“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to atone for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. (Lev. 17:11)
OBSERVING THE MOST SACRED DAY OF THE YEAR
At sunset on Friday, October 11, 2024 through sunset on Saturday, October 12, 2024 (Tishrei 10 – 11 on the Hebraic Calendar), we will come to the holiest day of the sacred year, Yom Kippur, or The Day of Atonement.
This is a Holy Observance for All of God’s Children, Jew or Gentile. It isn’t a day designed by mankind. This is the most sacred day of the year which was designed by our Creator. From the time of the very foundation of the world; God set this date on His calendar. Then He gave us the gift of time and commanded us to observe the day through all generations.
The moment the Father and Son created the world together, after which they created mankind; they knew there was a huge possibility for sin to enter and spoil everything. So, in His great love for us, God immediately designed a plan for Atonement. Our Messiah stepped up to be the only true hero that ever lived.
This is a day to recognize His great love and sacrifice for our souls. This is a day to honor The Godhead and humbly bow in The Presence of The Eternal One.
This is a not a feast day. It is a fast day.
It is a High Sabbath. God’s people are not to work on this day.
THE DAY OF ATONEMENT/YOM KIPPUR FULFILLED
One of the scriptures for observing this day is found in Leviticus 23:27-32: 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, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God.
For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
It shall be unto you a Sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath.
A FEW HIGHLIGHTS WORTH NOTING
As you read the above scripture, please notice certain words; 1) afflicting your soul – fasting before God, 2) No work is to be done; this is a holy day – time to concentrate only upon God’s will for your life and His plans; 3)An offering made by fire. Have you brought your new offerings before God this year? What has he asked you to bring this season? 4) Throughout your generations; this means forever as long as Abraham has descendants on this earth.
ATONEMENT SHOWS THE HOLY LOVE OF GOD
We serve a God who was willing to give up His kingly status and become like us.
He loved us so much that He was even willing to die for us.
What other god out there in all of the religions of this world has ever done such a thing? This is evidence that The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is The One True God.
So, how does this tie in with a Christian’s observance of Yom Kippur traditions?
Isn’t the Passover more symbolic of Atonement?
In some ways, for the Christian, the answer is yes. Passover is more about Atonement for sins. However, Yom Kippur is more about realizing that the time is drawing short for everyone to receive that atonement.
The Day of Atonement is an annual and corporate cleansing of our souls. It the annual time that Our High Priest; Jesus Christ; will atone for our sins of the past year before God for us. He is blotting our sins for this past year out of the records of God.
How wonderful is that?
These sins were considered gone when you prayed for forgiveness and became a Christian; but this is the formal day to recognize what Jesus has done.
Is this not an awesome thing?
This very holy day happens on the tenth day of Awe.
The number ten in God’s language means completion. So we note that this is the day to complete the atonement for your sins for the year that has just closed.
Notice how many times the number 10 is used to complete things in the scriptures. We can note that ten was used to complete God’s best ways to live when he gave us the 10 commandments. Ten was used to complete the letting go of God’s people from slavery by Pharaoh by the sending of 10 plagues. Even prophecy used the number ten to complete the working of an end-times beast with ten horns and ten toes.
God is “completing” the records from your last year at the end of the Ten Days of Awe on The Day of Atonement.
If you have been faithful to pray and fast through this sacred Day of Atonement; He is completing the Atonement for your sins of the past and preparing you for a clean, prosperous and successful new year. We saw the changing of the Hebraic year on Tishrei 1 with The Feast of Trumpets on the first day of Awe. The Day of Atonement brings the days of Awe to completion.
This “completion” happens with a divine gift of Atonement.
We live in a nation that needs such Atonement!
Passover is more about being saved from our individual sins. Yom Kippur/The Day of Atonement is more about the sins of our nation as a whole, and also the world as a whole.
Will God completely wipe out the sins of America over the last year and prepare us for a new and fruitful year to come?
It depends.
Did America humble themselves and pray?
Was America busy examining her sins over the last 40 days of prayer, meditation and turning?
Did America fast for the sake of restoring the nation?
Looking around at America today; I would say this is critical.
Has there ever been a more urgent time for this?
Passover is more about the mercy and forgiveness of God because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ; Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement is more of a statement that Judgment Day is coming. It comes with a warning sound to help us know to get ready.
TIME TO HEED THE SOUND OF THE WARNING
Did you hear the shofar on The Feast of Trumpets?
In thinking of the nations; I can’t help but recognize that our last President before the one in office now was named “Trump.” It is an appropriate name for one who will sound out the words that will show us end-time events.
His words (and they have been many) have mostly been warning words; words that something very, very wrong is happening. It all seems to tie into the patterns that we see for The Days of Awe and how we should repent and turn BEFORE the end of The Day of Atonement.
Could this be coincidence? I don’t know. God will use whatever God wants to use to accomplish whatever He wants to accomplish.
TURNING OF THE PEOPLE; RETURNING OF THE MESSIAH
The Lord is going to return soon!
There are many out there who do not know Him. They do not yet have atonement. This is not because atonement is not available and freely offered to them; but simply because they have not believed that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Many have not repented of their sins and many have not begun to follow Christ.
This is especially true in America.
Satan has been very busy deceiving people because He too has a clue that the time is short.
He is on his usual favorite subject; himself.
That old Devil is worried that his time is coming to be put away forever. He enjoys being loose and wrecking havoc on our world. Many of our governing officials have joined in with his cause. All will have a day of reckoning soon.
Satan has deceived the world with materialism and many false doctrines. He is always helping to bring about churches that want to entertain instead of worship.
In achieving his goals, the devil has helped some religious groups to “buy” their congregations. We all have seen how he has promoted luke-warm and false worship, as well as evil, death and lust. This isn’t even covered up any more.
Church leaders disobey God with smiles on their faces. This happens in the highest offices all across our nation.
It is very shameful. These things must come to an end.
A TIME OF TESTING
God’s timing isn’t always like ours. This is a time of testing for God’s true and loyal people. Expect testing and trials. Lean into the Messiah for strength and guidance. Don’t cave into the manipulating ways of evil men. Stand strong now and God will hold you up when you need it.
Looking back over history this should not come as a surprise to us. Satan’s tools are always the same. He rarely changes his techniques.
Yet the world falls for his tricks constantly. Almost always the biggest tools available to him are powerful men in charge of political and governmental offices.
Pray that these men learn how to overcome. Even when their evil is at its highest; the evil originates from Satan. They are simply puppets.
This MUST stop.
We must turn and return to God and God’s ways.
The message of the shofar has been sounded. It is clear and loud.
IT IS TIME TO COME CLOSER TO GOD
In the traditions of the Fall Holy Days it is said that on Rosh Hashanah the doors of heaven are opened.
This is God communicating with mankind saying, “Come closer to me.”
Year after year; He patiently waits for our response.
The door has been opened for the new year from the Calculated Hebraic calendar for 5785. The numbers for this year are significant.
The number five (Hey) is the symbol that stands for grace. A 5 at the beginning and ending of this year indicate that it is a year of double grace.
The following link is interesting. It concerns the prophetic meaning of this year. You might enjoy reading it: https://madeofstill.com/2024/08/03/5785-hebrew-year-prophetic-meaning/
Are you ready to leave the last year behind and walk boldly into this new one?
The first Fall Holy Day of The Feast of Trumpets brings a progression of events leading up to the next Holy Day called Yom Kippur and/or The Day of Atonement.
ARE YOU READY? HAVE YOU DONE ALL THAT YOU CAN DO?
God is holy.
In order to come closer to God you must be clean.
Those of us who have The Holy Spirit working in us are continually being led to come before God and confess our sins. We have repented and turned, trying to imitate Jesus more and more.
Most of us have the good sense to realize and be constantly aware that we are not perfect. We know that Jesus must keep us covered with His righteousness.
Also we realize that we must do all we can to turn and face and walk toward God.
Jesus will help us to overcome. He will help us to achieve what we cannot come close to achieving in our flesh. We are still living in the time of God’s Grace. It is a fact we should never take for granted.
Yet, among our numbers there are STILL those who have not yet repented.
I am continuously shocked to find those who have never been taught the basics of repentance. Even those among us who attend church regularly seem to be ignorant of this fact of the necessity of repentance which is no longer taught in some congregations. Here we can see yet another thing for our generation to repent of. It isn’t too late to start over with those teachings. God can accomplish the impossible if we only trust and believe.
GOD IS LISTENING
God is listening for His people. He is patiently waiting on them to begin a conversation. God is waiting on them to say “I repent of my sins, please blot them out of your book.”
As a Christian, I know my sins have ALREADY been blotted out. I totally understand that Christ died on the cross once for all. However; I am still human. I still sin. This aspect of human nature causes me to need to go back and wash my feet at the cross of Christ.
Though I will not lose my salvation through my own lack of attention to my eternal soul; I CAN lose my holiness before God.
Just walking through the world can cause one to become unclean again. We must constantly be putting these things before our Father; asking Jesus to wash us and keep us in holiness.
This is also a time period when I am praying for the souls of those who have never yet repented.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERCEDE FOR THE SINS OF OUR PEOPLE
As Christians, we are automatically put into the office of ordinary priests who have been called out by Jesus Christ, and ordained after the Order of Melchizedek.
When we come before Christ, as Christians and as a holy nation and a divine priesthood; we have the opportunity to intercede for the sins of our people and our nation.
The faithful always give these prayers to Jesus to carry to the Father.
In the days of Moses and the Wilderness Tabernacle, the ordinary priests in service took the daily sacrifices of the people and offered them up to God.
Once a year the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies. He offered up the sacrifice for the sins of the whole nation.
When is the last time you went into The Holy of Holies?
The veil has been ripped open. All of God’s Presence is available to each of us. We MUST go boldly before His throne. We will be safe; because our Messiah, Jesus Christ goes with us.
He alone is worthy to go before the throne and intercede for us. We know that He is faithful and true.
A PRIEST WHO IS PERFECT IN EVERY WAY TAKES OUR PRAYERS TO GOD
On The Day of Atonement/Yom Kippur, our High Priest, Jesus Christ, STILL carries these intercessions into The Holy of Holies on our behalf.
God hears and receives our prayers because of the One who brings them for us. Unlike the high priests of Levitical descent, our High Priest, Jesus Christ, is perfect in every way.
So can you see how I have come to relate that Yom Kippur should be a strong time of intercession by Christians for the souls of the world?
JUDGMENT WILL NOT WAIT FOREVER
Judgment Day is coming.
The world as we know it will not last forever.
Christ will return. The period of grace we now live under will be over.
God will judge the living and the dead.
It is said that after Yom Kippur the doors of heaven and the books of God are closed for another year.
On Yom Kippur whatever God has written for the year is sealed. Please do not overlook anything that God has put on your heart in this season.
On The Day of Atonement at sunset:
It is finished.
It is done.
You will either be a sheep or a goat when you enter into judgment after that final seal is sealed on that last page of God’s book for this sacred year.
Will this be the year of His return?
Only the Father knows.
We must be in a constant state of readiness and anticipation.
PREPARE TO BE SEALED FOR A GOOD YEAR
If you know Christ, you are covered by the blood of the atonement. You are separated into the fold of the sheep. When the Great Last Day arrives; you will be allowed to go into the Marriage Supper of The Lamb.
If you do not heed God’s call and repent and believe on the name of Jesus, you will be separated into another group of people called the “goats.”
You will not be allowed to go into the marriage feast, because you are not “covered” by the blood atonement of Jesus.
You will be sentenced to eternity in hell. This means you will be forever separated from God.
The DOOR to God’s Kingdom WILL BE SHUT. Anyone without a wedding garment will not be allowed back inside.
The wedding garment is the covering of Christ. When we repent; He covers our sins and blots them out of the books with his blood.
Do not let the doors of heaven close on you.
Repent and be saved by the blood of Jesus.
THE DESTINY OF MANKIND
In the traditions of Yom Kippur the “books” of God are often discussed.
It is the tradition that the destiny of the righteous is written down into The Book of Life.
The destiny of the eternally wicked is written down in The Book of Death, sometimes called The Book of The incorrigibly wicked. The longer your name stays in this book; the harder it becomes to change.
Choose life! Change now!
THE BOOK OF LIFE
If you have come to Jesus Christ and accepted His blood atonement to cover your sins, you are written in The Book of Life.
Every sin you have ever committed will be blotted out of the heavenly records. It is the precious blood of Jesus that covers and blots out the sins.
ONLY all that Jesus did allows for anyone to stand clean before God on The Last Day.
It is nothing that you or I can do; or ever have done.
THE 10 DAYS OF AWE
There is a period of 10 days called The Days of Awe. From the date beginning on Rosh Hashanah until the end of Yom Kippur (sunset) you can be reassured (by talking to God) that your sins have been covered. You can pray for those that you love who do not yet have this blessing.
This takes coming to God Who sits on The Mercy Seat.
You can ask that their minds and their hearts and their eyes be opened. In this time you can pray that they will decide to become a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ.
The tradition says that many people are not yet written into either of the books of heaven.
This is because God gives us free-will. Many have not yet made a final decision.
God is waiting.
You can plead with God for them, to do whatever it is that will change their hearts, open their eyes, help them to see the truth.
Our Jewish brothers and sisters fall into this category of those that need their eyes opened in order to see Christ as Messiah. It is comforting to know that God has promised that many of them will one day wake up and believe.
We know that all things of God are working together for good to bring this process about. The fingerprint of God can be seen all through history drawing His people toward Messiah.
There will come a day when their eyes will be opened. The scriptures tell us they will mourn for the One they have pierced.
This tells me they will repent and turn to Christ as The Messiah.
Our prayers and intercession could only bring this time closer and closer.
A TIME OF FASTING AND INTERCESSION
During The Ten Days of Awe, our prayers of intercession are important for everyone who has not yet made a decision to follow Christ.
The 10 Days of Awe are comparable to the period of grace that the church is living in today.
Now is the time of salvation!
There will come an end to these times.
Judgment Day will arrive, whether the world is ready or not.
Until sunset on Yom Kippur and the nine other days before it arrives are all about getting ready for Judgment Day. At the end of Yom Kippur; God has made His judgement for the coming year.
Leading up to this day and until the day is over, is a time to be purchasing oil for your lamp. Ask to be filled with God’s Holy Spirit and strengthened for the days that are coming.
It is a time to be preparing to stand clean before God, with all sins confessed and the mercy and forgiveness of God granted.
This is a time to hold up holy hands in praise. Most of all is a time to be in intercessory prayer through fasting.
IT IS A TIME TO BE BATTLE READY
Our High Priest, Jesus Christ, is at some point going to be returning to this earth. When He does, there will be a great battle. It is our place, as Christians to be ready to join in with Him.
Do you have your armor on?
Will you be willing to fight for God’s Kingdom to come?
All Christians will be right there with Him for this battle; riding on white horses. The Bride of Christ will be riding by the side of her Groom.
It is the presence of the Groom that assures our salvation and our victory in this battle. We must be ready and prepared. Yom Kippur is a reminder of this fact.
At some point in time, there is a final day. When the last person who is going to repent has done so; the doors of heaven will be closed forever.
Only God knows when that time will be.
The writing in the books will be finished.
Christ will return for the final battle. That battle will destroy all evil and usher in His 1000 year reign on the earth.
Are you ready?
So many of my Christian friends are saying we MUST heed II Chronicles 7:14: If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Isn’t it ironic that we speak these words continuously in our congregations and we often hear them in sermons from the pulpits?
We clearly know the answers; yet many Christian churches still turn away from acknowledging or observing Yom Kippur. They ignore the very holy day that God, Himself set aside for all nations to do the very things that we are always so loudly proclaiming should be done.
GOD NEVER CHANGES
God doesn’t change.
He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
If He said it to the nation of Israel, He meant it for everyone in the church too. The church evolved from the nation of Israel. He isn’t just the God of the Israelites; He is God of ALL.
OBSERVING YOM KIPPUR IS PART OF FULFILLING THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD
If every Christian church in America would put aside the politics of the world for the period of time called The Day of Atonement and devote that time to prayer and fasting and intercession for their fellow-man (as is the tradition for Yom Kippur) and begin praying for our nation and praying for the deliverance of our brothers and sisters who are still living in sin; we would fulfill the commandments of God.
God would hear us. For this is the time that He has proclaimed that He would be listening with attention and deciding. If we would only do our part; He would save us from ourselves and heal our land, just as He promised.
Eternity is at stake.
God says what He means. He means what He says.
He always keeps His promises.
BE COVERED IN A RED COVERING
As fall brings a beautiful red to the trees across our land, it is my earnest prayer that the people of our nation will turn to Jesus and receive His precious atonement covering.
May God heal our land and bring peace to the earth.
G’mar Chatimah Tovah!
May you be inscribed in The Book of Life for good!