Feast of Tabernacles and the Millennial Kingdom Asher Intrator
There are three biblical feasts in the spring, and three in the fall. The major events of the first coming of Yeshua (Jesus) occurred on the very dates of the spring holy days:
• Pesach (Passover) – Crucifixion
• Omer (First Fruits) – Resurrection
• Shavuot (weeks) – Holy Spirit Baptism
By the same biblical logic, we see a connection with the fall holy days to the major events of the second coming:
• Yom Teruah (Trumpets) – Tribulation
• Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) – Second Coming
• Sukkot (Tabernacles) – Millennial Kingdom
As we celebrate the Feast of Trumpets we emphasize the prophetic meaning of the Trumpet judgments of Revelation, particularly the final proclamation that the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of Yeshua (Revelation 11:15).
On the Day of Atonement, we not only fast, repent and thank God for the atoning blood of Yeshua, we also declare our faith in His coming on the great and terrible day of the Lord (Joel 1:15, 2:1, 2:11) at the blast of the last great trumpet (Matthew 24:31, I Corinthians 15:52, I Thessalonians 4:16, Leviticus 25:9-10).
The Feast of Tabernacles is the culmination of all the biblical holy days and therefore represents the final stage of His plan of salvation. After the great war of the end times and the second coming of Yeshua (Zechariah 14:1-15), those who survive of all the nations will go up to Jerusalem to worship and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Zechariah 14:16-21).
That celebration takes place in the millennial kingdom. There will be a Feast of Tabernacles in the Millennium. The Feast itself is a fore-shadow of that kingdom.
We are told to gather fruits of the harvest to wave them as a thanksgiving before the Lord (Leviticus 23:40, Nehemiah 8:15). There is particular mention of palm branches.
When Yeshua entered Jerusalem, riding a donkey (Zechariah 9:9), the disciples greeted Him by waving palm branches (John 12:13). There were two problems with that entry. First, He came in on a donkey, instead of a white horse (Revelation 19:11). Secondly, it was on the wrong day. The waving of palms is for Sukkot, not Pesach.
The prophetic symbolism leads to the following conclusion: That was not the triumphal entry, but the humble entry. There will be another entry. Yeshua will enter in triumph, as a king on a white horse, on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Not only will a few Jewish disciples wave palm branches, but the righteous remnant of every nation.
Behold a great multitude which no one could number, of all the nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with palm branches in their hands – Revelation 7:9.
In the end times, people of every nation will wave palm branches before the Lord as a priestly symbol of our hope that Yeshua will return and enter Jerusalem in triumph to begin His millennial kingdom on earth with a great celebration and banquet.
God planned the kingdom of Messiah before He created the world. He ordained the priestly symbols and appointed feasts before Yeshua was born into this earth. Since they were pre-ordained, they have authority. But they only have authority when they are done under the authority of the name of Yeshua.
Just as there is an agricultural harvest at the time of Sukkot (the end of the biblical holy days), so will there be a great harvest of souls at the end of the age (Matthew 13:39, Revelation 14:14). We believe that the Messianic movement in Israel will be a spark of revival for the nations in the end times.