FEAST OF TABERNACLES – Day 1 – 2004

Fred Coulter – September 30, 2004

And welcome brethren, to the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, 2004. Now we’re going to start a little differently here. Let’s come to I Corinthians 1, because you see, more and more the holy days are coming under attack, especially by the Protestants. And they have been by Seventh Day Adventists, and they have been by the Church of God Seventh Day. And we’re going to understand something here very important concerning the holy days from the point of view of how we understand.

Now here, I Corinthians 1:17. The apostle Paul writes: “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with the wisdom of words [that is, the words and philosophies of men], lest the cross of Christ be made void. For to those who are perishing, the preaching of the cross [and of course that includes the whole plan of God] is foolishness; but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will nullify the understanding of those who understand.’ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Did not God make foolish the wisdom of this world?” And you compare the holy days of God and the whole plan of God to everything that the world has and their religions and their holidays – it is foolishness and yet they think it is wisdom. And they look at what we do and think we are foolish, and think that we are going back under the law. That’s not the case because you see, keeping the commandments of God and having the faith of Jesus Christ (Rev. 14:12) go hand in hand. He’s destroyed them. Verse 21: “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its own wisdom did not know God, it pleased God to save those who believe through the foolishness of preaching” (I Cor. 1:17-21, FV). Now how are we going to understand not only the preaching, but the writings, the Word of God, what the apostles have written and preserved for us, what God inspired and had written and preserved for us in the Old Testament?

Now let’s come here to I Corinthians 2:9. “But according as it is written, ‘The eye has not seen…’ ” So people are not going to understand these things by just sitting down and reading alone. “ ‘…Nor the ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ ” And God is preparing for us. And God is preparing for this world. “But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit…” So there is an absolute dividing line, and that dividing line is determined by the Spirit of God. You understand the things in the Scriptures by the Spirit of God. And as we have seen: line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, and rightly dividing the Word of God to put it together. And also to have the understanding and the attitude that the Word of God teaches us His plan. Now that has to be revealed. “…For the Spirit searches all things…” Not just the New Testament, but all things: the Old Testament; each individual that comes into being in the world; all of those that God calls – searches all things. “…Even the deep things of God” (I Cor. 2:9-10, FV). And the holy days, and the understanding of the holy days are part of the deep things of God.

“For who among men understands the things of man except by the spirit of man which is in him? In the same way also, the things of God [now the holy days are part of the things of God] no one understands except by the Spirit of God.” And we’ve seen the problem that has happened in the church here in recent years. They begin bringing in the spirit of the world. And as they brought in the spirit of the world they brought in the world and their beliefs and pushed out the Spirit of God and the truth of God. That’s why Paul says here, verse 12: “Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is of God, so that we might know the things graciously given to us by God; which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Holy Spirit in order to communicate spiritual things by spiritual means” (verses 11-13, FV). And that’s why the holy days are important because these are the appointed times of God, the appointed seasons of God. And these are commanded convocations.

Now let’s come to Psalm 119 and let’s see another thing that God wants us to know to understand. And this is important because you see, the Word of God is inspired by God. And as Jesus said: “ ‘The words that I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life’ ” (John 6:63, FV). And so when we come here to Psalm 119 we also see where David was inspired to write something very profound. He says: “Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law” (Psa. 119:18). And that’s what we are going to do with the holy days. We are going to see the wondrous things out of God’s law, out of God’s Word – Old Testament, New Testament, put it all together and see and understand the plan of God and the meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles.

So let’s first of all go, as we always do, to Leviticus 23, because one of the secret things of God that He has hidden, where He says that it is God’s honor to hide something, or prerogative to hide it. But it is the honor of the king to dig it out. So that’s what we have with all the holy days in Leviticus 23. Because it’s awfully easy bringing in the spirit of the world, bringing in the spirit of the worlds religions to say: “Well, look at that, that’s in the Old Testament.” See, well they take that attitude because they do not understand and realize that Jesus Christ (Who they say they love, Who they say they follow, which they do not); that “The God of the Old Testament was harsh and mean. And these laws and these things we no longer have to do.” And by that very thing they cut themselves off from God.

So let’s begin here, Leviticus 23:33. Now you see we started out: Passover, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, and now here we are at the Feast of Tabernacles. And all of these things we have seen portrays a step-by-step revelation of the plan of God. And this is what we are to know, what we are to understand, and how we are to live our lives. And in these days, if we love God, if we serve God, if we are faithful to God and have God’s Spirit in us, He will reveal more and more of His will out of His Word just like David said: “Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Your Word.” And as Paul wrote, they are revealed by God’s Spirit.

So let’s begin here, verse 33: “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. On the first day shall be an holy convocation [which is today]: ye shall do no servile work therein. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD [now we’re going to look at that in Numbers 29 in just a minute]: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein” (Lev. 23:33-36).

Now verse 37. Let’s pay clear attention to this because one of the ways that people attack the Word of God and attack what we do, try to discredit what we do is because they say that we are keeping the feasts of the Jews. And that is an abominable lie. Notice what God says here: “These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations…” This is a summary of the whole chapter up to here. The Sabbath commandment sanctifies the Passover and all the holy days. That’s why it’s given in the first part of the chapter. Now notice: “…to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat [meal] offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day: beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD” (verses 37-38).

Now let’s come to Numbers 29 and let’s see the commanded offerings that they were to give. These were the official offerings to God for the whole nation of Israel. Now the Feast of Tabernacles is different in relationship to the offerings that are given on the other days. First of all He showed in Numbers 29 that there was to be the morning and the evening sacrifice. And of course then they had the meal offering and the wine offering and the incense that would go with it. Then on the Sabbath they had special Sabbath offerings in addition to the continual burnt offering. And then He goes right through all of the holy days (the new moons, the holy days) and it is very interesting that there is no commanded sacrifice at the tabernacle or temple for the Passover day because it was (as we have written extensively in The Christian Passover book) a domestic home kept feast.

Now let’s come to Numbers 29:12. Let’s see the tremendous offerings that were given. Now we also know this: that during the days of Solomon they had, beginning with the Feast of Trumpets, then they had (including the Feast of Trumpets) seven days dedication of the temple. Then they took a break so they could have Atonement and so forth, and then they come to the Feast of Tabernacles. And they had so many thousands of people there, and so many thousands of sacrifices that were offered that they had to make smaller altars in different locations on the temple grounds. And it was literally a fantastic and mammoth feast.

But here were the required offerings. Let’s begin in Numbers 29:12: “And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: and ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; thirteen young bullocks [one for every tribe], two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish…” (Nu. 29:12-13). And then their meal offering and the wine offering and so forth and a kid goat for a sin offering. That’s besides the continual morning and evening sacrifice and their meal and drink offerings.

Now each day of the feast the number of bullocks (while all the rest would remain the same) was decreased by one. And each one of these things shows a type of fulfillment and a progression in the plan of God. Now let’s come over here to verse 32: “And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish [their meal offering, their drink offering and so forth, and a goat for a sin offering]...” (verses 32-36). Now it says then on the eight day it reverts back to one bullock.

Now let’s come down here to verse 39 and let’s read this again. “These things ye shall do unto the LORD in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat [meal] offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.” So there are the free-will offerings, there are the vows, and there are many things to consider.

That’s why God says when they would come to a feast they were not to appear before the Lord empty. Now let’s see here (Deuteronomy 16) the command for an offering. And we’ll take up the offering here in just a bit. “Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which He shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks [which is Pentecost], and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: every man shall give as he is able…” (Deut 16:16-17). Now this is in addition to the burnt offerings, the peace offerings, the meal offerings and so forth that they were to give. Just like we find in Deuteronomy 14, that if the way were to far they were to go ahead and sell the bullocks, and sell the lambs, and the rams and so forth, and take the money and come to Jerusalem and then use that money on whatever their soul desires. And of course, as we see in Luke 21, which was the time leading up to the Passover when Jesus was crucified, there were many coming and giving gifts into the treasury. And so it wasn’t just animal sacrifices and meal offerings and incense and wine offerings. They also had monetary offerings. And so since Christ, in fulfilling the Law and the Prophets, the part that He fulfilled in the law was all the rituals and all the sacrifices that were given under the Old Covenant. But the whole thing of free-will offerings and giving to the Lord, especially on the holy days, continues through till today.

Now you see, the daily offerings given, that was at the temple for the priests to do. That didn’t mean that everyone was to come in and give an offering: part of an offering on one day, part of an offering on another day, part of an offering on another day all through the eight days. That had to do with the commanded sacrifices for the whole nation of Israel. So when we come to the New Testament it carries over because there is no temple, there is not priesthood – Christ is our High Priest. And when we come together we are still to honor God by bringing an offering to Him. And so I just bring this out in a way so that you understand how then we can go into the Old Testament, how with the Spirit of God we can understand what needs to be done.

So at this time we’ll take a pause and take up the offering. And be sure and put your full name and address on the envelope please.

(Pause)

The Feast of Tabernacles is what the whole world is waiting for. That is, the rule of God on earth. The kingdom of God governing the whole world. Now in the world today we are seeing that God is letting man, under the guidance of Satan the devil and also by His plan and purpose, just exactly like He told the Jews before they went into captivity that He raised up Nebuchadnezzar for the very purpose of taking them into captivity. And that if they fought against him, God would fight against them. And at the time that Jesus came the Jews were actually looking for the Messiah. They knew He was the Messiah. But you see, they didn’t want to accept Him because He did not align Himself with them. See, they were expecting the Messiah to come to align with all of their institutions – the temple, the sacrifices, the government, throw out the Romans, and fight for them. Well, when Jesus came the first time that’s not what it was.

Now let’s come here to John 18 and let’s see what Jesus told Pilate when he was questioning Him before He was scourged and sent out to be crucified. Let’s pick it up here beginning in verse 33: “Then Pilate returned to the judgment hall and called Jesus, and said to Him, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Do you ask this of yourself, or did others say it to you concerning Me?’ Pilate answered Him, ‘Am I a Jew? The chief priests and your own nation have delivered You up to me. What have You done?’ Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world.’ ” (John 18:33-36, FV). See, because God had a greater plan. God has a greater purpose. God knows that the world cannot be run in the kingdom of God unless there is planning, unless there is preparation, and unless the fullness of the plan of God come to fruition.

And He said: “ ‘If My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, so that I might not be delivered up to the Jews. However, My kingdom is not of this world.’ ” So Pilate couldn’t understand that. Because you see, one of the reasons that they delivered Him to Pilate was because He said He was king. And so then the Jews falsely accused Him of wanting to usurp authority over Caesar. And so, it put all the pressure on Pilate as to what to do. So therefore verse 37: “Pilate therefore answered Him, ‘Then You are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘As you say, I am a king. For this purpose I was born, and for this reason I came into the world, that I may bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’ Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’ ” (verses 36-38, FV). That’s exactly where we are today with the death of truth in this world. So then he said he found no fault in Him.

Now let’s look at another thing concerning the kingdom of God because the scribes and Pharisees were expecting it to appear immediately. And they didn’t understand that this was going to be a spiritual kingdom run by spiritual sons and daughters of God over the human beings on the earth. They wanted their own human power to be right under the Messiah so they could exercise the authority. Well you see, God is not going to leave the kingdom to people – only the sons and daughters of God, and they didn’t understand that.

Let’s pick it up here in Luke 19:11 (FV). “Now as they were listening to these things, He went on to speak a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.” They thought He was going to Jerusalem to take over; announce that He was the Messiah; rally all the armies of the Jews around; supernaturally with their armies and the power that He had, to destroy the Romans and get them out, and set up the kingdom of God on earth. So He wanted them to know it wasn’t going to be that way.

“Therefore, He said, ‘A certain nobleman set out to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and to return.’ ” (verse 12, FV). Now they understood this because Herod went to Rome to be coroneted (this is Herod the Great), and then when he came back, it took him three years to come back and conquer the Jews to be the king over Judea, as the Romans had set him. So they understood what He was talking about here.

Now verse 13: “ ‘And after calling ten of his servants, he gave to them ten pounds, and said to them, ‘ “Trade until I come back.” ’ ” Now this tells us a little bit about what we are going to do that I’m going to talk about tomorrow – how do we prepare to rule and reign with Christ. He said: “ ‘ “Trade until I come back.” But his citizens hated him and sent an ambassador after him, saying, ‘ “We are not willing to have this man reign over us.” ’ ” (verses 13-14, FV). One of the very first things that has to be is Christ has to rule over you. But they didn’t want Him to rule over them.

“ ‘And it came to pass that when he returned after receiving the kingdom, he directed that those servants to whom he had given the money be called to him…’ ” (verse 15, FV). Then it went through one gained ten pounds, one gained five pounds, and the other one gained two pounds and so forth. Then we have someone who didn’t do what they were supposed to do. And he said, verse 21: “ ‘ “For I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man.” ’ ” Isn’t that interesting? Isn’t that what the Protestants accuse the God of the Old Testament of being? And is that not one of the reasons that they don’t do the things that Jesus has said? Is that not one of the reasons why the Catholic Church exists? Yes, they don’t want Christ to rule over them in their lives. They want a pope to worship and to rule over their lives. Absolutely amazing, isn’t it? “ ‘ “You take up what you did not lay down, and you reap what you did not sow [see, because it’s spiritually built].” ’ Then he said to him, ‘ “Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant!” ’ ” (verses 21-22, FV). Now that’s something you need to understand. Every single one of us are going to be judged according to our works, and what we say, and what we do. And there are times when we say things that you better be very, very careful what you say because God may take you up on what you say as your judgment, just like here.

“ ‘ “You knew that I am a harsh man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow. Then why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank, so that at my coming I might have received it with interest?” ’ And he said to those who were standing by, ‘ “Take the pound from him, and give it to the one who has ten pounds.” ’ (And they said to him, ‘ “Lord, he has ten pounds.” ’)” And Jesus said, verse 26: “ ‘ “For I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given; but the one who does not have, even what he has shall be taken from him.” ’ ” Now verse 27: “ ‘ “Moreover, bring my enemies, those who were not willing for me to reign over them, and slay them here before me.” ’ ” (verses 22-27, FV). Now that’s just a very good short summary of the return of Christ – slay them.

Now we also know that the apostles, the very last thing just before Jesus ascended into heaven for the final time, they said, “Lord will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He says, “It’s not given to you to know the times and seasons which the Father has put under His authority. But you go…” (Acts 1:6-7, paraphrased). In that case, go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit. But for all of us we are to do that. We are not only to learn and know and understand the Word of God, but we are to go and we are to do, and we are to preach, and we are to teach, and we are to do these things, and we are to occupy by doing these things until Christ returns.

We are also going to see something very important here. Because when Jesus told Pilate that “to this end was He born,” He was making very clear that He fulfilled this prophecy. Now He didn’t make it clear to Pilate because Pilate didn’t understand it. But as we go back and as we know and understand the prophecies and read them and put all, the Scriptures together then we understand that’s precisely what Jesus was talking about because He was born to be a king. We’re going to see you have been born, and I have been born, and all of those that God has called have been born, and having been converted, we are called to be kings and priests. And that’s a tremendous thing as we will see.

Isaiah 9:6: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder [He is going to reign, He is going to rule into the ages of eternity as it says in the book of Revelation]: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Because only Christ can bring peace. And when Christ returns He is going to become a father by those who are converted (as we will see as we go down through the Feast of Tabernacles) by those who were converted during the millennium as we rule and reign on this earth.

Now notice verse 7: “Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end…” So God’s plan is going to go on into the ages of eternity. Quite a tremendous and magnificent thing that God is going to do. “…Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it … from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isa. 9:6-7). There’s no getting around it. This is going to be done. It doesn’t matter whether people believe or not, whether they understand or not - it is going to happen.

Now as we saw, the resurrection is on Pentecost, and we are there to receive our rewards and to receive our new name, the marriage of the Lamb and all those things that take place. Then the seven last plagues are poured out. Then Christ and all of the saints on the sea of glass return to the earth. And He’s going to be King over all the earth. And that’s going to be a tremendous day indeed.

Now let’s see something else here – we share in that. Now let’s look at this. Let’s come to Revelation 20. Let’s follow that progression down. After Satan has been put away, and during the millennium Satan won’t be around. Now on the seventh day of the feast we’ll talk about why Satan is loosed for a short season. There’s a purpose in that. So Satan is taken, he is bound, cast into the abyss. The next thing to take place is this, verse 4: “And I saw thrones; and they that sat upon them, and judgment was given to them; and I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and those who did not worship the beast, or his image, and did not receive the mark in their foreheads or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Rev. 20:4, FV). Now that’s quite a thing. This is the whole purpose and goal as to why we are called – so that we can be with Christ, so that we can rule and reign with Him. That’s the most important thing for us to understand. And tomorrow we’ll cover what is the most important thing we need to have and develop now so we can rule and reign with Christ.

Then it says: “(But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were completed.)” Then referring back to verse 4 it says: “This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy…” Now that’s quite a thing, isn’t it? Who is also called blessed and holy? God is. And as we know, we are to share the very glory of Christ. So it says: “Blessed and holy is the one who has part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power. But they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (verses 5-6, FV). So that’s going to be a tremendous thing. Absolutely marvelous.

Now let’s come back here to Revelation 2 and let’s see that’s one of the promises. When we come to Revelation 2 and 3 even though there’s a message to each one of the churches it always ends with “he that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” So let’s read it here. Revelation 2:25: “But hold fast what you have until I come. And to the one who overcomes, and keeps My works unto the end [so there are works to be kept], I will give [power] authority over the nations; and he shall shepherd [rule] them with an iron rod, as vessels of pottery are broken in pieces; as I have also received from My Father…” (Rev. 2:25-27, FV). Now you see, we are going to have full authority and control. Christ is going to be King. The twelve apostles will be sitting on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And beyond that of Elijah and Moses, we don’t have too much of an inkling of who’s going to be doing what. But don’t fear, God has it all planned out and it’s going to be all according to His will.

Now here just recently we have seen the transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqi’s. And we also have seen, leading up to it and afterward, the terrorists attacks and so forth. And we’ve had all the bleeding hearts in the press say, “Oh, things went terribly wrong. Oh, there have been great mistakes that were made,” and so forth. I think we need to understand: you cannot – it will be impossible to have a one-world government unless the Islamic nations are tamed and brought into the modern world. That’s what all of this is going to lead to. But yes, there are those things that took place in killing, and bombing, and kidnapping, and beheading and things like this.

Now I saw a very interesting documentary when it was leading up to the memorial of D-Day, and there were more mistakes and more casualties made on that first day on D-Day when the troops landed there. They had 5000 casualties just the first day alone. And some of them landed at the wrong place. And some of the supplies didn’t get to them the way that they should have. But never the less they overcame all those mistakes and they went in and the invasion was a success. And they said as it got to the end of the war, “Now how are they going to democratize Germany and Japan?” Well, it hasn’t been reported very much but right after the Germans surrendered, do you know what the German renegades (or what we would call today, insurgents) were doing? They were blowing up railroad tracks, blowing up trucks, they were cutting telephone lines. And it took a total of three more years before the occupational forces got it underhand to where they could work with the Germans to bring about peace. And that finally wasn’t resolved until the Cold War ended and the wall was torn down.

Now from that we’re going to learn a lesson. And that lesson is: What is it going to be like when the millennium begins? Because we’re going to rule and reign with Christ a thousand years, are we not? And we are going to enforce and bring the government of God, are we not? And are we not going to have authority over the nations to rule them, or shepherd them with a rod of iron? Yes, we are.

So let’s come back here to Isaiah 2 and let’s see what it tells us about this. And let us see something very important and then we will look at the Scriptures which show how then it will be done. Now many times we read these things and go over them and we don’t really fully expound them, or go through them in detail. But we’re going to today.

Now let’s pick it up here, Isaiah 2:1: “The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house…” Now as we know, it’s a type of God’s government. And we read in Isaiah 9 that the government is going to be on His shoulders and He’s going to delegate to all the saints who are in the first resurrection so that they can rule and reign with Him. That’s what it says – will reign a thousand years with Him. “…Shall be established in the top of the mountains…”, because there will be other nations, but this is going to be the leading one. The sons and daughters of God in the kingdom of God ruling on earth will be with Christ ruling over the whole world. “…And shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it” (Isa. 2:1-2).

And also as we have seen in Zechariah 14, one of the first things they are going to do is keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And if they don’t keep it, what’s going to happen? For those nations who don’t keep it, then they aren’t going to get any rain. And the Egyptians who don’t come up, if they don’t come up they’re going to get the plague. Now that’s what it means to shepherd with a rod of iron. And God has weapons far better than any army. God has power to execute these things far better than bombs, and tanks, and planes, and all of the specialty things that men have developed for war.

Now notice, continuing: “…and all nations shall flow unto it.” Jerusalem! And it says here Judah. Isn’t it interesting? Because it will be filled with resurrected sons of God who are considered spiritual Jews. Isn’t that correct? Yes, indeed. Very interesting how these Scriptures come together.