“And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” (Rom 5:11, NKJV)
The holy feasts of Israel map out the plan of salvation God carefully devised before the creation of the earth (1 Cor 2:7; Eph 3:9; 1 Pet 1:20). The Feasts of Passover and Pentecost, taking place during the spring, and as we have already discussed, typify the inauguration of Christ’s redemptive ministry, while the Feasts of Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles, taking place during the fall, represent the consummation of His redemptive ministry. An understanding of the typological meaning of the annual Feasts aid us in understanding that Christ is working intensively to bring to fruition the redemption obtained at the Cross (Heb 7:25).
The celebration of Yom Teruah (the Day of the Trumpets, or Rosh Hashanah), is followed by ten days (called “the Days of Awe”), leading up to the most holy day on the calendar of Israel – Yom Kippur, translated as the Day of Atonement. “On exactly the tenth day of the seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the Lord. Neither shall you do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the Lord your God. If there is any person who will not humble himself on this same day, he shall be cut off from his people” (Lev. 23:26-29).
For many Christians the Day of Atonement is of minor importance as they believe that it was fulfilled and terminated at the Cross. For example, David Baron writes: “Every Christian who is at all instructed in the Word of God knows that the true Day of Atonement is the Day of Calvary.” But it is very interesting that Paul refers to it as “the Fast” (Acts 27:9), which he as a New Testament believer still celebrated as a holy day, even when he was on a Roman prison ship in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea! Luke portrays Paul as eager to observe both the law in general (Acts 21:24) as well as the annual holy days of Israel. According to Luke, Paul, during the last feast, bade farewell to the believers in Ephesus, saying: “I must by all means keep this feast [Pentecost] that cometh in Jerusalem.” (Acts 18:21). In the light of Luke’s aim to show the continuity in the Christian use of the Jewish religious calendar, it seems plausible to conclude that Luke’s incidental reference to “the Fast” presupposes that the Christians also observed the Day of Atonement as a day of fasting and prayer.
Pesach, or the Feast of Passover, is associated with a lamb sacrificed for personal redemption, while the Feast of Atonement was associated with a goat sacrificed to provide corporate cleansing for Israel. In other words, Passover instructs us on salvation and the Day of Atonement instructs us on sanctification, spiritual purity and maturity.
The original rites and practices for the Day of Atonement are explained in Lev 16 (also compare Ex 30:10; Lev 23:27-31, 25:9; Num 29:7-11). It is to be a time for fasting, on which no food or drinks are to be taken. Lev 16:9-10 & 20-22 (NKJV) are about the two goats which were to be used in the ritual, their use directed by certain specifications. In the teachings of days 336 & 337 we have extensively discussed the New Covenant symbolism underpinning this pivotal event.
- Sela: Ask the Holy Spirit to personally relate the Day of Atonement to you.
- Read: Deut 24; Jonah 2; Hab 2
- Memorize: Hab 2:2-3
- For a deeper understanding: Read chapter 1 of James J. Prasch’s Grain for the famine.
