How To Increase Sincere Feast of Tabernacles Attendance in the Wonderful World Tomorrow
Zechariah 14:16-19
"Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.
(Personal note: or else)
If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain.
"Told ya we should have signed up for the Feast!"
"If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles."
"This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles."
"Smile brethren!...."
24 comments:
So what is our atheist friend trying to prove here? That God doesn't exist, or that the God that DOES exist is unjust?
You can't have it both ways!
That "The Wonderful World Tomorrow" as defined by scripture will be compulsory belief and obedience or else was the obvious point. Simple as that.
God/gods/angels/demons do not exist, but the one depicted as existing is, yes, unjust, petty, jealous and a bully. He/She/It is evidently not good at inspiring belief so threatening, with famine, plague and starvation, the "others", as we see here in Zechariah for non-FOT attendees, seems the best it can do. Weak, very weak.
Also doesn't sound like transferring to Switzerland, the Bahamas or the South of France for the Feast is ever going to be an option. :) I've been to Mt Zion, and trust me, it neither stands most beautiful nor can it be defined as "the joy of all the land". As Israel Finkelstein, author of "The Bible Unearthed" told me, "We exaggerate". Yes they do.
Ah, Dennis the spiritual menace strikes again. Being punished for not keeping the physical feast is not the same as lording it over people's faith. They will be free to choose their own beliefs. In case Dennis hasn't notice, Christ always used persuasion and never force.
Wasn't compulsory belief and obedience an expectation for your children in your household Dennis, or did your kids just give you the middle finger and tell you to go to hell when they didn't want to do what they were told? I think I already know your answer but I would like to see it in print.
It is weird what rabid atheists think is humor.
The most efficient way for God to get everyone to attend the Feast of Tabernacles would be to post notice on all bathroom doors stating that from Oct 6-13, the only place water would be available would be at Feast of Tabernacles observances.
Only options would be to be there, or stock up on plenty of beer.
Not really. My boys wanted to do what they were doing at the time regarding church. They had their friends and loved the FOT. In time, when teens, they wanted to do other things, they had their choices and made them. I did not withhold food from them until they did what I wanted done as Zachariah seems to think YHVH will do to gain compliance.
Only because Zachariah's view of compulsory FOT attendance, or else, by those whose culture it is not, is ridiculous and not a little weird of itself.
yeah...it kinda is. We're not talking about Jesus of the NT here. This is OT YHVH or Father God. And no, the YHVH of the OT is not Jesus of the NT in disguise.
Deleted comment was for another comment. Sounds like that was exactly what Zachariah had in mind. LOL 'And if they don't show up, no water for them!" Beer and Booze would be a bigger draw of course for the FOT. A little Jim Beam for thy stomach and thy long endurance at services" etc.
PS Why won't anyone actually give their view on the actual scripture, why can't YHVH be more convincing in actual presence on Earth and moral implications about the Festival God? Does that scripture, read every year at the FOT as if it is amazing how all will come to the Feast "someday" without actually reading it for what it says.
3.12, in 2 Chronicles 26:21 King Uzziah was struck with leprosy for entering the Temple to burn incense, a priestly duty forbidden to kings. This was God enforcing the separation of church and state. This is so that the state cannot use its coercive powers to lord it over its citizens faith. There is not one instance in the bible where God made a decision for another person. It cannot be since it is murder.
I will be happy to give my view Dennis because these scriptures are not that hard to understand.
First of all, you are wrong about WHO is the ruling King here. Zechariah 14 is referring to the events associated with the return of Christ and the beginning of His messianic millennial kingdom. Both testaments speak of this (see Daniel 7:13-14, Revelation 11:15-18, 19:11-16). Zechariah 14:9 states,
"And the Lord shall be King over all the earth, in that day there shall be one Lord and His name one".
According to the NT, this can't be the Father, because Christ "MUST reign until He hath put all enemies under His feet", after which, " He delivers the Kingdom of God to the Father" (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).
At that time, since the heathen are ignorant of God, and His ways are foolishness to them (1 Corinthians 1:18, 2:14), they will be educated. They will learn righteousness (Isaiah 26:9), they will forsake war and learn peace (Isaiah 2:2-4, 11:9), they shall come to understand God and His ways (Isaiah 29:24).
The terms will be simple, much like any household where dad and mom are in charge instead of the children. If you want anything from the King, just do what the King asks! If not, you get nothing. The King is not withholding anything from them, they are withholding these blessings from themselves. It won't be like it is today where everyone feels they are entitled to something for doing nothing, although atheist's must think that's alright. Then everyone will learn to do the right thing and pull their weight.
When you consider the entire scenario, Jesus Christ and the Bible are both vindicated, and proven to be what they both claim to be, instruments of true righteousness. If that's not the case, this world has no hope, it will continue as is, and is destined for complete destruction by its own hands, which appears to be humorous to some people.
Dennis, be thankful to the creator of the source of beer and booze.
First, remember this: “If people are wondering why I am responding here, when I do not adhere to the passage as if it was divine truth: I do believe what is pictured there in Zachariah is not the bad thing it is made out to be. It is a mistake to see it as God being petty or cruel. It is an image of an authority enforcing its authority, and (in-universe) God in His divine authority training people. I believe the underlying concept of denying the authority of God is wrong.”
My respond very quickly became too long, so I posted it on my blog for reference at the link below. I don’t Bible thump, but rather address the criticism of the Zechariah passage in-universe, but from a more universal perspective.
catsgunsandnationalsecurity.blogspot.com/2025/10/reference-reply-to-dennis-diehl-on-bbh.html?m=1
Dennis don't drink no more. He has copped to popping an edible, though.
All governments impose their will on their subjects. Has anyone gotten a parking/speeding fine? But according to Dennis, if Christ's coming government tries to do so, it will be guilty of trying to turn people into mindless puppets.
Is this projection on Dennis's part? Isn't he the one who frequently pushes the narrative that us little people need the big, seminary trained people telling us what the bible really, really means?
"Dennis" or should that be "Denise" enjoy making fools of everyone. Reality can be opposite of what is presented here.
I think we're getting a good idea of how many COGlodytes usually visit and comment here. It's their feast, and commentary is like way down.
'Copped' interesting word used.
“You don’t need freedom of religion when the true God…is present, identified, and directly communicating.”
http://catsgunsandnationalsecurity.blogspot.com/2025/10/reference-reply-to-dennis-diehl-on-bbh.html?m=1
Dennis:
The Feast of Tabernacles as a geopolitical tool occurs during a unique period time in the cycle of human existence. It occurs during a period of time referred to as the Day of the Lord. It is a different period from the Millennium or the Eschaton comprised of the New Earth and New Heavens. I do not think that its occurrence during the Day of the Lord can be used to posit the idea that the Feast, therefore the Torah, the Holy Days and the Sabbath, will be kept forever. But that is another debate.
The issue that you raise, in principle, is why does God use physical punishment at all. Why doesn’t a good, persuasive, academic Midrash always lead to the required reformation of behavior? I am weak in theodicy. I believe Christianity as a whole, based on my reading, is weak in theodicy. I know that there must be a downside to evil. And God must be the judge as to what comprises that downside to achieve the best outcome. And in the church we ask for his mercy. That is about as far as I can take the argument presently.
Using my brief un-nuanced view, I believe if that the Egyptians would respond to a lesser persuasion, they would not have to have their rain withheld. And I believe any individual among the Egyptians who would seek God in this time of drought crisis would be received with mercy. Think for a moment about the circumstances. A nation on earth decides it is going to stand against God after God has revealed himself in great power to the people of the earth during the Day of the Lord. If I could pose a question to the yet future Egyptian leaders: “What did you think was going to happen?”
And think what the Egyptians are rejecting by scoffing at the Feast of Tabernacles. The Christian Church believes that the FoT was a foreshadow of Jesus as the light of the world and the living water. And he tabernacled among us. It symbolizes God’s provision as illustrated by his care for Israel when the dwelt in booths in the wilderness. What’s not to like? Yet, the Egyptians in the future will be in such a spiritual state that they will reject all this meaning. The idea that this is just about people being punished for not attending the FoT does not consider these deeper issues.
Scout
I believe that COGlodytes will also rebel against Father God and Jesus Christ even after They reveal themselves. In my minds eye, I can see some of them standing there, all stiff-necked and insisting "but Mr. Armstrong said......"
Also, it seems obvious that the Egyptians are used as an example of rebelling against God because Zechariah was familiar with the ways in which they reacted to Moses, and Pharaoh tested God to the point of plagues being brought upon the people of Egypt. The historic Egyptian attitude (with the possible exception of Anwar Sadat) seems to be a distant but similar position to Laodiceanism, in that it was insidious and deserving of special punishment.
BB
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