Brothers and sisters, I am writing this blog shortly before sundown on Friday afternoon. When the sun sets here in Jerusalem, it will bring in the Biblical Feast of Succot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles. This Feast is one of the "moadim" or "appointed times" which God gives us in the Bible, specifically Leviticus 23:33-43.
If you haven't read the entire chapter 23 of Leviticus recently, I encourage you to do so. It'll change your life.
But in this blog, I want to talk about a different passage of Scripture that mentions the Feast of Tabernacles, and that's Zechariah 14:16-17
"And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain."
This passage is referring to the order Jesus will impose on the world during His Millennial Kingdom, after He returns to this Earth for His Second Advent. At that time, the nations of the world will be commanded to come up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. It will not just be a commandment for Jewish people; it will be a commandment for everyone.
As readers of this blog probably know, for many years now there has been a Christian Feast of Tabernacles celebration in Jerusalem, mostly attended by people who want to get a head start on obeying this commandment. The first one was at Christ Church in Jerusalem's Old City in 1979. I am reliably informed by people who attended this event that the number of people who were there was just over 1,000, and in the years since, it has grown significantly.
In the last 6 years or so, since the COVID pandemic and then the Swords of Iron War, those numbers went back down quite a bit because airline tickets became very expensive and some people were also worried about their safety. But representatives from dozens of countries around the world and almost all "nations" of the earth (the words "country" and "nation" don't mean exactly the same thing, in case no one ever explained that to you) will be here in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, in obedience with God's Word.
Contrast that with what happened at the United Nations in New York City on Thursday afternoon, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the stage to address the UN General Assembly meeting. Representatives of 77 countries, and I would imagine every nation of the earth, got up and walked out of the chamber before he even started speaking. It was an act of diplomatic theater, and it's something that happens almost every year at the UNGA. But this was the largest number of diplomats to ever walk out on Bibi's speech, and they knew EXACTLY what message their walkout sends to the rest of "the nations" of this world, especially when you contrast it with the respectful silence with which almost all of them listened to the Turkish President while he was using his speech to condemn Israel, not to mention the standing ovation they gave following the address of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
All of this is indicative of how little respect there is among "the nations" of this world for Israel, and by extension to God that chose the Jewish People and established the nation of Israel.
It makes me think of Psalm 2;
Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.”
“I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”
Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him."
Brothers and sisters, please hear me.
The nations of this world are making some very bad decisions these days. Many of them are "coming against Jerusalem" and against the Anointed One of God although most of them probably don't make the connection because they're too lazy to read the material or else they read it through the prism of Replacement Theology or some other lie from the Pitt of Hell.
A tiny remnant of Bible-Believing Christians is making a different choice, and although there might be some flaws in how some of them are doing it, at least they are obeying their King instead of shamelessly rebelling against him.
If you're reading this blog, you're probably among those who would not have walked out of Bibi's speech at the UNGA.
You are probably among those who are standing with Israel and the Jewish People in this very difficult season of history. You might even be among those who are getting a head start on obeying the command from Zechariah 14:16-17. If you are, I don't want to thank you, I want you to thank yourselves. By showing up for God's will, His plans and purposes, you are making a choice that is as brave as it is correct. I know it is not an easy choice, and I have personally lost friends who I knew since childhood over the last three years that Israel has been in the headlines more than it has at any time in history, and usually not being given fair, much less friendly, coverage.
As the time draws near for the Second Advent of Yeshua (Jesus) to this world (He is prophesied to arrive on the Mount of Olives, just a down the road a bit from where I'm sitting right now) the nations will rage more and more. They will continue to shake their fists at God, and His Anointed, and the Nation He has chosen, until He returns. All we can do is pray for those who God has put on our hearts to make the right choice, and be brave ourselves and above all, remember to look up, for our redemption is coming soon.