“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 the 9th Day of the Ten Days of Awe, we will come to the holiest day of the sacred year, Yom Kippur, or The Day of Atonement. It is also the last day of the ten days of awe.
This is a not a feast day; it is a fast day. It is a High Sabbath. We are not to work on this day.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE FOR THE DAY OF ATONEMENT
One of the scriptures that beacons to my spirit to observe 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.
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 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. Yom Kippur is more about realizing that time is drawing short for everyone to receive that atonement. The Day of Atonement is an annual cleansing of our souls; a time that Our High Priest; Jesus Christ; will atone for our sins of the past year. It is a corporate reminder for seeking God’s forgiveness.
We live in a nation that needs such Atonement. Passover is more about our individual sins. Yom Kippur is more about the sins of our nation and the world as a whole. 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 is more of a statement that Judgment Day is coming. It comes with a warning sound to help us know to get our nations ready.
TIME TO HEED THE SOUND OF THE WARNING
Did you hear the shofar on The Feast of Trumpets? The Lord is going to return!
There are many out there who do not know Jesus. They do not yet have the atonement that comes from salvation. Yet; salvation and atonement are available and freely offered to them. The truth is simply that they have not believed that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. They have not repented of their sins and begun to follow Christ.
This sad fact is especially true in America.
A TIME OF GREAT DECEPTIONS
Satan has been very busy deceiving people. He too has a clue that the time is short. This world prowler is on his usual favorite subject; himself. That old Devil is worried that the time is coming for him to be put away forever. He enjoys being loose and wrecking havoc on our world.
Satan has deceived the world with materialism and many false doctrines.
ENTERTAINMENT INSTEAD OF WORSHIP
This enemy of God brings about churches that want to entertain instead of worship. Instead of bringing the people to God; the devil has helped some religious groups to “buy” their congregations. These have sold their souls to smoke, lights and emotions instead of true devotion to God in their daily lives.
We all have seen how Satan has promoted a type of lukewarm and false worship. He has been very busy promoting evil, death and lust among God’s people. 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 shameful and must come to an end.
AN UNCHANGING PATTERN
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.
This MUST stop. We must turn and return to God and God’s ways. The message of the shofar has been sounded. The warning is clear and loud.
IT IS TIME TO COME CLOSER TO GOD
In the traditions of the Fall Holy Days, it is said 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 first Fall Holy Day brings a progression of events leading up to the next Holy Day called Yom Kippur and/or The Day of Atonement.
God is holy. Atonement is of grave importance. A holy God cannot dwell with unatoned sinners.
A MATTER OF HOLINESS
We must be clean; in order to come closer to God. Jesus is the answer. He died for our sins. Those of us who have The Holy Spirit working and living within us are being continually led to come before God in order to confess our sins.
Many have repented. There is real evidence of sincere attempts of turning from sin and trying our best to imitate Jesus. Most of us have the good sense to realize and be constantly aware that we are not perfect. Jesus must continually keep us covered with His righteousness.
Yet, among our numbers there are those who have not yet repented. I am continuously shocked to find those who have never been taught the basics of repentance from God’s church. Even those who attend church regularly seem to be ignorant of this first attribute of Christianity. Repentance is no longer taught in some congregations.
GOD IS LISTENING
God is listening for His people, waiting on them to begin a conversation. He 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 been blotted out. I totally understand that Christ died on the cross once for all. However, I am still human and I still sin. Because of this fact; I constantly 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. True Christians who follow Jesus must constantly be putting these things before The Father. We all must be constantly asking Jesus to wash us and keep us in holiness.
This annual season of time is about us coming clean before God. It is also a time period in which to be praying for the souls of those who have never yet repented.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERCEDE
As Christians, we are automatically put into the office of ordinary priests. This is the destiny of those who have been called out by Jesus Christ. They have been called and ordained after the Order of Melchizedek.
When we come before Christ as Christians, and as a holy nation, we come as a divine priesthood. We have the opportunity to intercede for the sins of our people and our nation. Our prayers go up to God through Jesus Christ our High Priest.
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 and offered up the sacrifice for the sins of the whole nation.
This is our once a year corporate offering for atonement of ourselves, our people and our nation.
A PERFECT PRIEST 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 and before God. He intercedes on our behalf. God hears. He 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 many 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 and the period of grace we now live under will be over. God will judge the living and the dead.
After Yom Kippur, the doors of heaven and the books of God are closed for another year. God has heard our prayers and responded.
On Yom Kippur whatever God has written for the year is sealed.
It is finished.
It is done.
After that final seal is sealed on the last page of God’s book of life for the sacred year the time is up. All of humanity will either be noted as a sheep or a goat. We will be labeled “of God’s flock” and/or “of another sheepfold.”
Will this be the year of His return? Only the Father knows. We must be in a constant state of readiness and anticipation.
BE SEALED FOR A GOOD YEAR
If you know Christ, you are covered by the blood of 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.
Still, there are those who will not heed God’s call. These refuse to repent and believe on the name of Jesus. On the day of judgement, they will be separated into another group of people called the “goats.” They will not be allowed to go into the marriage feast. The wedding feast is only for those who are “covered” by the blood of Jesus. This “coat” of atonement is how the saved are allowed to enter the feast.
All others will be sentenced to eternity in hell. They will be turned away because they are not robbed in the blood of Christ. This means you they will be cut off or forever separated from God.
The DOOR WILL BE SHUT, and 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. Do this before sunset on The Day of Atonement.
THE DESTINY OF MANKIND
At the end of The Day of Atonement God records the destiny of the righteous in The Book of Life. Also, the eternally wicked are noted in The Book of The Incorrigibly Wicked.
This use of the scriptural language seems to be very popular in the movie titles of today. How sad for God to see that “wicked” has become more culturally acceptable than “righteousness.” Deceptive minds have chosen to prey upon our children’s young and gullible minds. What will happen if we do not intercede? What if we do not counteract the culture of this generation?
Time will tell. Our prayers of intersession are more necessary and vital than ever.
THE BOOK OF LIFE
All who come to Jesus Christ and accept His blood atonement have their name written in The Book of Life. Every sin ever committed becomes blotted out of the heavenly records.
The precious blood of Jesus covers and blots out the sins that were once recorded. ONLY all that Jesus did allows us to stand clean before God on The Last Day.
It is nothing that you or I can do; or ever have done. Keeping this day God commanded of us isn’t about our legalism. It is about our love and obedience to God’s Word. The blood of Christ took care of everything legal. He does the work, not us.
THE 10 DAYS OF AWE
ASSURANCE OF INDIVIDUAL ATONEMENT
The Days of Awe last for ten days. From the date beginning on Rosh Hashanah, until the end of Yom Kippur (at sunset,) we can seek Atonement. It is the time for us to present our petitions before God. This happens by talking to God through prayer, by giving, and by fasting.
The King is in the field. In other words; God is close. He is listening to our prayers. Forgiveness is in focus.
ATONEMENT FOR OTHERS
Also, this is the perfect time to pray for those we love who do not yet have this blessing of salvation through atonement. We can pray that minds, spirits, hearts and eyes open. Our prayer is that God will lead them to decide to believe and follow Jesus Christ. We hope for all souls to find atonement.
This is a perfect time for intercession for others. God gives us free-will. He knows many have not yet made a final decision. All will decide before time ends forever.
The Father is waiting for all of His children to come to Him. We can plead with God for them. It is good to ask God to do whatever it is that will change their hearts, open their eyes, and help them to see the truth.
PRAYERS FOR JEWISH SOULS TO KNOW YESHUA
Our Jewish brothers and sisters fall into this category of the unsaved. Their eyes will open. They need to believe in Messiah in order to receive salvation. God has promised that they too will one day wake up and believe. This is another sure sign of end-times. It is good to continue to pray for this day.
We know that all things of God are working together for good to bring this process about. He is drawing His people toward Messiah. Scriptures tell us when their eyes do become opened, they will mourn for the One they have pierced. This tells me they will repent.
Many of the Jewish faith will turn to Christ as The Messiah. God brings the two sticks together. Unity happens. One New Man remains. Our prayers and intercession will help to bring this time closer and closer.
FASTING AND INTERCESSION
Our prayers of intercession are very important during The Ten Days of Awe. These 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. Whether the world is ready of not; Judgment Day will arrive.
The Days of Awe and Yom Kippur are all about getting ready for Judgment Day. At the end of Yom Kippur, God will make His judgements for the coming year.
STANDING CLEAN LIFTING HOLY HANDS
This time leading up to The Day of Atonement is a time for The Bride of Christ to be purchasing oil for her lamp. The observance of these days is helping her to be strong and ready.
This is the time to be standing clean before God. By the end of these ten days, at sunset on The Day of Atonement, we should be standing clean. Records for the year become finished. The books of Heaven close.
This is a time to hold up holy hands. We can approach our Beloved in praise. Most of all, this is a time to be in intercessory prayer through fasting. We fast and pray for our own souls and the souls of others.
BE BATTLE READY
Our High Priest, Jesus Christ, is going to be returning to this earth. There will be a great battle upon His return. It is our place, as Christians, to be ready to join in with Him. Do you have your armor on?
Are you willing to fight for God’s Kingdom? On that day, all Christians will be with Jesus. We all will go out for this battle; riding on white horses. The Bride of Christ will be riding by the side of her Groom. She need not fear, for He will be with her.
It is the presence of the Groom that assures our salvation. He is our victory. Still, we must be ready and prepared. Yom Kippur is a reminder of this fact.
PUT ON YOUR ARMOR
A final day is coming. The doors of heaven close forever. It happens whenever the last person finally believes and repents. There are annual rehearsals each year at Yom Kippur. These rehearsals will continue until The Great Last Day. When we are ready, a wedding will take place.
When will that time be? Only God knows. The writing in the books stop. Christ will return for the final battle. That battle will destroy all evil. God will usher in His 1000 year reign on the earth.
Are you ready?
ARE GOD’S PEOPLE READY?
In this present day, so many 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? We often hear them in sermons from the pulpits. It appears we clearly know the answers. Yet; many Christian churches still turn away from acknowledging or observing Yom Kippur.
However, Yom Kippur is the day God set aside for all nations to repent and return.
Repent. Confess. Forgive. Turn around. Trust God. Believe. Have faith in Messiah.
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. They became God’s pattern for all the nations. He isn’t just the God of the Israelites; He is the God of ALL.
FULFILLING THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD
What if every Christian church in America would put aside the politics of the world for the period of time called The Day of Atonement?
We could devote the time to prayer, fasting, and intercession for all of mankind. This is the tradition for Yom Kippur. Imagine what would happen if everyone began praying for our nation and its people. Maybe we could begin to fulfill the requirements of God for our nation.
What if we all began praying for the deliverance of our brothers and sisters? God would hear us, for this is the time He has proclaimed He would be listening. He has his ears open with focused attention. It is said that He is deciding our destiny and purpose for the coming next year’s gift of time.
If we would only do our part; He would save us from ourselves. He will heal our land, just as He promised. Eternity is at stake. God says what He means, and means what He says.
He always keeps His promises.
BE COVERED IN A RED COVERING
As fall brings a beautiful red hue to the trees across our land, it is my earnest prayer that the people of our nation will turn to Jesus. I pray they all 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!
