The Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur

Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Surely the Day of Atonement is on the tenth day of the seventh month; it shall be a holy assembly for you, and you shall deny yourselves, and you shall present an offering made by fire to Yahweh. And you must not do any regular work on this very same day, because it is the Day of Atonement to make atonement for you before Yahweh your God.”

Leviticus 23:26-28

The day of atonement, or Yom Kippur, is a fall Mo’ed that many celebrate this week. Mo’ed are special holy days Yahweh set apart for His people to observe. Christians are taught these days were meant for only the tribe of Judah, and substitute them with new, made up, white washed holy days of foreign gods. Yahweh makes it clear that these are His special days intended for His people forever.

Lev 23:1 Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Lev 23:2 “Speak to the Israelites, and say to them, ‘The festivals of Yahweh that you shall proclaim are holy assemblies; these are my appointed times.

Concerning the day of atonement:

Lev 23:31 You must not do any work; it is a lasting statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
Lev 23:32 It is a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you shall deny yourselves on the ninth day of the month in the evening—from evening to evening you must observe your extraordinary Sabbath.”

The version of the Bible called the Scriptures, translates it like this:

Lev 23:27 “On the tenth day of this seventh new moon is Yom haKippurim.d It shall be a set-apart gathering for you. And you shall afflict your beings, and shall bring an offering made by fire to יהוה. Foonote: d Day of Atonement or Day of the Coverings.

In verse 23:2 Yahweh says “speak to the Israelites”. The Israelites were the entire house of Israel, which consisted of all twelve tribes. These are the people of God, who are the same people of God today, even if one does not realize it. We have no problem understanding the letter James wrote was to the people of God in the New Testament. Was this written to a new entity called “the church”? Let’s look at to whom it was addressed.

Jas 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

James wrote to the same people whom Yahweh told to observe His appointed times. Peter also addressed a similar group of people.

1Pe 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
1Pe 1:2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Peter knew that it was prophesied that the twelve tribes of Israel would be dispersed throughout the world for disobedience, and Yahweh would send a shepherd to gather back the elect of the dispersion who have faith through the shepherd, Jesus, and are obedient to the covenant. Paul addresses “all who are called Saints” in his letter to the Romans, because he understands it is the twelve tribes along with anyone who is grafted into Israel, as he explains in chapter 11 of Romans.

Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
Rom 1:2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
Rom 1:3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
Rom 1:4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
Rom 1:5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
Rom 1:6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
Rom 1:7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Before we can talk about the day of atonement, we need to identify who we are as followers of Yahweh and His son Yeshua, commonly referred to as Jesus. Moses prophesied that the twelve tribes would be disobedient and dispersed to the four corners of the world as a punishment for their disobedience.

Deu 4:25 “When you have had children and grandchildren and you have grown old in the land and you act corruptly and you make a divine image of the form of anything and you do evil in the eyes of Yahweh your God, thus provoking him to anger,
Deu 4:26 I call to witness against you today the heaven and the earth, that you will perish soon and completely from the land that you are crossing the Jordan into it to take possession of it; you will not live long on it, but you will be completely destroyed.
Deu 4:27 And Yahweh will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations to where Yahweh will lead you.
Deu 4:28 And you will there serve gods made by human hands, of wood and stone, gods that cannot see and cannot hear and cannot eat and cannot smell.
Deu 4:29 But from there you shall seek Yahweh your God and will find him, if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Deu 4:30 In your distress when all these things have found you in the latter days, then you will return to Yahweh your God, and you will listen to his voice.
Deu 4:31 For Yahweh your God is a compassionate God; he will not abandon you, and he will not destroy you, and he will not forget the covenant of your ancestors that he swore to them.

Moses tells the twelve tribes they will be dispersed, but in the latter days, if they seek Yahweh with all their heart, they will return to Him and listen to His voice. Even though most Christians have been lied to and told Deuteronomy does not apply to them, it clearly does in light of the New Testament writers. Paul tells us we were strangers to the commonwealth of Israel, but brought near by the Messiah.

Eph 2:11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—
Eph 2:12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
Eph 2:15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
Eph 2:16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
Eph 2:17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Eph 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
Eph 2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
Eph 2:21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
Eph 2:22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Paul also tells us we are grafted into Israel in his letter to the Romans.

Rom 11:13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry
Rom 11:14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.
Rom 11:15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
Rom 11:16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Rom 11:17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,
Rom 11:18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.
Rom 11:19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”
Rom 11:20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.
Rom 11:21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
Rom 11:22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

Paul is explaining more prophecy. By Israel being dispersed throughout the nations for disobedience, they actually seeded the nations. Yahweh did this so that all people have the opportunity to take part in the blessings of the covenants between He and Israel when they turn from their evil ways and are brought near through faith and obedience to Yeshua. This is what it means to be grafted in to the natural olive tree.

Paul also tells us we need to continue in kindness. This is not talking about being nice to each other by over looking sin. The Greek word for kindness is Strong’s G5544, meaning moral goodness and integrity. These things can only be defined by following Yahweh’s instructions. Yahweh is not looking simply for people to be kind, although it is good to be kind. He wants people who listen to His voice. Deuteronomy 4:30, “In your distress when all these things have found you in the latter days, then you will return to Yahweh your God, and you will listen to his voice.”

G5544
χρηστότης
chrēstotēs
Thayer Definition:
1) moral goodness, integrity
2) benignity, kindness

The biggest lie that the enemy has fed through Christianity, is that the church is a separate people of God that don’t have to do anything Yahweh says. This is replacement theology, and the basis for dispensational theology. In Acts, Peter tells us we are in a time of refreshing and that we need to repent. To repent means to follow the holy covenant of promise.

Act 3:18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.
Act 3:19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
Act 3:20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,
Act 3:21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
Act 3:22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.
Act 3:23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’
Act 3:24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.
Act 3:25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’
Act 3:26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

The prophet Isaiah also spoke of a time of refreshing, and it is the same message speaking to Ephraim, those from the house of Israel scattered throughout the world. Isaiah also says “they would not hear”. Peter spoke about the refreshing that came with Yeshua, but today we are experiencing the ”not hearing part” Isaiah spoke about.

Isa 28:1 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!
Isa 28:2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.
Isa 28:3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:
Isa 28:4 And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.
Isa 28:5 In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,
Isa 28:6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.
Isa 28:7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
Isa 28:8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.
Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Isa 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Isa 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

All this discussion has been to show that we are the Israel of God, if we call the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob our God who gave us His name, Yahweh and His salvation through His son. He is telling us to keep His special holy days for all our generations. So, how then do we keep the day of atonement?

Lev 16:29 “And this shall be a lasting statute for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth of the month, you must deny yourselves and you must not do any work, whether the native or the alien who is dwelling in your midst,
Lev 16:30 because on this day he shall make atonement for you to cleanse you; you must be clean from all your sins before Yahweh.
Lev 16:31 It is a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you shall deny yourselves—it is a lasting statute.

Many people fast on this day. They get this from the word deny yourself, or in other translations, afflict yourselves. I believe fasting is a good thing, but it is not a checklist where we check the box that says fasting and rest, thereby fulfilling our duties of the day. We are supposed to examine ourselves deeply, and solemnly against the Word of Yahweh. Yahweh tells us what a true fast is through the prophet Isaiah:

Isa 58:1 “Call with the throat; you must not keep back! lift up your voice like a trumpet, and declare to my people their rebellion, and to the house of Jacob their sins.
Isa 58:2 Yet they seek me day by day, and they desire the knowledge of my ways like a nation that practiced righteousness, and had not forsaken the judgment of its God; they ask me for righteous judgments, they desire the closeness of God.
Isa 58:3 ‘Why do we fast, and you do not see it? We humiliate our soul, and you do not notice it?’ Look! You find delight on the day of your fast, and you oppress all your workers!
Isa 58:4 Look! You fast to quarrel and strife, and to strike with a wicked fist. You shall not fast as you do today, to make your voice heard on the height.
Isa 58:5 Is the fast I choose like this, a day for humankind to humiliate himself? To bow his head like a reed, and make his bed on sackcloth and ashes; you call this a fast and a day of pleasure to Yahweh?
Isa 58:6 Is this not the fast I choose: to release the bonds of injustice, to untie the ropes of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and tear every yoke to pieces?
Isa 58:7 Is it not to break your bread for the hungry? You must bring home the poor, the homeless. When you see the naked, you must cover him, and you must not hide yourself from your relatives.
Isa 58:8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall grow quickly. And your salvation shall go before you; the glory of Yahweh will be your rear guard.
Isa 58:9 Then you shall call, and Yahweh himself will answer. You shall cry for help, and he will say, ‘Here I am!’ If you remove from among you the yoke, the finger-pointing and evil speech,
Isa 58:10 if you offer your soul to the hungry, and you satisfy the appetite of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness, and your darkness will be like noon.
Isa 58:11 And Yahweh will lead you continually, and satisfy your soul in a barren land, and he will strengthen your bones, and you shall be like a well-watered garden, and like a spring of water whose water does not fail.
Isa 58:12 And they shall rebuild ancient ruins from you; you shall erect the foundations of many generations, and you shall be called the bricklayer of the breach, the restorer of paths to live in.
Isa 58:13 If you hold your foot back from the Sabbath, from doing your affairs on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a pleasure, the holy day of Yahweh honorable, if you honor him more than doing your ways, than finding your affairs and speaking a word,
Isa 58:14 then you shall take your pleasure in Yahweh, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth, and I will feed you the heritage of Jacob your ancestor, for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.”

Was this not the message of Yeshua? Yahweh does not like hypocrites or showboating. Isaiah 58:6, “Is this not the fast I choose: to release the bonds of injustice, to untie the ropes of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and tear every yoke to pieces?”.

As far as verse 23:7 is concerned, to bring an offering made by fire to Yahweh, we know with no early Levitical system or temple, it is not possible to do this. Paul tells us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice.

Rom 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The prophet Hosea tells us to offer the fruit of our lips.

Hos 14:1 Return to Yahweh your God, O Israel, for you have stumbled because of your sin.
Hos 14:2 Take words with you, and return to Yahweh. Say to him, “Take away all guilt; accept good, and we will offer the fruit of our lips.

Yeshua was made the high priest in the heavenly temple. The sacrifices on the day of atonement were a shadow of His sacrifice for us who are obedient to what He said.

Heb 5:5 Thus also Christ did not glorify himself to become high priest, but the one who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you,”
Heb 5:6 just as also in another place he says, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek,”
Heb 5:7 who in the days of his flesh offered up both prayers and supplications, with loud crying and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard as a result of his reverence.
Heb 5:8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered,
Heb 5:9 and being perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation to all those who obey him,
Heb 5:10 being designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

The day of atonement also has prophetic implications. Many believe this is the day in which “the day of the LORD” will happen. The day of trumpets, Yom Teruah, is ten days before the day of atonement. On the day of trumpets we are commanded to blow trumpets and shout. This is the holy day many believe Yeshua will gather His people out of the way of his wrath on the day of atonement.

Joe 1:13 Gird yourselves and lament, O priests! Wail, O ministers of the altar! Come spend the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God, because offering and libation are withheld from the house of your God.
Joe 1:14 Solemnize a fast! Call an assembly! Gather the elders, all of the inhabitants of the land in the house of Yahweh your God, and cry out to Yahweh.
Joe 1:15 Ah! For the day! For the day of Yahweh is near. It will come like destruction from Shaddai.

Amo 9:5 And thus will do the Lord Yahweh of hosts, who touches the earth and it melts, and all of those living in it mourn, and all of it rises like the Nile and it sinks down like the Nile of Egypt,
Amo 9:6 who builds his upper chambers in the heavens and lays the foundation of his vault on the earth, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them on the surface of the earth—Yahweh is his name.

I encourage everyone who calls Yahweh, the LORD, their God, to take a solemn day of rest and affliction on Yom Kippur as He commanded all of Israel to do forever in their generations. Hopefully, I have been able to penetrate the hundreds of years of lies that disguise the people of Yahweh’s true identity through His son Yeshua.