Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is a feast that is celebrated nine days after Rosh Hashanah. It is regarded to be the holiest day in the Hebrew Calendar, even holier than the Sabbath. Hence, it is celebrated for 25 hours from the evening of 9th Ethanim to the evening of 10th Ethanim. God commanded in the Torah that the Israelites abstain completely from work and to afflict themselves (Lev 23:26-32). Since its inception, Jews have afflicted themselves by fasting on this day together with repenting of their sins for the purpose of atonement.

Our faith is built on the foundation of the Prophets and the Apostles with Yahshua Messiah being the chief cornerstone (Eph 2:20). Therefore we see that both the Prophets and the Apostles observed Yom Kippur and by fasting.

Zechariah 8:19 - This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah.

Acts 27:9 - Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them.

Yom Kippur is actually written in the Torah in plural as Yom Kippurim. This suggests God’s forgiveness to mankind over our many sins. The day is also called Yom Ha Rachamim which literally means ‘the Day of Mercies’ meaning the day when God sits on His mercy seat to forgive mankind their transgressions.

It is said that on the Day of Trumpets our names are written either in the Book of Life or in the Book of Death, however we are given ten days until the Day of Atonement to be sealed in the Book of Life. Hence Jews will wish each other “G’mar Chatimah Tovah” meaning may you be sealed(in the book of life) for good.

It is written in the Leviticus 16 that the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies only on this day. The High Priest would first sacrifice a bull to atone for the sin of his household and the priestly work in the Temple or the Tent of Meeting. Then he would cast lots for two goats, one would serve as the scapegoat also known as Azazel and the other as the sacrifice to God. The High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies and make atonement by sprinkling blood on the mercy seat. The Talmud says that a red ribbon would be tied on the scapegoat and it would turn to white after the atonement is made. However, about forty years before the destruction of the temple it did not turn to white. This showed that the atonement had already been made by Yahshua Messiah and that is suggested to be the reason why the Temple was destroyed.

The book of Leviticus is in the centre of the Torah and it focuses mainly on sacrifices and blood atonement. It is written in 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 an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul.” This parallels what Hebrews 9:22 says that without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. Therefore, blood atonement is a major theme of this feast.

Under the Sinai Covenant, the yearly sacrifices of animals atoned for Israel during that year but under New Covenant the blood of Messiah atones for sin once and for all. Hebrews 10:4 reminds us that it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin. All the sacrifices made yearly prefigured the work done by Messiah at Calvary where Messiah gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Messiah fulfills two major roles on Yom Kippur, as both king and priest. His priestly role is to atone for our sins. He came as a priest of a very high order, in the order of Melchizedek (Heb 3:1-2). Yahshua became the mediator of a far greater covenant, not one that need daily sacrifices but one that is sealed by his own blood.

Hebrews 7:26-28 - For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.  For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

It is amazing how a great plan of redemption our heavenly father has bestowed on us. He asks us to repent on Rosh Hashanah and atone our sins on Yom Kippur so that we can finally Tabernacle with Him.

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