The Feast of Tabernacles. “Booths”

The birth of Yeshua?

October 3rd – 10th, Tishrei 15th 5770

Leviticus 23: 33-44 tells us the story of the Israelites and their journey out of Egypt and the following 40 years of wondering. We can find the name Sukkoth in Gen. 33:17 “And Jacob journeyed to Succoth; and built for himself a house, and made booths for the livestock, therefore the place is named Sukkoth.” The Hebrew word Sukkoth means “hut”

The Biblical name for Sukkoth is “The Feast of Tabernacles”. There are three times the Lord commanded the Jews to assemble in the Temple in Jerusalem. On these three Holidays they were to present offerings to the Lord. Those three are Passover, Shavu’ot, (Pentecost) and Sukkoth. Sukkoth is the third and last of the three.

But in the month of Tishri, there are three major Holidays of the Feast of the Tabernacle of the Lord, which is God’s perfect timetable. The month of Tishri falls in September or October on the Christian Calendar. They are Rosh HaShannah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkoth. These three are often called the Second Advent.

The First Advent we have the Feast of Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits. Yeshua died on Passover, He was buried on the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and He rose on First Fruits, 50 days later he sent the Holy Spirit on the Following Feast of Shavuoth (Pentecost).

So we see here that God is setting up a pattern for us to look for. So we need to look at the remainder of the three Feasts to see the rest of the story, (sounds like Paul Harvey) something as important as the Birth of the Messiah would surely fit into this pattern.

You can purchase books everywhere that tell you about how to celebrate this Holiday so I will stay on subject, and only touch on a couple of things you may not find in some of your books. In general there is a two-fold meaning to this celebration in Israel and throughout the world.

The first being the Fall Harvest Lev. 23: that teaches it is a time of bringing in the fall harvest and thanksgiving. Many believe as I do, that the Puritan Colonists who landed in America who were great students of the Hebrew Scriptures based the first American Thanksgiving on Sukkoth.

The second is found in the command to dwell in Booths as a memory to Israel’s 40 years of wondering in the wilderness. Another translation of the world Sukkoth is “habitation” as we camp in booths today we need to remember that the same God is watching over us today.

That He inhabits our lives with a care beyond our imagination. Sukkoth is known also as “Zman Simkhatenu” (The Time of Rejoicing) the knowledge that God provided His habitation and lives with us, is certainly a time for rejoicing.

There are blessings said over the “Lulav” (palm branch), “Etrog” (citron, a fruit from Israel that looks like a large lemon) also the “Hadas” (Myrtle) and “Arava” (the youngest branch of the willow before it opens) These are called the four spices.

The only reason I am spending some time on this is there is something very special here in Biblical teaching. First the Etrog, which taste sweet and has a delightful aroma, represents a person with knowledge or Torah and good deeds. The Lulav which comes from a Date Palm, a fruit that taste sweet but has no fragrance, meaning that some people have knowledge but no good deeds.

The Hadas is just opposite, having a nice fragrance yet no taste (good deeds without true knowledge) Arava has neither taste nor smell and speaks of the persons without knowledge or good deeds. James 2:17 sums this up by saying “Faith without works is dead.”

Now lets move on to the birth of the Messiah. With the celebration of Sukkoth having so many wonderful teaching in it for the Church today. You would think that the New Testament would have reference in it of Sukkoth. We read in John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” It says, the Word not only was with God, but the Word was the very manifestation of God Himself.

Then we read in John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, and glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth”. What the Word of God says is, “The Word became a human being and lived with us, and we saw His Sh’kinah, The Sh’kinah glory of the Father’ only Son full of grace and Glory.

But did you notice the word John used to described this event. He said “dwelt” among His people. This word dwelt come from a Greek word “skene” and the Greeks translated that from the Hebrew word “Tabernacle”. What I am trying to get you to see is, John was describing the Holy Day of Sukkoth, the Holy Day that celebrates the indwelling of God Himself. So the Word says: And the Word was made flesh and Tabernacled among us,”

The celebration of December 25th as the birth of the Messiah is pagan, and comes from the Roman Empire. The early Church often “christianized” pagan days of celebration to accommodate the new converts. And December shows this very clearly. This date was an ancient feast that celebrated the return of the sun after the winter solstice.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the birth of Yeshua. Believers began to say there was no real proof of the Messiah’s birth date so this would do. What they didn’t consider was John’s description using the term “Tabernacle” or Booths or Sukkoth. It is right there before us and so clear I can’t understand how it has been so missed by so many who calls themselves Biblical scholars.

If the first Advent showed Yeshua’s death on the cross on Unleavened Bread, buried on Passover, and resurrection of First Fruits, and the pouring out of His Holy Spirit on Shavout (Pentecost). Do you think that God would let such an important event as the birth of His only begotten Son go unheralded?

Sukkoth shows that God would dwell “Tabernacle” in the midst of His people, through the presence of the Messiah, Yeshua. There is much more evidence as well, since we know that Yeshua died on Passover and we also know His ministry lasted 3 ½ years we can backtrack and that puts us right at Sukkoth as well. Nearly every serious Bible Theologian calculates that His birth was in the fall, that also is Sukkoth.

One of the ceremonies of Sukkoth is the pouring of water, and a time of prayer for water and rain in Israel. During the second Temple period a Priest would take a water pitcher down to the pool of shiloach (today called Siloam in the city of David) he would bring it back to the Temple.

Crowds of people would follow him dancing and singing the Hellel, (Psalms 113-118) The highlight of this ceremony was when the Priest would pour this water at the altar of the Temple. It became known as “Simcha Bet-Ha-sho-evah” (The rejoicing of the House of Drawing Water)

The question is, why would there be so much rejoicing at this pouring of water? It has to be more than rejoicing of the future rain on Israel, as important as that might be. Because we read in Isaiah 12:3 “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation”. (Salvation in Hebrew is Yeshua, the name of the Messiah) GLORY TO GOD.

It was much more than the pouring out of water at the Temple, or even for the rain. The Simcha Bet Ha-sho-evah pointed directly to the coming of the Messiah and the days of redemption when the water of the Holy Spirit would be poured out upon all Israel.

Now we can appreciate the Scripture that was recorded on one day in the Messiah’s life and that day was on a Sukkoth. John 7:37-39 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Yeshua stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

But this spoke he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given: because Yeshua was not yet glorified.) Think for a moment of the time and place of these words being proclaimed by Yeshua.

It was Sukkoth and it was the time of the pouring of the water. The crowds were filled with those who had expectation of the Messiah and the Holy Spirit He would bring. At the moment of the time of the pouring of the water the Messiah stood and made this bold proclamation. He was saying. I am the Messiah, do you truly want the living water of the spirit of God? If you truly want the Bet Ha-sho-evah, believe in me. I am the Messiah who will pour out the Holy Spirit on Israel.

After eight days of Sukkoth we will end this celebration, and on the 8th day our Messiah was circumcised. And from here volumes can be written over that event.

Shalom, jerry golden

Nisan 10 (April)
Blessing of the Sun (April)
Passover (April)
Nisan 17 (April)
Shavuot (May/June)
Pentecost (May)

Nisan 10 / April 4, 2009 – April 5, 2009
Nisan is traditionally in March or April and it corresponds with the beginning of the barley harvest in Israel. This month had much sunshine, but very heavy winds. The rains of March and April are known in Scripture as the “latter rains,” which supplied nourishment to the barley and wheat crops before they are “white for harvest.”

In the earlier Old Testament Books, this month was referred to as “Hodesh ha-Aviv (“the month of the harvest”). It was considered a sacred month because tradition taught that the Yahweh lit the fire of the burnt offering in this month.

Jesus entered Jerusalem on the 10th day of Nisan to acclamations of “Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Hosanna has a Hebrew origin in the word “yasha” meaning “to be open, wide or free.” It is often translated “save now.” It could just as well be translated “free now.”

In Psalm 118 you will see that context. Verse 14, “The Lord is my strength and my song, and is become my salvation (deliverance). Verse 19, “Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord.” Verses 25-26, “Save (free) now, I beseech Thee, O Lord…Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord….” Lastly, 1260 days from the 10th of Nisan in any year takes you to the Day of Trumpets – - 3.5 years later.

Blessing of the Sun / April 8, 2009
Once every 28 years, the sun returns to the position it occupied when it was created at the beginning of the fourth day of creation. A blessing the Jews say every 28 years. This is the eve of Pesach (Passover). The eve of Pesach is also known as the fast of the firstborn.

The firstborn fast on this day to commemorate the fact that they were spared when HaShem slew the firstborn of Egypt. It is definitely one of the rarest blessings that Jews make on a regular basis. Because of it’s rarity, and because it comes in a multiple of seven (7 x 4 = 28), it must have a significance that is not always recognized.

The blessing of the sun is the same blessing (same words) that they say when they see lightning and a shooting star. The popular Hebrew word for sun, “shemesh,” appears over 100 times in the Tanach. Hmmm, didn’t we just look at the Noah Prophecy that talked about one of his sons named Shem?

Passover / April 9, 2009 – April 15, 2009
The “Feast of Unleavened Bread”; Jesus, the Passover Lamb, died for our sins. When we put our trust in Him as the Israelites did in Egypt , we are redeemed. The name “Pesach” comes from the Hebrew root Pei-Samekh-Cheit, meaning to pass through, to pass over, to exempt or to spare. Unleavened Bread – - teaches us to put off the old nature, ruled by sin (Ephesians 4:22-25).

Sefirat HaOmer, the first day of the Omer is the night of Thursday April 9, 2009. This means counting the omer (or Sheaf). The omer is a unit of measurement. Counting is literally counting the days to the final period of harvest – - some 50 days later. The feast was to be celebrated on “the day after the Sabbath…”

This is important as this applies to Messiah and resurrection day. They were to reap the harvest, and then bring “the sheaf of the First Fruits of your harvest to the priest.” Notice here it does not say “a sheaf” but rather “the sheaf.” It is one marked off as the “First Fruits” of the harvest.

This relates this to Messiah and His resurrection. It should be noted that the Rabbis state that the counting of the seven weeks (Omer) is still to be performed even if the waving of the offering cannot take place at the Temple, and there are other things to consider.

The actual first fruits Rapture may happen anytime from April 11th through the day of Pentecost, May 31st. The resurrection of the dead in Christ could be accompanied by a massive earthquake. Earthquakes are connected to resurrections: Jesus in Matthew 27:50-53, and the 2 Witnesses in Revelation 11:11-13. If this pattern holds true, then the resurrection of the dead in Christ will result in an earthquake of catastrophic proportions.

Nisan 17 / First Fruits / Easter / April 11, 2009
Teaches us to put on the new nature (Ephesians 4:24) to live the victorious life empowered by the power the resurrection. Also the promise of our resurrection. April 11th (from 6:00pm) until April 12th (6:00pm) Israel Time.

This may be the day the dead in Christ will rise and all born again Christians that have a good relationship with Jesus and have kept his commandments will be changed into their new bodies. Most will ascend up to Jesus.

There are several other important events that happened on First Fruits: The resurrection of Jesus; Noah’s ark rested on Mount Ararat; Israel crossed the Red Sea; Walls of Jericho fell; Israel ate the first fruits of the Promised Land; Haman was defeated.

Shavuot / May 29, 2009
The period from Passover to Shavuot is a time of great anticipation. Shavuot, also spelled Shavuos, is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (corresponding to late May/early June). It marks the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer and the day the Torah was given at Mount Sinai.

It is one of the three Biblical pilgrimage festivals (shalosh regalim) mandated by the Torah. Unlike the other two pilgrimage festivals (Passover and Sukkot), the date on which Shavuot occurs is not explicitly mentioned in the Torah. Rather, its occurrence is directly linked to the occurrence of Passover.

Beginning on the second day of Passover, the Torah mandates a 49-day (7-week) counting period (the Counting of the Omer), which culminates in the 50th day, Shavuot. This counting of days and weeks expresses anticipation and desire for the Giving of the Torah.

At Passover, the Jewish people were freed from being slaves to Pharaoh; at Shavuot they accepted the Torah and became a nation committed to serving God. Shavuot has many aspects and as a consequence is called by several names.

In the Torah it is called “Feast of Weeks”; “Festival of Reaping”; and “Day of the First Fruits.” The Mishnah and Talmud refer to Shavuot as Atzeret, as it provides closure for the festival activities during and following the holiday of Passover. Since Shavuot occurs 50 days after Passover, Christians gave it the name “Pentecost” (“fiftieth [day]“).

However, the actual Christian commemoration of Pentecost occurs on the seventh Sunday after Easter. In modern Israel and among Karaite and Reform Jews, Shavuot is celebrated for one day. In the Jewish diaspora outside Israel, the holiday is celebrated for two days, on the sixth and seventh days of Sivan.

It is noteworthy that the holiday is called the time of the giving of the Torah, rather than the time of the receiving of the Torah. The sages point out that we are constantly in the process of receiving the Torah, that we receive it every day, but it was first given at this time.

Thus it is the giving, not the receiving, that makes this holiday significant. Two more important clues. It is customary to stay up the entire first night of Shavuot and study Torah, then pray as early as possible in the morning. This custom symbolizes our commitment to the Torah, and that we are always ready and awake to receive the Torah. The book of Ruth is also read at this time. Again, there are varying reasons given for this custom, and none seems to be definitive.

Pentecost / May 31, 2009
A feast which commemorates the Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles, 50 days after the Resurrection of Christ, on the ancient Jewish festival called the “Feast of Weeks” or Pentecost (Exodus 34:22; Deuteronomy 16:10).

Pentecost is the great festival that marks the birth of the Christian church by the power of the Holy Spirit. Ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven, the twelve apostles, Jesus’ mother and family, and many other of His disciples gathered together in Jerusalem for the Jewish harvest festival that was celebrated on the fiftieth day of Passover.

While they were indoors praying, a sound like that of a rushing wind filled the house and tongues of fire descended and rested over each of their heads. This was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on human flesh promised by God through the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-29).

The disciples were suddenly empowered to proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ. They went out into the streets of Jerusalem and began preaching to the crowds gathered for the festival. Not only did the disciples preach with boldness and vigor, but by a miracle of the Holy Spirit they spoke in the native languages of the people present, many who had come from all corners of the Roman Empire.

This created a sensation. The apostle Peter seized the moment and addressed the crowd, preaching to them about Jesus’ death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins. The result was that about three thousand converts were baptized that day. You can read the Biblical account of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-41).