Tabernacles, and the Coming of the Lord

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. (Leviticus 23:2)

In the spiritual fulfillment of the feast of Tabernacles, the Father and the Son come to us and make Their abode with us. Then the Holy Spirit, who always proceeds from the Throne of God, flows out from us as rivers of living water. The coming of the Lord to us in the spiritual fulfillment of the feast of Tabernacles gives us a personal knowledge of the Father and of the Son we have not possessed previously, and is associated with the historical coming of the Lord.

There are seven feasts of the Lord. They are set forth in the twenty-third chapter of the Book of Leviticus.

Passover.

Unleavened Bread.

Firstfruits.

Pentecost.

The Blowing of Trumpets.

The Day of Atonement.

Tabernacles.

The feast of Tabernacles, the last of the seven feasts of the Lord, is described as follows:

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. (Leviticus 23:34)

The kingdom-wide spiritual fulfillment of the feast of Tabernacles is, as we understand it, the new heaven and earth reign of Christ. At that time God and Christ will be dwelling in unconcealed splendor in the Church, the new Jerusalem, the Wife of the Lamb. The Wife of the Lamb, the Body of Christ, is the eternal dwelling place of God. It is the "Father's house," of John 14:2. The personal fulfillment of the feast of Tabernacles is presented by the Lord Jesus as follows:

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23)

In the personal spiritual fulfillment of the feast of Tabernacles the Father and the Son come to us and make Their abode with us. Then the Holy Spirit, who always proceeds from the throne of God, flows from us as rivers of living water.

The feast of Pentecost, which takes place before the feast of Tabernacles, signifies the rain, the Spirit of God, from Heaven. But the feast of Tabernacles speaks of the rivers of living water coming from within the saints.

The feast of Tabernacles, as we have said, has to do with the Lord dwelling in us. The types and statements of the Scripture indicate that the coming of the Lord to dwell in us must always be accompanied by judgment, by cleansing.

Notice, for example, the promise of the Lord concerning His dwelling in us and walking in us as set forth in II Corinthians 6:16-18:

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

The necessary judgment and cleansing follow immediately:

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (II Corinthians 7:1)

To be continued.Tabernacles, and the Coming of the Lord 2