The Day of Atonement is still regarded as the most holy of days on the Jewish calendar. Sadly, they are still deceived and blinded by their traditions of men and doctrines of demons.
Romans 9:1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 9:2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
9:4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.
9:5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
9:6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 9:7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named."
9:8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.
This is a very profound reality. We are the true sons of Abraham, not by physical or racial conditions, but by the grace of JEHOVAH. It should humble us and warn us at the same time. The original chosen people have rejected their Messiah. They had all anyone needed to remain faithful to JEHOVAH, but went after other gods, preferred the traditions of men over the very Words of JEHOVAH, and took all the promises for granted by not realizing they were all conditional on their absolute obedience.
Romans 11:25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 11:26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob"; 11:27 "and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins."
11:28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.
They remain as enemies of JEHOVAH, while they still maintain that they are a unique, special, and protected people of the promise to the patriarchs.
Now to the Day of Atonement.
Leviticus 23:26 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 23:27 "Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the LORD.
23:28 And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God.
23:29 For whoever is not afflicted on that very day shall be cut off from his people. 23:30 And whoever does any work on that very day, that person I will destroy from among his people. 23:31 You shall not do any work. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.
23:32 It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. On the ninth day of the month beginning at evening, from evening to evening shall you keep your Sabbath.
This seventh month includes all three of the fall feasts, which reminds us that once the end of time approaches, it will come swiftly. This is a high, holy day to JEHOVAH. To be afflicted is to humbly bow down and worship. Repent and remember just how merciful is our great King and High Priest.
It also contains a very severe warning. Cut off refers most often to death, as is revealed in verse 30. JEHOVAH commands absolute, perfect obedience. It is not optional, conditional, nor can it be partially obeyed, as if we can decide the extent of our obedience. Too often, today’s ‘churches’ falsely preach that the Law was nailed to the cross. That is heresy!
The only Law they really don’t care to obey from the Ten Commandments is the Law of the Sabbath. This one holy day, set apart in Genesis 2, was changed by the Church of Rome and Constantine. Who changes times and laws? The antichrist! Daniel 7:25.
That being said, is JEHOVAH asking too much of us to set apart one day a year to humble and prayerfully consider how a holy, righteous, sovereign King considers our sins? Is HE not worthy of our best?
Are we all truly prepared to meet HIM face to face? What would we say? What would HE say?
Next time the Feast of Weeks/Pentecost.