As we do in the fall, Israel, too, celebrated a thanksgiving for the end of the harvest. Leviticus 23 lists The Feast of Tabernac. It took place on the 15th of the Jewish seventh month. This would be in September or October on our calendar today. It would be at this time that the harvest of all crops would be done.
Prophecy of Celebrating the End of the Harvest
The Jewish people knew the schedule of God’s Feast days from Leviticus 23, and these were celebrated through the ages. There were prophecies that the Feast of Tabernacles would be celebrated in the future. It would be celebrated in a new way when Messiah ruled. Even at the end of the age there would be a great celebration. This would celebrate a great harvest of souls.
Zechariah 14: 16 In the end, the enemies of Jerusalem who survive the plague will go up to Jerusalem each year to worship the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and to celebrate the Festival of Shelters. [1]
The work of Jesus on the cross would make this possible.
The Harvest Predicted
Simeon made a prophecy over the baby Jesus. Luke 2:30 I have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared for all people. 32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”[2] Not only would Israel be able to be saved through faith in Jesus, but the Gentiles would also be gathered into the harvest of souls.
Jesus Gives Salvation to All Who Believe
Many in in the early church asked “did a Gentile need to become a Jew before he could be saved?” At a council in Jerusalem Peter would explain. Acts 15:7 At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. 8 God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. [3]
Jesus came to bring salvation to all who believe. There will be a great harvest of souls at the end of the age because of what Jesus did on the cross. John tells us that even the martyrs in heaven will worship Jesus with palm branches. Revelations 7: 9 After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands.[4] To hear more about the end of the harvest, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/foreshadowing-of-the-cross-tabernacles
[1-4] Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.