Yom Kippur - The Day of Atonement

     The Name of the Day

     Biblical Inauguration

     Afflicting Your Soul

     The Books of Life and Death

     Tabernacle and Temple Ritual

     Yom Kippur’s Significance For Us Today

The Name of the Day

• Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement

• Atonement – Hebrew: kippûr (pronounced kip-poor’) meaning expiation – the root word of kippûr is kâphar (pronounced kaw-far’) meaning to cover – it is a day of the covering of sin
  • The word kâphar itself is probably a derivation for the Hebrew word kofer, meaning ransom

• The Hebrew name can be read as a plural (Yom Ha-Kippurim) indicating the cleansing from many sins; it can also be read as ‘a day like Purim (Yom Ke-Purim), that is a day of deliverance
  • The plural aspect of the name of the day can be understood to refer to the two great atonements; firstly, for those people and nations who turn to Yeshua for cleansing and forgiveness; and secondly, to the purification of Israel during Yom Adonai – the great Day of the Lord at the end of days

Biblical Inauguration

‘And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:  “Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.   And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God.  For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people.  And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people.  You shall do no manner of work; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.  It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath.”’ Leviticus 23: 26-32

• The ‘Day of Atonement’ was the day on which the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies to offer blood sacrifice for the sins of the people – the only day on which he was permitted to enter this part of the tabernacle/temple
  • Offerings on this day are set out in Numbers 29: 7-11

• Two goats were presented before the Lord at the door of the Tabernacle – and Aaron cast lots for the goats – one was ‘for the Lord’ and was the ‘sin offering’ – the other was ‘the scapegoat’ and was led out into the wilderness

‘He shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat.  And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering.  But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness.’ Leviticus 16: 7-10

Afflicting Your Soul

• The words ‘afflict your souls’ (Hebrew: anah nephesh) mean to depress, abase or afflict oneself – the sense is of looking down on or browbeating; hence the customary interpretation of a fast

• This is the only ‘Feast’ in which fasting is commanded, and it is a Shabbat Shabbaton – a day of complete abstention from any kind of normal or mundane work

• This day marks the climax of the ten day period of repentance called the ‘Days of Awe’ between Yom Teruah (on Tishri 1) and Yom Kippur (Tishri 10)

• This day is the end of a forty day period of reflection and repentance (Hebrew: teshuvah) which began on the first day of the preceding month of Elul, which itself is a month of repentance – so there are 40 days of repentance

• In Jewish understanding, it mirrors the forty day period that Moses spent on Mount Sinai:
  • Sivan 6 to Tammuz 17: 40 days from Moses first ascending Sinai to receive the Torah (Sivan 6 which is Shavuot) until the day the tablets were broken (Tammuz 17) – that being a day on which Israel has experienced may tragedies
  • Tammuz 18 to Av 29: 40 days in which Moses interceded for the children of Israel
  • Elul 1 to Tishri 10: 40 days during which, on Sinai, Moses received the revelation of the name of God as YHVH and also the second tablets of Torah, returning to the camp on Tishri 10 – when Moses face was shining with radiance

• For Christians, 40 days is a reminder of the time Yeshua was on earth between His resurrection and ascension – in his risen and glorified body

The Books of Life and Death

• In Jewish tradition on Yom Teruah (Tishri 1) the book of Life and the book of Death are opened and Jews seek to have their name inscribed in the Book of Life for another year

• On Yom Kippur, ten days later, the destiny of the righteous and the wicked are determined and names written in the books, and the books are sealed – hence the ten days are known as the ‘Ten Days of Repentance’ or ‘Days of Awe’
  • Many people (perhaps most) are not inscribed in either book – but have ten days (until Yom Kippur…the Day of Atonement) to repent…before their fate is sealed when the books are closed on Yom Kippur
  • Hence the customary Jewish greeting at this time of year: ‘L’Shannah Tovah Tikatevu’ (May you be inscribed for a good year) to which the reply is ‘Gam lekha’ (Same to you)

• Eternal Destiny – God has appointed a Judgement Day (Acts 17: 31) – for the Christian, their name is inscribed for all time in the Lambs Book of Life – no need for an annual ritual of inscription

‘He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.’ Revelation 5: 5

Tabernacle and Temple Ritual

• On this day the High Priest made atonement for the sins of the people in the Holy of Holies – see Leviticus 16

• According to the Talmud, a scarlet cord was tied to the neck of the scapegoat that was reported to turn white as the goat was led away from the camp or city – however for the years after Yeshua’s atonement until the destruction of the second temple, the cord failed to change colour

• Complete abstinence from work and a day for focus towards the Lord – it is a day of personal repentance and return.
  • Shabbat Shabbaton – all work is set aside, complete rest (Hebrew: shabbathon) and focus on the Lord. There are seven prescribed days of complete rest in scripture – in modern Israel, on this day, not only does public transport cease but even the television and radio stop
  • Jewish law stipulates especially five forms of abstinence from pleasure (based on Leviticus 23: 27) – eating and drinking, washing and bathing, applying lotions or perfume, wearing leather shoes, and marital relations

• It is the only feast of the Lord where fasting is explicitly commanded

• Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year
  • For 25 hours – because the observance begins on Tishri 9 (Leviticus 23: 32)
  • On the eve of Yom Kippur, Orthodox men will have a ritual bath (Hebrew: mikveh) and men wear ‘kittels’, white robes also used as burial shrouds
  • As at Yom Teruah, the ark cover in the synagogue is a plain white satin cloth, signifying purity

• Customary Jewish greetings at this time are ‘Tzom kal’ (Easy Fast) and ‘G’mar chatimah tovah’ (May you be sealed [in the Book of Life] for good)

• Synagogue Services – much of the day is spent in the synagogue with many different services taking place:

Kol Nidrei (all vows)

Ma’aiv (evening) including the Viduy (confessional)

Shacharit (morning)

Yizkor (memorial prayer)

Musaf including reading of biblical accounts of the Day of Atonement (Avodah)

Minchah (afternoon)

Ne’ilah (closing/locking)

• At the end of the final Ne’ilah service – a long blast of the shofar is sounded and the worshipers exclaim ‘L’shanah haba’ah b’Yerushaliyim!’ (Next Year in Jerusalem!)
• Readings for Yom Kippur
  • Torah             Leviticus 16: 1-34, Numbers 29: 7-11 and Leviticus 18: 1-30
  • Haftarah Isaiah 57:14 – 58:14, Jonah 1: 1 – 4:11 and Micah 7: 18-20
  • Brit Chadashah Romans 3: 21-26, 2 Corinthians 5: 10-21 and Hebrews

Yom Kippur’s Significance for us Today

• Resting – Yom Kippur is a Sabbath of Sabbaths (Hebrew: Shabbat Shabbaton)
  • As at Shabbat and especially on the most holy day of Yom Kippur, the Lord reminds us of our need to rest from work to be able to focus on Him
    • Those who observe Shabbat find it is a day of great joy eagerly awaited throughout the week, a time to set aside all of weekday concerns and devote oneself to the Lord

• Repentance (Hebrew: teshuvah) to be ready for Yeshua’s coming again
  • As this period is a time of repentance and seeking forgiveness and restoration – so we are to be prepared as a spotless bride by the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5: 25-27)
  • Repentance and salvation are linked throughout the gospel – like the Jews we can remember at this time to call upon the Name of the Lord

• Remembering the Sacrifice of Yeshua
  • His death was substitutionary atonement – just like the goat whose blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat in the tabernacle (Leviticus 16 and Hebrews 9: 1-15), and like the lamb the Lord provided for offering in Isaac’s place
  • He died in our place as the perfect sacrifice for our sin, though He was (and is) sinless – he was ‘made sin’ for us (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

‘For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.’ 2 Corinthians 5: 21

• The veil of the temple has been torn asunder and we can have fellowship with the Lord without fear (Hebrews 4: 14-16; 7: 20-27)

• Thanksgiving & Praise for the Effectiveness of the Sacrifice of Yeshua
  • Blood sacrifice is required by the Lord for the atonement of sin (Leviticus 17: 11)
  • Atonement is a covering for sin – just like in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3: 7, 21)
  • Yeshua’s blood is the full, complete and perfect offering for sin (Hebrews 9: 13-14) – the New Covenant is far superior to the Old

‘For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?’          Hebrews 9: 13-14

• We know that our names are indelibly inscribed in the Lamb’s Book of Life – our salvation depends not on our own righteousness (Titus 3: 4-7)

‘But when the kindness and the love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.’ Titus 3: 4-7

• Yom Kippur, more than any other day, highlights the difference between Rabbinic Judaism’s false salvation and the true Messianic Christian means and effectiveness of salvation…by the blood of Yeshua and by faith, through grace

• Praise Him for deliverance out of the power of Satan and the power of sin – it is a once and for all deliverance…there is no need for continual repentance and redemption – His sacrifice is fully sufficient for our eternal justification

• Yom Kippur’s prophetic significance for Israel
  • Yom Kippur has a specific prophetic significance for Israel – it speaks of Israel’s atonement when she is cleansed of her sins
  • At the 3½ year point of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24: 15-22) Israel is told by Yeshua to flee to the mountains (in fact to Bozrah) and then she will call upon Him as Messiah and Saviour (Matthew 23: 37-39)
  • God has promised to cleanse Israel (Ezekiel 36: 24-28) and He has promised to save her (Romans 11: 25-27)

‘For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.  And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”’ Romans 11: 25-27

• Israel will call upon Yeshua and will look upon Him and mourn (Zechariah 12: 10), mourning for the wasted years of blindness and for their rejection of Him – and

 “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.  Zechariah 12: 10

• Yom Kippur is prophetic of that day when Israel’s spiritual blindness will end and salvation will come for the Jewish people (Zechariah 13: 1)

‘“In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.”’  Zechariah 13: 1

• Celebration of Yeshua as the Coming King
  • Our salvation will be fulfilled when Yeshua returns to take us to be with Him forever (Hebrews 9: 24- 28)

‘…so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.  To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.’  Hebrews 9: 28

• The first four (spring) feasts were fulfilled in Yeshua’s first appearing – the last three (autumn) feasts are prophetic of end times
• Yom Teruah’s shofar blast is a reminder of the trump of God which will happen at the harpazo (rapture) when Christ calls His bride to Himself
  • Yeshua is the Author and Finisher of our salvation (Hebrews 12: 1-2) and the Holy Spirit is our guarantee of salvation (Ephesians 1: 13-14)
• One of the reasons for sounding a shofar is the coronation of a King – Yeshua HaMashiach is coming again to rule and reign
• Yom Kippur has a prophetic significance – it is prophetic of Yeshua’s return as King and Judge of all the Earth and it has a specific prophetic significance for Israel
  • It speaks of our return with Him – see Revelation 5: 9-10, 19: 14
  • It speaks of Israel’s atonement when she is cleansed of her sins

• Rejoicing in Hope – our Blessed Hope is that we will be with the Lord forever
  • The shofar that will be heard on the day of the harpazo (prophetically Yom Teruah) will announce their eternal fellowship with Yeshua – but the shofar that sounds on the ‘Day of the Lord’ (prophetically Yom Kippur) will announce the Lord as King and Judge – and the books will have been sealed (Revelation 10: 5-7) and all heaven will rejoice (Revelation 11: 15-19)

‘The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.’ Revelation 10: 5-7

‘Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”’  Revelation 11: 15