[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.

Atonement: One of God’s Holy Days for Christians

What is the Day of Atonement? You might ask, “the day of what?”

These may be strange-sounding words to your ears. You may have never heard of the Day of Atonement. And yet, we’re going to find out, the Day of Atonement has great importance to every one of us.

The Day of Atonement is one of the seven annual Feast days outlined in your Bible. It’s more commonly associated with the Jews—they call it Yom Kippur. But believe it or not, the Day of Atonement carries profound significance for Christians today.

So, what is the Day of Atonement all about? Did the first-century Christians observe it? And what is its significance to your life today?

The New Testament is full of surprises. You might be shocked to learn that it teaches the biblical Feast days. The common misunderstanding is that somehow Jesus and the New Testament Christians did away with those holy days and replaced them with holidays like Christmas and Easter. But if we actually look at what the Bible says, we find nothing of the kind.

On the contrary, the New Testament actually records that the disciples of Christ kept the biblical holy days.

One example is the Day of Pentecost, recorded in Acts 2:1. Another example is the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. Speaking of these feast days, the Apostle Paul wrote this simple but profound instruction in 1 Corinthians 5:8.

Let us keep the feast.

Atonement Is Called “the Fast” in Acts 27

But there are other mentions of the holy days in the New Testament as well. One of them concerns a voyage by Paul, as he was being transported to Rome as a prisoner. We find it in Acts 27:9.

Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives” (Acts 27:9-10).

It happened just as Paul said—they narrowly escaped with their lives. But take note of the curious wording Paul used in relation to the timing of that voyage (Acts 27:9).

Sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over.

Many commentators point out “the Fast” is referring to the “Day of Atonement.” It’s even specifically named that way in the same verse in the New International Version (Acts 27:9).

Sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement.

Christians Kept Atonement After Jesus Died

The Day of Atonement was one of the holy days outlined in the Old Testament that occurred in late September or early October. The context of the verse shows it was not safe to begin a voyage after that point in the season, as storms could quickly arise in the Mediterranean Sea at that time of year.

But ask yourself this: Why would Luke use the Day of Atonement as a marker of time?

Luke, the writer of the book of Acts, was also a Gentile convert writing to a predominantly Gentile audience. The Day of Atonement would have been meaningless as a marker of time, unless the Gentile Christians were keeping it.

But not only that, this event that Luke was writing about happened decades after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. How do we know this?

According to Unger’s Bible Handbook:

Porcius Festus was procurator A.D. 60-62 (1966, p. 598).

This fact is a crucial time marker. Just before Paul’s voyage to Rome, he was questioned by the Roman ruler Porcius Festus, who ruled from 60 to 62 AD.

So we can easily say that Luke referred to the Day of Atonement more than 30 years after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Shouldn’t that give us pause?

Maybe, just as they were keeping Pentecost, and Passover, and the Days of Unleavened Bread, New Testament Christians were also keeping the Day of Atonement.

Atonement Is a Holy Day for Fasting

Let’s address another question. Why was the Day of Atonement called “the Fast?”

Well, it’s because that’s what God’s servants were commanded to do on that day. They fasted.

But what is fasting?

Fasting is going without food and water for a set period of time—in this case, one whole day. People today are familiar with fasting for other reasons. There are many health benefits for occasional or intermittent fasting, for example.

We sometimes hear about a political prisoner or an activist going on an extended fast, or a hunger strike. But we’re not talking about that.

The Day of Atonement concerns fasting not in political protest, or for health reasons. This is a spiritual fast. It’s going without food or water for a limited time, as an opportunity to humble yourself, seek God and draw closer to Him.

For an example of what fasting looks like, let’s go to the book of Esther. This Old Testament book tells the account of how Queen Esther and the Jews fasted when their nation was in mortal danger—notice in Esther 4:16.

“Go, gather all the Jews… and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise.”

Now, before going any further, let me just say that if you are thinking about fasting, and if you are in poor health, talk with your doctor. Fasting can be a little bit more difficult if you are taking medications or if you have certain medical conditions, or have never done it before.

“Afflict Your Soul” Is Fasting (Leviticus 23)

We have more detail about this holy day, the Day of Atonement, in Leviticus 23:27. Let’s read the description about this holy day.

The tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls (Leviticus 23:27).

“Afflicting your souls” is just an old English phrase meaning fasting—as already pointed out, going without food or water for a specified period of time.

Atonement Is a “Sabbath of Solemn Rest”

Going on:

And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God…. It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls (Leviticus 23:28, 32).

So, putting it all together, the Day of Atonement took place in the seventh month—in late September or early October. It was a holy convocation, a day when there was a special worship service.

It was also a day when they were commanded not to work, just like on the weekly Sabbath. And, they “afflicted their souls,” or fasted, on that day. But this was not just for the Jews.

Atonement Is Among the Feasts of the Lord

In fact, in Leviticus 23:2, God specifically says these holy days are:

“The feasts of the LORD… these are My feasts.”

These are God’s feasts, not just for the Israelites.

Atonement Points to Forgiveness and Salvation

So this day and observance was significant for New Testament Christians, as well.

But why would the Day of Atonement have been important to New Testament Christians? Again, this may surprise you. You see, the Day of Atonement has a direct connection with forgiveness of sins and salvation through Jesus Christ. Let me explain.

Meaning of “Atonement” (and Yom Kippur)

The word atonement in the Bible comes from the Hebrew word kippur. The Hebrew word kippur simply means “expiation,” or the act of removing guilt for wrongdoing. It means forgiving sin. The root word that kippur comes from, kawphar, means to cover. In other words, the Day of Atonement is a day of removing guilt and covering sin.

Does that sound familiar?

As Christians, we understand this concept. It is of supreme importance to us that Jesus Christ, through His death, has covered our sins, because we all have sinned. We read about that in the writings of Paul in Romans 3:23.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

There is no one who has ever lived, except Christ, who was without sin. And the penalty of sin is death. But Jesus Christ took that penalty of death for us, on His own body. Notice a little further, Paul writes in Romans 5:8.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood… (Romans 5:8-9).

Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Or, having our sins covered by His blood, so that we can be forgiven of sins, verse 9:

…we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (Romans 5:9-10).

We find another word related to this covering, or this forgiveness. That is, reconciliation. What does reconciliation mean? It means to resolve a separation. To restore harmony between two individuals in a conflict. It means to become unified, or “at one.”

And that brings us back to the name of this day, the “Day of Atonement.” Atone or atonement is just an old English word that means to become “at one.” When some people are at odds with one another, they may not speak together for years at a time, maybe for decades. But the goal should be “reconciliation.” To reach out to renew the friendship or relationship. When that happens, we should do what we can to become “at one” again or “on the same page,” as we sometimes say. In relationships, reconciliation is a beautiful thing.

Sin Separates Us from God

Well, in the spiritual realm, our sins separate us from God. They put us at odds with—and in conflict with—God. The prophet Isaiah makes that very clear. He wrote in Isaiah 59:1-2.

Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you.

It’s not God’s fault that we are separated from Him when we sin—we are the ones that are sinning. But that’s why Jesus Christ came to this earth—to live His life and then give His life as a sacrifice. And through that sacrifice, we can be reconciled to God.

In this case, between us and God, it’s not a dispute between equals. We aren’t on equal terms with God. No, in this case, when we sin, we break His holy commandment. We break the great laws of the Universe that define love and are based on truth, and goodness, and morality. God is not going to bend the law to suit our needs. We need a Savior who sacrificed His life so that we could be reconciled to God.

And that’s exactly what Christ did. I know most of you know this. It’s not unfamiliar to you.

But what you might not have heard or read before is the Day of Atonement points to Your Savior dying for you. It has tremendous significance for Christians today. Notice Hebrews 10:19-22.

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

The Day of Atonement is about us being reconciled to God, so we can draw near Him in true worship and faith.

Atonement Ritual Represents Jesus and Satan

But there’s more. Leviticus 16 details the annual ceremony that took place each year on the Day of Atonement in ancient Israel. On that day, the high priest would bring two young goats before the altar. Then he would cast lots for them. In Leviticus 16:8 we read this:

Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat.

Casting Lots: God Reveals the Real Jesus

Casting lots was an ancient method of determining God’s will. They would make a decision using a mechanism that would otherwise be thought of as random chance. In today’s modern language, we might think of it as “drawing straws” or “rolling dice” or even “flipping a coin.”

Only, in the case of casting lots, it wasn’t pure chance. God was guiding the outcome. This is described in Proverbs 16:33.

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

Two Goats: The First Symbolizes Jesus Christ

So lots were cast, and one goat received the lot for the LORD. Said another way, God identified the goat that would be symbolic of Jesus Christ. We know that because of what happened to that goat. Let’s read in Leviticus 16:9.

And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering… Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people… So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins… (Leviticus 16:9-16).

This was clearly a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ coming to earth, living His life, and being sacrificed for the sins of the world. How do we know this? Many other scriptures reaffirm this connection. For example, in Exodus 12:5 we read the Passover lamb was:

…without blemish, a male of the first year…from the sheep or from the goats.

Jesus Christ was without sin when He lived on this earth. He was the perfect fulfillment of that Passover lamb. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 5:7 Paul wrote:

For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

In the Book of Revelation, in chapter 13, verse 8, John declared Jesus Christ as…

…the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).

What could be plainer? The ceremony performed on the Day of Atonement was prophetic of the death of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Each year it was observed, it was foreshadowing the coming of the Messiah. And it was prophetic of His death for you and me.

Two Goats: The Second Symbolizes Satan

But what about the other goat? Well, let’s read on in Leviticus 16:10.

But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness.

The other goat—“the scapegoat” as it’s called in some English translations—was identified by one of the lots as well. What happened to that goat? Let’s read on in verse 20.

And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the tabernacle of meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat. Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness… And he who released the goat as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp (Leviticus 16:20-26).

So what or whom did this goat represent?

Let’s go to the Book of Revelation. John saw in vision something that would take place right after Christ returns to set up His Kingdom on this earth. Notice in Revelation 20:1.

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished (Revelation 20:1-3).

Satan Deceives the Whole World

Do you see the connection? One goat is slain for the sins of the world. That’s Jesus Christ. But the other goat is symbolic of a powerful evil spirit who is actually personally responsible for the sins of the world. That is Satan the Devil. He was the one who deceived Eve and caused Adam and Eve to be cast out of the Garden of Eden. And he is the one who has deceived and corrupted human beings every generation since.

Think about it. Satan the Devil is so clever—after all, Revelation 12:9 says “he has deceived the whole world”—and his methods are so deceitful that it’s necessary for God to identify and expose his evil work. That’s the significance of the casting of lots. God is the one who has to identify which goat is to be banished.

So one of the first things that Jesus will do when He returns to earth will be to capture that unclean, deceiving spirit and take him away so he cannot influence humanity. What a wonderful day that will be.

Remember, the Day of Atonement is about reconciliation. It’s about bringing mankind into a state of harmony with God. And that can only happen if Satan the devil—who stirs up strife, hatred, and rebellion—is taken out of the way. And that will pave the way for a thousand years of peace and harmony.

So the Day of Atonement is frankly prophetic. It foretells the future. And each year, more and more Christians around the world are keeping this New Testament holy day.

The Living Church of God is the sponsor of Tomorrow’s World. And members of the Living Church of God across the globe keep this day. And as we do so, we are reminded of God’s great plan of salvation, of Christ’s love and sacrifice for our sins, and of God’s wonderful plan of one day soon, removing and banishing Satan the Devil.

If you have questions about this and would like to learn more about how you can keep this day, get in touch with us. We have ministers around the world who’d be happy to answer any questions you have. We’d love to hear from you.

Atonement: True Liberty, the Year of Jubilee

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, there hangs a very special bell with huge significance in American history. It’s called the Liberty Bell and it dates back to the days of the American Revolution. But what many people don’t realize is there is a Bible verse inscribed on the side of the Liberty Bell. It’s from Leviticus 25:10, and here is what it says:

Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof (Leviticus 25:10, King James Version).

The original intent of this statute in ancient Israel was that every fifty years God commanded what’s called the “jubilee.” In this 50th year, debts were released and people returned to their ancestral homes and properties. It was a society-wide economic reset. It was a beautiful system that brought true economic liberty, especially for the poor and the needy.

What many people also miss is that this year of the jubilee was announced on the Day of Atonement. Notice Leviticus 25:9.

Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land.

You see, the Day of Atonement is about freedom and liberty. Not freedom to sin, but freedom from the ravages of sin. It’s freedom from the pain and suffering and death that goes along with sin. We are freed from that penalty through the blood of Christ. And we’ll be freed from the shackles of a world held captive by Satan the devil, when the events foretold by the Day of Atonement finally come to pass. God speed that day.

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