Yom Kippur:

The Day of Atonement

The High Priest of Israel presents two male goats for a sin offering. (Leviticus 16:5)

Name:

Yom Kippur (pronounced "yohm kee-POOR"), the Day of Atonement.

Date:

The tenth day of the month of Tishri, which falls in September or October. In 2003 this holiday will begin at sunset on October 5.

Purpose:

To provide atonement (covering) for the sins of the entire people.

References in the Tanakh (Old Testament):

• Leviticus 16 - Instructions for the High Priest offering the sacrifices.
• Leviticus 23:26-32 - Instructs people to cease from work and fast.
• Numbers 29:7-11 - Instructions concerning Temple offerings.
• Zechariah 8:19 - Prophecy of this, and three other fast days, becoming feast days in the millennium.

References in the New Testament:

• Hebrews 9 - Yeshua's blood provides the ultimate atonement.
• Acts 27:9 - Yom Kippur is known to the believers as "the Fast."

Observance:

Yom Kippur is the most solemn day of the biblical year. It is preceded by the ten Days of Awe which are filled with personal reflection and repentance. In Bible times there was an assembly during which the high priest made sacrifices for the atonement (covering) of sins.

This was the only day on which the high priest entered the Holy of Holies. He entered first to sprinkle the blood of the first sacrificed bull on the Ark of the Covenant to make atonement for his own sins. The second time he entered he would sprinkle the blood of a sacrificed goat for the sins of Israel.

Yom Kippur has been observed throughout the centuries as a day of rest, fasting, meditation, and prayer to find forgiveness of sins and thus begin the new year with a clear conscience.

Because no sacrifices have been made since the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, Jewish people seek forgiveness through their prayers and good deeds. In is customary to ask and to give forgiveness to each other, since God's forgiveness requires us to be forgiving to each other.
 

Fulfillment:

Yeshua's (Jesus') sacrifice provides an eternal atonement for our souls. He functions high priest for us in the order of Melchi-tzedek. Many people believe Yom Kippur will be ultimately fulfilled in the future at a time of judgment.

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