Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a Day of Atonements (Yom Ha Kipparim/Day of coverings): it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. (Leviticus 23: 26-32)
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Yahushua Ha Mashiach the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (1 John 2: 1-2)
The Day of Attonement / Yom Kippur is the fifth appointed time in YAHWEH’s plan of redemption which is observed on the tenth day of the seventh month or Tishrei 10, when the sins of the entire year for the Israelites were atoned or covered through a blood sacrifice. The root word kafar (means to cover, to atone for or reconcile) which derives from kofer meaning ransom. This root also appears in the term Mercy seat (kapporet) which was the golden cover of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies.
It should be noted that the Hebrew word for atonement is in plural that is kippurim (redemptions). Throughout the year the priest would receive the sin offerings from the people and make atonement for them as individuals for specific sins but during Day of Atonement it was for the sins of the entire nation. Leviticus 16: 17 states that Aaron made atonement for him, his household and the whole community of Israel because this sacrifice was not for individual sins but for the entire nation as a collective atonement.
Under the first covenant sacrifices covered sins for a period of time but under the Renewed covenant sins are taken entirely away by the precious blood of Yahushua our Messiah (Hebrews 7:27). Yahushua’s sacrifice provides once for all deliverance for our sins by becoming our Yom Kippur/attornment (Hebrews 9: 11-14). He is the propitiation for our sins, it should be noted that the Greek word hilasterion used in Romans 3: 25, 1 John 2: 2 and 1 John 4: 10 is the same word used in the Septuagint LXX for the kapporet that is cover of the ark of the covenant.
The high priest was required to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice upon this cover under the gaze of the two cherubim on the top of the ark. This reminds us of the angels who were put on guard to prevent Adam and Eve re-entering the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3: 24), and also portrays a beautiful picture of the empty tomb after the resurrection on which sat the two angels (John 20: 12). The priest entered with the incense before him as he approached the ark representing the prayers of YAHWEH’s people.
A day of victory and self-examination
This is one day of the year that YAHWEH mandated a fast for everyone. Interestingly, each Hebrew alphabet has numeric value (gematria) attached to it and the gematria for Satan is 364. This means that out of 365 days in a year only on Yom Kippur the enemy is unable to attack people of YAHWEH as the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10) is powerless on this day because of power in the blood of Yahushua.
In Leviticus 23: 27 The Hebrew word for afflict is ‘anah’ which means to be humble, to submit or answer one’s self hinting that YAHWEH wants us to reflect on our lives and examine ourselves on this day of fast. It is a day to repent, pray and intercede and thank our Father in heaven for giving Yahushua as a ransom for us.
A day of judgment (Yom Ha Din)
On this day Yahushua will return to rule and reign as Judge of the whole earth. The month of Tishri is symbolic of the tribe of Dan, the tribe of judgment. Dan and Yom Ha Din are both from the same Hebrew root, symbolizing that this month is the time of divine judgment and forgiveness. The sign of the zodiac for the month of Tishri is scales which points to the month of judgment.
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zechariah 12: 10)
After Feast of Trumpets/Yom Teruah the high priest would hide for seven days, not to defile himself and would appear again on the Day of Atonement. The true affliction of the soul will come when nation of Israel sees their Messiah and realizes that they had rejected and killed Yahushua as prophesied by Zechariah and find atonement for their sins.
2 goats (La-YAHWEH & La-Azazel)
He (Aaron) is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for YAHWEH and the other for the scapegoat. Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to YAHWEH and sacrifice it for a sin offering. But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before YAHWEH to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.
(Leviticus 16: 1-10)
The two lots held by the high priest reminds us when Master Yahushua judges the nations by separating sheep (right hand) from goats (left hand) (Matthew 25: 31-33).
According to tradition the two goats had to be identical. The priest would symbolically lay the sins of the people on the head of the goat and lead it outside of the camp which parallels with Yahushua being taken outside the gate to be hung on a tree (Hebrews 13: 12-13, Acts 5: 30).
Master Yahushua is the fulfillment of both goats. The first goat that is ‘for YAHWEH / La-YAHWEH’ was sacrificed and its blood was taken into the Holy of Holies to cleanse it because of the sin of the Israelites and was applied to the atonement cover. Just as the blood from this goat was used to cleanse the Holy Place, so it was Yahushua’s blood that cleansed the heavenly sanctuary. Other priests would wait outside in silence and when the high priest had finished his duties he would come out of the Most Holy place and say ‘It is done’ just as Yahushua declared in John 19: 30 ‘It is finished’.
In case of the second goat – the scapegoat, high priest would place his hands on its head and confess the sins of Israel and then this goat was taken alive into the desert. When the scapegoat which was dragged, kicked, spat upon and thrown down a cliff was sent away into the desert and fell from the cliff of the mountain the scarlet cord on the temple would miraculously turn from scarlet to white. By this they knew that God had accepted their sacrifice for sins. This shows how the sins of humanity were transferred onto Yahushua who was spat upon and beaten for us (Matthew 27: 30).
Unusual signs in the Temple
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. (Isaiah 1: 18)
The Jerusalem Talmud says, that a piece of scarlet cord would be tied both to the scapegoat and the temple doors. Forty years before the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD (that is forty years after death and resurrection of Yahushua) the following signs were seen:
- The western light of the golden menorah went out at night despite all the efforts for it to be lit perpetually.
- The crimson thread remained crimson and never turned white again.
- The lot for YAHWEH always came up in the left hand and never fell in the right hand of the high priest.
- The temple doors would open by themselves miraculously. They would close the gates of the Temple by night and get up in the morning and find them wide open. (And these doors were 75 feet high and required up to 25 men to open one door)
All these signs showed that YAHWEH no longer accepted the Day of Atonement sacrifice for the last 40 years before the destruction of the temple (30 AD to 70 AD) as the priesthood was corrupt. It meant that Yahushua was the last and final sacrifice and Elohim was not going to accept any other sacrifice.
The Great Day – Face to Face
The Day of Atonement is known as ‘The Great Day’ or ‘The Day’ (Joel 2: 11, Zephaniah 1: 14). It is also known as the day of ‘Face to Face’ because it was on this day of the year when the high priest could come into the presence of YAHWEH face to face. Paul the apostle used this phrase ‘face to face’ to speak of the day when all believers will see Master Yahushua clearly.
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)
According to tradition, the day that Moses went back up on the mountain the second time for 40 days and 40 nights, it was the 1st of Elul. He came down from Mount Sinai with the second tablets from YAHWEH’s presence on Tishrei 10. This tells us that Moses descended the second time from God’s presence on this very day – the Day of Atonement and we see that his face was radiating and shining (Exodus 34: 28-35).
Interestingly, the two times that Moses came down from the presence of God on the mountain represent the two comings of Yahushua Ha Mashiach. The first descent of Moses saw the nation of Israel in rebellion and sin which parallels to the first coming of Yahushua as He was not accepted by His brethren (John 1: 11) but at the second descent the Israelites were not in rebellion as Moses’ face shone with the glory of God. This again points to the glorious coming of our Master on the Day of Atonement, when His coming shall light up the sky. (1 Thessalonians 1: 9-10)
Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the Lord? (Isaiah 57: 5) Isaiah is making reference to this day of fasting here. Paul the apostle also mentins this appointed day of YAHWEH. Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. So Paul warned them… (Acts 27: 9)
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. (Revelation 19:11-14)
During the sacrifices required on this day the garments of the high priest would be stained with blood which points to the ultimate fulfillment of the true high priest Yahushua Ha Mashiach on this day. On a future Day of Atonement, Yahushua will come on a white horse wearing white garments.
The message of Yom Kippur is that Yahushua our Messiah made the perfect sacrifice once and for all. YAHWEH requires us to humble ourselves and overcome our shortcomings by resting in Yahushua’s complete atonement.
