Why We Celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles

Why We Celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles

By David R. Parsons, ICEJ Senior VP & Spokesman

“And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.” —Zechariah 14:16

Every year since 1980, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) has hosted a Christian celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem. This is a joyous and colorful gathering that usually draws thousands of Christians from up to 100 nations each year. Some may ask why Christians are coming up to Jerusalem to keep this Feast?

The answer lies in the universal significance of this ancient biblical festival, which has past, present, and future relevance for all nations.

Every biblical holiday given to the Jewish people has these three aspects. Israel was commanded to observe the holiday in the present to remember something God did in the past, and because of some future prophetic purpose hidden within each festival.

Thus, for example, Jews begin Shabbat each week by lighting of two candles, one to remember how God rested on the seventh day of Creation, and the second to look forward to the millennial rest promised for the whole earth.

Likewise, Passover and Pentecost look back on the great Exodus from Egypt and the giving of the Law at Sinai, while their hidden future prophetic purposes were fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Jesus and the birth of the church 50 days later.

The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, is the third great annual pilgrimage festival when the Jewish people gather together in Jerusalem not only to remember God’s provision in the wilderness but also to look ahead to that promised messianic age when all nations will flow to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.