Let’s
look at some of the Scriptures throughout the Bible that confirm a
great end-time harvest. Many scholars tell us that the feast of
Tabernacles is the final great end-time harvest that will close this
age, and be consummated by our Lord’s return. It will be the ultimate
and largest harvest of all.
The history of Israel in the
Old Testament revolved around three major feasts. The first of these
feasts, Passover, was fulfilled by the death of Jesus. He was the
Passover Lamb. The second feast, the feast of Pentecost, was also
fulfilled according to the prophecy Jesus gave in Acts 1:8, where He
said: “... you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come
upon you.”
The feast that is yet to be fulfilled is
the Feast of Tabernacles (Feast of Ingathering). There is a harvest
associated with each feast. Jesus was the first fruits harvest at
Passover; and the harvest of souls throughout the church age is a
direct result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
God has promised to pour out His Spirit on
all mankind (Joel 2:28‑32). This outpouring of the Holy Spirit is
likened to the early (fall) and latter (spring) rains that bring the
crops in Israel to maturity for harvest (Joel 2:23; Hosea 6:2‑3).
And the threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will
overflow with the new wine and oil. (Joel
2:24)
The ingathering will be so great that the
abundance will make up for what was not gathered in previous harvests
because of Satan’s demonic attacks.
Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has
eaten, the creeping locust, the stripping locust, and the gnawing
locust. (Joel 2:25)
UNDERSTANDING THE GLORY OF GOD
There is so much that we don’t understand
about what God is releasing into the world today. What’s more, many of
us don’t understand what God has been doing throughout history. One of
these seeming mysteries is in trying to understand the glory of God.
Since this term, “the glory of God,” will be used dozens of times in
this book, it seems important to define the term now so that our
understanding might be opened to what God is doing.
The prophet Isaiah describes nations and
kings of the earth being drawn to the glory of God that will rest upon
the church (Isaiah 66:18, Revelation 21:24). The glory and the presence of God
are not identical. Even though Moses would set up a “tent of meeting”
in order to meet with God (in His presence), he wanted more. You would
think that being in God’s presence would be enough, but in one of
those tent meetings Moses said to God, “Please, show me Your glory”
(Exodus 33.18).
Therefore, the glory of God is not a physical manifestation of some kind.
It’s not an ecstatic feeling that overcomes you. Nor is it a kind of
supernatural aura or angelic light that bursts forth. Simply put,
God’s glory is “a revelation of His nature and attributes!” Moses did
not develop any doctrines based on these experiences; but he did
develop an intimate relationship with God that is a model for us
today.
God’s glory is the revelation of His
goodness, displayed by His mercy as He makes Himself known. The
nature, character, and heart of God are revealed as He demonstrates
His glory.
The Lord Himself defines His glory this way
in Scripture. “Therefore, when we pray, ‘Lord, show me your glory,’
we’re actually praying, ‘Father, reveal to me who you are.’
And if the Lord does give us a revelation of His glory, it’s a
revelation of how He wants to be known by us.
That is why
Jesus of Nazareth is the clearest expression of the glory of God ever
manifested upon the earth. God’s eternal nature and holiness was
revealed 2,000 years ago in the man Christ Jesus. Simply stated, this
One was the Lord of eternity put into human terms.
Was
that interesting? There is so much more in this chapter that you will
want to read. Is this a good time to order the book?
