Nazarene Israelite Two House Congregation of Port Elizabeth

The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) 2020.

The Feast of Tabernacles is the sixth annual festival of Elohim and pictures the coming millennium, during which all of the survivors of the Great Tribulation and the Day of YHVH and their progeny will have an opportunity for salvation. The Feast of Tabernacles is commanded to be kept every year, as recorded in Leviticus 23: 33 - 35, as follows:‘Again YHVH spoke to Moses, saying, (34) “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to YHVH. (35) On the first day is a holy (set-apart) convocation; you shall do no laborious work of any kind.’”’  We see that on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles all ordinary work is forbidden and believers are to gather before Elohim for worship services. We read further from verse 41 of Leviticus 23, ‘You shall thus celebrate it (the Feast of Booths) as a feast to YHVH for seven days in the year. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month (according to the Hebrew Calendar that Elohim gave to Moses and those who sit in his seat to proclaim annually).’

We see from (Exodus 23: 16 and) Exodus 34: 22, that the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths was also referred to as the Feast of Ingathering, in this way: “And you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), that is, the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year.” The underlined sentence refers to the autumnal equinox, since it celebrated the late summer-early autumn harvest, as witnessed in Leviticus 23: 39, as follows: “On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of YHVH for seven days, with a rest on the first day and a rest on the eighth day.” The harvest festival was to be a time of great rejoicing and thanksgiving for Elohim’s abundant blessings.Elohim used the two annual harvest seasons in the Land of Israel in the Middle East, to picture the future harvests of mankind into His spiritual Family. The spring grain harvest is small compared to the great fall (autumn) harvest and is represented by the Feast of Weeks lasting only one day. It pictures the spiritual first fruits consisting of a relatively small number of people from the house of Judah, who remained strictly Torah observant and those from the lost sheep of the house of Israel (including a number of real Gentiles) whom Elohim has called into His congregation during this age and who remained faithful, when they will be born (again) into His Spiritual Family when Messiah returns on Yom Teruah (or the Feast of Trumpets) in the near future.The Feast of Tabernacles lasts a full seven days, showing thatthe greatest part of Elohim’s second harvest of mankind into His Kingdom will last for a thousand years. People will be born physically, called of Elohim during the Millennium and after fulfilling their life’s purpose of growing in Elohim’s perfect character, born spiritually into His family.

During Yahshua Messiah’s human life on earth, the descendants of Judah who returned to the Promised Land during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah were still keeping the Feast of Tabernacles, as witnessed in John 7: 2, as follows: ‘Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand.’ Rav Yochanan called the celebration ‘the feast of the Jews’ because His book was primarily written for the Gentiles. The house of Israel had lost the knowledge of Elohim’s Set-apart Days, but fortunatelyJudah preserved the Tanach and the Sabbathsaccording to Elohim’s instructions. Yahshua instructed his disciples to go up to the Feast in verse 8, and we read from verses 10 & 14, how He also kept the Feast of Tabernacles with His Jewish Brothers, in this way: ‘But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as it were, in secret. (14) But when it was now the midst of the feast Yahshua went up into the temple, and began to teach.’ Yahshua was present at the Feast from the first day, although He only stood up to teach near the middle ofit. He arrived secretly and kept out of the limelight because certain of the religious leaders were seeking to kill Him. Even though Yahshua was critical of the ‘traditions of the elders’, He always made it clear that Elohim’s laws remained binding and went on to magnify them in Matthew 5, 6 & 7.All twelve tribes of Israel will keep the Feast of Tabernacles during the Millennium as witnessed in Hosea 12: 8 & 9, as follows: ‘And Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself; in all my labors they will find in me no iniquity, which would be sin.” (9) But I have been YHVH your Elohim since the land of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of the appointed festivals.’ Even the Gentile nations will join Israel in keeping the Feast of Booths during the Millennium, as witnessed in Zechariah 14: 16, in this way: ‘Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, YHVH of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths.’ Those nations who refuse to keep the Feast of booths annually, will be punished, as recorded in verse 17, as follows: ‘And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, YHVH of hosts, there will be no rain on them.’Those who refuse to obey Elohim’s Sabbaths at this time are allowed to exercise their free will, but He will only protect those who obey Him during the time of trouble immediately ahead.

Elohim wants His people to rejoice at the Feast of Tabernacles, regardless of their age, social class or economic standard as He instructed in Deuteronomy 16: 13 – 15, saying: “You shall celebrate the Feast of Booths seven days after you have gathered in from your threshing floor and your wine vat; (14) and you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns. (15) Seven days you shall celebrate a feast to YHVH your Elohim in the place which YHVH chooses, because YHVH your Elohim will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you shall be altogether joyful.” In fact we see according to Elohim’s instruction we should spend the tithe that we are supposed to set aside for the Feast Days of Elohim, on whatever our hearts desire, so long as it is kosher, as recorded in Deuteronomy 14: 22 – 26, in this way: “You shall surely tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes out of the field every year. (23) And you shall eat in the presence of YHVH your Elohim, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the first-born of your herd and your flock, in order that you may learn to fear YHVH your Elohim always. (24) And if the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where YHVH your Elohim chooses to set His name is too far away from you when YHVH your Elohim blesses you, (25) then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which YHVH your Elohim chooses. (26) And you may spend the money for whatever your heart desires, for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of YHVH your Elohim and rejoice, you and your household.” The Feast of Tabernacles is a time of great rejoicing during which we make YHVH King in our lives. In ancient Israel it was a time of rejoicing because of the abundant winter food supply, harvested just prior to the Feast. Elohim’s people at the Feast demonstrate now, by the way they live together in harmony, what the world will be like after Messiah returns.

We notice from verses 22 – 26 above that YHVH commanded his people to save a tithe (10 percent of their net income) throughout the year to be spent in travelling to and attending the Feast. The Feast of Tabernacles gives Elohim’s called out people the opportunity to live joyfully for 8 days; to live above what they would normally be able to afford, so that they may experience a foretaste of the wealth the whole world will enjoy in the coming Kingdom of Elohim. We see that when the Set-apart Spirit is poured out freely during the Millennium, the attitude of human beings will change for the better, as we read from Micah 4: 1 – 4, as follows: ‘And it will come about in the last days that the mountain (government) of the house of YHVH will be established as the chief of the mountains. It will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to it. (2) And many nations will come and say, “Come and let us go up to the mountain of YHVH and to the house of the Elohim of Jacob, that He may teach us about His ways and that we may walk in His paths.” For from Zion will go forth the law, even the word of YHVH from Jerusalem. (3) And he will judge between many peoples and render decisions for mighty, distant nations. Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they train for war. (4) And each of them will sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid, for the mouth of YHVH of hosts has spoken.’  We see further from Isaiah 11: 6 - 9 that even the nature of wild animals will be changed during the Millennium rule of Messiah, in this way: “And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them. (7) Also the cow and the bear will graze; their young will lie down together; and the lion will eat straw like the ox.  (8) And the nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. (9) They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of YHVH as the waters cover the sea.” Once Elohim places His Spirit within repentant mankind during the Millennium, people will begin to express outgoing love and concern for others and will obey Elohim.

The coming government of Elohim will not be a democracy, or any other form of human government, but Messiah will rule supreme from the world headquarters in Jerusalem, as we read from Jeremiah 3: 17, as follows: “At that time they shall call Jerusalem ‘The Throne of YHVH,’ and all nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name of YHVH; nor shall they walk anymore after the stubbornness of their evil heart.” We see further from Daniel 7: 14, 18 & 27, “And to Him (the Son of Man) was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed. (18) But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come. (27) Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.” Messiah will beover true believers from both houses of Israel as their Husband, since they will constitute His body and bride ruling under Him as kings and priests during the millennium. Messiah was showing in the parable of the pounds (or minas) that those who develop their talents (abilities) to do Elohim’s will, will be rewarded with positions of rulership. There will be local administration districts, some larger, some smaller – that will be administered by the Spirit born again children of Elohim. Yahshua revealed the names of several faithful servants of Elohim who will be given high positions under Him in the Kingdom of Elohim, in Luke 13: 28, saying:“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth there when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of Elohim, but yourselves being cast out.” We see that David will again rule over the modern descendants of Jacob, from Ezekiel 37: 24 & 25, “And My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd; and they will walk in my ordinances, and keep my statutes, and observe them. (25) And they shall live on the land that I gave to Jacob My servant, in which your fathers lived; and they will live on it, they, and their sons, and their son’s sons, forever, and David My servant shall be their prince forever.”  The patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and other men of Elohim such as Joseph, Job, Moses and David, will be brought back to life, immortal, in glorified power, to occupy high executive positions in the new world government.We see further from Luke 22: 29 – 30 that Yahshua’s disciples, who remained loyal to Him, will also have executive positions in the Kingdom of Elohim, in this way: “And just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you (30) that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” The resurrected immortal true believers from both houses, will similarly to Messiah’s original disciples, judge the rest of mankind as witnessed in 1 Corinthians 6: 2, as follows: ‘Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? In Elohim’s government on earth His already established laws will be applicable; His family of sons and daughters will enforce these laws, by interpreting and judging cases accordingly; and by teaching the survivors of the great tribulation and the day of YHVH and their children these Laws.

Yahshua taught in Matthew 20: 26 - 28 that every divine ruler will rule his subjects in genuine love and concern, saying: “It is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, (27) and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; (28) just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Each ruler under Messiah will rule with authority given them by Messiah, as He said in Revelation 2: 26 & 27, in this way: “And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TOHIMIWILL GIVE AUTHORITYOVER THE NATIONS; (27) AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father.” Elohim’s government will be perfectly organized, devoid of red tape and excessive bureaucracies and will be permanent. No time and money will be wasted on election campaigns and there will be no political mud-slinging, insurrections, or rebellions, because Elohim’sgovernment cannot be overthrown. Nor will any member of the government ever turn into another adversary like Satan, as witnessed in 1 John 3: 9, as follows: ‘No one who is born of Elohim practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of Elohim.’ Spirit-born teachers in Elohim’s Kingdom will have 100% success rate in teaching people, as we read from Habakkuk 2: 14, in this way: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of YHVH, as the waters cover the sea.” Spiritual blindness will be removed during the Millennium and people will begin to live Elohim’s way of giving and outgoing concern for fellow human beings.

People will no longer be influenced by Satan and the false attraction of this present world to distract them from overcoming their human naturethat will come to an end. Elohim’s way will become the popular broad way and pressures in society that now urge people toward conformity with this present evil world, will be changed toward conformity with Elohim’s standard, toward overcoming human nature and building Elohim’s perfect character. When Messiah has forcibly put down those who fill the earth with violence, He will abolish the fear of war, as witnessed in Isaiah 2: 4, as follows: ‘And He will judge between the nations, and will render decisions for many peoples; and they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war.’ Just imagine, never again any destruction of the fruit of years of labor, no more waste of human life and no young men drafted from their home, to have their minds confused with hatred. We also do not ever have to fear that Yahshua our Messiah will be a tyrannical ruler, as we read from Isaiah 11: 4, in this way: ‘But with righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; and He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips he will slay the wicked.’ Yahshua will make perfect unbiased decisions, as indicated in verse 3 of Isaiah 11, as follows: ‘And He will delight in the fear of YHVH, and He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear.’

In addition, Elohim will liberate people from fear of sickness and disease, as recorded in Isaiah 33: 24, in this way: ‘And no resident will say, “I am sick”; the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.’ The mentally and physically handicapped will be healed miraculously as confirmed in Isaiah 35: 3 – 6, as follows: “Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. (4) Say to those with anxious heart, “Take courage, fear not. Behold, your Elohim will come with vengeance; the recompense of Elohim will come. But He will save you.” (5) Thenthe eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deafwill be unstopped. (6) Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness and streams in the Arabah.” Education about true health and the miraculous healing of all sickness and disease will mean radiant health for everyone during that time. There  will be no more fear and worries in the cities and they will be filled with radiantly happy families, as witnessed in Jeremiah 33: 10 - 11, in this way: “Thus says YHVH, ‘Yet again there shall be heard in this place, of which you say, “It is a waste, without man and without beast,” that is, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, (11) the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, “Give thanks to YHVH of hosts, for YHVH is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting”; and of those who bring a thank offering into the house of YHVH. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,’ says YHVH.’ People will no longer fear their neighbors. They won’t have to worry about living next door to someone who is mentally unbalanced, a pervert or a murderer. The old won’t have to fear being attacked and brutally beaten by some juvenile delinquents out looking for fun.

Most of the earth’s land surface will become productive again, and there will be forests, agricultural areas and fish-filled lakes and streams, with no polluted rivers or ravaged landscapes all over the world, because old waste places will be made fertile, as witnessed in Isaiah 41: 18 & 19, as follows: “I will open rivers on the bare heights, and springs in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land fountains of water. (19) I will put the cedar in the wilderness, the acacia, and the myrtle, and the olive tree; I will place the juniper in the desert, together with the box tree and the cypress.” We also read from Amos 9: 13 & 14, “Behold, days are coming,” declares YHVH, “When the plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; when the mountains will drip sweet wine, and all the hills will be dissolved. (14) Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, and they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them, they will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, and make gardens and eat their fruit.”

One of the major barriers to cooperation between the different peoples of the world today, is confusion of languages. But we see from Zephaniah 3: 9 that Elohim will give the whole world a pure language during the Millennium, as follows: “For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, that all of them may call on the name of YHVH, to serve Him shoulder to shoulder.” This will start an era of worldwide literacy and education through a pure language and people everywhere will speak, read and write that same language (which will most probably be a pure form of Hebrew). Reeducation will not teach people to have self-confidence, but confidence in Elohim dwelling in them through the Set-apart Spirit. The only fear that will remain during the Millennium will be the proper fear of Elohim, as witnessed in Isaiah 59: 19, in this way: ‘So they will fear the name of YHVH from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun. For He will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of YHVH drives.” This fear is not terror and misery, but the mature, sound-minded realization that disobeying the laws that Elohim has set in motion for our good, leads to nothing but trouble, wretchedness and deprivation. In fact the Feast of Tabernacles was given that we might learn to fear Elohim always, as confirmed in Deuteronomy 14: 23 in this way: “And you shall eat in the presence of YHVH your Elohim, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the first-born of your heard and your flock, in order that you may learn to fear YHVH your Elohim always.”

At Messiah’s return He will deliver the remnant of the descendants of ancient Israel, who will have become captives during the coming Great Tribulation. They will not be changed to immortality at Messiah’s return, but will enter the Promised Land as physical human beings. The remnant of Israel still alive at that time, will be eager to enter into a ‘perpetual covenant’ with Elohim, as recorded in Jeremiah 50: 4 & 5, as follows: “In those days and at that time,” declares YHVH, “The sons of Israel will come, both they and the sons of Judah as well; they will go along weeping as they go, and it will be YHVH their Elohim they will seek, (5) They will ask for the way to Zion, turning their faces in its direction; they will come that they may join themselves to YHVH in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.” Messiah’s blood will cleanse all Israel so that in living a truly ‘converted’ life, the nation will reach the apex of joy and gladness and material prosperity, as YHVH inspired Jeremiah to write in Jeremiah 33: 7 – 9, saying: ‘And I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and I will rebuild them as they were at first. (8) And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against Me, and by which they have transgressed against Me. (9) And it shall be to Me a name of joy, praise, and glory before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear of all the good that I do for them, and they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace that I make for it.’At that time, Elohim will bestow upon obedient Israel all of the great material blessings He promised to give their ancestors had they obeyed (Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28).

Abraham’s offspring were prophesied to become extremely numerous in Genesis 13: 16. We see from a prophecy by Ezekiel in Ezekiel 36: 10 & 11, that Israel’s population will reach its peak during the millennium, in this way: ‘And I will multiply men on you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities will be inhabited, and the waste places will be rebuilt. (11) And I will multiply on you man and beast; and they will increase and be fruitful; and I will cause you to be inhabited as you were formerly and will treat you better than at the first. Thus you will know that I am YHVH.’ A second witness comes from Isaiah 60: 21 & 22, as follows: ‘Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever, the branchof My planting, the works of My hands, that I may be glorified. (22) The smallest one will become a clan, and the least one a mighty nation. I, YHVH, will hasten it in its time.’ In fact we see from Isaiah 27: 6 that in those days the Israelites will again spread into every part of the globe and be a blessing to the rest of the world both materially and spiritually. As the Gentiles will start following Israel in Elohim’s way, they too will be blessed physically, and spiritually by becoming Abraham’s ‘seed’ – through Messiah (as per Galatians 3: 28 & 29), becoming Spirit-begotten and finally Spirit-born into the Family of Elohim. The 12 tribes of Israel will truly become the model nation that Elohim intended them to be, during the millennium.

The Feast of Tabernacles also pictures the ‘marriage supper’ (or wedding reception) of Yahshua Messiah and His Spirit-born congregation. According to Revelation 19: 6 & 7, the marriage of the Lamb will occur after Messiah’s return, as follows: ‘And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude and as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Halleluyah! For YHVH our Elohim, the Almighty reigns. (7) Lets rejoice and be glad and give glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” Messiah’s marriage will be a time of great rejoicing after the war, darkness and trouble that will occur before Messiah’s return, pictured by the Feast of Trumpets. In ancient Israel a marriage feast lasted for seven days as witnessed in Judges 14: 2, 10  &  12, in this way: ‘So he (Samson) came back and told his father and mother, “I saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.” (10) Then his father went down to the woman; and Samson made a feast there, for the young men customarily did this. (12) Then Samson said to them, “Let me now propound a riddle to you; if you will indeed tell it to me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen wraps and thirty changes of clothes.”’ Similarlythe Feast of Tabernacles picturing the marriage feast of Messiah also lasts for seven days, and in the same way that a bride is bound to obey her groom as long as they live, will the Bride of Messiah obey Him forever, as depicted in Ephesians 5: 22 – 27 & 32, as follows: ‘Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Master. (23) For the husband is the head of the wife, as Messiah also is the head of the congregation, He Himself being the Savior of the body. (24) But as the congregation is subject to Messiah, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. (25) Husbands, love your wives, just as Messiah also loved the congregation and gave Himself up for her; (26) that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, (27) that He might present to Himself the congregation in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless. (32) This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Messiah and the congregation.’

As recorded in Nehemiah 8: 18, Nehemiah read the Torah to the people at the Feast of Tabernacles from the first day to the last day. Similarly must those who will be added to the body of Messiah during the Millennium, learn Elohim’s Torah in their lives – so that they will be able to teach others during that time. Messiah emphasized the necessity for an inner change, brought about by the Set-apart Spirit to prepare new believers for the marriage of the Lamb, in Matthew 25: 6 – 10, saying: “But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ (7) Then all those virgins rose, and trimmed their lamps. (8) And the foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ (9) But the prudent answered, saying, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ (10) And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.’ Ancient Israel did not have the heart to fear and obey Elohim always (as per Deuteronomy 29: 4), but when they receive the Set-apart Spirit it will enable them to obey, as YHVH inspired Jeremiah to write in Jeremiah 32: 38 - 40, saying:“And they shall be my people, and I will be their Elohim; (39) and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good, and for the good of their children after them. (40) And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.’ The Covenant that YHVH madewith both houses of Israel at Mount Sinai was a marriage agreement as may be seen from Jeremiah 31: 32. When the house of Israel persistently broke the terms of the agreement and committed spiritual adultery – her sins divorced her from the One who later became Yahshua Messiah, as we read from the first part of Jeremiah 3: 8, as follows: “And I saw that for all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I had sent her away and given her a writ of divorce.”

Elohim’s true congregation of called out believers are composed of mainly bloodline Israelites from the house of Judah, but also from the house of Israelwho were intermixed into the nations of the world, but who returned to the covenant they made with Elohim, together with the house of Judah at Mount Sinai. In addition Gentile believers may also enter the congregation of Elohim, by becoming spiritual Israelites through faith in Messiah as explained by Rav Shaul in Galatians 3: 26 – 29. Messiah will remarry both houses of Israel again, but at that time they will be immortal, righteous and spiritual, not carnal, as at Sinai. These Spiritual Israelites will be the rulers of the physical nation of Israel and those physical Israelites who qualify during the Millennium, will be added to Elohim’s congregation of rulers, as they are born-again. Isaiah 54 describes spiritual Israel remarried to Messiah, in contrast to the physical nation during the past 3,500 years. The congregation is presently made up of only a few truly converted believers from both houses (including a small number of real Gentiles) and will remain so, until the making of the New (marriage) Covenant. Physical Israel never multiplied as fast as the congregation of converted Israelites will multiply during the Millennium. The Family of Elohim is preparing for great things in the future. The Millennium is only the beginning of eternity, joy, happiness and accomplishment that will last forever.To us as called out believers, the Feast of Tabernacles is a continual reminder of Israel’s 40-year sojourn in the wilderness, because they lived in temporary dwellings during that time, as recorded in Leviticus 23: 42 & 43, in this way: ‘You shall live in booths for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths, (43) so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am YHVH your Elohim.’ The rebellious generation in the wilderness is a type of all carnal, rebellious people, and the temporary dwellings typify the fact that humans even during the 1,000 years will be mortal, and that human life and society throughout the Millennium will be only temporary. We need to understand that only eternal life is permanent!  We see that our Israelite forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob also lived in temporary dwellings as heirs, but not yet as inheritors, as witnessed in Hebrews 11: 9 & 13, as follows: ‘By faith he (Abraham) lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise. (13) All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on earth.’ So their dwelling in booths pictured that they were only heirs, not yet inheritors of eternal life in Elohim’s Kingdom and eternal possession of the land.

Believers in Messiah are at this time only aliens and strangers as Rav Kepha wrote in first Peter 2: 11, saying: ‘Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.’ In fact near the end of his life, Rav Kepha compared his physical body to a temporary dwelling, in 2 Peter 1: 13 & 14, saying: ‘And I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, (14) knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Master Yahshua Messiah has made clear to me.’ Human beings made from the dust of the ground are destined to die and only after receiving Elohim’s Spirit can we hope to live forever, as is recorded in first John 5: 11, in this way: ‘And the witness is this,that Elohim has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.’ Our physical bodies, with all our imperfections, our natural desires, our weaknesses, aches and pains – are meant to last only long enough for us to learn to serve Elohim in this life. By staying in temporary dwellings during the Feast of Tabernacles each year, we are reminded that this physical life is only temporary and that we are merely pilgrims, waiting to inherit the Kingdom of Elohim.

After Messiah return to establish Elohim’s kingdom on earth, His government will continue to expand, as witnessed in Isaiah 9: 7, in this way: “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness, from then on and forever more. The zeal of YHVH of hosts will accomplish this.” The government of Elohim, like leaven in a lump of dough, will gradually spread throughout the whole earth during the Millennium, until eventually thousands of millions will be spiritually converted. The great harvest of human beings, pictured by the autumn harvest in the Holy Land, will be gathered into the Kingdom of Elohim – born again as spiritual members of the Elohim Family.  By the end of the 1,000 years, Elohim’s family will be ready for the final step in Elohim’s Master Plan of salvation.Baruch HaShem YHVH!