YAHWEH, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, IS WITH US!
Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins ...
(Isaiah 58:1)
The Day of Atonement
The Day of Atonement is observed on the 10th day of the seventh month of
Ethanim (tishri) by abstinence from daily labour, by holding a holy convocation and by
fasting. It is the only commanded fast in the year and is, doubtless, the
most solemn day in the sacred calendar. (Lev. 16 also Lev. 23:27-32). On
this day the high priest laid aside his official ornaments and dressed in a
white linen garment entered the Most Holy place to make atonement for
himself, the priesthood and the congregation of Israel. The Epistle to the
Hebrews (chapter 9) explains that this annual entry by the High Priest in
the Holy of Holies foreshadowed the entrance of the Messiah the High Priest
of the Melchizedek Order (Heb. 7:15-17) into Yahweh's presence to secure
salvation for His people.
Our salvation, in other words, will only by complete when we are actually
brought into the very presence of the Almighty.
The word "atonement" means to make amends for, to reconcile, to restore, to
repair, to make at-one again. And that is exactly what the Day of Atonement
prefigures. It points to a specific time in the future when the great
High Priest of the Melchizedek Order (Yeshua the Messiah) will
literally bring the redeemed host of mankind right into the very presence
of His Father, in order that we may be AT-ONE with YAHWEH.
That indeed will be a reconciliation beyond compare, when the Almighty's
estranged human family - alienated from Him by sin - will actually be
brought into His presence to be AT ONE with Him.
Can you now begin to see the plan of salvation prefigured in the feasts?
Yahweh's family of true believers:
- Ransomed at the Passover and liberated by the blood of His Son - the
Passover Lamb.
- Purged of sin, hypocrisy and false doctrine during the Days of
Unleavened Bread to become a holy Temple of God.
- Filled with the power of the Holy Ghost in order to bear fruit for all
eternity.
- Victoriously gathered and defended at the Feast of Trumpets when
the trumpets of Yahweh will sound throughout the earth.
- And finally on the Great Day of Atonement, brought into the very
presence of the Almighty by his Son the High Priest to be at-one with
Him for all eternity.
Oh what a glorious day of reconciliation that will be!
Catch a glimpse of it in these words from that famous parable of the
Prodigal Son.
| Luke 15:11-32
| "But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry."
|
In The Son's Name For The Father's Glory
Elder: Max W. Mader
