Weekly Update: Feast of Tabernacles

We are witnessing today a massive shaking of the nations, that is also connected to the ingathering of the Jewish people out of the nations back to the land of their forefathers. It points also the the speedy coming of Messiah.

This week, the war in Ukraine entered a new phase. Russia has been bombing and targeting civilians throughout Ukraine. We have seen shocking scenes of carnage and terror. Amongst the many victims, Jews have been fleeing cities and towns throughout the country, and some are making their way – in fear and trembling – to Israel. It is our privilege – and duty – as gentile Christians for Israel to help them.

Putin has threatened to use nuclear force.

Iran in the meantime is moving ahead to produce nuclear weapons, and remains committed to the destruction of Israel.

Yet the regime in Tehran is being challenged, as the protests continue throughout the land.

Israel is close to closing a deal, via the USA, with Lebanon to settle the dispute about the maritime boundary. But Lebanon is extremely unstable – politically and economically. It is likely Hezbollah, which is Iran’s main proxy in the region, will also benefit from the deal.

Further, this week, tensions increased in Judea and Samaria (the “West Bank”), as Israel has been trying to root out terror cells in cities like Jenin and Nablus.

There can be no doubt we are living in prophetic times.

In contrast to these worldly affairs, God’s purposes remain certain. He is bringing His people home. This week, the Jewish people celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. This is one of the three feasts of the Lord that Israel has been commanded to keep.

The festival of Sukkot commemorates the exodus of the Jewish people out of the slavery of Egypt, when they had to travel through the desert protected only by God.

It also marks the harvest season, when the full harvest is brought in. Sukkot, or the feast of “Tabernacles”, speaks thus prophetically of the final restoration (harvest) of the Jewish people to the land. It also points to the harvest of the church, which will be gathered by the Lord.

Those ingatherings, in turn, are deeply connected with Jerusalem, which becomes the focal point at this stage of history. As the prophet Zechariah indicated, the shaking will lead to the nations attacking Jerusalem. He calls Jerusalem a “cup of trembling” for the nations. This explains the concerns expressed by some Christian leaders at British PM Liz Truss’s recent suggestion to move the British embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a stumbling block that the nations fall over. They desperately want to keep possession of this city. It is totally irrational, because churches in Jerusalem are far safer and have more freedoms under Jewish sovereignty than they ever have had in the past, and than they will ever will have if either the UN or a Palestinian state governs the city.

But Messiah will reign from Jerusalem, and one day, the nations that align themselves with God’s purposes will go up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. In Zechariah 15 we read

“Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.”

Let us work and pray for the peace of Jerusalem, the ingathering of Jews and Gentiles into God’s kingdom, and the speedy coming of the Prince of Peace to wipe away tears from all eyes.

The City of Zaporizhzhia is Burning
Christians for Israel’s Aliyah Field worker Koen Carlier reports from Ukraine: “From February 24, the beginning of the war, we evacuated hundreds of Jews from Zaporizhzhia and the surrounding area. This included especially many Jews from the city of Mariupol. Most recently, we were in Zaporizhzhia for a working visit and brought over 5,000 kilos of food parcels. In doing so, we called on the Jewish community to leave while they still could. But what has happened in the past few days, even we did not expect.”
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Israeli security cabinet OKs Lebanon maritime accord
JNS reports: “Israel’s security cabinet voted on Wednesday in favor of a maritime and gas agreement with Lebanon that was mediated by the United States. The latest US-mediated proposal will reportedly draw a border between the two countries’ exclusive economic zones (EEZs) based largely on a boundary known as Line 23, and award a disputed area of around 840 square kilometers (324 square miles) to Lebanon, while recognizing Israel’s claim to the Karish gas field and to royalties (an expected share of about 17 percent) from the section of the Qana field that extends into the Jewish state’s EEZ.”
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Church of England, British Catholic Church oppose moving UK embassy to Jerusalem
Jpost reports: “Archbishop of Westminster Cardent Vincent Nichols (Roman Catholic) and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Wellby (Church of England) have come out against relocating the British Embassy to Jerusalem.”
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Palestinians’ New Enemy: British Prime Minister Liz Truss
Khaled Abu Toameh writes at Gatestone Institute: “The defamation campaign against the British prime minister is yet another sign of the ongoing radicalization of Palestinians not only against Israel, but anyone who dares to say a good word about Israel. This radicalization is the result of the massive campaign by Palestinian officials and media outlets to delegitimize Israel and demonize Jews.”
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The Palestinian Authority cannot meet the most basic requirement for statehood
Eric Mandel writes in JNS: “At the moment, the P.A. is incapable of upholding any security pledge it might make to Israel or the United States. As a result, the P.A. cannot meet the minimum requirement for a state.”
> Read more…