Feast of Tabernacles Fulfilled

The History

Among the feast holidays of the Israelites under the Old Mosaic Covenant, the Feast of Tabernacles was instituted and commanded to be practiced perpetually. The purpose for which this feast was commanded by God was to be a reminder of Israel’s wanderings for 40 years in respect to:

1.  God’s deliverance from bondage in Egypt;

2.  God’s protection; and

3.  God’s provision. (See Leviticus 23:34-43.)

This was also a reminder of God’s present residence in the temporary Tabernacle or tent “in the wilderness” (Acts 7:44). This is where Moses met with God “face to face” (Exodus 33:7-23; see also Exodus 34:1-8). This Tabernacle was the dwelling place of God (Exodus 25:8) and in the center of the camp of Israel (Numbers chapters 1-2) as the place of preeminence.

After Israel entered the promised land of Canaan, the Tabernacle was erected at Shiloh (Joshua-Judges).  Under King David’s reign it was moved to Jerusalem, and then constructed as a permanent Temple by King Solomon.

The Tabernacle or Temple represented the central place of worship of the God of their fathers in Israel. It was the dwelling place of God.

The Feast of Tabernacles in the New Testament

All the feasts of Israel were a foreshadowing of the future fulfillment to come in Jesus Christ. That fulfillment began with the virgin birth of Jesus Christ (Luke chapters 1-2) as the incarnate God “who became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1-14).

Interestingly, the Greek word translated “dwelt” is skenoo, which literally means to tent or encamp. Almost every form of skenoo in the Septuagint (LXX) used in the Old Testament refers to God’s Tabernacle. Now, in Jesus Christ, God entered Israel’s history to dwell with His People. This was the beginning of the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles.

From the Old to the New Covenant

Jesus Christ, the incarnate God, from His birth to His death, resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of the Father completed that fulfillment in three ways:

1.  Jesus fulfilled the perfect priesthood, replacing the Old Covenant Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 8:1-13).

The Old Covenant Levites ministered in the Tabernacle on behalf of Israel, administering the sacrificial ordinance of the Law. Once a year the High Priest also offered “up sacrifices” for his own sin and for all the people’s sins (Hebrews 7:11, 18-21, 23, 27).

Now, Jesus has become the perfect, sinless High Priest (Hebrews 7:24-28), “a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle” based upon the establishment of a New Covenant:

Now the main point in wat has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.

For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.”

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. – Hebrews 8:1-6

The Old Covenant priesthood now has become the New Covenant priesthood in our Lord Jesus Christ.

2.  Jesus became the perfect, once for all sacrifice, replacing the Old Covenant sacrificial system – Hebrews 9:1-15.

The Old Covenant system administered in the physical Tabernacle was only “a copy and shadow of the heavenly things” (Hebrews 8:5). Here, “the priests are continually entering … but … only the high priest enters once a year” to offer an animal blood sacrifice for himself and the people (Hebrews 9:6-7).

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

For this reason, He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. – Hebrews 9:11-15

The New Covenant was inaugurated with the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Feast of Tabernacles has been fulfilled!

3.  Now there is established a “new and living way” replacing the old way:

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. – Hebrews 10:19-25

Our “great priest” has provided an open door to worship and serve the Living God in the true Tabernacle in heaven.

The implication is that we should now gather together “not forsaking our own assembling together.” Where? In His New Covenant church assembly.

Summary

Do you want to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles in the New Covenant? The Old Covenant Tabernacles rituals were a reminder of our God’s deliverance for our ancestors from Egyptian bondage and His faithful presence, protection, and provision as Israel’s covenant God. The Feast of Tabernacles has been fulfilled in the New Covenant through Jesus Christ. God now dwells in His church.