This will be the last Update and Editorial prior to the Feast of Tabernacles, which begins on Wednesday evening, the 22nd of September. You will receive it just prior to the Day of Atonement, which pictures the putting away of Satan as the current god of this world. With the devil’s banishment, man will be given the opportunity to be at-one with God; to draw closer to Him; and to develop a one-on-one relationship with Him. Following the Day of Atonement, we will be celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles, which pictures the rule of Christ and His saints on and over this earth for a thousand years.
We are sure that most of you are looking forward to the Feast as a time for renewed fellowship. This is especially important for those of us who are scattered and do not have a group to meet with, but only the internet and the use of the chat line to communicate with one another prior to or after the broadcast of Sabbath services. While these live broadcasts are extremely helpful for those of us who cannot attend in person, they must never be viewed as an alternative when we could attend in person. However, all of us who are scattered should attend the Feast of Tabernacles in person, barring serious health or other legitimate reasons which would prevent us from doing so.
The Feast of Tabernacles is a time of rejoicing, both in the physical and spiritual sense. As we see that the world conditions around us are getting worse and worse, it appears that the time of the great tribulation is not that many years away. We cannot and do not set dates; yet, we are admonished to watch and to keep an eye on trends and the ongoing prophetic fulfillment of prophecy. The good news is that Christ will return to cut short the great tribulation and to usher in and establish the Kingdom of God here on earth.
It would be wise to utilize this coming festival to re-charge our spiritual tanks, since there is a considerable length of time, up to six months, until the Spring Holy Day season. We should also take time and make every effort to strengthen our spiritual ties which each other, since some of us only see each other once a year at the Feast.
We are told that in the Millennium, the nations will keep this Festival. They will eventually learn the benefit for so doing. We, on the other hand, have the opportunity to keep it now and to enjoy the great blessings that come with obedience.
So if there is anything we could admonish you to do, it would be to attend the Feast; travel safely; pray for the safety of the ministry and the brethren as they travel; have a tremendously inspiring Feast; rejoice before our God and Lord Jesus Christ; and to look forward to the time when the real meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles will be fulfilled and when we can teach the world to follow the example that we are already living at the present time.
