Ingathering of 7th month: Prelude to dwelling with God

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The fall appointed times of God are called the “feasts of ingathering” and are associated with the apocalyptic Day of the LORD. What are the lessons of these festivals that point toward our preparation for what Messiah is going to do?

In part two of a discussion of the seventh month of God’s calendar, Richard looks into the parallel between the construction of Solomon’s Temple in time for one Sukkot (Tabernacles) and the preparation of God’s people for the final Sukkot. Like the stones for the first temple that were cut to size elsewhere then moved into location, the people of God will be “trimmed” to the right “size” before being moved to the final site of the LORD’s dwelling place on Earth.

Part 1

Reference texts: Ex. 23:16; Ex. 34:22; John 4:34; Matt. 5:11,39; Matt. 6:34; Jer. 30:1-17; Matt. 23:37-38; Matt. 24:1-9,14,21-22.

What is special about the seventh month? All the fall feasts — Yom Teruah (Day of the Trumpet Blast), Yom Kippurim (Day of Coverings/Atonement), Sukkot (Tabernacles) and Sh’meni Atzeret (Eighth Day) — occur during this month. These combined are called the Feasts of Ingathering.

Why is this time called the “year’s end”? It is the seventh month and the number seven is a very important symbol of completeness.

Why is Shavu’ot (Pentecost) considered an “ingathering” in the middle of the year? It is a time of harvest as well.

What did Yeshua tell the woman at the well (John 4:34) about the time of harvest?

What do we need to purge from our lives, symbolized by Chag Matzot (Feast of Unleavened Bread)?

Have you ever been physically abused for the sake of Yeshua? How are we to respond if and when that comes?

What is the “bad news” of Yom Teruah? What is the purpose of the blowing of the trumpets? What is the trial that will come upon the House of Judah and the House of Israel? What is the “Great Tribulation”? Who are measured?

What is “Jacob’s trouble”? Who will experience this trouble? Who is our ally during this time?

Where does the end start? San Francisco? London? Paris?

Part 2

What does the word “September” literally mean? What does the word “December” mean? Why aren’t these months listed as the seventh and 10th months in today’s calendar?

Why two separate trumpets on Yom Teruah (Day of the Trumpet Blast or Feast of Trumpets)? What kind of signal did the trumpets send out?

What is one of the blessings of Shabbat?

What is the purpose of Sukkot? What “role is played out” during Sukkot? How often does God want to gather His believers “under His wing”? Do we want to be “gathered under the wing of the Messiah”? What is the Messiah’s job today? What does God want from the Messiah? What does God really like? Is God “picky”?

When are trumpets blown?

How do we know what is “clean” or “unclean”? How can we become “clean”?

Why do we “go to the mountain of the LORD”? How often is the book of Deuteronomy to be read during the Feast of Sukkot? What does the book of Deuteronomy tell us about God? What is symbolized in the tearing down of the sukkah at the end of Sukkot? If a believer goes through a trial, what does it mean? If a non-believer goes through a trial, what does it mean? How narrow is the gate? What is easier — getting a camel through a narrow gate or a rich man to enter heaven?

What are we given on the Day of Atonement? Why do we need the Day of Atonement to appreciate Sukkot?

Where will God begin setting up His Kingdom on earth? What do we bring to the “ingathering”? Where does God’s spirit dwell? How do we know the will of the Father? What do the angels do? How can all believers “come together as one”? When will this happen?

Who will be among the leaders in the world to come? If God is calling you as a leader of His people, what will happen to you? What will happen to those nations who don’t heed God’s call to come to the Feast of Sukkot? How many gatherings are there? Why is Sukkot the most important gathering?

Speaker: Richard Agee.

Banner image: Hallel Fellowship’s sukkah in Occidental during Sukkot 2008.