The eighth day of the feast of Tabernacles is symbolic of the "first day" of eternity. After we have arrived at the perfect rest of God, as portrayed by the first seven days of Tabernacles, we have fulfilled a complete cycle, a "week" in which the total work of redemption has been accomplished in us.

On the "sixth day," so to speak, the Day of Atonement, we have been reconciled to God and created in the image of God. On the "seventh day" we have found rest in God and God has found rest in us—the result of our reconciliation to God and our being created in His image. The sin which causes unrest has been rendered powerless and removed from our personality by the Holy Spirit.

But now we have come to the eighth day, the first day of the week that has no end. The new week is eternity, and the eighth day of the feast of Tabernacles signifies the beginning of our eternal priestly service to God Almighty, our eternal reign as kings and priests over the nations of the earth.

One of the high points of the eight-day celebration of Tabernacles occurred as a priest brought water in golden vessels from the Pool of Siloam and the water was poured into a basin on the Altar of Burnt Offering. On the eighth day trumpets were blown during the ceremony and Isaiah 12:3 was sung: "with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation."

The Israelites were beside themselves with jubilation on this occasion. During the celebration, Jesus stood in the midst and cried: "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

The Jews were taken up with their joy and thankfulness over the abundance of the harvest, were praying for and expecting the soon coming of the fall rains that would soften the sun-baked clods so seed could be sown, and were ecstatic over the idea of the Glory of God and their special relationship to Him.

Jesus of Nazareth was exulting because of a circumstance unrealized as yet. In prophetic vision He saw the throne of the Almighty eternally established in Himself and His Wife, and the Holy Spirit of God issuing as a fathomless, uncrossable river, bringing life and healing to all who would drink.

Coming out from the Throne of God and of the Lamb, which is to say out from the hearts of the saints, will be the River of Life that nourishes the peoples of the earth.

And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. (Ezekiel 47:9)

The "fish" are the multitudes of people converted by the Glory of God that will come upon the Church (John 17:21).

To be continued.