“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of allthe nations which came against Jerusalem shall evengo up from year to year to worship the King, the

LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. ”

ChurchLiving

Feast of Tabernacles

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Feast of TabernaclesThis series of lessons has been designed for private study or classroompresentation. The purpose of this foreword is to explain certain conventionsutilized throughout the program. The overall concept is to begin with the basicconcepts necessary for the new convert to understand and progress towardmore complex doctrine. The lessons are numbered in order to maintain theproper sequence of study.

When Scripture references are encountered in the text, various actions arerecommended. When in parenthetical bold (Genesis 1:1) the verse is to belooked up and read right away. Frequently, the next textual statement willcomment on that verse. Reading verse and text in proper order will enhanceone’s understanding of the verse. Direct quotes from Scripture will be “bolditalicized and contained in quotation marks” and, unless otherwise noted, willbe from the King James Bible. When the reference is in parenthetical non-bold(Genesis 1:1) it is to provide the Scriptural basis for the statement if confirma-tion is desired. References in blue Genesis 1:1 will be listed in the lessonsection entitled FURTHER STUDY.

FURTHER STUDY is the “homework” section. Its purpose is to encourageBible study at home. The referenced verses have a short summation to assistthe student desiring more knowledge about a subject to find what they arelooking for.

The DISCUSSION QUESTIONS section is primarily for classroom use. Opendiscussion with the exchange of ideas produces growth for all involved. Mostof the time the answer is contained in the referenced Scripture but sometimesthe question is offered for open discussion. Even in private Bible study,analysis of the question and the search for its answer can be rewarding.

This work is offered to anyone with a desire to better understand God’s Word.It is our hope and prayer that the person studying these lessons will come awaywith a better understanding of God’s will and a closer walk with our Lord,Jesus Christ.

With Loving Concern for all those seeking God’s MessageThe Church of God Rocky Mount

Rocky Mount, Virginia

“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of allthe nations which came against Jerusalem shall even goup from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of

hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. ”

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GOD is not in competitionwith Satan! He is not trying tosave the whole world now!Long ago Jesus Christannounced that His message,the good news of the Kingdomof God, would be preached inthis age merely as a witness toall nations--not to convertthem (Matthew 24:14). WhenGod sets His hand to save theworld, He will save it!

God's seven annual festivalspicture the steps in God'sMaster Plan of salvation for allmankind. The first three festi-vals, which occur during thespring in the Northern Hemi-

sphere, picture great eventsleading to the first spiritualharvest of Spirit-begotten hu-man beings into God's Family.From previous lessons welearned that the Passover is amemorial of Christ's sacrificefor our sins. The Feast ofUnleavened Bread pictures ourputting sin away and our con-stant need to obey God.Pentecost pictures the spiritualbegettal and the maturing ofthe firstfruits of God's plan.

Then, during the fall in theNorthern Hemisphere, comethe last four festivals. Theyportray tremendous events yetto occur in God's plan. TheFeast of Trumpets, the first ofthese four, pictures the returnof Jesus Christ to raise thefirstfruits to immortality and toset up God's government onearth. The Day of Atonement

pictures the deposing, removaland binding of Satan for 1,000years. With Satan's sinful influ-ence gone, mankind can thenbe reconciled--made at one--with God.

Then 1,000 years of peace andprosperity will follow. Thosewho are the firstfruits of God'sspiritual harvest--first born intoGod's Family and co-inheritors

with Jesus Christ--will joinHim in ruling the earth. TheSpirit-born saints will be giventhe opportunity of bringing thespiritual knowledge of salva-tion to every human then aliveand to those born during theMillennium. This happyMillennium is pictured by theFeast of Tabernacles--the sixthof God's seven annual festivalspicturing His plan of salvation.

As we learned in previous les-sons, God used the two yearlyharvest seasons in the NorthernHemisphere to picture the fu-ture spiritual harvests of man-kind into His divine Family.

The spring grain harvest issmall compared to the great fallharvest. The first harvest is rep-resented by a single day--theFestival of Pentecost. It pic-tures the spiritual firstfruits, therelatively small number of peo-ple whom God has called intoHis Church before Christ's re-

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Feast of Tabernacles

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Feast of Tabernaclesturn, when they will be borninto God's Family.

But the Feast of Tabernacleslasts a full seven days. Thisshows that God's great secondharvest of mankind will take along period of time to bereaped. People will be bornphysically, called of God and,after fulfilling their life's pur-pose of growing in God's char-acter, born spiritually into HisFamily all during the 1,000years.

God intends the Feast ofTabernacles to separate andfree His people from the worldand its evil influences. Thisgreat festival gives them a spe-cial time and setting, in whichthey are free from the routinecares of the world, to thinkmore about God's purpose forlife and how to attain it. Liv-ing in temporary dwellings foran entire week--away fromtheir everyday surroundings,jobs, and most negative influ-

ences--God's people picture bytheir observance of these sevendays the universal freedom andpeace that will exist whenSatan is gone and the Spirit ofGod is available to every hu-man being.

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Feast of Tabernacles

1. Did Jesus, Himself, keep the Feast of Tabernacles?John 7:10______________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What unmistakable command did Jesus give His brothers andsisters? Verse 8______________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. In the Millennium, will all Gentile nations keep the Feast ofTabernacles? Zechariah 14:9, 16_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What will happen to those nations that at first refuse to keepthe Feast of Tabernacles and thus refuse to be reeducated toGod's way, in their ignorance refusing salvation? Verses 17-19______________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Does God intend for everyone--regardless of age, social classor economic level--to rejoice during the Feast? Does God in-tend for a husband to take his wife and children with him to re-joice together at the Feast?Deuteronomy 16:13-14______________________________________________________________________________________________________

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6. Does God command His people to save a tithe (10th) oftheir income throughout the year to be spent in traveling to andattending the Feast? Deuteronomy 14:22-26______________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Does God say that good food should be eaten to increaseone's joy and happiness during the Feast? Deuteronomy 14:26______________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. How will the immortal spirit rulers serve the people?Revelation 5:10; 1 Corinthians 6:2______________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Will the Spirit-born teachers in God's Family take a personalpart in bringing about a full comprehension of God's law, and indirecting people to take right action? Isaiah 30:20-21______________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. How successful will the priest-teachers be in teaching theknowledge of God's way to the world? Jeremiah 31:34______________________________________________________________________________________________________

For a more in depth study of this annual HolyDay see Lesson 6 of the Holy Day Series.

Feast of Tabernacles

27 Brookledge LaneRocky Mount, VA 24151

Phone: 1-888-898-7698