Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement in English, Is the second of the Fall Feast days to be fulfilled when Yeshua returns. Unlike the other days this one is not a matter of rejoicing, but mourning; not a feast, but a fast.
Leviticus 23:26-32 says, Adonai said to Moshe, 27 “The tenth day of this seventh month is Yom-Kippur; you are to have a holy convocation, you are to deny yourselves, and you are to bring an offering made by fire to Adonai. 28 You are not to do any kind of work on that day, because it is Yom-Kippur, to make atonement for you before Adonai your God. 29 Anyone who does not deny himself on that day is to be cut off from his people; 30 and anyone who does any kind of work on that day, I will destroy from among his people.31 You are not to do any kind of work; it is a permanent regulation through all your generations, no matter where you live. 32 It will be for you a Shabbat of complete rest, and you are to deny yourselves; you are to rest on your Shabbat from evening the ninth day of the month until the following evening.”
We see here two big commands for this day, that it is a special Shabbat and that we are to afflict ourselves. We can see why this is in Leviticus 16:29-31, “It is to be a permanent regulation for you that on the tenth day of the seventh month you are to deny yourselves and not do any kind of work, both the citizen and the foreigner living with you. 30 For on this day, atonement will be made for you to purify you; you will be clean before Adonai from all your sins. 31 It is a Shabbat of complete rest for you, and you are to deny yourselves. This is a permanent regulation. Atoning ourselves before God. Paying the penalty, facing the judgement. This is indeed the prophetic day of Judgement of Revelations! For believers it will be a day of mixed emotions, for while we rejoice at Elohim's grace and mercy offered to us we will truly see how undeserving we are, how much we deserve to face the second death. For the unbelieving this is a day of great despair as they do face that second death. Until the time of this event in the future however it is a day where we as believers much recognize that the unbeliever still has a chance! A reminder of the despair they face if we, through the Ruach Hakodesh, do not evangelize to them.
Traditionally this is also a day in which people make minor atonement, person to person, for the year. Rectifying situations which have been left to brew and clearing the air with each other. a Reminder once a year to forgive as we are forgiven. An act that should be done every year, but is felt all the more as necessary when this day looms overhead.
Many use the days between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur as the Days of Awe, or Yamim Noraim. Days to prepare yourself, to understand how big of a day this is, and everything it means. While this time period is not scripyurally based it certainly does serve a purpose and so can be adopted or left behind at your own prerogative.
Now, I did say that this was a day of affliction, of fast. The scripture says however affliction only. Fasting has become the most common way to do this, but it is not the mandate in itself. It is commonly chosen because of the strong tie food holds on people, on culture. Indeed many with health issues, many young children and the like are unable to do a fast from food! Instead of this something should be found which serves as an affliction to them. Something which reminds them as they go about their day without it the weight which this day holds, the sadness within the day for the lost.
For our house there is a fast from food, and for the children a lack of things like electronics and certain toys. As Yom Kippur runs from evening to evening we do an early meal before it begins, a large one to sustain us until morning as best as possible. For the sake of my blood sugar issues we also must 'cheat' to a point and allow drinks which contain more than many would consider okay for a typical fast. As we go through the day we read scripture, reminding ourselves and teaching to our children what this day is about, why it is solemn and what we can do for the lost. As the afternoon draws in I begin to cook, which makes the fast that much harder! I prepare a large meal, the smells of the lamb being near torture by this point, ensuring it is ready for when the day ends and we can eat again. In doing this we close on a high note, because as believers this is a day that we will truly see Yahweh, be in his presence and feel the true meaning behind his Grace and Mercy.
May we always remember this is a mixed day. Let us grieve now for the lost and act now so that there is less who face the second death. But let us also rejoice, for we are saved and when we face Judgement Elohim will see his Son, Yeshua, through us and forgive us for our sins.
