COMPARISONS OF THE TIME-LINES
The Feast of Tabernacles is an eight day feast (Lev 23:36, 39). Why eight days?
It may be because an infant was dedicated to God by performing circumcision on the eighth day after birth: Circumcision = Covenant of Blood.
Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
So the infant Jesus would have been circumcised on the eighth and last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, a Sabbath day.
The Jews today consider this a separate festival from Tabernacles, and they call it Shemini Atzeret. ((The last great Day))
Le 12:1-3 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
Lev. 12:4,6,8 And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
Luke 2:22-24 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they (Joseph and Mary) brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
Here we have Yeshua, in the temple, on the eighth day of Sukkot shedding blood fulfilling the covenant of circumcision!
And Mary too poor to afford a lamb could only bringing the required bird offerings. But she had a lamb, the Lamb of God!
Luke 2:25,28-32 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Tabernacles Future Fulfillment
It is also interesting to note the Tabernacles was a feast of in-gathering of the Harvest (Exodus 23:16 and 34:22).
If Jesus’ first coming was indeed on 15 Tishri, the first day of Tabernacles, then it is quite reasonable to presume that the harvest of this earth, the in-gathering of the second coming of Jesus Christ, will also occur on precisely the same date. The unknown factor would be the year that this would happen.
SUMMARY OF BIBLICAL CALCULATIONS
Elizabeth (John’s mother) was in her sixth month of pregnancy when Jesus was conceived (Luke 1:24-36). We can determine the approximate time of year Jesus was born if we know when John was born.
John’s father, Zacharias, was a priest serving in the Jerusalem temple during the course of Abijah (Luke 1:5).
Historic calculations indicate Zacharias service corresponded to June 13-19 in that year. It was during this time of temple service that Zacharias learned that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a child (Luke 1:8-13). After he completed his service and traveled home, Elizabeth conceived (verses 23-24).
This means Elizabeth’s conception of John took place near the end of June, adding nine months brings us to the end of March as the most likely time for John’s birth.
By using simple addition we add another six months, the difference in ages between John and Jesus, this brings us to the end of September or Mid October as the likely time of Jesus’ birth (The Month of Tishrei / Feast of Sukkot /Tabernacles). The Companion Bible, 1974, Appendix 179, p. 200.
Shepherds would not be watching the flocks in the fields during the dead of winter. The Mishna (rabbinic commentary) states that, because of winter weather, the flocks around Bethlehem were normally brought into a protective corral called a “sheepfold” from November through February. This means no sheep or shepherds outdoors in December “Luke,” Adam Clark’s Commentary, Vol. 5, p. 370.
Joseph would not have taken Mary (nine months pregnant) by donkey, a distance of over 100 miles in the dead of winter.
The exceptional crowds seeking housing with the result that there was “no room in the inn” (Luke 2:7) are proof that it was one of the national Feast periods when all the males are commanded to go to Jerusalem. They travel from around the world to appear for those commanded Festivals.
The Romans were known to take their censuses according to the prevailing customs of the occupied territories. In Israel, they would opt to have people report to their home provinces at a time that would be convenient for them and not in the middle of winter. The best time of taxation would be after the harvest in the fall and this also coincided with one of the major Biblical Feasts known as Sukkot (Tabernacles). This Feast meant all the people would be in one place with their funds from the recent harvest.
The nativity accounts in the Gospel took place during one of the major Biblical Holy Days and not during December. The only major holy day that takes place in the fall is Sukkot (Tabernacles) The Messiah came to “dwell” in the midst of His people as perfectly typified in the Feast of Tabernacles.
So, God in the flesh (Jesus) would have come to Tabernacle (Sukkot) with mankind on the first day of Tabernacles. The tabernacle of Moses was a type of God dwelling with His people in the desert.
On the eight day of Tabernacles God commanded that a special day called, the Eighth Day of Assembly was to be set apart as a holy assembly. “For seven days you are to bring an offering made by fire to Adonai; on the eighth day you are to have a holy convocation and bring an offering made by fire to Adonai ; it is a day of public assembly; do not do any kind of ordinary work.” Lev 23:36
Why would God command a special memorial on the eighth day of Sukkot? This day could contain another connection to the birth of Jesus Christ. “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.” Rom 15:8 KJV
Jesus’ birth took place on the first day of Sukkot. If this is true what would take place on the eighth day after a Jewish boy is born? On the eighth day a Jewish baby boys takes the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant through circumcision (Gen 17).
Jesus was presented on the eighth day after His birth (incarnation). “When the time came for their purification according to the Torah of Moshe, they took him up to Jerusalem to present the child. “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to God.” Luke 2:22-23
Jesus fulfilled every jot and tittle of Passover and Pentecost fulfilling both feasts with 100% accuracy, why would the Lord not come and dwell (Sukkot / Tabernacle) with His people at the precise time that the Fall Feasts indicate?
The Fall Feasts give us the bibles narrative of the Messiah dwelling with humankind at His birth (as the Lamb of God) and also at His future return (as the King of Kings), and it all happens in the month of Tishrei (Sept. / Oct.) not December.
Christ’s 3 ½ year ministry traces backward (from a March/April crucifixion) to a Sept/October birthday, not a December birth. He was cut off in the midst of the week according to Daniel 9 and that occurred in March.
Be a Berean and “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly studying/dividing the Word of Truth.” 2 Tim. 2:15. May your beliefs be your own and you be approved unto God.
If you are going to study further, you may will find these quesions troubling?
Why was it a crime to keep Christmas (it was outlawed) in Massachusetts in Early American History? Why did the Protestant Churches in America not celebrate Christmas for over 200 years? What did they know that we have forgotten?
