By: Dale Weckbacher
Revelation 19:11-16
Now I saw heaven
opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful
and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a
flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no
one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His
name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine
linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth
goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself
will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the
fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His
thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.
NKJV
Human history is full of many magnificent events. As a child, I remember sitting in our family
room watching the first men walk on the moon.
Not only was it a momentous feat that men could develop the technology
to go to the Moon, but it was also magnificent that we were able to see it
happen live because of the technology of television.
Many other inventions have also enriched the lives of people
all over the globe. Without the
invention of the printing press, the printed word would remain something only
the rich and elites could afford, leaving most of the world illiterate. The invention of radio, television,
computers, and the internet has allowed information to flow at the speed of
light and even made it possible for an ordinary person like myself to express
his opinions and faith on this blog.
However, as great as these events and inventions are, they
pale in comparison to an event coming in the future, the glorious appearing of
the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” This
is because in addition to the magnificent events of history, we have also
witnessed many tragic events and when the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” appears
these tragic events will cease. The
final Jewish feast, the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukot gives us a glimpse of
this coming event.
The Feast of Tabernacles is an eight-day feast explained in
Leviticus 23:33-44. It is a joyous
celebration celebrating the gathering of the harvest (Leviticus 23:39). Our modern day equivalent in the United States
would be the celebration of Thanksgiving except, this was an eight-day
celebration and not a celebration only lasting one day.
The feast occurred in the fall so the weather would have
been hot in the city of Jerusalem . As such, the people gathered to celebrate
would have been thirsty. In this
context, let us take a look at what Jesus said when he celebrated Sukot during
his ministry. We find the account in
John 7.
Jesus sent his brothers ahead of him to celebrate the feast
(John 7:1-8). Perfect timing was
important in the ministry of Jesus and He knew going up at the beginning of the
feast was not the proper time for the religious leaders of Jesus’ time were
seeking to kill Him. However, Jesus did
secretly go up to the feast after his brothers left (John 7:10).
In the middle of the feast, Jesus went up to the Temple and taught. His teaching was with such boldness that many
thought he had a demon (John 7:20) but many questioned whether Jesus could be
the Christ (John 7:25-27). He then
boldly declares he has been sent by God the Father and accuses them of not
knowing Him (John 7:28-29). However,
this is not the boldest statement made by Jesus at this feast.
On the final day of the feast, a day when many may have
grown weary and thirsty from seven days of celebration Jesus boldly stood up
and cried,
John 7:37-38
"If anyone
thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart
will flow rivers of living water."
NKJV
Jesus was not speaking of water to quench their physical
thirst but was speaking of living water, the Holy Spirit, which they would
receive at their salvation after Jesus arose from the dead. In order to receive this living water,
however, one must go to the well, Jesus, and receive Him as his or her
savior.
Those that make Jesus their savior before the rapture will
be caught up with Jesus in the air and be among the those in the army of Heaven
riding on white horses (Revelation 19:14).
However, if you are reading this and millions have already suddenly
disappeared from the earth, know that you can still receive Jesus as your
savior and join the army of God in victory.
The Feast of Tabernacles or Sukot is a celebration of this
future event. It is a celebration of a
coming time when there will be an end to the death and destruction that has
plagued humanity. Imagine a world with
no more Holocaust, no more 9/11’s, no more senseless killings. It will be a time when we finally experience
world peace under the leadership of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
However, to be a part of this glorious world you must accept
Jesus as your savior by praying with me.
Dear Lord Jesus, I
know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death
(Romans 6:23). I ask you to forgive me
of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9). I believe you died, was buried, and
resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.
Jesus is now your savior.
You have the living water of the Holy Spirit within you and will now
join God’s army when Jesus returns to establish his Millennial rein on earth, a
rein of peace on earth under the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.
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