We have mentioned that the feast of Tabernacles parallels the new heaven and earth rule of Christ in that each is associated with the maturing of all crops sown in the land of promise. We have discussed the fact that both the feast of Tabernacles and the new heaven and earth rule of Christ have to do with the "tabernacling" of God with mankind through His Church. The thought has been presented that the water of life, with the Tree of Life growing along its banks, is also part of the feast of Tabernacles and of the new heaven and earth.

The role of priestly service to God was emphasized in the annual dwelling in booths of the Israelite families. The perfection of priestly service will occur when "his servants shall serve him" in the new Jerusalem.

Tabernacles, and the Law of God

There is yet another area of salvation common to the feast of Tabernacles and the new heaven and earth reign of Christ. The area is that of the Law of God. The feast of Tabernacles is associated with the formal, oral reading of the Law to every Israelite, from the youngest to the oldest, and to the non-Israelite sojourning among them at the time.

And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the elders of Israel. And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, When all Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it. (Deuteronomy 31:9-13)

Israel was to assemble "in the place that he shall choose," that is, in the place that God shall choose. The place that God has chosen for the revealing of the perfect expression of His Law is the new Jerusalem on the new earth. The holiness of the holy city is the perfect expression and fruition of God's Law. The beauty of the holy city is the beauty of holiness.

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. (Psalms 96:9)

Every man, woman, boy, and girl of Israel was to hear the Law, to learn the Law, to fear the Lord, and to obey the Law. Also, the "stranger that is in thy gates," typical of the nations of the earth, must understand and act in accordance with the holiness of the Lord God of Israel.

To be continued.