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God of Our Salvation
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughHumanity faces a profound problem of sin, leading to death and separation from God. Yet, there is a promise of deliverance through the Last Great Day, a time linked to the Great White Throne Judgment, when billions will rise in the second resurrection for their first true opportunity for salvation. During this period, they will experience a world of abundance and joy, far removed from the hardships of their past lives. In John 7, Jesus Christ, inspired by the Jewish Water Ceremony on the Last Great Day, stands and proclaims that those who thirst should come to Him for living water, symbolizing the Holy Spirit and the path to eternal life. This imagery ties to Isaiah 12:3, which speaks of drawing water with joy from the wells of salvation. Christ's declaration radiates exuberance, inviting all to find the answer to their deepest need in Him. The phrase "wells of salvation" from Isaiah 12:3 evokes a powerful image of a fountain or spring, where living water flows continuously, dynamic and inexhaustible. This water represents salvation itself, a source of unending blessing for those who have never known such abundance or reliability. In the Great White Throne Judgment, people will eagerly approach this source, free from interference, with hearts open to accept God's offer, knowing that a single drink from this water, as Christ promised in John 4:14, will quench their thirst forever. The Hebrew word for salvation, yeshu'ah, carries profound weight, emphasizing deliverance from distress and danger. It is the focal point of Isaiah 12:3, highlighting salvation as the ultimate gift. Closely tied to this word is Yeshuah, the name of Jesus Christ, meaning He will save His people from their sins. This connection reveals that salvation is not merely a concept but a Person—Jesus Christ, the embodiment of God's plan for humanity's redemption, who will offer this living water to all in the time of judgment and beyond.
An Abundance of Living Water
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe phrase "wells of salvation" comes from Isaiah 12:3, "Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation," which the Levitical choir and people sang during the water ceremony on the Last Great Day. Priests led a trumpet-blaring procession to the pool of Siloam, drew water in a golden pitcher, carried it back to the Temple, and poured it on the altar as thanksgiving for salvation. The people did not yet understand that God answers such thanksgiving by giving His Spirit back to them. At that moment Jesus stood and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink," and promised rivers of living water. Compared with a golden pitcher, He offers a sea. The water is the Holy Spirit, received upon belief, repentance, and baptism. Jacob's well was a seep well, with water slowly trickling in and able to run out. Christ's living water is a bubbling, inexhaustible fountain springing up into everlasting life. Today only a trickle of this water has been given, but the Last Great Day, fulfilled in the Great White Throne Judgment, pictures God opening the floodgates to billions. They will draw freely from the fountain of life, as Ezekiel's ever-deepening river from the Temple, Revelation 22:17, and Isaiah 55:1 all promise.
Why the Last Great Day?
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughSome words are inadequate to describe the magnitude of certain things. Why is the 'Last Great Day' called great?
Teachings from Tabernacles
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by David C. GrabbeThe temporary dwellings remind us that nothing earthly is permanent nor our true inheritance, and that our focus must be on what God is doing.
Four Views of Christ (Part 1)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIn the typology of the four living creatures (Revelation 4:6-8) lies the foundation for understanding the gospels as four representations of the same Life.