Feasts of booths-old testament

[gallenwalsh]

When I was a member of the WWCG we were taught that sometime in the future( future reign of Christ ) that GOD will have all the nations of earth come up to his holy mountain to observe the feasts of booths and that everyone will learn to observe these holy days.As well this is when he will pour out his spirit on ALL Flesh`. That is why observation of them was so stressed, as to make us believe this will be the new government of god.Basically Herbert Armstrong wanted to reestablish the old testament. Is there ANY truth to this ? Does Ray speak of any of this and or what the government of god might be like ? Man, I hope it's ALL garbage !.

[Deborah-Leigh]

Basically Herbert Armstrong wanted to reestablish the old testament. Is there ANY truth to this ?

There is plenty of truth to that.   Herbert Armstong DID observe Old Testament rituals. You say yourself that "observation of them was so stressed. "

Does Ray speak of any of this? I have not seen Ray speak, preach or teach that anyone should physically reestablish the Old Testament rituals or any doctrines or traditions of man. On the contrary.  

Does Ray speculate on what the Government of God might be like? I have never seen Ray speculate about anything through all the papers I have read.

If you go to the FAQ Board there are some very precise Truths about the practise of rituals or physical traditions that might help you and I know that Ray has provided very important insights into certain festavils that were observed that have a deep spiritual significance for us. 

Perhaps someone else will come on by and post it into this Thread for you.

Arc

[Kat]

Hi Gallenwalsh,

Actually Ray does speak about the Feast of Tabernacles/Booths, here is an excerpt from his article (4) 'UNDERSTANDING SPIRITUAL THINGS.'

http://bible-truths.com/lake4.html ------------

So here is where we are. There were THREE great festivals in the yearly calendar of Israel:

"THREE TIMES in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which He shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread [which included Passover], and in the feast of weeks [firstfruits], and in the feast of tabernacles [the time of the great fall harvest]: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty" (Deut. 16:16).

First comes the wave sheaf, the very first of the firstfruits, on Passover, during the feast of unleavened bread. This represents CHRIST, the very first (wave sheaf) OF the firstfruit, our Passover sacrificed for us.

Second was the Feast of Weeks when the firstfruit of the land was harvested. This represents US, the FIRSTFRUIT to enter God's Kingdom. James says WE are the firstfruit of God (James 1:18).

Third came the great Fall harvest, the Feast of Tabernacles, a much much larger gathering, where ALL THE FALL HARVEST was gathered in! What does this Feast picture? This was the time of true REJOICING FOR EVERYONE. Absolutely EVERYONE. No one was left out of this great and final festival of the year:

"And thou shalt rejoice IN THY FEAST [of Tabernacles, the fall harvest], YOU, and your SON, and your DAUGHTER, and your MANSERVANT, and your MAIDSERVANT, and the LEVITE, the STRANGER [GENTILES], and the FATHERLESS, and the WIDOW, that are within your gates" (Deut. 16:14).

NO ONE was EXCLUDED! EVERYONE was INCLUDED!

And so we see in the New Testament that these three festivals of ancient Israel are really TYPES in God's master plan of salvation. Christ the FIRST of the firstfruit. Then believers, the FIRSTFRUITS. And then the great FALL HARVEST.

But wait a minute. We know that Christ was the First of the firstfruit to be resurrected to life. We also know that all the believing saints who are to reign with Christ at His coming are the rest of the firstfruits. So where then does the great fall harvest of souls come into God's family? When have you ever been taught about the great fall harvest, which excludes no one but includes everyone? There is a reason why you haven't heard the truth of these Scriptures in Christendom.

According to Christendom THERE IS NO GREAT FALL HARVEST OF SOULS at the end of the ages!

That's right, they say there will be NO Fall Harvest in God's Kingdom. Just how do they account for such a thing? Is God such an inept and unskilled Farmer that He has a total crop failure when Fall harvest time comes, or will He just BURN THE ENTIRE HARVEST in the eternal fires of some fabled hell?
v

THE END-OF-THE-YEAR FEAST OF INGATHERING (Feast of Tabernacles):

"And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou has sown in the field and the FEAST OF INGATHERING, which is in the END OF THE YEAR, when you have gathered in thy labours out of the field" (Ex. 23:16).

"Thou shall observe the FEAST OF TABERNACLES seven [number of perfection] days, after that you have gathered in your corn and your wine: And you shall REJOICE IN YOUR FEAST, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the widow, that are within your gates [that's just about EVERYONE, wouldn't you say?]. Seven days [here's that perfect number again] shall you keep A SOLEMN FEAST [a very important feast to God] unto the LORD your God in the place which the Lord shall choose: because the Lord thy God shall bless you in all your increase, and in all the works of your hands, therefore you shalt surely REJOICE" (Deut. 16:13-15). Here truly was a festival in which EVERYONE, every single person in all Israel, and also did you notice, "the STRANGER" who was NOT an Israelite could really REJOICE! THIS FESTIVAL WAS THE HAPPIEST TIME OF THE YEAR! Do we think it will have no fulfillment in God's grand plan of salvation?

"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, the fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the FEAST OF TABERNACLES for seven days unto the LORD. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: you shall do no servile work therein. Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the EIGHTH DAY shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by FIRE unto the LORD: it is a SOLEMN assembly; and you shall do no servile work therein" (Lev. 23:34-36). Why is the profound and marvelous truth of this festival not taught in its proper chronological order by the prophets of Christendom? How is it even possible to avoid seeing the powerful and glorious consummation of God's salvation in this Fall Harvest Festival? Why is the truth of this GREAT FEAST being hidden from the eyes of the world? What is it that they are trying to hide from us? God's Word will show us.

JESUS TAUGHT THE PURPOSE OF THE FALL HARVEST

The eighth day of this Feast of Tabernacles was called "The Last Great Day of the Feast." Jesus Christ Himself came to the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem and spoke on the Last Great Day:

"In the last day, that GREAT DAY OF THE FEAST, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If ANY MAN thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of LIVING WATER" (John 7:37-38).

At what point in future prophecy, will Jesus Christ CUT OFF the invitation to all and any who are athirst to drink of His LIVING WATERS? Our Lord NEVER cuts off the invitation to drink of the living waters. These waters (a symbol for God's SPIRIT) will be available until every creature in heaven and earth is saved:

"And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the FOUNTAIN OF THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY" (Rev. 21:6).

"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And WHOSOEVER WILL, let him take the WATER OF LIFE FREELY" (Rev. 22:17).

And this declaration is made just five verses before the END OF THE BIBLE!

But don't be deceived, Jesus Christ IS the "tree of life" in the Garden, and NO ONE can partake of that tree of life except he first pass the through the "FLAMING SWORD" that points in all directions and guards the tree of life. Remember, "Our God is a CONSUMING FIRE" (Heb. 12:29).

So Tabernacles celebrated the great Fall harvest, the largest harvest of the whole year. It was this great Fall harvest that would sustain Israel through the winter months. There were far more products to be harvested in the END of the year than in the Spring of the year. Therefore this same type must carry over into the New Testament.
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mercy, peace and love
Kat

[hcumbow]

Hi Kat,
I just noticed something from what you wrote:
"THREE TIMES in a year shall all thy males appear ...

Has anyone ever noticed?  Why just males, does that mean women will NOT be in the first resurrection which is the First Fruits(US) following the Wave Sheaf(Christ)?  If the first resurrection is for those who will be taught by Our Lord and Savior in preparation of the Fall Harvest(Everyone), does that mean only the males will be taught and women will not be a part of it and are destined to wait until the second resurrection?  Looks like the rest do not come until the FALL harvest.

As I was reading this, those few words really stood out, I have never noticed them before today.  Now I am totally curious.

Heidi C

[Kat]

Hi Heidi,

In ancient Israel it was the men that attended religious services and received instruction and he was to pass this info on to his wife. In was the wife who was responsible for the management of the home and did not go to the synagog. So therefore you have the Scripture that calls for the "males" to attended the festivals. That was a 'shadow,' not the actual thing. Now as His Elect are being made into the image of Christ, it is not a question of gender or the outward appearance.

Gal 3:26  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
v. 27  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
v. 28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

1Sa 16:7  But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

mercy, peace and love
Kat

[Deborah-Leigh]

2Co 6:18  and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons AND DAUGHTERS, says the Lord Almighty.

Arc

[hcumbow]

Thank you, that makes sense.