Each year God gives us the Feast of Tabernacles to sharpen our vision of what life will be like after Jesus Christ returns to Earth.
God the Father gave a similar vision to Peter, James and John while His Son walked this Earth: “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him” (Matthew 17:1-3). These three men received an astounding look at Christ in His future glory. These ordinary men were given an extraordinary look into Christ’s magnificent Kingdom. They had the opportunity to view Moses and Elijah, who were still in their graves at the time, as resurrected saints.
Peter was rapt with the vision—it was incredibly real to him. “Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias” (verse 4). Peter recognized the great value in seeing this vision. The Greek word for good can mean valuable. Peter understood that they were experiencing something very important. They were witnessing the much-prophesied and hoped-for future of Israel—the Kingdom of God. Could it be that he wanted this vision to last a while? He may have believed that the Kingdom had finally come. He wanted all those represented to have a tent. It has been speculated for years that this vision actually took place either during or very close to the Feast of Tabernacles. If this is true, then we can safely speculate that Peter certainly wanted to keep the Feast with these great personalities.
Of course the Kingdom had not arrived. While Peter was still speaking, God interrupted him and thundered out, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (verse 5). This vision quickly ended, and the disciples became afraid. Peter’s boldness quickly fled after hearing God’s booming voice. God was clear in His communication: He was very pleased with Jesus Christ and expected the disciples to hear and understand Him.
This vision had incredible impact on the disciples. They got excited. Their minds were racing with the experience. Christ told them to keep it all very confidential at that time. The vision brought up questions concerning the Kingdom. Peter and the others asked, “Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?” (verse 10). This question led to the revelation of one of the most important truths for God’s Church in this end time. Christ revealed that a man, in the spirit and power of Elijah, would come on the scene in the end time and restore all things. The knowledge concerning Herbert W. Armstrong’s role as the end-time Elijah is crucial to our entrance into the Kingdom.
Seeing the Vision Today
The Feast of Tabernacles is quickly approaching. God desires to give us a vision of Christ’s magnificent Kingdom as well. How does God give us a vision today? We look into the Kingdom through the pages of our Bibles. We experience the coming Kingdom through attending the Feast of Tabernacles. For eight days, God the Father and Jesus Christ work to give us a vision of the awesome and glorious coming Kingdom of God. Full participation at the Feast—attending each service and engaging in fellowship during each planned event—helps make the vision sharp and clear.
God’s firstfruits are ordinary people with an extraordinary calling. Moses and Elijah have qualified for exalted positions in Christ’s Kingdom. Soon these two men will be resurrected to glory, as Peter, James and John saw in their vision. God’s people are now in the qualifying process. When they qualify, they too will share incredible glory. Moses and Elijah will work directly with Jesus Christ. Although the specific details for their individual roles have not yet been revealed, the broad overview of these coming jobs has been revealed. What is this future role? “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:5-6). God’s called-out ones have already been made kings and priests in the Kingdom.
How real is this vision for us? How clearly do we see this fact? Are we excited about it? Are our minds racing with the dizzying expectations of our astonishing future? Do we meditate on what our future life will be like living as a king-priest? God saw fit to repeat this fact later in the book of Revelation. “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10). God repeated the news of our incredible future: It is a vibrant, living reality—we are already king-priests!
Sadly, this present life can blur our vision of the future. Our jobs, our families, our trials and tests often distract us from remembering who and what we really are: king-priests. But when we attend the Feast, God jars us out of our spiritual ruts and lethargy. When we attend the Feast, we should leave our problems, tests and trials behind and focus on the messages God has prepared for us.
God told Peter, James and John to hear Christ. He tells us the same today! How does Christ speak to us at the Feast? We must view each festival message as specially prepared for us by God. We should go to the Feast expecting to be taught, inspired, encouraged and corrected.
Also during the Feast, we should make every effort to live as kings and priests even more. Doing this will sharpen our picture of the Kingdom.
Living the Vision as Kings
The ultimate goal of true Christians is to rule the Earth and eventually the universe with Jesus Christ. This great mystery is hidden from professing Christians today. Christ promised, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Revelation 3:21). Sharing Christ’s throne means sharing the rulership. Revelation 5:10 shows that we will reign on Earth. In other words, we won’t be on some cloud in heaven! This deceived world cannot associate a throne and ruling with religion. Yet this is the essence of Christ’s gospel.
The Prophet Daniel recorded the fantastic truth about our future rule with Christ: “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him” (Daniel 7:27). The rulership we will possess will be in an everlasting Kingdom.
The life God has planned for us does not involve strolling around heaven all day. Our future is to make this Earth a happy, peaceful, beautiful and productive place as kings. After more than 1,000 years of this peace, we will then move out and rule the universe. At this Feast, we must strive to get this fact clear in our minds. The men and women who overcome will be given enormous opportunity of ruling all nations, and then the universe, under the personal direction of Jesus Christ.
So, how do we live as kings during the Feast? We live as kings by showing that we are in submission to the government of God. The Bible is replete with information about kings and ruling. God has always chosen very capable men. Abraham, Moses, Joshua and David were men of great ability. However, they achieved success through a more noble quality. All of these men were deeply surrendered to God’s government.
God will never use us as kings unless we are surrendered to Him. “Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens” (Exodus 18:21). During the Feast, we have many opportunities to show God that we are surrendered to Him and His government.
Remember, God’s government is based on His law, which is a law of love. “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:8-10). We show God that we are surrendered to His government by obeying the Ten Commandments.
Our Violent World
Certainly at the Feast, God expects us to do some serious thinking. Our world today is a very violent place. Why? Mr. Armstrong taught that there is a cause for every effect. There are many people today who would like to stop all of the violence—they just don’t know how. Do you? Why is our world so violent? What is the cause? What is the solution?
Our world is a dangerous and tragic place because it is full of sin, which is rebellion against God’s law (1 John 3:4). We are being called to change the world. That change will come through leaders who know how to administer God’s law. We are learning to administer the law by keeping the law! While at the Feast, we must put God’s law into action. Our festival meeting locations should be the most happy, exciting and productive places on Earth. This can only be accomplished if all of God’s people are living according to the law. Obeying God’s law is government in action. How can we ever expect to rule with Christ if we cannot obey the law now? At the Feast we must endeavor to love God and our brethren more. We should make sure that we are striving to obey all of the Ten Commandments.
One part of showing love during the Feast is following all of the directions and instructions given during the Feast. Remember this scripture: “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33). Our Feast sites should not be in confusion. They should set an example for this world. Our festival locations should be peaceful, organized places. Make it your personal goal to obey all the instructions of the parking attendants, ushers, security personnel, mothers’ and fathers’ room attendants, deacons and ministers.
Living the Vision as Priests
While we attend the Feast, we must also be mindful that we are priests of God. What are the primary duties of priests? Anciently, the priests were responsible for ensuring proper worship of God and serving the needs of the people. That is still our job today. It will be our job in the near future. Paul wrote the Hebrews, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:15-16). Paul showed true Christians that we are to offer the sacrifice of worship and perform the sacrifice of doing good to others continually. We cannot do it just one day, or eight days. We must learn to live as priests forever! As Paul emphasizes, these sacrifices please God.
As we attend the Feast this year, we need to be sure that we are worshiping God. The Feast is a special time of worship. “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:16). During Christ’s reign, all the nations will come up to Jerusalem to worship God. In our time, we have the special opportunity to do this in advance of the whole world.
No other church on Earth today is properly worshiping God. “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). Christ states here very clearly that God must be worshiped in spirit and in truth. Only the Philadelphia Church of God has the full truth of God today. While we attend the Feast, we definitely have this to be thankful for.
This Feast, be at every service. Reflect on God’s great name and His wonderful works toward us. Be sure to give Him thanks for His manifold goodness to the Church and to us as individuals. When we do this, we properly worship God.
A Time for Serving
Let’s be sure to fully serve others at the Feast. God intended the Feast of Tabernacles to be the happiest time of the year. God instituted the second tithe system to provide financially for our needs while at the Feast. “Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. … And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household” (Deuteronomy 14:22-23, 26). God expects us to rejoice at the Feast. If we save our full second tithe, then we truly can rejoice. Our rejoicing will be marred if we have not saved a full second tithe.
God also expects our households to rejoice. Sharing our second tithe with our wives and our children will add to their personal happiness during the Feast. Including our family in Feast travel plans and motel selections helps everyone happily anticipate the Feast. Those who are financially full at the Feast are also expected to help others during the Feast (e.g., Deuteronomy 14:27-29). Most of our financial support for others comes through the second tithe assistance program. Sending in a tithe of your second tithe and any excess second tithe helps defray the costs of the Feast site and assists those truly needy to attend the Feast. Generally, this is done several months before the Feast. Being able to contribute in this fashion is a great service.
Our serving should not stop there. During the Feast, we also should be on the lookout to serve the needs of others. Filling a Feast job assignment is a very necessary service. If you were not assigned a job prior to the Feast, be assured there is still work to be done. When a need arises, be sure to volunteer if you are physically able.
Also be on the watch for widows, single mothers with children, and others who may need assistance. James wrote, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). The Feast maintains a hectic pace. Sometimes we can neglect others when schedules get pushed. All desire to enjoy the activities. There will be some who will need transportation or help with small children. Some young boys will be at the Feast without fathers. Some widows will need a friend or a companion to attend an activity with. Some elderly may need assistance to attend an activity.
When planning your family’s activities, include someone who either needs transportation or a friend to go with. It is a fantastic service to include single-parent families in activities with two-parent families. Serving others at the Feast is certainly a sacrifice, but it pleases God when we work to make sure that all are included.
The Feast reminds us of the time when the Family, or Kingdom, of God will take over the rule of this Earth. The Feast is God Family time. God gives us this time so we can prepare for the wonderful World Tomorrow. The hope of this dying world is focused on what happens at the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus Christ has already made us kings and priests for the World Tomorrow. We must live as king-priests today in order to take our place in the World Tomorrow.
Let’s all go to this Feast with the resolve to obey, worship and serve. If we do this, our vision of the future will be much clearer. Remember, God wants to give us a vision this Feast. We must open our eyes, hearts and minds to experience it. Have a great Feast!