Around the world, faithful Christians are preparing to celebrate the Feast that Jesus Christ and the apostles observed 2,000 years ago. This is the same Feast that the whole world will learn to celebrate in the coming Kingdom of God. The Feast of Tabernacles is a joyous celebration and a commanded assembly that true Christians continue to observe. What is this Feast, why is observing it a blessing, and what does this Holy Day point to?
God provided ancient Israel with instructions about how to observe the Feast of Tabernacles in Leviticus 23:33– 43. This holy, seven-day festival begins on the “fifteenth day of the seventh month” of the Hebrew calendar. It is immediately followed by “the eighth day” (v. 36), also called “the last day, that great day of the Feast” or simply the Last Great Day (John 7:37). John chapter 7 shows Jesus Christ teaching at the Feast of Tabernacles, and Zechariah 14:16– 19 reveals that during the future millennial reign of Christ, all nations will celebrate it. Today, faithful Christians are called “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16), and continue to observe this special Holy Day as they emulate Jesus Christ, striving to abide “in Him” and to “walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6).
Why else do Christians continue to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles? In addition to the fact God established the biblical Holy Days to be observed forever (Leviticus 23:41)—and in addition to the fact that Jesus observed the Feast and that Christians are admonished to imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1)—the Feast of Tabernacles is also a joy to observe because it points to the wonderful reign of Jesus Christ, which will be a time of great blessings.
The knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth “as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9). Perfect government will be established, and Christ will rule as King of kings, with His righteous saints, for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4–6)— and then forever (22:5)! God will restore Israel and bless all nations that learn to worship Him. There will be peace and prosperity (Amos 9:11–15, Isaiah 19:24–25) and abundant food for all people and nations (Micah 4:3–4, Ezekiel 36:33– 37). Sickness and disease will be cured (Jeremiah 30:17; Malachi 4:2). Fear and anxiety will be removed from the earth (Isaiah 51:11–13; 35:4). Right worship of God will be taught throughout the world (Isaiah 30:21; Ezekiel 11:19–20, Hebrews 8:11–12; Revelation 20:1–6).
The Feast of Tabernacles pictures God’s kingdom on Earth, and faithful Christians emulate their Lord when they pray, “Your Kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10). This will usher in the time when the promise described in Revelation 20:6 will be fulfilled: “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be the priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” God speed that day!