ISRAEL – YOM KIPPUR – DAY OF ATONEMENT
Wednesday – September 27, 2017
Friday, September 29, at 6 pm will be the onset of the Feast of the Lord called Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement. This is the most holy feast on the Hebrew calendar for it is the day ordained of God when the sins of all the peoples were atoned (covered) for another year. It is worth noting that there has not been a blood sacrifice in Jerusalem since the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. I believe that it is significant that the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD since seventy is the number of the nations. The appointed place for the sacrifices of this Feast of the Lord is at the Temple in Jerusalem (Tabernacle before that). No Temple no sacrifice however this Feast remains a solemn day of repentance for the Jews. Note the Anointed Words of the Apostle Paul.
Romans 11:25-27 (KJV)
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
The word “Feast” in the Feasts of the Lord is the Hebrew word transliterated to English as Moed. A Moed is a specific day prescribed by God for the congregation (Nation of Israel) to gather for a specific purpose.
Leviticus 23:27 (KJV)
27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
The word “afflict” in the preceding verse means to humble the spirit man, to discipline the mind, and come into agreement with God. The flesh of the bullock and goat represent sin just as Jesus bore sin in His flesh. The fire of God, the Holy Spirit is the surest cleanser of evil. Let us be mindful that some of these feasts (Moeds) are not only a commemoration of important events for the Hebrew nation, but are also a more sure Word of Prophecy for the Church and Israel.
There are four spring feasts and they are Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Pentecost. The Passover commemorates the release of the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt. God had commanded that each house take a unblemished lamb, sacrifice it, and apply the innocent blood to the door posts. When the death angel passed through Egypt that night killing the firstborn of man and beast the blood of the innocent unblemished lamb protected the Israelites. The lamb which was sacrificed was prophetic of the coming Messiah. We Christians commemorate this with what is called Communion or the Eucharist. We Christians are not commemorating that night long ago in Egypt but our Passover Lamb, the Lamb of God who took away our sin, Christ Jesus. The Feast of Unleavened Bread commemorates the fact that all leaven was removed from the homes of the Israelites on the night of Passover and was prophetic of the Messiah our unleavened (sinless) bread (life). First Fruits is prophetic of the coming Messiah who is the first fruits from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:20). Finally, the fourth spring Feast of the Lord is Pentecost which for the Jew commemorates the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, for us the giving of the Holy Spirit on the Pentecost following the Crucifixion.
There are three fall feasts and they are Rosh Hashanah, the Day of Atonement (Yom [day] Kippur [atonement]), and Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. We discussed Rosh Hashanah last Wednesday but to remind us all it was not commemorative of any event for Israel but prophetic for the Church of the coming Catching Away (commonly called the Rapture). This conclusion is arrived at for it is the first day of the Civil New Year for Israel and the Catching Away is announced by the Trump of God. The civil new year associated with the Catching Away signals the onset of the judging of the heathen and Israel (The Tribulation). The Catching Away of the Church signals that the seven-year Tribulation period is at hand which is commonly divided in the tribulation (first 3.5 years) and the Great Tribulation (last 3.5 years). The Tribulation is a time when Satan has no adversary (Church and Holy Spirit are gone), and a time for the judgment of Israel. Scripture suggests that two-thirds of the Jews will be killed, primarily during the Great Tribulation (Zechariah 13:7-9). The Great Tribulation ends with the battle of Armageddon and Israel recognizing the Messiah, Jesus at His Second Coming. The Day of Atonement is prophetic of the Second Coming of Christ, a day when all Israel will recognize the Messiah, their blindness will be lifted, and they will be redeemed. Jesus the Messiah and the Cross are all over this Feast Day of Atonement. The third fall Feast of the Lord is the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. This feast does not commemorate any prior events in Israel but is prophetic of the thousand-year reign of Christ called the Millennial Reign. A time when Christ Jesus will reign over the earth and we will tabernacle among men. Now, let’s read the Lord’s Words concerning this Feast Day of Atonement.
Leviticus 16:5-10 (KJV)
5 And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.
7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.
This Feast or Moed like the other six has a very specific and wonderful purpose. Each Feast of the Lord commemorations either things past (four spring Feasts), or things to come (three fall Feasts). They all shout the story of redemption. In the case of the Day of Atonement we are looking at the prophetic picture of the Second Coming of Jesus, His physical return to the earth when the Jews will finally receive Him as Messiah. A day when God will remove their sin. On that day all of Israel, every Jew left alive from the Great Tribulation will be saved, that is the Covenant God has with this first Covenant people, His son Israel. Jesus spoke of the first being last, and the last being first.
The sacrifice of these animals described in the Leviticus text are representing Jesus, the Messiah on the Cross and beyond. Aaron would sacrifice bullock for his own sin and that of his house. The blood of the bullock was taken into the Most Holy Place in the presence of God and applied to the Ark of the Covenant (confirming the Old blood Covenant). He would than sacrifice one of the goats for the sin of the people and that blood was also taken into the Most Holy Place and applied to the Ark of the Covenant. Finally, the other goat called a scapegoat was let go into the wilderness. Jesus was our scapegoat, He was innocent but He suffered on our behalf to make us free. A scapegoat is one who willingly (in the case of Jesus) and innocently takes the blame and punishment of another. Jesus was made sin on the Cross. Praise God those sins which included yours and mine were removed, blotted out forever by His own innocent blood and the Words of His mouth. He died for our sins, now the only sin that sends anyone to Hell is the rejection of the sacrifice, Jesus. God does not send anyone to Hell, He does not make the decision to send anyone to Hell, each person makes a conscious decision for salvation or against. Remember what Jesus told Nicodemus?
John 3:16-19 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (Bold added)
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Praise the Lord, thank you Father, and thank you Jesus! If you have not made that decision to believe upon the name of Jesus, do it right this second and immediately you will be translated into the Kingdom of His Dear Son. You may not feel any differently but speak of your salvation with assurance and forget about feeling stuff which is of the flesh. It is okay if you do feel something but I am saying do not base your salvation or any other subsequent event in your walk with Christ on feelings, base it on knowledge.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
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