The feast of Tabernacles is celebrated for seven days (15-21 Tishri), but the
reality is that there are eight days,
because there is an extra feast day.
(Lev. 23:36) For seven days
you shall present food offerings to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall
hold a holy convocation and present a food offering to the LORD. It is a
solemn assembly; you shall not do any ordinary work.
The eighth day is
a holy convocation. This last day is connected with Tabernacles, but it is assigned
separately. In Hebrew it is known as Shemini Atzeret (lit. eighth final),
and it marks the conclusion of Sukkot.
In the Bible, the number 7 represents perfection and
something complete. The number 8 represents a new beginning.
7 Days and
Millenniums
A week has 7 days. It represents a complete time. The Bible
explains that a day also represents a millennium.
(Psalms 90:4) For a thousand
years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the
night.
(II Peter 3:8) But do not
overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand
years, and a thousand years as one day.
The seventh millennium is the Messianic Era, the thousand
years on which the Lord Jesus will reign over all the earth in perfect peace.
This millennium is equivalent to the day of rest (Shabbat), which is on the
seventh day.
The eighth day of Sukkot represents a new beginning.
Prophetically speaking, it represents the time that will come after the Messianic
millennium, with a new earth and a new heaven. It is a new beginning for the
relationship man has with God, after his complete redemption and restoration.
(Isaiah 65:17-19) For behold, I
create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be
remembered or come into mind. (18) But be glad and rejoice forever in that
which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to
be a gladness. (19) I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no
more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.
(Revelation 21:1-5) Then I saw a
new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed
away, and the sea was no more. (2) And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her
husband. (3) And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the
dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will
be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. (4) He
will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither
shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things
have passed away.” (5) And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am
making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are
trustworthy and true.”
(II Peter 3:13-14) But according
to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which
righteousness dwells. (14) Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these,
be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
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