The Feast of Tabernacles
and Last Great Day
These annual festivals (Leviticus 23:33-43; John 7:1-39) picture a time of restoration upon earth (Acts 3:21; Hebrews 2:5; Isaiah 2:1-5; Revelation 20:1-6) and judgment upon mankind (Matthew 25:31-46; I Corinthians 15:22; Revelation 20:11-15). The Feast of Tabernacles will be observed by all nations during the Seventh Millennial Day of human history (Zechariah 14:16-19).
THE FOUNDATION OF TRUTH
Doctrine Six
Where to Attend the Feast Today
Doctrine Six
Where to Attend the Feast Today
God told ancient Israel to observe His annual festivals "in the place which He chooses" (Deuteronomy 16:16). Originally, that place was Shiloh where the tabernacle of Moses had been set up in the Promised Land (Joshua 18:1, Judges 21:19, I Samuel 1:3, 9). Later, the location was changed to Jerusalem where the temple of Solomon had been built (I Kings 8:1-11, 65-66, II Chronicles 5:1-14, 7:8-10). God's presence was in the tabernacle and in the temple (Exodus 40:34-35, I Kings 8:10-11, II Chronicles 5:13-14, 7:1-2).
Before the second temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. Jesus said,
Before the second temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. Jesus said,
". . . the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. . . . the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:21-24)
God was about to withdraw His presence from the physical temple in Jerusalem and place it in His spiritual temple, the New Testament Church (Acts 7:44-50).
God's true Church is His temple on earth today (I Corinthians 3:16-17, II Corinthians 6:16) because it is filled with and led by His Holy Spirit (Acts 2, Romans 8:9, 14). God will not dwell in a polluted temple (Ezekiel 8:6, I Kings 9:1-9), but places His name (presence) where His people obey His government in spirit and truth (I Corinthians 12). Christ's people follow Him wherever He goes (Revelation 14:4, John 10:2-5, 16).
In the World Tomorrow all nations will go to Jerusalem to worship the King and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles (Zechariah 14:16-19) because that is where Christ shall be. Jerusalem again will be the place He chooses, the headquarters of His Kingdom on earth (Daniel 2:35, 44, Isaiah 60:14, 19-20, 65:18-19, Revelation 21:23-26). God's presence will return to earth; mankind no longer will be cut off from God (Revelation 21:1-3, Leviticus 26:11-12, Ezekiel 37:26-28). The Seventh Millennial Day
Christ is the living head of His Church today (Ephesians 5:23) and needs no successor (Hebrews 7:23-25, Revelation 1:18). He continues to lead His Church as it abides on the foundation of truth it was built upon* (John 8:31-32, 15:1-8, 17:17; I Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 2:20-22; 4:8-16; I Timothy 3:15; Jude 3). We should attend the Feast at a location where the Word of God will be taught faithfully, because that is where Christ's presence will be (John 6:63). The Basic Questions
God's true Church is His temple on earth today (I Corinthians 3:16-17, II Corinthians 6:16) because it is filled with and led by His Holy Spirit (Acts 2, Romans 8:9, 14). God will not dwell in a polluted temple (Ezekiel 8:6, I Kings 9:1-9), but places His name (presence) where His people obey His government in spirit and truth (I Corinthians 12). Christ's people follow Him wherever He goes (Revelation 14:4, John 10:2-5, 16).
In the World Tomorrow all nations will go to Jerusalem to worship the King and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles (Zechariah 14:16-19) because that is where Christ shall be. Jerusalem again will be the place He chooses, the headquarters of His Kingdom on earth (Daniel 2:35, 44, Isaiah 60:14, 19-20, 65:18-19, Revelation 21:23-26). God's presence will return to earth; mankind no longer will be cut off from God (Revelation 21:1-3, Leviticus 26:11-12, Ezekiel 37:26-28). The Seventh Millennial Day
Christ is the living head of His Church today (Ephesians 5:23) and needs no successor (Hebrews 7:23-25, Revelation 1:18). He continues to lead His Church as it abides on the foundation of truth it was built upon* (John 8:31-32, 15:1-8, 17:17; I Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 2:20-22; 4:8-16; I Timothy 3:15; Jude 3). We should attend the Feast at a location where the Word of God will be taught faithfully, because that is where Christ's presence will be (John 6:63). The Basic Questions
*Christ wants the Church to hold fast to what it was given (Revelation 3:11). Mr. Armstrong wrote, "I want you, brethren, to think about and understand what happened to God's Church in the 1970s lest history repeat itself! I want you to see the 'fruits' of rebelling against God's way and God's government." Today history has repeated itself, for the deadly leaven of "liberalism" -- under the guise of "grace" (Jude 4) -- continues to permeate the parent church and its offshoots. Recent History of the Philadelphia Era of the Worldwide Church of God -- A World in Confusion -- More on "Liberalism" by Mr. Armstrong
Messages given at Breckenridge, Colorado (2014):
The Lord Shall Be King Over All the Earth
The Earth Will Be Full of the Knowledge of the Lord
The Government of God in the World Tomorrow
God's Light Will Replace Satan's Darkness
The Meaning of "Tabernacles" (The Purpose of Life)
The Last Great Day
Messages given at Gatlinburg, Tennessee (2016):
Why Tabernacles?
The One True Religion
Isaiah 65:17-25
The First Millennial Day
The Second and Third Millennial Days
The Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Millennial Days
The Last Great Day