What is the Feast of Tabernacles?
One of the great blessings God gives us each year is the instructions to observe His holy feast days. These seven annual feasts are the way God desires His people to come together to worship Him. They focus on expressing gratitude for Jesus, acknowledging His amazing grace, and celebrating the gift of abundance He has given us in our lives. These holy days offer us the opportunity to spend quality time together, and most importantly, with God. We gather daily for worship, prayer, and to study His Word in a setting designed to draw us closer to Him and one another. It is a special time for fellowship and mutual encouragement.
​
The name "Feast of Tabernacles" or "Sukkot" in Hebrew refers to the temporary dwellings that God commands His people to inhabit during this seven-day festival. These temporary shelters commemorate the Exodus from Egypt and remind us of the temporary nature of our physical lives (Leviticus 23:43; 2 Peter 1:13-15). This awareness helps us realize that our life here on Earth is not the entirety of our existence, and serves as an opportunity to refocus our lives on eternal matters (2 Peter 3:10-13).
​
How is the Feast of Tabernacles Celebrated Today?
Today, the sukkah (a tent or temporary dwelling) serves as the primary symbol of the Feast of Tabernacles. Leading up to this festival, families begin constructing their sukkot on patios, porches, or in backyards. The popularity of this biblical holiday has increased over the past few years, and many home and church fellowships organize camping trips to celebrate it.
​
A sukkah is typically built with at least three walls and a roof that is sparsely covered with branches. It recalls the hastily constructed homes of the Israelites in the wilderness. The interior is often adorned with colorful fruits and vegetables representing the harvest. During the Feast of Tabernacles, families eat their meals and sleep in their constructed sukkah, or temporary tent.
​
What is the Feast of Tabernacles' Significance to Believers?
When Jesus establishes His millennial kingdom, He will gather the Jewish remnant back to Israel (Isaiah 27:12–13; 11:11–12; Jeremiah 23:7–8). In those days, all the Gentile nations will come to worship God in Jerusalem and join in celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles. The Nations that refuse to participate will receive no rain on their land (Zechariah 14:16-17).
​
It is noteworthy that when references are made to God dwelling with His people, the language used often evokes images of the Feast of Tabernacles. In discussing the future eternal state, Revelation 21:3 states, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them." Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, serves as a reminder of Israel's time wandering in the desert, when God dwelt among His people. It encourages us to be thankful for God's blessings in our lives and to look forward to the time when He will dwell among His people for eternity.
​
​
JOIN US FOR THE CELEBRATION