All of YHWH’s Holy Days are Appointed Times where He wants to meet with His people (Appointments) and how ALL of His Holy Days point to His Son YESHUA. Immediately following Sukkot on October 14th is the 8th Day Closing Assembly and we are commanded to do no work on that day as well.
YHWH commands us in Leviticus 23:34-39 saying:
'Speak to the children of Yisra’el, saying, 'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month YHWH'S Festival of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) begins, and it lasts for seven days. The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. For seven days present offerings made to YHWH by fire, and on the EIGHTH DAY hold a sacred assembly and present an offering made to YHWH by fire. It is the closing assembly; do no regular work.”
YHWH continues in verse 39 by saying: 'So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to YHWH for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the EIGTH DAY (14TH) also is a day of rest.
Numbers 29:35-38
“On the EIGHTH DAY you have an assembly, you DO NO SERVILE WORK, and you shall bring near a burnt offering made by fire, a sweet fragrance to YHWH: one bull, one ram, seven lambs a year old, perfect ones, their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the Right-Ruling…”
How are we to celebrate this last Holy Day? Scripture doesn't go into great detail about the day, but we are commanded not to work and have a holy gathering. We can again look to how the Israelites celebrated The 8th Day Closing Assembly in the days of Nehemiah when they came back from Babylonian exile. Nehemiah 8:18 says:
“And there was very great rejoicing. And day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read from the Book of the Torah of ELOHIM. And they performed the Festival seven days (Sukkot). And on the EIGTH day there was an assembly, according to the Right-Ruling.”
We can also look to 2nd Chronicles 7:8-10 during the time of King Solomon which says:
"So Solomon observed the Festival (Sukkot) at that time for seven days, and all Yisra’el with him-a very great assembly from the entrance of Hamath to the wadi of Mitsrayim (Egypt). On the EIGTH day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more. On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things YHWH had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel."
1 Kings 8:66
“On the EIGHTH DAY he sent the people away. And they blessed the king, and went to their tents rejoicing and glad of heart for all the goodness that YHWH had done for His servant David, and for Yisra’el His people.”
As we can see Solomon and the people were finishing up their rejoicing and celebration of The Festival of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) and then he held an assembly on the eight day in accordance with YHWH's command. So it appears that the 8th Day Closing Assembly is a day to unwind after the 7 day celebration of Sukkot and be joyful in heart for all that YHWH has done for us.
What is the 8th Day Closing Assembly?
As stated before there is not a lot of detail about the 8th Closing Assembly outside or a day of rest and a holy gathering. But it could represent the preparation for the marriage Supper of the Lamb and it’s parallel to creation week; of how YHWH created all things in 6 days and rested on the 7th.
2 Peter 3:8
“But, beloved ones, let not this one be hidden from you: that with YHWH one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
So after the 6,000 years of mankind there will be the Sabbath rest in the 7,000th year when YESHUA returns to dwell with His people for 1,000 during the millennial reign; and then in year 8,000 is eternity. However, Scripture does not give us all the details, but it is interesting on what YHWH’s plan is.
The last example is during the time of YESHUA, John 7:1-2 says
“And after this YESHUA was walking in Galilee, for He did not want to walk in Judah, because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. And the Festival of the Jews was near, the Festival of Sukkoth (Feast of Tabernacles).” Then verse 37 reads:
“And on the last Great Day of The Festival (8th Day), YESHUA stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me, and let him who believes in Me drink.”
Let us come to YESHUA and drink for we believe in Him and let the living waters which is the RUACH ha’Kodesh (The Holy Spirit) live within us and guide us into all truth. HalleluYAH!