At this season of the year it has become the custom in this land to set aside a certain day to be devoted to public and private thanksgiving. An occasion for the recognition of Him who “maketh His sun to shine on the evil and good and sendeth His rain on the just and the unjust.”
It is an institution similar to that which Jehovah commanded Israel to observe in remembrance of all Deity’s bountiful blessings and providence.
The original thanksgiving feast was the Jewish feast of tabernacles. A divinely instituted festival on which all male Israelites were obliged to appear before the Lord to recognize and honor Him as the God who had preserved and cared for them in their journey through the wilderness.
It was celebrated in the Autumn of each year after the gathering of their harvests of grain, fruits and provisions.
It was truly a fitting time to express their gratitude and thankfulness. Of the three great annual feasts it was the last, most elaborate and most joyous; for we read that ”he who had not seen the rejoicing at the feast of tabernacles had not seen much joy.” Coming at the end of the harvest labors it would indeed he a time for rejoicing, for all their corn, oil, fruits, etc., were then all safely stored away. It offered an excellent occasion for the recognition of Him who had provided so abundantly for their material welfare.
So much for the past; to say it was a wise institution is to say the least; for it was morally beneficial and physically beneficial. It kept the nation united, it kept them in close communion with their God and afforded a regular and permanent opportunity for the expression of national gratitude.
It gave the Israelites individually a week of rest from the monotony of their labors; a week of joyous, refreshing outdoor life in the balmy Syrian climate of that season. Yet it was all but a pattern, like the whole Mosaic system of feasts, fasts and offerings; a mere shadow of a far grander and more joyous thanksgiving festival. This is evident from the words of the prophet Zechariah, 14th Chapter 16th Verse.
The greatest thanksgiving feast the world has ever seen will then be celebrated. When we examine the details of the feast of tabernacles as given in Leviticus 23, 34-43, we find a depth of meaning, a mine of wisdom—for He who organized this feast and arranged all its minute details had in mind the fulfillment of all the good of which that feast was but a shadow.
When we read in Numbers 29 of the order and number of the sacrifiees offered during this festival there is a significant peculiarity. On the opening day of the feast there were thirty sacrifices (besides all the regular offerings); there were thirteen bullocks, two rams, fourteen, lambs, one goat; on the second day twelve bullocks and one less each day till the eighth day; if we accept the bullocks to typify human strength, human power and might, we can readily perceive that, in accordance with the divine purpose, during the Millennial age this will all be fulfilled by the gradual suppression and final extinction of human might, power and government due to the rise and spread of the mustard seed kingdom of God. The pride and power of all nations shall eventually be brought low. The judgement of Jehovah will bring them down to their knees; till they lick the very dust.
The sacrifices on the final day having been reduced to one each, except the lambs, which remain seven in number; a perfect number, representing the meekness, harmlessness and humility of the saints in their perfect and completed number. The solemn assembly and holy convocation on the eighth and final day of the feast, the dwindling and vanishing of the sacrifices may be taken to typify the crowning and final feast that will mark the close of the Millennial age when all, whose names are not written in the book of life are given over to the second death and there remains none upon earth but the innumerable multitude of those who are henceforth to be the happy immortal occupants of this glorified planet forever.
If we consider other details, they are equally significant; for they all have a deeper meaning than a mere memorial of the past. We read of the booths, which the Israelites dwelt in during this feast, were, constructed of the branches of palm trees, boughs of thick trees and willows of the brook, decorated with the fruits of goodly trees. We can readily acknowledge in the palm branches an emblem of victory; so they who have overcome this world and have gained the great victory shall in the Millennial age fulfill the part of evergreen (immortal) palm branches; glorious, eternal emblems of their victory over death.
The prophet Isaiah (61:3) speaking of the saints in their immortal state says they shall be called “trees of righteousness.” Psalms 1:3 though descriptive of the god-l in this life, when applied to the future life it has a deeper meaning. Similar words in Rev. 32:1, 2. Where the whole united body of Christ constitute in symbol a beneficent, miraculous tree of life, each leaf thereof a symbol of the glorified, spirit-endowed saints who minister to the were of the world, healing them of their moral and physical infirmities.
These are the goodly trees, the palm branches who will have a guiding and protecting influence over the earth’s inhabitants. In their mission among the nations as kings and priests the redeemed shall perform a miraculous work, they shall act the part of teachers, instructors of divine wisdom, physicians able to heal and cure, morally and physically; judges, who shall execute righteous laws with honesty and equity. But before they became strong, goodly palm trees they were willows of the brook. Before they attained unto that high position they had to drink of the brook by the way—like the willows used by the Israelites. They followed in the steps of their Captain, of whom the Psalmist (110:7 ) says, -He shall drink of the brook, therefore He shall be exalted.” He was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief–a weeping willow.
The natural features of the willow are strikingly similar to the meek humble. contrite spirit of Our Saviour. He was obedient unto death, therefore he was crowned with glory and power. So they who would attain to the position of ruling and reigning with Christ must first suffer with patience and finally over come. “To him that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end, him will I give power over the nations.” “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I overcame and sat down with my Father in His throne.”
When we picture the conditions that will then exist, will there ever be a time when the world will have greater reason for universal thanksgiving. The kingdom of God will then have been established, Christ and his saints will be reigning triumphant over all nations. They who remain of the nations after Armageddon, after the judgment in Jehoshaphat, after the angels have thrust in their sickle and reaped the harvest of the world and the Almighty has unbared His arm in the sight of all nations, after all this time of trouble the world will surely be in a submissive mood, ready to come worship and recognize Him as the God of heaven and earth.
It is well for us to remember that this feast of the tabernacle is to be re-instituted in the kingdom and that they of the nations who will not participate therein shall be visited by the severest of punishments. We know from Zechariah and other prophets that many will come and go up to worship the King and live in accord with His laws. It will be a time of rejoicing truly; the saints will have then passed through their wilderness of sin, the nations will have passed through their sea of affliction, the Jews also will have occasion for rejoicing (Hosea 12: 9-10) they will have found and recognized their long looked for Messiah and as they assembled after the re-building of Jerusalem under Nehemiah to express their gratitude and thankfulness by keeping again the feast of tabernacles, so shall they re-assemble in booths to keep again the feast; thus expressing their joy and gladness at the re-building again of a grander temple—-a house of prayer for all nations. For according to the plans and specifications of Ezekiel there will be ample provision for the observance of this festival in the future age (45:25 Verse). In Isaiah 25:6-9 is a general reference to the feast of rejoicing the Lord will pare for all nations. As Israel rejoiced and offered thanks for their deliverance from Egyptian bondage and darkness so the people of that enlightened future age shall look back and realize the kind of bondage they have been delivered from. The vail now spread over all nations shall then be lifted, Pagan, Papal and Protestant superstitions will then be a thing of the past. This age of spiritual darkness will then be superseded by an age of light and truth. Can we not realize from all this the beauty of Christ’s re mark: “Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.” Also his promise, “To those who continue with me in my temptations I appoint you a kingdom, as my Father has appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.”
To eat and drink in the company of Christ in his kingdom may not express the highest hopes and desires of we mortals who look upon eating and drinking as a troublesome necessity; yet among men there is no better evidence of friendship, hospitality and good-will, than is shown when men assemble to eat and drink in each others company. Picture then how enjoyable it will be to have the company of immortal guests; to associate with the prophets and patriarchs of old, with the righteous of all ages, to witness, the presence of the Saviour in all His glory. These are the friendships we hope to enjoy, this is the companionship we hope to share. As eternal life is infinitely greater than mortal life, so we may reasonably expect the pleasure of social intercourse and satisfaction derived from eating and drinking with Christ and the saints in the kingdom to be infinitely more enjoyable. If worthy, we shall -sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Matthew 8-11. The mere thought of association with those worthy characters should exceed our highest expectations. Then will the feast of tabernacles in all its details be fulfilled; then throughout the whole glorified earth shall “praise he found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.” We behold today a troubled world and apparently little reason for thanksgiving, yet they who have their hopes centered on the return of the Master know that this time of trouble is to usher in a day of peace and that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in those that love his appearing.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One