The feast of Tabernacles-World Mission Society Church of God

Let us introduce the seven feasts in three times, that is, the seven thunders which were unsealed by Christ Ahnsahnghong who came again as the Root of David.

The Feast of Tabernacles is the last of the autumn feasts, and it is the final feast of the seven annual feasts. It is celebrated from the 15th to the 22nd of the seventh month, by sacred year (Lev. 23:34-36). The Feast of Tabernacles was not only celebrated in the Old Testament times, but it was also commemorated in the New Testament times by Jesus and His apostles. In this last age, too, the Church of God celebrates this feast, following the teachings of Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong. Christ Ahnsahnghong came to this earth according to the prophecies of the Bible, and he rebuilt the once-ruined Zion, restoring all of the feasts of God. 

Origin

After Moses had come down from the mountain?with the Ten Commandments, which God had allowed for a second time?he explained the words of the covenant, as well as the work of building the tabernacle, to the Israelites (Ex. 34:27-35). Then those who were willing presented various kinds of materials to the Lord, including gold, silver, linen, and wood. God's people brought all of these building materials for the tabernacle in seven days?beginning on the 15th day of the seventh month (Ex. 35:4-29; 36:5-7). God appointed the Feast of Tabernacles and commanded the Israelites to celebrate it for generations to come, so that they could remember the seven days that they had brought the building materials for constructing the tabernacle. The Feast of Tabernacles is also referred to as the Feast of Booths. 

Ceremony

The Israelites kept the Feast of Tabernacles by making tents. They used palm fronds and myrtle trees, or willows, to build booths, which were then spread onto the courts of the house of God and onto their own rooftops. They lived within these booths for seven days with great joy. Helping their neighbors in need, they kept the feast holy (Neh. 8:9-18; Lev. 23:39-43; Deut. 16:11-15; Zech. 14:15-18). 

Prophecy and Its Fulfillment

In the Bible, "wood" represents people (Jer. 5:14), and the "materials for the temple" represent the holy saints (Rev. 3:12). In the desert, the Israelites abundantly gathered materials for the holy tabernacle for a week and completed it. Afterwards, during the Feast of Tabernacles, they constructed booths?houses of woven grass and trees?and joyfully dwelt within them for seven days. This history is a prophecy, the fulfillment of which is seen through the gospel work, accomplished by the gathering of the 144,000 saints?represented by the "wood" and by the "materials for the temple." We should work for the movement announcing Jesus' coming, laying its foundation by gathering the saints, the materials for the temple. The saints can be gathered through preaching the gospel, just as the Israelites had gathered the physical materials for making the tabernacle. 

The Promise of the Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles is the blessed day when God gives us the power of the Holy Spirit so that we can gather the 144,000 saints, the materials of the heavenly Jerusalem temple. The prophet Zechariah prophesied: 

Zech. 14:16-19 『Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain. If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. This will be the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.』 

The above prophecy reveals that those who do not celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles will have no rain?they will not be given the Holy Spirit?and that plagues will be brought upon them. Nevertheless, today some people boast, saying, "We have received the Holy Spirit," or, "We have received God's blessing," even though they have never kept the Feast of Tabernacles. We have to realize that these false declarations are merely the deception of Satan. 

God promised to give the Holy Spirit to only those keeping the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus specifically addressed this matter: 

John 7:37-39 『On the last and greatest day of the Feast (of Tabernacles), Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.』 

The prophet Zechariah explained that the people who do not celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles will have no rain, and Jesus declared that God's people could receive the Holy Spirit by celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles. Considering the above words, we can conclude that the Holy Spirit is only given under God's grace and can only come upon those who keep the Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles. Nevertheless, even those who have never celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles say, "We've received the Holy Spirit." Do you think that these boastful words are the work of the Holy Spirit or the work of evil spirits? In cases such as these, different gods must be at work, for the true God of the Bible promised to give the Holy Spirit to only those who commemorate the Feast of Tabernacles. As God has promised, no one can receive the Holy Spirit unless he keeps the Feast of Tabernacles. 

The feast of weeks-World Mission Society Church of God

Let us introduce the seven feasts in three times, that is, the seven thunders which were unsealed by Christ Ahnsahnghong who came again as the Root of David.

The Feast of Weeks, referred to in the New Testament as the "Pentecost," was celebrated 49 days after the Day of Firstfruits. On the fiftieth day, the Israelites presented a sheaf of the first grain to the LORD as a wave offering. The reason that this feast was named the "Feast of Weeks" was that there were seven Sabbaths between the Day of Firstfruits and the Pentecost (Lev. 23:15-16). The Church of God, established by the Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong, is the only church in the world that remembers the Pentecost, keeping it holy. God's feasts, which had been abolished during the Dark Ages, can be restored by only God. If we do not accept Christ Ahnsahnghong?who came to restore the seven feasts in three times according to the prophecies of the Bible?we will never be able to know God's feasts, much less celebrate them. 

Origin

On the fortieth day after crossing the Red Sea, Moses went up to Mount Sinai for the first time. God spoke to Moses, telling him all of His instructions, and when Moses came down from the mountain he revealed God's will to the people. Ten days later?on the fiftieth day after the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea?Moses returned to Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. God commanded the people to commemorate the day He had given them the Commandments, the origin of the Feast of Weeks (Ex. 24:1-18). 

Prophecy and Its Fulfillment

The Feast of Weeks?that is, the Pentecost?is the day when God poured out His Spirit, the motivating power that spurred the growth of the gospel and the Early Church (Acts 2:1-47). 

After the Pentecost, though, the Church became increasingly secularized, and the fire of the Holy Spirit grew cold. Eventually, God completely withdrew His Holy Spirit from the Church, but even this was clearly disclosed through the prophecies of the feasts. When Moses came down from the mountain, after he had received the two tablets of the Ten Commandments, he saw God's people worshiping a golden calf. He was outraged, threw the tablets out of his hands, and they shattered at the foot of the mountain. This event was a prophecy to reveal that the Holy Spirit, which was given to the Apostles on the day of Pentecost, would be withdrawn because of the secularization and the inherent corruption of the Church. 

The feasts of Trumpet-World Mission Society Church of God

Let us introduce the seven feasts in three times, that is, the seven thunders which were unsealed by Christ Ahnsahnghong who came again as the Root of David.

The word "Elohim" directly translates to "Gods." The Bible testifies that God exists in the female image, God the Mother, as well as the male image, God the Father. 

Origin

God commanded the Israelites to commemorate the Day of Atonement annually?the day when Moses had received the new stone tablets, inscribed with the Ten Commandments, and had come down from Mount Sinai. The Day of Atonement was to be celebrated every year so that the Israelites could remember the day and could deeply repent of their sins. They prepared for the Day of Atonement in spirit and in truth, blowing trumpets for the ten days leading up to the Day of Atonement. By this, the Israelites repented of the sins that they had committed during the year, abstaining from all unholy things.

Ceremony

The Israelites commemorated the Feast of Trumpets with trumpet blasts and presented an offering of fire to God.

Lev. 23:23-25 『The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites: 'On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. Do no regular work, but present an offering made to the LORD by fire.'"』 

Prophecy and Its Fulfillment

Everything written in the Old Testament is a shadow of the things which were to come. This feast was also a shadow, testifying about the Advent Movement for Jesus' Second Coming?1834 to 1844?led by William Miller. The ten days between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement represented ten years, prophetically (Ezek. 4:6). This ten-year-long movement fulfilled the prophecy of the Feast of Trumpets. It was the preparation for the Day of Atonement?October 22, 1844, the tenth day of the seventh month, by sacred year?on which Jesus entered the Most Holy Place in heaven. As was shown through the fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets, every prophecy disclosed in the seven feasts of three times will be fulfilled without fail.

Just as the people had loudly blown trumpets during the Feast of Trumpets, so there was a movement for Jesus' second coming, recognized by the loud cries of preaching?the trumpet blasts. Beginning on the first day of the seventh month in 1844 (by sacred year), all of the brothers and sisters prayed together more earnestly to God. Jesus answered them by entering the Most Holy Place in heaven on October 22, 1844, the Day of Atonement?the tenth day of the seventh month by sacred year. God allowed William Miller and the Advent Movement so that His will would be fulfilled. Thus, God unexpectedly fulfills His will even though people do not realize or perform His will. As it is written: 

Luke 19:37-40 『"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."』 

The movement was led by people who did not know of God's feasts, but their work resulted in the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Feast of Trumpets. When we keep the Feast of Trumpets, with one mind and purpose, and pray earnestly to God for the ten days leading up to the Day of Atonement, our prayers will be presented before God as the smoke of incense (Rev. 8:3-4). God will answer our prayers and lavish on us great blessings. 

The day of Atonement-World Mission Society Church of God

Let us introduce the seven feasts in three times, that is, the seven thunders which were unsealed by Christ Ahnsahnghong who came again as the Root of David.

The Day of Atonement is the tenth day of the seventh month according to the sacred calendar, on which the sins that the Israelites had committed during the course of the year were atoned for (Lev. 23:27). Today, also, we must celebrate the Day of Atonement to be forgiven for the sins that we commit each year. Without having celebrated the Day of Atonement, we cannot say that our sins have been forgiven. Therefore, the Church of God celebrates the Day of Atonement, according to the teaching of the Second Coming Christ, Ahnsahnghong. 

The Day of Atonement is the day when all of the sins that we have committed all year long are handed over to the devil. Thus, the devil makes every effort to prevent God's people from celebrating the feast. We should be able to recognize the identity of those who hinder God's people from keeping this feast, because it has only been allowed to the true people of God. 

Origin

After being released from Egypt, the Israelites lived in the desert for forty years. God called Moses to Mount Sinai and gave him the laws through which He would rule over the people. In response to God's calling, Moses went up Mount Sinai. After fasting for forty days and nights, Moses received the Ten Commandments which God, Himself, had written. When Moses did not return from the mountain, even after forty days, the Israelites began to assume that he must have died. They thought that they had lost their leader, and some suggested that they make a god to lead them into the land of Canaan. Hence, the Israelites crafted a golden calf and worshipped it, eating, drinking and dancing around it. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, the sight shocked and enraged him, and he threw the tablets out of his hands, shattering them at the foot of the mountain. He set fire to the golden calf that the Israelites had worshipped so lewdly, and then he ground the charred remains into a powder. Moses scattered the ashes on the water and made the Israelites drink it, and about three thousand people died by the sword. 

The Israelites who had sinned against God by worshipping idols thus bitterly repented of their deeds, and, in response, God gave Moses a new set of stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments. God's allowing His laws for a second time implied that He had forgiven them for their sins. The day on which Moses had been given the Ten Commandments for a second time was the Day of Atonement, which was to be commemorated every year (Ex. 32:1-35). 

Ceremony

(1) The scapegoat stands for Satan In the Old Testament times, the priest sacrificed a bull as his sin offering, and a goat was sacrificed on behalf of the people. Then, lots were cast to decide the destiny of two goats. One goat was to be sacrificed for God and the other was to be named the "scapegoat," and to die after wandering in the solitude of the desert. 

The sins of the people had been temporarily held in the Most Holy Place, and on the Day of Atonement, all of these sins were transferred to the head of the scapegoat to be sent away and die in the desert. This process reveals that our sins are heaped onto Satan through the Feasts (such as the Passover and the Day of Atonement) after being temporarily carried by Christ?the reality of the Most Holy Place. Satan will be very troubled by carrying the weight of all of our sins and will be eventually destroyed in the Abyss?the uninhabited land represented by the desert. We come to understand this principle through celebrating the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:6-22). 

(2) Entering the Most Holy Place The Day of Atonement is the day, once a year, when the high priest enters the Most Holy Place, alone. 

Heb. 9:7 『But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.』 

Prophecy and Its Fulfillment

The prophecy of the Day of Atonement: The people's sins were initially held in the Most Holy Place, but on the Day of Atonement, their sins were transferred onto the scapegoat. The scapegoat was troubled in the desert, carrying all of the people's sins on its head. Eventually, the goat came to die. 

Fulfillment of the prophecy: Our sins are initially carried by Christ, but on the Day of Atonement, our sins are transferred onto Satan?the scapegoat. Satan will be tormented in hell, carrying all of our sins on his head. Eventually, Satan will suffer eternal destruction. 

The feast of unleavened bread-World Mission Society Church of God

Let us introduce the seven feasts in three times, that is, the seven thunders which were unsealed by Christ Ahnsahnghong who came again as the Root of David.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month, according to the sacred calendar, is the feast that commemorates Christ's suffering on the cross (Lev. 23:6). The Church of God celebrates the Feast of Unleavened Bread on the fifteenth day of the first month by the sacred calendar, following the teachings of Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong. 

Origin

This feast originated from the Israelites' suffering, from all the trials that they had experienced from the time they had kept the Passover and left Egypt, until the time they had crossed the Red Sea. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, released the Israelites from their Egyptian bondage, but immediately changed his mind. He sent all the chariots of Egypt to chase after them?including six hundred of the country's best chariots?to capture the Israelites and bring them back to Egypt. As Pharaoh's army approached, the Israelites were terrified and cried out to the LORD. At that moment, the LORD God divided the Red Sea by Moses' staff, revealing dry ground between the two walls of water. It is written that God allowed six-hundred thousand men to safely cross the Red Sea. Then, how many women and children do you think were among them? God protected the Israelites from the Egyptian army by a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire, delaying the Egyptians' ability to chase after God's people. We can only assume how hasty and nervous the fugitives' hearts were at that time. All of the difficulties and hardships that the Israelites endured during this time period became the origin of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Ex. 14:1-31). 

Ceremony

In the Old Testament times, God commanded His people to eat unleavened bread (made without yeast) and bitter herbs, so that they would remember the suffering of the Israelites. The unleavened bread was also called the "bread of affliction" (Deut. 16:3). These events were a prophecy to reveal that Jesus would suffer, being hung on the cross. In the New Testament times, we participate in Christ's suffering by fasting, according to God's command. 

Mark 2:20 『"But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast."』 

Prophecy and Its Fulfillment

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a feast of suffering, representing the Crucifixion of Jesus. The Israelites' traveling into the Red Sea represented Jesus' going into the tomb. Their landing on the other side of the Sea represented His resurrection, the significance of which is implied in the baptism that we undergo now. On the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Moses led the natural Israelites from Egypt into the Desert of Sinai, and on this feast Jesus led the spiritual Israelites from this sinful world?the reality of Egypt?into the desert of faith. Whoever believes in Christ and is baptized has symbolically crossed the Red Sea and entered the desert of faith. When we commemorate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we participate in Christ's suffering, and we are given the power from God to endure the tribulations and hardships that we will be faced with (Luke 22:43-44). 

The day of firstfruits-World Mission Society Church of God

Let us introduce the seven feasts in three times, that is, the seven thunders which were unsealed by Christ Ahnsahnghong who came again as the Root of David.

The word "Elohim" directly translates to "Gods." The Bible testifies that God exists in the female image, God the Mother, as well as the male image, God the Father. 

Origin

When the nervous Israelites were being chased by the Egyptian army, God allowed them to cross the Red Sea under His protection, even though they had been so terrified. When God put the Sea?which had been divided?back in its place, the Egyptian army that had pursued them was buried in water. God commanded the Israelites to annually commemorate the day when they had landed on the other side of the Red Sea, so that they might remember God's great power revealed on that day. This is the origin of the Day of Firstfruits (Ex. 14:26-31). 

Ceremony

The word "firstfruits" reveals its meaning. On the day after the Sabbath, the Israelites brought a sheaf of the first grain to the priest, and the priest waved the sheaf before God so that it could be accepted on behalf of the people (Lev. 23: 9-11). 

On the same day, in the New Testament times, Jesus gave bread to two disciples who were traveling to a village named Emmaus. After the disciples broke the bread that Jesus had given to them, their spiritual eyes were opened, and they recognized Him (Luke 24:13-35). 

Prophecy and Its Fulfillment

As God had commanded, the priests were to wave a sheaf of the first grain before the LORD on the day after the Sabbath (Sunday) so that God would accept their offering.

Lev. 23:10-12 『"When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the LORD so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath."』 

Here, the first grain?the firstfruits?stands for Christ, who was raised from the dead as the firstfruits of those who had fallen asleep.

1 Cor. 15:20 『But Christ had indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.』

The offering to be presented on the Day of Firstfruits, a sheaf of the first grain, was to be brought to God on the day after the Sabbath?that is, Sunday. The firstfruits stand for Christ, so it is only logical that Resurrection Day, when Jesus rose from death, would be on Sunday, the day after the Sabbath.

Mark 16:2-6 『Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away..."You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here."』

The Day of Firstfruits is the shadow of Resurrection Day. As the Day of Firstfruits was celebrated on the day after the Sabbath, Sunday, so Resurrection Day is to be celebrated on Sunday, in fulfillment of the prophecy. Therefore the Day of Firstfruits, Resurrection Day, is celebrated on Sunday every year. By rising from the dead as the firstfruits of those who had fallen asleep, Jesus became the true offering of the Day of Firstfruits, belonging to the seven feasts of three times. 

Matt. 27:52-53 『The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.』 

In those days, the holy people who had been saved through the gospel became the ripe grains of the wheat harvest, and today, we have become the ripe grains of the last autumn harvest (Ex. 23:16). 

God’s Appointed Feasts

Today I was able to go to Zion and study about the Feast of God. First, I watched a History channel documentary on the truth about Christmas. The truth is Christmas is not a Feast of God. In fact, it is a pagan Holiday to worship the birth of the sun, Mithra. Even when reading in the Bible, there is not a specific date for Jesus’ birth. If there was to be a date, it would be sometime in the spring. Shepherds were outside with their sheep the night of Jesus’ birth therefore, it could not be in the winter. In the documentary, it stated that December 25 is the birthday of Mithra, the sun god.

When you look in the Bible, the appointed Feasts of God are found in Leviticus 23:1-44. The Feasts of God are Sabbath, Passover and Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Feast of Weeks, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Feast of Tabernacles. Through the Feast of God we can receive blessings and eternal life. Also, where the Feast of God are kept, that is where we can meet true God. God said in Isaiah 33:20 “Look upon Zion, the city of our festivals, your eyes will see Jerusalem.” Zion is the place where the Feasts of God are kept. In the book of Psalms 132:13 “For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling,” God lets us know we can find God in Zion. The true Zion was established by Christ Ahnsahnghong because he brought the Feasts of God. Truly all thanks to Christ Ahnsahnghong and Heavenly Mother who dwell in Zion, World Mission Society Church of God.