Question: What is the Messianic significance of the Feast of Succoth (Tabernacles)?
Answer:
The messianic significance of the Feast of Tabernacles is seen in two ways: first, in the Messiah’s response to the key ceremonies of the feast; and secondly, in the fulfillment of the feast.
1. The Messiah’s Response to the Ceremonies
The Feast of Tabernacles was observed by Jesus while He was on earth. When He observed the Feast of Tabernacles, He responded to both key ceremonies. First, at the pouring out of the water, Jesus gave an invitation in John 7:37–39: If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believes on me, as the scriptures have said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water.
John pointed out that what Jesus was referring to was the coming of the Holy Spirit who would indwell every believer. This had not yet happened because Jesus had not been glorified. The pouring out of the water of the Feast of Tabernacles symbolizes the indwelling Holy Spirit that Jewish and Gentile believers now have. Just as the water from the Pool of Siloam flowed from within, the Holy Spirit will indwell believers permanently. The permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit began in Acts 2, only after the Messiah’s Ascension. Therefore, one proper application for the Church Age is that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the believer is an individual fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles, not the national one.
Secondly, in response to the second key ceremony, the lighting of the lampstands, Jesus stated in John 8:12: I am the light of the world. he that follows me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life. This is also related individually to the believer. After being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, the believer is now able to “walk in the light” because he has the light of life. Walking in the light is fulfillment for the individual, but not the fulfillment for the nation of Israel.
2. The Fulfillment of the Feast
Ultimately, the Feast of Tabernacles is to be fulfilled by the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom according to Zechariah 14:16–19: And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, Jehovah of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17 And it shall be, that whoso of all the families of the earth goes not up unto Jerusalem to worship the King, Jehovah of hosts, upon them there shall be no rain. 18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, neither shall it be upon them; there shall be the plague wherewith Jehovah will smite the nations that go not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations that go not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
Because the Messianic Kingdom, the Millennium, will be the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles, verse 16 states that it will be obligatory on all the nations that came against Jerusalem to worship the King, Jehovah of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
Under the Mosaic Law, the Feast of Tabernacles was obligatory only for the Jewish people. Under the Kingdom law, the Feast of Tabernacles will be obligatory for all Gentile nations in the Messianic Kingdom. Once a year, every Gentile nation will be required to send a delegation to Jerusalem to observe this particular festival. Verses 17–19 state that there will be punishment for those who disobey. If a nation fails to send a delegation to Jerusalem to observe this feast, they will be punished by a drought.
Just as the Feast of Tabernacles was a time of rejoicing following the affliction of the Day of Atonement, even so the Messianic Kingdom will be a time of rejoicing following the affliction of the Great Tribulation.
Extract from Dr Arnold Fruchtenbaum, Ariel Ministries Messianic Bible Study MBS062 'The Feasts of Israel' (San Antonio, TX.) pg 29
