“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 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: ye shall do no servile work therein. SEVEN DAYS ye 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 ye shall do no servile work therein.” Leviticus 23:33-36
In Bible numerology (as most of you know) the number “eight” speaks of a “new beginning.”
God does many, many things in cycles of “sevens.” And nearly always in Scripture the day following the seventh day (or an entity of any sort following the seventh of its kind) signifies “starting over!” Yes, “eight” is that special, most of the time that specific … in God’s Word! (Some aspects of numerology can be over-exaggerated, I suspect. But this number, eight, is rock solid!)
Now … why this emphasis today, “a new beginning?”
Because, God commanding Israel … “And ye shall keep it (Tabernacles) a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: that your generations (children and grandchildren) may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of EGYPT.” Verses 41-43, Leviticus 23 of course.
Did you notice? The Feast of Tabernacles has a “backward” look for the Jews. They were to live in Jerusalem for all those days (eight in total) “in booths,” in little “huts,” little “shacks” … as a way of remembering how God delivered them from Egypt and kept them safe for forty years in the wilderness! Israel annually celebrating and thanking God for His constant goodness, faithfulness … what a history Lesson for the children!
But then … and here is where the number “eight” comes in … there is too a “forward” look to Tabernacles! “A NEW BEGINNING” for Israel … when Jesus comes again to deliver them from the paws, claws of the anti-Christ, out of the sure “death pit” of Armageddon … a new Moses (Jesus) and a new Exodus (the Second Coming of our Lord) and an ensuing thousand years of peace and victory and national (a dirty word these days) recognition … as the Lord’s people, having been saved (Day of Atonement) by God’s ineffable Grace! The Millennium!
Wow!
Tabernacles (next to be observed by Orthodox Jews on October 2 through October 9, 2020) looks backward to Egypt and forward to the Messiah’s Return!
And more and more Jews (God be praised) are realizing the true Identity of this Messiah, none Other than the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God!
What a “new day” is coming!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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