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Jewish Heritage Revival
One Heritage United by Messiah Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement - History and Prophecy Israel's Day of Redemption Our journey continues through the Feasts of God given first to Israel with Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). This is the holiest day of all the Feasts. It is also one of the most somber days on the Jewish calendar. In this article, we will cover:
Outside of the Jewish faith (within the church), there is very little understanding of this Day, primarily because, throughout it's history, the church has distanced itself from its Jewish roots. These end time events, relating to Yom Kippur, that are yet to happen, will focus on the nation of Israel during the second coming of our Messiah. We have demonstrated through our other articles that God provides more than one meaning for each Feast. This Day is no different. It was not only the Day of Atonement (covering) for the nation of Israel, by the shedding of an innocent animal's blood for a yearly atonement, but it will also be the final atonement for the nation through our Messiah's blood.
Historical Biblical Account The historical biblical account of Yom Kippur will cover the following:
10 Days of Awe Ten days after the blowing of trumpets (Tishri 1), we arrive at Yom Kippur - The Day of Atonement (Tishri 10). Based on Jewish tradition, the books have been opened (see Feast of Trumpets for more information). Israel now has 10 days of time to reflect upon the past year, confess all transgressions, and pray for another year of life. A ten day period leading up to the one day that as a nation they could atone for their transgressions of the past year. The impact of this somber day is further emphasized by the fact that any joyous events are forbidden. Events such as weddings are postponed until after Yom Kippur.
The Ordinances Given by God to Israel Regarding This Day The first account in Torah, relating to Yom Kippur is found in Leviticus 16 when God gives Moses instruction regarding the High Priest and the sacrifices required for this day. (more on that later). "And this shall be to you a law for all time. In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month you shall practice self denial; and you shall do no manner of work, neither the citizen nor the alien who resides among you. For on this day atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you of all your sins; you shall be clean before the Lord. It shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you shall practice self denial: it is a law for all time." Leviticus 16:29 - 32 The commandment regarding Yom Kippur is found in Leviticus 23:26 - 32 "The Lord spoke to Moses saying, 'Mark, the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be a sacred occasion for you: You shall practice self-denial, and you shall bring an offering by fire to the Lord; you shall do no work throughout that day. For it is a Day of Atonement, on which expiation is made on your behalf before the Lord your God. Indeed, any person who does not practice self denial throughout that day shall be cut off from his kin; and whoever does any work throughout that day, I will cause that person to perish from among his people. Do not work whatever; it is a law for all time, throughout the ages in all your settlements. It shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you shall practice self denial; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall observe this your Sabbath'" Regarding the sacrifices: " 'On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves and do no work. Present as an aroma pleasing to the LORD a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bull prepare a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering for atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings. Numbers 29:7 - 11
The Importance of This Day
Yom Kippur is not a Feast in that it is a celebration, but rather a Day set aside by God for the sole purpose of atoning for the transgressions committed by the nation of Israel during the past year. It is a day whereby we are commanded to afflict our souls (Leviticus 23:27 & 23:32) It was understood that affliction of one's soul meant fasting. By denying one's body of what it needed, being food, caused affliction (suffering). "Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions." Ezra 8:21 In addition to fasting, it was a day for repentance. During the 10 days leading up to Yom Kippur, beginning with Feast of Trumpets, began a period of time that would become known as the Days of Awe. It was during this time that the nation of Israel would access their lives and repent (turn away from) transgressions against the Lord God of Israel. More on this time period can be read in our article on Feast of Trumpets. This day is also a Sabbath as commanded by God in Leviticus 23:32 It shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you shall practice self denial; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall observe this your Sabbath'" Anyone within the nation who didn't do as was commanded in God's Word, regarding this day, would have been separated from the nation, should they not devote themselves to fasting and repentance or keep this Sabbath: Indeed, any person who does not practice self denial throughout that day shall be cut off from his kin; and whoever does any work throughout that day, I will cause that person to perish from among his people. Leviticus 23:29 - 30
The High Priest "The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they drew too close to the presence of the Lord. The Lord said to Moses: 'Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come at will into the Shrine behind the curtain, in front of the cover that is upon the art, lest he die; for I appear in the cloud over cover. Thus only shall Aaron enter the Shrine: with a bull of the heard for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering - He shall be dressed in a sacral linen tunic, with linen breeches next to his flesh, and be girt with a linen sash, and he shall wear a linen turban." Leviticus 16:1 - 4 A mediator (single) was set apart by God for all in Israel. This individual was responsible for both himself (including his family) and the entire nation of Israel on this extremely important day in which the atonement for the nation was presented to God. It is this mediator that is the only one permitted to enter what is known as the Holy of Holies and stand in the presence of God and His glory. Not only was he the only person permitted to enter the Holy of Holies, but this day was the only day in which he was allowed to enter. A complete account of all the Priest's garments are found in Exodus 28 We will read more about the High Priest throughout this article.
Preparation Leading Up To This Day This day was not to be taken lightly. As a result of the seriousness of this day for Israel, there were preparations made in advance to protect against the possibility of the High Priest becoming "unclean" prior to performing his responsibilities. In order to minimize the chances whereby the High Priest might become unclean, he would leave his home and family one week prior to the Day. In doing so, he would reside in the quarters of the High Priest located in the Temple. During the week that he would reside at the Temple, he would be sprinkled twice a day with the ashes of a red heifer to prevent the possibility of becoming unclean by coming in contact with a dead body. This method of cleansing is found in Numbers 19:1 - 13 "Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD has commanded, saying: ‘Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without blemish, in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never come. You shall give it to Eleazar the priest, that he may take it outside the camp, and it shall be slaughtered before him; and Eleazar the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, and sprinkle some of its blood seven times directly in front of the tabernacle of meeting. Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight: its hide, its flesh, its blood, and its offal shall be burned. And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet, and cast them into the midst of the fire burning the heifer. Then the priest shall wash his clothes, he shall bathe in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp; the priest shall be unclean until evening. And the one who burns it shall wash his clothes in water, bathe in water, and shall be unclean until evening. Then a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and store them outside the camp in a clean place; and they shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for the water of purification; it is for purifying from sin. And the one who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until evening. It shall be a statute forever to the children of Israel and to the stranger who dwells among them. ‘He who touches the dead body of anyone shall be unclean seven days. He shall purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean. Whoever touches the body of anyone who has died, and does not purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person shall be cut off from Israel. He shall be unclean, because the water of purification was not sprinkled on him; his uncleanness is still on him. In addition to the High Priest being set apart from his family and preparing for this Day of Atonement, the next in line for the position of High Priest was also identified and ultimately went through preparations. If anything were to happen to the High Priest, prior to the Day of Atonement, would mean the sins of the nation would not be atoned for, and would go uncovered. During this time of preparation, the High Priest would conduct the Temple service. Responsibilities included:
Every aspect leading up to this Day was practiced. There could be no mistakes. Everything had to be performed without flaw, for fear of the sacrifices being rejected and the sins of the nation not being covered. This preparation time
was even more important, in that the High Priest would not normally
perform the weekly services, therefore just as any athlete or
musician, honing one's skills or talents was needed.
If the High Priest wasn't prepared for this day, the thought of the
nation's sin not being covered would not only be a disaster, but
humiliation for the High Priest himself.
Events That Transpire On This Day It is on this day, that the atonement for the transgressions of the Nation of Israel occur. This day is not only very busy but also very long, beginning at dawn with the morning service. Morning Service: The morning service would begin with the altar being cleaned of any leftover ashes from the previous day. Four fires would be lit, instead of the customary three fires during any other service. As with the Passover whereby three matzahs and four glasses of wine were added to the Feast to set it apart from all other meals, so to was the addition of a fourth fire added during the morning service on Yom Kippur. In preparation for the morning service, the High Priest would be fully immersed in a special golden bath (mikvah) that would be near the Court of the Priests at the Temple. During any other service, the High Priest would wash his hands and feet with water from the priestly laver. His preparation happened behind a linen curtain, keeping him separated from all other people, while at the same time showing his movements in a silhouette form, ensuring that the required procedures were being performed.
Afternoon Service: The afternoon service at the Temple would be the center of attention during Yom Kippur. It would be during this time that the sacrifices were made, to make atonement for the sins of the past year for the priesthood and for the congregation of Israel. In order that the sins of the people could be atoned, the High Priest must first atone for his own sins (and that of the priesthood). In the Court of the Priests, near the Temple, the High Priest would take a young bull for a sin offering: "Thus only shall Aaron enter the Shrine" with a bull of the herd for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering" Leviticus 16:3 Prior to offering this bull for the atonement of the High Priest and the priesthood, the High Priest would place his hands on the head of the young bull's head, identifying it as his substitute and confess his sins. After that, he would speak the name of the Lord - YHWH three times for which the congregation would respond by falling on their faces in worship and recite "Blessed be His name whose glorious kingdom is forever and ever" Note - the young bull had not yet been sacrificed. More on that as we go in the order of the Yom Kippur service.
Two goats: The High Priest would then focus on the two goats that were selected. Both goats were identical in color, size and worth. "Aaron is to offer his own bull of sin offering, to make atonement for himself and his household. Aaron shall take the two he-goats and let them stand before the Lord at the entrance of the Tabernacle, and he shall place lots upon the two goats, one marked for the Lord and the other marked for Azazel. Aaron shall bring forward the goat designated by lot for the Lord, which he is to offer as a sin offering; while the goat designated by lot for Azazel shall be left standing alive before the Lord, to make atonement with it and to send it off to the wilderness for Azazel" Leviticus 16:7 - 10 A golden vessel contained two golden lots. One lot was inscribed "for YHWH" and the other "for azazel". The High Priest would then shake the golden vessel and would take each lot and place it, one in each hand. He would then hold the lots (in his hands) to the foreheads of each goat, determining the outcome for each goat. The goat with the lot inscribed "for Azazel" would be deemed the "scapegoat" and the goat with the lot inscribed "for YWHW" would be the sin offering. The goat for Azazel was garnered with a crimson strip of wool tied to one of its horns. It would be placed in front of the congregation and face the people whose sin would be placed upon its head. More on that later. From the Jewish study bible: Azazel: The Rabbis cleverly divided this name into two words "ez" and "azel", "the goat that goes away", from which the traditional "scapegoat" is derived. It literally means "fearce god" and as intimated by the medieval exegete Abraham Ibn Ezra is evidently the name of a demon or deity believed to inhabit the wilderness. Thus the sins of the people are symbolically cast into the realm beyond civilization, to become the property of a being who is the antithesis of the God of Israel. Though Azazel accepts the goat bearing Israel's sins as a sacrifice to him, this is no disloyalty to God since He Himself commands it.
Sin Offering for the Priest: The young bull spoken of earlier in this article would be taken by the High Priest and he would press his hands upon its head and would confess the sins of the priesthood. The first time, the High Priest had only confessed his own sins. "Aaron shall then offer his own bull of sin offering, to make atonement for himself and his household. He shall slaughter his bull of sin offering," Leviticus 16:11 The bull would then be slaughtered by the High Priest and he would collect its blood in a golden bowl. In order that the blood would not dry and stiffen, another priest would stir the blood until the High Priest would take it into the Holy of Holies.
Burning of Incense: In preparing to enter the Holy of Holies, the High Priest would then take glowing coals from the altar that would be used to burn the incense. "and he shall take a panful of glowing coals scooped from the altar before the Lord, and two handfuls of fine ground aromatic incense, and bring this behind the curtain. He shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord, so that the cloud from the incense screens the cover that is over the Ark of the Pact, lest he die." Leviticus 16:12 - 13 Once inside, the High Priest would pour the incense of the amber coals and waited for the aromatic cloud of smoke to fill the Holy of Holies. Inside the Holy of Holies would reside the Ark of the Covenant, whereby "God's Shekinah Glory would reside. The Ark would reside in Solomon's temple until the Babylonian captivity, whereby the Ark was taken and lost, never to be seen again, to this day.
Sprinkling of Blood: Once the High Priest had begun burning the incense, He would leave the Holy of Holies to retrieve the golden bowl of blood from the sacrifice of the bull. He would sprinkle the blood before the Ark of the Covenant. A precise motion of once upward and seven times downward was performed with the High Priest counting aloud, so as to not make a mistake. "He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger over the cover on the east side; and in front of the cover he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times." Leviticus 16:14 The High Priest would once again leave the Holy of Holies, this time to slaughter the goat of the people. "He shall then slaughter the people's goat of sin offering, bring its blood behind the curtain and do with its blood as he has done with the blood of the bull: he shall sprinkle it over the cover and in front of the cover." Leviticus 16:15 He would also collect the blood in a golden bowl and reenter the Holy of Holies for a third time. He would sprinkle the blood of the goat in the same manner as he did the bull previously. Afterwards, the High Priest would sprinkle the outside of the veil with the blood of the bull and then do the same with the blood of the goat. With the blood that remained of the bull and goat, He would combine the two bowls of blood into one and then sprinkle the horns of the altar in the courtyard of the Temple (or Tabernacle). Of special note, when the High Priest was in the Holy of Holies, attached to the bottom of his garments were bells made from pomegranates. These bells would sound with his movement. In addition to the bells, a rope was fastened around his waist. The purpose was that should anything happen to him while he was in the Holy of Holies, the priests on the outside would be able to pull him out, because no one would be able to enter the Holy of Holies to retrieve him and live. Therefore if the bells stopped making noise, the priests on the outside would know that something wasn't right, likely, that the High Priest had entered the Holy of Holies having not completely atoned for his own sin, therefore being struck dead. Remember, God's Glory was on the other side of the curtain and no one can be in the presence of God with unconfessed sin. The High Priest had to atone for his own sin before entering to atone for the sins of the nation.
The Scapegoat: One goat remained. This is the scapegoat. “And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the tabernacle of meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat. Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness." Leviticus 16:20 - 22 During the time when the Temple was standing, the scapegoat would be led by the priest through the Eastern Gate, outside of the city, into the wilderness. During the time of the second Temple, after the captivity, the scapegoat was actually killed, to prevent it from wandering into an inhabited village or city. The people would wait for word that the scapegoat had been led into the wilderness. Once this was accomplished, the afternoon service would be complete. “Then Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of meeting, shall take off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the Holy Place, and shall leave them there. And he shall wash his body with water in a holy place, put on his garments, come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the people. The fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar. And he who released the goat as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp. The bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be carried outside the camp. And they shall burn in the fire their skins, their flesh, and their offal. Then he who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp." Upon completion of all the sin offerings, the High Priest would address the congregation. He would quote from Leviticus 16 and Numbers 29:7 - 11 to verify to the people that all the requirements for this day of atonement were complete. In concluding the Yom Kippur day service, the final burnt offerings were offered. As the day drew to an end, the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies to remove the fire pan and incense ladle. He would then bath for a fifth and final time that day and would then perform the regular evening service at the Temple.
Current Celebration of Yom Kippur Yom Kippur is celebrated on the 10th day of Tishri, throughout the world in the synagogue today, just as it was done in biblical times. Yom Kippur is far from a day of celebration, but rather a day for sincere, heart felt repentance for one's past years transgressions. It is a mere remnant of the biblical account we have just presented. The somber, repentant mood of this Feast is probably the only thing that still resembles its origins. What changed? The primary, and by no means insignificant event that transformed this Day, as well as the other Feasts of God was the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by the hands of the Roman empire in 70 AD. Without this center of Judaism, you have no means for performing the sacrifices required. The genealogical records were also destroyed, therefore identifying the priestly order would be rather difficult. The remaining rabbi's of the time were presented with an enormous crisis - "How do we continue to keep this Feast as God that He has commanded in His Word without the temple?" These rabbis expanded the liturgy of the synagogue, suggested new traditions and shifted the emphasis of this holy day for a people that were without a home and without a Temple. What was done, was done out of necessity and for the survival of a nation, a faith and a people, that were ordered out of their homeland and dispersed amongst the nations. One Rabbi in particular can be identified with changing the focus of Yom Kippur from atonement through blood sacrifice to a works based theology of performing good works known as mitzvot. Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai in a dialog with Rabbi Joshua responded to the following statement: "Woe unto us! That this place where the iniquities of Israel were atoned for is laid waste!" by stating... "Be not grieved; we have another atonement as effective as this. It is the acts of loving kindness, and quoted Hosea 6:6 - "For I desire goodness, not sacrifce..." Now, you pray for another year of life, hoping you have done enough mitzvot (good works) and that your name is written in the book of life.
Kaparot In some factions of Judaism, primarily the orthodox sect, a blood sacrifice is still performed, however, it is quite different from what we have seen in the historical biblical account of this day. This ritual involves the killing of an innocent animal. Instead of bulls and goats, an animal such as a chicken is typically selected. There is controversy surrounding this ritual in that God's Word is very specific as to where blood sacrifices could be performed. “But you shall seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go. There you shall take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, your vowed offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks." Leviticus 12:5 - 6 The intent of this ceremony was to recognize the importance of 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 souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul." yet differentiate it from other sacrifices by using an animal not listed. This "ritual" is therefore an attempt to offer an atonement with blood, without the Temple and the system of sacrifice found in Leviticus chapters 1 - 7. Yom Kippur Services The Yom Kippur service in the synagogue of today is probably the most attended service of the year (along side Rosh Hashanah). In many synagogues your seat must be purchased for these services in that the attendance dwarfs all other services. Even if you are a tithing member of the synagogue, there will likely be an additional charge for your seat during what are known as the High Holidays. From what I remember as a child attending synagogue, you could purchase a High Holiday seat only. The sanctuary would be packed in addition to the two overflow rooms. Regardless of your position in the synagogue, whether faithful attendant or High Holiday only attendant, the place would be standing room only. The evening service, known as Kol Nidre at sundown at the beginning of the 10th day of Tishri was the first service of as many as five held by some congregations. (my personal recollection was three services - Kol Nidre, morning service and afternoon service) During the Kol Nidre service, the book of Jonah would be read, preparing the congregation for repentance. Prayers would be sung, setting the tone and mood for the evening service. From the prayer book I still have from my bar mitvah, the evening service consisted of an entire liturgy of Psalms and various scriptures setting the tone for the evening service as well as the services to come. The morning service was the longest whereby many prayers (Psalms) and passages from Torah and the Prophets would be read. The afternoon service was similar, but not as long in duration. When I was a child, I didn't understand what it was truly all about. However, now, looking back, with the advantage of having both our Messiah and hindsight, it all makes sense. Unfortunately, I also understand what was missing then and today within the Jewish congregation for this day. The significance of a blood sacrifice for the remission of sin, is no less important today then it was then. God's Word has not changed. His people have. Their circumstances have. And their means to do so have. That missing element - Our Messiah is that one piece that reconciles everything and everyone, yet the nation of Israel is still blinded of this truth. (more to come)
Prophetic Meaning of Yom Kippur Unlike the other Feasts, that apply both to the Jewish and Non-Jewish believers in Messiah, the fulfillment of this Feast will focus solely on the "lost sheep" of Israel. Those that have been blinded to the truth of Messiah. Rabbi Paul quoting Isaiah in his letter to Roman believers, who were primarily non-Jewish in that he is called the Apostle of the Gentiles, conveying to them, that when our Messiah returns, Israel (the original branches) shall receive their Messiah. "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 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” Says the LORD. “As for Me,” says the LORD, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the LORD, “from this time and forevermore.” Isaiah 59:20 - 21 The blindness that God had placed on Israel: "What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Just as it is written: “ God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day.” Romans 11:7 - 8 and "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." Romans 11:25 Will be remove at our
Messiah's second coming during the Feast of Trumpets. Now let us compare what our Messiah did, in relation to what was done on a yearly basis in the Tabernacle / Temple. The writer of Hebrews compares and contrasts in detail what our Messiah did in relation to the sacrificial system. The Earthly Sanctuary: Hebrews 9:1 - 5 "Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail." Limitations of the Earthly Service - Hebrews 9:6 - 10 "Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation." The limitations were a human High Priest that was conceived into sin and was not separate from it. Our Messiah was not conceived in the same manner as we were, through the seed of a man, but through the seed of the Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit). Then there was the sacrifice. It was only an atonement (a covering) that required yearly sacrifices. Our Messiah's sacrifice is everlasting, once and for all. We will now learn that the earthly sanctuary and service were copies of that which is in Heaven. The Heavenly Sanctuary - Hebrews 9:11 - 15 But Messiah came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 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 Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. We are now able to see the true comparison between our Messiah and the sacrificial system. Our Messiah was both our High Priest and the perfect sacrifice - A man without sin, who need not first atone for his own transgressions, was the perfect sacrifice, whose blood would be shed and presented in the heavenly sanctuary. The Need for Our Messiah's Death - Hebrews 9:16 - 22 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Many tend to believe that the two covenants are unrelated when in actual fact they are founded on the same basis. Both covenants are based on the fact that true repentance requires the shedding of blood. Without the shedding of blood, there can be no forgiveness of sin, according to God's Word. The first covenant was the blood of animals, while the second was the blood of our Messiah. The Promise could not be enacted until after our Messiah had died. The True Significance of Our Messiah's Sacrifice - Hebrews 9:23 - 28 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Messiah has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Messiah 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. As the writer of Hebrews conveys, the sacrificial system that used animals was a precursor of what was to come. The order of the High Priest has been fulfilled by our Messiah. He went into the Holy of Holies in God's Tabernacle and presented the blood of a spotless lamb (Himself) as not just an atonement (covering), but a full remission for our sins. As the writer of Hebrews states - "once and for all"
Conclusion Year in and year out, within the Jewish community the trumpet will sound at Rosh Hashanah, calling Israel to repentance, leading up to Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, whereby, there is no Temple, no blood and unfortunately, no remission of sin. What is missing is our Messiah, which is there Messiah, who is Yeshua. Isaiah foretold of what our Messiah would endure, first for Israel and ultimately for the world, who would receive: Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked—But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:1 - 12 Many believe that this day doesn't apply to the church. From a prophetic stance, this day is for Israel. However, notice the first verse that this day is not only for Israel, but also for the stranger (alien) who dwells with Israel. “This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you. For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It is a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever. And the priest, who is anointed and consecrated to minister as priest in his father’s place, shall make atonement, and put on the linen clothes, the holy garments; then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tabernacle of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel, for all their sins, once a year.” And he did as the LORD commanded Moses." Leviticus 16:29 - 34 This stranger (alien), is the gentile (better known as the church) who was grafted into the vine, becoming a branch that has received the promise and inheritance of God, given first to Israel: "Yeshua said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews." John 4:21 - 22 Also, notice that it states that this is a statute forever. It doesn't say that you are to only recognize this day until our Messiah came and died for us. Even though there are no more sacrifices, in that our Messiah was that final sacrifice for our sins, we can still recognize this day as believers in our Messiah by keeping this day as a Sabbath, and afflicting our souls through fasting...as commanded. What better way to draw closer to our Messiah then through honoring Him through this day that was commanded to be a statute forever.
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