SATAN BOUND UP

JUST AFTER THIS TITANIC BATTLE OF MAN'S ARMIES AGAINST THE ARMY OF GOD, SATAN, THE GOD OF THIS WORLD--WHO HELD THIS WORLD CAPTIVE WITH HIS FALSE RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL DECEPTIONS--IS TAKEN AND BOUND FOR A THOUSAND YEARS. He will no longer go out and deceive the world. God's truth and the gospel of salvation, called the gospel of Jesus Christ, cover humanity as the oceans cover the world from this point on. As we shall see, the very next Old Testament Holy Day God gave Israel to observe points to this event which will unlock man's minds to be receptive to God's truth without hostility. When we put the Scriptures together the physical meaning of the Day of Atonement becomes very clear.

Revelation 20:1-6. "And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. [next, a peak at the just resurrected saints in their new jobs.]

I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years."

It is Satan who has deceived the majority of mankind in the past and present. As we will come to see, God is not now calling many of those whom Satan has deceived. We will see that God has a plan to call them even if they have died never hearing the name of Jesus Christ. And everyone who ever lived and died before the birth of Jesus Christ fits into this category (with the exception of the Prophets and a few righteous kings such as David who possessed God's Holy Spirit in advance of it being given on Pentecost 31 A.D.).

WHERE DO WE SEE THE DAY OF ATONEMENT DEFINED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT? WHAT SYMBOLIC MEANING DID GOD ATTRIBUTE TO IT? DOES IT MATCH REVELATION 20:1-3? First let's read the Old Covenant command for this Holy Day. Leviticus 23:27-32. "The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves [margin: "and fast"], and present an offering made to the Lord by fire. Do not work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when an atonement is made for you before the Lord your God. Anyone who does not deny himself [fast] on that day must be cut off from his people. I will destroy from among his people anyone who does any work on that day. You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath."

Jesus often said that the casting out of certain kinds of powerful demons required much prayer and fasting. How symbolic that the day that represents Satan's being locked away is a day of fasting and prayer as part of God's Old Covenant law. Now let's see what the High Priest was to do on this solemn day, for what he did was to act out Revelation 20:1-3 in a manner of speaking.

Leviticus 16:1-22, 26, 29-31. "The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the Lord. The Lord said to Moses: `Tell your brother Aaron not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.

This is how Aaron is to enter the sanctuary area: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on. From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.

Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household. Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. He is to cast lots for the two goats--one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat. Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering [It is thought that this goat represents the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who was our sin offering]. But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat.

Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household, and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering. He is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the Lord and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain [incense is mentioned in Revelation as representing the prayers of the saints]. He is to put the incense on the fire before the Lord, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover about the Testimony, so that he will not die. He is to take some of the bull's blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover.

He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull's blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it. In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the Tent of Meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness. No one is to be in the Tent of Meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he comes out, having made atonement for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel. [This goat represented the sacrifice of Jesus Christ whose blood covers the sins of the whole world.]

Then he shall come out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it. He shall take some of the bull's blood and some of the goat's blood and put it on all the horns of the altar. He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and to consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.

When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites--all their sins--and put them on the goat's head. He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the desert...

...The man who releases the goat as a scapegoat must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may come into the camp...

...This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves [fast, go without food and water] and not do any work--whether native-born or an alien living among you--because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins. It is a Sabbath of rest, and you must deny yourselves [fast]; it is an ordinance."

For Christians the reality of what is symbolized by the Day of Atonement is fulfilled in us on a daily basis by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Through Jesus dwelling in us through the Holy Spirit (John 14) we are no longer held captive under Satan's deceptive influence--a powerful influence which he broadcasts into all the world. For us now Satan has been removed if we are in Jesus. We need not fear him if we remain strong in Jesus. Also the blood of Jesus covers us, and redeems us from sin. The actual physical observance of the Day of Atonement is a mere shadow of the reality of its' daily fulfillment in us through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. Under the new covenant Christians are not required to observe the old covenant Sabbath or Holydays, but some do voluntarily because of the deep significance of what they represent. Others, Messianic Jewish Christians, observe them out of ethnic custom, as well as for what they stand for--which is allowed for under the terms of the new covenant (Romans 14). Satan is still dangerous though, and he can still attack us, as Peter warns us when he stated "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." (I Peter 5:8-9.) We'll talk more about Satan and his blinding influence on the world later. So that is the Biblical meaning attach by God to the old covenant "Day of Atonement in the Scriptures.

MEANING OF THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES

WHAT IS LIFE GOING TO BE LIKE ON EARTH DURING THE REIGN OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE SAINTS AFTER HIS 2ND COMING? Let's read Isaiah 11:3-16 for our first glimpse of the world existing under the Kingdom of God when it is first established over mankind as a benevolent monarchy. "He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel [and as we see here, this is talking of all 12 tribes, not just the Jews.]; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth. Ephraim's jealousy will vanish, and Judah's enemies will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim. They will swoop down on the slopes of Philistea to the west; together they will plunder the people to the east. They will lay hands on Edom [modern day Turkey] and Moab [modern day Jordan], and the Ammonites [also of Jordan] will be subject to them. The Lord will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian sea; with a scorching wind he will sweep his hand over the Euphrates River. He will break it up into seven streams so that men can cross over in sandals. There will be a highway for the remnant of his people that is left from Assyria [modern day Germany] as there was for Israel when they came up from Egypt."

Comment: That was a description of the 2nd Exodus, yet to occur in the future, just after the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. As I pointed out previously, Ezekiel 5 points out that one third of Israel will be taken into slavery by the hand of the Assyrians--the Germans--two thirds will die in the initial military strike against our nations (for prophetic Israel is not the modern day nation of the Israelis--according to these four fellowships who hold these beliefs expressed in this survey of Millennial Scriptures.) 10 percent of those who go into captivity will survive and be a part of this 2nd Exodus, this time out of Germany and their concentration and forced labor camps! The tribulation, World War III, as the Bible describes it, is horrible beyond any war the world has ever experienced. World War II was a mere foretaste, just as the Hitler-Mussolini combine was a mere foretaste of the coming European union prophesied by Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 and 17. But Jesus will lead the survivors out of that into what we just read about, a land of peace and harmony. Jeremiah 31 describes this event further.

Jeremiah 31:1-14. "`At that time,' declares the Lord, `I will be the God of all the clans of Israel [i.e. all 12 tribes], and they will be my people.' This is what the Lord says: `The people who survive the sword will find favor in the desert; I will come to give rest to Israel.' The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: `I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful. Again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria; the farmers will plant them and enjoy their fruit. There will be a day when the watchmen cry out on the hills of Ephraim, `Come, let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.'

This is what the Lord says: `Sing with joy for Jacob [Jacob does not refer to the Jews, as most erroneously believe. Read Genesis 48 and you'll see that the name Jacob in prophecy refers to two specific tribes in Israel, whom I Chronicles 5:1-2 refers to as the birthright tribes.]; shout for the foremost of the nations. Make your praises heard, and say, `O Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel.' See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth. Among them will be the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return. They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel's father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son. Hear the word of the Lord, O nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: `He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.' For the Lord will ransom Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they. They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the Lord--the grain, the new wine and the oil, the young flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more. Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my bounty,' declares the Lord..."

In the same chapter of Jeremiah God declares the new covenant. Paul quoted these very same verses to show that Christians now live under the new covenant and that the old is passed away. Jeremiah 31:31-33 shows that this new covenant will come upon those that live through World War III, those that live under the government of Jesus Christ--all those left alive on earth. Jeremiah 31:31-33. "`The time is coming,' declares the Lord, `when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,' declares the Lord. `This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,' declares the Lord. [After what time? Taken in context with the previous section in this chapter, that would be the 2nd exodus, to occur just after Jesus Christ's 2nd coming which we just read about] `I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people...'"

[We Christians are under this new covenant now as Paul brought out in Hebrews 8:8-13, which is quoted from Jeremiah 31:31-33. But has Jesus put his law in the minds and hearts of the modern-day Israeli's? If you think the Jew's make up the whole of Israel, you believe the second Exodus has already occurred, as of 1948. But this putting of Jesus' law in their minds and hearts has most definitely not occurred. That is a completely different Bible doctrine, 'Who is Israel', and not covered here. But this shows there is a serious flaw in our understanding of who Israel is. The comment below shows several Christian fellowship's take on the identity of Israel. The interpretation of end-time Bible prophecy can pivot one way or the other, dependent on who you believe Israel is composed of, just the Jews, or more than just the Jews. The second Exodus is just one area. Another important area is whether the battle of Gog and Magog occurs before or after the second coming of Jesus Christ. The whole spin on pre-second coming world prophesied events radically alters one way or the other dependent on what you believe about Israel's identity. This knowledge doesn't affect your salvation in the Lord one single bit though, thus it's still secondary knowledge. But it does affect our end-time prophetic knowledge about the world. So view the following comment with that in mind.]

Comment: Judah, the Jews and present day Israelis are only one tribe of a twelve tribed nation, just as California is only one state within the fifty states of the United States. This is yet another mystery contained in the Bible. Yes, it is secondary knowledge compared to the knowledge of salvation, but it unlocks knowledge about the awesome scope and magnitude of the re-gathering of Israel. Who, what nations, make up the twelve tribes of Israel today? Their identity has been historically lost, but the Bible gives some important clues as to the identity of the two birthright tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh, prophesied to become the two most powerful nations in the world. One, Manasseh, was prophesied to become one of the world's richest and most powerful nations. The other, Ephraim, was prophesied to become a powerful and wealthy 'company of Nations, a Commonwealth of Nations.' This clue to their identity can be found in Genesis 24:59-60 and 35:9-12. These were birthright promises handed down from Abraham to Isaac and then to Jacob, and then from Jacob to Ephraim and Manasseh (Genesis 48:1-27). Read also Genesis 41:50-52 and Genesis 48:1-22. Genesis 49:1-27 is a prophecy God gave through Jacob showing what each tribe would be like as a separate nation. We really don't know for sure who they are right now, but Ephraim and Manasseh, whom Jacob adopted as his own sons for birthright purposes, we can know who they are. In Genesis 22:15-17-18; 24:60 you'll read that they were to inherit the 'gates of those that hate them.' This refers to military choke points, land and sea-gates. What two modern nations have owned or now presently own most of the world's land and sea gates? A quick study of modern history should give you the answer. [Not every denomination has this interpretation of who Israel and the Jews are. It is not a widely held view, and is a doctrine that deals more with race than grace. And since this church age is one which emphasizes the grace of God toward the Gentiles and everyone who would be a Christian, this spin on who Israel is or isn't is so totally secondary to what is important to Christianity that it is not important to really know who Israel is or isn't till Jesus returns. Too many who have held a belief in Israel being more than just the Jews have developed racist attitudes, even if the doctrine is true, which I believe it may be. True-maybe, important knowledge, no not really. Will I stop believing in it just to please others, when I think it's true? No way. Will I flaunt the knowledge, other than just mentioning it here, no not really. Knowledge puffs up, and this kind of racial knowledge tends to puff up greatly those who would want to believe they are of Manasseh or Ephraim. The only other important reason for wanting to know whether this secondary doctrine is true is that belief one way or the other greatly affects the proper timing interpretation of major prophecies about Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38 & 39.] [And this interpretation above has absolutely nothing to do with the EPHRAIMITE HERESY spreading around that says all Gentiles who become born-again Christians must then actually be Ephraimites, from one of the lost tribes of Israel-that is pure undiluted heresy. The theory above is only about race, and has absolutely nothing to do with conversion or lack thereof being a proof of race. If the lost ten tribes are really out there, it will be revealed at Jesus' 2^nd coming. It's really secondary to the gospel for now, or else Jesus would make it really clear.]

Ezekiel 36:1-15, 24-38. "Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, `O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The enemy said of you, `Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession.' Therefore prophesy and say, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because they ravaged and hounded you from every side so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people's malicious talk and slander, therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and the deserted towns that have been plundered and ridiculed by the rest of the nations around you--this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom [modern day Turkey], for with glee and with malice in their hearts they made my land their own possession so that they might plunder its pastureland.' Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I speak in my jealous wrath because you have suffered the scorn of the nations. Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I swear with uplifted hand that the nations around you will also suffer scorn.

But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. I will increase the number of men and animals upon you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the Lord. I will cause people, my people Israel, to walk upon you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance; you will never again deprive them of their children.'

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because people say to you, 'You devour men and deprive your nation of its children,' therefore you will no longer devour men or make your nation childless, declares the Sovereign Lord. No longer will I make you hear the taunts of the nations, and no longer will you suffer the scorn of the peoples or cause your nation to fall, declares the Sovereign Lord...[Now the prophecy switches over from addressing the mountains of Israel to addressing the future people of Israel who will be returning to the land from captivity.] For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws..."

Comment: This one prophesied event seems to clearly indicate that Judah, the Jews, are not the whole of Israel and that the "re-gathering" hasn't occurred yet, but does occur just after Jesus' second coming. This is the same coming of the new covenant mentioned in Jeremiah 31:31-33 and Hebrews 8:7-12. The new covenant has come on Christians and has been on them since 31 A.D. It will come on all that are alive after Jesus Christ's 2nd coming, as Jesus draws humanity to himself and they are granted the Holy Spirit as Ezekiel 36:25-27 just showed us. Acts 2:1-4 showed us that the coming of the Holy Spirit on the early Church of God made these people Christians and Romans 8 shows us that Christians have salvation--eternal life--residing in them. For the world after Jesus Christ's 2nd coming their day of salvation will have come, when they are responsible for acting on the knowledge of salvation being given to them. Satan will no longer be allowed to deceive them, just as he is not allowed to deceive or touch Christians today--he has no hold on us anymore. And God says he will put "My Spirit" in them.

"...You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness. [The Jews haven't been saved by Jesus from their uncleanness yet.] I will call for grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. [What practices? Look around you in today's world if you need to see what God is talking about. Ask your children what its like in middle school or high school if they will confide in you. Read the papers, buy Gary Aldrich's book "Unlimited Access" and see that what God is talking about has reached the highest level of our wonderful nation--the White House.] I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, O house of Israel!

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: 'On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it.' They will say, 'This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.' Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.'

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: 'Once again I will yield to the plea of the house of Israel and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep, as numerous as the flocks for offerings at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts. So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord."

Is this prophecy just for Israel? Isaiah 2:2-4. "In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, [remember that study on the Jerusalem that Jesus will build at his 2nd coming?] and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, `Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.' The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." Cross reference this with Zechariah 14:9. "The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name." This is at and just after the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. God's call to Christ and Christianity will be universal for all those left alive! The glorious Millennial rule of Jesus will have begun!

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES, THE VERY NEXT GROUP OF HOLY DAYS LISTED IN LEVITICUS 23 AFTER THE DAY OF ATONEMENT, SYMBOLICALLY REPRESENTS THIS TIME OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY THAT SHALL SPREAD OVER THE ENTIRE WORLD AND LAST FOR A THOUSAND YEARS. (AS THE MESSIANIC JEWISH CHRISTIANS PLAINLY KNOW.)

God's overall plan of salvation showing when the various sections of humanity would be given their real opportunity to respond to his call to salvation is reflected in the Holy Days and the harvest seasons they were placed around. These were the harvest seasons in the land of Israel. God's spiritual harvest plan is shadowed in and through his Holy Day seasons. The first harvest was in late spring when the Jews harvested the winter wheat, starting just after the Wavesheaf Offering and being completed by the Day of Pentecost. The Wavesheaf offering, few realize, symbolized the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the acceptance of his sacrifice by God the Father! On the Day of Pentecost the early Christian Church was started by the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit on first 120 people, then on three thousand more on that very same day. All Christians who have been led by the very same Spirit, as Romans 8 points out, are part of this spiritual harvest which will be reaped at Jesus Christ's 2nd coming (cf. I Corinthians 15:49-54 and I Thessalonians 4:13-17, Revelation 11:15-18 and 20:4-6). The second harvest was a major harvest of all crops, and it occurred in the fall. The Feast of Tabernacles is at the end of the fall harvest in the land of Israel. This represents in shadow the great harvest of people from Jesus Christ's 2nd coming onward. At the very end of the Feast of Tabernacles is another Holy Day which is technically not part of the Feast of Tabernacles, but it is tacked onto it, according to the Jews. This Holy Day is called by the Jews "The Last Great Day." Scripture may indicate that this "Last Great Day" represents a massive resurrection back to physical life of all those who have died who never possessed the Holy Spirit in them. This time is spoken of in Revelation 20:11-13 as the Great White Throne Judgment and in Ezekiel 37:1-14 as the "prophecy of the valley of dry bones."

This Feast of Tabernacles, if keep in the fashion the Bible spells out in the Old Covenant was a true shadow of the wealth and richness of the Millennium under the Messiah. The Israelites and Jews under the Old Covenant law of God were supposed to save a second tithe of their earnings and use it to attend the Feast of Tabernacles. They usually traveled to Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles for eight days, so they lived in temporary dwellings (rented rooms, other people's dwellings, etc) away from home for eight days, in Jerusalem. One tenth of ones yearly income would allow most people to live pretty high off the hog for the eight days of the Feast of Tabernacles. This physical shadow of abundance was re-enacted every time the Israelites or Jew's properly kept this Feast. They were picturing the glorious Millennial rule of the Messiah, and they knew it. Some Christian Churches, particularly the Jewish and a few old covenant Christian denominations, have observed the Feast of Tabernacles in the prescribed manner and have tasted of this shadow of the Millennium. It can be a rich experience for those that do so in a proper Christian manner. For Christians the Feast also pictures the richness and abundance of the spiritual eternal Kingdom of God we will yet live in forever and ever, in plentiful happiness and joy as Spirit Beings living with our elder brother Jesus Christ. As David says in Psalm 16:10-11, "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell [the grave]; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou will shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand pleasures for evermore."

Leviticus 23:34-36, 39-44. "The Lord said to Moses, 'Say to the Israelites: 'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month [of the Hebrew calendar] the Lord's Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. For seven days present offerings made to the Lord by fire, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present an offering made to the Lord by fire. It is the closing assembly; do no regular work...So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; the first day is a day of rest. On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. Live in booths [temporary dwellings] for seven days. All native-born Israelites are to live in booths so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.'"

Zechariah 14:16-19 shows us that Jesus will re-institute the observance of the Feast of Tabernacles (and by inference all of the Old Testament Holy Days of Leviticus 23). Zechariah 14:16-19. "Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. If any people of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain. If the Egyptian people do not go and take part, they will have no rain. The Lord will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles." In Isaiah 66:15,16 it says, "See, the Lord is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind. For with fire and with his sword the Lord will execute judgment upon all men, and many will be those slain by the Lord." This sets the context of Isaiah 66 as the second coming of Jesus Christ. Now in verse 23 of Isaiah 66 it states, "From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,' says the Lord." This indicates that worship on the Sabbath [Saturday] will also be restored after Jesus Christ's return. The Sabbath is the first Holy Day mentioned in Leviticus 23:1-3, which states, "The Lord said to Moses, 'Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'These are my appointed feasts of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assembles. There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work, wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the Lord." So we see Scripture shows us the Sabbath and the Feast of Tabernacles will yet again become commanded assemblies after Jesus Christ's return. The Sabbath is the first Holy Day mentioned in Leviticus 23 and the Feast of Tabernacles is the last group of Holy Days mentioned in Leviticus 23. That would indicate that all the Holy Days mentioned in Leviticus 23 will be in force again after the Lord's return to earth. [To hear a very interesting concept about the Millennial Kingdom of God--the 1,000 year period of Jesus Christ's direct rule over human beings--log onto http://www.khouse.org and order the 2-tape series titled "Thy Kingdom Come". One of the tapes is a discussion with the famous Messianic Jewish evangelist Albert Israeli.]