Behold the tabernacle of Yahweh is with men and He will dwell with them and they shall be His people, and Yahweh Himself shall be with them and be their Eloah,” (Rev. 21:3).
Most people ask this question “will there ever come a time when the Creator of the whole universe will reveal Himself, the exact way He looks to man? Can He dwell in the midst of men or remain vague, distant and abstract?”
The truth of the matter is, yes! There shall come a time, an appointed time when the Most High, the Eternal One, the Ancient of days, shall pitch His tent amongst men as buttressed by Rev. 21:3.
However, two questions are abounding at this junction: that is, what period shall that be and will there be criteria to qualify one to dwell with the all perfect One? The answer to these questions is not farfetched. It is hinged on the feast of tabernacles,
THE MASTER PLAN
The Most High from the very beginning had instituted a master plan for the redemption and salvation of His people from eternal damnation. This master plan revolves around the festival of Tabernacles also referred to as the feast of booths or Ingathering. From the very date the Almighty commanded it to be held, which is the 15th of Tishi. (Around mid September) on to the period it is scheduled to last, the feast prepares man for the Millennial reign of the Messiah, when all nations and governments shall be subdued under His feet. The feast of Tabernacles happens to be one of the major appointed times which Yahweh commanded His people to commemorate. It is a festival that is recognized for its Joy and celebration, festivities and rejoicing.
….And ye shall rejoice before Yahweh your Elohim seven days” (Lex 23:40)
He adds:
“And you shall rejoice in your feast, you, and your Son, and your Daughter, and your manservent, and your maidservant, and the Levites, the stranger, and the fatherless and the widows, that are within your gates” (Deut. 16:14).
The feast of Tabernacles is also one of the 3 feasts all males are commanded to attend. They are to appear before Yahweh with their gifts and offerings, while none is expected to come empty-handed, Deut. 16:16 (clEx23:17, 34:23).
“… Every man shall give as he is able according to the blessing of Yahweh thy Elohim which He hath given thee. (verse 17).
The feast of tabernacles reflects the time spent in this earthly sojourn which serves as the training ground in preparing for the rulership with Yahshua in the Kingdom.
Yahweh commanded His people to dwell in temporary booths for seven days (Lev 23:42). Why? The Booths or temporary shelters serve as a reminder of the Almighty’s deliverance of the people of Israel from Egypt and of their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness when they dwelt in tents and tabernacles.
Israel of today is still journeying to a better land, a land where Yahweh dwells. Thus, we are to dwell in earthly tabernacles, temporary tabernacles, what Paul referred to as terrestrial bodies (for 7 days) until when the temporary shelter shall be discarded and a heavenly body, a new order, a new government is restored.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FEAST
The feast of tabernacles speaks of the end, the ingathering, a time when the spirit of Yahweh will flow freely, when the glory of Yahweh will radiate and fill the land. It speaks of a time of great joy, a time of divine rulership and government, when a new order will be put in place. It speaks of the time when the righteous shall be harvested to rule with the Messiah as buttressed in Rev. 14: 15.
“…thrust in thy sickle, and reap for the time is come for thee to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” At this time Yahweh will send the Messiah to gather into His Kingdom those pilgrims who have followed His direction, are obedient to His commands and those who live in “temporary shelter as they journey to the promise land”.
The important message of the Feast of Tabernacles is the representative of the final rest day (the 1,000 year millennium of the Messiah) for the earth. Each week we labour for six days and rest on the Seventh day. Prophetically the Apostolic fathers taught that the earth (civilization) will exist for 6,000 years, but will rest for a final 1000 years when the kingdom of Yahweh rules. After all, a day of Yahweh is a thousand years of man.
“But beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with Yahweh as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (Il Pet 3. 8).
THE MILLENNIAL RULE
We are made to understand that the 7th day or the seventh thousand year represents the Millennial kingdom, the return of the Messiah Yahshua to restore order and enforce the Commandments of Yahweh with an Iron hand (Rev. 2:27). Thus, the heavens must retain Him until this appointed time comes; (Acts 3:21). For Yahshua shall return with ashout, and with the Archangel’s call, backed with the blasting of trumpet heralding His return to reign on earth, with His return shall the dead in Him be resurrected and immediately transformed into immortal beings (1 Thersa 4:16). It is at this 1000 year reign that the Messiah’s Kingdom will be established here on earth. The whole world, all powers and principalities, all nations and governments, all Kings and Presidents will bow to the King of Kings and be subject to His righteous rule.
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem, shall even go up from year to year to worship the king, Yahweh of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles” (Zech 14: 16). The penalty for refusal is very clear.” even upon them shall be no rain”.
All these will happen after the great rebellion against the Son of man, the persecution of the saints (Rev. 19: 19). The whole nations of the earth joined forces to suppress the true Name of the Creator of the heavens and the earth, that of His Son as well as His Statutes, Commandments and Decrees.
However, Yahweh intervened through the return of the Messiah who seized the dragon, the Old Serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan and bound him a thousand years. “… And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled and after that he must be loosed a little season” (Rev.20:1-3).
Following Yahweh’s intervening hand in the battle around Jerusalem at the beginning of the millennial 1000 years reign, there will be human beings left alive here on earth. They will be instructed by the saints to come up to Jerusalem to worship Yahweh and keep the feast of Tabernacles every year. We are striving hard to be among the saints, the elects who will reign with Yahshua as teachers, to be the Kings and priests of Yahweh’s Kingdom.
“And hast made us unto our Eloah Kings and priests and we shall reign on the earth (Rev. 5:10), and not in heaven as most churches teach. However, all this shall only merit those who are part of the first resurrection as prophesied in Rev. 20:6.
“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection. On such the second death hath no power, but they shall be Priests of Yahweh and of the Messiah and shall reign with Him a thousand years”.Those in the first resurrection will be made spirit beings, but will rule under Yahshua and teach physical human being the righteous ways of Yahweh. Jerusalem shall be the capital, the throne of the rulership of the Messiah. “At that time, they shall call Jerusalem the throne of Yahweh and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, (Jere. 3:17). All the government and presidents of the nations shall be subdued and the Kingdom of the Messiah and His elects shall stand out as all in all.
“But in the last days, it shall cometo pass, that the Mountain of the House of Yahweh shall be established on the top of the Mountains… (Micah 4:1-3).
Mountain here signifies the Kingdom, the rulership, the New Order, the government of the Messiah which shall supersede, overthrow, and suppress that of the nations of the world.
Apparently, not all mankind would have learnt his lesson that Yahweh’s way is the best. Some will still rebel and not keep the feast. Upon this people, Yahweh shall wield the Iron rod to prove that He is in control of the whole universe.
“And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that (have) no (rain); there shall be the plague where with Yahweh will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of Tabernacles (Zech 14. 18).
Thus shall the Messiah reign for 1,000 years, restoring a New Order, teaching the people, through the saints the ways of Yahweh. However, what happens upon the conclusion of the 1000 years reign, upon the conclusion of the first seven days of dwelling in temporary abode on earth, the completion of the seven thousand years of the existence of man?
THE LAST GREAT DAY
“Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the Kingdom to Yahweh, even the Father, when He shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power: “For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet… (1 Cor. 15.24-28).
The eight day (following the seven days Feast of “Tabernacles) is known as the last great day. It signifies the end, as well as a new beginning. The end being the total annihilation, washing away and cleansing of all filth and dirt of the world, including this very earth itself, and the establishment or creation of a new beginning.
“For behold I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered nor come to mind” (Isa 65: 17- 19, Rev. 21:1-5).
THE END…
But before this new beginning is the end. What then is the end? Rev. 20:2 said; the serpent which is also the devil was bound a thousand years during the reign of the Messiah. “… Till the thousand years should be fulfilled, and after that, he must be loosed A LITTLE SEASON (verse 3).
Why Satan must be loosed after this millennial reign of the Messiah lapses? “For He shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth… (Verse 8).
Then shall he gather an army as large as the sand of the sea to battle the saints and compass their camp. It is at this point that Satan shall finally be destroyed in the lake of fire and brimstone along with the false prophet and all those whose names were not found in the book of life, both dead and alive at the white throne judgment of Yahweh. As water served as the agent of cleansing during the time of Noah, so shall fire be the agent of cleansing at the very end. Whosoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire,” (Rev. 20:15).
Death and hades will be the last to be destroyed in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14). This is the second death.
A NEW BEGINNING
Upon the end comes the awakening, a new beginning, the time when all peoples will have access to the Holy Spirit, making them Immortal. A time of immense joy and happiness, when the crown shall be given.
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from Yahweh out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband…” (Rev. 21:1-4).
This is the prize we strive for, to dwell with the Most High in the kingdom where everything will return to a beautiful and prolific state more than how it was in the Garden of Eden. For now, the tabernacle, the shelter, the abode of Yahweh will now be with men. Thus, He will dwell with them, in their midst and shall be king over all the earth.
“And Yahweh shall be King over all the earth and in that day Yahweh shall prove to be UNITY, and with one Name” (Zech.14:9). Thus Yahweh shall dwell with us on earth and we shall see His face(Rev. 22:4).
ALAS…
Those striving to be compliant, the spiritual Israelites are joyfully keeping the feast now and will receive the blessings. But when Yahshua rules with a rod of Iron in His Millennial Kingdom, everyone will be forced to obey. The heathen will be compelled to keep the feast. Although the hand of Judgment does not fall on the disobedient now, when the insubordination of mankind is full, Yahshua will return and put a stop to human arrogance and pride. Then everyone will obediently observe the feast year by year. “The Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah60:3).
We look forward to the Millennium and – Yahshua’s rule of 1,000 years. [MZ]
-Akinpelu Taiwo
