Why We Keep the Feast
by Garner Ted Armstrong
As we assemble around the world or as we look toward this Festival even in the privacy of our own homes, brethren, let’s come to fully realize the deep significance of these days!
God instituted these days, giving them to our ancient forefa- thers, to keep His true people in mind of His great plan He is busily working out here below!
We are right now living on the brink of the Great Tribulation, just before the suicide of civilization! These are mighty serious times!
Looking candidly at world conditions, just as Jesus said we should (Luke 21:36) ought to really sober us, brethren. It should make us really think!
God gave His great Feast of Tabernacles to picture for us the conditions that will prevail on this earth during the reign of the Kingdom of God!
He has commanded us to come out of this world for these eight days for the Feast of Tabernacles and the final great Feast of the year, picturing the great judgement to follow. He has told us to dwell in temporary domiciles, living together in peace and har- mony, hearing inspiring mes- sages from God’s true ministers, working, eating, listening, study- ing, praying, fellowshipping together—so we can learn a vi tally important lesson.
The real meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles is to portray to us the Kingdom of God—the earth here below as it will be under the rule and reign of that Kingdom, which is the great ruling Family of God, into which we must be born!
The Feast pictures God’s reign on earth, harmony, peace and happiness!
John said if we say we know Jesus Christ, we should live like He did! (I John 2:6). Paul urged, “Follow me, as I follow Christ” (I Cor. 11:1). Peter said Jesus Christ had set us an example that we should follow in His steps! (I Pet. 2:21).
God has ordained, in a sense, that we should act out a part of His plan in our observance of His holy days. By living in the actual conditions He shows will prevail on earth, we learn to really un- derstand His plan—what the world will be like, and our part in it in the future!
We worship God by imitating Him. Jesus Christ is the very im- age, substance, nature and character of God the Father (Heb. 1:3). Jesus kept the Feast of Tab ernacles! He reveals that whole nations will be under severe plagues from God if they refuse to keep these festivals in the millennium (Zech. 14:17-19).
Remember, God has ordered that we observe His Feasts! It is only in this way you can really learn the true meaning of the wonderful plan God is working out here below! ❏
