Was Tabernacles Partially Fulfilled?

Q

Given that Jesus’ ministry was 3 1/2 years long and then He died, was buried and rose again during the Spring feasts, isn’t it likely that He partially fulfilled the Feast of Tabernacles (God lives with us)?

A

Most scholars don’t see the Lord’s 1st Coming as a partial fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles, partly because the Jewish people didn’t recognize Him as God. Remember, the “us” in “God with us” refers to Israel, and Tabernacles is a Jewish Feast.

The historical fulfillment of Tabernacles came during the time in the wilderness, and the prophetic fulfillment will come in the Kingdom Age. This fits with the view that the spring feasts were fulfilled in the 1st coming and the fall feasts are for the 2nd coming, leaving Pentecost in the middle for the Church Age.

And technically, God Himself will have to dwell among the Israelites to bring the prophetic fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles. According to Ezekiel 43:6-7 and Rev. 21:3 this will happen during the Millennium.