Yom Kippur

As with the other moedim (appointed times), Yom Kippur is a holy convocation in which no servile work could be done and as with other high holy days. The word kippur (H3725) is the noun plural form of kâphar (H3722) used primarily for the meaning atonement with other places interpreted as reconciliation, forgiveness, purge away, cleanse, etc. There were sacrifices, although on this holy day the population didn’t make the sacrifice, it was made for them by the priests. As the plural form kippur implies, it was a corporate sin offering for the people. Unlike other feasts, this day is a fasting day.

We see Yom Kippur instituted after Aaron’s sons died offering before the Lord. From that time Aaron was not to go into the Most Holy beyond the veil where the mercy seat was except for once a year on the day of atonement. Following him washing himself with water and putting on the holy garments, a series of sacrifices were made.

It was this day the high priest took the blood from the sacrifices for himself and his house and the children of Israel as a collective sin offering and sprinkled it on and before the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant seven times. The blood of the sacrifices were also smeared on the horns of the altar.

Jubilee

For Sukkot (Tabernacles), the feast is for seven days and the eight day is a holy convocation. Following this pattern on a longer schedule, Shavuot (Feast of Weeks), or Pentecost counts 7 weeks from the day after firstfruits during Unleavened Bread and the day after is a holy convocation.

Jubilee extends that timing out even more where it is the length of a year following 7 Sabbath years, or 49 years. The following year on Yom Kippur is the Jubilee on 10 Tishri, Yom Kippur. It is interesting that the same word translated as Jubilee is the word used for blowing of the feast of trumpets, “teruah.” So every 50th year on Yom Teruah is the memorial blowing of trumpets and 10 days later on Yom Kippur is another trumpet sounded memorializing the year of jubilee.

Historically this was not followed or well documented so there are lots of different ideas of when these 50th years are supposed to happen. Currently the most intriguing one is presented in the Messiah 2030 documentary series, reviewed below.

Just after Yeshua was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days, an example of the coming hour of temptation on the world, He went to Galilee teaching in the synagogues.

Every 50th year liberty was proclaimed for the year of jubilee. Was Yeshua pointing to this time in 27 AD as the year of jubilee?

In the Septuagint, the Greek word áphesis is the same word used for jubile in Leviticus 25, Leviticus 27:17-24, and Numbers 36:4. Given that Yom Kippur was the annual sin offering for the people and every 50th one was a jubilee, the speaking of the shedding of blood for liberty makes sense in the context of Yeshua’s sacrifice once and for all. It would be around 2½ years from the start of His ministry in 27 AD when He would be crucified on Pesach in 30 AD not for Himself, but for the sins of the world. Daniel 9:26

Yeshua read from Isaiah at the beginning of His ministry, but His death and resurrection gave us the promised freedom. So was the 50th year in 27 AD when He read from it or 30 AD when the liberty arrived? The latter makes the most sense, although the jubilee had long ago stopped being tracked.

Prophetic Pattern

Another interesting correlation comes in the statement that no man should be in the tabernacle of the congregation when the atonment is being made.

It seems that there might be some correlation here. The high priest was to bring coals from the altar in a censer to the Most Holy and there put incense on it to fill the room with a cloud of incense. That same word translated vial is used in the Septuagint in Exodus 27:3, Exodus 38:3, Numbers 4:14 and elsewhere referring to the temple instruments used. So we see in the future, the last seven plagues that complete the judgements of God are seen being poured out on the earth.

It can’t be said with great confidence, but it may be that the timing of the pouring out of the last of God’s wrath happens in very quick succession on the last Yom Kippur of the 70th week of Daniel. Over the course of the next six months, the censers would be poured out leading to Armageddon when Yeshua returns to defeat the gathered armies that next spring around the time of Pesach.

We also see in Revelation, just after the time of Jacob’s trouble when Israel has been protected in the wilderness and the innumerable multitude are in heaven with palm branches. The seventh seal is broken and an angel stands at the altar with a golden censer and incense that is offered with the prayers of the saints. That censer is filled with fire from the altar and cast to earth just before the wrath of God begins.

So it would seem both the beginning and the completion of the wrath of God comes with censers being used to cast fire from the altar in heaven to earth and the seven last plagues respectively.

Spring and Fall Moedim

If you recall from the study on Pesach (Passover), it was the tenth day of the first month (Nisan) that every man, according to the house of their fathers, was to collect a male lamb under a year old for the house. This lamb had to be without blemish and cared for to ensure it remained so for 4 days. So too on Yom Kippur were the seven lambs of the first year to be without blemish. Then on the fourteenth day of the first month, on Preparation Day before dusk of the feast of unleavened bread, it was to be killed and eaten.

There is an interesting parallel between the first month of Nisan and Passover and the seventh month of Tishri and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonment) and Sukkot (Tabernacles). Yom Kippur falls on the tenth day, which is when the Messiah entered Jerusalem to present Himself as the Lamb of God at His Father’s house 6 months earlier. It could be that the lack of recognition of their Messiah 2,000 years ago is reversed during the events of the days of repentance when they call on the Lord and join in the chorus of those who did recognize Him at the triumphal entry in 30 AD. Matthew 21:1-11

Information from Judaism 101:

Yom Kippur is probably the most important holiday of the Jewish year. Many Jews who do not observe any other Jewish custom will refrain from work, fast and/or attend synagogue services on this day. Yom Kippur occurs on the 10th day of Tishri. The holiday is instituted at Leviticus 23:26 et seq. The name “Yom Kippur” means “Day of Atonement,” and that pretty much explains what the holiday is. It is a day set aside to “afflict the soul,” to atone for the sins of the past year. In Days of Awe, I mentioned the “books” in which God inscribes all of our names. On Yom Kippur, the judgment entered in these books is sealed. This day is, essentially, your last appeal, your last chance to change the judgment, to demonstrate your repentance and make amends.

Yom Kippur is a complete Sabbath; no work can be performed on that day. It is well-known that you are supposed to refrain from eating and drinking (even water) on Yom Kippur. It is a complete, 25-hour fast beginning before sunset on the evening before Yom Kippur and ending after nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur. The Talmud also specifies additional restrictions that are less well-known: washing and bathing, anointing one’s body (with cosmetics, deodorants, etc.), wearing leather shoes (Orthodox Jews routinely wear canvas sneakers under their dress clothes on Yom Kippur), and engaging in sexual relations are all prohibited on Yom Kippur.

Possible Yom Kippur Fulfillments?

Sheep-Goat Judgments by Gavin Finley MD
The Sheep-Goat Judgment is a teaching given to us by Jesus in the Olivet Discourse. It is also a very important prophecy of what will happen to those outside the covenant at the end of this age. The Sheep-Goat Judgment is not the judgment seat of Christ. The Elect are not in view here. The judgment here concerns the nations, the gentiles, the heathen, if you will. This judgment will take place at the return of Christ. It is a judgment of individuals who are not under the Eternal Covenant. These people have not yet been saved. They are not covered under the blood of Christ, the promised Sacrifice Lamb.

The Sheep-Goat Judgment occurs at the Second Coming of Christ. As we shall see further along in this article, the biblical study of the two turtledoves sheds some further light on this epic event. Because the Sheep-Goat Judgment is not made upon the basis of someone knowing Messiah directly. It is a blood covenant connection to be sure. It is not a judgment based upon “works” as many evangelicals erroneously assert. But the covenant connection in the Sheep-Goat Judgment involves a triangle. Three people or three parties are involved. This is what sets this judgment apart from the other judgments we see in scripture. A person is either allowed entry into the Millennium as a sheep or they are cut off and damned as a goat. This covenant assessment is not made under the basis of a direct covenant with Messiah. There is not one to be had. These people are gentiles. They are outside the covenant of salvation. They do not have a saving knowledge and a relationship with the God of Israel. If they did they would not be considered gentiles. Rather, this judgment is an indirect second order covenant. It is based upon the witness of a third party. And the covenant with Messiah is confirmed through the sponsoring witness of that third party contact, someone who does know Messiah.

The Sheep-Goat Judgment as we see it outlined in Matthew 25:31-46 a blood covenant judgment. It sets forth the basis for the returning Messiah’s judgment of the people of the nations. This judgment will occur after the Battle of Armageddon at the end of the age.

It is important to understand that this is a judgment made here on earth. It is not the Final Judgment of souls before the throne of God. This is not the entry into the pearly gates of heaven. Nor is it the judgment seat of Christ. The entry of souls into the heavenly realms is not in view here. The people in question here are those remaining on the earth in their mortal bodies at the end of this age. The saints, both the living and the dead, have been raised up or harpazod. They will have already been glorified at the Resurrection-harpazo. They will be in new spiritual bodies not unlike the sort of body Jesus was seen with after His resurrection. The sheep and the goats will be those left behind on earth.

The Sheep-Goat Judgment is not the judgment of souls for entry into heaven. Rather, it is a judgment of living mortal individuals here on earth before they are permitted entry into the earthly Millennium of Messiah. This is a covenant matter between God and mankind. The returning Messiah is back on earth judging the nations. After the awful history of humanistic mankind during the Apocalypse Messiah has every right to come in judgment of the nations. Because man-centered government during the final seven years of this age will have brought this planet to the very brink of disaster.

The sheep and the goats are people who remain here on earth and are at the threshold of the new Millennium. This is that glorious new age which will be established by Messiah for a literal 1,000 years. He has every right to judge who comes into His Kingdom. and to accept or reject whomsoever He wills. The scriptures are quite clear as to what happens. The sheep will enter in. The goats will not.

Here in this judgment we see certain mortals being given permission to pass into the Messiah’s earthly Kingdom. The Sheep-Goat Judgment is the judgment of the gentiles or heathen nations. Christian and Messianic believers, those who had been in direct personal covenant with Christ/Messiah are not in view here. At the time of the Sheep-Goat Judgment they will no longer be earthbound mortals. They will have been glorified. They will no longer be bound by time or space.