Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)

This year, Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) begins on the evening of September 27, and ends at nightfall on September 28, 2009.

We are introduced to this day in the book of Leviticus:

Leviticus 23
26 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
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.
28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.
29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

The 10 days from Rosh Hashanah to the Day of Atonement, are known as the “Days of Awe”. This has traditionally been a period of serious repentance and reflection- basically a period of time to “Get right with God”.

The blowing of the shofars (trumpets) on Rosh Hashanah served multiple purposes. One of the purposes was to awaken people from their spiritual slumber, and remind them of the need to repent. This is why these 10 days begin with Rosh Hashanah and end with the Day of Atonement.

Jesus has atoned for our sins, once for all, on the cross. We receive this atonement when we accept Jesus for who He said He was- The Messiah.

Unfortunately, I am afraid that many Christians have entered into a “spiritual slumber”, and need to be awakened. Additionally, we are all certainly in need of forgiveness through repentance of our sins to our LORD and savior. These facts create an interesting parallel with Rosh Hashanah and the Day of Atonement, especially given the lateness of the hour.

Below is a description (in yellow) of Yom Kippur, from Jonathan Bermis of Jewish Voice Ministries:
___________________

Yom Kippur

The next mo’ed is called the Day of Atonement, or in Hebrew Yom Kippur. Yom means day and Kippur means covering, like the small skullcaps that are worn by Jewish men.

Yom Kippur is the day in which the Jewish People repent for their sins. It is found in Leviticus 23:26, “The LORD said to Moses, ‘The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present an offering made to the LORD by fire.’"
 
Rabbis have interpreted God’s command to “deny yourselves” to mean fasting, a day to refrain from eating or drinking.

The Day of Atonement is the most holy day of the year. On this day the High Priest would enter the Holy Place to make atonement for his sins and the sins of the People. (Hebrews 9:6-7)

This was the only day of the year that this kind of atonement was made. It is a day when Jewish People all over the world go to synagogue, even those who haven’t gone for the rest of the year. Although Jewish People still observe Yom Kippur, it is missing a main component  the blood sacrifice for the atonement.

Because of sin there was always a sacrifice. Yeshua fulfills every blood sacrifice that is commanded. He is the final redemption for us, the final atonement. Without Him, the Jewish People have no blood atonement.

So how do the rabbis deal with the inability to perform the yearly sacrifice due to the destruction of the Temple? They believe that like Daniel, while in captivity, through prayer and repentance they will attain forgiveness. This is one of the ways traditional Judaism has strayed from biblical Judaism.

So, each year on this day Jewish People flood synagogues to seek God’s forgiveness, but are not aware that they don’t have the blood atonement that is required according to Scripture.As Believers, we understand that the shed blood of Yeshua is the once-for-all perfect sacrifice and the only atonement for sin.How, then, can Jewish People receive this blood atonement? Zechariah 12:10 states, “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication...” Grace is the unmerited favor and blessing of God.

It is only through God’s grace that we see our true condition, which causes us to cry out for forgiveness and cleansing. In that same Scripture it says, “they will look on Me whom they have pierced.” Who are “they”? The nation of Israel.

This same passage also mentions weeping in the Land  a reference to a national day of repentance in Israel among Jewish communities. This will happen when the Jewish People recognize that the One the Gentiles call upon as Jesus is really the Messiah of Israel.

Zechariah 13:1 speaks of a day when a fountain will be opened for the House of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and uncleanness. There is only one way to be cleansed from all sin  through faith in Yeshua. That is the prophetic fulfillment of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which has yet to come. On that day, God will make a new Covenant with Israel and the House of Judah when, “all will know me from the least of them to the greatest.” (Jer. 31:34)