The Feast of Tabernacles Seen in the Beast Which Rises Out of the Sea
I. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)
A. Day of Trumpets (Yom Teruah)
1. Date: 1st day of the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar
B. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
1. Date: 10th day of the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar
C. Feast of Tabernacles Proper (Sukkot)
1. Date: 15th day of the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar
2. Length: Seven days
D. Last Great Day
1. Date: Eighth day following the Feast of Tabernacles
2. Length: One day
The Feast of Tabernacles falls in the seventh month. Seven is the “great number of spiritual perfection” (E.W. Bullinger), denoting “fullness” or “filled to the full.”
Romans 11:25 (NKJV)
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness (7) of the Gentiles (nations) has come in.
Ephesians 1:10 (NKJV)
10 … that in the dispensation of the fullness (7) of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.
Luke 21:24 (NKJV)
24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles (nations) until the times of the Gentiles (nations) are fulfilled (7).
Revelation 17:9-14 (ESV)
9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads (7) are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10 they are also seven kings (7), five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. 11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth (1 or 8) but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12 And the ten horns (10) that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13 These are of one mind and hand over their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful."
The Day of Trumpets was on the 1st day of the 7th month (seven heads; beast that was and is not, it is an eighth (or one)).
First day (1) of the seventh month (7) equals eight, the number of new beginning (Stephen Jones).
The Day of Atonement was on the 10th day of the 7th month (seven heads; ten horns).
Tenth day (10) of the seventh month (7) equals seventeen, the number of victory (Jones). E.W. Bullinger states that seventeen represents “the perfection of spiritual order.”
Ten suggests the “divine order being reestablished one way or another through the judgment of the law (as pictured by the Ten Commandments)” (Jones).
Ten is also two fives, suggesting a double witness (2) of God’s grace (5) (Bullinger; Jones).
The fact that this beast is “scarlet” suggests the atoning blood of Christ (Rev. 17:3).
Feast of Tabernacles proper was on the 15th day of the 7th month (seven heads; seven kings; beast that was and is not, it is an eighth).
Fifteenth day (15) of the seventh month (7) equals twenty-two, the number of Sonship or the Sons of Light (Jones). E.W. Bullinger states that “fifteen, therefore, specially refers to acts wrought by the energy of Divine grace.”
Last Great Day; eighth day, the number of new beginning.
John 7:37-39 (NKJV)
37 On the LAST DAY, that great day of the Feast (of Tabernacles; John 7:2), Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "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." 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
For an in-depth look at the “beast,” download the free eBook, “Studies in Revelation – The Beasts of Revelation – 2020 Study.”