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The Day of Atonement 2019

Bryan Race

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The Days of Awe & Yom Kippur 2019

1. Intro

60% of Jews in Israel will fast for Yom Kippur. But only 50% of Jews in Israel say they believe in God or pray. This is the Day of Judgment Day. One day we will all stand before God and He will ask, “Did you do justly, did you love mercy and did you walk humbly with Me? Do I know you and do you know me? Where is our relationship. Jesus means joy for us at the judgment. But the Jews need Jesus to know peace at the judgment.

2. He Is Our Rest

How do we celebrate the Day of Atonement as Christians?
Yom Kippur is a Sabbath of Sabbaths –
Just as every week has a Sabbath, this is the Sabbath for the whole year.
Two things are required – rest and fasting.

In Israel, nothing, absolutely nothing will be open —
No Radio, No Television, No Cable; Even the Street Lights Won’t Work!

“Any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from His people. And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among His people” (Leviticus 23:29).

In Colossians chapter two Paul says, “Don’t let any man judge you in respect to holy days, new moons, Sabbath days: Which are all a shadow of things to come; for the substance is of Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17).

In other words, the Sabbath days were just a shadow of things to come.
Substance creates a shadow. The substance is Jesus.

Sabbath days were all looking forward to Jesus who would bring rest.
We can’t become right with God (righteous) from what we do or even obedience to the law

Righteousness comes by faith
Trusting in Jesus to be in charge or resting in confidence
This resting is encountering Christ intimately – becoming one with Him and His will.

When we take the day off from all labor – we are providing a testimony for God, ourselves and everyone else that we completely rely on God for every breath and eternity.

Rosh Hashanah was the creation of man – Yom Kippur was the Fall of Man
This was the day that Adam missed his appointment with God (to walk in the cool of the day)
This was the day God killed animals to make skins for Adam and Eve

Two things are required – Rest and Fasting.

  1. Resting represents death so we wear white clothing to represent death – burial clothes are white. The Jews wear white to live all day as if they were dead (fasting)
    It’s humbling yourself before God and a reminder that you are mortal
    Burial Clothes Have No Pockets (no possessions can be taken – only the Word and good works). One of the fringes (tzitziot) is cut off – it represents the law – the dead are no longer under the law.
  2. Yom Kippur is the only holiday that fasting is explicitly commanded by the Lord –
    Leviticus 16:31 “It is a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls.
    It is a statute forever.” Afflict doesn’t mean to punish yourself but to humble yourself.

Why are we to Fast – because we have learned from the failure of Adam and Eve
We are choosing not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge
As we return to the Garden spiritually to start anew our walk with God.

Isaiah 58 describes what God calls fasting on a Holy Day:
“Turn away your foot from doing your pleasure on My holy day. Call the Sabbath a delight,
the holy day of the Lord honorable. Honor Him by not doing your own ways Nor finding your own pleasure – Nor speaking your own words.”

Isaiah 58 also describes what God calls fasting on an Ordinary Day:
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness
To undo the heavy burdens; To let the oppressed go free
To break every yoke; To share your bread with the hungry
To bring to your house the poor who are cast out
When you see the naked, to cover him; To not hide yourself from your own flesh.”

Jesus said that He came not to do His own will, but the will of His Father.
He fasted from His glory and heaven, to come to serve and not to be served.
This is an example to us:
We fast – deny ourselves – so that we can grow in the desire to serve others.

Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly
Ordinarily, the High Priest’s outfit had bright colors and a breastplate of precious stones.
But on Yom Kippur, the high priest was required to take off the glorious robes
in exchange for simple, white linen garments, in order to go into the holy of holies.

He looked just like any other priest. This foreshadowed Jesus, our great high priest,
putting aside his heavenly glory and putting on flesh to become one of us – and yet remaining holy.

The High Priest wore a crown of pure gold called a Nezer, which comes from the word “nazar”.  This word “nazar” means to dedicate, consecrate and sacredly separate.
The word “nazarite” (they vow to be separate from the world) comes from this root.

We are all called “a royal priesthood” in 1 Peter 2:9, and we also are called to live a holy life, dedicated to God and separated from the world in our thoughts and intentions.

Daily, negativity, cynicism, and impurity are battling for our focus, so we will dwell on things that are depressing, impure and evil. But these thoughts must be taken captive before they get a foothold. If we Crown ourselves with thoughts that are pure, then we will be changing the world around us.

Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. ”

What does repentance look like? We pursue a deeper level of dedication and consecration during this season. Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. 2 Corinthians 7:1

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

I believe the most important message you can take away from this Day of Atonement is that God has called you to be part of a royal priesthood that is not only holy (separate) but is bringing life to the earth by sharing the Gospel with the Lost – Bring Atonement to the World!

 

3. The First Hebrew Words

At creation spoke Light into being – but there is more to that story than light
For the first time – God spoke – we experience His voice.

Before He could create the universe, God needed to create a language to use.
In creating Hebrew, He also created the building blocks of the universe.

Jesus is the Word of God made flesh – Hebrew numbers/letters are literally connected to the Word and connected to how God is moving to advance His kingdom.
That’s why the Hebrew language is so valuable for encountering Him.

Hebrew numbers are written by using letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Each Hebrew letter corresponds to a number,

Because of this, numbers can spell words, and words add up to numerical values.
Understanding the prophetic significance of the year ahead helps us better know what to expect?

The last 10 years were 5770-5779 and all dealt with 70 – In Hebrew it is the number Ayin –
Which had to do with the Eye, vision, and how we see both physically and prophetically.
So we have been in a long season where God has been guiding us how to see rightly, through His eyes and by making His judgments.

On the Gregorian calendar we are preparing to step into the year 2020 – perfect vision.  That’s ironic because we are leaving the 5770-5779 season of Ayin
The question you will have to answer this year is, “How do you see?”

One of the first things God asked Jeremiah when He commissioned him as a prophet was, “What do you see, Jeremiah…for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”

As we begin 5780 we step into the 80’s (5780-5789).
80 is the 17th letter/number in the Hebrew alphabet –
So we are looking at the number 80 as well as the number 17.

80 – Pey (pay) – The pictograph looks like a mouth so Pey means mouth, speech, scatter, prayer, declaration, spokesman.
It’s the 17th Hebrew Letter and symbolizes “overcoming the enemy” and “complete victory.”

There are 17 muscles in the tongue.

Jesus told Peter and Andrew that they would be “fishers of men” (Matt 4:19).
In Hebrew, the word for “fisherman” is dayag = the letters (which are also numbers) add up to 17.

5780 – The Year of the Mouth – is about the power of agreement or declaration

We are now entering a season where speaking rightly and profitably will mean the difference between winning and losing; bondage and freedom; victory and offense. This is the time to share your faith. God is moving in the arena of salvation and the Harvest.
The meaning of Hebrew letters comes from the first time they are used in Scriptures.
When you write the letter Pey, the empty space inside the letter forms the letter Bet (bait).  The letter Bet is literally hidden within the letter Pey.
So Pey’s meaning is directly attached to Bet’s meaing.
Bet (bait) is the first letter used in Scripture in the word Beginning.

Bereishit (Bear-a-sheet) Bara Elohiym ‘eth shamayim ‘eth ‘erets
In the beginning God created Aleph Tav the heaven and the earth

There are two silent letters in the middle of the word – Aleph and Tav . Aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and Tav the last. The letter Aleph is made up of the yod (the right hand of God), the other yod (the left hand of God) and the vav (which means nail and is called the Mediator or Messiah).
The number one signifies unity, so that means God’s presence will be even more “Present”.

The letter Tav in Paleo Hebrew was a mark that amounts to the crossing of two sticks [think the cross of Christ] to form a “t”.  The Tav is considered the mark of salvation or protection by God.

Ezekiel 9:4 “God put a mark Tav (תו) on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that were being done in Jeruslem.” Those without this “mark” were slain.
 It is believed by some that the letter pey is composed of the letters kaf (20) and yod (10).

The meaning of yod is an arm or hand. It is the first letter in the name of God, Yahweh and it’s the first letter in the name of Yeshua (Jesus). It’s the arm or hand of God.

The meaning of kaf is a palm (hand) as well as what is contained in a hand (scooping water or food into our mouth.)

In the Book of Judges, Gideon chooses his army by selecting those who use their palms to drink because the technique lets them stay alert and ready for battle.

So, prophetically speaking adding kaf and yod to the mix brings the ideas that the coming year of 5780 will deal with the hand or presence of God much more present in our dealings, which means the supernatural element will come into play more to bring His kingdom and will to earth.

It means He will be raising up those He considers His chosen warriors, who are defined not by selfish indulgence, but vigilance and the urgency of the battle drawing near. These warriors will be used to bring about God’s justice, not their own justice or their own agenda.

He will be raising up those whose hands are longing to be used for blessing, not cursing. Expect the unexpected victory that only faith can bring.

Evangelism
“The Word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 8

Anointing
“The Spirit of the Lord God  is upon Me, because the Lord  has anointed Me to preach…proclaim…console Isaiah 61

Grace
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord. Isaiah 54:16-17
God will give us Grace to Silence the Voice of the Enemy – To Stop the Mouth of the Accuser

History 1919-1920

Sports

World/Israel

Every significant thing was an agreement or declaration –
Things that still exist or that greatly affected history were established

 

4. Famous Battle Cry’s / War Cry’s

10 years ago God told me He was about to release the Sound of Revival. It was not a song or a sermon but His presence that would cover the earth. I have been a lover of revival since I went to the Brownsville Revival in 1998. I had studied every aspect of revival, but I had no idea what He meant by the sound of revival. It was a term I had never heard before.

When I became manager here at Victory later that year, the first thing I did was to change the imaging to constantly prophetically declare the sound of revival that was coming. Over the last decade God explained the sound of revival more fully to me countless times. In scripture He compared it to hearing the sound of rain approaching, you hear it before you see it. It’s quite similar and equally prophetic.

I believe as we set on the precipice of 5780 and the year 2020, God has begun to release the first stages of that very revival. Since it is tied in with the coming harvest or revival across the world, the Day of Atonement is perfect time and place to think and talk about these things.

There’s a famous story. On the evening of June 18, 1815, a man stood in the tower of Winchester Cathedral staring anxiously out over the sea for a signal ship. All of England held its breath. Wellington was facing Napoleon at Waterloo.

The signal came just as a heavy fog was rolling in. They only received part of the message. Wellington defeated. The news spread gloom and sadness across England. Then the fog lifted, and the message was sent again, this time in full: “Wellington defeated the enemy”. Unspeakable joy and relief.

We don’t all go to war, but we all face battles. The Kingdom of God is at war.

Battle cry’s and speeches inspire us all.

Listen to Moses’ pre-Battle Speech to Israel and Joshua
“Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel…Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage…” Then he says it a third time.

Listen to God’s pre-Battle Speech to Joshua
After the death of Moses…Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous…Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Listen to Israel’s Response to Joshua’s pre-Battle Speech
Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people [telling them to get ready to go in]…So they answered Joshua, saying, “All that you command us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go…Only be strong and of good courage.”

Chazak Amats: (khaw-zawk’) (aw-mats’)

“Chazak” means to Be Strong, to stand firm, to hold your ground, to withstand, to prevail.
“Amats” means to Be Courageous. It is the unwavering confidence of victory regardless of the odds or the impossibilities.
Chazak Amats is being tenacious and zealous with a spiritual boldness and an audacity that can only come from the Holy Spirit.

Every step Jesus took to the cross was taken with Chazak Amats, with resolve and spiritual boldness into the darkest battle in history emerging victorious over sin.

Listen to David’s Last Two Speeches to Solomon
“Be strong and of good courage; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

“Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you.”

Listen to Hezekiah’s Battle Speech
When he was being attacked by Assyria, he told his people, “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.”

Caleb Spoke Up When Israel Refused To Enter The Promised Land
“Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are… We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”
They are more Chazak Amats than us.

Caleb and Joshua stood their ground all Chazak Amats
“Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them.”

What did God give them for 40 years in the desert? Bread. It was His gift to them every day.
But only Caleb realized it for what it was – A picture of how God would supply for their every need. Giants didn’t scare him any more than the thought of starving or going thirsty.
God had proved Himself to Caleb.

The Harvest is Ready
We are the church – the hands of Jesus to the world.
We have an enemy whose sole purpose is to steal, to kill, and to destroy.
God has empowered up and equipped us to face this enemy and push his forces back.
Our purpose is to demonstrate his power and his glory.
To go out and rescue the lost from the powers of darkness that imprison them.

5. Cycles of History – Deep Darkness

 Rosh Hashanah is God at Creation

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.” Gen 1:1-3

The Day of Atonement is God Establishing Order
“And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.” Gen 1:4

“Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” Isaiah 60:1-3

The spiritual climate in our country and the world & the clear divide of light and darkness is getting easy to see. It’s being called political but it’s anything but political – this is darkness – this is historical.

Fallen & Cast to The Ground

This is the description of Lucifer’s fall in Ezekiel 28:
“You were the anointed cherub who covers; You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you…You became filled with violence within…
You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor…You defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities…You have become a horror…”

“Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” Matthew 22:13

Deep Darkness

What is it that defines the presence of these fallen angels/demons?
It’s not just sin; iniquity was found in you (It’s corruption, debauchery, depravity, immorality).

It’s a violent pursuit of evil; filled with violence within
It’s hatred and rage without logic; Its agenda is to defile authority and terrify. corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor
Its life, thoughts, emotions, passions all trapped in darkness. defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities…You have become a horror
You can sum it up as: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” John 10:10a

Demons no longer resemble their old angelic selves. They can appear as angels of light, but they are defiled, in darkness, corrupted, and in agony. Likewise when they possess or oppress us, we can take on that same nature, especially:
the confusion and disorientation from darkness, agonizing and even weeping about temporal things,and the anger and rage of gnashing teeth.

Around the world and here in America, we experience:

These cycles of Deep Darkness about every 50-60 years.

For the last few years, these qualities have marked: America (especially the media & Washington DC); England (Brexit, polarized politics, greater authority of Islam; Israel (so far 2 elections this year – no ability to form a government)

Hatred and rage without logic; An agenda to defile authority and terrify. The sole passion to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. Life, thoughts, emotions, and passions all trapped in darkness.

What does that mean for us for the years ahead?

 

6. Cycles of History – To Steal, Kill, and Destroy

Let’s take a look at these cycles. Revivals are part of each time period:
Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

Society at large will not be consumed by darkness until the very end, for most of us life will go on pretty well and we will overcome and enjoy victory. But those being used by Satan for his agenda will be noticeably trapped.

Satan will steal if he can, and if he can kill, he will kill, and if possible, he will destroy. Notice, he won’t stop until he is made to stop.

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Genesis 4

Stealing, killing and destroying happen because Satan is ruling over someone’s desires. They are oppressed by darkness externally.

When you see Hatred and Rage without logic; An agenda to defile authority and terrify;  The sole passion of large groups of people to steal, kill, and destroy;
When life, thoughts, emotions, and passions all become tangled and trapped in darkness;
that is deep darkness.

Israel, America and England all linked in world events specifically targeted by Satan.
Again, he doesn’t control all of society in these seasons, but those who are willing to be turned toward and be used for his agenda. There are always those used by God in these seasons and those that resist the devil.

This is an opportunity for us to learn what light and darkness really look like. Sinners are not our enemy.

A line is being drawn in our nation and in the world. The middle, compromise, unity, and civility are almost gone.

When you step across that line there will be consequences. For the lost, their former friends will become vicious enemies. They will need the love of a friend long before they are clean.  It doesn’t mean we have to be less holy. Just more optimistic.

7. A Great Awakening

War Hill South
I preached on Rosh Hashanah at War Hill South in Winder (10 days ago)
I was blown away by the vision and unity I saw

They are all about reaching out to love and share Christ
The whole church is separated into the 12 Tribes
There are 4 teams and they have fun competitions
You don’t join the church – you join a tribe
I think it was a beautiful, small-scale picture, or the church

The Great Harvest / Revival / Awakening is coming. 

This next decade is going to be profound.
These Feasts are important because they remind us that
We are just like Israel in the desert – so double minded it’s scary.
We need to realize that God calls us His children long before we look and act like Him.

The Exodus is a great picture of the next decade 2020-2029. It will be messy, but awesome. The Kingdom is not gonna be easy or pretty.  Some Christians will be great warriors one-month, the next they may seem more like heathens.

Revival is raging underground all around the world in Iran and China and through the Middle East and 1040 window.

The Iranian revival is built on Discipling – not on making converts.
That is not how we do it in America.

The moment they share the gospel they start discipling. They don’t wait for the them to be saved. They have come to realize that God will do the hard work in a life, if they go and share the gospel and love the least of these.

Their model is the Parable of the Tares where servants are warned not to pull up tares because they would root out the wheat as well, but to just let both grow together until the harvest.

The Parable of the Dragnet is similar in that the net catches fish of every kind which separated later, the wicked from among the righteous.
These parables are painful because our theologies take a beating. 

Discipleship & Discernment Required
These ministers of the Gospel may not be examples for the saints to imitate
Only the Word of God determines what we do, say, and pursue
These are ambassadors to the captives
We need to encourage them and pray fervently for them.
We need to break curses off of them. We need to hope for them.

What is a Christian? What is a convert? What is a disciple?
It can be hard to define at times because lives don’t stand still.

Our President is an interesting picture of this.
His mouth is not always filled with love. But I believe God is clearly impacting and influencing him. He may be the picture of what “wise as serpents looks like”. He’s strategic. Not fearful at all.

The lost are hating him viciously. He’s 73 years old and has mostly a godless history.
He was one of them for 70 years. He’s doing noble things despite his lifelong track record. Hatred and attacks are not working.

God appears to be using people before fully cleaning them.

The Exodus is an amazing picture of what the End-time Revival will look like – not what we expect. When people come out of great sin, they generally must deal with some very hard life issues. Grace is costly for them. Sometimes relapse is their middle name. Sometimes it’s their first middle and last names.

Moses led the Israelites to annihilate the Amorites and Ammonites. They were great giants and had lots of tall strong cities – but God gave them the victory. These were supernatural battles. God sent boulders from the heavens down on the giants.

Then the Moabites/Midianites (Balak and Balaam with the donkey that talked)
plotted together to lead the Israelites into sexual immorality and idolatry.
Those who fell included many that were in the priesthood.
The plague from God alone killed 24,000 of the very warriors who days before had conquered three great nations (Amorite, Ammonite, Moabite) including many giants.

There are still plenty of Midianites out there waiting for us.
They are the ones who bought Joseph from his brothers and sold him into slavery in Egypt.
Moses’ Father-in-law Jethro was a Midianite. His wife Zipporah was a Midianite.
Gideon fought and defeated the Midianites.

We must discern how to love and disciple unclean people on the verge of becoming Christians – but before their lives come clean. The folks trapped in evil will be hating them – We can’t be hating people because of their sin

Is this current revival of baptism (North Ga Revival) a picture of what God is about to do?
It’s not one experience with God then baptism and you’re done – but many, many cleansings.


8. First a Bull Then the Goats

The Day of Atonement is when the High Priest sacrificed a Bull
that would cover the sins of the priesthood.
The High Priest would be covered in blood from making the sacrifice

Then he would go through the veil that separated the holiest of places
from the rest of the Temple.
The veil represented the separation between God and man due to man’s sin
Spiritually speaking, Jesus was and is the veil, so when He died on the cross for sin,
which separated us from God, the veil (His body) was torn.

Then he went into the Holy Of Holies to pour the blood on the Mercy Seat
The Hebrew word is Kapporet, (which is related to the word kippur as in Yom Kippur),
which is translated as purge, atone, expiate, and propitiate. (the cross)

The priest entered with incense before him as he approached the ark, and sprinkled the blood on it. On this Most Holy Day of The Year, the rabbis agree that the priest’s motion should be “ke-mazlif” (כמצליף), or “As If They Were Whipping Someone”.

Here is how it is written in the Mishna and the Babylonian Talmud:
The motion is once upwards and seven times downwards, aiming to sprinkle neither upwards nor downwards but kemazlif [making the movement of swinging a whip]

Some have suggested that originally it was the word “ke-matzliv” – “
“Like A Cross”, instead of like a whip, but the obvious implications of this were too much for the Jewish sages and it was changed to “ke-mazlif” instead.

After the High Priest finished with the Bull, he would take 2 goats to cover the sins of the people:

Leviticus 16:6-10, 21-22
“Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household. Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He is to cast lots for the two goats— one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat.

The high priest put both his hands into a wooden case, and took out two labels, one inscribed “for Yahweh” and the other “for absolute removal” (or “for Azazel”).

Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering.
The Lord’s Goat symbolized Christ, who took upon Himself the penalty for our sins.  Our sins have been transferred from their soul to His, He has died for those sins, and the sinner is judged to be perfect as if he had never sinned.

But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord
to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.
He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites —all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head.
He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task.
The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; [He would throw it over a cliff]. Both goats die so that the people’s sins would be forgiven.

The Talmud states (ib. 39a) that: A strip of scarlet-dyed wool was tied to the head of the scapegoat Which would turn white as soon as the goat was thrown over the precipice
As a sign that the sins of the people were forgiven.

It didn’t always turn white:
Beginning with the death and resurrection of Jesus, it no longer turned white. The Talmud bears record to a spiritual decay among the people, such that murders became so widespread
that the Sanhedrin ceased to adjudicate capital crimes such as homicide.

The miracle of the thread turning white was to show them (and us) that if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive them. When Jesus died on the cross it tore the curtain forever
and a permanent sacrifice was made and accepted for everyone forever

Revelation 13:8
Jesus is called, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.

10 days after their creation, the first Yom Kippur occurs. Sin happens and spiritual death happens. But blood must be spilled to cover their sin. God doesn’t desire to kill Adam and Eve.

At creation, they were covered in light or glory but now it’s gone so they are naked. So God makes a sacrifice. He places their sins on the animal and kills it to make them coverings with its skin. The Hebrew meaning or concept of that word covering is anointing.

So He restores their anointing. With what? The blood of that sacrifice. Without shedding of blood there is no remission or removing of the sin.

And then God casts them out of the Garden to the east. The first animal was killed to make them clothes and restore their anointing.

Adam and Eve, leave the garden clothed with that animal.
In a sense they are the second goat walking off into the wilderness never to return.
This is the next picture of Christ slain from the foundation of the world.
Jesus will be called the second Adam and so is the first goat,
And on the Cross when He is slain outside the city, He is the scapegoat.

9. The Life of the Flesh is in The Blood

God told Moses that “the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11).
The Hebrew word that has been translated “life” (nephesh) is the word for soul,
which simply means God sees our sin “in our blood.”

We also see that through confession, sin can be transferred to an innocent substitute,
specifically to its blood since that is where the life (the soul) abides.
This prefigured the substitutionary death of Jesus for sinners.

Notice the sin was transferred to the blood and the blood was poured, sprinkled and wiped on all over the sanctuary, to transfer the “sin” to the sanctuary. So, the sanctuary “accumulated” the sins of the people.

Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the priest would “make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel and because of their transgressions, for all their sins; and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness” (Leviticus 16:16).

Question: If a sacrifice was made when the sinner confessed his sins, and twice a day for general sins, why was another sacrifice needed later?
Hebrews 9:7 says the sacrifice of the Day of Atonement was for “the people’s sins committed in ignorance or thoughtlessness.”

All sins require atonement, just like all forgiveness, follows repentance.
But since these sins were “committed in ignorance,” repentance was determined by the general attitude and behavior toward sin on the Day of Atonement.

“It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls” (Leviticus 16:29, 23:32). The Day of Atonement was the most solemn of all the feasts.

On other feasts the people were to do “no customary work” but on The Day of Atonement they were to do “no work whatsoever on pain of death”. The Day of Atonement was the “Sabbath of Sabbaths”.

“Any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people. And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among His people” (Leviticus 23:29).

So it was a day of judgment in which repentance of all sin, both known and unknown, was determined by afflicting their soul (this is an inward attitude) plus there was an outward symbol of obedience (the Sabbath of solemn rest).

It symbolized their willingness to obey all His commands.
“How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws?
See!  For the Lord has given you the Sabbath” (Exodus 16:28,29).

A Profession of Repentance or Faith Didn’t Cover All Future Behavior.
They Had to Continue in Repentance and Submission.

The Day of Atonement implies that we need atonement, so what is Atonement?
A separation occurred between God, who is holy, and man, who was holy but sinned, and now needs a way to be reconciled to God. Adam and Eve’s choice to sin made everyone guilty before God, without hope.

Until God made a way. Christ, the sinless lamb, took upon Himself the sins of the whole world, that we might receive atonement for our sins and be reconciled to God. To accept His atonement for sin is to acknowledge one’s sin and receive His sacrifice. So, reconciliation is not only possible it’s called the Good News.

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19).

The word Atonement is used a lot in the Old Testament for sacrifices that were made for the people to be holy before God, and thus at one with God. The New Testament uses The word reconciliation for atonement because that is the literal interpretation of the word.

Without Jesus the day of atonement is about judgement.
With Jesus it’s about reward and deliverance.
Atonement is all about Salvation (the Harvest)

If You Want Forgiveness – You Must Forgive
The Lord’s Prayer teaches us that forgiveness isn’t optional
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors…For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6

The Sabbatical Year & The year of the Jubilee – every Israelite would be set free from debt, slavery, and allowed to return to their own land. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.”


10. The Lord’s Day is Judgment Day

John’s encounter with Jesus that is The Book of Revelation takes place on the Day of Atonement.

Revelation 1:10 “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet…”

The first thing John heard was a voice “like a trumpet”.
The Feast of Trumpets announces the Days of Awe including the Day of Atonement.

The phrase “The Lord’s Day” (i kyriaki imera) is a Greek phrase unique to the Bible.
By the 2nd Century it was applied to Sunday, but there is no Biblical reason to use it that way.  The only day that Jesus refers to as His Day is the day of His coming:
“For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day” (Luke 17:24).
“The Lord’s Day” may simply be another way of saying “the Day of the Lord.”

The Day of Atonement was and will be the Lord’s Day…it was a day of judgment, in which the true spiritual condition of everyone was revealed, and it will be when He returns to bring judgment to the earth and rescue His people.

This First Part of the Judgment is a Courtroom Scene for The Investigation

In Daniel 7, he “watched till thrones were put in place… the court was seated and the books were opened.”

Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.” (Daniel 7:10).
The same number of angels is present in the judgment scene of Revelation –
“I heard the voice of many angels around the throne…and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.” (Revelation 5:11).

In Daniel 7…books were opened.”
In Revelation 20:12 “Books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life.  And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books”.

Since Revelation is written in a chiastic structure, we can see the investigation in chapters 4 and 5 and then also see the verdict carried out by the 144,000 in chapter 14.

Another key symbol in the investigation phase are eyes:

The Lamb Has Seven Eyes (5:6), and the “four living creatures” who are “around the throne”
are “full of eyes in front and in back…around and within” (4:6,8).
Eyes symbolize the Lord’s judgment and separation of the righteous from those who are not.

The “eyes of the Lord” have two related functions: to watch and protect His children, and to discern the wickedness of His enemies.
“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3)
“The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

7 Lamps 7 Spirits
“And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God” (Revelation 4:5). Even while the judgment of the “Day of Atonement” is being carried out, the daily intercessory ministry of Jesus (the lamps, the bread, and the incense) is still taking place.
“He [Jesus] is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

Since the “seven lampstands…are the seven churches”, seven lamps show the presence of the Spirit. Jesus is “the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world”, but while He is in heaven He has sent the Holy Spirit to bring His light through the fruits and gifts of the Spirit in the lives of believers.


11. Four Living Creatures & Four Tribes

“And Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind.  And the first living creature was like a lion, and the second living creature was like a calf, and the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within.  And they do not rest day and night, saying ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come” (Revelation 4:6-8).

These living creatures are the same as the ones that accompanied the Lord when He took Ezekiel to examine God’s people. “He said to me, ‘Son of man, do you see what they are doing…Go in, and see’…The creatures are “full of eyes” because they are involved in the judgment.

Jewish tradition holds that the faces of these four creatures were the same as those on the standards or “flags” of the 4 leader tribes of Israel as they camped around the sanctuary in the wilderness (Numbers 2).
The Levites camped in the middle, around the sanctuary, while the tribes were camped around in four groups of 3 tribes apiece;
Each leader tribe had a standard (Lion-Judah, Man-Reuben, Ox-Ephraim, Eagle-Dan). These are probably spiritual rather than physical tribes since the literal tribes were scattered and lost.

Each creature symbolizes a characteristic of God:
the lion represents His power and sovereignty, the calf or ox His self-sacrificing mercy, the man symbolizes His righteousness (as seen in the humanity of Christ) and the eagle His swift justice.
In Revelation the creatures are each depicted with one face, but Ezekiel saw that each creature actually had all four of the faces, reflecting the eternal attributes of God.

The Four Tribes

Judah – To the East
Judah was the tribe of worship, intercession and the kings. The first living creature who is “Like A Lion” is a mighty angel who presides over the judgment of those who are of the spiritual tribe of Judah.

Ephraim – To the West
Ephraim became the leader in the idolatry of Israel. Jeroboam was an Ephraimite and made two golden calves to be their gods and set them up in Bethel and Dan.
Ephraim’s Standard Is The Calf Or Ox which should symbolize strength, submission and sacrifice, but as Ephraim departed from the Lord he was associated with calf worship.  He symbolizes those who claim to be Christians, but because they mix the true with the false they are actually idolaters.
Ephraim is not included on the list of the tribes that make up the 144,000.

Reuben – To the South
The south was considered to be the land of Egypt, where God’s people went to find salvation from famine in the days of Jacob and Joseph but ended up as captive slaves. Reuben was the firstborn, but he lost his birthright when he slept with his father’s concubine.
His Standard Is The Man, who was created in the image of God, but under the influence of sin, man became the symbol of spiritual weakness and failure.
He tried to intercede for Joseph when the other brothers wanted to kill him, but his intervention was weak and ineffective. Reuben seems to represent those who “just barely” make it into the kingdom. “Let Reuben live, and not die” (Deuteronomy 33:6).

Dan – to the North
North was the direction of the great enemies of God’s people who conquered and scattered them—Syria, Assyria and especially Babylon.
Early in the time of the Judges, Dan separated himself from the other tribes of Israel in the far north, and his territory was known as a center for idolatry.
His Standard Is The Eagle. The eagle should symbolize justice and protection, but under the influence of sin it came to represent the enemies of God’s people who attack and destroy them. “Dan shall be a serpent by the way, a viper by the path that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider shall fall backward” (Genesis 49:16,17).
Dan’s name is not on the list of the tribes included in the 144,000.

The Days of Awe & The Day of Atonement are times for looking inward in repentance so that one’s name is written in the Book of Life

These four tribes represent the four types of “Christians” evaluated in the judgment:

Praise To The Creator
“The living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, who lives forever and ever” (Revelation 4:9).
Their primary theme is the holiness of God and they make sure that “there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life”.


12. The Sword in a Donkey’s Mouth

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My Word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55

I believe God is releasing people specifically in the next few years who are set apart to conquer with the sword of His mouth.
Their realm is speaking and they have specific gifts that give them grace and great success with their mouth. These will shake the earth in many different ways but all will use their mouth.

Donkeys are a significant part of our story (they are mentioned in the Bible 140 times)

A different name for them is used as an insult. In modern times, they are not as valued, but they are still great in God’s eyes and I believe He is using some as His choice warriors.
So why would God choose a donkey for a warrior?

Christ’s Letter to Pergamum
[the Compromising Church]  (Pergamum means “married”)

“Write the following to the messenger of the congregation in Pergamum. For these are the words of the one whose words pierce the hearts of men…[this is where God explains his Sword in the Mouth analogy]

I know where you live—where Satan sits enthroned, yet you still cling faithfully to the power of my name. You did not deny your faith in me even in the days of my faithful martyr Antipas, who was executed in your city, where Satan lives.

Nevertheless, I have a few things against you. There are some among you who hold to the teachings of Balaam [he taught the people to turn to idol worship and commit sexual immorality.]

Furthermore, you have some who hold to the doctrines of the Nicolaitans. [they made sexual immorality part of their worship.]

So repent, then, or I will come quickly to war against them with the sword of my mouth.

To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”

These are what these Donkeys will we known for Before God placed a Sword in their Mouths:

There are quite a few biblical characters who would qualify as donkeys with swords
Samson, Joab, David

“Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” Isaiah 60:1-3

We need to gain the wisdom to be able to see the difference between people covered in darkness and those covered in glory.

Entertainers
In the modern world we elevate entertainers like they used to elevate warriors.
God has and will continue raising up entertainers to be these donkeys with swords.

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; He deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.” Daniel 2

“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men for kings and all those in authority, so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.” 1 Timothy 1:1-2

Both Daniel and Timothy lived in countries governed by very evil men, maybe psychotic, but their counsel is not gnashing teeth at them. I am very thankful for those God has given us in America.

13. Giant Slayers (Donkeys with Swords or Demons with Delusion)

“They who dance are thought mad by those who can’t hear the music.”

“Now step aside, look upon life as a disinterested spectator: many a drama will turn into a comedy. It is enough for us to stop our ears to the sound of music in a room, where dancing is going on, for the dancers at once to appear ridiculous. How many human actions would stand a similar test?” Henri Bergson

There are many leaders in America that are entertainers by nature and their legacy. One of these has become our president in recent years. Is he a possible donkey with a sword?

But we must discern how to love and disciple unclean people who are on the verge of following Jesus – but before their lives come clean.

The folks trapped in evil will be hating them – We can’t be hating people because of their sin. God appears to be using people before fully cleaning them.

But we must guard our heart so that we don’t become a people that don’t believe God can bring revival to the darkest hearts.

It will be like in the days of Joshua when the five kings and armies with giants gathered against God’s people. Joshua asked for the sun and moon to hold still in the sky so the battle could be finished. The Lord cast down large hailstones from heaven on them…and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword.

And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.” Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal. So the Lord routed them before Israel, killed them with a great slaughter…as they fled before Israel…the Lord cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died.

There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword.  Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, till the people had revenge Upon their enemies.

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