Today we will be discussing the Day of Atonement. This feast is extremely important because it not only reveals the plan of salvation prophetically but it also shows the ministry of our Messiah at this time. This feast gives us a future view as to what will happen with the people of God. This study will not be exhaustive but it will focus on how this feast affects our relationship with our Heavenly Father today and in the Future.
Let us start by looking at some instructions given to us in the book of Leviticus.
Lev 23:26 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Lev 23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh monththere shall bea 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. Lev 23:28And 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.
First, let's get a clear understanding of the name of this feast. The Hebrew name for this feast is Yom Kippur. Yom means DAY and the word Kippur means expiation or the act of making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing. This day is understood to be the Day of Judgment but according to the name, it's a day of restoration. As we continue we will see what the Messiah is restoring. This day is also a holy convocation which in Hebrew is Miqra Kodesh, which means that it is a holy time which Fathers people meet and assemble for worship, and study of the word of God.
Another point of this feast is to "afflict" our souls. Afflict is an interesting word because many assume it means to fast from food but it surprisingly does not. The Hebrew word is Anah which means to look down or lower oneself. There is also an identical connection to another word Anaw which means to pay attention. In simple terms, it means to pay attention or examine yourself in humility. This affliction is extremely important because the time this affliction was practiced, The High priest was doing something in the tabernacle pertaining to our sins. Let us take a look a little more at this affliction to understand the importance for us today.
This affliction is definitely called a fast, but not a fast according to the practice of not eating food. It is the practice of being still and allowing Messiah to reveal our wickedness and remove it from our lives. We see this in the book of Isaiah.
Isa 58:3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? whereforehave we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, on the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
Isa 58:4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. Isa 58:5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen?a day for a man to afflict his soul?is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? Isa 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen?to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Isa 58:7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Isa 58:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
The meaning of fasting is not refraining from food at all but to refrain from caring about self and pouring ourselves for the brethren. It is also a day to examine self and receive victory from the wickedness that we are bound by.
Why stop eating if you will continue to sin against your God?
This Fast is definitely for us today and for us to preach to those who have not given themselves to Father as yet. The importance of this time is given to us more in depth in the 16th chapter of Leviticus. It reveals to us what the high priest was doing in the temple that day and for what purpose.
Due to the size of this chapter, I will be posting verses which pertain to this studies focus. So, in the beginning, we have The High priest choosing a sin offering for The Father's sacrifice. We understand this sin offering to represent the Fathers Messiah.
Lev 16:7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. Lev 16:8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. Lev 16:9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. Lev 16:10 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 situation actually occurred during the time of Messiah.
Mat 27:16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Mat 27:17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you?Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? Mat 27:18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. Mat 27:19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. Mat 27:20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. Mat 27:21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Mat 27:22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
We see the Messiahs death is actually the beginning of the fulfillment of this appointed time. Let’s continue to see if the symbolism of this day is fulfilled completely.
Lev 16:15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that isfor the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: Lev 16:16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place,because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remained among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
Messiah is revealed in scripture as being our sin offering.
Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
This sacrifice of the Messiah was and is to cleanse His people of their sins.
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
It is Interesting that it mentions that His sacrifice cleanses us. The symbols show us that He was to cleanse the temple. So we see these verses implying that Fathers people are the Tabernacle He is cleansing. Let’s see this in scripture.
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Now let’s take a look at this symbol in this feast.
Lev 16:19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. Lev 16:20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:
This is not a day of condemnation which many see this day as but it is a day of cleansing and reconciling temple or people back to Father. It is a blessed day for the people of God to be freed from their sins and be joined to their God. This is what Atonement means, which is to restore or repair. The sins were to be blotted out of the temple and the temple was to be made clean and holy again. This is what Messiah is currently doing for us today. Is this mission complete?
Absolutely NOT
We observe this day so we can be reminded of what Messiah is doing in us and what we ought to give up for Him today. Many people in the world are still hearing and receiving the truth and allowing Messiah to accomplish this cleansing in them. This feast and memorial did not fulfill at the cross but it began its fulfillment at the death of messiah. The Fathers people or Tabernacle is not fully cleansed as yet.
Jer 33:8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.
Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Act 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Act 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
We are promised of an Atonement or restoration. Also a complete and thorough cleansing of sin for His people. There is something also needed to be done that is shown to us in Leviticus that did not happen yet.
Lev 16:20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: Lev 16:21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
After the High Priest has finished cleansing His people of their sins, then He will take these forgiven sins which Israel has confessed and placed the responsibility onto the scapegoat. We saw that the Goat and scapegoat were represented as Messiah and a criminal named Barabbas in the book of Matthew. We realize that the sin offering was Messiah a man without sin and the one set free was a criminal. This criminal represents the criminal responsible for sin which is satan.
Joh_8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
The scapegoat is He who will bear responsibility for the existence of those forgiven sins. He will take that blame because He is the Father and originator of sin. We see Messiah is not complete with cleansing His tabernacle nor did He return to place all forgiven sin on its originator to be destroyed with sin in the end.
There is more to be complete and the observance of this feast keeps us examining ourselves, so we won’t be found holding on to sin and perishing with the enemy. This appointed time has many personal and prophetic applications to it and it is imperative that Gods people observe this feast to continue in remembering the current ministry of Messiah as well as the constant examination His people are involved in. One of the reasons the professed people of God are weak and losing power and life is due to a lack of remembrance of Fathers promises. These feasts assist us in remembering all that the Father and His Son is doing to redeem and save His people from the enemy as well as from their sins.
Examine yourselves brethren. The time of cleansing is nigh.
