What is the Day of Atonement?

According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, atonement is "a making up for an offense or injury" (Merriam Webster Dictionary, 2017). Atonement is from the the Hebrew word kippur (H3725). The root word for kippur is kaphar (H3722). Kaphar means to cover over.

What is the Day of Atonement?

This is a national solemn day of reflection and repentance for Hebrews. The Most High gave instructions to Moses for all the Hebrews to observe this day. This should be observed as a Sabbath. That means there should not be any servile work (work to get paid). No food should be consumed on this day as well. One is expected to afflict their soul by abstaining from food. This is a commandment that should be held forever (Leviticus 16:29-31).

When Should the Day of Atonement be Celebrated?

The Day of Atonement should be celebrated on the tenth day of the seventh month (Leviticus 16:29, Leviticus 23:27, Numbers 29:7). This should be held once per year. This time usually falls around September or October on the worldly calendar. All Hebrews were expected to observe this day to make an atonement for their sins.

Who Should Celebrate the Day of Atonement?

All people should celebrate the Day of Atonement. That means that all Hebrews should keep this day as a must (Leviticus 16:29). Anyone that plans to be a part of the New Jerusalem should hold this day.

Where Should the Day of Atonement be Celebrated?

This feast should be celebrated as a Sabbath. Therefore, if you have a group of people that you gather with on the Sabbath, you may do so. However, for the most part it should be a day of solemn self-reflection and repentance. That means, I think it should be a time that should be spent at home with the family or alone with the Most High YAHWEH.

How Should This Holiday be Celebrated?

The first Day of Atonement was led by Aaron. He was the one that carried out the ceremony. He was the high priest. He was a Levite. Since the Hebrews have been scattered around the world, our identities have been hid as a result of our transgressions. However, we are waking up in these last days. There is no longer a Levite priesthood. That has been replaced. Yahushua HaMachiach (Jesus the Christ) is now our high priest.

We should celebrate this day by keeping a Sabbath, a set apart day. We should not do any servile work, we should abstain from all foods. We should sacrifice this day to the Most High and thank him for sending his Son to reclaim us from sin and eternal damnation.

We should blow the trumpet (Leviticus 25:9) and ask the Most High to release us from the bondage of sin and our oppressors.

Spiritual Significance (Purpose)

The Day of Atonement is of special spiritual significance. The Day of Atonement foreshadows a future cleansing. This cleansing will not be of the blood of actual animals, but instead the blood of the holy lamb. This holy lamb is Yahushua HaMachshiach (Jesus the Christ). As David writes in Psalms 51:16, Yah does not desire sacrifices and burnt offerings. Instead,  “The sacrifices of  Elohim (God) are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O  Elohim (God), thou wilt not despise” (Psalms 51:17). Yahushua was sent to be a propitiaton for our sins.

The scriptures clearly support the fact that Yahushua came in the flesh to be an atonement or a propitiation for our sins. In 1 John 2:2, John writes: “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Propitiation is from the Greek root word, hilasmos (G2434). Hilasmos means an atoning sacrifice or an expiator.

The Most High, Yah loved us all so much that he sent his only begotten son, Yahusua, to be an atonement for our sins (1 John 4:10; Romans 3:25).  Let us keep the Day of Atonement. That is the least we can do. Let us depart from the idolotrous holidays of this world. These wicked holidays serve no other purpose other than to keep us rebelling against our Elohim, the Most High Yah.

1 John 4:10

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”