The Importance of Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, the Feast of Ingathering, is the feast that the Jewish people celebrate every year in the fall, marking the end of the harvest time and representing the shadow of something yet to come. What could it be? Of the three great feasts, this feast has yet to find its greater fulfillment under or in the New Covenant, but it is coming. It is the final harvest of souls, the great ingathering.

Yes, we are right at the door, at the beginning of the greatest global harvest the world has ever seen.

Five Major Points Concerning Sukkot

1. The word Sukkot is plural for sukkah, referring to a booth or hut. Sukkah stems from the Hebrew root sakak, meaning to cover over or protect. During the Feast of Sukkot, the Jewish people live in booths (sukkot) for seven days remembering God’s protective covering and provision during Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness and celebrating His goodness (see Leviticus 23:42-43).
2. Sukkot is the only mo’ed (feast) during which God commands His people to rejoice (see Leviticus 23:40; Deuteronomy 16:14). Recall that a mo’ed is a set time to meet with Him. This means our King wants to rejoice with us at Sukkot—even during a time of intense global shaking.
3. To celebrate Sukkot, Leviticus 23:40 says, “take choice fruits from trees, palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the Lord for seven days.” Different Jewish traditions interpret these natural elements differently. But by any interpretation, God wants us to see the fruit of the land as a prophetic visual reminder of all He has provided for us in His covenant love. Even in uncertain times, we can rejoice that He is with us as the God who provides (see Genesis 22:14).
4. On Hoshana Raba, a climactic ceremony took place during the time of the Temple. In a type of prophetic intercessory act, Israel’s priests would draw water from the Pool of Siloam. Then they carefully poured it out praying for rain for the next year’s harvest. Therefore it was on Hoshana Raba that according to John 7:37-38, Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”
5. Sukkot is called the Feast of Final Ingathering (Chag HaAsif) in Exodus 23:16 and 34:22. An aspect of the prophetic fulfillment of Sukkot involves a great and final ingathering, a spiritual harvest of souls, in connection with Yeshua’s return. Then He will tabernacle among us in unimaginable glory in the Messianic Age—and forever. Rejoice! Yes, let us rejoice!

It’s Time for the Final Feast to be Fulfilled!

There is a divine relationship between the mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Second Coming of the Messiah through faith and prayer, evangelism, acts of compassion, and moving in the power of the Holy Spirit. We each have a part to play that only we can do in this final great harvest.

Yes, we must partner together to see the billion-soul harvest, especially of youth. We must pray to the Lord of the harvest that He thrusts forth laborers into His great end-time field. It’s time for the Final Great Feast to find it’s fulfillment. Therefore the Feast of Sukkot of Tabernacles is so important; let’s pray unto that end!

A Laborer in the Field!

James W. Goll

This article is adapted from author and prayer leader, Sandra Teplinsky of Light of Zion. The original article is titled 10 Fascinating Facts about Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). You may visit their website at ligthofzion.org to view the full article or to sign up for their mail list.

James W. Goll

Scripture Based Prayer

A Prayer for the Great Hope

Father, we declare that it is a great honor and privilege to live in these days that are like none other, yet were spoken of by the holy prophets of old. So pour out Your Spirit on all people. Release dreams, visions, and revelations. Join the generations for such a time as this. Pierce the Islamic veil. Convict us of our idols. Cleanse our house. Restore Your house with fire, power, character, and integrity. We declare that the mystery and the destiny of Israel ultimately is about the great hope, the Second Coming of the Messiah.

We do come into agreement with Your great plan for Israel, the Middle East, and all the nations of the earth. We lift our hearts to You, our Lord and our King, and we cry out together. The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” Even so, Prince of Peace, come quickly. Lord Jesus, come for Your honor and for Your glory and for the great global end-time harvest, when You, Jesus, will receive the reward of Your sufferings. Amen and Amen.