Sukkot begins, it's a Joyous Biblical Festival for both Jews and Christians-4

Yeshua on the Final Day of Sukkot: Hoshanah Rabbah

“I wash my hands in purity and circle around Your altar, O Lord.”  (Psalm 26:6)

The seventh and final day of sukkot is called Hoshanah Rabbah.  Hoshana comes from two words hoshah nah, meaning "Bring us salvation, please," and rabbah, meaninggreat.  This prayer to "bring salvation" was actually made by the priests every day of Sukkot.During the first six days of the feast, the priests would “place willow branches alongside the altar with the heads of the willow branches bent over the altar” to add joy to the holiday (Chabad).  The priests would then sound the shofar, circle the altar once, and say, "Anah Hashem hoshiah nah.  Anah Hashem hatzlichah nah(Please, God, bring us salvation.  (Please, God, bring us success)."

Jewish men at the Western (Wailing) Wall pray on Sukkot with the

Four Species.

On Hoshanah Rabbah, “The Great Hoshanah,” the priests circled the altar seven times. On this final day of Sukkot, probably during the water ceremony, Yeshua (Jesus) stood up and proclaimed Himself to be the source of Living Water—the salvation they joyfully prayed for.  He invited all who were thirsty to come and drink, the water representing the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh). “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Yeshua stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’  By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive.”  (John 7:37–39)

Children play in the Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem, from which the High

Priest used to draw the water for the Water Offering in ancient times.

Sukkot in the End Times and the New Jerusalem

“For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle….”  (Zechariah 14:2)

Sukkot also has a connection to the Last Days and the New Jerusalem. The Haftarah (prophetic portion of Scripture) that is read for this holiday contains a graphic apocalyptic vision of the destruction of all the nations that will attack Jerusalem. Earthquakes, plagues, heavy darkness, and signs of nuclear destruction characterize judgment on the nations.  These are the manifestation of God’s personal intervention on behalf of Israel (Zechariah 14:12–15). The eyes of the world will be opened, and all the nations will see that Israel is the apple of God’s eye.  Woe to those who dare to touch her.

This Israeli is building the roof of his sukkah.

Vegetation such as palm will be lightly woven

through the beams so those inside can gaze up

and see the stars at night.

The Lord declares through the Prophet Zechariah, “It will happen in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all the peoples.  All who burden themselves with it will be severely wounded….”  (Zechariah 12:3) In those days, all nations will be required to come to Jerusalem to celebrate Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). Those who refuse will be cursed with lack of rain.  (Zechariah 14:16–19) While many Christians believe that God’s moadim (appointed times of Feasts and Festivals) have been abolished, Zechariah's Messianic prophecy clearly indicates that this is not so. Today, many Christians from the nations come every year to Jerusalem to celebrate Sukkot together with Israel in a beautiful foreshadowing of what will take place after the Lord returns and establishes His Messianic reign on earth.

Sukkot at the Western Wall in Jerusalem

God’s Timeline

“The Kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah, and He will reign forever and ever.”  (Revelation 11:15)

While the spring feasts were fulfilled by the death and resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus), the fall feasts will be fulfilled with His second coming. Some believe that when Yeshua returns as Messiah King, he will be hailed by the blast of the shofar (ram's horn) on the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah / Rosh HaShanah). His people will recognize Him as their Messiah and mourn nationally, perhaps ten days later on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). “I will pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they will look to Me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for his only son, and will grieve bitterly for Him, as one grieves for his firstborn.”  (Zechariah 12:10)

Dutch Jews enjoy a meal in the sukkah built by the Beth Shoshanna

Congregation at the Great Synagogue of Deventer.

On Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), God will finally "tabernacle" with His people.  He will dwell among us, establishing His Messianic Kingdom of righteousness. “Look!  God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell [tabernacle] with them.  They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.”  (Revelation 21:3) This holiday reminds us that God will never forgot the People of Israel. And end-time prophecy (Zechariah 14:12–19) seems to suggest that this holiday isthe perfect time for the nations to also remember God’s people and stand with them.