The Most Sacred Day: Yom Kippur*

Of the three fall feasts of the LORD, the second, the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, is the most solemn. The blood of atonement, Christ's own blood, sprinkled upon the Mercy Seat in heaven, is especially necessary to the Church and to this nation in these current times. The prophets wrote of the blood of sprinkling, and it is also written about in Dr.Stevenson's book, "NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling". The sounding of the shofar or trumpets during the fall feasts also have a prophetic warning and implication. The prophet Amos wrote, "Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? Surely the LORD God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the LORD God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?" (Amos 3:6-8). The LORD is revealing something through His servants. Are we listening to the warning sound in the trumpets? The LORD spoke through Jeremiah about sending prophets to reveal His secrets and warn His people of imminent danger, but His people ignored these prophetic warnings. This provoked the LORD to anger (Jer. 25:4-7). In America, also are ignoring the warnings being sent by God. We have turned away from Him and to the worship of other gods, although we may not recognize it as such. In New York City, there was a projection of the goddess Kali, who is associated with death, violence and sexuality, onto the Empire State Building, and New York also led the nation in legalizing late term abortions. The Church is looking for secular remedies in government and the courts, but there is only one remedy: a 2 Chron. 7:14 repentance and return to God. The sprinkling of the atonement blood of the Lamb of God is something that is necessatry and vital to the people of God. Peter calls believers in Christ the "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you and peace be multiplied." (1 Pet. 1:2). Peter also wrote regarding our salvation, that this salvation was revelaed to the prophets of old, althougb it was for a people to come (v. 10-12). The fulfillment of the prophesied salvation was and is revealed for these last times (v. 5). One of the prophets to whom the LORD revealed His secret of salvation for a future time is the prophet Isaiah. In Chapters 52 and 53, Isaiah clearley writes about God's servant who gives His life for the sins of many. Isaiah also writes in this regard of the blood of sprinkling, "Behold, my servant, shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard, shall they consider. Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? (Isa. 52:13-15, 53:1). The prophet asked the question, "Will you believe this report?" Isaiah goes on to say, "But he was wounded for our trasgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we were healed." (53:5). Isaiah 52:15 also witnesses to the Shroud of Turin as something kings would be able to see and consider, although no one told them of it. The Book of Hebrews is the Word of God written to Christians concerning the Day of Atonement and its meaning in Christ to believers. Hebrews says, "But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building, neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer spinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternl inheritnce." (Heb. 9:11-15). Thw writer of Hebrews reminds us that almost all things by the law are purged (cleaned) with the sprinkling of blood, for without shedding of blood there is no remission (v. 21-22). Again, there is also a prophetic warning connected with the sprinkling of the blood of atonement. From the Book of Hebrews again, "And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh: for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire." (Heb. 12:24-29). The blood of sprinkling is speaking, and we are not to refuse what it is saying. There was a previous shaking, and there will be a greter shaking to come, so that all that may be left are the unmoveable things of the Kingdom of God. God is a consuming fire, and the next judgment will not be by water, but by fire. Are you repenting? The Kingdom of God is at hand. This is the message of the blood of sprinkling, and this is the message of the prophets and servants of God. There is yet a prophetic Word regarding the spinkling of the blood of atonement that we shall see fulfilled. It is from the prophet Zechariah, "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn...In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness." (Zech. 12:10, 13:1). The blood of sprinkling is still prophesying. The pictographic meaning of the Hebrew letters that comprise the word "Kippur" in Yom Kippur are: "the covering command of the harvest of the Most High". Have you sought the atoning blood of Jesus? "May you be inscribed and sealed in the Lamb's Book of Life." This entry was based upon Dr. Stevenson's message to the Church of 9/27/2020. To contact this ministry: everlastingcovenant@ymail.com, everlastingcov8@twitter.com, Kenneth E. Stevenson @ Facebook, endtimeschool.com, P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705

Feast of Atonement*

Last week, we discussed the Feast of Trumpets, the first of the fall feasts of the LORD. This week, we will be talking about the next upcoming feast, the Feast of Atonement, or Yom Kippur. It is described in Leviticus: "And the LORD spake unto Moses saying, Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath." Lev. 23:27-32 During this time of the fall feasts, it is a time for self-examination and repentance. This is called "teshuva" in Hebrew. At the Feast of Atonement the blessing is said, "May you be inscribed for a good year." With Christ as our everlasting fulfillment of the Feast of Atonement, we can say instead, "May you be inscribed for life, or in the Book of Life." Revelation says that all will worship the beast, or Antichrist, whose names are not written in the Book of Life "of the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world."(Rev. 13:7-8). This Feast of Atonement is the opportunity to become part of the atonement made for us by the Messiah, and to become inscribed in the Book of Life. Christ as our Passover is not the same as Christ as our Atonement. The Passover was to deliver Israel out of slavery. In the same way, Christ as our Passover delivered us from the bondage of sin, and its penalty, death. However, the Atonement is the provision through our priestly Intercessor, Jesus, for our recommitted sin after our deliverance, and within our covenant relationship. This coming Feast of Atonement is especially important for our nation right now. Our nation is at the same crossroads described by Ezekiel. The elders of God's people, who were engaged in idolatry of all kinds in their hearts, came to seek the Word of the LORD from the prophet. Their iniquity was a stumbling block that estranged them from God. The LORD commanded His prophet to speak of the condition of the land because of the hearts of His people being filled with idolatry and iniquity: "The word of the LORD came again to me, saying, Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it: Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver [but] their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD. If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts: [Though] these three men [were] in it, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate. Or [if] I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it: Though these three men [were] in it, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves. Or [if] I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast: Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, [were] in it, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall [but] deliver their own souls by their righteousness. For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast? Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, [both] sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, [even] concerning all that I have brought upon it." Ezek. 14:12-22 Because of the idolatrous, unrepentant condition of God's people, four judgments would be sent upon the land: famine, beasts, the sword, and pestilence. In the face of these judgments, even the presence of righteous deliverers like Noah, Daniel, and Job, will not be able to deliver the land out of judgment. They will only be able to save themselves. However, out of this judgment upon the land, a remnant will be brought forth that will cause all to be comforted as they see what God has produced out of this judgment. We have seen the sword come upon our land with the 9/11 attacks. Now we are seeing the pestilence. Will we heed the warning from God and avail ourselves of the atonement that He has provided for His covenant people? The condition of our nation is beyond the ability of politics or man to remedy. The only thing is a 2 Chron. 7:14 repentance by the people of God. Yet I see a form of self-righteousness like that of the Pharisees and Saducees that felt themselves justified while they looked down upon a sinner who was genuinely repentant. But Jesus said this repentant man went away justified rather than the slef-righteous religious people. It is not the work of our own righteousness that will justify us, but the application of Christ's blood of atonement on the mercy seat for those who are in covenant by the Lamb. This atonement blood allows us to seek our Intercessor at the Throne of Grace. One of the activities that the Jewish people engage in during this time of the fall feasts is to gather in small groups to examine each other and confess their sins and shortcomings. We also have the promise that "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 Jn. 1:9). *Based upon Dr. Stevenson's 9/20/20 message to the Church. To contact this ministry: PO Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705

The Coming Fall Feasts*

The time we are living in is very serious. The LORD has set times that He commanded us to keep, and we have entered into one of those set times. These appointments or holy convocations that are to be kept with the LORD are divided into the spring feasts and the fall feasts. In Jesus' first coming, He fulfilled the spring feasts with His death, resurrection, and baptism of the Holy Spirit. Those spring feasts which He fulfilled are Passover, First Fruits, and Pentecost or Feast of Weeks. The Fall Feasts of the LORD which He commanded, deal with His return: the catching away of the Church, the marriage supper of the Lamb, judgment, and our preparation for these events. The fall feasts of the LORD are: the Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and Tabernacles. We do not know the day nor the hour of Christ's return, but we can know the season and the times (1 Thess. 5:1). God purposefully created the bodies in the heavens for the purpose of our identifying His set times and seasons: "And God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so." Gen 1:14-15 All of the feasts are set at specific appointed times: "...Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts...which ye shall proclaim in their seasons." Lev. 23:2, 4 Many important events in Israel's recent history, including the wars of defense from attack, occurred on the set times of the feast days. We have also seen in recent years that several lunar eclipses have taken place on feast days, so the lights in the firmament are still drawing our attention to His feasts, and His set times. The Jewish calendar is a lunar calendar, because the moon plays a large role in the timing of the feasts of the LORD. The fall feasts are preceded by the month of Elul. This month is spent in spiritual preparation for the feasts to come. It is a time of repentance and return to the LORD. Every day during the month of Elul, the shofar, a trumpet made from the horn of a ram, is blown to remind the people of the purpose of this time. White linen garments are bleached to remove all stains, and blots, and ironed to remove wrinkles. As Christians, we are familiar with the scriptures that say that we are to be clothed in clean white linen garments of righteousness, which are without spot or wrinkle. These white linen garments being prepared during the month of repentance and preparations for the return to God, Elul, will be worn on the first fall feast, the Feast of Trumpets, or Yom Teruah. The Feast of Trumpets begins by commandment of God on the first day of the seventh month, or Tishri 1. The LORD set the timing of this feast: "Speak unto the children of Israel saying, "In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD." Lev. 23:24-25 This is an unusual feast because it cannot begin until at least two witnesses, who are assigned to watch, see the new moon appear. This first appearance of the new moon marks the beginning of Tishri 1, Yom Teruah. No man knows the day nor the hour of the beginning of this feast. It depends upon waiting and watching for that appearance of the new moon. Similarly, Jesus told us that no man knows the day nor the hour of His return, and He also told us to watch for it. The blowing of the trumpets include a blowing of the last trump, the final blast in a long series of blasts. 1 Thess. 4:13-18 mentions that the raising of the dead in Christ, and catching away of those still alive at the moment of His return will occur at the sound of a shout and the trump of God. 1 Cor. 15:51-55 reveals that the transformation of this moment from corruptible to incorruptible occurs at the "last trump". This moment is the overcoming of death and the grave for all who belong to Christ. As we come upon the appointed time of this feast, we must make sure that our preparations, repentance and return to God have been completed. Without those white, pressed linen garments, we cannot enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-9). The next fall feast, the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, comes ten days after the Feast of Trumpets: "Also on the tenth day of this month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings..." Lev. 23:27-31 The Day of Atonement, fulfilled by the atonement of the covering blood of Christ which He applied upon the Mercy Seat of God, marks the differentiation between those who submit to the atonement or covering work of God, and those who refuse. It is a most solemn day. Paul wrote about being aware, sober, and awake during the times and seasons of the LORD. He wrote about the sudden destruction that comes, but that we, who are supposed to be aware and prepared, are not meant for that coming wrath of God (1 Thess. 5:1-7). Jesus said to his disciples regarding that destruction to come that we are to watch always and pray that we will be found worthy to escape the terrors that are coming upon the whole earth, and instead to stand before the Son of man (Lk. 21:36). Five (the number connected to "grace") days after the solemn feast of Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, comes the fall feast of Tabernacles: "...The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD....Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD...Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days...And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days....It shall be a statute for ever in your generations...Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God..." Lev. 23:34-44 This fall feast of Tabernacles is connected to the gathering of the harvest, even as the Lord has an end time harvest to gather in. Jesus talked about fields white with the harvest. Those who belong to the Lord are gathered in to the storehouse. Those who have refused the atonement covering of the Savior, Jesus Christ, are gathered for destruction. Isaiah spoke about the chamber that God's people are called to enter at this time: "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation is overpast. For behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain." Isa. 26:19-21 In this fall feast season and set time of the LORD, His Church should be preparing for His return with repentance (2 Chron. 7:14), soberness, and watchfulness. The Church that Christ is looking for in His return is prophesied in these fall feasts, and is described in Ephesians: "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Eph. 5:25-27 Those who belong to the Lord, who have prepared themselves by their return to God, their repentance and the white linen wedding garments which are His righteousness, are gathered in as a harvest to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. They go into the marriage chamber, and the door is shut, as the indignation of God covers those who remain in the earth. This is the promise of the LORD's fall feasts of Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and Tabernacles. *Based upon Dr. Kenneth Stevenson's 9/13/20 message to the Church. To contact Everlasting covenant, or Dr. Stevenson: PO Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705

Yom Kippur:Atonemen, and Reconciliation with God

The Veil That Separated the Holy of Holies

 

Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement. It is the second of the fall feasts of the LORD. It is considered the most sacred of the feasts. It comes at the end of the ten days of awe that began with the Feast of Trumpets, or Yom Teruah. Yom Kippur is a time of fasting, and repentance. It was also a Sabbath day of rest from all work (Lev. 23:27-32). Offerings were made, and on this one day of the year, the high priest could go behind the veil, a heavy curtain, that separated the holy of holies from the rest of the temple. There he would sprinkle the blood of the animal sacrifice on the mercy seat, which sat upon the ark of the covenant, which contained the law. This blood was the atonement blood for the sins of the people. This sprinkling of the atonement blood would have to be repeated every year. That veil of the temple represented the separation of the people from God because of sin. The Hebrew root word in regards to the word "veil" here, means "to break apart, fracture, severity, crushing".
As with the temple, the priesthood, and all of the feast days connected with them, the Israelites were given a pattern to copy after the heavenly temple of God (Ex. 25:9, 40, Num. 8:4). Paul also mentions this earthly pattern that copied the heavenly original:
"Who (the priests) serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount."  Heb. 8:5
Because all of these earthly things are shadows that were made after a heavenly original, they carry the promise of the greater heavenly original. and that heavenly original surpasses the earthly copy in every way!
For this feast of Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, the shadow of the earthly priest after the order of Aaron, has been surpassed by a heavenly Priest, Who is unlike them. The heavenly Priest, Jesus Christ, is of the order of the eternal, supernatural priest, Melchizedek (meaning "King of Righteousness"). Melchizedek was not only a priest, but a king as well, who brought forth bread and wine. He was and is an incarnation of Christ who appeared to Abraham, and received from him the tithe of all (Gen. 14:18-20). The Psalms identify the Lord Who sits at the right hand of the LORD God as a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (Ps. 110:4). The Apostle Paul also further identifies this eternal priest as Christ (Heb. 7:21-22). The oath, the hope, the promise of a priest that surpasses earthly pattern of the priests was fulfilled in Christ. Those priests of the order of Aaron died, but this Priest after the order of Melchizedek lives and serves forever:
"But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore, he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."   Heb. 7:24-25
Unlike the earthly priests, who can only go behind the veil one day a year (Heb. 9:7), Christ is ever making intercession. He went behind the veil of separation in the heavenly Temple, not to offer the blood of bulls and goats as a temporary relief from sin, but to offer His own blood upon the mercy seat once, forever:
"...for this he did once, when he offered up himself...by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say not of this building, Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood 0f Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"  Heb. 7:27, 9:11-14
The hope of the more perfect heavenly atonement, and reconciliation with God promised in the pattern of this feast of the LORD, has been fulfilled beyond anything that could be imagined by men through the atonement of an eternal Priest, Christ, with His own blood in the heavenly tabernacle. He obtained a more excellent ministry, was established as the mediator of a better covenant, established upon even better promises than the former, earthly copy (Heb. 8:6). An awesome God established His promise of atonement for sin and reconciliation with man in this feast of Yom Kippur, and fulfilled that hope and promise through His own Son.
The atonement, and the reconciliation is available to all who come to God through Christ. God is long suffering towards us, not willing for any to perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). As the earth is tried with great storms, earthquakes, floods, fires, and more, the hearts of men are being called by God to repentance and for salvation. To all who are of the Jewish people, to all who are of the Gentiles, to all who desire to share in this fulfillment of the promise and hope of the eternal atonement and reconciliation of Yom Kippur: Let us not keep Him waiting any longer.

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.