COMFORT TO ZION, Jerusalem, Israel
#22 of 29 The Feast of Atonement or Yom Kippur
Expository Study of the Seven
Segment Six of Seven, Section One of Four
BEYOND THE VEIL
“(Now) we have this hope as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul (it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it-a hope) that reaches farther and enters into (the very certainty of the Presence) within the veil. Where Jesus has entered in for us (in advance), a Forerunner has become a High Priest forever after the order (with the rank) of M”elchizedek. ” Hebrews 6:19, 20
INTRODUCTION:
I have often wondered how Noah walked in abandoned righteousness and realized that his grandfather Methuselah was a contemporary of Adam for over 200 years. The conversations of grandfather and grandson had to go beyond our comprehension in discussing the life of the first man on earth, Adam. It is my perception of Noah’s walk that he was immovable in his obedience because of the revelations shared from his grandfather. The ridicule and mocking against him had to be of epic proportion, perceiving Noah as a mad man building this “thing, the ark,” for shelter from rain and flooding. The population never had seen rain or flooding before; the sky had never opened and sent rain prior to this. It only takes one to obey and believe no matter how foolish it sounds or looks to others. We are reminded again of Paul’s statement, to die is gain. This was certainly a dying to self. Did Noah have the revelation that he carried in his loins lives throughout all generations until we are to be received in the original state of life before the fall?
Yom Kippur or Atonement is called a Day of Covering. The word Kippur is taken from kaphar, which literally means to cover up and “atonement” and is first mentioned in scripture to describe “pitch,” which Noah was directed to use to seal the ark. He had to have unwavering faith that this substance called “pitch,” would seal the ark and protect them from the mystery of rain yet to be manifested. (Genesis 6:14).
It is extraordinary that this “pitch,” ( in reality the use of the word kaphar means atonement) signifies clearly that the Lord was sealing Noah and his family from the sins at the time and was delivering them for His unfathomable purposes. This is a dramatic picture of how we, as believers, and our households will be saved because of our walk with Jesus through His atoning blood which conceals and protects at the same time. We know that by the atonement that sin is covered and hidden from God’s sight. The blood of Y’shua is more than enough. The beginning of His sealing is first mentioned here and flows into man’s sacrifices in the Old Testament, all leading to the new and living way. Man’s efforts are abolished once for all.
THE SIXTH FEAST, YOM KIPPUR OR ATONEMENT:
“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God. For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people. It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your Sabbath.” Leviticus 23”26-29, 32
As I am writing this I am rejoicing at the wonderful atonement Y’shua made once for all of us that believe. It is amazing in the Old Testament days the rituals and preparations of man were exhaustive. But the wonder of it all is that through Moses instruction was entrusted to him (explained in Leviticus 16) from the Lord for this Feast and was adhered to yearly to atone for the sins of Israel. This Feast amplified two facts: the sinfulness of humanity and the righteousness of God. The atonement was accomplished in the type and shadow of the high priest. There was a changing of garments, cleansing of his heart. and the substitutionary scapegoats. There were two goats; one was the Lord’s goat, the sin offering. The blood from this goat was used to sprinkle on the Mercy seat SEVEN TIMES ( which means perfection or completeness) when the High Priest entered the Holiest of All, WITHIN THE VEIL. The other goat was sent into the wilderness as the scapegoat for the sins of Israel. It is the same in a way today, as we confess our sins, they are sent to a place of forgetfulness. The blood applied by the High Priest once a year on this great Day of Atonement accomplished the cleansing of all iniquity, all sin, and all transgression. And so Israel, the Priesthood, the Sanctuary and Israel as a nation experienced blood atonement, and were reconciled to God.
(I remember when I was grown up the most solemn prayer on this Day was Kol Nidrei and was time of the deepest reflection of the past year. It revealed the need for repentance and the impossibility of keeping God’s commandments.
A Rabbinical command during this fast day is self affliction, this is not in the Torah but a man made interpretation of Leviticus 23:27 where it states” you shall afflict your souls. This custom is called malka or “stripes” and is practiced by Orthodox Jews. They voluntarily submit to a beating of “thirty-nine” stripes.” It is extraordinary that it is 39 stripes, somewhere deep within them there is a knowing about the 39 stripes their Jewish Messiah voluntarily submitted to for us.
This is the most solemn of all Feast Days, the Day of Atonement. It was a Day of National and Sanctuary cleansing. An important reminder, there is a dual fulfillment in Passover and Pentecost in relation to the Day of Atonement. We find its fulfillment in the wonderful person of Y”shua historically and it is also is fulfilled in the believer individually and in the church corporately during this current age and the future.
This Feast day begins the evening of the ninth day and ends on the evening of the tenth day. Hence, it is considered the tenth day in its observance from the prior Feast of Trumpets or Rosh Hashanah. This Feast is a literal fast day for repentance and soul searching, afflicting the flesh.
The true fast is in Isaiah 58:6, 7 “Is not this the fast I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast our; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?”
Aaron as High Priest could only enter the Holiest of All once a year on this day. He could not enter without the golden censer and hands full of sweet incense to bring WITHIN THE VEIL.
The symbolism of the incense joins the Old and New Testament as its ingredients always spoke of prayer. The incense rising clearly relates to Revelation 5:8 and 8:4, 5 as well in reference to the prayers of the saints.
The fulfillment is our Mediator, Christ Jesus our Lord and Intercessor where He ever lives to make intercession for us in line with the will of God. (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:24-25; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1). Our prayers avail much as we stay hidden BEYOND THE VEIL in Him, knowing His will and strategies in prayer.
Again and again the preparation of the High Priest points to the Lord and His finished work at the cross. The Old Testament priest had to be cleansed and washed to atone for his household’s sins as well with a blood sacrifice before daring to enter into the HOLIEST OF ALL.
It is sobering to understand the fear of being separated from God causes the Jewish people to struggle to enter their rest once a year. There was a divider between the Holy Place and the Holiest of All, as explained in Leviticus 16:2, 12, 15. The accomplishment to bridge the gap had to be culminated in the mission of the High Priest’s entrance BEYOND THE VEIL.
The book of Hebrews expresses the significance of this day. “Now the main point of what we have to say is this: We have such a High Priest, One who is seated at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary (holies) and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man, for every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, ‘see that you make all things according to the pattern shown you o n the mountain.’ But NOW HE has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” Hebrews 8:1-6
My heart is delighting in Him and saying thank you, Y’shua, for such a great love you displayed as you gave yourself for us, BEYOND THE VEIL, so we can enter into the secret place. This the supreme and ultimate gift to mankind, eternal life through the blood of Jesus. When He said, “IT IS FINISHED,” liberty abounded from heaven to earth so those that believe can enter into rest on earth as it is in heaven.” For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very mage of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they have not ceased to be offered? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offering and sacrifices for sin you had no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.’ He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:1-10
As far as God is concerned all was finished at Calvary. In God’s viewpoint from His eternal throne, it is a “finished work. (John 17:4; 19:30) We as believers have the honor and invitation to enter BEYOND THE VEIL through His blood in prayer and in the spirit to enter in to the Holiest of All, anytime, anywhere. This is our free gift. We all have access into the glorious presence of God by His Spirit and free entrance WITHIN THE VEIL, Jew and Gentile are one through His shed blood. “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, this making peace…for through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” Ephesians 14, 14, 18
We must celebrate so great a freedom and access to our Beloved BEYOND THE VEIL through His atoning blood. Glory to God we have been liberated as believers who trust in His faithfulness to finish our course stirring ourselves to know our identity in Him. “I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; ;and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” Galatians 2:20
Next: The Sixth Seal and its relation to the Feast of Atonement
POINTS TO PONDER:
- We have free access BEYOND THE VEIL
- Pray in agreement with His will
- Be liberated in your identity in Y’shua through His atoning blood
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (His Word) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:19-23
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