A VERSE AND A THOUGHT: PSALM 24:3 - "GOING 'UP...THEN WHAT?"

“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His Holy Place? (Psalm 24:3)

THOUGHT:

It could not be clearer. When we talk about approaching God – there is the image and reality of going UP. It is not only this verse but what is coming in the future, during the 1000 Year Reign of Jesus Christ. The King of Kings will be sitting on the Throne in a brand new Temple in Jerusalem after the Tribulation and all enemies of Christ are removed and sent down to Hades. During those 1000 years, we know from Zechariah 14:16 that EVERYONE is supposed to go up to Jerusalem annually, for the Feast of the Tabernacles. This is in early Fall when legend has it that Jesus was actually born in the stable in Bethlehem. Jerusalem and the Lord’s Temple are on a Hill. We travel up to it.

Only the Saved, the Redeemed – Christians, and Jews who were saved during the Tribulation will be going up to visit the King annually. At this time (and this is confirmed in the very next verse) only followers and disciples are allowed to go UP to His Throne. Zechariah 14:21 says there will no longer be a Canaanite in that day, meaning this - no one who does not believe in Yahweh will be around alive on the earth. 

Secondly, when a person gets up to the Holy Hill or Mountain of the Lord, what would then occur? Let the Bible be our guide. Isaiah was pulled up into the very Throne Room of God in Heaven, in Isaiah Chapter 6:1-7. Let us read what happens when the old prophet realized where he was. We read in Isaiah 6:5 “then I said: '“Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

Who can stand in front of the Holiest of Holies – the very Throne of God? NOBODY! History tells us Isaiah fell down all messed up. Revelation 4:10-11 tells us that the 24 Elders threw their Crowns at the Feet of the Lord and “the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed and were created."

You know we constantly hear people who have no idea about the nature and attributes of God say “when we get to heaven we are going to ask God ‘this or that’”. Friends, we are not doing any such thing. Study the Scriptures and you will discover we will react just like Isaiah did in chapter 6!

ACTION POINT:

The Bible talks about going UP to where the Lord lives and the opposite – those who reject the Lord, they go DOWN to the pit. From our viewpoint now, knowing the High and Lofty position of the Abode of the Almighty, do you think we are worthy at all to be allowed into such a place? Why are we even allowed to approach the Throne of God and how can show respect and reverence, even now? How do we maintain this incredible relationship?

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ROSH HASHANAH FOR CHRISTIANS

HAPPY NEW YEAR - 5777 (Starts Oct 2-4, 2016)

UPDATED: OCTOBER 2016

Most Christians are not aware of the significance of Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year. A lot of it is due to the lack of, or improper teaching about the role of Israel in Prophesy and in some extreme cases - just plain error. There is an ungodly teaching out there called "Replacement Theology" which teaches that modern day Christians have replaced not just the Biblical Israel but present and future Israel. It will serve no purpose to put out the shocking list of churches here, but suffice it to say that almost 100 millions Americans in total belong to these churches! To those of us, who are students and lovers of the Holy Land, we honor these major Jewish Feast Days with our Messianic Jewish brethren! Why? Well, we because in the Millennial Kingdom,  guess where the King  - Jesus Christ -will be sitting on His Throne - Jerusalem.

In the Millennial Kingdom, the Sacrificial system will return (not to make blood atonement, but as a memorial). 
In the Millennial Kingdom, the Feast of Tabernacles (or Sukkot) which is coming up soon in later September, will be so huge and festive and under direct watch of Christ that Scripture warns that those nations that refuse to come up to Jerusalem annually to celebrate it with the rest of us, will have their rain cut off! Read it here.

Anyone who doubts any of this, has an issue with God and His Word, because, well..."thus sayeth the Lord"! Therefore as the Jewish New Year is now in full swing, let us wish our dear brethren a Happy New year...from those of us who are under the worldwide Gregorian Calendar - let us celebrate this day! 

CLICK HERE FOR ROSH HASHANAH 2016 PRAYERS.

Example: THE KIDDUSH:

This is the blessing given while holding a cup of wine before the evening meal: “Praised are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe who has chosen and distinguished us by sanctifying our lives with commandments. Lovingly have you given us this Day of Remembrance, a day for recalling the shofar sound, a day for holy assembly and for recalling the Exodus from Egypt. Thus have you chosen us, sanctifying us among all people. Your faithful word endures forever. Praise are You, Lord, Ruler of all the earth, who sanctifies, the people Israel and the Day of Remembrance.”

There are some things we can learn from Rosh Hashanah. These are things which can make the understanding of God's Covenant. It is a time of new beginnnings. Just as Christian make resolutions on January 1, Rosh Hashanah give the Christian a time to reflect on the Gift of Repentance! Yes, repentance (or Teshuvah). This is the gift which calls us to answer the Call of God and approach Him with clean hearts and minds!

Why is Teshuvah important? Well, it ties right into the Lamb's Book of Life! Jesus said in Mark 1:15 "Repent, believe the Gospel and be saved"! In fact, one of the main greetings of Rosh Hashanah is "L'Shanah Tovah Tikatevu" which means "may you be inscribed and sealed for a good year (in THE BOOK OF LIFE)! Now, do any of us have a problem with this?!  There is more we can go on about as to why we celebrate this meaningful time of year each early Fall, but the main one is this - we celebrate the new beginning - the Creation and the Creator.

The Gregorian Calendar which we live under, begins our new year every January 1. The Jews mark this as the beginning of Creation. Psalm 47:2 says "The LORD is KING of over ALL the earth". It is amazing to follow the tie in with this and the coming Millennial Kingdom of the Maschiach - Yehoshua (King Jesus)! Isaiah 27:13 says "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem." This is Mt Zion, where the Feet of the Messiah will land on the Second Coming, and the entire geography of Israel and its surroundings will be permanently changed at that time!

So let us celebrate and honor our Jewish brothers as we are now in Year 5774 from Creation! If your Jewish friends offer you apples and honey or even pomegranate based delicacies, that's the ticket right there. The traditional Apples and Honey of Rosh Hashanah simply signifies the expected sweetness of the coming year (the honey) and the Shekinah Glory of God (apple slices). 
Shanah Tovah Umesukah! (A happy and sweet new year)!

(All Scriptures are King James Version)

(Free Graphic courtesy FabulousSavers.com)

WATCH GOD IN ACTION - THEN PRAISE HIM FOREVER

How beautiful and glorious is the Lord! How bountiful is His Goodness to us!
How beautiful are the Feet of Him Who brings good news. The Apostle John said the following when he came face to Face with the King of Kings - the Lord Jesus as He was 1900 years ago...and how He still is right now! Think about it, my friends! The Commander in Chief of the Universe (the real one); the Creator of Life; the Counselor - Mighty Counselor - the Glorious One....This is what He is really like:
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters....(Revelation 1:12-15 ESV)

Are you ready to meet this Jesus? This is He Who sits on the Throne of Heaven NOW!
He is NOT in the manger He was born in ONCE on September 30, almost 2000 years ago.
He is NOT hanging on a Cross as He ONCE was.
He is NOT some socialist utopian.
He is NOT some inspirational teacher.
He is NOT some wishy washy pop psychologist.

He did not just come here to sacrifice it all for all of us to live in peace and prosperity like the corrupt of this perishing earth. He came to show us how to die to ourselves that we may live like Him. 
He has given us all the Power and Holy Spirit we need. If you are truly born again, you too have it my friend! He has said that no matter how difficult and evil times get for His people in this temporary life, "weeping will last for a night, but JOY COMES IN THE MORNING (Psalm 30:5)! It does not get any better than this!

Therefore,  I exhort you to watch this video of Angus Buchan (Faith Like Potatoes) preaching in Israel during the Feast of the Tabernacles (around which time, Jesus was really born) and watch what happens when the Power of God actually descends on the crowd listening to the preaching about the Messiah - right there in His Holy Land!!
THEN - WORSHIP HIS HOLY NAME! Amen.

BLOW THE TRUMPETS - HAPPY ROSH HASHANAH

IT IS NOW YEAR 5773 - FROM CREATION TO 2012!

Happy New Year to all our Jewish brethren in Israel, the United States and around the World! To the rest of us Gentiles, who are grafted into the Family Tree of Abraham, through the Precious Blood and Life shed on the Cross of Calvary by the Savior of the World - Yeshua the Maschiach (Jesus the Messiah) - Happy Rosh Hashanah as well!

Without knowing its full significance, even secular and non-believing Jews celebrate the New Jewish Year of Tishrei. Tishrei is the month when God created the Heavens and the Earth...and Adam (Haa'dam - man himself)! Therefore, it is now the year 5772 from Creation to now! Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha‑olam, yotzer haa’dam ("Blessed are You, LORD, our God, sovereign of the universe, who creates man.")

TASHLICH - CASTING OUR SINS
AWAY UPON THE WATERS

Our Jewish brethren go through their homes before this time and cleans out all yeast, from every corner of the house, prior to this celebratory day. This is significant to the idea of starting the new year, with a clean slate! Scripture uses yeast as a metaphor for sin. Tashlich is now observed by Jews and those of us who are closely identified with them partake of a ceremony, which involves a short ceremony at a body of water. After some Bible readings and the Blowing of the Shofar, congregants throw pieces of bread (with yeast) into the water ....which signifies what the psalms tell us about Holy God, Who takes our sins as far away from us, as the East is from the West! This enables the person to then begin the New Year at Rosh Hashannah, year 5773, anew!

We, who were saved by the Jewish Messiah  Jesus, had our sins taken away when we were born again, in spirit and in truth, by repenting (throwing our "yeast" permanently over to Him, who then forgave us) and accepting Jesus, as Lord and Savior of our entire lives! This is the true Tashlich!

Many will ask why September for their new year! Good question - God Himself laid out the timing and execution of these High Holy Days. This special Feast Day is part of the Fall Feasts. The biggest one is still to come - THE FEAST OF THE TABERNACLES. This one is primary for the Christian's understand as Scripture has predicted that Jesus Himself will reinstitute the Feast of the Tabernacles in the coming soon 1000 Year Reign, from the Throne of the New Temple (by then, the Fourth and Final Temple) in Jerusalem.

So as we celebrate the arrival of the Great Hebrew Fall Feasts, let us remember Who created this great earth 5773 years ago. 
Let us remember Who led Moses out of Egypt in the Cloud and the Pillar of Fire in front of millions of Israelites. 
Let us remember Who takes our sins as far away as the eastern ocean is from the western ocean. 
Let us remember Who gave the Ten Commandments on the Mountain of God (Sinai). 
Let us remember Who gave it all at the Cross, to fulfill the Ten Commandments - rose from the dead, was seen by 500 people plus his followers and now lives forever to pray for us before the Throne of God.
Let us remember Him - HIS NAME IS JESUS, PRECIOUS JESUS! CREATOR OF THE WORLD!  THANK YOU LORD FOR 5773 YEARS OF CREATION! AMEN!
"For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through Him and for Him...Colossians 1:16 NASB

(images by google)

FRIDAY FOCUS - FAITH BEGORRAH!

As I awoke this morning, I asked the Lord for a verse almost immediately after and sure enough, He was faithful and put this wonderful verse in my heart "I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!” Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! (Psalm 122:1-2 ESV)


So then I read the next few verses....and WHOA....it was prophetic! The Spirit of the Lord revealed through the VERY WORD of the LORD, what is coming down the pike. So here it is, dear friends:

Jerusalem—built as a city

that is bound firmly together,

to which the tribes go up,

the tribes of the LORD,

as was decreed for Israel,

to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

There thrones for judgment were set,

the thrones of the house of David. (Psalm 122:3-5 ESV)

There are two things happening here, nay three! 

Number 1 - Jerusalem is the Home of the One, Always and Future King of the Universe - the Lord Jesus Christ.

Number 2 -  I am so glad for that, because of the coming 1000 year Reign of Christ, when all who are saved will rule the earth with an iron fist, while pagans are still being born in Sinai Hospital, or London England! The Temple in Jerusalem will be HIS HOUSE...AND HIS THRONE!

Number 3 - Judgment is going to happen there during that reign!

This is a joyful passage of the Scriptures for TRUE believers and not for the faint of heart! Only those who know the Joy of Salvation, the Fruits of Repentance, the Peace that passeth all understanding will catch this!!!!

Don't doubt me friends! The Main Event during this time will be the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths) and many of those same people, born unsaved in our local hospitals, while we are in our glorified immortal bodies, will still rebel against King Jesus Christ - WHILE HE IS SITTING ON THE THRONE IN JERUSALEM!!!  Don't believe me? Well, you have to know what HisWord says, such as this: "Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them. And if the family of Egypt does not go up and present themselves, then on them there shall be no rain; there shall be the plague with which the LORD afflicts the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. This shall be the punishment to Egypt and the punishment to all the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths". (Zechariah 14:16-19 ESV)

So as we go about this wonderful day, which the Lord has given us, let us look up to this blessed hope, the Hope of Things Unseen - Faith...begorrah...or by God, as the lovely Irish like to say! Amen

FEAST OF TABERNACLES 2014 & ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO CHRISTIANS

The Glorious (and mandatory) Jewish and future Messianic Celebration of Tabernacles starts at sundown on Wednesday October 8, 2014! Glory to HaShem the Great and His Son, Yeshua! Blessings to our Jewish brothers as we celebrate the next week of the great Feast of the Tabernacles (Sukkot). Amein! (Tabernacles ends on October 15 at sundown, in the year 5775 from Creation, and the Jewish month of Tishrei).

Sukkot is the last of the big Fall Feasts, right after the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) - the Holiest Day in the Jewish Calendar. But what does this Harvest Feast have to do with the LORD Jesus Christ and the 1000 year reign, which is getting closer by the day? Well, glad you asked!

Instituted by the LORD in the Desert Exodus, Sukkot is based on the rememberance of the "Sukkah" or huts, tents etc..." which the Israelites lived in during their 40 Year Journey in the Wilderness. Later on, it became the Fall Harvest it is today. This celebration has eternal implications for every child of the Kingdom of the Soon Coming King!

It is a time to reflect on God's blessings, God's provision and God's care for His people.

It is a time for the people of God to be charitable and share this goodness with others.

It is a time for renewed fellowship with the Father Abba, through the Son Adonai.

It is a time of rejoicing at the Master, coming to live among us, first in Spirit and then in Person.

This last one is the Great Hope of the Millenial Kingdom! 

First of all, this 1000 Kingdom Reign by Jesus from literally Jerusalem, will occur after the Rapture.  Read here: Revelation 20:1-10 about this. Then read here: Daniel 12, about the first resurrection of the Old Testament saints, who will reign with Jesus and us Christians, for these 1000 years.

Jerusalem will be a Kingdom of Priests who minister to all the Gentile nations, led by the High Priest of the Universe - Jesus! It is here we see the Feast of the Tabernacles re-introduced by Jesus Himself! Two major prophets have spoken of this coming Event! Whereas Tabernacles was once only for the Jews, ALL NATIONS will be expect to not just rejoice and celebrate with Jesus, but to come up to Jerusalem ANNUALLY, to worship the King - JESUS CHRIST, the LORD!

Here is the confirmation of Tabernacles in the 1000 year reign from Zechariah 14. Again, this will occur after all the Wrath of God is reigned down on antichrist, the United Nations and all the pagan kings of the world. We pick up at verse 16: And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain;they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 

Note the section of Bible prophesy in Blue! Even with Jesus on the Throne, many will still rebel against Him! This means that while Abraham, Isaac, Jeremiah, Paul, Stephen, Martin Luther, Wilberforce, Spurgeon, Moody and AW Tozer will return resurrected, people will still be born in your local hospital - full of their sinful nature! The 1000 year reign of Jesus will be occurring LIVE in actual time, during real daily life! But this is another topic.

For us today, let us resolve to observe the next 6 days with our Jewish brothers because one day in Paradise, we who are Christians, will all be grafted into the Tree of Israel as sons and daughters of the Holy One of Israel! 

Let us wave our flags, blow our shofars and praise the Great God of Heaven, Who prophesied this in Ezekiel 43:7-9: And He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. No more shall the house of Israel defile My holy name, they nor their kings, by their harlotry or with the carcasses of their kings on their high places. ⁸ When they set their threshold by My threshold, and their doorpost by My doorpost, with a wall between them and Me, they defiled My holy name by the abominations which they committed; therefore I have consumed them in My anger. ⁹ Now let them put their harlotry and the carcasses of their kings far away from Me, and I will dwell in their midst forever. 

***YOM KIPPUR 2017: SEPTEMBER 29-30, 2017***

 YOM KIPPUR ...THE DAY OF ATONEMENT!

and the Scarlet Thread of Forgiveness

On Yom Kippur (or the Day of Atonement) the Talmud says that for hundreds of years, there hung a scarlet thread outside the Holy of Holies in the Temple. Back then, the Bible prescribed a scapegoat to cover the sins of the man. 

The High Priest would put his hand on the chosen goat, and transfer the sins of Israel unto the goat. If this scapegoat was acceptable to the LORD, the Scarlet Thread in the Temple would turn WHITE!  Sometimes the thread would stay scarlet, depending on the spiritual state of the nation at the time! Isaiah 1:18 says to God's people "come let us reason together...though your sins be scarlet, they shall be as white as snow"!

This Scarlet Thread procedure, if you will, remained in force in the Temple year after year. However according to a tractate in the Talmud, for FORTY (40) years before the Romans completely destroyed the Temples (just as Jesus predicted); the thread remained scarlet and never GOT WHITE again.

The Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70. For 40 years from 30 AD to 70 AD and the Temple's destruction, God did not accept the bulls and goats sacrifice from the temple's priests anymore. Why? Because the Perfect Lamb of God - the Son of God - the LORD Jesus, had already paid the Once-and-for-all Sacrifice with His Life on the Cross on 14 Nisen, 30 AD!  (For instance Good Friday 2012 fell on the same day as Passover, when He was executed 1972 years ago!).

Still, the Feast Day of Yom Kippur is important and is the Holiest Day on the Jewish calendar/religion. None of us can make atonement, or pay for our own sins. This was done by the Holy Son of God. Therefore, Christians should identify with our Jewish brothers here because of the Holiness of God.

Next, we should approach this day in Humility and thankfulness for that same sacrifice on the Cross. 

In terms of the Messianic Millennial Kingdom to come,  this is how Christians and Messianic Jews should approach Yom Kippur. This Day of Atonement already happened, but by its placement between Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year 5774 since Creation) and Sukkot next week, the Lord is preparing us for His Coming when He will "tabernacle" with us. He wants us to remember His atoning death on the Cross.

There will be more on Tabernacles or Sukkot next week. Sukkot is the last of the Fall festivals which will not only return and be reinstituted when Christ reigns from Jerusalem but it will carry a huge significance. It is representative of the Creator living with His Creation! If anyone has any better news out there, let us know and then prove it!

This Feast of Tabernacles will be a requirement for all the nations to celebrate in Jerusalem with the Eternal King. Everyone will be expected to and should be grateful for the Substitutionary Atonement on the Cross, for which we are cognizant on this Holy Day - Yom Kippur.

Shalom, amein.

(Images by Google Images)

WHY THE JEWISH FEASTS ARE IMPORTANT TO CHRISTIANS

WHY JESUS REINSTATES THE UPCOMING FEAST OF TABERNACLES FOR 1000 YEARS!

As the current Jewish people celebrate the New Year (Rosh Hashanah),  it is important to examine why this and other feast days are important to us gentile Christians who have been grafted into the Family of our Great God!

Modern Christianity tends to look, with disdain...or completely ignore, these Feast Days, which, as I mentioned this morning, were instituted by the Lord Jesus Himself.

So briefly, here is what they mean:

THE FIRST COMING OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

In the Spring, we have Three Major Feast Days....and NOTE their connections:

1. PESACH (or PASSOVER) - Christ was crucified on that Day!

2. OMER (or FirstFruits) - The Resurrection of Christ!

3. SHAVUOT( or WEEKS) - The Baptism of the Holy Spirit of Pentecost

Any questions?!

THE SECOND COMING OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST:

In the Fall (now), we have these three (3) Major Feast Days...and note not only their direction relationships but the flow from one to the next:

1. Yom Teruah (or TRUMPETS) -  Announcing the Coming Tribulation!

2. YOM KIPPUR (or DAY OF ATONEMENT) - The Second Coming!

3. SUCCOTH (or FEAST OF THE TABERNACLES) - The Millennial Kingdom!

Let's take a brief look at a couple things. Trumpets are mentioned in the Tribulation as Judgment on the evil of this present world begins. It is predicted in Revelation 11:15 (NLT) Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,       and he will reign forever and ever.”

The main Feast we, as Christians, should be excited about is the Feast of the Tabernacles! This is specifically mentioned in the Bible as being re-instituted by King Jesus in His 1000 year reign from His Throne in Jerusalem! Now get this - some people are going to rebel against Him, while He is there and refuse to go up to Jerusalem to worship at this time!  It will not go well for them.

This Feast will celebrate the Restoration and the Fulfillment of the Covenants from Abraham to the New Covenant of Christ in the New Testament.

BIBLICAL PROPHESIES CONFIRM THIS:

Zechariah 8:3 says “And now the Lord says: I am returning to Mount Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City; the mountain of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will be called the Holy Mountain....

Zechariah 8: ¹⁹ “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The traditional fasts and times of mourning you have kept in early summer, midsummer, autumn, and winter^[a] are now ended. They will become festivals of joy and celebration for the people of Judah. So love truth and peace. ²⁰ “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: People from nations and cities around the world will travel to Jerusalem. ²¹ The people of one city will say to the people of another, ‘Come with us to Jerusalem to ask the Lord to bless us. Let’s worship the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. I’m determined to go.’²² Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord of Heaven’s Armies and to ask for his blessing.
(All Scriptures are from the New Living Translation courtesy BibleGateway.com)
Here is the passage which prophesies Rebellion among those nations who are still being born while Christ reigns for 1000 years. This is absolutely sobering and is from Zechariah 14:16-19 - "In the end, the enemies of Jerusalem who survive the plague will go up to Jerusalem each year to worship the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. ¹⁷ Any nation in the world that refuses to come to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, will have no rain. ¹⁸ If the people of Egypt refuse to attend the festival, the Lord will punish them with the same plague that he sends on the other nations who refuse to go. ¹⁹ Egypt and the other nations will all be punished if they don’t go to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.

TABERNACLES...FOR HIS GLORY!

But the main reason for Celebrating this amazing Feast (also called "Booths"; "Shelters" or "Succoth") is to rejoice in the Glory of God! Anyone who has seen videotape of a current Tabernacles celebration knows it is just plain old fun and rejoicing in Jesus!

Haggai 2: ⁶ “For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land.⁷ I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. ⁸ The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. ⁹ The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”

Zephaniah 3: ¹⁴ Sing, O daughter of Zion;
      shout aloud, O Israel!
   Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
      O daughter of Jerusalem!
 ¹⁵ For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment
      and will disperse the armies of your enemy.
   And the Lord himself, the King of Israel,
      will live among you!
   At last your troubles will be over,
      and you will never again fear disaster.
 ¹⁶ On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be,
      “Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid!
 ¹⁷ For the Lord your God is living among you.
      He is a mighty savior.
   He will take delight in you with gladness.
      With his love, he will calm all your fears.
      He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

....IN THIS BRIEF PIECE, I GIVE YOU THIS WONDROUS FALL SEASON - AS WE CELEBRATE WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD - HIS FEASTS!!

....and the Word be came Flesh, and dwelt (Tabernacled) among us....John 1:14a.

(Bernie Lutchman)

Images courtesy Bing Images)