Yom Kippur: A Time of Atonement and Prophetic Significance
As the sun sets this evening, we enter into Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement. This is one of the most solemn and sacred days on God’s prophetic calendar. In Hebrew, "Yom" means "day," and "Kippur" means "atonement" or "forgiveness." This day is all about the forgiveness of sins, a day when the people of Israel were to come before God with hearts of repentance and fasting, seeking to be made right with Him.
Though it’s called a Feast Day, Yom Kippur is not about feasting. It is a day set apart for fasting from sundown this evening until sundown tomorrow, as God instructed in Leviticus 23:26-32. Yom Kippur is number six in God’s prophetic calendar and foreshadows the Second Coming of Christ, specifically focusing on Judgment Day.
Understanding the Prophetic Calendar
God’s prophetic calendar revolves around the first and second comings of Jesus Christ. There are seven feasts described in the Bible, four in the spring and three in the fall. The spring feasts point to the first coming of Christ, while the fall feasts, including Yom Kippur, point to His return.
Passover – Points to Jesus as the sacrificial lamb who laid down His life.
Unleavened Bread – Represents the removal of sin; this is the day Jesus was placed in the tomb.
Firstfruits – Celebrates Jesus’ resurrection, as He becomes the firstfruits of the resurrection.
Pentecost (Shavuot) – Fifty days after Passover, this feast celebrates the giving of the Holy Spirit, paralleling the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai.
After these spring feasts, there is a long gap—symbolic of the church age. Then we come to the fall feasts:
Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) – This marks the start of the 10 Days of Awe, a time of preparation leading up to Yom Kippur. Prophetically, this points to the rapture of the Church.
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) – Ten days after the Feast of Trumpets, we come to Yom Kippur, the day when the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for Israel.
Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) – This feast celebrates God’s provision and His dwelling with His people. Prophetically, it points to the Millennial reign of Christ, when He will tabernacle (dwell) among us and restore creation to its fullness.
The Day of Judgment
Yom Kippur is rich with prophetic symbolism. It marks Judgment Day, the day when the Lord judges both the righteous and the unrighteous. As we approach this solemn day, it's important to remember that it is a foreshadowing of the time when Christ will return to judge the earth. For the people of Israel, Yom Kippur was the day the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the people. Today, through Christ, we recognize that Jesus entered the true Holy of Holies in heaven, offering His own blood as atonement for our sins once and for all.
In ancient Israel, the high priest would pass through a thick curtain into the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. Inside the Ark were the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s rod that budded, and a jar of manna—all symbols of God's provision and law. This Ark, covered by the mercy seat, represented the very heart of God.
Jesus: Our High Priest and Atonement
Yom Kippur reminds us that Jesus is our great High Priest. Hebrews 10 tells us that Christ entered the true Holy of Holies, not with the blood of bulls and goats, but with His own blood, to offer atonement for all mankind. The veil in the temple, which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, was torn in two at Jesus’ death, symbolizing that we now have direct access to the Father through Christ.
Today, we don’t need an earthly high priest to make atonement for us. Jesus, once and for all, made atonement for our sins. The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:12, "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face." On that great Judgment Day, we will see Him face to face—there will be nothing separating us from God.
The Meaning of Atonement
The Hebrew word for atonement is "kaphar," which means to cover, to purge, or to reconcile. It’s the same word used when God told Noah to cover the ark with pitch to protect it from the flood. Just as the pitch covered the ark and kept it safe from the waters of judgment, Jesus’ blood covers us, protecting us from the judgment to come.
On Yom Kippur, the high priest would make two offerings: one goat was sacrificed, and the other was the scapegoat, which carried the sins of the people into the wilderness. This scapegoat is a picture of Jesus, who bore our sins and took them away, as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).
Judgment and Mercy
As we enter Yom Kippur this year, it’s a reminder of both God’s judgment and His mercy. The Day of Atonement points to the reality that one day we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. But for those who have trusted in Jesus, our sins have been atoned for. We are covered by His blood, and we can approach the throne of grace with confidence.
This is the Good News of the Gospel: the debt has been paid, your sins have been forgiven, and the veil has been removed. As Hebrews 10:19-22 tells us, we can now draw near to God with full assurance of faith because of the atoning work of Jesus Christ.
A Call to Reflection and Repentance
Today, as we fast and seek God’s face, let us reflect on the depth of His mercy and grace. Yom Kippur is a day of affliction, a day of humbling ourselves before God. Leviticus 23:29 tells us that anyone who does not afflict themselves on this day will be cut off from the people. This is a day to repent, to turn our hearts back to God, and to prepare ourselves for the coming judgment.
Yom Kippur is also known as the day when the Great Trumpet is blown—the closing of the gates. In Jewish tradition, it is believed that on this day the books are sealed, and there are no more chances to turn to God. This reminds us of the urgency of the times in which we live.
Let us boldly approach the throne, knowing that the blood of Jesus has covered us, and let us encourage one another as we see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:23-25).
This Yom Kippur, may we all reflect on the atonement that has been made for us and live in the light of God’s mercy and grace.
The Holy of Holies is Now Within You
Through Christ, the Holy of Holies is no longer a physical room in a temple, but it is now within us. The Spirit of God dwells in every believer. We have the incredible privilege of walking in intimate relationship with our Creator, not through a veil, but face to face.n
Let us remember the significance of this day, and let it draw us nearer to the heart of God, as we prepare our hearts for His soon return.
Pastor Niel Petersen
