Sukkot (Tabernacles) is also called “the season of our rejoicing” or the “Season of Our Joy.” The joy of Sukkot was so great that this kingdom feast simply became known as “The Feast.” One of the most joyful ceremonies of Sukkot was the Illumination of the Temple (Beit HaMikdash) ceremony.
At the end of the first day of Sukkot, the Aaronic Priesthood and the Levites went down to the court of the women. It is there that they set up four enormous golden Menorahs (lampstands) that were 50 cubits high with a ladder and a golden bowl beside each. Four youths of priestly descent were chosen to stand on the top of each ladder where each poured about 7.5 gallons of purest olive oil into their Ascended Menorah’s bowl (Mishnah, Sukkah 5:2).
The four ascended youths are connected to the four living creatures in the Book of Ezekiel who have fire among their wheels (Ezekiel 10:2-7). The spirit of the living creatures are in the wheels. Ezekiel 1:13 tells us that the likeness of the four living creatures, who are also called the cherubim, is like the appearance of torches (Ezek. 10:20). Notably, Ezekiel 1 reveals that built upon the four individual living creatures, with a wheel within a wheel beside each, is a corporate One New Man in the Messiah who sits upon the Sapphire Chariot Throne. This Corporate One New Man has fire both above and below his waist: “And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. 27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of FIRE all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of FIRE with brightness all around” (Ezekiel 1:26-27). For a greater understanding about the living creatures, check out this book written solely through time spent in His Presence with the Scriptures: https://amzn.to/3TNpovn
Significantly, the priests used their worn-out old garments for the wicks, illustrating out with the old man and in with the new. “That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). Their old garments burned up to create fantastic flames for their own Baptism of Fire while their new garments were clean and white. This can also signify the process and goal of transfiguration for those “made perfect in one” (John 17:23). Recall that Yeshua’s transfiguration and the Feast of Tabernacles are connected. When Yeshua’s clothes became as white as the light when He was transfigured, Peter was moved to build three tabernacles for Yeshua, Moses, and Elijah. Please refer to https://sapphirethroneministries.wordpress.com/2024/10/15/make-a-sanctuary/ The Illumination of the Temple ceremony is just another picture of this same quantum leap reality awaiting the sons of the Living God (Rom. 8:14).
The light was so bright from these four enormous lampstands that the Mishnah recounts in Sukkah 5:3 that there was no courtyard in Jerusalem that was not lit up. This may be a slight exaggeration; however, the picture of nothing being able to hide from the radiant ascended light of the Season of our Joy remains, which is also illustrated in Revelation 22:5 – “There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.”
“Countless Levites played on harps, lyres, cymbals and trumpets and instruments of music” (Mishnah Sukkot 5:4). The light festivities continued all night until dawn. The illumination from these imposing Temple lamps symbolized two realities. The first was the reality of the “Light of all Lights”— the Shekinah Glory—the visible presence of God that filled Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 8:10-11). The second was Ha’or Gadol (the Great Light) of the True Messiah who would soon come and bring light to those who were spiritually dead and dwelling in darkness (Isa. 9:2).
When Jesus proclaimed: “I am the Light of the World” in John 8:12, He proclaimed two enlightened truths. First, Messiah Yeshua pronounced that He is the “Great Light” that the Prophet Isaiah foretold would come: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined” (Isaiah 9:2). Second, He was God with skin on as well as the Glory of the Temple: “And so the Living Expression became visible and lived among us! We gazed upon His glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father overflowing with tender mercy and truth!” (John 1:14 TPT). [1]
So, the priests danced and rejoiced. It was very festive. I can just picture all the young men dancing wildly, like David danced, because the joy of the Lord was their strength (Neh. 8:10). Even the pious leaders of Israel would dance well into the night, holding torches and singing psalms of praise to God.
Let’s rejoice and dance like King David danced for the joy of the Lord is our strength!
Give em heaven!!!
Robin Main
Written October 17, 2024 – Sapphire Throne Ministries – Robin Main. Copyrighted – If you are going to copy this, please copy it right by giving attributions to this source. Blessings!
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ART: The Temple Institute
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[1] The Feast of Tabernacles in the Days of Jesus by Peter Colón. Sept/Oct 2001. https://israelmyglory.org/article/the-feast-of-tabernacles-in-the-days-of-jesus/
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