Dear Brethren and Friends,

Greetings from San Diego! Thank you for your faithfulness to God and to the Work of the Living Christ! T deeply appreciate the excellent response to my latest co-worker letter. The daily income has been up a fair amount—and for that we are very thankful.

I arrived back here two weeks ago from our Global Youth Camp in Wyoming. I had the opportunity while there to participate in many of the activities with the young people—riflery, archery, skeet shooting, white-water river rafting (boy did I get wet!) and horseback riding. I was able to have a two-and-one-half-hour meeting with the six ministers and wives who were there, give a talk to the entire camp and join in a sing-along out under the full moon near the end of camp. It was very inspiring, and our young people—and their parents who attended—were extremely enthusiastic about the opportunity to participate in this wonderful camp and the activities and fellowship it provided.

For a couple of days after the camp Mr. and Mrs. Tom Turk, area pastor, and Mr. and Mrs. Ben Whitfield, an elder, and I had the opportunity to go hiking at the edge of the Tetons. The camp is located near Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where President Clinton is vacationing even as I write. It is one of the most beautiful areas in the world. So it is absolutely ideal for our summer camp and it was indeed refreshing and exhilarating for me to be there with these young people and to get the chance for some hiking and vigorous exercise—plus wonderful fellowship—with some of the ministers afterward.

Mr. and Mrs. Ben Whitfield are the camp directors and have done a magnificent job! They certainly do deserve our heartfelt thanks for the long hours that they have put in. Mr. Whitfield serves—with no pay whatsoever—in pastoring three or four of our smaller churches in the mountain area and organizes the camp and all of its activities each year as well. His wife is a wonderful help in all of this. Also, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Turk give of themselves in helping organize and run the camp. They are a very dedicated couple—and deserve our prayers and thanks as well.

Since returning, I've been encouraged by the excellent responses to our television programs this summer—even though we are repeating six programs from last winter! Just this morning, I received this encouraging report from Media Coordinator Wayne Pyle: "Program number 41 aired this weekend and generated 1,101 calls from Thursday to Sunday. I estimate that the total count for the week will be about 1,200. This will be the sixth highest count on our books since the telecast began in May last year!"

Now notice these encouraging letters responding to the television program and to the Work which Christ is doing through all of us:

From Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada, a lady writes: "I heard your program for the first time Sunday, June 30 on VISION TV. I sure like what I heard. I'm sure we could all learn things we have never heard before. Thank you for telling it like it is."

From a gentleman in Toronto, Canada: "I have been a frequent viewer of your program on Sunday nights and enjoy looking at it and listening to the inspiring things you have to say. Your program holds my attention from beginning to end and I have learnt quite a lot from it."

And another lady from New York City writes: "I was listening to your program Saturday morning at 6:00 a.m. I enjoyed it: you speak so plain I can understand what you are saying. It's a great joy to understand."

Brethren, Christ is obviously beginning to do a great Work through us. We are beginning to reach many tens of thousands of "brand new" people out there—people who have never heard the Truth before. But in order to GROW—to get on more stations and send out more copies of the World Ahead magazine, our hard-hitting booklets, etc., we need help. You and I can't do it all. We desperately need more members and more co-workers to help carry the load. Remember Jesus' instruction to His disciples: "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest" (Matt. 9:37-38).

As I asked in a recent co-worker letter, so I ask all of you again more heartfeltly than ever; please PRAY with all your heart that God will add more members and co-workers so we will really be able to continue growing, to continue serving more and more brethren and teach them the "whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). And that we will be able—in God's time—to genuinely SHAKE our Israelitish nations with the Ezekiel warning so they may have a genuine witness before the Great Tribulation begins. This is our opportunity. This is our challenge. This is our calling.

Frankly, one of the biggest "fields" out there that is "ripe for harvest" is the group that often calls itself the Stay-at-Home Church of God! These people have been so hurt, confused and disillusioned that most of them don't really know where to go at this point—and are simply staying at home rather than worshipping with God's people and participating actively in doing the Work.

By all counts, there are some 10 to 40 thousand of these "stay-at-home" people—possibly even more! They need our genuine concern and heartfelt PRAYERS. If we are deeply converted ourselves, we know—and know that we know—that they themselves will be far more blessed spiritually if they will "get involved" where Christ is working and be able to participate with Him in finishing the Great Commission. They need to be "fed" the full Truth of God in local churches or video groups where God's true people meet together. They need the fellowship of others and the opportunity to interact with fellow Christians and learn the lessons of teamwork in all of this.

I receive a number of letters from these people asking for more instruction or information about what they should really do. I recently received a letter from a couple in this "stay-at-home" Church of God that I decided to answer at length in order to not only help them but others who might be in the same predicament. I want to share a good deal of this personal letter with you. This will not be breaking any confidence since you have no idea who this letter came from, except that it came from "a couple" here in North America whom I will identify only as Mr. and Mrs. Blank. If you read this letter carefully, it can help many of you who may still be on the fence, and it should help many of you brethren receiving this magazine to know how to answer others who are in this same situation. So please read it carefully and thoughtfully. Here, then, is the major part of the letter I sent to this couple who were not sure of what to do and felt that they couldn't "join" any of the church organizations now existing until God virtually "put them in."

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Blank,

God does not FORCE anyone to become converted or join any particular church organization. As Mr. Armstrong told us so many times, God allows each one of us free moral agency. So you did—of your own will—join the Worldwide Church of God because you could see that that was where God's Truth was being taught and that that was where God's Work was being done. No one "made" you do that, did they?

But today, probably unwittingly, you are disobeying God's command regarding the Sabbath Day being a "holy convocation.” You know—I'm sure—that the word "convocation" means a commanded assembly and that God tells us this in Leviticus 23, and also exhorts us, through the Apostle Paul: "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, NOT forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" (Heb. 10:24-25). Yes, it may be more "comfortable" to keep the Sabbath without going through any turmoil with confused brethren that might arise if you attended certain Sabbath services at certain times. I can understand that. However, the Sabbath Day is not meant merely to be "enjoyed," but it ought to be a time when we hear the "meat" of God's Word preached and are exhorted in a helpful and meaningful way to "grow" in grace and knowledge and to be more like Jesus Christ.

The fellowship and interaction with others plus the guidance of a dedicated minister—are all part of the equipment God is using to fashion and mold us to be like He is. We are to be His sons someday in a MASSIVE family—ultimately encompassing the entire universe. So we certainly do now need to learn to work together as a "family" and as a "team" in God's Church, which we CANNOT do if we're sitting at home by ourselves or with just one or two others keeping the Sabbath virtually alone.

On page three, in bold print, you say that the "big deal" concerns your personal relationship with God. That is certainly true—IF you understand all the ramifications of what that personal relationship involves. A correct relationship with God involves NOT merely your ability to study and pray and "feel good" on the Sabbath or any other day. It involves getting down in the "arena" and learning the LESSONS God wants you to learn by being part of an active, viable organism that is learning more and more of God's Truth, where the people are learning more and more how to properly interact with one another, and where the WORK of God is one of their paramount goals and purposes.

Mr. and Mrs. Blank, from your letter I assume you have deep respect for Mr. Armstrong and the Work God did through him. Yes, as everyone says, "He made mistakes." I know about those mistakes more than most people but I still believe strongly that he was used by God more than any other man we know of for the last several hundred years. Jesus said, "By their FRUTTS you will know them." Therefore, please remember how Mr. Armstrong so often told us that a person's attitude can be discerned by how much his HEART is in God s Work You need to be more concerned about being part of the Work of God—being part of the ongoing process of getting Christ's Message to the world—and not just thinking about yourself or your relationship with God APART from that paramount consideration.

Let me digress at this point and say that—for the sake of time and clarity—I'm being very plain in writing analyses and suggestions to you. Please don't let this offend you! I'm not trying to be high-handed nor do I believe that I have "all the answers." But I am trying to tell you clearly what would be most helpful to you in the situation in which you find yourself. So please take it in that light.

You mention at the bottom of page five that attending services on a Holy Day with any of the branches of God s Church and worshipping with them would be like "sleeping around" with a number of sexual partners without giving those partners any solid commitment. However, Mr. and Mrs. Blank, when you think things through you will realize this is a very poor analogy. The different "branches" of God's Church—imperfect though we may be—are NOT like "whores" that you would be sleeping with. And unless you visit us as "guests" or prospective members, how else can you discern the spirit and "fruits" of each organization? Certainly, you can get some of this from reading our publications and hearing our tapes. But actually being there and hearing—NOT just a sermon tape, but also the sermonettes the announcements, the emphasis or LACK of emphasis on doing a Work, the dedicated, Bible-related conversations of the brethren or lack thereof—all of these can give you much more of the "flavor" of the kind of church you might be getting into.

At the top of page six you state, "I feel that if I attend a worship service on a Sabbath with an organization it is an implicit admission on my part that God IS working through that organization." I certainly beg to differ on that, as I think many examples in the Bible indicate that people were commended for coming to services to "check up" on the Apostle Paul and to have the opportunity to PROVE "whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11 ). Many other examples could be cited, but since you are an Ambassador graduate I' m sure you can find them. Perhaps you have not heard the sermon tapes where I have described how, after my freshman year of college, Ken Herrmann, Owen Smith and I were going up to Oregon to work in the woods and Mr. Armstrong encouraged us to attend services as "guests" of what we now feel is the "Sardis" branch of God's Church. He told us that these people were "brethren" but had just been unable or unwilling to grow in understanding as much as they should have.

So we did attend with them through most of the summer of 1950—and were able to keep the Sabbath with others and to hear sermons that were somewhat helpful, and to gain an insight into how absolutely RIGHT Mr. Armstrong was in later labeling these people as members of the "Sardis" era of God's Church. Remember, Mr. and Mrs. Blank, even "Laodicean" people are still GOD'S people—not "whores" or the devil's people. They may be weak, self satisfied and unwilling or unable to do a real Work or to grow in the depth of knowledge and biblical understanding they should, but they're still God's people—and in an emergency or on a trip it would not be wrong to visit with them on occasion as a guest in their services.

So when you think about it that way, it is definitely NOT an implicit admission on your part that God is working through a certain branch of the Church just because you attend as a guest to check things out.

In thinking about where you ought to attend—in due time, AFTER you have had an opportunity to check up and prove these things amply for yourselves—I do encourage you to keep three primary points in mind:

1) Be sure that you are properly concerned with going where the full Truth of the Bible is preached. As you know, some of the Sabbath-keeping "splits" from the Worldwide Church still have much of the Truth but neglect to preach the Truth about a genuine place of safety, church eras, born again, our national identity and the IMPORTANCE of the Ezekiel commission, etc. Yes, I am very aware that these are not the MOST important issues—but they are important, nevertheless. So if you find these and other similar issues "watered down" or totally neglected in other organizations, that should give you pause.

2) You need to be very sure that wherever you finally go to fellowship is an organization that is really doing the Work! As Mr. Armstrong told us so many times, this is a vital "key" to show you where Christ is actively working. Where do you find the real EMPHASIS on going out into all the world and preaching the Message of the Kingdom of God, teaching God's laws and ways, and "warning" our Israelite people of the coming Great Tribulation as we are certainly commanded to do in what we call the "Ezekiel commission"?

3) Finally, it is absolutely vita—in spite of arguments to the contrary—that God's true Church practices and experiences the same kind of "government" that God's true Church has always practiced—and WILL practice in the Millennium.

I know of all the arguments and excuses about this—about the "hurt feelings" and the feelings of being "raped" by the changes brought about in our former association. Nevertheless, when you reason the thing through honestly and biblically, one should NOT "throw the baby out with the bath water." The very examples of the people trying to overthrow Samuel because of his sons' mistakes (1 Sam. 8) and all the other examples Mr. Armstrong himself used for years ought to make this fact very clear.

When Christ returns, He will appoint King David, the apostles and others to assist Him. There will be no voting. There will be no politicking. There will be no floundering about for months and years in order to decide "why are we here, where will we have our `headquarters,' should we really do a Work," etc.? Frankly, this is RIDICULOUS. Men doing this in these various organizations they come up with are simply trying to "reinvent the wheel.” They seem to have no respect for the fact that God DID guide His Church for over 50 years through Mr. Armstrong. The lessons learned there ought to be applied and the basic approach—in spite of later MISTAKES made by others—ought to be carried on if we recognize the fact that Christ was, and is, the active "Head" of His Church. For through Mr. Armstrong's early decades, the "fruit" was VERY good. It showed that Christ was working through that kind of organization and that kind of approach.

Also, as I have explained so many times, it ought to be obvious that unless we learn to work together in that framework, we are NOT learning to work together as a "team" and doing God's Work under His form of 'government in the way that we will be doing for the next many thousands of years! As you know, the Apostle Paul wrote the Corinthians: "Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?" (1 Cor. 6:1-3).

We are now "in training" to JUDGE the world—and do it in the way that God says. That way has NEVER been "democratic" or "consensus building" or any such thing. Our future RULE over the world—IF we humble ourselves and learn to have faith in Christ leading His Church—will be carried out in the fear of God and in the way He shows us and directs us. To fail to follow His form of government now is simply unconscionable—and very unbiblical.

We in the Global Church of God do put constraints on our leadership by having an active Council of Elders, having me publicly commit myself to certain limitations in changing major doctrines or acting in a dictatorial manner. You have probably read of these constraints. However, we are trying our very best to directly imitate the governmental approach we see from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation.

And even in my "commitment" to not go off alone in changing major doctrines, etc., I am only binding myself to heed the "multitude of counsel" principle which God's Word expresses. Because of following God's form of government, we're able to quickly move forward in doing a genuine Work—BEYOND what other organizations would be able to do with similar resources. Perhaps you have noticed that.

Well, I hope that the above explanations have been helpful to you and that you will realize that you do need before too much longer to "get involved" in helping do the Work of God somewhere. Sitting on the sidelines forever is not the answer: Waiting for God to show you in some "miraculous" way is not the answer either—as God only let you see the "fruits" before you began to attend church with the WCG. And even that WCG organization, 26 years ago, had many faults and problems with which I was very familiar at the time. We were NOT perfect back then in any way whatsoever. It is just that it was more clear because there were virtually no "competitors" on the horizon. So because of the "smorgasbord" of organizations out there now, I can better appreciate your problem.

However, I hope that you will think through carefully the points that I have written and that, if need be, you will attend more than once with a few of the organizations you sincerely feel may fit the bill of those preaching the full Truth and doing God's Work and carrying out God's government today. If one of these organizations you attend is not perfect, God will NOT punish you for wanting to "check up" on it anymore than He punished the Bereans for checking up on the Apostle Paul. And in doing so, you will begin to have fellowship with others who believe the main points you do and God will then guide you to find the Church where He is most fully carrying out His Work at this time.

Again, please excuse any directness or bluntness on my part. But I will be praying for you as I sense a deep sincerity in your letter and in your concerns. May God be with you as you truly walk with Him.

So there you have it; brethren, and any other readers out there—of whom there are hundreds—who may not be part of the Global Church of God. I hope you will all open your hearts and minds to consider backing this Work of God. I hope all of you realize you need to be "part of the action." You need to be participating with Christ where He is doing His Work at this time.

And I hope all of you will PRAY for one another that God will guide you and bring many more active members and co-workers to help in the Work of God at this time. This is one of the BIGGEST single needs we have and I would be remiss if I didn't make this clear.

Most of us here on our headquarters team in San Diego have committed our lives, our time, our energy, our talents and our resources unalterably to doing the Work of God. We are willing to sacrifice. We are willing to work hard, endure persecution and "give" ourselves to serve you and to serve the Living Christ in getting out His Message. We need your help, and as I have said, we need the help of thousands of others who can join with us as members and co-workers to help the Work of God move forward, to help us get on more television stations, publish more magazines and booklets and truly have an impact on this dying civilization. All our lives can then count for something. For we will be part of the most important activity on the earth at this time—the Work of the Living God.

Thank you, in advance, for your prayers, your help and your understanding. May God be with you and with all who truly surrender to fulfill His will.

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All of us in the Church know that we're living in momentous times. Man does have the capacity to annihilate himself. Food and water shortages are increasing. And the general trend of crime and violence when compared to a decade ago—especially youth violence—is up. As the Bible says, "But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived" (2 Tim. 3:13).

Paralleling society's degeneration, the comparative unity and peace most of us enjoyed in our former religious association was rudely shattered by massive doctrinal apostasy—and the resulting "splits"—which disoriented thousands of the brethren. How do we cope with such dangerous, confusing times? Understandably, life has become very difficult for many because they have had their whole world turned upside down.

One vital key to preserving our mental and spiritual balance in all of this is to carefully meditate on the total stability of God; His Word and His promises. The sun still rises each morning! For those who are still honest with the Scriptures, the Sabbath still begins each Friday evening at sunset—a time pointing to the eternal God as our Creator, Sustainer and Ruler. God still takes care of us and hears our prayers if we obey Him and cry out to Him for help: God has NOT changed in His basic character and approach: "For I am the LORD I do not change" (Mal. 3:6).

As in the past, so today, God still desires to help, bless and deliver us from every trial. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (James 1:17). And God promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb. 13:5).

With these certain promises of God in mind, we should all learn to submit day-to-day our wills more completely to God—KNOWING that as we walk with Him all our genuine needs will be met. In a certain sense, we should relax and place ourselves totally in God's hands; asking Him humbly to help us be more perceptive of His will—of what He really wants us to do. But, at the same time, we can be totally confident that as we actively surrender to His will everything is going to work out all right. For "we know that all things work together for good to those who love God; to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28).

In specific trials, we need to come to God in fervent prayer and ask for help or deliverance. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Matt. 7:7-8). God is there! We need to have total confidence that He is hearing our prayer and that He will answer at the best time and in the best way!

Remember, Jesus said, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, `Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them" (Mark 11:22-24).

If we earnestly study our Bibles to find God's will, we can have total confidence that if we pray for things God has revealed that He wants to give us, we will have the answer. There is no power in all the universe that can prevent His answer from coming! But we must "feed" on God's Word so that we do genuinely know the things He would have us pray for. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples" (John 15:7-8).

God wants to give us His precious Holy Spirit (Luke 1 1:13). He wants us to grow in grace and in knowledge (2 Peter 3:18). And, as we have seen above, God wants us to "bear much fruit." As we increasingly give our lives to God and walk with Him, it becomes more and more exciting to see what God can and will do with our lives and how He will use us to have a lasting IMPACT upon the lives of others. God will use us to bring forth much fruit.

When prayer is answered, we gain faith, understanding and courage to place our lives more fully in God's hands. We see that His way truly works. And so we continue to grow in understanding, deep faith and productivity as genuine bondslaves of the Living Jesus Christ. This whole exciting process is called living by faith.

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by John H. Ogwyn

From the steaming jungles of Vietnam to the steppes of Russia, this 20th century has been the scene of social upheaval and revolution. Large portions of Europe, Africa, Asia, Central and South America have been plunged into strife and warfare during the past two centuries by revolutionary zealots who offered peace and prosperity for the common man. From Mexico to the Philippines, peasants have been induced to enlist in the armed struggle of political "messiahs" who promised land reform and an end to oppression. Sadly, most revolutions that have shaken the world since the French Revolution have failed to live up to the hopes of reform. The dreams of idealistic supporters were usually bitterly betrayed.

The quest for freedom and justice, for peace and prosperity, has excited the human heart for millennia. Over 3,400 years ago there was a group of newly freed slaves who were given a revolutionary plan, which promised to produce those long-desired, equitable results. The plan was not a revolutionary pipe dream, but a pragmatic, yet visionary ideal thought out by the Creator of the universe. Himself. God's festivals, as given in Leviticus 23, are the bare outline of a dramatic proposal to fulfill man's physical needs and spiritual longings.

In the Torah (first five books of the Bible) God inspired Moses to record the laws that would provide a context for freedom, justice and prosperity. When we observe the Feast of Tabernacles in the manner that God intended, we are picturing the time when the age-old dreams of humanity will finally become reality. In this article the focus is not primarily on the commands regarding the Feast of Tabernacles, but upon the several celebrations of the Feast that are recorded in the Scriptures. Each of these celebrations highlights an important aspect of this Festival's meaning and contains important lessons for us.

If Joshua Had Given Them Rest

In Hebrews 3 and 4 the Apostle Paul draws a comparison between the people God brought out of Egypt and God's people today. Both received God's promises. But Paul emphasized that those who don't respond to God's promises by faith and subsequent obedience will not enter into His rest. God is impartial.

The Israelites were promised rest from their slavery and from their subsequent wandering in the wilderness. However, virtually the whole adult population that came out of Egypt died in the desert because at a specific point in time they were judged and punished for their unbelief. Only those who were too young to be considered accountable adults at that critical juncture were later led into the Promised Land by Joshua.

Moses prophesied of Israel entering into rest (Deut. 3:20; 12:9-10). God did, temporarily, fulfill this prophecy and the physical nation was given rest (Josh. 21:44). This came after the nation spent six years subduing the pagan inhabitants of the land. The length of time is made clear by a careful reading of Joshua 14:6-10. After spying out the land of Canaan, Caleb and Joshua faithfully reported back to Moses and the whole congregation of Israelites one year after the Exodus. Yet, due to the people's unbelieving response they were condemned to wander for 39 more years, 40 years in all from the time they left Egypt. Caleb came to Joshua to claim his inheritance when the land was "officially" subdued, 45 years from the time Moses had made a special promise to him and therefore 46 years after the Exodus. It was on the threshold of the seventh year after entering the Promised Land that Israel prepared to cease living in temporary dwellings and to enter into rest.

Hebrews 4:8 states that the rest into which Joshua led Israel was not the real rest spoken of by God. By quoting David's inspired writing in Psalm 95—penned more than 400 years after crossing the Jordan—Paul made it clear that a millennial rest yet remained to be entered into by the people of God.

This time of the Messiah's rule, typified by the weekly Sabbath, is also anticipated by the Feast of Tabernacles. The future rest found in the Messiah's Kingdom on earth will be inaugurated when the Eternal, makes a feast of fat things to all people (Is. 25:6). It will be a time when the whole earth will be at rest and will break forth into singing (Is. 14:?). Joshua's rest was a foretype that foreshadowed a coming, future reality.

Nehemiah 8:17-18 recounts a great Feast of Tabernacles that was celebrated in such a way as had not happened in Israel since the days of Joshua the son of Nun! What was the context of Joshua's Feast celebration and what does it portend? Evidence points to the events recorded in Joshua 18 as being associated with this great fall Festival celebration.

This chapter opens by speaking of a time when all Israel assembled at Shiloh. This village was the place where God's name was to be placed for over three centuries. The ark of the covenant, having been transported from place to place for the previous 45 years, was now erected on a "permanent" basis at Shiloh. Then, by the casting of lots, God revealed the inheritance of, each of the tribes. After departing from this great celebration the nation entered into rest (Josh. 21:43-45; 22:1, 4). As we have already seen, this came at the end of six years of subduing the land, and therefore at the beginning of the seventh year.

In Leviticus 25:1-7 The seventh year was designated as a sabbatical year, a year of rest to he land. The Israelites entered into rest in the "year of rest.” At the end of that year they were to gather once again for the Feast of Tabernacles, during which the entire Book of the Law was to be read to them (Deut. 31:10-11). This was no mere religious formality. The whole community's security depended on heeding what was read. Only by having a cooperative spirit could the Israelites guarantee the continuation of the rest God had granted them. Obedience is the key to entering God's rest.

The God-inspired allocation of the Promised Land to the tribes of Israel anticipates what will happen in the future, no doubt at the Feast of Tabernacles: Christ's return will usher in the "times of refreshing" and the "time of restitution of all things" (Acts 3:19-21 ).

A part of what will be restored is that each nation will return to its God-intended inheritance (cf. Deut. 32:7-8). Not only that, but each family within those nations will be given a permanent inheritance protected by God's law of the Jubilee (Lev. 25:8-13, 23). No more dispossessed peasantry crowded into unhealthy urban slums. No more sad cases of the weak being dispossessed by the strong.

The land distribution that took place at that joyous Feast under Joshua is a type of what will occur on a far grander scale when Jesus Christ returns. The Feast of Tabernacles points to the time when all humanity will be given an opportunity to enter into rest. No more ethnic strife and dispossessed refugees forced to flee to foreign lands. There is a time coming when all will have their own vine and fig tree in the land of their inheritance and NONE shall make them afraid (Micah 4:4). Guaranteed peace and security!

The Reign of Solomon—a Type of the Messiah's Kingdom

The name Solomon (Heb. Shlomoh) is derived from the Hebrew word shalom, meaning peace. The early years of Solomon's reign ushered in the greatest time of peace and prosperity experienced by ancient Israel. It was a time when all of the world sent emissaries to Jerusalem seeking the God-inspired wisdom of King Solomon (2 Chron. 9:23). It was a time when the people of Israel dwelt safely at peace, "each man under his vine and his fig tree" ( 1 Kings 4:25). It was a time of unparalleled wealth and prosperity (v. 20; 2 Chron. 9:22, 25-27). In short, it was a type of the millennial reign of the Messiah.

Solomon began building the temple of God in the month Zif (Iyar or April-May) during the fourth year of his reign. Construction continued for the next seven years and finally drew to a close in the month Bul (Heshvan or October-November) during the eleventh year of his reign (1 Kings 6:37-38). In the months following, Solomon gathered into the temple all of the articles of sacred furniture that had been prepared. In the seventh month of the twelfth year of King Solomon, all Israel gathered at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (1 Kings 8:2). A great ceremony took place. The ark of the covenant was transported by the Levites from its temporary abode in the City of David into the Holy of Holies of Solomon's temple.

The religious significance of the ark was enormous. It contained the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments and was covered by the mercy seat, symbolic of the very throne of God. When the ark was placed in the temple, an awesome event occurred. Fire descended from heaven and ignited the offering on the altar and the glory of God spread like a cloud to fill the temple so that the priests were awestruck and unable to enter (2 Chron. 7:1-2). Solomon made a great prayer dedicating the temple to God, and God responded to him. This lavish Feast of Tabernacles in the time of King Solomon centered upon the dedication of the site where God had placed His name and from where the Messiah will ultimately rule all nations.

In the midst of this lavish celebration, during a time of peace and plenty, God reminded Solomon that the continuation of these blessings was dependent upon heartfelt obedience to Him. The abundance pictured by the Feast of Tabernacles can only be enjoyed by those who walk in God's ways. Again, obedience is necessary to enter into God's rest.

Two More Old Testament Festival Celebrations

In the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, two accounts of the revived Jewish community celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles are preserved. Both accounts have the twin themes of entering into God's rest and the ordering of God's government.

Just over 370 years after the dedication of Solomon's temple, the Babylonian troops of King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed it and burned Jerusalem to the ground. The Jews were taken into captivity, having been forcibly uprooted from the "rest" into which Joshua of old had led their forefathers. About 70 years after Nebuchadnezzar's first invasion of Judah in 604 B.C., King Cyrus of Persia issued a decree allowing Jewish captives to return to their homeland. Under the leadership of Zerubbabel and the High Priest Joshua, thousands of Jews left Babylon and journeyed back to Jerusalem. Within a short time of their arrival in Judah, they gathered together at Jerusalem in the seventh month to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Ezra 3:1, 4). Prior to the beginning of the Feast they dedicated an altar to God and began anew the commanded sacrifices.

A great work lay before those who had been regathered under Zerubbabel and Joshua because there was not yet a temple. The remnant that came back anticipated a restoration of God's blessing and of His government. A temple was ultimately rebuilt, but the people once again drifted from God and did not enjoy rest from their enemies round about.

More than 50 years after the dedication of Zerubbabel's temple, God stirred up a righteous priest, Ezra, and inspired him to move from Babylon to Jerusalem. He brought with him the sacred temple scrolls ("the Law of your God which is in your hand”), which had been removed to Babylon over a century earlier (Ezra 7:14).

Shortly after he had arrived, all the people were gathered together in Jerusalem on the Feast of Trumpets and Ezra read to them out of the Book of the Law (Neh. 8:1). This launched a two week period of instruction and national repentance that culminated in the most carefully observed Feast of Tabernacles since the days of Joshua the son of Nun (v. 17).

This great Festival during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah was characterized by an emphasis on God's law (v. 18): The Jews had gone into captivity because they had ceased to obey God and they were now being reminded of what God expected if they were to remain in the land.

Nehemiah and Ezra exercised God's government to reestablish the identity of God's people and to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. The fall Festival celebrations recorded in Ezra and Nehemiah are those of a people regathered out of captivity. The Feast mentioned in Ezra 3 was a time to rededicate an altar for the worship of the Creator God. Nehemiah 8 emphasized a time to be instructed in God's law. Knowledge and obedience are essential for acceptable worship of God. All of the celebrations of the Feast of Tabernacles recorded in the Old Testament are mentioned in the context of events that foreshadow aspects of the inauguration of the Messiah's Kingdom and the millennial rest that will follow.

Christ's Celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles

God's Feast of Tabernacles is not simply an Old Testament celebration; it is a New Testament celebration as well. Christ went to Jerusalem to keep this Feast. The Apostle John, writing about 30 years after the destruction of Jerusalem, emphasized throughout his gospel that Jesus and His disciples kept the same festivals that the Jews kept.

Did Jesus Christ ever give specific instructions regarding the Feast of Tabernacles? Absolutely! He told those of His family and friends, "You go up to this feast" (John 7:8). He Himself also went to the Feast. But He traveled privately, a little later than His family. He did this to avoid premature arrest or even assassination (v. 10).

About the midpoint of the Feast, Jesus appeared publicly in the temple and began to teach openly. He taught concerning God's law and the lack of real obedience being demonstrated by those who paid lip service to being the people of God. "Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law?" He asked in John 7:19. One other important point that He taught concerned judgment. "Judge with righteous judgment," He thundered at the Pharisees and other religious leaders (v. 24).

The future age pictured by the Feast of Tabernacles will be a time when righteous judgment based upon God's law will be the norm. It will be a time when "a king shall reign in righteousness and princes will rule in judgment" (Is. 32:1). Christ's message during the Feast of Tabernacles resounded with that theme. We have even more details of His teaching on the eighth day, a separate Festival immediately following the Feast of Tabernacles and called by God's people today the Last Great Day.

Christ prophesied of a time when God's Holy Spirit will be available to all who want it (John 7:37-39). John 8 recounts His dealing with the woman taken in adultery. He pointedly explained that all mankind, small and great, will likewise be brought before Him at the time pictured by the Last Great Day, the White Throne Judgment. All of these dead will have been taken in sin (in the very act!) and will be told by Christ, "Go and sin no more" (v. 11). Also on that day He healed the blind man (John 9), anticipating the time when spiritual blindness will be removed from all mankind.

Jesus Christ personally kept, and taught others to keep, the same festivals that He, the Rock of Israel (cf. 1 Cor. 10:4), had commanded ancient Israel to keep. He inspired Moses to write that these were the festivals of the Eternal, which were to be proclaimed in their seasons (Lev. 23:1-2). Speaking specifically of the Feast of Tabernacles, He stated, "You shall keep it a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month" (Lev. 23:41 ).

God's plan revolves around His festivals. When the Messiah's millennial rule begins, He will insist that all nations come up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. That very Festival pictures the time of His 1,000-year reign. Because it is so important, He will punish those unwilling to attend this holy convocation (Zech. 14:16-17).

Looking at the Scriptures, it is plain that the great historical events of God's dealings with His people occurred in the context of His festivals. The celebrations of the Feast of Tabernacles that are recorded are intended to instruct us. The hopes, dreams and aspirations of mankind through the ages have been exploited by revolutionaries and demagogues. Yet humanity's longings have largely remained unfulfilled. We are preparing to celebrate the fall festivals, which picture the time when those hopes will be truly brought to fruition.

It is important that we as God's people take seriously the command to assemble before God in the place where He has put His name to celebrate this important Festival. The Feast is not optional, nor is it simply our vacation or time off with the family. It is the time when we are commanded to come before God for seven full days in order that we might learn to rejoice before Him and to deeply honor Him forever (Deut. 14:23, 25).

We are drawing ever closer to the time when the events pictured by the Feast of Tabernacles will begin to be fulfilled. There is coming a celebration that will far outshine those of Joshua, Solomon and Ezra. There will be an awe-inspiring Feast of Tabernacles celebrated in Jerusalem to inaugurate the 1 ,000-year Kingdom of the Messiah. Let's appear before God this year in heartfelt anticipation of this great, soon-coming event.

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by Raymond F. McNair

For nearly 50 years, my family and I have eagerly looked forward to celebrating each Feast of Tabernacles. In fact, that Festival has always been the highlight of the entire year, as we looked forward to a time of rejoicing with God's people. The Feast has always been a time when we had a little extra money to enjoy some of the finer things in life-things we couldn't .normally afford at other times of the year

Through the years, we have been blessed by being able to observe the Feast in several different areas of the world—Canada, the Caribbean, Britain, France, Germany, New Zealand, South Africa, the Philippines and throughout the United States. And wherever we kept God's Feast, we found the same spirit of happiness, of caring and sharing, of genuine concern for the welfare of others. We, members of the Church of God, are pioneers—keeping a Festival that the whole world will soon observe (Zech. 14:16-19)!

"You Shall Surely Rejoice"

I know many of you have had similar exhilarating experiences while keeping the Feast. At this all-important Festival, God commands us to rejoice. "And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. You shall keep it a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year" (Lev. 23:40-41).

Furthermore, God says, "You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days… and you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your manservant and your maidservant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates.... Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice" (Deut. 16:13-15)!

This verse makes an important point—there will always be some who do not have enough at the Feast, often due to circumstances beyond their control. We must be alert to seek out these less fortunate feast-goers (i.e. orphans, widows, the poor), whom we can help rejoice with all of God's people during this happy occasion! There will always be some who need a little extra second tithe to properly rejoice during the Feast.

It is a fact that if we only seek to please ourselves while keeping God's Feast—selfishly consuming all we can for our own gratification—then true joy and happiness will surely elude us! Christ said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). If we do what we can to make others happy, this spirit of caring, sharing and of truly loving our neighbor as ourselves (Lev. 19:18) will not only prove to be a great blessing to them, but will also make us supremely happy!

Saving the Festival tithe—or second tithe (Deut. 14:22-27) is one of the best ways we can prepare to rejoice before God during the Feast. It assures that we will have sufficient means to properly observe His Feast. When we have to count our pennies to make certain we don't run out of funds before the Feast is over, this takes away from the spontaneous joy we would otherwise have.

After faithfully saving this tithe, God then tells us how we are to spend it. "And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household" (v. 26).

Why Rejoice at the feast of Tabernacles?

Our merciful Father and His Son Jesus Christ want to see all of us happy and fulfilled as we joyously observe His Festivals. But why? Why should we all strive to maintain a constant mind-set of rejoicing before God? And why should we all be careful to cultivate feelings of gratitude?

There are, in fact, many reasons to be overflowing with joy, praise and thanksgiving as we gather together at different Feast sites around the globe. For one thing, at the Feast we are able to meet other members of our spiritual family—the great Family of God. In many cases, our spiritual brothers and sisters are even closer to us than our own blood relatives! And that is as it should be—for we ought to look upon our spiritual relationships as being more important than our physical ones (Matt. 10:37). Each and every one of us in the "Body of Christ" is a member of the very "household of God" (Eph. 2:19).

Of course, it is wonderful when we have blood relatives who are also our spiritual brothers and sisters. This creates a double bond—one on the human plane, the other on the divine plane!

Another reason to rejoice at the Feast is recognizing the many physical and spiritual blessings God has showered upon us throughout the past year: You may remember the old hymn that goes something like this: "Count your many blessings. Name them one by one. Count your many blessings and see what God has done!" There is a lot of wisdom in that old hymn.

How many Westerners—Americans, Britons, Australians, etc.—realize how blessed we are to have been the recipients of the "choicest bounties of heaven," as President Abraham Lincoln once said? Do we truly realize that, in our lifetime, many of us actually throw away as much food, clothes, furniture and other material blessings as some people in the Third World will ever possess?

How many of us really grasp the fact that a large segment of this earth's nearly six billion inhabitants does not have adequate food, clothing or shelter? Many people in the Third World would be happy just to have a good meal or some decent clothes to wear. Many would be delighted to have a bicycle to use as a means of transportation.

As we celebrate God's Feast, let us cultivate an attitude of gratitude! The Word of God clearly reveals that ingratitude is a terrible sin. Seldom if ever before have any nations been so blessed as the United States, Canada, Britain and Northwestern Europe.

Even though we should learn to express gratitude at all times; surely there is no occasion when our minds should be more thankful to God for His many blessings than during the joyful Feast of Tabernacles, also called the "Feast of Ingathering" (Ex. 34:22): This Festival was always observed after the summer fruits (grapes, grains, etc.) had been gathered into the storerooms in ancient Palestine. It was naturally a joyous time of the year.

Most students of the Bible have overlooked the fact that the ancient Israelites had a much higher standard of living than many of their neighbors—just as have the peoples of America, Britain and Northwestern Europe in modern times. An Israelite judge named Gideon asked his defeated foes—the Midianite leaders Zebah and Zalmunna—"What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?" They told him that "each one [of the Israelites] resembled the son of a king" (Judges 8:18). This shows that the Israelites living in the area of Mount Tabor wore fine apparel—suitable for a prince.

Do the peoples of our Israelite-descended nations, or the "strangers" in our midst, take our tremendous blessings for granted—the blessings Almighty God promised to the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Have we really been grateful to God for these overwhelming blessings?

Notice the grave warning God inspired Moses to give to our ancient Israelite ancestors: "And it shall be when the LORD your God brings you into the land of which He swore to give your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill... vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full—then beware, lest you forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt" (Deut. 6:10-12).

Furthermore, Moses told the Israelites, "For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land... a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing.... When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you" (8:7, 9-10).

Moses solemnly warned the Israelites never to say in their hearts, "My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth" (v. 17). But, said Moses, "You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth" (v. 18).

Have some of God's very own people gotten careless by not rendering God's tithe to Him and His Work—thereby robbing Him (Mal. 3:8-12)? Also, have some been lax in saving second tithe so that they don't have the means to appear before Him and worship at the place He chooses?

Throughout the entire Old Testament, God admonishes His people to be quick to give Him praise and thanksgiving. But all too often we either forget to thank and praise God for His manifold blessings—or we give men the credit for the blessings God has bestowed upon us (James 1:17).

God sternly warns His people, "Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of all things; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck [national slavery!] until He has destroyed you" (Deut. 28:47-48). God does not treat ingratitude lightly!

Christ Taught the Importance of Giving Thanks to God

Why are so many today—even among professing Christians—so lacking in their ability to show sincere appreciation to either God or man?

How often have you helped someone by really sacrificing your time or resources, only to receive no acknowledgment at all? On the other hand, doesn't it warm your heart when someone you have been kind to, or have helped in some way, is thoughtful enough to say "thank you"? In like manner, don't you think God is highly pleased when we offer Him heartfelt praise and thanksgiving?

Unfortunately, today it seems so very few are truly thankful for the many blessings they receive. This unthankful attitude was prophesied to be one of the sins characterizing people living in "the last days" (2 Tim. 3:2). In fact, unthankfulness seems to be typical of human beings generally—in all ages!

Did Jesus think it important to give God thanks for the many blessings He gives? He certainly did! Jesus regularly thanked God for the blessings He received (Matt. 11:25; 26:27; John 6:11; 11:41 ).

He also knew what it was like to be unappreciated. While in the flesh, Christ, the Creator-Ruler of the universe, experienced firsthand the serious human weakness of ingratitude!

On one occasion, after Jesus had healed ten lepers, He noticed the ingratitude of the nine lepers who failed to thank Him for being healed. But "one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, `Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who turned to give glory to God except this foreigner?"' (Luke 17:15-l8).

The Apostle Paul admonished Christians to be careful not to use filthy or offensive language (Eph. 5:4). Instead, He said God's people should give "thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (v. 20). He summed up the Christian's duty with the following exhortation: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (I Thess. 5:16-18).

Be Thankful for Spiritual Blessings

As we have seen, we should constantly give God thanks for the physical blessings we receive. But it is even more important that we remember to thank Him for the many spiritual blessings He has granted all of us members of the Church of the Living God. We must learn to thank Him for: 1 ) the gift of life itself; and 2) His angelic protection over our lives! In this violent age when human lives are constantly in danger of being instantly snuffed out by accidents or even by homicide, do we stop to think how many times God's angels may have protected us from imminent violence or death? "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them” (Ps. 34:7)!

But most important of all, we ought to regularly thank God for the precious knowledge of His Truth—the "pearl of great price" (Matt. 13:46). Only His Truth can make us free (John 8:32)!

Are we thankful for our tremendous calling to become actual sons and daughters of the Creator God (2 Cor. 6:18)? Do we really appreciate God's offer of eternal life (John 3:16; 6:54) so that we can enjoy, and share with Him, the vast riches of His limitless universe throughout all eternity (Rev. 21:7)?

The Apostle Peter explained how great the Christian hope is. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you" ( I Peter 1:3-4).

Salvation is God's free gift to man—not something we deserve or can ever earn by our own human efforts! The Bible clearly reveals that we do not call ourselves into God's Truth—or into His divine "family" (Eph. 3:15-16). Rather, God must first open our minds (as if turning a spiritual "key" inside our heads), and only He can draw us to Himself through the power of His Holy Spirit. Christ said, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him" (John 6:44). Christ also said, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (v. 37).

We can't call ourselves—neither can we open our own minds to understand the Truth of God. We cannot, of ourselves, repent of our terrible sins. Rather, God Almighty must "grant" repentance (Acts 1 1:18).

In this day when so many in God's Church have been lied to, deceived, hurt, discouraged and scattered to the four winds—having no Church at all!—it is vital that we, the faithful "remnant" of His people, continually thank Him for not allowing us to be led astray. However, we must take nothing for granted. "You, therefore, beloved... beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked" (2 Peter 3:17). If God doesn't hold us up, we too could fall!

Brethren, how thankful are we for the wonderful Truth of God? Do we cherish it more than life itself? Do we appreciate the fact that the true Gospel is now going out again to the nations in ever-increasing power? Do we realize how blessed we are to be counted among those "elect few" who still cling tenaciously to God's Truth?

Appreciate One Another

In addition to appreciating the Truth, we all need to appreciate and love one another (John 13:35). Ministers should (and I believe do!) appreciate the brethren. The ministry should tell the brethren—the people of God's precious flock—how much they are appreciated for having remained loyal to the Great God and His Word (Rev. 3:7-8)!

Likewise, the brethren should thank God for His faithful ministers, who have steadfastly refused to bow the knee to Baal—modern "Churchianity's" false doctrines! The Bible says God's people should appreciate His true ministers who continue to protect and feed His sheep (1 Tim. 5:17-19).

We need to realize that, today, there is a great lack of respect for God's ministers—perhaps as never before in the entire history of the Church. Because some ministers turned aside from God's way, this seems to have caused many of God's people to look with suspicion, if not disdain, upon all of God's ministry.

We who are privileged to regularly attend Global Church of God Sabbath services are still able to hear God's precious Word preached. We who will attend Global Feast sites will be privileged to hear the same type of biblically sound sermons we used to hear when God's Church was still "on track." Will we cherish these inspired Feast sermons—this "meat in due season"?

How blessed we are if we are among those precious few Spirit-filled and Spirit-led brethren who continue clinging to the Truth of God—regardless of ridicule, persecution or opposition from family or friends. Unfortunately some opposition sometimes comes from those brethren who are asleep (Matt. 25:1-13)—who have allowed Satan to pull the veil of blindness over their eyes (Rev. 3:17-18). All of us ought to continually fall on our knees in humble, heartfelt gratitude, thanking Almighty God for having kept a number of faithful ministers and brethren from apostasy: It is God's doing—none of us can take the credit!

Like the grateful leper Christ healed, let's show our gratitude to all of God's people who have remained loyal to His Word—who have "hung in there" while far too many carelessly "went with the flow"!

There is another very important point which I would encourage all of us to keep in mind during the coming Feast—and at all times throughout the year. While at the Feast of Tabernacles, let us be especially respectful toward, and concerned for, the welfare of the elderly among us! In today's world, the elderly are often treated with disrespect! God is not pleased with anyone neglecting or disrespecting the aged among us. "You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God" (Lev. 19:32). Let us be very attentive to the needs of the elderly at God's Festival of Tabernacles, and He will then richly bless us for the loving care and concern that we show toward them!

As we attend the coming Feast of Tabernacles, let us all be thankful to Almighty God for His manifold blessings—both physical and spiritual! And let us begin right now to cultivate an attitude of gratitude, both toward God, and also toward our fellow man. Let each of us learn to truly REJOICE with our whole being as we assemble together with God's people during this year's Feast of Tabernacles!

David—A Man of Deep Appreciation

A Study of the life of King David, especially in the Psalms, reveals that he was exceedingly grateful (1 Chron. 29:10-19). Undoubtedly, this is one reason why the Scriptures testify that David actually thought like God did, “He [God] raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will’” (Acts 13:22).

David said, “I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name…. [Because the great God] shows mercy to His anointed, to David and his descendants forevermore” (Ps. 18:49-50).

The Psalms, many of which were written by David, are full of praise and thanksgiving to God Almighty/ “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (107:1). Again, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing” (vv. 21-22).

“I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable…. The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works” (145:1-3, 8-9).

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by Douglas S. Winnail

This year thousands of people will attend the Feast of Tabernacles at various places around the globe. They will experience the excitement of traveling to a new or exotic Feast site and perhaps visit a different culture. They will share the anticipation of seeing friends, relatives and meeting new people. Delicious meals in sumptuous settings and fun-filled recreational activities are also being anticipated by many. All this will be enhanced by the thrill and challenge of being away from work and school for at least eight days.

While all these exciting physical experiences will be part of the Feast, perhaps the most important question to consider, as we prepare for the coming Festival, will be whether or not we will have a really memorable, spiritual Feast. This coming Festival can be truly our "best Feast ever" IF we consider the following questions.

Why Are You Going?

Most who go to the Feast understand that they are following a commandment of the Almighty God. "You shall keep it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month" (Lev. 23:41).

Observing. the Feast is not an optional activity for Christians. It is a "holy convocation"—a commanded assembly—that God wants His people to attend (vv. 34-35). This exciting time of rejoicing and fellowship (Deut. 16:13-15) is to be financed by saving a special second (or Festival) tithe that is to be spent "for whatever your heart desires" as you eat and rejoice before God (Deut. 14:24-26). This almost sounds too good to be true! God actually wants you to reserve a tenth of your income to fund your Feast celebration! But why?

Surprising as it may seem, Jesus Christ urged His own family, "You go up to this feast [of Tabernacles]," which Jesus also attended Himself at great personal risk (John 7:2, 8, 10). Jesus' example and teachings are the model for brethren down through the ages to the Second Coming of Christ (1 Cor. 11:l; 1 Thess. 2:14). We are also told in the Scriptures that the entire world will eventually be keeping this fall Festival. After the return of Jesus Christ to this earth, "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" (Zech. 14:16). Again, why?

During the course of the Feast Jesus spoke to the people about the law of God (John 7:14-19), which He came to expand or magnify in meaning (Matt. 5:17; Is. 42:21). From Jesus' perspective it is not sufficient to just obey the physical letter of the law (e.g. by not actually killing or committing adultery). That is not what distinguishes the truly spiritual individual. A righteous person must also fulfill the spiritual intent of the law even so far as to the attitudes of the mind (e.g. by not even hating or lusting after someone, Matt. 5:21-28). When Jesus told the assembled multitudes at the Feast "if anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink," He was speaking of the spiritual perspectives that God grants to those He calls out of this world (John 7:37-39; 6:44). This spiritual understanding of God's way of life—His plan of salvation for all mankind and the ultimate purpose of human life-is only being made available to those God is calling at this time (1 Cor. 1:26-29; 2:6-15).

The fundamental reason we are commanded to go to the Feast each year is to review and rehearse the spiritual meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles and what it signifies in the plan of God. It foreshadows the coming millennial reign of Jesus Christ and the saints on this earth (Rev. 20:4; Matt. 19:28; Dan. 7:21, 22, 27). We attend the Feast to gain a deeper understanding of the spiritual perspectives of God's plan for humanity and to learn how to prepare for our future roles in the Kingdom of God.

The Feast is a time to exercise the fruits of God's Spirit (Gal. 5:22-25). Like an Olympic sports training camp, the Feast provides a strongly supportive atmosphere where brethren with like minds come together to eagerly impart words of encouragement. The Feast is actually an exciting foretaste of the coming Kingdom of God—the World Ahead!

It is unfortunate that most professing Christians have been conditioned by theologians to view this exciting and meaningful Festival as a hardship and burden of Old Testament biblical legalism. Yes, there may be trials and challenges associated with keeping God's Feast in Satan's world. Jesus Himself said that the road to the Kingdom and eternal life would not be easy (Matt. 7:13-14). However, the Christian reward is great (Rev. 11:15-18). The physical rejoicing at the Feast, which is visible to the world, is merely designed to picture the era of abundance that will commence with the return of Christ and the saints who will establish the Kingdom of God on this earth.

Why does God command us to go up to the Feast? Because it will be there that we can gain a deeper understanding of our promised future an become sufficiently Revelation-energized to overcome whatever stands in the way of fulfilling our incredible human potential!

What Will You Take?

As we prepare to go to the Feast we often make lists of important things to take with us—clothes, cameras, passports, swimsuits, Bibles and gifts. But these are all physical items! The most important thing we can take to the Feast—or to any Sabbath or Holy Day, for that matter—is a deep desire to grow in our spiritual understanding of God's way. Jesus told His disciples, "Blessed [fortunate, to be envied] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness" (Matt. 5:6). Righteousness is not a sanctimonious feeling but a knowledge of and obedience to God's commandments and instructions in His Word (Ps. 119:172). Jesus also urged, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matt. 6:33). This involves a knowledge of how to enter the Kingdom and what the glorified saints will do in it. Even now, as physical beings, Jesus promises to those who put spiritual growth as their primary goal in life that "all these things [whatever we need] will be added to you" (v. 33).

The Bible contains numerous examples of the importance of preparation and a focus on the spiritual dimensions of life. In the parable of the sower the most productive seeds were those that fell on "good ground"—ground that had been tilled and prepared to receive that seed (Matt. 13:8, 23). Jesus admonished Martha for being "distracted with much serving.... `You are worried and troubled about many [physical] things,'” but he commended her sister Mary who had "chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:40-42). Mary chose to listen to Christ's teaching—to learn and grow in spiritual understanding—while she had the opportunity, instead of focusing almost exclusively on physical serving as her sister Martha was doing (vv. 39, 42).

The fall Festival abounds in opportunities to serve in physical ways and enjoy physical experiences. Yet this tremendous opportunity to grow in spiritual understanding can be squandered by becoming overly immersed in the physical dimensions of the Feast. If we determine beforehand to go to the Feast with a strong desire to gain a deeper spiritual understanding, this will be the most important item we can take to this year’s Festival/

What Will You Do?

Daily schedules at the Feast can be hectic. Getting ready for services, attending activities, serving and meeting people for meals can generate a lot of stress. The normal tendency is for the physical to crowd out the spiritual. Yet the whole message of the Feast is about the restitution of the government of God on earth (Is. 2:1-3; Dan. 7:27). The peace, prosperity and harmony that will spread over the earth as a result of God's government (Is. 9:6-7) will be promoted by rulers who have learned to produce the fruits of God's Spirit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). When we get caught up in the busy round of physical activities at the Feast, these spiritual fruits can be choked and replaced by totally opposite behavior arguments, selfish actions and sometimes drunkenness and even fornication or adultery. These negative emotions and actions can obliterate the positive spiritual aspects of the Feast.

How can you remain focused on the spiritual lessons to be learned at the Feast of Tabernacles and exhibit the gracious fruits of God's Holy Spirit each day? King David, even though busy with his royal duties, began his daily routine by spending some quiet time in prayer and meditation with God. He wrote, "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up" (Ps. 5:3). Jesus Christ followed this same practice (Mark 1:35). Daniel, an important executive in the service of Babylonian and later Persian royalty, still found time to be on his knees at least three times a day (Dan. 6:10).

In order to maintain your spiritual perspective this year at the Feast, plan to get up early enough to spend some time on your knees before getting into your routine for the day. Carefully consider Galatians 5 and review the fruits of the Spirit that God is looking for. These spiritual character traits must be present in anyone who hopes to rule with Christ in the coming Kingdom!

Think about ways you can practice this positive behavior with your family and friends at the Feast. Before you go to bed at night spend a little quiet time going over the events of the day. Have you exercised the fruits of God's Spirit in the situations you encountered? How could you have done better? Such thoughts and behavior do not just appear automatically. They must be consciously nurtured and developed with the help of the Holy Spirit. This is why the Apostle Paul reminded Timothy, "Stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Tim. 1:6-7). Deliberately taking time to recharge your spiritual batteries each day will add a totally different dimension to your Feast ~(2 Cor. 4:16).

What Will You Leave Behind?

Over the years our family has taken physical items—clothes, shoes, toys—that we intentionally planned to leave behind as gifts when we visited a Feast site in a developing country. Jesus' instructions, however, focus on the spiritual things we leave behind as being the most important.

As followers of Jesus Christ we are encouraged to become "lights to the world" (Matt. 5:14-16). The example we set is the most important legacy we leave behind. If we can be patient and understanding in situations that pressure us to act otherwise, we will provide the example Jesus is looking for in potential members of His coming government. This is how we show love for our neighbors—family members, brethren and anyone else we encounter (Matt. 19:16-19). If we treat others as we would like to be treated, we are focusing in the right spiritual direction. If we make the effort to be warm and friendly, we will create an atmosphere of friendliness (Prov. 18:24). The Feast offers innumerable opportunities to interact with people—in services, at restaurants, during activities. The impressions we leave behind will be remembered, especially if we remain focused on exercising the fruits of God's Spirit.

What Will You Bring Home?

It is not uncommon when we visit a different Feast site to plan to bring back a souvenir as a physical reminder of the place we have visited. However, why not plan to bring back something of real spiritual value from the Feast? Such valuable spiritual nuggets will come from the messages you will hear and the experiences you have at the Feast.

Why not buy a new notebook large enough for all your next year's sermon notes before you go to the Feast? Spend a little time each day, either in the morning or in the evening, reviewing each message—highlighting the main points. On a separate page make a list of important lessons that you are learning from the sermons and personal Feast experiences. Clearly locate these major points at a summary section in the front of your notebook for 1996-1997's sermons. This way you will be able to review this vital information throughout the year. You will be creating a valuable tool that will help you prepare to function effectively in the Kingdom of God. This will help you keep focused for the year ahead on the spiritual understanding you gained during the Feast.

You will also have another unique opportunity at the Feast. This is the chance to gain a fresh perspective on your life. Take the opportunity while you are in this spiritually supercharged atmosphere to think about where you are heading and how you are living your life. "Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established" (Prov. 4:26).

Look over your priorities and your goals. How do they fit with God's overall plan for mankind? Are your goals and priorities moving you toward, or away from, the Kingdom of God? Are the things that occupy your mind and fill your time primarily physical or are there spiritual dimensions? While you are at the Feast, away from the pressures of home, school and job, meditate on where you are going and how you are going to get there. Think about how you can harmonize the spiritual perspectives you are gaining at the Feast with the physical activities in your life. Why not plan to bring a fresh spiritual perspective home from this year's Feast? An hour of quiet, thoughtful, prayerful meditation at the Feast could change your life.

The Feast of Tabernacles is one of the key events in God's plan. It pictures a time when Jesus Christ and the saints restore the government of God to the earth. This will be a new beginning for the entire world. The Bible plainly reveals that God intends for us to enjoy the physical experiences at the Feast. However, the physical sights, sounds, tastes and smells are only temporary. The real lessons of the Feast are spiritual and eternal. If you maintain your spiritual focus during the Feast, this next Festival could become a major turning point in your life. Why not think about why you are going, what you will take, what you will do, what you will leave behind, and what you will bring home—from a spiritual perspective? It could make this coming Festival your most memorable ever!