Yom Kippur: The Holiest Day*

It is vital for the Church to understand the importance of the Feasts of the LORD, especially at this time of year. The preparation for the fall feasts begins with the month of Elul and continues into the month of Tishri. This evening begins the Day of Atonement, one of the LORD's fall feasts by commandment: "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted...he shall be cut off from among his people...the same soul will I destroy from among his people. Ye shall do no manner of work...It shall be to you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls." (Lev. 23:25-32, excerpt). The feasts were not created by man, but commanded by the LORD, and they are a statute forever (Lev. 16:29, 31, 34). These feasts are also fulfilled in type by Christ. The Day of Atonement is observed with prayer and fasting. As commanded by the LORD, it was a day when the anointed and consecrated priest "shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments: and he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary...for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation...to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year..." (Lev. 16:29-34, excerpt). The white linen garments to be worn by the priest, are the same garments of righteousness to be worn by the Bride of Christ for the marriage supper of the Lamb. Under the Law of Moses, the Day of Atonement, which was the sprinkling of the blood of animal sacrifices on the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies, was observed yearly, but as Christ fulfilled it, it was done once and for all time. The LORD gave Moses a song to be taught to all the people of Israel. In his song, Moses sang that his doctrine, and his words are like rain and dew: "Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." (Deut. 32:1-4). Moses then described the sin of the people: "They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not (the spot) of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation...then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations...They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods ...Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee." (v. 5, 15-18). This is happening today also. False and foreign gods are being brought into our cities, like New York City, in which also the gates of the temples of foreign gods were also built and displayed. Churches are following the ways of these foreign gods, and tolerating the abominations of these gods. Because of this, the LORD said in the song of Moses, "I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith." (v. 20). The Word tells us to seek His face, rather than cause God to turn His face away from us. After completing his song, Moses told the people of Israel: "Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it." (v. 45-47). In another part of scripture we are told to meditate upon the words of the law, which consists of two main points, as Jesus said: To love God, and to love your neighbor. In Psalm 78, Asaph also sang a song: "Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth." (v. 1). Yet, God's people forgot His words: "They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; and forgot his works, and his wonders that he had showed them." (v. 10-11). The LORD worked so many miraculous ways for His people as they travelled through the wilderness. Their clothing and shoes never wore out. He supplied enogh water from the Rock for all of the people and their flocks and herds (see v. 15-16). "And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. Yea, they spake against God...". (v. 17-19). God gave them bread from heaven, and water from the Rock, but they disregarded this and wanted Him to satisfy all of their desires. We must examine our hearts to see how we come short of His glory, as all have done. Because of their lack of belief and trust in God's salvation, Asaph's song said that the fire of God's anger was kindled against His people, "Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven", and men ate the food of angels. (v. 21-25). At the end of the Day of Atonement, it is said that the door of heaven is closed against those whose names are not inscribed in His book for "a good year". It reminds us of of when God closed the door of Noah's Ark with the same finality. As Jesus fulfilled this feast, our names are written in the Lamb's Book of life, not for a year, but for eternity! In Asaph's song, even though God fulfilled the desires of His people, they still sinned, and "believed not for his wondrous works. Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble." In those times of trouble and death, the people returned to the LORD, and remembered that He was their Rock, their God, and their Redeemer, but, rather than worshipping Him from their hearts, they just flattered Him with their lips. (v. 27-37). However, many times, God forgave them, and did not destroy them (v. 38). This is very much like the pattern of our nation. When terrible trouble comes, such as 9-11, the nation turns back to God, seeking Him out. However, we soon turn back even more to sin because of stubbornness of heart. The heart is wicked above all things. Jesus told us to watch and pray always that we may be considered worthy to escape the things that were coming, and to stand before the Son of man (Lk. 21:36). David wrote a song that began: "The LORD is my rock and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my Saviour; thou savest me from violence. I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies...Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name. He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore." (2 Sam. 22:1-4, 50-51). We are also called to be kings and priests -Selah, think about that in connection to the words of this Psalm. The Book of Hebrews reveals the eternal atonement work of Christ for us as our High Priest. Under the Law of Moses, the High Priest entered once a year with the blood of animals. This blood could not make the conscience perfect, and thus needed to be repeated yearly. Because of this, this atonement ministered by the priest had to have a prophetic significance of something greater to come (Heb. 9:7-9). "But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands...Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us...How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament...And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood there is no remission. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (v. 11-28, excerpt). Upon Christ's death on the cross, the temple veil that hung before the Holy of Holies was rent in two, ending the separation between God and man, and allowing man to boldly approach God's presence, because of the Atonement blood of Christ offered once and forever. It is an eternal redemption from death that, once received, causes us to pass only through the valley of the shadow of death and into life. This is the greatest miracle of all. However, even after Jesus did miraculous works in front of the people, the religious elite, the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees, would demand a sign from Him. Jesus answered: "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas (Jonah). For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (Mt. 12:38-42). Seeing Jonas generations before, the people of Nineveh repented and lived, but the religious leaders facing Jesus did not recognize that One greater than Jonas was in their midst. Jesus also scorned these religious leaders' refusal to receive the signs they were given. Jesus said, "O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky (regarding foul weather); but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas." (Mt. 16:1-4). Again Jesus referred to the prophet whose experience foretold of the death, and three days later, the resurrection of Jesus. We too are experiencing the signs of the end times: wars, earthquakes, pestilence. However, how many are discerning these signs? Our lamps should be filled with oil, shining light in the darkness. How many more Feasts of Atonement will come until the door of heaven is closed, and the Bride will enter into the marriage Supper of the Lamb, and then into the wedding chamber (Feast of Tabernacles to soon occur)? We are already in tribulation and the persecution against the believers for calling sin, sin. It is time to repent and return to the LORD. The Word of God promises that when the wicked repent, his sin is no longer remembered. This is the Atonement of God through the blood of His Son, Jesus. *Based upon the 9/24/23 message of Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson Jr. to the Church. To hear the full message, look for Dr. Stevenson's Facebook page. You can contact this ministry at PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. God bless you.