‘SUKKOT’ AND THE RETURN OF YESHUA 

 

At sunset on the 6th October 2025, corresponding to the 14th day of the Hebrew month of ‘Tishrei’, Jews all over the world will begin celebrating the festival of ‘Sukkot’ (Feast of Tabernacles), and many Christians will travel to Israel from all over the world to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem.

They do this in accordance to the scripture quoted in Zechariah 14:16 which declares:  “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.”

 

 

 

Many Christians also celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles in various celebration events around the world.

 

It is important to understand that this scripture actually refers to the time of the return of the Messiah. Why do I say this? Well, let’s have a look at Zechariah 14 which begins with the words: “Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst.”

So, clearly this is referring to the ‘day of the L-rd’s return’.

 

Verses 3-4 continues: “Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east.”

This makes reference to the day when all the surrounding Arab nations, together with Magog (thought to be Russia and a coalition of nations, including Persia (Iran) and Turkey) attack Israel and the L-rd returns to Jerusalem – to the Mount of Olives – to battle against Israel’s enemies.

 

Verse 12 goes on to say: “And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths”

This makes reference to the utter destruction that the L-rd will inflict on Israel’s enemies at that time.

 

Then verses 15-16 declares: “Such also shall be the plague on the horse and the mule, on the camel and the donkey, and on all the cattle that will be in those camps. So shall this plague be. And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.”

 

This clearly shows that this refers to the time when the Messiah, Yeshua, sets up His Kingdom and rules and reigns from Jerusalem; and those who are left from the nations who came against Israel will go to Jerusalem every year to worship the L-rd of Hosts and keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

Such is the importance of ‘Sukkot’, that it is the one feast that will be kept when Yeshua sets up His Kingdom here on earth.

 

So, what does this mean for Jews and Gentiles?

 

GENTILES:

If you are a born again follower of Yeshua, it is a time to look forward to; a time of rejoicing. However, this is not so for those who have not come to faith in Yeshua.

This is why the church cannot be apathetic in taking the gospel to all people - beginning with the Jewish people.

 

JEWISH PEOPLE:

At this time of ‘Sukkot’, Psalm 118:25 is recited: “Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.” 

Most Jewish people living now are not saved and face an eternity apart from G-d.

This is why the church needs to fulfill its G-d given mandate to “provoke the Jewish people to jealousy so that they may be saved”.

 

Here is the good news: Zechariah 12:10 tells us: “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.”

When Yeshua returns to Jerusalem, my people will, as a nation, come to salvation as they recognise that the ‘Moshiach’ they are waiting for is indeed Yeshua.

 

This fulfills Romans 11:25-27: “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”” 

This does not mean that every Jew will be saved at that time, but the majority will be.

 

However, we cannot neglect the Jewish people who will die between now and the return of Yeshua.

I urge all Messianic Jews, as well as Christians who know Jewish people, to give them the gospel, the good news of salvation.

It’s vital that the seeds of salvation are planted in their hearts and minds.

If you don’t know any Jewish people, regularly and fervently pray for the salvation of the Jewish people.

In fact, as the Body of Christ, you should be fervently taking the gospel to all people, thus fulfilling the ‘Great Commission’…you have no excuse! 

 

‘Sukkot’ has always been a joyous festival, however ‘Sukkot’ has become a bittersweet time for the Jewish people and the Nation of Israel.

On Saturday, 7 October 2023, the Nation of Israel was treacherously attacked by Hamas from the Gaza Strip while observing the Shabbat and celebrating the final day of ‘Sukkot’, known as ‘Simchat Torah’.

More than 1,200 Jewish citizens, mostly civilians, were brutally murdered, including women and children and 260 teenagers at a music festival.

251 men, women, the elderly and children were taken hostage, and Hamas perpetrated rapes followed by torture and unspeakable murders of children and babies, some who were decapitated.

 

Israel immediately declared war on Hamas, and this war is entering its third year.

Since then, anti-Semitism has risen to levels like never seen before, and nation after nation is turning against Israel. 

 

So at this Let us all, Jews and Gentiles, publicly stand together with the Jewish people and Israel and pray for the “Peace of Jerusalem” - looking forward to the “blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour”, Yeshua – the Jewish Messiah who both Jews and Gentiles are waiting for.

 

We at Emet Ministries wish Jewish people all over the world ‘chag sameach’. We pray that at this set time and in this season, the mercy, favour, protection and blessing of G-d be upon Israel and upon Jewish people the world over.