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Tag Archives: the day of atonement

Yom Kippur – The Day of Atonement

23 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by Just Pray NO! in Feasts & Festivals

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High Holy Days, scapegoat, Ten Days of Awe, the day of atonement, Tishri 10, Yom Kippur

The LORD said to Moses, “The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present an offering made to the LORD by fire. Do no work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the LORD your God. Anyone who does not deny himself on that day must be cut off from his people. I will destroy from among his people anyone who does any work on that day. You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. It is a Sabbath of rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your Sabbath.” Leviticus 23:26-32

Rosh Hashanah (Yom Teruah – The Day of Trumpets) is held on the first day of the seventh month. Ten days later, on Tishri 10, the Day of Atonement is observed. Some Jews observe a ceremony on the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah called Tashlich, which means “you will cast.” It comes from a saying of the prophet Micah: “… and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depth of the sea.” Those observing this tradition go to a river, pray, empty their pockets of lint and bread crumbs. As they throw these into a river, they believe that the water will carry their sins away.

The ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are commonly known as the Ten Days of Awe. During the Ten Days of Penitence (in Hebrew, Asseret Yemey Tshuva, which, literally translated, means ten days of return), prayers of penitence are included in the daily synagogue services.

Yom Kippur is the most holy, most solemn day for the Jewish people. It is the last day of the High Holy Days which began on Rosh Hashanah. Many Jewish people spend the entire day in the synagogue, praying and fasting in the hope that their sins will be forgiven and that they will be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life for the coming year. The synagogue service begins with Kol Nidre which means “all vows.” This special prayer in Aramaic asks forgiveness for promises made to God which have been broken by accident. Kol Nidre was used by Spanish Marranos, Jews who were forced to convert to Christianity during the Spanish Inquisition, yet who secretly maintained their original faith.

During the afternoon service, the Book of Jonah is read. At the close of the evening service, the shofar is blown for one long blast, the first and only time on Yom Kippur.

Not only is the Book of Jonah a picture of God’s grace and salvation being offered to the Gentiles, but it also foreshadows the miraculous sign that identified Israel’s true Messiah:

Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.” He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:38-40

The most solemn and holy day for the Jewish people is the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), when the entire Book of Jonah is read. Jesus, the Lamb of God, proved He was the one true acceptable atonement offering when He rose from the dead on the third day.  

Since the destruction of the Second Temple, traditional Judaism has substituted the study of the Torah, repentance (tshuva), prayer (tfilah), charity (tzedakah) and good deeds (mitzvoth) for the blood sacrifices that are required to cover sins. Instead of substitutionary sacrifice (a type of grace); modern Judaism is a religion of works. Some Chasidic Jews (ultra-orthodox) as well as some Orthodox Jews practice Kappa rot, the practice of swinging a fowl over their head seven times and asking that the fowl be considered as an atonement offering for sins.

The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the LORD. The LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.

“This is how Aaron is to enter the sanctuary area: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on.” Leviticus 16:1-4

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very natureGod,did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death–even death on a cross! Philippians 2: 5-8Jesus our Messiah is not only the perfect substitutionary sacrifice for our sins, but is also our High Priest. Aaron, the brother of Moses, had to remove his ornate priestly garments and put on plain white linen garments before he could enter the Most Holy Place. Bathing and then putting on clean white linen was symbolic of being purified from sin and then being clothed with righteousness. Only after purification, could Aaron come before the mercy seat to first offer up an atonement offering for himself and then for his people Israel.

Just as the earthly high priest removed his ornate priestly garb on the Day of Atonement, Jesus removed His garments of glory and took on the nature of a man in order to provide atonement for sinful mankind.

From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. “Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household.

Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. He is to cast lots for the two goats-one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat. Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering. But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat.  Leviticus 16:5-10

“When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites-all their sins-and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the desert.” Leviticus 16:20-22

The Hebrew word for scapegoat is azazel. Azazel was seen as a type of Satan. The sins of the people and thus the punishment of the people were laid upon azazel, the scapegoat. He would bear the sins of the people and the punishment of the people would be upon him. Azazel being sent into the wilderness is understood to be a picture of Satan being cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).

This ceremony found in Leviticus is discussed at length in the Babylonian Talmud. The Talmud is a collection of ancient rabbinic writings consisting of the Mishnah (the text) and the Gemara (the commentary), constituting the basis of religious authority in Orthodox Judaism. The Second Order of this version of the Talmud is called Moed meaning Appointed Times or Feasts. Volume VI of Moed is “The Book of Yoma” which is dedicated to Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement). The books of the Talmud are divided into sections known as tractates. Tractate 39a of the Babylonian Talmud records some enlightening events concerning the timing of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ and traditions associated with the Day of Atonement.

 Leviticus 16:8 instructs that the first lot is for the LORD (YHWH), while the second lot is drawn for the scapegoat (azazel). The high priest (Cohen HaGadol) took the two lots (stones were used), one marked YHWH and the other marked Azazel, and placed one upon the head of each animal, sealing their fate. It was considered a good omen if the lot marked for the LORD was drawn by the priest in the right hand, but for 40 years prior to the destruction of the temple (Beit HaMikdash) in 70 AD, this lot was drawn by the priest on the left hand.

This and other unusual events associated with Yom Kippur reads in the Talmud as follows:

 “During the last forty years before the destruction of the Temple the lot [‘For the LORD’] did not come up in the right hand; nor did the crimson-colored strap become white; nor did the western most light shine; and the doors of the Hekel [Temple] would open by themselves.”

For forty years in a row, beginning in 30 AD (the time of the ministry of Jesus), the High Priest picked up the lot for the LORD in his left hand – a bad omen. The odds against this happening are astronomical (2 to the 39th power). In other words, the chances of this occurring are over 500 billion to one!

Another dramatic indication that something had gone wrong with the Temple sacrificial system between 30 AD and the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD concerns the tradition of tying a crimson cloth onto the scapegoat. A strip of this red cloth worn by the scapegoat was torn off and tied to the Temple door. Each year the red strip of cloth on the Temple door turned white as an indication that the Yom Kippur sacrifices were acceptable to the LORD. This annual event happened until 30 AD when the cloth then remained crimson each year until the time of the Temple’s destruction.

 “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”    Isaiah 1:18

Here is yet another statistically astronomical indication that the blood of bulls and goats was no longer acceptable to make atonement for the sins of Israel. The scarlet strip remained red for forty years symbolizing that Israel’s sins remained unforgiven.

During this period of history it is also recorded that the Temple doors would open by themselves and that the lights of the Temple Lampstand were blowing out. 

 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.  Hebrews 7:27

He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:12

Messiah Jesus was sacrificed once for all. The perfect sacrificial Lamb of God is also our eternal High Priest forever and the mediator of a new and better covenant. 

 

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and The Day of Atonement

18 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by Just Pray NO! in Bible Prophecy, Feasts & Festivals

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atonement, beelzebub, blasphemy, Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, day of atonement, demon, demons, kingdom of god, ministry of the holy spirit, pharisees, religion, ruler of this world, spirit of god, strong man, the day of atonement, theology

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and The Day of Atonement

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebub the ruler of the demons.”And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.

“If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?  “If I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges.

“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

“Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.   ” He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

” Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.

” Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. Matthew 12:24-32

Blasphemy of the Spirit is known as the unpardonable or unforgivable sin. It is commonly defined as denying the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit which is to convict of sin:

“And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.”  John 16:8-17

If a person is not convicted concerning sin, and they do not believe in the finished atoning work that Christ accomplished on the cross, that person cannot be forgiven in time or eternity.

The sin of blasphemy of the Spirit has been defined as it relates to each individual and their personal rejection of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. But blasphemy of the Spirit must also be defined in the light of the historic and cultural circumstances as it related to the nation of Israel as a corporate entity. Jesus rebuked the people of Israel of his day corporately calling them “a wicked and adulterous generation” (Mt 12:39). Except for a called out remnant which stood in opposition to the religious leaders of the day, that generation was condemned for blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

“The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here.

“The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, someone greater than Solomon is here.”  Matthew 12:41-42

Prior to this miracle that was attributed to demonic power by the Pharisees who had witnessed it, Jesus spoke plainly to the multitudes in Israel. The “Sermon on the Mount” was taught by Jesus so that the his disciples and the crowds would understand and put into practice moral and ethical living as opposed to traditions which focused on the “letter” and not the “spirit” of the Law. But after blaspheming the Spirit, Jesus taught by way of parables so that  “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand (Matthew 13:13b).  Jesus did not interpret his parables for the multitudes sake, but only his disciples were blessed with eyes to see and ears to hear.

At the First Advent, Jesus came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive Him (John 1:11). During the Church Age, there has been a remnant of Jews who have accepted Jesus as the Messiah (the Christ).

I say then, God has not  rejected His people, has He?  May it never be! For  I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God  has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

“Lord,  THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.”

But what is the divine response to him? ” I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.”

In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. Romans 11:1-5

Israel’s rejection of Jesus resulted in the message of the gospel being preached to all nations in order to make Israel jealous.

I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they?  May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.

Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their  fulfillment be!

But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,  if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them.  Romans 11:11-14

But the Word declares that there will be a future generation of Israel that will corporately and nationally receive Jesus as Messiah.

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery–so that you will not be wise in your own estimation–that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the  fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,

“ THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION,

HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”

” THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM,

WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”  Romans 11:25-27

The salvation of Israel occurs after the full number of Gentiles has entered into the Kingdom of the Son. The salvation of Israel occurs after the Rapture.

For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?  Romans 11:15

The time period when the dead are raised to life, the resurrection of the righteous which occurs before the millennial reign of Christ on earth, is closely associated with Israel’s acceptance of Jesus as the Christ. How can the Rapture occur seven years before all Israel is saved (pretribulation theory), when their acceptance will be life from the dead?  Israel must first suffer through the time of Jacob’s trouble.

Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it. Jeremiah 30:7

All Israel will be saved, but only those who survive through the Great Tribulation. When the church is raptured at Rosh Hashanah, those who pierced Him see Christ in the air in his glorious splendor and He leaves with the resurrected saints. During the Ten Days of Awe, the LORD  pours out a spirit of grace and supplication the nation of Israel.

“And in that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

“I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.  Zechariah 12:10

The generation of Jesus’ day committed a corporate national sin. Blasphemy of the Spirit was not unintentional sin, but a sin of wickedness and rebellion. Traditional concepts of the ministry of the Messiah included an expectation that the Messiah would uniquely perform miracles greater than any of those of the true prophets. Spit was defiling. The rabbis believed that even the spittle of the Messiah would be virtuous.

They brought to Him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they implored Him to lay His hand on him.

Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva;

and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!”  Mark 7:32-34

The rabbis also believed that there would be three miracles that only the true Messiah could perform: healing a man blind from birth – believing that either the man or his parents had sinned, healing a Jew of leprosy – for it was recorded that only the Gentile Naaman had been cleansed miraculously, and exorcising a demon from a mute – for it is necessary to know the name of the demon in order to cast it out. After miraculously healing many of leprosy including ten men at once, nine of which were Jews (Luke 17:11-17), as well as healing a man blind from birth by his spittle (John 9:1-7),

Jesus  was brought a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. Jesus healed this man so that the man could both talk and see.

All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David, ?”

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of the demons, that this fellow drives out demons”  Matthew 12:23-24

Beelzebub was the lord of the flies. He was the ruler of filth and bodily waste. The Pharisees attributed the glorious works of God to Beelzebub and blasphemed the Holy Spirit. The people believed that Jesus might be the Son of David, the promised King Messiah. Jesus had attested to the fact that He indeed was God’s anointed by this  miraculous feat of healing a demon-possessed mute. The crowds turned to the Pharisees for an answer because the Pharisees were the religious authorities. The religious leaders of that day rejected Jesus as the Christ because of their pride and because of their compromise with the pagan Roman government.

Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. “If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”  John 11:47-48

That generation was condemned because of wickedness and rebellion. There is only one day a year on the Hebrew calendar when the high priest can offer sacrifices for both the sins of the nation as well as for intentional sin. Through the year, all sin and trespass offerings are for unintentional sin – not knowing the Law, sins committed in haste and weaknesses of the flesh. Adam knew God’s prohibition concerning the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and he choose, by an act of his free will, to disobey. He rejected God’s Word. The nation of Israel during the time of Jesus’ ministry witnessed many signs and wonders that attested to the fact that Jesus was the Christ yet they choose to reject the Living Word.

“When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat.

“He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites – all their sins –  and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task.   Leviticus 16:20-21

On the Day of Atonement, Jesus will return to the earth to redeem Israel. The sins of the nation including wickedness and rebellion will be taken away. On that day, ungodliness will be removed from Jacob. It will be the year of Jubilee!

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