Yom Kippur

Machol Dance Ministries

Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, occurs on Tishri 10 and is the most solemn holiday of the year.

Leviticus 23
     27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a Day of Atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
     28 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.
     31 ...it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
     32 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.

The Jewish day begins at "even" (sundown) on the evening before each festival day.

The Books Were Opened ...

On Yom Kippur, God’s judgment is sealed. This is the final opportunity for redemption. The entire world is judged this night.

Revelation 20
     12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

According to Jewish custom, three books are opened on the Feast of Trumpets and closed on Yom Kippur.

1. The Book of Life for the righteous
2. The Book of Life for the unrighteous
3. The Book of Life those those in-between.

If a man is deemed righteous, his name is written in the Book of Life for the righteous at the Feast of Trumpets. If a man is unrighteous, his name is written in the Book of Life for the unrighteous. If a man is deemed in-between, judgment is delayed for ten days from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur. It is during that period of time that a man is given opportunity to repent before the book is closed and his destiny sealed on Yom Kippur.

A Time of Fasting

The only prohibitions for Yom Kippur is that you don’t eat or drink (even water). Children under 9 and pregnant women are not permitted to fast. Orthodox Jews also say you may not wash or anoint, can not wear leather shoes, and must refrain from sexual relations. Some sources say it is customary to wear white to symbolize purity.

Only on Yom Kippur would the High Priest enter into the Holy of Holies to plead for the people.

Kol Nidre

Kol Nidre is the evening service that starts Yom Kippur. The service is named for the prayer that begins the service. Kol Nidre means “all vows” and is a time when we ask God to annul all personal vows. Prayers should include prayers for Israel. You might also consider praying for the sins the church has committed against the Jews.

The Scapegoat

Leviticus 16
     7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
     8. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat (Azazel).
     9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
     10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

Two goats were set aside – one for God, and one for Azazel (HaSatan or Satan). The High Priest cast lots to determine their fates. The one for God was sacrificed, and the other (the Scapegoat) represented Israel and the sins of the nation. Tradition teaches that the scapegoat had a scarlet ribbon tied to its neck with a portion of the same ribbon tied to the door of the Temple. The scapegoat was driven into the wilderness (some say thrown over a cliff). If the Jews had repented, the scarlet ribbon would miraculously turn white – a sign of God’s forgiveness.

It’s interesting to note that the scapegoat was driven into the desert, the same place the Ruach Ha’Kodesh (the Holy Spirit) led Yeshua after he was baptized of John to be tempted by HaSatan. (Matthew 4:1)

The New Covenant tells us that Messiah Yeshua provided our Atonement.

The Mishnah tells us that 40 years before the destruction of the temple, the ribbon stopped turning white. This was when Yeshua was slain on the tree and became our Pesach lamb.

The casting of lots reminds us that Messiah himself will one day judge the nations on Yom Kippur.

Phrases Referring to Yom Kippur...

The Books were opened (Daniel 7:10, Revelation 20:12)
The gates were closed

Fall Festivals Fulfilled in Messiah

The fall festivals are yet to be fulfilled in Messiah.

Rosh Hashanah - the catching away of the Bride & Messiah's Coronation
Yom Kippur - the 2nd coming of Messiah & judgment of all the Earth
Sukkot - The Messianic Reign of Messiah

Shofar Soundings

There are three primary shofar soundings associated with the festivals.. These three trumpets are:

"The First Trump" at Shavuot (Pentecost);
"The Last Trump" at Rosh HaShannah; and
"The Great Trump" at Yom Kippur.