After Yom Kippur is Sukkot the Feast of Tabernacles which occurs on October 6th which is the 15th Day of the 7th Month on YAHWEH’s calendar and is a High Shabbat a (no work day). Sukkot is celebrated for 7 days ending on the October 12th. Then immediately afterwards on October 13th is the 8th Day Closing Assembly a NO WORK DAY, which we will be covering next week ELOHIM willing! So in summary we are to do no work on the 1st Day and the 8th Day because they are Shabbat’s (October 6th and October 13th.)
Most of the world has been deceived into rejecting YAHWEH’s Holy Days for the pagan holidays of this world. It’s no secret that Halloween, Xmas, and Easter are not found in scripture yet the world celebrates them and claim to follow YESHUA! And Sukkot aka The Feast of Tabernacles is no different. The world follows a “Thanksgiving” that takes place in November; they gather together to eat turkey and watch football all day while paying homage to the harvest deities and not YAHWEH!
The true thanksgiving is Sukkot/The Feast of Tabernacles/The Feast of In-gathering which is on the 15th Day of the 7th month; however, Satan has mocked YAHWEH as usual and has the world rejecting YAHWEH’S days with a pagan substitute. There is nothing new under the sun and we can see that Jeroboam mocked YAHWEH’s Sukkot/Feast of Tabernacles by making his own day EXACTLY ONE MONTH after YAHWEH’s, so technically most of the world is walking in the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat in which he caused Yisra’el to commit great sins. Get away from the false thanksgiving and follow YAHWEH’s true Thanksgiving, which is Sukkot the Feast of Tabernacles, followers of YESHUA don’t need TWO THANKSGIVINGS, the only one that needs to be celebrated is the one found in the kodesh (holy) scriptures.
1 Kings 12:32
“And Jeroboam performed a FESTIVAL on the FIFTEENTH DAY OF THE EIGHTH MONTH, LIKE THE FESTIVAL THAT WAS IN JUDAH (SUKKOT)FEAST OF TABERNACLES…”
Leviticus 23:34:
'Speak to the children of Yisra’el saying, 'On the FIFTEENTH DAY OF THE SEVENTH MONTH IS THE FESTIVAL OF SUKKOT/Chag HaSukot (Feast of Tabernacles) begins, and it lasts for seven days.
Abraham was the first to celebrate it
Jubilees 16:20-31
“And he built BOOTHS for himself and for his servants on this Festival, and he was the FIRST to celebrate the FESTIVAL OF SUKKOT on the earth. Verse 25-31 “And he blessed his Creator who had created him in his generation, for He had created him according to His good pleasure; for He knew and perceived that from him would arise the Branch of Righteousness (YESHUA) for the everlasting generations, and from him a HOLY SEED, so that it should become like Him who had made all matters (YAHWEH). And he blessed and REJOICED, and he called the name of this Festival the Festival of YAHWEH, a joy acceptable to the Most High El. And we blessed him forever, and all his seed after him throughout all the generations of the earth, because he celebrated this Festival in its season, according to the witness of the tablets of the heavens. For this reason it is ordained on the tablets of the heavens concerning Yisra’el, that they SHOULD CELEBRATE THE FESTIVAL OF SUKKOT SEVEN DAYS WITH JOY (Leviticus 23:40 REJOICE), in the seventh month, acceptable before YAHWEH-a Law FOREVER, throughout their generations every year. And to this there is NO LIMIT OF DAYS; for it is ordained FOREVER regarding Yisra’el that they should celebrate it and DWELL IN BOOTHS, and put wreaths upon their heads, and take leafy branches, and willows of the stream. And Abraham took branches of palm trees, and the fruit of good trees, and every day going round the altar with the branches seven times in the morning, he praised and gave thanks to his ELOHIM for all matters in JOY.”
That is exactly what YAHWEH commands in Leviticus 23:39-42:
On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm trees, twigs of leafy trees, and willows of the stream, and REJOICE before YAHWEH your ELOHIM for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to YAHWEH for seven days each year-a LAW forever in your generations; celebrate it in the seventh month. Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM.”
For those concerned about the native-born passage we have to remember:
Exodus 12:48-49
“And if any proselyte (Convert) comes to you to keep the Passover to YAHWEH, you shall circumcise every male of his and then he shall approach to sacrifice it and he shall be even as the ORIGINAL INHABITANT OF THE LAND, no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. There shall be ONE LAW to the native and to the proselyte (convert) coming on you.”
Ezekiel 47:22
“And it shall be that you divide it by lot as an inheritance for yourselves, and for the strangers who sojourn in your midst and who bear children among you. And they shall be to you as NATIVE-BORN among the children of Yisra’el-with you they have an inheritance in the midst of the tribes of Yisra’el.”
As I always point out, even though this scripture is about Passover it still applies that a gentile is grafted in just as the native-born Yisra’elite as an original inhabitant of the land; therefore; the same Torah command applies to everyone who says they are followers of YESHUA our Messiah. Once you have accepted YESHUA as your Messiah and Savior then you have become grafted in as ONE with the native-born Israelite; the Hebrew word is “Ger”, the gentile convert. So let us all get into the spirit of this beautiful feast to dwell in booths and rejoice before YAHWEH our Elohim as He commanded us. A few examples:
Isaiah 56:6
“Also the sons of the foreigner (gentile/Christian) who JOIN themselves to YAHWEH, to serve Him, and to love the name of YAHWEH, to be His servants, ALL WHO GUARD MY SHABBATS, and not profane THEM, and hold fast to My Covenant.” The Feast of Tabernacles is a Shabbat that must be guarded by the gentile as well as native-born because we are ONE!
Numbers 15:15-16
“One Law is for you of the assembly and for the stranger who sojourns with you-a LAW FOREVER throughout your generations. AS YOU ARE, SO IS THE STRANGER BEFORE YAHWEH.”
This is very important because we see Abraham kept the commandments of the Torah and celebrated Sukkot, which ties in to what Paul says in:
Galatians 3:27-29
“For as many of you as were immersed (baptized) into Messiah, have put on Messiah. There is not Jew nor Greek, there is not male and female, for you are all ONE in Messiah YESHUA. And if you are of Messiah, then you are seed of Abraham, and heirs according to promise.”
If we belong to YESHUA and we are the seed of Abraham and heirs according to the promise then are you doing as Abraham did? He kept Sukkot and the commandments and this is further confirmed in:
Genesis 26:5
“Because Abraham obeyed My voice and guarded My Charge: My Commands, My Laws, and My Torot (plural form of Torah).”
Sukkot details:
We are commanded to dwell in a Succah or booth/hut; which is a temporary dwelling topped with foliage, limbs, branches, and other materials to provide shade while living outdoors or even camping out in a tent.
YAHWEH commands us in Leviticus 23:34-44 saying:
'Speak to the children of Yisrael saying, 'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month is YAHWEH'S Festival of Sukkot/Chag HaSukot (Feast of Tabernacles) begins, and it lasts for seven days. The first day is a holy gathering; DO NO SERVILE WORK. For seven days present offerings made to YAHWEH by fire, and on the eighth day hold a holy gathering and present an offering made to YAHWEH by fire. It is a closing Festival, YOU DO NO SERVILE WORK.”
YAHWEH 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 YAHWEH for seven days; the first day is a day of rest (October 6th), and the eighth day also is a day of rest (October 13th). On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm trees, twigs of leafy trees, and willows of the stream, and rejoice before YAHWEH your ELOHIM for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to YAHWEH for seven days each year-a LAW forever in your generations; celebrate it in the seventh month. Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM.”
There is definitely some significance attached to the palm trees while celebrating Sukkot which we see in Revelation those who overcome:
Revelation 7:9
“And after these things, I looked, and lo, a great multitude which no one could number, from all kindreds and nations and tribes and tongues; who stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and PALMS in their hands.”
More on Sukkot:
Mathew 17:1-4
“And after six days YESHUA took Peter, and James, and John his brother, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves, and He was transformed before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as the light. And see, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. And Peter answering, said to YESHUA, “My Master, it is good for us to be here. If You want, let us make here three booths: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
As we see Peter knew the importance of the booth/tabernacle/succah to build for all three of them and remember Elijah was not a native-born Israelite, he was a Tishbite which usually translates as stranger or sojourner. Elijah was special and was a servant of YAHWEH and one of two men who ascended to heaven; and we see Peter did not exclude him from having a booth.
Numbers 29:12-32
“And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you have a holy gathering, you do NO SERVILE WORK. And you shall celebrate a Festival to YAHWEH seven days, and you shall bring near a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a SWEET FRAGRANCE to YAHWEH: thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect ones they are, and their grain offering: fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenth parts for each of the thirteen bulls, two-tenth parts for each of the two rams, and one-tenth part for each of the fourteen lambs, and one male goat as a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering. (The number of bulls decrease by “one” each day) verse 32 Then on the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect ones…”
YESHUA is the Lamb of YAHWEH who takes away the sins of the world and offered Himself with His blood and not the blood of bulls and goats. It is important to see what YESHUA’s blood did for us that we do not have to do for atonement today. YESHUA fulfills the animal offerings for us with His blood and the sweet fragrance that YAHWEH mentions:
Ephesians 5:2
“And walk in love, as Mashiach (Messiah) also has loved us, and gave Himself for us, a gift and an offering to YAHWEH for a SWEET-SMELLING FRAGRANCE.”
Hosea 12:9
“But I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM since the land of Egypt, again I shall make you dwell in tents as in the days of the Appointed Time.”
Genesis 33:17
“And Jacob departed to Sukkoth (Sukkot), and built himself a house, and made BOOTHS for his livestock. That is why the name of the place is called Sukkoth.”
How are we to celebrate this Feast?
We can look to how the Israelites celebrated Sukkot the Feast of Tabernacles in the days of Nehemiah when they returned from Babylonian exile.
Nehemiah 8:13-18 says:
"On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe, in order to study the words of the Torah. And they found written in the Torah, which YAHWEH had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in booths during the feast of the SEVENTH month and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: "Go out into the hill country and bring olive branches, branches of oil trees, and myrtle branches, and palm branches and branches of leafy trees to make booths"-as it is written.
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 ELOHIM and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim, the whole company that had returned from exile built booths and LIVED in them. From the days of Joshua son on Nun until that day, the Israelites celebrated it like this. And there was very great rejoicing (as commanded). 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. And on the eighth day there was an assembly, according to the Right-Ruling.”
So we see that Abraham and those who came back from Babylonian exile followed the exact came command of Leviticus 23 which is to REJOICE, DWELL IN BOOTHS FOR 7 DAYS, AND TAKE PALM BRANCHES, LEAFY BRANCHES, WILLOWS OF THE STEAM AND BLESS YAHWEH. This is the perfect time to make a huge feast or cookout and eat and rejoice!
Is the Sukkot/Chag HaSukot: The Feast of Tabernacles important?
Yes! Look at Zechariah 14:16-19 which says:
“Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, YAHWEH Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Sukkot/Chag HaSukot (Feast of Tabernacles). If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, YAHWEH Almighty, they will have no rain. If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. YAHWEH will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate The Festival Sukkot the Feast of Tabernacles. This will be the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate Chag HaSukot (Feast of Tabernacles.)”
As we discussed in a prior video titled “Are we rehearsing on earth for what is to come?” We saw that everything we do on earth is a dress rehearsal for the finale and that believers have twisted what Paul was really saying in Colossians 2:16-17! Let no man judge you for KNOWING THE TRUTH! So we see that when YESHUA comes to reign for 1,000 years on the earth that ALL NATIONS including the Egyptian will have to come up to Jerusalem to celebrate The Festival of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) or have no rain. This points exactly to what Paul was saying about the Festivals being “a prophetic shadow of what is to come.” If the entire world will have to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles when YESHUA returns, then how is the law done away with? Or if the law just for the Jews, then why do the ALL NATIONS including the Egyptians having to celebrate it? We know the Egyptians are not native born Israelites/Jews.
John 1:14
“And the Word became flesh and PITCHED HIS TENT among us, and we saw His esteem, esteem as of an only brought-forth of a father, complete in favor, and truth.”
Just like when you go camping, you have to pitch a tent to dwell in just like we have to pitch a tent/booth/succah to dwell in during Sukkot the Feast of Tabernacles. So we can see the symbolism and importance of this celebration.
Enoch 1:3-4
“Concerning the elect I said, and took up my parable concerning them, “The Holy Great One will come forth from His dwelling, and the eternal ELOHIM will tread upon the earth, on Mount Sinai, and appear from His CAMP and appear in the strength of His might from the heavens of heavens.”
Again we see the word CAMP that YESHUA will be appearing from, the Scriptures are consistent on this truth.
Revelation 21:3
“And I heard a loud voice from the heavens saying, “See, the BOOTH OF ELOHIM is with men, and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and ELOHIM Himself shall be with them and be their ELOHIM.”
Numbers 1:52
“And the children of Yisra’el shall PITCH THEIR TENTS, everyone by his own CAMP, everyone by his own banner, according to their divisions.”
The Feast of Tabernacles is a foreshadow of YESHUA coming to pitch His tent with us and dwell with us! He will be our ELOHIM and we will be His people. So let us make every effort to be obedient and rejoice to the King for seven days, dwell in tents/booths and not working on the first and eighth day, HalleluYAH!
As always may our Father YAHWEH bless you in YESHUA’s Name!