VaYikra/Lev 23:27 "On the tenth day of this seventh month is (Yom Kippur)
the Day of Atonement. It shall be a set-apart gathering for you.
And you shall afflict your beings, and shall bring an offering made by fire to יהוה.
Lev 23:28 "And you do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to
make atonement for you before יהוה your Elohim.
Lev 23:29 "For any being who is not afflicted on that same
day, he shall be cut off from his people.
Lev 23:30 "And any being who does any work on that same day,
that being I shall destroy from the midst of his people.
Lev 23:31 "You do no work – a law forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
Lev 23:32 ‘It is a Sabbath of rest (Shabbat Shabbaton – on the same level as the weekly
Shabbat) to you, and you shall afflict your beings. On the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you observe
your Sabbath."
From one hour before sunset on the evening
of the 9th day going over into the 10th day of the
Seventh Scriptural month (Tishrei or Ethanim) until at least two stars are
visible in the sky on the night of the end of the 10th of the
Seventh Scriptural month, is Yom HaKippurim, or the Day of Atonements on YHVH's
calendar. This is the Jewish halacha and they based it on the fact that this
Torah commandment does not say ''from sunset to sunset on the tenth of the
Seventh month you shall afflict your being''. That would have been 24 hours).
It says on the Ninth day of the month
at even from evening to evening (in
other words from before the sunset of the tenth day start untill the next
sunset. From there came the halacha that the fast will be 25 hours. "To
afflict your being "from earliest times had the meaning of a complete
fast. This is the most set apart day of the whole year. Yahshua did not come to
take away the promises to Yisrael and give them to another people. Rather he
shed his blood in order to confirm the promises to Yisrael so that the
Father's name will be set apart in the earth. As it is written in
Rom 15:8,9
The
Scriptures translation: "Rom 15:8
And I say that יהושע Messiah has become a servant of the circumcised for the truth
of Elohim, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,
Rom
15:9 and for the gentiles to praise
Elohim for His compassion, as it has been written, “Because of this I shall
confess to You among the gentiles, and I shall sing to Your Name.”
Every year during this time we are
commanded in the Scriptures to deny ourselves and not eat or drink for twenty-five
hours (most make it 25 and not 24, just to make sure that the whole time is
covered as explained above). The time is spent in prayer and repentance.
The Day of
Atonement, called “Yom Kippur” in Hebrew, is one of the “Feasts” (Chaggim) of
YHVH (also called Moadim “Appointed Times”). If you have become His beloved
child through faith in His Son Yahshua, this Appointed time which is a fast, rather than a Feast, is for
you. Remember that Yahshua did not say, "If you fast…" but "When
you fast…" Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is such a day.
YHVH’s first
three feasts (appointed Times) are in the Spring time of Israel. These Spring
Feasts were fulfilled when Yahshua Messiah came the First time (Still has a
final fulfillment too when Yahshua returns) and when the Ruach HaKodesh (the
Set –apart Spirit) were poured out. The Church is saying that the Feasts are
fulfilled in “Jesus” and yet they have altered versions mixed with the worship
of paganism, calling it “Easter” and “Pentecost” of the first Spring Festivals
of YHVH. The church says and beliefs that the Scriptural feasts are only for
the Jews because for us who believe in “Jesus” (Yahshua) the Scriptural Torah
commanded festivals are fulfilled in “Jesus” but in actual fact the church has not
only showed disobedience by not
observing the first three Feasts "for all generations" which
portrayed the death, resurrection and ascension of Yahshua as also the giving
of the Torah and the outpouring of the set apart Spirit but also discarded
the Feasts that have not yet been fulfilled. These are the Fall Feasts
(fall according to Israel’s seasons). They are Yom Teruah, Yom haKippurim,
Sukkot and Shemeni Atzereth. Paul did not write in Colossians 2:17 about the Feasts that "These are a shadow
of the things that were to come," as it says for instance in
the NIV translation. He wrote "which are a shadow of things to come"
(NKJV) showing that all has not yet been fulfilled. The Feasts are very
important as they contain teaching for us today about the whole Redemption
plan of YHVH in the things that already happened in Yahshua’s first coming AND
the "things to come" still at the end of the age at Yahshua's second
coming. All part of His redemption plan. It is a beautiful cycle of redemption
that we rehearse year after year.
Yom
Kippur
Apart from VaYikrah 23 where all the Appointed times of YHVH can be found, the instructions about Yom HaKippurim, the Day of the Atonements which falls on the tenth day of the seventh Scriptural month called Ethanim in Hebrew before Babylonian exile (also Tishrei since Babylonian captivity) are found in more detail in VaYikrah (Leviticus) 16. It is one of the most important chapters in the Torah. Yom Kippur was the only day of the year during which the High Priest was able to enter the Most Set-apart Area of the Tabernacle and offer incense and blood in the presence of The Almighty One. The purpose of this was to thoroughly cleanse the tabernacle of the sins that had been stored up in it during the previous year, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel. In spite of the fact that YHVH had given clear instructions about how the children of Israel were to keep away from ritual uncleanness, so that the set-apart Place would not be contaminated, it was unavoidable that it would happen anyway. If someone who was unclean entered the tabernacle, it became unclean. Someone could have entered the tabernacle not knowing that he was unclean. Someone else might have forgotten that he was unclean, and entered the tabernacle. Therefore, YHVH instituted this Day of Atonement in order to cleanse the objects of the earthly tabernacle.
On this day, YHVH the only true Elohim also shows man that he can be reconciled with Him. That is the great Day of Atonement. Atonement between YHVH and man is the central theme of the entire Scriptures, and in this chapter, we see how this atonement will take place. The wrath of The Eternal rests on man because of his sins. For, this wrath is deadly. The only thing that is able to still this wrath is if the Almighty One shows compassion. This compassion is revealed to man through the atonement that is based on the blood-offering of innocent animals, as it is written in VaYikra/Leviticus 17:11 ‘For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your lives, for it is the blood that makes atonement for the life.’ (The Scriptures)
This chapter is also one of the best texts to show what happened to the Messiah Yahshua before and after his resurrection, when he entered into the High Priestly ministry according to the order of Malki-Tzedek. He entered the heavenly tabernacle and cleansed it with his own blood, as it is written in
Hebrew 9:22-26, Heb 9:22 And, according
to the Torah, almost all is cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood
there is no forgiveness. Heb 9:23 It was necessary, then, that the copies of
the heavenly ones should be cleansed with these, but the heavenly ones
themselves with better slaughter offerings than these. Heb 9:24 For Messiah has
not entered into a Set-apart Place made by hand – figures of the true – but
into the heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of Elohim on our behalf,
Heb 9:25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters into
the Set-apart Place year by year with blood not his own. Heb 9:26 For if so, He
would have had to suffer often, since the foundation of the world. But now He
has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the
offering of Himself.
The tenth day of the seventh month is reflected in the tenth day of the first month. On the tenth day of the first month, a lamb was brought into every home in Mitsrayim/Egypt, where they were to celebrate Pesach in order to then leave the slavery of king Pharaoh. The Pesach lamb was appointed on the tenth day of the first month, and was set apart on the fourteenth day. The tenth day of the seventh month is therefore connected with the Pesach lamb. The blood of the Pesach lamb protected the firstborn from death. The meat of the lamb produced strength and healing in the weak and sick bodies of the people. In a similar way, the offerings that are offered during Yom HaKippurim atone for the sins of the children of Israel in order to save them from death, as it is written in
Viyakra/ Leviticus 16:30, “For on that day he makes atonement for you, to cleanse you, to be clean from all your sins before יהוה.
Pesach is intimately connected with Yom Kippur. In the same way, the death of the Messiah Yahshua/Yeshua, which took place during Pesach, fulfilled a great part of the ministry of Yom Kippur in the heavenly tabernacle. He has entered into the Most Set-apart Place in heaven and remained there for nearly two thousand years. Since the High Priest not only entered the Most Set-apart Place of the earthly tabernacle, but also exited and blessed the people, we know that the Messiah is not going to remain in the Most Set-apart Place in heaven, but will go out from there to bless the people of Yisrael and all mankind. The Messiah has, therefore, fulfilled half of the Yom Kippur ministry. When Yahshua comes back to earth, he will fulfill the rest. On that day, all sin will be removed from those who have placed their hope in him, as it is written in
Hebrews 9:27-28, “Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment, so Messiah also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for salvation.”(HNV)
Yom Kippur
represents the day when the earth has been cleansed with the fire of Elohim's
judgments from all sin and impurity. Yahshua will return on the Feast of
Trumpets/the Day of the Great awakening BLAST (Yom Teruah) in the clouds. The dead
in Yahshua will be resurrected and those in Him, still alive will be
changed in a moment. They will be caught up in the air to meet Yahshua.
Yahshua will begin to judge the world in righteousness. During the ten
following days leading up to Yom Kippur, called the Days of Awe, the earth will
be cleansed by fire.
2Pe 3:7 And the present
heavens and the earth are treasured up by the same Word, being kept for fire,
to a day of judgment and destruction of wicked men.
This will happen when the Master (Lord)
Yahshua is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful messengers
(angels).
2Th 1:8 in flaming fire
taking vengeance on those who do not know Elohim, and on those who do not obey
the Good News of our Master יהושע Messiah….
1 Co
3:13-15"… the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with
fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has
built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer
loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the
flames."
On Yom
Kippur, which marks the end of this period of judgment, Yahshua will make his
physical entrance into Yerushalayim/Jerusalem to bless his people with
salvation.
Zechariah 3:9 promises, "I will remove the sin of this land
in a single day." Five days later, when the “succa” (booth/ temporal
dwelling like for Sukkot) is ready, he will begin to reign from Yerushalayim/Jerusalem
at Sukkot/the Feast of Tabernacles.
Yahshua fulfilled the first part of the Day
of Atonement when he came
the first time, and he carried his own blood into the Most Set- apart Place in
heaven to make atonement for us. The final
part of the rituals on the Day of Atonement is when the High Priest comes out from the Most
Set-apart Place in the Temple to bless the people. This will be fulfilled (many believe) at the time of
Yahshua's physical return to Yerushalayim at the beginning of the Millennium.
Heb 9:28 so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear
the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to those waiting
for Him, unto deliverance.
Observing
the Day of Atonement Today
YHVH has
given us the observance of Yom HaKippurim Day of Atonements (or as it is also
called: Yom Kippur) the Day of Atonement as part of the preparation for "what
is to come" (Col 2:17) when Yahshua returns. Paul wrote to Timothy, "from
infancy you have known the set-apart Scriptures, which are able to make you
wise for salvation through faith in Messiah Yahshua." (2 Ti 3:15)
We need the wisdom of the Scriptures in order to make it in these last days. "The
fear of YHVH is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and
discipline." (Pr 1:7) The important lesson that all of us must take to
heart with fasting, repentance and prayer on this Day of Atonement is
summarized in
2Pe 3:11 Seeing all
these are to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be in
set-apart behaviour and reverence,
2Pe 3:12 looking for and
hastening the coming of the day of Elohim, through which the heavens shall
be destroyed, being set on fire, and the elements melt with intense heat!
2Pe 3:13 But according
to His promise we wait for a renewed heavens and a renewed earth in which
righteousness dwells.
2Pe 3:14 So then, beloved
ones, looking forward to this, do your utmost to be found by Him in peace,
spotless and blameless,
2Pe 3:15 and reckon the
patience of our Master as deliverance, as also our beloved brother Sha’ul wrote
to you, according to the wisdom given to him,
Yom Kippur is to be observed before the Eternal with fasting, 25 hours without any food or drink (those who cannot do the full fast for medical reasons, must not feel judged). It is a day of preparation for the coming of the Messiah when we need to cry out with King David, "Search me, O El, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Ps 139:23-24)
On Yom Kippur we ought to remember the serious words of the Apostle Peter,
1Pe 4:17 Because it is time for judgment to begin from the House of Elohim. And if firstly from us, what is the end of those who do not obey the Good News of Elohim?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where shall the wicked and the sinner appear?
If we take the lessons of Yom Kippur seriously, we will be part of the glorious Bride at the great wedding supper of the Lamb symbolized by Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) beginning five days later.
Rev 19:1 And after this I heard a loud voice of a great crowd in the heaven, saying, “Halleluyah! Deliverance and esteem and respect and power to יהוה our Elohim!
Rev 19:2 “Because true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great whore who corrupted the earth with her whoring. And He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.”
Rev 19:3 And a second time they said, “Halleluyah! And her smoke rises up forever and ever!”
Rev 19:4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped Elohim who sat on the throne, saying, “Amĕn!
Halleluyah!”
Rev 19:5 And a voice came from the throne, saying,
“Praise our Elohim, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and
great!”
Rev 19:6 And I heard as the voice of a great crowd, as
the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunders, saying,
“Halleluyah, for יהוה Ěl Shaddai reigns!
Rev 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him praise,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife prepared herself.”
Rev 19:8 And to her it was given to be dressed in fine
linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the
set-apart ones.
Rev 19:9 And he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those
who have been called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me,
“These are the true words of Elohim.”
Fasting without food or drink for 24/25 hours (''afflicting of our beings'') on Yom Kippur/Yom haKippurim, the Day of Atonement/s, is not pleasant. Once again, this is an obvious lesson that the Eternal has given to teach us about the Master Yahshua’s coming. We must get ready for the coming of the Master because it will not be an easy escape! "But who can endure the day of his coming?" (Mal 3:2) It will require much soul searching and repentance to be ready.
Yom haKippurim is also a day to fast and pray for the final salvation of all of Yisrael.