I. The Appointed Times. Jesus in the Feasts of Israel. “Accordingly, the Torah functioned as a custodian until the Messiah came, so that we might be declared righteous on the ground of trusting and being faithful. But now that the time for this trusting faithfulness has come, we are no longer under a custodian.” For in union with the Messiah, you are all children of God through this trusting faithfulness; because as many of you as were immersed into the Messiah have clothed yourselves with the Messiah, in whom there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor freeman, neither male nor female; for in union with the Messiah Yeshua, you are all one. Galatians 3:24-28 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB). (This passage relates to the spiritual state that all of us acquire once we have been born again.)
II. Messianic Jewish Reflections on the Feast of Tabernacles. Excerpts from Day of Discovery’s, “The Appointed Times, Jesus in the Feasts of Israel, Part IV.” In this video teaching three Jewish-born men, whom are now born again believers in Christ, discuss the Feast Of Tabernacles which will begin at sunset on October 13, and will continue through sunset on October 20, 2019 (Sunday through Sunday).
III. This week’s Sabbath will precede Sukkot. Sabbath will begin at Sunset on Friday, October 11, 2019, and will last until sunset on Saturday, October 12, 2019.
A. Women light the Shabbat Candles each Sabbath.
B. Jewish Women Lighting Shabbat Candles. A woman (Mary) brought the Light of the world (Christ), “into the world” (Luke 2:7; John 1:9).
IV. Sukkot. Consider the two links of information that come from Chabad.org, which is a Jewish website.
A. https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4784/jewish/What-Is-Sukkot.htm
Sukkot is a weeklong Jewish holiday that comes five days after Yom Kippur. Sukkot celebrates the gathering of the harvest and commemorates the miraculous protection G‑d provided for the children of Israel when they left Egypt. We celebrate Sukkot by dwelling in a foliage-covered booth (known as a sukkah) and by taking the “Four Kinds” (arba minim), four special species of vegetation.
B. https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/609535/jewish/What-Is-a-Sukkah.htm
The sukkah is a walled structure covered with organic material. On the holiday of Sukkot, Jewish people spend time in the sukkah, treating it like their home-away-from-home. As described in the Torah, the sukkah evokes the temporary dwellings the Israelites inhabited on their way out of Egypt.
V. Consider the following verses concerning the Feast of Tabernacles.
A. Jews Celebrating The Feast Of Booths. Deuteronomy 16:13-16 New American Standard Bible (NASB) (Lev 23:33-43; Num 29:12-38
1. God told the Jews to celebrate The Feast Of Booths. Deu 16, 13 “You shall celebrate the Feast of Booths seven days after you have gathered in from your threshing floor and your wine vat; 14 and you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns. 15 Seven days you shall celebrate a feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful.
2. Male Jews were required to go to Jerusalem each year to celebrate the Feast of Booths. Notice that male Jews were also required to go to the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Feast Of Weeks/Pentecost each year. 1. Deu 16:16 “Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and at the Feast of Weeks and at the Feast of Booths, and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.
B. Consider the Jews that were present in Jerusalem on the Day Of Pentecost/Feast Of Weeks in Acts 2:5, “Because of the holy festival, there are devout Jews staying as pilgrims in Jerusalem from every nation under the sun.”(The Voice). (Acts 2:1-6, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A1-6&version=VOICE)
VI. The fulfillment of “The Feast Of Tabernacles In Christ” is shown in Zechariah 14:16-19, with the rest and reunion of Jews with Christ (MacArthur Study Bible, note on Lev 23:33-43).
A. Zechariah 14:16-19 (NASB) 16 Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths. 17 And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, there will be no rain on them. 18 If the family of Egypt does not go up or enter, then no rain will fall on them; it will be the plague with which the Lord smites the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths. 19 This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths.
B. My note. Because only saved people will enter the Kingdom Age, the following comment from The Moody Bible Commentary is important to understand. Zech 14:16, “any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem.” So, “who are those that are left of all of the nations?” From Moody Commentary… “God promised to require universal worship in Jerusalem. Many Gentiles from other nations of the world will embrace Messiah Christ, during the tribulation and will not be destroyed by Him when He returns. The nations that are spared this judgment (Mt 25:34-40), will be made to show their continued allegiance to the Lord by going “up from year to year to worship the king,” the Messiah Christ. They will also be expected “to celebrate the Feast of Booths” (Zech 14:16, Lv 23:40, Dt 16:14-15), a feast of ingathering and dwelling in booths. It will be the required festival of the messianic kingdom because “it will celebrate the gathering of the nations to the Lord, and especially His tabernacling among them.” As the millennial kingdom progresses, however, many will not embrace King Messiah by faith (see Rv 20:7-10), and will not obey Him. (My note: those people that enter the Kingdom age from the tribulation, being in natural bodies, will have children, not all of whom will come to saving faith in Christ; they will rebel against Messiah Christ at the Battle of Gog and Magog….Rev 20:7-10).
VII. Christ celebrated the Feast Of Tabernacles.
A. Christ taught at the Feast Of Tabernacles. John 7:2, 14 (NASB) 2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. 14 when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach.
B. Christ invited Jews to believe in Him for salvation at the Feast Of Tabernacles. John 7:37-39 (NASB) 37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
VII. Closing comment.
A. The Feast Of Tabernacles relates to the forty-year period that the Jews were in the wilderness on their way to the promised land. During that time, the Spiritual Presence of God was with the Jews, and sustained them. As it relates to the end times, during the millennium/Kingdom Age of God, Christ/Messiah, whom is God with us (Isaiah 7:14/Matthew 1:23-25), and “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:16), will rule and reign from Jerusalem over all of the born again people of all times, during the thousand-year millennium (Revelation 20:4-6), and will sustain them. For those whom are born during the millennium, and do not come to saving faith in Christ, Christ will also rule and reign over such unbelievers in the Kingdom Age. During the time of the Jewish wilderness experience, God spiritually “tabernacled” with the Jews. During the Kingdom Age, Christ will physically “tabernacle” with all of the redeemed people of all ages, and will continue to do so throughout the eternal state. The eternal state will be the promised land for all of God’s “born again and redeemed people,” which will immediately follow the Kingdom Age (Rev 21:1-3).
B. Christ invites all whom do not know Him as their Lord and Savior to invite Him to tabernacle within their spirit, now! All that is needed to accept the call of Christ, is to believe in Him as Lord and Savior.
(Click on the image to see the text. Click on the arrow to see the video).
I. Video 1. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) 2017 Seeds Of Revelation. October 8-9, 2019 (sunset to sunset (actually a 26 hour period of time, Tuesday-Wednesday. (See video details at the foot of this page. Notice that the video was published in the year 2017.). Certain repetition will be found in this article, for the purpose of enforcing its contents.
II. The Day of Atonement, also known as Yom Kippur, is a day that makes known the truth of God’s love for all of mankind. In this paragraph we will expose the true meaning of The Day Of Atonement; we will also discuss the false teachings. The following information in subparagraph (II.A.B.) comes from the Jewish site, Chabad.org, and provides the basic belief that Jews have about the Day of Atonement. Chabad.org’s teaching of Yom Kippur is not complete, and will be discussed in this article. I will provide scriptures on the correct teaching of God, in His way of making people pure, holy, and qualified to have eternal life in Heaven.
A. From Chabad.org. Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year, when we are closest to G‑d and to the essence of our souls. Yom Kippur means “Day of Atonement,” as the verse states, “For on this day He will forgive you, to purify you, that you be cleansed from all your sins before G‑d.” https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/177886/jewish/What-Is-Yom-Kippur.htm
B. From Chabad.org. Yom Kippur is the most solemn day of the year; it is suffused with an undercurrent of joy; it is the joy of being immersed in the spirituality of the day and expresses confidence that G‑d will accept our repentance, forgive our sins, and seal our verdict for a year of life, health and happiness. https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/177886/jewish/What-Is-Yom-Kippur.htm
C. “John 17:3” explains that eternal life comes at the time of a person’s coming to saving faith in God the Father, through Christ, God the Son, being empowered by God the Holy Spirit. There is no waiting to attain eternal life. Eternal life is eternal, from the time that a person comes to saving faith in God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit); there is no waiting, and no re-qualifying each year. “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
D. The Day of Atonement is a part of the Law. Christ fulfilled all of the Law (Matt 5:17).
E. By no means, will this article attack the Jews in their beliefs, but will show that the Day of Atonement has been fulfilled by the atoning sacrifice of Christ (I John 2:2).
III. Video 2. What is Yom Kippur? The Jewish High Holiday (See Video Details Below). Notice in the video the words, “we’re not perfect.” However, in 2 Cor 5:17 and 2 Cor 5:21, we are told that due to our new birth in Christ, our spirits have become as perfect as the Spirit of Christ, which is because Christ took our imperfection of spirit upon Himself through His propitiatory death. Through our new birth we don’t have to go through a yearly ritual of repentance to be secure in Christ. Without our having a perfect spirit, we can not have eternal life in heaven with God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). 1 John 1:5, “God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.”
IV. Consider the following scriptures that tell of the Day of Atonement, and its fulfillment in Christ.
A. Leviticus 23:26-32 (NASB). The Day of Atonement. 26 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 27 “On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the Lord. 28 You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the Lord your God. 29 If there is any person who will not humble himself on this same day, he shall be cut off from his people. 30 As for any person who does any work on this same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. 31 You shall do no work at all. It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. 32 It is to be a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall humble your souls; on the ninth of the month at evening, from evening until evening you shall keep your sabbath.”
1. MacArthur Study Bible note. 23:26–32 Day of Atonement. The annual Day of Atonement pointed to the forgiveness and cleansing of sin for the priests, the nation, and the tabernacle (see notes on 16:1–34).
2. MacArthur Study Bible note. Lev 16:34 once a year. The better sacrifice of Jesus Christ was offered once-for-all, never to be repeated (cf. Heb. 9:11—10:18). Upon that sacrifice all forgiveness of sin is based, including that of OT believers.
B. Numbers 29:7-11 (NASB) 7 ‘Then on the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall humble yourselves; you shall not do any work. 8 You shall present a burnt offering to the Lord as a soothing aroma: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs one year old, having them without defect; 9 and their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram, 10 a tenth for each of the seven lambs; 11 one male goat for a sin offering, besides the sin offering of atonement and the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
1. MacArthur Study Bible note. Lev 23:26–32 Day of Atonement. The annual Day of Atonement pointed to the forgiveness and cleansing of sin for the priests, the nation, and the tabernacle (see notes on 16:1–34).
2. The sacrifices of the Day of Atonement are included in the Law. For someone to say that they keep the Law, they must comply with all of the 613 requirements of the law, to include all of its sacrifices (James 2:10). https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-613-mitzvot-commandments
V. Consider the following scriptures that tell of the blood of Christ, and of Christ, “the High Priest.”
A. Hebrews 9:11-12 (NASB) 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
(MacArthur Study Bible note. not of this creation. The phrase is the explanation of “not made with hands”—it is the creation of God alone. The sanctuary where Christ serves is heaven itself (cf. v. 24; 8:2)).
B. Hebrews 9:13-14 (NASB) 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
(MacArthur Study Bible note. the blood of Christ. This is an expression that refers not simply to the fluid, but the whole atoning sacrificial work of Christ in His death. Blood is used as a substitute word for death (cf. Matt. 23:30, 35; 27:6, 8, 24, 25; John 6:54–56; Acts 18:6; 20:26)).
C. Hebrews 9:15 (NASB) 15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
(MacArthur Study Bible note. 8:6 Mediator. Cf. 9:15. The word describes a go-between or an arbitrator, in this case between man and God. See note on 1 Tim. 2:5 (cf. Gal. 3:19, 20).
D. Hebrews 4:14-15 (NASB) 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Mac Arthur Study Bible note. 4:15 all points tempted. See notes on 2:17, 18. The writer here adds to his statements in 2:18 that Jesus was sinless. He was able to be tempted (Matt. 4:1–11), but not able to sin (see notes on 7:26).
E. Scripture points to the fact that in relation to the Jewish High Priests, Christ was a better High Priest, and that in relation to the animals that were sacrificed by the Jewish High Priests, Christ was the only sacrifice that could satisfy God’s requirement for the removal of sin.
VI. The Holiest Jewish Day Of The Year. Yom Kippur, which is also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year that Jews observe. https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4687/jewish/Yom-Kippur.htm Yom Kippur was spoken into Law by God in the year 1446 B.C. (Thompson Chain Reference Bible, Lev 23:26-32). The Hebrew Bible calls the day Yom Hakippurim (Hebrew, “Day of the Atonement/s”). In the Hebrew calendar, the ninth day of Tishri is known as Erev Yom Kippur (Yom Kippur eve) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Holy_Days The Hebrew word, “yom,” (pronounced YOHM, means “day, time.” Yom means day, the Hebrew day lasting from one evening to the next (Gen 1:5). “Yom” describes a working day (Ex 20:9) or day of the month (Zch 1:7). It indicates a time (Pro 24:10) or occasion (Num 10:10) (Holman Christian Standard Bible note, Gen 1:20-23). Even though the Day of Atonement has been observed by Jews ever since it inception, its eternal significance for God’s chosen people (Deu 14:2) will not come to fruition until the last days of the tribulation, at the second coming of Christ; then, its true meaning will be exposed to, not only Jews, but also to Gentiles that will be present on earth; such Jews and Gentiles will not have had saving faith in Christ at the time of the rapture, so, they will have been left behind after the rapture will have taken place. As opposed to the Jewish teaching of God’s atonement, which is the covering of a person’s sin, the sacrifice of Christ on the cross was God’s way of removing a person’s condemning sin of unbelief (John 1:29, 3:3, Rom 8:1, 2 Cor 5:17, 21).
A. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, October 8-9, 2019 (sunset to sunset (actually a 26 hour period of time, Tuesday-Wednesday), marks the end of a period of introspection and repentance. No work is performed, and most of the holiday is spent in prayer. Consider the relationship of the Feast of Trumpets to the Day of Atonement.
B. Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets. The feast of trumpets relates to the return of Christ to earth at the end of the Tribulation, when the angels regather the Jewish people from all around the world, and take them to Israel. Next, those Jews will be allowed to enter the Kingdom Age of the millennial reign of Christ, or will be taken in death to the Great White Throne Judgment, which will take place at the end of the millennium. The Jews that come to saving faith in Christ during the tribulation will be allowed to enter the Kingdom Age with other born again Jews and Gentiles. The Jews that fail to come to saving faith in Christ will be taken in death to Judgment (Matt 24:40-41/Rev 20:10-15). Either group of Jews will be Jews that miss the rapture (John 14:16, 1 Cor 15:50-54, 1 Thes 4:13-18). Gentiles that miss the rapture, and are still alive on earth at the end of the tribulation, will also have the opportunity to enter the Kingdom age, or will be taken in death to Judgment, where they will also arise at the end of the millennium to stand before the Great White Throne Judgment (Matt 25:31-46, Rev 20:10-15). Yom Kippur immediately follows Rosh Hashanah (Feast Of Trumpets) during the tribulation.
C. At the second coming of Christ, the conditions of God’s Judgment for the Jews and Gentiles that are left behind from the rapture will be exposed. Jews of OT Yom Kippur, and in today’s world, have a belief of a physical death for “unforgiven Jews,” that such unforgiven Jews will have their lives taken by God at the end of each Jewish year, thereby preventing them from entering into the new year. The same Yom Kippur observant Jews, have had the belief that all “forgiven Jews” will be given another year of life, and will enter the new Jewish year.
1. A Jewish teaching. The Jewish new year is not just a time to renew our resolve to lose another fifteen pounds. Rather, it’s the time when our fate stands in the balance as G‑d reviews our past year and decides whether or not to renew our lease on His planet. As such, Jewish greetings for this time of year (the Jewish New Year is in the fall) reflect our prayers for a good, sweet year up ahead. The catch-all greeting you can use for the entire season is “Shanah tovah” (שנה טובה), which means “Good year.” https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/174683/jewish/New-Year-Greetings-Explained.htm
2. A Jewish teaching. Kotvenu b’sefer he-ḥayyim, “Inscribe us in the Book of Life,” Jews pray in the days from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur. “May you be written down and inscribed for a good year,” they say to each other. No concept or phrase is more associated with the High Holy Days than that of a divine “book” in which our fates are written https://forward.com/culture/183461/may-you-be-inscribed-in-the-book-of-life-for-5774/
A. Atonement is an often-used Old Testament term representing a sacrifice for sin. Leviticus 16 describes atonement on many levels by many actions. The whole process was quite detailed but necessary for the people of God to be holy before God, and thus “at one with God.” https://www.christianity.com/wiki/salvation/what-is-atonement-biblical-meaning-and-definition.html When we are born again, we are “one in Christ,” (Gal 3:28). By being “in Christ,” our spirit is as pure as Christ, whether Jew or Gentile. The Jews and Gentiles which come to saving faith in Christ during the tribulation, will be “one in Christ,” with the Spirit of Christ dwelling within their spirits (John 14:20), which is a result of the new birth (John 3:3).
B. The Jewish belief of the yearly Day of Atonement is that, during the Days Of Awe” (Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur), God will determine which Jews are just, and will be allowed to live for another year. However, the unjust Jews will have their lives taken from them by God (this death, is not eternal death.).
C. The Day of Atonement looks forward to the time at the end of the Tribulation, where similar implications will be experienced, but with eternal results for the Jews (Matt 24:40-41), as well as for the Gentiles of the tribulation (Matt 25:31-46).
1. The Matt 24:40-41 Jews will be shown to have come to saving faith in Christ, or not. Those “left behind” Jews, will be Jews that were “born again” during the Tribulation. These born again Jews,” will be allowed to enter the Kingdom Age for the 1,000 year reign of Christ as Messiah, where He will be King of Kings, and Lord of Lords (Rev 19:16); these born again Jews will be “at one with Christ”. Those Jews “that are taken,” had not been born again; they will be taken in death to the Great White Throne Judgment, at the end of the Kingdom Age, where they will stand before Christ, as Judge, and will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:10-15). These Jews, that will not have been born again, will be eternally “estranged from Christ.”
2. The Gentiles that were compassionate to the Jews during the tribulation (the least of these, My brethren..Mt 25:40), will show such love for the Jews (“you fed Me and gave Me drink; you took Me in; you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me; when you did it to one of these, “My brethren,” you did it to Me…Mt 25:34-40). These compassionate Gentiles will show kindness to Jews because they will have been born again; these Gentiles will be allowed to enter the Kingdom Age (Mt 25:34), where Christ will rule and reign as Messiah. The Gentiles that do not show compassion for the Jews during the Tribulation will show by their lack of compassion for the Jews that they will not have been born again, and will be taken in death to the lake of fire (Rev 20:10-15). These unbelieving Gentiles are addressed by Christ, “I was hungry and thirsty and you did not feed me; you did not take me in, or clothe me; you did not visit me when I was sick or in prison; “in as much as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me,” (Mt 25:31-46).
3. Matt 24:40-41 Review. “Taken:” to judgment in death. “Left:” to enter in life, the Kingdom Age of the Millennium, the 1000 year reign of Christ. At the time of the rapture, those whom have been born born again will be taken to heaven by Christ (John 14:2,3,6). Those whom will not have been born again will be left on earth to come under the Judgments of God (Rev 3:10).
VIII. “The Least Of These.” It has been my unfortunate experience to hear certain politicians say that Matthew 25:40 relates to the responsibility of government to take care of the less fortunate. I have also heard certain “religious” personalities use the words of Matthew 25:40 to infer that if people living in this dispensation of grace (the church age) do not take care of the needy of the world, that such negligent people will not go to heaven.
A. It is important to understand that Mt 25:40 refers to the Jews and Gentiles of the tribulation. “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of “the least of these My brethren,” you did it to Me.” The “brethren” are Jews (The Moody Bible Commentary).
B. It is also important to understand that 1 Cor 16:1, “Now concerning the collection for the saints,” refers to NT benevolence for Christians. In this verse, an offering was taken from the church at Corinth to the needy Christians that were in Jerusalem (Ryrie Study Bible note).
C. Mt 25:40 specifically is a teaching of tribulation benevolence for Jews. 1 Cor 16:1 is a teaching of Church Age benevolence for Christians.
IX. Romans 11:26 states, “all Israel will be saved.” The verse relates to the nation of Israel being given the land of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 12:1-3, 15:18-21). Only born again Jews will enter that land, at the time of the Kingdom Age. The Kingdom Age will begin at the end of the tribulation, and continue until the beginning of the eternal state (Rev 21:1-3). The requirement for anyone to enter the Kingdom Age is, “you must be born again” (John 3:3).
A. The fulfillment of the Day of Atonement is found in the second coming of Christ to earth, at the end of the tribulation (Matt 24:29-31; Zechariah 14:1-15; ). Key to understanding the time of the return of Christ to earth at the end of the Tribulation, is the need for the Jews whom are present on earth “to call on Christ” to return; this will happen because those Jews will have come to know Christ as the Messiah. Consider Zech 12:10, Psalm 118:26, Matt 23:39, “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord.”
1. What: Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year, when we are closest to G‑d and to the essence of our souls. Yom Kippur means “Day of Atonement,” as the verse states, “For on this day He will forgive you, to purify you, that you be cleansed from all your sins before G‑d.”
2. When: The 10th day of Tishrei (in 2019, from several minutes before sunset on Tuesday, October 8, until after nightfall on Wednesday, October 9), coming on the heels of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year, which is on the first and second days of Tishrei).
3. How: For nearly 26 hours we “afflict our souls”: we abstain from food and drink, do not wash or apply lotions or creams, do not wear leather footwear, and abstain from marital relations. Instead, we spend the day in synagogue, praying for forgiveness.
4. Indeed, although Yom Kippur is the most solemn day of the year, it is suffused with an undercurrent of joy; it is the joy of being immersed in the spirituality of the day and expresses confidence that G‑d will accept our repentance, forgive our sins, and seal our verdict for a year of life, health and happiness.
C. In relation to the Old Testament teaching of The Day of Atonement, we must understand that the Jews feared the judgment of God in regard to living or dying. The Jews viewed the judgment of living as being a physical state of life that would be extended for another year, until the next Day of Atonement. For the Jews, they viewed the judgment of death as resulting in a physical state of death. As relating to spiritual eternal life or death for OT Jews, Daniel 12:1-3 discusses those situations.
X. The Days Of Awe. Consider The Days Of Awe And The Book Of Life. The following information is important for believers in Christ to understand, as well as unbelieving Jews, and all others whom do not know Christ as their Lord and Savior.
A. The subject of having someone’s name blotted out of the Book of Life has often been improperly taught. During the days of their mortal life, Jews realize that God has all power over life’s physical existence, which has nothing to do with the Lamb’s Book of Life. The Lamb’s Book of Life contains all of the names of those whom have been born again, and whose eternity with God “is sealed” (in the Lamb’s Book Of Life), and can never be removed. Unbelieving Jews believe that God makes a determination each year as to whom will live for another year and, “that decision,” will hold fast for another year. Jews use the Days Of Awe as a time of repentance to get right with others, and with God. (Rev 21:17 “Nothing dirty or defiled will get into the City, and no one who defiles or deceives. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will get in…The Message.” Rev 3:5, I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life.”).
B. To be written in the Book of Life – To be sealed in the Book of Life. It is a Jewish belief that during the Days of Awe, that begin on Rosh Hashanah, and extend through the completion of the Day of Atonement, “through the Jews’ repentance,” they can alter God’s decree that He issued on Rosh Hashanah, as to whom will live for another year. During the Days of Awe, Jews may greet each other with the following words.
1. “L’Shanah Tovah” (li-SHAH-nuh TOH-vuh; li-shah-NAH toh-VAH)
Hebrew. Lit. for a good year. A common greeting during Rosh Hashanah and Days of Awe. It is an abbreviation of L’shanah tovah tikatev v’taihatem (May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year). The second pronunciation above is the proper Hebrew pronunciation, but I more commonly hear the first pronunciation, which is Yiddish style. The greeting may also be spoken as, “may your name be found in the Book of Life.” https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/174683/jewish/New-Year-Greetings-Explained.htm
2. A verse that shows the removal of someone from the book of life, is as follows. (Please remember that the verse has nothing to do with a loss of eternal life.)
a. Exodus 32:32 (NASB) “But now, if You will, forgive their sin–and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!”
b. MacArthur Study Bible note. 32:32 blot me out of Your book. Nothing more strongly marked the love of Moses for his people than his sincere willingness to offer up his own life rather than see them disinherited and destroyed. The book to which Moses referred, the psalmist entitled “the book of the living” (Ps. 69:28). Untimely or premature death would constitute being blotted out of the book. The Apostle Paul displayed a similar passionate devotion for his kinsmen (Rom. 9:1–3).
c. Ryrie Study Bible note. “book.” A register of the physically living. To be blotted out meant to experience an untimely death. By contrast, the NT book of life (Rev 13:8, etc) is the register of those whom have eternal life.
d. My note. Moses was telling God to take his mortal life; it was for a cause. There is nothing in this verse to say that Moses wanted his eternal life or spirit to be taken from him by God.
XI. It is incorrect to believe that because a person has been given a premature death by God, that such a person has lost their salvation, such as has been suggested in the case of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11). If that couple had been born again, they would not have been unborn, and would not have become unsaved. Once we have been born again, having come to belief in Christ as our Lord in Savior, our eternity with Christ has been sealed in the Lamb’s Book Of Life…forever (Ephesians 1:13, Revelation 3:5). The key question for each person is: “have you been born again; do you know Christ as your Lord and Savior?”
A. Let’s consider Ananias and Sapphira. It is obvious by their actions that they had become an embarrassment upon God’s people, and also upon God. The same thing can happen today. If a born again believer in Christ begins to act in a way that is embarrassing to God, or to the body of Christ, such a backslider may be given “an early death.”
B. 1 John 5:16 (NASB) If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this.
C. Death may refer either to spiritual or physical death, though physical death is probably the case in 1 Jn 5:16 . The “Brother” does not lose his salvation, but leaves this life prematurely. For the unbeliever, “unbelief in Christ” is the sin that results in eternal spiritual death; its finality is realized after physical death occurs (John 3:18), when he is resurrected at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:10-15). The born again believer in Christ, after death or resurrection, has the promise of “not being condemned” (Rom 8:1).
XII. Consider the following scriptures that tell of the Day of Atonement, and its fulfillment in Christ. The fulfillment of the Day of Atonement comes through the Substitutionary Sacrifice by Christ.
A. Hebrews 10:10 (NASB) By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
MacArthur Study Bible note. 10:10 sanctified. “Sanctify” means to “make holy,” to be set apart from sin for God (cf. 1 Thes. 4:3). When Christ fulfilled the will of God, He provided for the believer a continuing, permanent condition of holiness (Eph. 4:24; 1 Thes. 3:13).
B. Romans 11:26 (NASB), “and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”
1. MacArthur Study Bible note. 11:26 all Israel. All the elect Jewish people alive at the end of the Tribulation, not the believing remnant of Jews within the church during this church age (see notes on vv. 5, 17). Since the remnant has already embraced the truth of the gospel (see note on v. 25), it could not be in view here, since it no longer needs the salvation this verse promises. The Deliverer will come out of Zion. See Pss. 14:7; 53:6; Is. 46:13. The Lord Jesus Christ’s millennial rule will be associated with Mt. Zion (see notes on Ps. 110:2; Heb. 12:22). Zion. See note on 9:33.
2. NKJV Study Bible note. 11:26 All Israel does not mean that every individual in the nation will turn to the Lord. It means that the nation as a whole will be saved, just as the nation as a whole (but not every individual in it) was now rejecting the Lord.
3. Consider the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ.
a. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB) “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
b. Because of Adam’s sin, and the following curse that came upon all of God’s creation, we were born “to be sin”. Sin was our eternal state upon our becoming an embryo; we “were” fully sin, “spirit, soul and body.” Christ who, “was not sin,” became sin even though He “did not sin,” so that He could pay sin’s penalty on our behalf. We became the righteousness of God when we were born again. We were spiritually born again to spiritually dwell “in the Spirit of Christ” (please notice the word “spiritually”).
c. Romans 3:25 (NASB) “whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;”
(1). MacArthur Study Bible note. 3:25. propitiation. Crucial to the significance of Christ’s sacrifice, this word carries the idea of appeasement or satisfaction—in this case Christ’s violent death satisfied the offended holiness and wrath of God against those for whom Christ died (Is. 53:11; Col. 2:11–14). The Heb. equivalent of this word was used to describe the mercy seat—the cover to the ark of the covenant—where the High-Priest sprinkled the blood of the slaughtered animal on the Day of Atonement to make atonement for the sins of the people (see Heb 2:17, 1 John 2:1, 4:10). But in reality, man is incapable of satisfying God’s justice apart from Christ, except by spending eternity in hell.
(2). The result of Christ’s becoming sin, “on our behalf,” is known as propitiation, per the Merriam Webster definition. Notice, “atoning sacrifice.”
(3). Definition of propitiation.
(a). the act of propitiating
(b). something that propitiates; specifically, an atoning sacrifice
XIII. To Live Or Die. Based on the Jewish beliefs of Yom Kippur, Jews may be lead to believe that if they are alive on The Day Of Atonement, “God has accepted their repentance, forgiven their sins, and sealed their verdicts for a year of life, health and happiness.” Consider the alternative to that belief.
XIV. Let’s consider the sins, of “omission, commission and unbelief.”
A. If a person fails to do something that they should have done, or has done something that they should have not done, a break in relationship can occur. The situation can develop that is so severe “that you can cut it with a knife.” In such sins of relationship, God has provided the following verse. “confess your sins to one another,” (James 5:16).
B. If a believer in Christ shows a lack of respect for God, in what is said or done, their prior “God to mankind” relationship can be damaged. God has provided a way for the sinning man, or woman, to correct such a damaged relationship, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” (1 John 1:9).
C. In neither of the two above examples, will a person lose their salvation. However, there is a sin that will prevent a person from spending eternity with God in Heaven. Such a sin is “the sin of unbelief,” which comes from someone not being born again (John 1:29, 3:3-8, 3:16-18, Rom 8:1). Notice that it is the sin of unbelief that Christ came to “take away” (Jn 1:29). A person can murder another person; God can restore the murderer to their prior relationship, but the person that was murdered does not return to life. A bank robbery can not be undone; the robbery took place; nothing can change that sin; but relationships can be restored. The key to sins of omission and commission is that damaged relationships can be restored, whether “believer to believer,” or “believer to God.”
D. Sins of omission and commission do not prevent a person from going to heaven. It is the sin of unbelief that has the most serious affects, and is the sin that only “Christ, The High Priest” can resolve. It is only through the new birth that anyone can dwell within the Spirit of God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), and spend eternity with God (John 3:3, 1 John 1:5). The condemning sin of Judas Iscariot would not have been that he betrayed Christ, but that he was not “born again.”
E. There is a scripture that was given to the Jews, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Ps 51:7).
1. Mac Arthur Study Bible Note. 51:7 hyssop. Old Testament priests used hyssop, a leafy plant, to sprinkle blood or water on a person being ceremonially cleansed from defilements such as leprosy or touching a dead body (cf. Lev. 14:6ff.; Num. 19:16–19). Here hyssop is a figure for David’s longing to be spiritually cleansed from his moral defilement. In forgiveness, God washes away sin (cf. Ps. 103:12; Is. 1:16; Mic. 7:19).
2. The atoning question for all people of all times is, “have you been born again?” (Ez 36:24-29, John 3:3, 2 Cor 5:17), with your righteous and born again spirit dwelling within the Righteous Spirit of God (John 14:20, 2 Cor 5:21).
XV. Video Details (Videos 1 and 2)
A. Video Details 1. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) 2017, Seeds of Revelation. 10,921 views•Sep 29, 2017.Discovering the Jewish Jesus with Rabbi Schneider. 91.5K subscribers. The penalty for sin is death, but did you know that Jesus fulfilled Yom Kippur once and for all?Leviticus 17: 11, says, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.”
B. Video Details 2. What is Yom Kippur? The Jewish High Holiday 167,643 views•Sep 12, 2017. BimBam. 37.9K subscribers.Learn the basics of the Day of Atonement in 3 minutes. Yom Kippur is the most holy day of the Jewish year and it is full of spiritual opportunity if you open yourself up to its customs, prayers and melodies. This short video is a basic primer on what Yom Kippur is, for everyone. It explains what the holiday is about, where it comes from, what to expect at a service and how to break the fast! A great intro for Jews and non-Jews alike – share with your curious coworker or family member. This video was made possible with generous support from The Koret Foundation, as part of its Initiative on Jewish Peoplehood.–
Eternity 