LESSON 12

Day of Atonement

One of the Most Holy of All Days

   Many modern-day churchgoers have convinced themselves that they are meeting the basic requirements for everlasting life through weekly attendance at the church of their choice. Others think that by saying, "I believe," that they are naturally saved because Yahshua had paid the ultimate price for salvation.

   If mere belief or faith is all that is required, then why do the Scriptures say "...be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises"? Hebrews 6:12. If faith is all that is needed why do we read in James 2:26, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." And what about charity (love)? "...and though I have faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, it profits me nothing," 1 Corinthians 13:2.

   If we wish to enter into Yahweh's Rest, we must also expect trials and tribulations. The disciples also faced trials: "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of Yahweh" Acts 14:22. See also 1 Thessalonians 3:4,7 and 1 Corinthians 1:4-7.

   Trials and tribulations are not only for the perfecting of the saints (Colossians 3:4 and Hebrews 6:1), but if we endure them and overcome them we also shall receive the crown of life: "Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Messiah has promised to them that love Him," James 1:12, Revelation 2:10.

Trials Prove and Strengthen Us

   A crown is for a ruler or king. As we overcome one problem or trial we are strengthened to face up to and overcome the next. Exercise makes us stronger. To prepare for the heavy weight class we continue to lift progressively heavier weights and thereby become stronger. Similarly, we grow stronger as Yahweh empowers us to conquer progressively more difficult obstacles and trials. In so doing we become strengthened in those abilities needed to be a seasoned follower of the Savior.

   Our main goal in this life is to have our name written in the Book of Life. To do this, we must strive for perfection: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," Matthew 5:48.

   Because of our human frailties we know that we must be tried, as gold is tried and purified to make it perfect, before we can become one of Yahweh's elect. "And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, 'It is My people:' and they shall say, 'Yahweh is my Elohim,'" Zechariah 13:9.

   As the end time approaches and the degenerating influences of our society intensify, suffering will become a way of life. Have you ever told a friend or acquaintance who was going through some bad times, "I know how you feel" or "I can sympathize with you," when you really couldn't because you had never experienced such an ordeal? Can we even comprehend the feeling that Yahshua had knowing He would innocently be put to death and yet still maintaining the deep faith He had that He would be raised up? No, we really cannot.

   Do you believe that faith can grow from the size of a mustard seed to such great heights? Yahshua's parable (Matthew 13:31-32) shows that such is indeed the case. We should be aware that Yahweh can implant in us the smallest seed of needed faith and increase our faith day by day.

Yahweh's People Are Overcomers

   The Scriptures are full of biographical sketches of the suffering endured by Yahweh's chosen. At such times of suffering one cannot realize the purpose behind it. Why would Yahweh permit His people to suffer? The answer is that Yahweh seeks only the best--the cream of the crop. We must strive toward perfection. Those who overcome trials prove their faithfulness by their tenacity and become stronger as they persevere in the fact of all opposition. We must accept suffering as a means of receiving enrichment and blessings in the end.

   Perhaps one of the most noted historical figures in the Scriptures who endured much pain and suffering was Job. In all of his suffering Job did not put the blame on Yahweh: "In all this Job sinned not, nor charged Elohim foolishly," Job 1:22. The reason he did  not sin is found in Job 2:10: "...What? shall we receive good at the hand of Elohim, and shall we not receive evil?" Job did endure his suffering and was blessed in the end with twice as much as he originally had. See Job 42:10. We also must endure to the end to receive the blessings promises to us, namely everlasting life.

   Suffering in one form or another should be expected. Otherwise, how can we prove our faith if it is not test? We must strive toward perfection, knowing full well that because of our human nature we are at variance with Yahweh. Perfection comes only through ridding ourselves of evil with the help of Yahweh's Spirit, strengthening our desire to be faultless before the throne through a daily overcoming of sin in life's experiences.

   Paul tells us of this in Romans 7, where he acknowledges that what we should do, we don't, and what we should not do, that we do. In our striving towards perfection, we must follow after Yahshua. To do this we must gladly agree and fully submit to all He tells us to do. "For even hereunto were you called; because the Messiah also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps," 1 Peter 2:21.

Feasts Help Us to Achieve and Grow in Truth

   To be able to rightly follow in His steps we must with the help of Yahweh's Holy Spirit eliminate sin from our lives. Yahweh showed us the right path to follow to gain everlasting life through the waymark illustrated in the Scriptures--the annual feasts. Important past events in Yahweh's calendar have occurred on each of these special days. More will yet occur. When Yahshua returns to claim His own, then the elect will be in full agreement with Him.

   The annual Feast that best depicts the elimination of the wide gulf that now exists between mankind and his Creator is to be observed on the tenth day of the seventh scriptural month and is called the Day of Atonement.

   The Day of Atonement is unique in Scripture because it shows us a discipline we ourselves must exercise, and points to the ultimate blessing promised us in the Bible. We must first humble ourselves so that we will more eagerly conform to the pattern image Yahweh has designed for us. Let us now take a close look at this special day known in Hebrew as Yom Kippur, "the day of covering."

   Many churches teach that a great controversy exists between Yahshua and Satan--Yahshua is trying desperately to save the world, and Satan is thwarting Him at every turn. There are more "unsaved" people today than ever in history, and it appears that Satan is stronger than Yahshua! But Yahshua will soon return to set up His Kingdom. At that time Satan will be bound so he cannot deceive the nations. This is demonstrated by the Day of Atonement.

   The Bible teaches that not every one is called now. In His wisdom, Yahweh knows that not everyone who could be given the knowledge of the plan of salvation would remain faithful and follow His way of life to the end. Revelation shows that those with Him are called, chosen and faithful, Revelation 17:14. Furthermore, we are told we must keep His works until the end, Revelation 2:26, Matthew 24:13.

   That there is a group who will be given understanding now is confirmed by the Savior Himself. When He was talking with His disciples, He told them their eyes were blessed for they see, and their ears for they hear, Matthew 13:16. The parables were chosen by Yahshua to reveal deeper spiritual truth only to those who had ears to hear and eyes to see, verse 17.

   He went on to say that many prophets and righteous men yearned to see the things the disciples saw and they did not see these things, and desire to hear what the disciples heard but they did not hear them. In other words, Yahshua was explaining the deeper truths of the Bible to only a selected circle of men that He Himself had chosen.

   In the parable of the workers in the vineyard Yahshua summed up the lesson by adding that many are called, but few chosen. Notice He did not say all are called, Matthew 20:16. In chapter 22 of Matthew and verse 14 we learn, "Many are called, but few chosen."

   In the parable of the workers in the vineyard, Yahshua summed up the lesson by adding that many are called, but few chosen. Notice He did not say all are called, Matthew 20:16. In chapter 22 of Matthew and verse 14 we learn, "Many are called, but few chosen."

   Furthermore, in John 6:70 Yahshua stated, "Have I not chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?" It is true even today that Yahweh has allowed Yahshua to choose His followers from those that Yahweh has called. The brother of Yahshua reveals that it is the poor of the world that He chooses, James 2:5. It is not the proud and the haughty, or those rich in material goods or famous or worldly dignitaries. It is those who are teachable and willing to follow in the footsteps of the Savior.

   The fact that you are studying this lesson shows that Yahweh's Spirit is working with you, drawing you into a deeper understanding of His will for your life. You should apply all the Biblical principles possible to mold your life in the pattern of Yahshua's.

   The Day of Atonement reveals deeper insight into Yahweh's plan for mankind and helps us see some of the promised blessings yet to come. It is the most Holy of all Yahweh's Sabbaths and is to be observed with more strictness than any other holy day.

   The Day of Atonement points out that the "Day of Yahweh" will be a blessing for Yahweh's people and a day of wrath for the disobedient. We are promised protection and guidance when we are in accord with His will. But destruction comes to those who rebel and follow their own pernicious ways, Psalm 1.

   First we have some lessons to learn and some overcoming of our carnal nature to accomplish so that we will be fit vessels for the glory that will yet be ours when Yahshua returns.

   The ceremony the priest performed on the Day of Atonement is given in considerable detail. It foreshadowed something to come and still has great significance for believers today. The ceremony portrays Yahshua's atoning work for believers and also His atonement for sins of all Israel.

Now, Click on "Questions" for More Studying!