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O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.

    -Psalm 136:1

Gods’ mercy endures forever. His willingness to act on man’s behalf is still operating in the earth. His Will is to give us the best in life. (3 John 2) It’s the season to rejoice, giving thanks to God for his blessings, provision and care towards us. We are commanded to rejoice before the Lord our God singing with thanksgiving to the Lord. (1Chro.16:34) Psalm.118:1, 29; Psalms 106:1; 107:1; 136:1.God loves us and it is our primary reason to give him thanks, for all that God through Jesus Christ has done for us. He has forgiven our sins, healed our diseases, redeemed our life from destruction, crowned us with loving kindness and tender mercies for each new day, satisfying our mouth with good things so our youth is renewed like the eagles.(Psalm 103:1-5) Blessed are You, LORD our God, Master of the Universe who has kept us alive and sustained us and brought us to this season.                                                                                              

(Leviticus 23:23, 24) The Lord spoke unto Moses to tell the children of Israel concerning the feasts of the Lord. On the first day of the seventh month, Israel celebrates the New Year with a memorial of blowing of trumpets. A day of self –examination, followed by nine days of sincere and serious repentance for sin, a time of humbling themselves, praying and seeking peace with God. The tenth day being the Day of Atonement. It is typical of the preaching of the Gospel by which joyful trumpet sound(message of Good News) souls are saved and called in to serve God and keep a spiritual feast to the Lord God. The conversion of the Nations to faith in Christ is said to be by the blowing of a great trumpet.(Isa 27:13) Five days after the Day of Atonement, on the fifteenth day of the month, the feast of tabernacles is celebrated for seven days unto the Lord with great rejoicing. They dwell in booths or tabernacles made of boughs of branches of trees (palm trees) Since it follows the days of repentance, the feast of tabernacles represents the time of restored fellowship with the Lord and God’s presence dwelling among His redeemed people.(Exo 29:44,45) On the eighth day ,the great day of the feast as mentioned in (John 7:37) they return back to their homes rejoicing with thanksgiving to the Lord remembering God’s faithfulness and great mercies to their fore fathers during their journey through the wilderness from Egypt , bringing them into the promised land. It is a feast of in-gathering when they gather the fruit of their land, giving thanks to God for all the increase. It is supposed that Jesus was born about the time of this feast, he left his heavenly mansion of light to tabernacle among us.(John 1:14) and he dwelt in booths. The worship of God is prophesied in (Zach14:16) of keeping the feast of tabernacles. Jesus Christ, our High Priest of the New Covenant has given us access to the heavenly temple of God. We are now members of the greater temple of His body. We are part of His great tabernacle. (Heb 4:16) We are taught to live as those that have no continuing city but seek one to come. (heaven) We need to set our affections on things above and not on the things on the earth, honouring God’s Word, because whenever we get caught up in pursuit of earthly things, our desire for the things of God fades into the background (2 Cor 5:20 ) says, We are ambassadors for Christ, sent to do the works of God. We offer our praise to God continually giving thanks for the precious holy blood of Jesus that had cleansed and sanctified us. The seven days of rejoicing during the feast of tabernacles is a picture of the world to come and the thousand Millennium Kingdom life.

We must get ready for Jesus return. (Matt 25:6) – “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him”. We need to be like the five wise virgins in (Matt:25) who were prepared when the bridegroom’s arrival was announced. Stay full of the oil of the Holy Spirit and with our light shining. We should not get caught sleeping when Jesus returns. We need to wake up now to the Holy Spirit. He is announcing Jesus return. No matter how dark the natural circumstances around us are, we know that we have hope in the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The thought raises our spirits and in the process purifies and separates us from sin and failures of the world around us. It lifts us into the joy and victory of God.

Luke 24:46-53 – Jesus told his disciples that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations and  he told them to wait until they be filled with power by the Holy Spirit - the Comforter who would abide in them, teach them and guide them into all truth. Jesus blessed the disciples and was parted from them, and was carried up into heaven as Elijah was from Elisha (2 Kings 2:1-8). The translation of Elijah gave a type and figure of ascension of Jesus Christ and the opening of the Kingdom of heaven to all believers. Elijah had by faith prayed and conversed much with God. His zeal  and faithfulness to God  and his fearless witness of God’s miracle-working power was rewarded and he  was taken up to assure us that, if we have our conversation in heaven, while we are here  on earth, we shall  be there shortly – Rev.21:6-7, Rev. 22: 11-14, Rev 19: 6-9.

Paul says, (Gal 6:9)  Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. May we, who follow Christ, be steadfast in our faith. By our testimonies and counsels many can come to the knowledge of Jesus and be saved (2 Peter 1:8). Elisha was determined to cleave to Elijah as long as he continued on earth not only because he loved him but he also desired to be edified (built up),taught by him. He wanted to see Elijah being taken up so that his faith might be sure and he wanted a parting blessing , he received a double anointing. As we keep our eyes on Jesus-The Word of his power, believing that Jesus died and rose again, and be faithful to follow his Word and live a life of love toward God and our neighbour, God will take us, his faithful ones to heaven – Rev.3:10.

Jesus was carried up to heaven. As he arose from the dead so he ascended by his own power attended by angels. There was no need of a chariot of fire or horses of fire. Jesus knew the way – as He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, being the Lord from heaven, he could go back himself. He ascended in a cloud, Jesus had promised that he would come again and receive us unto himself, that where he is, we may be also (John 14:3,)  (I Cor. 15:19-23). Christ - the first fruits ascended from the dead, afterward we, that are Christ’s at his coming (I Thess.4:13-17), for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with  a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the  trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall  rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Elijah had to go the other side of Jordan- his country near where Moses died, to be translated so that the place may be honoured. His mantle divided the river Jordan to pass through. These waters first yielded to the ark of God and now to Elijah’s mantle (God’s presence). Death is the Jordan, before our translation. We have a safe and comfortable way, the death of Jesus Christ has divided those waters that we the ransomed of the Lord may pass over. O death! Where is thy sting, thy fear?

This blessed hope filled the disciples with exceeding joy and so fills true believers in Jesus Christ. We rejoice, praying and singing praises, blessing God for he is good and his mercies endure forever.

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