During the first seven days of the feast, all of Israel lived in booths outside to show that they  were pilgrims, that the earth wasn't their home. On the evening of the seventh day the booths  were burned. They marched around the base of the temple altar with the paradise apple  (pomegranate) and smashed the fruit (the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil) at the  base of the altar so they could enter the eighth day.  

 

 The first day and the eighth day were Sabbaths (holy convocations) and no work could be done.  A particular psalm was read during the Drink Offerings when both the water and the wine were  poured into the base of the altar. On the eighth day only wine was poured into the altar.

 

At the close of the first day and on each subsequent day, an elaborate ceremony took place in the  Temple.  Huge golden cups, each holding in  excess of 38 quarts of oil, were on the four walls. Ladders were set by each cup, and  the four youngest priests went up, having large bottles of oil which they emptied into the cups.

 

They stood upon the first row of the fifteen steps that led up from the court of gentiles to the court of women. They sang on psalm for each step as they proceeded up to the court  (Psalms of Ascent 120-134.) The passage up the steps symbolizes our passage from flesh to  spirit; from isolated individuals to members of the bride (court of women.)

 

Christ's last Tabernacles is chronicled in Luke 9:51-17:10 and John 7:2-10:21. Two of the major  parables of Christ were spoken on this eight day or wedding feast (Matthew 22:1-14; Luke  15:15-35.) This feast is the ultimate reason time and space exist. Thirty percent of the gospels is  about Christ's activities and sayings on the Feast of Tabernacles.

 

  Mat 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,     And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.(REBELLION AFTER THE EXODUS)      Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and [my] fatlings [are] killed, and all things [are] ready: come unto the marriage.    (JESUS FIRST ADVENT TO JEWS) But they made light of [it], and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:    (JEWS)  And the remnant took his servants, (PROPHETS) and entreated [them] spitefully, and slew [them].     But when the king heard [thereof], he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.     Then saith he to his servants, (DISCIPLES) The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.   Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.   (CHURCH AGE) So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: (JESUS OFFERS SALVATION TO ALL) and the wedding was furnished with guests.     And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: (UNSAVED)  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth  For many are called, but few [are] chosen. (CHURCH WEARING WHITE RAINMENT)

 

  Luk 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:   And the younger of them said to [his] father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth [to me]. And he divided unto them [his] living. (JEWS) And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.     And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.     And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine      And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.      And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!    I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,     And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.   And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him     And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.    But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put [it] on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on [his] feet:     And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and let us eat, and be merry:      For this my son was dead, and is alive again; (DRY BONES) he was lost, and is found. (SALVATION TO THE JEWS) And they began to be merry.

 

 "Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught." (John 7:14.) Later  that day is when Christ cried out in the temple saying, "If any man thirst let him unto me and  drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of l iving water." (John 7:37,38.)  On the afternoon of the seventh day of the feast, the people read Ecclesiastes. This gives us  another hint of what is necessary to enter the eighth day, i.e., the knowledge that all is vanity.  Everyone is invited to the parties during the seven nights---the lame, the poor, even the Levites.  On the eighth day, however, the door is closed, and it is only the Bride that is invited to the  dinner party.

  
  This is like a parable from the Talmud:  "This is like a King, who made a feast for seven days and invited all the men in the  province, for these seven days of the feast. But when those seven days were past, he  saith to his friend, 'We have done what is needful to be done toward these men; let thee  and me return to enjoy together whatever comes to hand, be it one pound of flesh or fish  or herbs.' So the holy blessed God saith to Israel, 'The eighth day shall be our feast day.'"  

 

 

 

 ACCORDING TO ANCIENT TRADITION 

 

 1) The pillar of cloud by day and fire by night first appeared to Israel on the 15th of Tishri--  first day of the feast (Numbers 9:15-23.)

 2) Moses announced the tabernacle of God was among (in) them (Exodus 13:17-22.)

 3) The dedication of Solomon's Temple and the descent of the Shechinah Glory (I Kings 8; II  Chronicles 7.)

 4) Revelation scene (Rev. 7:9-17.)

 5) The law was placed in the ark of the Tabernacle on the feast (Deut. 31:1-30; see especially  verses 24-27.)

 6) Christ changed the water into wine at Cana (John 2:1-12) during the first year of his ministry.

 7) He was transfigured (Luke 9:28-36; Matthew 17:1-13.)

 8) He spoke about "rivers of living water" (John 7:37-39.)

 

 THEME

 

 "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him; for the marriage of the lamb is come, and his  wife has made herself ready." (Revelation 19:7)

  
 

Kay