"It's phenomenal when you're sitting there in the audience with thousands of Christians from around the world, worshipping the King of kings in the city of the King."
That's how Dr. Susan Michael, director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem-USA describes the organization's annual celebration of the Feast of the Tabernacles. Last year's event, the first to move to an all-online format because of the coronavirus pandemic, hosted the largest number of people ever, and the ICEJ has great expectations for this year's celebration, "The Days of Elijah," set for Sept. 20-27, as well.
"This will be our 42nd Feast of Tabernacles," Michael told Dr. Steve Greene on a recent episode of the Greenelines podcast on the Charisma Podcast Network. "And over those 42 years, we've brought at least 150,000 Christians to Israel."
But the online platform has allowed the event to expand exponentially. For last year's Feast, "We had 7,500 paid registrants, and that means probably 16,000 people watching it in their living rooms," Michael sys. "And then we had watch parties around the world, so we don't even know how many thousands of people were watching."
"We're excited because the technology is allowing us to go into more countries, reach more people and bring this unique event into churches and homes all around the world," she adds. "The Feast event itself is very, very educational. We have lots of seminars and workshops and teachings where people can learn things about Israel, but also biblical teaching about what's going on in Israel with ministries there. But it's also a global worship event."
"The Feast of Tabernacles really is the largest Christian solidarity event with Israel in the world," Michael says. "And every year when we bring these thousands of Christians up to Jerusalem, we usually have the Jerusalem March, and they literally walk through the streets of Jerusalem carrying banners saying, 'We support Israel' in their national colors, representing the nations. And the people of Israel love this; they go out in the streets to watch the nations.
The Feast of Tabernacles also has a prophetic aspect, Michael says, "because it's a forward-looking event. It hasn't been fulfilled yet. But it will be fulfilled when Jesus returns and the kingdom of God is established in our myths.
"That is what the Feast of Tabernacles is really all about," she adds. "It's a celebration of the final harvest of the coming kingdom of God and pouring out of the Holy Spirit. And so just coming to understand what the Feast of Tabernacles is about, the people will be able to apply that to their daily lives and to understand the prophetic timetable that we live in.
"And there will also be a teaching about what's going on in Israel with the rockets, with Iran, with current events," she says. "There'll be teaching about other current events around the world with rising antisemitism that's taking place."
The Feast will also include teaching related to this year's theme, "The Days of Elijah," Michael says, adding that spiritual strongholds are being confront today just as in Elijah's. "And we've got to rise up in faith like Elijah did. And we've got to call them for what they are and let God arise, and His enemies be scattered."
Although this year will again look different because of COVID, Michael hopes an even greater number than those from the 120 nations that participated last year will participate. To register for the event, visit icejusa.org/charisma/.
"Another thing they might consider doing is hosting a Feast Watch Party, either in their home or at their church or community center," Michael says. "And if they can get together 10 or more people, we'll actually give them a free access code to go in and watch it."
For much more from Susan Michael on the work of the ICEJ in standing with Israel as well as the upcoming Feast of the Tabernacles Event, listen to the entire episode of Greenelines here, and subscribe to the Greenelines podcast on your favorite podcast platform for more inspiring, informative stories like this one. Again, visit icejusa.org/charisma/ for registration and other information. You'll also want to check out Michael's podcast, Out of Zion and her "Walk Through the Bible" teaching, also on the Charisma Podcast Network. 
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