JOHN 7: 37----- THE TRUTH, HISTORY AND CONTEXT

 John 7:37 - the "Historical" truth of which day it was

This event was not on the day many think it was

6 OR 7 FEASTS?

        ARE THERE SIX OR SEVEN FESTIVALS MENTIONED IN THE 23RD

       CHAPTER OF LEVITICUS?  IS THE SEVENTH ANNUAL SABBATH

       A PART OF THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES? IS THAT  FEAST  8

       DAYS IN LENGTH? WHAT IS THE 7TH ANNUAL SABBATH CALLED

       IN THE OLD TESTAMENT? ON WHAT DAY IS JOHN 7:37 TAKING

       PLACE? THE BIBLE AND HISTORY GIVE US THE  PLAIN TRUTH

       TO THESE QUESTIONS.

by                                                                     Keith Hunt                                                                                                                   The festivals of the Lord are all listed in the 23rd chapter of Leviticus.    As a one time member of what at first was known as the Radio Church of God, and later (about 1967) the Worldwide Church of God. I am speaking from that experience and from their early teaching on the topic we are about to study, and the questions we are about to answer. I am not acquainted with what may have been the understanding of these questions from other branches of the Church of God that also observe the festivals of Lev.23.    During the last 50 years it became common within the organization known as the Worldwide Church of God, to call the 7th annual Sabbath of Lev. 23 verses 36, 39, as "the last great day."    This phrase was taken from John 7:37 which states: "In the last day, that great day of the feast."         It was a common teaching for many decades within the WCG that verses 37, 38, of John 7, took place on the 7th annual Sabbath, the one spoken about in Lev.23: 36, 39. Because of this fact, it was no doubt only natural that this 7th annual Sabbath became known among the ministry and membership of the WCG as  "the last great day."    Yet when we look at the facts of the Bible only, there is NOT ONE VERSE to connect John 7: 37 with the 7th annual Sabbath of Lev.23.    It had been ASSUMED by the ministry of the WCG that the TWO accounts (Lev.23: 36, 39 and John 7: 37) were CONNECTED! No verse or verses were ever brought forth to PROVE this was correct, it was just assumed it was correct. And most Bible Commentaries also assumed the same.    As I will proceed to show, this ASSUMPTION had no basis in actual fact, and it was and is an error!    The assumption has led some to state that the 7th annual Sabbath is a part of the feast of Tabernacles, or to put it another way, the feast of Booths is NOT OVER until the END of the 7th annual Sabbath.    Within the WCG for the same decades was also the teaching that the Lord had 7 FEASTS, the 7th annual Sabbath of Lev. 23 being the 7th FEAST, a single day long feast, like that of the feast of Trumpets.       Now do you begin to see that the TWO teachings did not really "jive" together? If the 7th annual Sabbath of Lev. 23 was also the "last great day" of the feast, the feast of Tabernacles of John 7: 37, then it was PART OF the feast of Tabernacles, and not a separate feast at all, which would then make ONLY 6 feasts of the Lord and not 7. There would still be 7 annual Sabbaths of God, but only 6 feasts in actuality, because the feast of Booths would be 8 days in length!    Making this clear to you, there would be these feasts of the Lord in Lev. 23. 1. Passover (one day). 2. Days of Unleavened Bread (7 days - two annual Sabbaths). 3. Pentecost (one day - one annual Sabbath). 4. Trumpets (one day - one annual Sabbath). 5. Atonement (one day - one annual Sabbath). 6. Feast of Tabernacles (8 days - 2 annual Sabbaths).    The above gives us 6 feasts but 7 annual Sabbaths.    But it was taught by the old WCG that there were 7 FEASTS of God - the number 7 is the number for PERFECTION or COMPLETION in God's word. It was taught the 7th annual Sabbath was a FEAST of  ONE DAY, apart and separate from the feast of Tabernacles.    If that was and is true, then John 7:37 CAN NOT FIT! For the "last great day" could not be a SEPARATE 7th feast from the feast of Tabernacles AND AT THE SAME TIME the "last great day" of the feast of Tabernacles, which would have been the 6th and final feast of the Lord.    Do you see how all this conflicting teaching CAN NOT be syncretized - something is AMISS - something is not being understood correctly.    We can know the truth, there is no contradiction in God's word. But we will have to search the word, make sure we keep the horse before the cart, and maybe do a little history research.    First, let's get some CLEAR verses of the word in our minds. The PLAIN easy to understand verses MUST COME FIRST! They must remain our foundation, and we must never loose sight of them. If we keep that frame-work, our task  will be much easier all the way. THE PHRASE "LAST GREAT DAY"                                         OR, the words used by John in chapter 7 verse 37 of his gospel. Can we find these words used ANYWHERE in the OT (Old Testament) with reference to the 7th annual Sabbath of Lev. 23?    What does Lev.23 CALL this 7th annual Sabbath?  You will find the answer in verses 36 and 39.  It is "the EIGHTH day."        This 7th annual Sabbath is called the "eighth day" in Numbers 29:35. The same Sabbath is again called "eighth day" in 2 Chron.7:9. Also in Nehemiah 8:18 it is called "eighth day."       Using a CONCORDANCE or other Bible aids for research, you will NOT find ONE SINGLE reference in the OT to this 7th annual Sabbath EVER being called "the last great day" or "the last day, the great day of the feast."    IT IS JUST NOT THERE!  It is ONLY EVER called the "eighth day."  Ah, now we should be starting to question a little. HOW MANY DAYS IS THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES?    Does the word of the Lord tell us? If it does, will it tell us MORE than once?    Turn to Lev.23. Notice verse 34.  "........The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of Tabernacles, F 0 R SEVEN days unto the Lord."    Notice verse 39. "Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month....... you shall keep a feast unto the Lord SEVEN days......."          Verse 41. "And ye shall keep it a feast unto the Lord SEVEN days in the year ......."        Verse 42. "Ye shall dwell in booths SEVEN DAYS......."    Turn to Numbers 29. Notice verse 12. "And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall keep a feast unto the Lord SEVEN days."    The feast of Tabernacles was for SEVEN days in 2 Chron.7:8-9.    The Jews under Nehemiah kept the feast of Booths or Tabernacles for SEVEN days (Neh.8:14-18).    God instructed Israel to keep the feast of Tabernacles for SEVEN days in Deut. 16:13.    Ezekiel's temple of the millennium as given in chapter 45 of the book that bears his name, shows the feast that starts on the 15th day of the 7th month will still be, during that coming age, SEVEN DAYS in length!    It is now VERY CLEAR from the OT, from God's specific words, given not just once (yet that would be all that is needed coming from God) but MANY times, the feast of Tabernacles HAS NEVER been—— L  0  N  G  E  R  than  SEVEN  DAYS in length!    There is not one place in the entire Bible where the feast of Tabernacles is said to be 8 days long!  It is only said to be 7 days long!    The 7th annual Sabbath that comes immediately AFTER the feast of Tabernacles is called "the eighth day." Never is it called the feast of Booths or Tabernacles, or the "last day" of the feast of Tabernacles, or "the last day of the feast."    Keeping the horse before the cart, reading and learning from the OT first, we have no clear evidence or justification to acquaint John 7:37 with the 7th annual Sabbath or the "eighth day" of Lev. 23. The word of the Lord from the OT plainly teaches us that this "eighth day" or 7th annual Sabbath is NEXT TO the feast of Tabernacles but it is not a PART OF that feast! It is then SEPARATE FROM the feast of Tabernacles - it is ANOTHER FEAST ALTOGETHER from the feast of Booths, with a different meaning, and fore-shadowing  events separate from those pictured by the feast of Tabernacles.    It is then a 7th feast of God. So a complete or perfect number of festivals of the Lord. The Eternal very carefully and plainly shows us He has 7 not 6 festivals!    It is more than interesting to note how God begins and ends His festival season. It starts with a ONE DAY feast - Passover, followed by a 7 day feast (Unleavened bread). The festival season ends with a 7 day feast (Tabernacles) followed by a ONE DAY feast - the "eighth day."    Remember now, God has plainly shown  us from Exodus to Malachi that the feast of Tabernacles is 7 days in length NOT 8 days.    Nothing can be found in the NT (New Testament) to CHANGE that clear truth and instruction of the OT.    Keeping the horse in front of the cart, we now see it is wrong and incorrect to ever say the feast of Tabernacles is 8 days in length, or is not over until after the "eighth day" or the 7th annual Sabbath is part of the feast of booths.    Now being clear on that point and on the one that shows the "eighth day" is NEVER called in the OT "the last day" or "the great day of the feast" or "the last great day" we have only ONE final fence to jump in putting it all together for harmony. And this is where a little Jewish HISTORY and TRADITION helps us over the fence, and provides us with the answer. WHEN AND WHAT IS JOHN 7:37 ALL ABOUT?                                                                              The scholars that compiled my New King James Version - Personal Study Edition (Copyright 1990, 1995 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.) came upon the truth of the matter of John 7: 37.    This is what their footnote says:  7: 37, 38 great day of the feast: Probably the seventh day. Water was poured out at the altar as part of the ritual for the day. This furnished a fitting framework for Jesus' call to come... and drink, and for His promise of living water.    It is more than just probable. It is the historic fact. The NKJV scholars did not elaborate any more, they said nothing about where they acquired information to state what they wrote.    But with a "thank you" from the well known if not famous Jewish Christian scholar ALFRED EDERSHEIM, D.D., Ph.D. we can know the historical facts and reach complete harmony together with some truth most have missed.       The following is taken from Edersheim's great work and book "THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JESUS THE MESSIAH" chapter 7, entitled "In The Last, The Great Day of The Feast."    All  emphasis is mine. "It was  'the last, the great of the Feast,'  and Jesus was once more in the Temple. We can scarcely doubt that it was the concluding day of the Feast, and NOT, as some modern writers suppose, its Octave, which in Rabbinic language, was regarded as 'a festival by itself.' a (Comp. Yoma 3a, and often) 1 (1 -  Hence the benediction said at the beginning of every Feast is not only said on the first of that of Tabernacles, but also on the octave of it [Sukk. 48 a]. The sacrifices for that occasion were quite different from those for  'Tabernacles;' the 'booths' were removed; and the peculiar rites of the Feast of Tabernacles no longer observed. This is distinctly stated in Sukk. 4.1, and the diverging opinion of R. Jehudah on this and another point is formally rejected in Tos. Sukk. 3.16. For the six points of difference between the Feast of Tabernacles and its Octave, see notes at the end of ch.8. But such solemn interest attaches to the Feast, and this occurrence on its last day, that we must try to realize the scene.......  Not only did all the priestly families minister during that week, but it has been calculated that not fewer than 446 Priests, with, of course, a corresponding number of Levites, were required for its sacrificial worship. In general, the services were the same every day, except that the number of bullocks offered decreased daily from thirteen on the first, to seven on the seventh day.......  But 'the last, the Great Day of the Feast,' was marked by special observances. Let us suppose ourselves in the number of worshippers, who on 'the last, the Great Day of the Feast,' are leaving their 'booths' at daybreak to take part in the service. The pilgrims are in festive array. In his right hand each carries what is called the Lulabh, which, although properly meaning 'a branch,' or 'palm-branch,' consisted of a myrtle and willow-branch tied together with a palm-branch between them.This was supposed to be in fulfilment of the command, Lev.23:40. 'The fruit (A.V. 'boughs') of the goodly trees,' mentioned in the same verse of Scripture, was supposed to be the Ethrog....... a species of citron. This Ethrog each worshipper carries in his left hand....... this interpretation was given by the Rabbis....... this was one of the points in controversy between the Pharisees and Sadducees. Thus armed with Lulabh in their right, and Ethroq in their left hands, the festive multitude would divide into three bands. Some would remain in the Temple to attend the preparation of the Morning Sacrifice. Another band would go in procession 'below Jerusalem' to a place called Moza....... At Moza they cut down willow branches, with which, amidst the blasts of the Priests' trumpets, they adorned the altar, forming a leafy canopy about it. Yet a third company were taking part in a STILL MORE INTERESTING SERVICE. To the sound of music a procession started from the Temple. It followed a Priest who bore a golden pitcher, capable of holding three log (rather more than two pints). Onwards it passed.......down the edge of Tyropoeon Valley, where it merges into that of the Kedron........ Here was the so-called 'Fountain-Gate,' and still within the City-wall 'the Pool of Siloam,' the overflow of which fed a lower pool....... When the Temple procession had reached the Pool of Siloam, the Priest filled his golden pitcher from its waters. Then went back to the Temple....... towards the close of the ordinary Morning sacrifice service. A threefold blast of the Priests' trumpets welcomed the arrival of the Priest, as he entered through the 'Water-gate,' which obtained its name from this ceremony....... Here he was joined by another Priest, who carried the wine for the drink offering. There were two silver funnels here, with narrow openings, leading down to the base of the altar. Into that of the east, which was somewhat wider, the wine was poured, and, at the same time, the water into the western and narrower opening....... Immediately  after 'the  pouring  of water,' the great 'Hallel,' consisting of Psalms cxiii. to cxviii. (inclusive), was chanted antiphonally, or rather, with responses, to the accompaniment of the flute.......The festive morning-service was  followed by the offering of the special sacrifices for the day, with their drink offerings, and by the Psalm for the day, which, on 'the last, the Great Day of the Feast,' was Psalm lxxxii. from verse 5.......In further symbolism of this Feast, as pointing to the ingathering of the heathen nations, the public service closed with a procession round the Altar by the Priests.......But on the 'last, the Great Day of the Feast,' this procession of the Priests made the circuit of the altar, not only once, but seven times....HENCE THE SEVENTH OR LAST DAY OF THE FEAST WAS ALSO CALLED THAT OF 'THE GREAT HOSANNAH.'  As the people left the Temole, they saluted the altar with words of thanks, and on the last day of the Feast they shook off the leaves on the willow branches around the altar, and beat their palm-branches to pieces. ON THE SAME AFTERNOON THE 'BOOTHS' WERE DISMANTLED, AND THE FEAST ENDED....." EDERSHEIM CONTINUES: "We can have little difficulty in determining at what part of the services of  'the last, the Great Day of the Feast,' Jesus stood and cried,  'If any one thirst, let him come unto Me and drink!'  It must have been with special reference to the ceremony of the out-pouring of the water, which, as we have seen, was considered the CENTRAL PART of the service. Moreover, all would understand that His words must refer to the Holy Spirit, since the rite was universally regarded as symbolical of His outpouring. The forthpouring of the water was immediately followed by the chanting of the Hallel. But after that there must have been a short pause to prepare for the festive sacrifices (the Musaph). IT WAS THEN, immediately after the symbolic rite of water pouring, immediately after the people had responded by repeating those lines from Psalm cxviii. - given thanks, and prayed that Jehovah would send salvation and prosperity, and had shaken their Lulabh towards the altar, thus praising 'with heart, and mouth, and hands,' and then silence had fallen upon them - that there rose, so loud as to be heard throughout the Temple, the Voice of Jesus. He interrupted not the service, for they had for the moment ceased: HE INTERPRETED, AND HE FULFILLED THEM......."              There it is from the great scholar Edersheim, the words of Christ in John 7:37, 38 took place NOT ON the "eighth day," the 7th annual Sabbath of Lev. 23, BUT TOOK PLACE ON THE 7TH DAY OF THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES, which the Jews had by custom and tradition made into a special ceremony day of water pouring and Psalm chanting and processions, nothing in Scripture saying any of that was to be done; together with the dismantling of the booths in the afternoon of that day. Yes, of course, they would dismantle their booths on that day, for the feast of booths was now over - 7 days in length, not 8.       To prove that the "eighth day" of Lev.23 was a DISTINCT and SEPARATE feast of the Lord, Edersheim gives the following 6 points at the end of chapter 8 in his book "The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah." Quote: "........The six points of difference which mark the Octave as a separate feast are indicated by the memorial words and letters....... (he gives the Hebrew - Keith Hunt) and are as follows: (1) During the seven days of Tabernacles the Priests of all the 'courses' officiated, while on the Octave the sacrificial services were appointed, as usually, by lot. (2) The benediction at the beginning of a feast was spoken again at the Octave. (3) The Octave was designated in prayer, and by special ordinances, as a separate feast. (4) Differences in the sacrifices. (5) Differences in the Psalms - on the Octave (Soph. xix. 2) probably Ps. xii. (6) According to 1 Kings viii.66, differences as to the blessing".    Let me recommend - HIGHLY RECOMMEND - to the reader, the books of Alfred Edersheim D.D., Ph.D.    Especially should all Elders in the Church of God, have his books. The wealth of historic facts are profuse. Most Bible Book Stores will be able to help you in obtaining Edersheim's books, or Amazon. Com, or from Christian Book Distributor. JOHN 8 TO 10:21 WAS ON THE "EIGHTH DAY"    The 7th annual Sabbath or "eighth day" of Lev.23 is the last festival of the Lord in His festive season.    The Feasts of God show the overall plan of salvation for all human kind that have and will live from Adam to the end of the 1,000 years of Revelation chapter 20.    What the White Throne Judgment entails is pictured or shadowed by the "eighth day" or 7th annual Sabbath.    It is the time period when ALL who were not given an opportunity to see and repent of their sins, to know about Christ Jesus the Savior  (the ONLY name given whereby You can be saved - Acts 4: 12) will be RESURRECTED to physical life and have their opportunity to repent and accept the truths and way of the Lord, and enter the Kingdom of God.    Sins will be forgiven for those who will repent,  and spiritual BLINDNESS will be cast away from millions of minds and THEY WILL SEE. They shall KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH WILL SET THEM FREE!  They shall be able to see WHO and WHAT the FATHER really is and Jesus whom He sent to do His will.    They that be of God at that time, they who will repent, will HEAR God's words and will obey and will not see the second death. They shall come to understand that Jesus was the "I AM" of Abraham's day and before.    Those born in spiritual blindness and remained that way all their lives until death, shall be raised to life again, to have their chance for Christ to touch their eyes and remove the darkness so they may spiritually see and acknowledge that Jesus is Lord and Savior, and BELIEVE on the Son of God.    It will be a time, a day, when millions will KNOW the only TRUE SHEPHERD and DOOR WAY into the sheep fold. When MANY OTHER SHEEP of all nations of the earth will hear the voice of the true shepherd and BELIEVE. There will indeed be ONE FOLD and ONE SHEPHERD!    Ah, yes  friend, read again all the words in John chapter 8 through to chapter 10:21.    After the feast of Tabernacles when every man went unto his own house (John 7: 53) and Jesus went unto the mount of Olives (chap. 8: 1), He came AGAIN EARLY IN THE MORNING TO THE TEMPLE WHERE HE SAT DOWN AND TAUGHT - verse 2.      This was the day AFTER the feast of Tabernacles, the day after the last and great day of the feast (the 7th day of the feast of Booths). It was the EIGHTH DAY - the 7th ANNUAL SABBATH of Lev.23. Jesus returned to the Temple to TEACH the meaning of this last festival of the Lord in the festival season.    A festival of the forgiveness of sins, the removal of blindness, the voice of the only true shepherd calling all into the one fold.       ALL from John 8 to chapter 9 and verse 14, was on a Sabbath day, the word “the” is not in the Greek. So it read “And it was Sabbath day, when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes.”    On this 8th day - Sabbath day,  Jesus opened the eyes of the blind man!    So indeed this last Feast is showing it will be a time when billions of people will have their eyes opened to salvation as then it will be Revelation 20—— "The Great White Throne Judgment" period. I have a full in-depth study by that very name.    How great and wonderful is the word of the Lord, it contains no contradictions, but with a searching of the scriptures, a little help from history, all is complete harmony and truth.                                                                                                             Note The Greek in John 9:14 does not contain the definite article "the" and so the NKJV corrects this. The giving of sight to the blind man was not on THE Sabbath (7 day of the week) but on "a" Sabbath - the 7th annual Sabbath, the "eighth day" - the day after the 7th day of the Feast of Tabernacles.              .................................. Written  in December 1995 All articles and studies by Keith Hunt may be copied, published, e-mailed and distributed as led by the Spirit.  Mr. Hunt trusts nothing will be changed without his consent.