This note is about how and why Yehovah will cover Israel in the coming last days. Sukkot is a rehearsal of what has been and what will be. This is my 3rd and last writing in this series and it is best understood in the context of parts 1 and 2; here is a short description of them both.
Sukkot / Feast of Tabernacles, for me, has both short-term and long-term implications. In part 1 we saw that only the Ger, the one who has repented (circumcised his heart) and left the kingdom of his birth, may now become as “one born in the land” (an Ezrach) by being circumcised in the flesh and then entering into covenant with Yehovah through a real Passover slaughter. These Ezrach, Israel’s seed (perversely known as “the children of Israel”), these “born in the land men,” are the only ones whom Yehovah commanded to dwell in “booths’ for seven days, not eight.
In part 2 we discussed what these “booths,” or “covering,” in which Israel’s seed are to dwell, actually are. It is a temporary dwelling place designed to keep the Ezrach protected from the elements and predators. We saw that the construction of the coverings was not the important part of Yehovah’s plan, it was how we dwelt in them. We dwell in them as only if a short time. This also is how we, who have left the kingdoms of our birth (mine was the corporation of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA), now dwell on the earth; we dwell on earth as in a heavenly country just as Abraham dwelt in the land of Canaan.
These all died in faith [faithfully keeping Yehovah’s ways], not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore Elohim is not ashamed to be called their Elohim, for He has prepared a city for them. (Heb 11:13-16)
Right now Yehovah is “looking for a few good men,” 144,000 to be exact. These men, because of the new birth, are virgins and follow only one Elohim (one law-maker and judge) unlike the rest of the world. They sing what seems to be a new song, but it is really an ancient song which has been sung since the time of Adam; it is the song of righteousness!
They sang, as it were, a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. (Rev 14:3)
Yehovah will Cover Israel With Pillars Of Fire And Smoke
As soon as all these men, True Ezrach Israel, are identified, Yehovah will and seal, cover Israel, His sent ones, in all the places where He has scattered them; just as he said He would. This will happen at a Shavuot. Yehovah will cover Israel with a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of smoke by day all over the earth. They are designed to be a rallying point, a banner set on a hill, to draw all of Yehovah’s people to Himself.
Depart! Depart! Go out from there, touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her [Babylon], Be clean, you who bear the vessels of Yehovah. For you shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight; for Yehovah will go before you, and the Elohim of Israel will be your rear guard. (Isa 52:11-12)
It is estimated that the world population is now over 7.3 billion; by divided that number by 144,000 we get approximately 51,000 places in which Yehovah will cover Israel. I would expect that each one of these locations will be within waking distance for every man, woman and child on the earth. That is important because the time is coming when there will be no roads, gas, stores, utilities, etc. Those who will come to these set-apart locations will receive protection (especially from the wicked, two footed predators), provision and instruction in righteousness.
The covering over these 144,000 men is what I believe the rehearsal we do at Sukkot each year is all about. Only Israel’s seed dwell in these temporary coverings (we saw that in part 1).
“And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of Yehovah. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of Yehovah shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as Yehovah has said, among the remnant [Israel’s seed] whom Yehovah calls. (Joe 2:30-32)
Yehovah Will Cover Israel, His Bride
Then Yehovah will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all a glorious coveringH2646 [חפה, chup·pah]. And a covering [סכה, a sukkah] for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain. (Isa 4:5-6)
Jeff Benner in his Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible describes this tent, this chup·pah,
H2645
Strongs #2645: AHLB#: 1178-J1178) חפ ac: Cover co: Cover ab: Innocent: The pictograph ח (het) is a picture of a wall. The פ (pey) is a mouth meaning “open”. Combined these mean “wall opened“. The tent is opened to allow one into its covering for protection. Anyone entering a tent will be protected at all costs by the owner. A secret is something that is covered and hidden. A haven as a place covered over for protection.
H) חפה ac: Cover co: ? ab: ? {str: 2645}
Seeing how Yehovah will preserve His people in the coming last days is a beautiful picture. What has happened, will happen again.
That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us. (Ecc 1:9-10)
“Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says Yehovah, “that it shall no more be said, ‘Yehovah lives who brought up Israel’s seed from the land of Egypt,’ but, ‘Yehovah lives who brought up Israel’s seed from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them.’ … (Jer 16:14-15)
Yehovah will gather His people, at least those who will come willingly, before He shakes the earth into a wilderness and a desolation. We really are not going into the wilderness this time. No, this time the wilderness is coming to a neighborhood near you; like, yours! But He will not shake the earth like this until He seals His sons and heirs, Israel’s seed.
Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living Elohim. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our Elohim on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the sons of Israel were sealed. (Rev 7:2-4)
Now let’s talk briefly about what Israel’s seed are to gather on the first day of Sukkot; we talked about this briefly in part 2 of this series.
And all you men take on the first day a branch of a good tree; branches of palms and branch of a covering twig of a tree of dense / thick willow(s) of the brook and all you men rejoice before Yehovah, your [the Ezrach’s] Elohim seven days. (Lev 23:40)
This says nothing about building anything with these branches. He says we are to take them and “rejoice before Yehovah, your Elohim for seven days.” I think that Yehovah wants us men to find the most beautiful branches we can and wave them before Him for seven days. Why? I am glad you asked! In seven days a branch or leaf once separated from its tree will fade and die. Could this be a reminder to all, that life is temporary and will eventually pass away and that only Yehovah’s word will endure forever? I think it just might be.
The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of Yehovah blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our Elohim stands forever.” (Isa 40:6-8)
For seven days, seven thousand years, we will dwell in temporary bodies; but the day is coming when we will see a new heaven and a new earth and all that is perishable will be laid aside for what is eternal. That is what the great last day (the last day of all Yehovah’s feast days) is all about; physically dwelling with Yehovah forever.