and Luḏ, who draw the bow, and Tuḇal and Yawan, the coastlands afar off who have not heard My report nor seen My esteem. And they shall declare My esteem among the gentiles." (Isa. 66:15, 16, 19).

Then it is that "living waters shall go out from Jerusalem," and the Gentile nations that have not HEARD previously "shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles!" (Zechariah 14:8, 16).

This applies to the glorious time of the Kingdom of YHWH. What a wonderful Plan of Redemption!

Adam sinned. All have sinned. From Adam to now we behold a chronicle of man without Elohim — of human suffering and failure.

And thus YHWH, in His great wisdom, has permitted men to prove to themselves what sinners they are! — how helpless they are, of themselves!

And finally we shall have to learn the lesson that it is only when YHWH Himself undertakes to save all mankind — by sending His Son Our Messiah, this time to rule with a rod of iron, that the world can really be saved! And so, those now being saved are a First fruits of salvation, and will have the very great honor of being Messiah’s assistants in that wonderful Kingdom work of redemption!

THAT is YHWH’s true Plan of Redemption, as taught from Genesis to Revelation! And how contrary to the popular teaching! But it is the Plan, nevertheless, pictured in YHWH’s annual Festivals.

Pentecost Observed By Church Of God

Just as we found the Assembly of YHWH continuing to observe the Days of Unleavened Bread and the Passover, so they continued to observe Feast of First-fruit (Pentecost from the Greek).. Read it: I Cor. 16:8, Acts 20:16.

Had they not been assembled in a set-apart convocation on the first Feast of Weeks, we never could have read in our Scriptures the sublime record of the second chapter of Acts!

Here is pictured to us that next blessed event in YHWH’s redemptive Plan, when Messiah shall come again, in clouds, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the TRUMP OF ELOHIM (I Thes. 4: 14-17).

It shall be "at the Last Trump for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (I Cor. 15:52).

Unless Messiah returns to Resurrect the dead we would never gain eternal life — if there is no resurrection "then also those fallen asleep in Messiah have perished" (I Cor. 15:18).

Messiah directly intervenes in world affairs at the seventh of the last trump (Rev. 11:15-19). A trumpet is a symbol of war. He comes in a time of worldwide war — when the nations are angry! As soon as the work of gathering in the First fruits is completed at the end of this present age, then Messiah will begin to set up again the tabernacle of David (Acts 15:16) — to set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people (Isa. 11:11) — to search out and to find His lost sheep that the ministers of the assemblies have failed to search out and seek and find and save during this period (Ezek. 34:1-14).

Notice exactly WHEN this takes place! "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great Trumpet shall be blown, and they [Israel] shall come which were ready to perish . . . and shall worship the Eternal in the set-apart mount at Jerusalem" (Isa. 27:13).

And perhaps the esteemed coming may occur, in whatever year it may be, on the very day of Trumpets! — who knows? The impalement was upon the Passover. The fullness of the Set-Apart Spirit came on the Feast of First-fruits. Had not those disciples been observing this annual Festival — had they not been assembled there in set-apart convocation — would they have received that blessing of the indwelling presence of the Set-Apart Spirit? Repeatedly Messiah warned us to watch! regarding His coming.

Trumpets is a day of rejoicing — and, as the weekly Sabbath, Set-apart unto YHWH. (Neh. 8:2, 9-12). The Levites were to blow the trumpet (Num. 10:8).

Again, in the 16th chapter of Leviticus, verses 29 and 31, where the symbolism of the Day of Atonement is explained, we find it instituted a set-apart Sabbath to be kept forever! "And this shall be a statute forever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country or a stranger that sojourns among you. . . It shall be a Sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute forever."

Notice, too, in Lev. 23:32, the _expression "from even unto even shall ye celebrate your Sabbath." Many a Sabbath-keeper quotes this passage to show that the Sabbath begins at sunset. If we believe that, then why not keep the Sabbath that this very text is speaking of — the annual high Sabbath of the Day of Atonement, instituted forever? Are we consistent, when we continually quote this text to show when to begin the Sabbath, and then refuse to keep the very Sabbath referred to?

Meaning Pictured By Day Of Atonement

The Day of Atonement pictures a wonderful and great event, to take place after the next coming of Messiah.

The symbolism is all expressed in the account of the events of the Day of Atonement, as carried out before the crucifixion, in the 16th chapter of Leviticus.

Verse 5 — "And he [Aaron, or the High Priest] shall take of the Congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering."

Verse 6—The high priest offered a sin offering for HIMSELF and his house.

Verses 7 and 8 — "

Lev 16:7 “And he shall take the two goats and let them stand before יהוה at the door of the Tent of Meeting.

Lev 16:8 “And Aharon shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for יהוה and the other lot for Azazel."

Etymology of the Word Not Clear.—The word "Azazel" has been the subject of much dispute and conjecture through the centuries. Many scholars agree that it is "a phrase of unusual difficulty" (Smith and Peloubet, A Dictionary of the Bible, p. 65); "the origin and meaning of the goat 'for Azazel' are indeed obscure" (George B. Stevens, The Christian Doctrine of Salvation, p. 11); "that its etymology is not clear" (T. W. Chambers, "Satan in the Old Testament," Presbyterian and Reformed Review, vol. 3, p. 26).

It must be understood, therefore that the use of azazel here in Leviticus is not clearly defined. All good Scripture students understand that an obscure usage of a word in one scripture cannot be used to establish doctrine, and must be in agreement with the teachings of other scriptures.

What is the Scriptural Truth?

Please consider the following:

The Scriptures tell us one goat would be sacrificed "for a sin offering" (Leviticus 16:9). The sin offering represented Messiah's death on the stake. The other goat would be sent "into the desert as a scapegoat" after the sins from the sanctuary had been placed upon its head (Leviticus 16:10, 20-22). This scapegoat represented Messiah's removal of our sins from us "as far as the east is from the west" (Psalm 103:11-12). Thus in the symbolism of the two goats is seen Messiah's complete atonement for sin: His death on the stake is the payment for our sins, and His High Priestly ministry completely cleanses us of our sins (1 John 1:9; Hebrews 2:17; 10:11-14).

Studying the Term "Scapegoat"

The Hebrew term for "scapegoat" is "azazel" (Strongs 5799; TWOT 1593). Strong's concordance defines "azazel" as the "goat of departure, scapegoat." There is no hint in Strong's definition that the scapegoat represents Satan. The term "azazel" means "goat that departs," it does not mean evil spirit, devil, or Satan, as some have taught.

Perhaps the most scholarly research currently available on the scapegoat is to be found in the Theological Word Book of the Old Testament, vol. 2., pages 657 and 658, which are quoted here:

"AZAZEL - This word appears four times in the Old Testament, all in Leviticus 16:8, 10, 26; where the ritual for the Day of Atonement is described. After the priest has made atonement for himself and his house, he is to take two goats on behalf of Israel. One is to be a sacrifice to the LORD (YHWH), the other is to be the 'scapegoat,' i.e. the goat for Azazel. In all four appearances of this word, it has the preposition 'to' attached to it.

The Meaning of "Azazel"

"This word ("azazel") has been variously understood and translated. The versions (the Septuagint, Symmachus, Theodotian and the Vulgate) have understood it to stand for the 'goat that departs,' considering it to be derived from two Hebrew words: 'eez' = goat, and 'azeal' = turn off. By associating it with the Arabic word 'azala' = banish, remove, it has been rendered 'for entire removal.'

"The rabbinic interpretation has generally considered this word to designate the place to which the goat was sent: a desert, a solitary place, or the height from which the goat was thrown (cf. Leviticus 16:22).

"The final possibility is to regard this word as designating a personal being so as to balance the word 'Lord.' In this way Azazel could be an evil spirit (cf. 2 Chronicles 11:15; Isaiah 34:14; Revelation 18:2) or even the devil himself, standing logically in antithesis to Lord. However the Enoch references (Enoch 8:1; 10:4) to Azazel as a demon are doubtless dependent on the author's own interpretation of Leviticus 16 and Genesis 6:4. Some who adopt this demon reference of Leviticus 16 also consider the passage to be of late authorship (P document).

Removal of Sin

"The actual use and meaning of this word in Leviticus 16 is at best uncertain. However, regardless of its precise meaning, the significant dimension is the removal of the sins of the nation by the imposition of them on the goat. In this passage sin seems to be hypostatized and therefore readily transferable to the goat. Indeed verses 21 and 22 state that this goat is to bear away the sin of the people. Such a ritual would illustrate vividly the physical removal of defilement from the camp to a solitary place where it would no longer infest the nation.

A Scapegoat Parallelism

"A parallel to the scapegoat can be seen in the ritual for a recovered leper. Two birds were selected. One was to be killed and both the leper and the living bird were to be touched with its blood. Then the living bird was released. This bird carried away the evil, the leprosy itself, into the open field and then the leper was pronounced clean (Leviticus 14:1-19).

"There is also a parallel for the scapegoat in Babylonian ritual. In the New Year's Day Festival a slain sheep was removed and cast into the river. The person who carried out this assignment was considered unclean as was the person who released the goat in the wilderness (on the Day of Atonement [Leviticus 16:26]).

"This concept of the removal of guilt can be seen in Psalm 103:12 where YHWH 'removes' our transgressions from us.

Apostolic Scriptures Use "Takes Away"

"In the Gospel of John , John the Baptist identified Yahshua as the Lamb of Elohim which takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29, 36). This language is sacrificial, yet nowhere in the Law is a lamb spoken of as a bearer of the people's sins. The paschal lamb is not a sin offering. The description of the Savior as a lamb is unknown to late Judaism. Furthermore, the phrase 'the lamb of Elohim (God)' is an unparalleled genitive combination. John may have had in mind that Messiah as the paschal lamb bespeaks our great deliverance from the bondage of sin. However, what seems more likely is that he had a complex of ideas in mind. Some words of Isaiah 53 are discernible here: 'as a sheep led to the slaughter, and a lamb dumb before its shearers ... whose soul was made a guilt offering ... and who bore the sin of many." But also discernable here is an allusion to the scapegoat. This fact is clearly seen in the words "takes away" (1 John 3:5). In Christ are consummated all the atonement concepts of the Old Testament" --TWOT, vol. 1, pages 657-658.

Please note that in Leviticus 16:5 we are told that both goats are to taken from the Children of Israel as a sin offering. (Can Satan be a sin offering???)

Thus we see the two goats representing the two halves of Messiah's atonement for sin. Neither one gives us the full picture of forgiveness and removal of sin. Satan has nothing to do at all with Messiah's forgiveness of our sins, nor with Messiah's removal of our sins.

It is understood that sins, when repented of, are blotted out and cease to exist. There is no scriptural basis for belief that they are somehow stored and then placed on Satan at a later point in time.

The question must be asked, "Would it not be blasphemy to refer to one half of Messiah's atonement for sin as being carried out by Satan?"

Please see the articles "Azazel (The Scapegoat): A Shadow of Messiah or Satan?" and "Are Sins Blotted Out?"

Feast of Tabernacles

Now we come to the festival of Tabernacles — or Feast of Booths — the sixth festival. Let us notice the instruction concerning this occasion:

Here is the festival of Tabernacles, to be kept for seven days, beginning the 15th day of the seventh month. Notice Leviticus 23:33-35:

On the FIRST of these days is a SET-APART GATHERING. No work is to be done. ". . . (Lev. 23:40-41)

Here are pictured those FINAL culminating events in God’s great PLAN: AFTER Messiah has died for our sins to redeem mankind — AFTER He has sent us the Set-Apart Spirit and picked out a people for His Name to become kings and priests through the thousand years — AFTER He has finally restored the redeemed His people, thus finally perfecting the ATONEMENT, making us finally joined in one — then we are ready for that final series of events, the commencement of the "MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB," the final actual MAKING of the RENEWED COVENANT, the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth and the reaping of the great harvest of souls.

Pictures The Thousand Years

To portray His PLAN, YHWH took the yearly material harvest seasons in Palestine as the picture of the spiritual harvest of souls. In Palestine there are two annual harvests. The first, produced by the early rain, is the spring grain harvest. Second, produced by the "latter rain," comes the main harvest — the much greater fall harvest.

Now notice when the festival of tabernacles is to be held: "at the year’s end" (Ex. 34:22). In this verse the festival of tabernacles or booths is specifically called the "feast of ingathering." The harvest year ended at the beginning of autumn. Just as Feast of Firstfruits pictures the early harvest — this age, so the festival of ingatherings or tabernacles pictures the fall harvest — the great harvest of souls!

Today is not the ONLY day of salvation. Today is a day of salvation. Isaiah said so: chapter 49, verse 8. In fact, the original Greek words of Paul in II Cor. 6:2 should be translated "A day of salvation," not "the day of salvation."

Turn for a few minutes to the book of Zechariah to understand this more thoroughly. In the 12th and 13th chapters we have a picture of Messiah returning and the reconciliation of the world commencing. Here the meaning of the festivals of trumpets and atonement is made plain.

Zec 14:11 And they shall dwell in her, and there shall be no more utter destruction, but Yerushalayim shall be safely inhabited.

In that day, when the earth is safely inhabited, when the Set-Apart Spirit is available and granted to all mortal flesh that comes to repentance, what happens?

Zec 14:16 And it shall be that all who are left from all the gentiles which came up against Yerushalayim, shall go up from year to year to bow themselves to the Sovereign, יהוה of hosts, and to observe the Festival of Booths.

Everyone To Keep The Feast Of Tabernacles

Notice this 16th verse of Zechariah 14— mortal Gentiles who have not yet received salvation — will come to Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles!

And what will happen if they refuse to obey God? "And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain."

The nations will keep the Feast of Tabernacles, from year to year, when YHWH is ruling here on earth.

Now many customarily quote Isaiah 66:23, to show that the Sabbath will be kept during the thousand years, as proof we must keep it now. Will we, then, when we read Zech. 14:16, showing that the Feast of Tabernacles will be kept during the thousand years, be consistent by keeping it today?

Can individuals prepare to be Sons of YHWH — a king and priest — ruling with Messiah on His throne, assisting Him at that time, if we do not now keep these festivals? Notice that Yahshua kept the Feast of Tabernacles. The apostle John devoted an entire chapter of his gospel — the seventh chapter — to describe what Yahshua (Jesus in some translations) said and did during the Feast of Tabernacles in the last year of His ministry.

Why Called The Feast of Tabernacles

During the thousand years, the Kingdom of YHWH into which we may be born will rule the nations which are composed of mortal men begotten by the Spirit of YHWH. All of the mortals alive during the millennium will still be heirs to the Kingdom of YHWH. They will not yet have inherited it as long as they remain mortal flesh, for "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of YHWH" (I Cor. 15:50).

Remember that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were merely heirs when they dwelled on earth (Heb. 11:9). While heirs they dwelled in tabernacles or booths, sojourning in the land of promise. Booths or temporary dwellings pictured that they were not yet inheritors. Thus we read of the Feast of Tabernacles that "Ye shall dwell in booths seven days . . . that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt" (Lev. 23:43). Israel dwelled in booths in the wilderness before they entered the promised land. Those booths pictured that they were only heirs. Even during the thousand years, when the Kingdom of YHWH is ruling over mortal nations, the people will be only heirs to the Kingdom. They must overcome their carnal nature and grow in grace and knowledge and wisdom to inherit the promises.

For additional information on what takes place during the thousand year reign of Messiah, please see the accompanying article The Judgment.

Yet Another Festival! The Eighth Day

Did you notice that the Feast of Tabernacles is only the sixth festival? There is yet another — the seventh!

The Feast of Tabernacles is, strictly speaking, seven days long — to picture the entire thousand years. Seven is YHWH’s number of completeness. Therefore, there must also be seven festivals. Let us notice where it is mentioned: "On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto YHWH. . . On the eighth day shall be a set-apart gathering unto you. . . it is a day of solemn assembly; ye shall do no manner of servile work" (Lev. 23:34, 36).

This eighth day, technically a separate feast, is called "the last day, that great day of the feast" (John 7:37). (However, it must be noted that some believe this is speaking of the seventh day of Tabernacles as Judaism had made it the primary day of cutting branches and waving them in the temple--this was the reason for the first postponement rule of their calendar--so the seventh day of Tabernacles could never fall on a weekly Sabbath, lest their tradition of cutting and waving the branches violate the Sabbath.)

In the Scriptures, the Hebrews celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles, or Feast of the Ingathering (sukkot), which lasted seven days. The Eighth Day is the "additional day" added to the end of the Feast of Tabernacles. For seven days the children of Israel dwelt in the enclosure of booths or huts.
Of the Eighth Day it is spoken:

Leviticus 23:39:
‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you gather in the fruit of the land, observe the festival of יהוה for seven days. On the first day is a rest, and on the eighth day a rest.

Numbers 29:35:
‘On the eighth day you have an assembly, you do no servile work,

The eighth day was considered part of the feast even though it was a separate festival. It is called Shemini Atzereth, and literally means the eighth conclusion. While it is the conclusion of Sukkot as well as the Fall Feasts, most importantly it is the conclusion of all the seven Levitical Feasts. It is also called the Festival of Living Water because at this time many prayers are sent up to YHWH for dew and rain to prepare the ground for the seed for next year's crop. Without this living water there would be famine and death.
It was at this festival that Yahshua declared himself to be the Messiah and this would be proved before one year would elapse. Yahshua was fulfilling Shemini Atzereth, not just giving life for one year but giving eternal life forever. During the ensuing year not only would He be sacrificed and approved by YHWH His Father, but the long awaited Covenant would be established by His blood. Yahshua said, "If any man thirsts, let him come unto me and drink. He that believes on me, as the scripture has said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." When he said this, there was division among the people. Some said he was a prophet while others said he was the (Messiah). John 7:37-42.

During Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) a priest would draw water in a golden pitcher from the pool of Siloam and pour it onto the altar. Now at the close day, during the Festival of Living Water, the Yahshua made the statement that He is the author of the true living water that gives eternal life. Believe on Him and you have eternal life, do not believe and you have eternal damnation. Jewish male worshippers were ordered to appear before YHWH three times during the year. The first time was for Passover, Unleavened Bread. The second time was for Shavuot and the third time was for Tabernacles .

For seven days during the Feast of Tabernacles or Ingathering, the Israelites were to experience the revelation of the natural world and make offerings for them. Because they were touching the natural world through their offerings, they were in need of 'protection,' thus, the booth enclosures. This Feast actually represents the material world. The material world is made up of fragments, and we assign numbers to these fragments. And through these offerings for the natural and material world, a connection is made with the fragmented numbers of the seven days. When the seven days of the Feast are over, everyone leaves their booths, and goes home to their own individual homes to celebrate the 'solemn assembly' of the Eighth Day.

The Eighth Day is beyond the seven natural days. It is not a regular day. It's name in Hebrew is Shemini Atzeret. It is the assembling of oneself unto YHWH, intimately. Instead of the revelation of the natural world as in the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles, the revelation of the Eighth Day is the revelation of the world to come. Instead of the connection being made with the fragmented numbers of the seven days of the material world, the connection is of the Divine nature, one of unity, oneness, and true peace.

The root word of 'solemn assembly' in Hebrew means 'to shut up or enclose' (H6113). Hence the Hebrew name Shemini Atzeret. The protection or enclosure of the booths during the Feast of the seven days is different than this private enclosure. The enclosure of the Eighth Day can be likened unto a King who has a Feast and invites everyone. After the Feast is over and most everyone goes home, the King asks only his very close and intimate friends to stay after to share with him his 'private' meal prepared just for him and them. Thus, the enclosure of the Eighth Day speaks of the revelation revealed only through intimacy and usually of a private nature. In this intimacy, what is revealed is not the revelation of the natural world, but rather the revelation of the world to come.

Because Shemini Atzeret is the last of the year's festivals, it is also referred to as the 'final revelation.' It's numerical value is 21. The number 8 is not an ordinary number, it is a singularity; therefore, the Eighth Day unifies all the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles that passed before. If one were likening this day to the 'days of Noah,' it would correspond to the door of the ark being shut, after all the animals had been gathered into the ark, and just before the rains came. It is no coincidence that the prayer of the Eighth Day Assembly is for rain, and that the number of the people on the ark were 8.

As they kept this festival there were certain things there were to remember. Matthew Henry’s commentary explains,
1.) The meanness of their beginning, and the low and desolate state out of which God advanced that people. Note: Those that are comfortably fixed ought often to call to mind their former unsettled state, when they were but little in their own eyes. 2.) The mercy of God to them, that, when they dwelt in tabernacles, God not only set up a tabernacle for Himself among them, but, with the utmost care and tenderness imaginable, hung a canopy over them, even the cloud that sheltered them from the heat of the sun. God’s former mercies to us and our fathers ought to be kept in everlasting remembrance. The eighth day was the great day of this festival, because then they returned to their own houses again, and remembered how, after they had long dwelt in tents in the wilderness, at length they came to a happy settlement in the land of promise, where they dwelt in goodly houses. And they would the more sensibly value and be thankful for the comforts and conveniences of their houses when they had been seven days dwelling in booths. It is good for those that have ease and plenty sometimes to learn what it is to endure hardness.
They were to keep this holiday in thankfulness to God for all the increase of the year; however, the emphasis is that Israel’s life rested upon redemption which in its ultimate meaning is the forgiveness of sin. This fact separates this festival from the harvest festivals of the neighboring nations whose roots lay in the mythological activity of the gods.

Therefore, the Eighth Day is very special unto YHWH. It symbolizes one's removal from the ways, struggles, and doctrines of the material world, and encloses one into the intimacy and protection of the bride chamber prepared by Messiah Himself where the Bride and the Bridegroom experience the 'face-to-face' relationship, above the earthly realm. A day and assembly that is not counted among earthly days or assemblies.

There are 2 aspects to the Eighth Day! One can be experienced within, in the here and now, and the other will be experienced globally, in the world to come. Many in Christianity believe that the Eighth Day of Messiah refers to his 1,000 year millennial reign. Judaism believes that the Eighth Day refers to the Messianic Era yet to come. Both are referring to the EXACT SAME EVENT....and both are referring to a future day and not the present. In Israel, celebrated on the same day as Shemini Atzeret, is the holiday, Simchat Torah, which means Rejoicing in Torah ! It's the time that closes out the old cycle of Torah readings for the previous year, and ushers in the new cycle of Torah readings for the next year. When this final consummation occurs, we will all certainly be Rejoicing in Messiah the Word ! This idea of Millennium, and Messianic Era is viewed as Simchat Torah, the closing out of this present reality cycle and ushering in the new reality cycle of the New Heaven and New Earth!

As this reality was created by the Word, likewise is the new reality of the New Heaven and New Earth. Jesus Christ, Yahshua Messiah, is the Word, the Torah, the Aleph-Tav, and Alpha-Omega! He is Bridegroom and Master of the Eighth Day.

And, finally, notice, in Lev. 23:37-38: After describing these Festivals, it says:

These Festivals were given to be kept besides the Sabbath of YHWH. The weekly Sabbath was a memorial of Creation week. These Festivals, when properly understood and observed, will provide an understanding of YHWH the Father’s master plan for the Salvation of mankind.

YHWH’s Festivals outline HIS plan of Salvation for mankind. For those who wish to understand YHWH’s master plan for man, it is paramount that these Festivals be properly observed. May all readers be convicted of the value in observance of YHWH’s Festivals.