In the twenty-third chapter of Leviticus, the Lord spoke to Moses about establishing seven major feasts. The first of these seven feasts was Passover. Passover always comes in the first month of the year on the Hebrew religious calendar. This month is known as Abib in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy but later came to be known as Nissan after the Babylonian captivity.
Although there are a total of seven feasts (the divine number for perfection or completeness in the Bible), God divided the seven festivals into three major festival seasons. Every male was to present themselves before the Lord three times in a year in each festival group. The Jewish male would travel to Jerusalem for Passover in the spring, Pentecost at the end of spring, and the Feast of Tabernacles in the fall. The fall festival season consisted of Rosh Ha Shana (Trumpets), The Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles.
Rosh Ha Shana comes on the first day of the month of Tishri and begins the Ten Days of Awe, which culminates at Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is the most solemn day on Israel’s calendar. Yom Kippur is also called the “Day of Atonement.” It is one of the high holy days.
The Ten Days of Awe are for introspection, repentance, and making amends with others. Jewish tradition teaches that on Yom Kippur our fate for the next year will be decided, and those who will live through the year will have their name inscribed in God's book of life. A traditional greeting for this time is, “L’sShana Tova, meaning, "May your name be inscribed."
The Fall Feasts speak to us prophetically of God’s plan of the ages. Rosh Ha Shana, which is also known as “The Feast of Trumpets,” is a prophetic picture of the Rapture of the New Testament Church. Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is a prophetic picture of the coming time of Jacob’s trouble, or “The Great Tribulation.” The third of the fall feasts is Succoth or Tabernacles. This is a prophetic preview of the Millennial Kingdom.
In Leviticus 16:2-4 we learn of the specific requirements that were to be carried out by the High Priest. Verse 4 reveals that he is to change from his robes of glory into linen garments that are entirely peculiar to the Day of Atonement. This is a beautiful picture of Christ who laid aside His glory, and took on the form of a servant (Philippians 2:7).
On this holy day, the High Priest would enter the Most Holy Place, which was located beyond the veil in the Tabernacle of Moses. He would take a bullock that was to be offered for himself and his household. He would lay his hands on the head of the bullock; confess his sins and the sins of his household.
He would then take two identical goats (Lev. 16:5) and draw lots. These special lots would determine which goat would be used as a sacrifice and which would become the scapegoat. The first goat was used as a sacrifice and the blood of this goat was used to atone for the sins of the children of Israel.
The second goat was called the scapegoat. The High Priest would lay his hands on its head and confess the sins of the congregation over it. The goat would then be released into the wilderness. This was done in order to make atonement for the sins of the people.
These two goats are types of the Lord Jesus Christ, who became our substitute and took away our sins. The Day of Atonement is a solemn day. We must take this time to prayerfully reflect on the past year and to prepare for the new coming year.
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