|
God's
Holy
Days
Throughout the centuries, fragments of God's church scattered here and there among the nations have continued to observe God's weekly Sabbath. Some of them have been led to remain faithful in keeping His annual Sabbaths; the seven annual festivals of Passover, Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day.
Feast of Tabernacles area information page click here.
FEAST
In keeping the Feast of Tabernacles members and supporters of the Church of God, Ministries
International, rejoice together for eight full days in beautiful resort communities. For eight days, we enjoy at least one inspiring preaching service each day, with wonderful special music provided by lay members-chorales, duets, solos, instrumentalists sometimes a sermonette, and then a main sermon of about an hour in length,
followed by closing congregational singing. There are many
scheduled events, like beach parties, hayrides, barbecues,
singles' parties, "Family Night," featuring home-grown talent
and good food, and plenty of time for unscheduled
leisure--things like dinner in fine restaurants with good
friends, deep-sea fishing, golf, tennis, trail walks,
horseback riding, or simply basking on the beach or around the
many beautiful swimming pools in the hotels and condominiums.
The feast is the highlight of the year for many of God's
people, and we invite you to join us!
But what is the Feast of Tabernacles? And what relevance
does it have for today's Christian?
God's Promises to Abraham
Long ago, God commanded Abraham to leave his native country
and go to a land He would later give to him and his
descendants as an inheritance (Genesis 12:13; 13:1417).
Abraham left his home and went to the land. In time, and
after many trying adventures, Isaac was born to him. The
promises God had given to Abraham were passed on to Isaac, and
then to Jacob, Isaac's son.
Yet, of all the years Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob dwelt in
the land of promise, the land never belonged to them! They
were resident aliens until their deaths.
When Abraham's wife Sarah died, the patriarch had to
purchase property in order to have a place to bury her body
(Genesis 23). He was still "a foreigner and a visitor" even
after many years of dwelling in the land (verse 4). Yet, he
believed God right up to the day of his death, as did Isaac
and Jacob.
"By faith he [Abraham] dwelt in the land of promise as in a
foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the
heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city
which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God....These
[Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, among others] all died in faith,
not having received the promises, but having seen them afar
off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that
they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (Hebrews
11:9,10,13).
The "dwelling in tents" indicates that the patriarchs were
resident aliens, having no permanent homes. Their willingness
to abide in temporary dwellings reflected their faith in God's
promise of a permanent dwelling, the "city which has
foundations."
The patriarchs knew that God could not lie. They knew that
even their deaths could not prevent Him from fulfilling His
promise. And, indeed, God will keep His word! He will give the
land to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob-just as He promised-for
implicit in the promise is the assurance of a resurrection.
The Tabernacling Israelites
After a long time of dwelling in the land of Canaan, a
famine forced Jacob and his sons to move to Egypt (Genesis
46), where they "were fruitful and increased abundantly,
multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty" (Exodus 1:7). The king
of Egypt, concerned that this great people might become a
threat to his nation, made slaves of them and "made their
lives bitter with hard bondage" (Exodus 1:814).
A few hundred years later, God delivered the people from
Egyptian bondage and brought them into the wilderness, where
He gave them His law (Exodus 1224).
God did not want the children of Israel to forget the
wilderness experience. He did not want them to lose sight of
who delivered them from bondage and provided for them as they
moved from one encampment to another. To keep this
lesson-filled experience ever before them, God established the
Feast of Tabernacles.
"Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you
have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the
feast of the Lord for seven days; on the first day there shall
be a Sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a Sabbath-rest....You
shall dwell in booths [tabernacles, or tents] for seven days.
All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your
generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell
in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt; I am
the Lord your God" (Leviticus 23:39,42,43).
Once in their permanent homeland, the Israelites could
recall from year to year how their fathers had dwelt in
temporary huts during their wilderness journey-just as
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob before them had done as they looked
forward to the "city which has foundations."
Israel entered the promised land under the leadership of
Joshua.
"So the Lord gave to Israel all the land of which He had
sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it
and dwelt in it. The Lord gave them rest all around, according
to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of
all their enemies stood against them; the Lord delivered all
their enemies into their hand. Not a word failed of any good
thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All
came to pass" (Joshua 21:4345).
At long last, the tabernacling was over...
Or was it?
The True Rest
The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that the "rest"
Joshua gave Israel was not the ultimate and final rest. Seeing
a promise of a future rest in Psalm 95, the writer concludes,
"For if Joshua had given them rest, then He [God] would not
afterward [in Psalm 95] have spoken of another day. There
remains therefore a [Sabbath] rest for the people of God"
(Hebrews 4:79).
The "Sabbath-rest" is the eschatological "rest" God's
people will fully enter when Christ returns and establishes
the Kingdom of God upon this earth. Only then will the true
rest begin. And until then the tabernacling continues for
God's people!
Just as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob dwelt in temporary huts
as they looked forward to their permanent dwelling, and just
as the children of Israel tabernacled as they sought a
permanent rest, God's people today abide in temporary
dwellings, recognizing the transitory nature of their present
mortal existence, as they look forward to the establishment of
God's Kingdom.
The Feast of Tabernacles reminds us of our present,
temporary condition, and directs our attention to our
permanent home, the "city which has foundations," in the
Kingdom of God.
We keep the Feast of Tabernacles today in anticipation of
the time when everyone will keep it. Notice how the feast is
linked to the millennial reign of Jesus Christ:
"And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all
the nations which came against Jerusalem [during the Great
Tribulation] shall go up from year to year to worship the
King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles"
(Zechariah 14:16, emphasis added).
One day the whole world will be invited to keep the feast,
but you are being invited to keep it now. So why wait for the
future? Why not bring a glimpse of the future into the
present?
Do it this year. Keep the great fall festival-the Feast of
Tabernacles!
For anyone who is unfamiliar with observance of the holy
days we will answer the most often asked questions.
"Can anyone attend
your services?"
Absolutely. Anyone, anywhere, anytime.
"What about your annual
feasts. Can any one attend?"
Anyone, at any one of our sites.
"Do I need to call, or write, your
home office first?"
No.
Just come for services and activities. You are welcome to
attend.
"Can
I attend if I am not a member of a church?"
Of course. All are welcome.
"Do I have to contact
a minister first?"
No.
You don't need to contact anyone. Just show up. You're most
welcome. Our services are completely open.
"Can I attend if I still
smoke, or have some personal problems I need to
overcome?"
Certainly.
"Can I bring unconverted members of my family,
or neighbors, or friends, or distant
relatives?"
Absolutely.
All are welcome.
"Is there any charge? Do you pass the collection
plate?"
No charge. We
never ask for money over the television program, or in any of
our literature. We do not take up collections in our weekly
church services. Tithing and giving, while taught by the
church, is voluntary, and is not monitored. We do, however, in
accordance with God's commands (Deuteronomy 16: 16), take up
offerings on our annual holy days only. Guests should not feel
obligated to participate. It is not obligatory to give, but
completely voluntary.
"Do I need to remain for the full number of
days?"
No. You may leave
whenever you need to do so. There are no
restrictions.
"Are counselors available if I have
questions?"
Absolutely.
Just ask one of the ushers.
"Is free literature
available?"
Yes. We usually
have a good deal of sample literature available, as well as
tape-recorded sermons. Any literature not displayed will be
sent to your home by merely filling out a card, and leaving
it with one of the ushers or counselors. As you probably
know, the Church of God, Worldwide, is a Sabbath-keeping
church.
When the Church of God, Ministries
International,
observes God's annual Sabbaths--consisting of the Passover and
Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, the
Feast of Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day (Leviticus
23)-many of our congregations and fellowship groups will come
together in a central location for these annual high days.
These day provide for special preaching services, potluck
meals, special music, and fellowship. The Feast of
Tabernacles, because it is of seven days' duration,
immediately followed by the Last Great Day, thus making eight
days in all, is the highlight of the spiritual year for God's
people. Thousands plan their vacations around the
feast.
Families make it a
special time for their children. Many save their "festival
tithe" (Deuteronomy 12:17,18) so they may purchase new
clothing, books, puzzles, toys, and gifts for their children,
helping them rejoice in the feast.
Those who diligently obey God in saving a full festival
tithe are sometimes greatly blessed in having even more than
their own family needs, and so give to others in their local
congregations, so they too can attend the feast.
Some local congregations "chip in"
together to sponsor someone experiencing hardships, or on
fixed incomes, so they can rejoice in the feast.
God's people look forward to these feasts
all year long, plan for them months in advance, regard them as
"God's vacation plan" for His people!
They are rich with historical and spiritual meaning. The
feast days provide God's people with an opportunity to "keep
in remembrance" God's plan of salvation. This vital time is
spent with our families and friends--old and new. We are
enriched and revitalized by the holy day experience.
We hope you will be able to join with us
as we "rejoice before the Lord" in this year of 2004.
FEAST OF TABERNACLES 2008
Be watching this section for
information for The Feast of Tabernacles, 2008 information.
Plan on attending with fellow brethren in 8 wonderful Spiritual filled services Honoring our Lord Jesus Christ.
|
