October 2008

October this year marks two very special holidays here in Israel. They are Yom Kippur and Succoth. (Feast of Tabernacles) This year, we wish to present the view of Messianic Rabbi Gavri'el :

He writes;

Yom Kippur

The significance of Yom Kippur.

Why is Yom Kippur so important if Messiah has already come and made the sacrifice for us?
Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year. It is the Shabbat of Shabbats. It was commanded to be kept forever (or until the end of the age depending on individual interpretation). It is about redemption and forgiveness.
Many non believers think Yom Kippur has been nullified (done away with) by Messiah's sacrifice. This is not the case. Yom Kippur and the associated time of repentance (Elul and the Days of Awe) are still vibrant and meaningful events in the life of believers. Repentance is still required for one to be in union with G-d. This repentance is not a one time act when a person accepts the rulership of G-d and His Messiah; but is continual and ongoing. 1st John chapter 3 makes this perfectly clear. Continued sin without repentance leads to death and separation from G-d .
Similarly Yom Kippur is still a totally valid Mo'ed (appointed time). Yom Kippur has many aspects which point to the sovereignty of G-d and the criticality of redemption from sin and Ha' Satan (the adversary).

In Yom Kippur we see three aspects of Messiahs

*To be the sacrificial goat to make peace with G-d (reconciliation, removing sin from between us and G-d.(
*To be the scapegoat for Azazel (or Azazzel), on which the sins of the people have been placed. The scapegoat was lead outside the city to be shoved over a cliff so the sins of the people could not return. *To be the High Priest (like King David, Messiah performs both Kingly and Priestly functions) to take the offering into the Most Holy Place to present to G-d.
As the sacrifice to G-d, most people can readily identify with this, as it is similar to Messiah being the Passover Lamb. Similarly, Messiah acting as both High Priest and King is a concept easy to grasp as it was seen in King David. It is the scapegoat for Azazel which we want to focus on for the moment.
The scapegoat is said to be for Azazel:
Lev 16:8-10 Then Aharon is to cast lots for the two goats, one lot for ADONAI and the other for 'Az'azel. Aharon is to present the goat whose lot fell to ADONAI and offer it as a sin offering. But the goat whose lot fell to 'Az'azel is to be presented alive to ADONAI to be used for making atonement over it by sending it away into the desert for 'Az'azel.
Our Traditional Rabbi's usually see this word (Azazel) as being "God strengthens", or according to the Talmud (Yoma 67b) the name of a cliff over which the goat was driven in the atonement ritual for Yom Kippur. This understanding was cited by Rashi, who took "azazel" to mean "rough ground" or "cliff,". This understanding was accepted by many Rabbis
who wished to avoid contamination of the Torah by belief in demons.
There is, however, another possible meaning which seems to be supported by the context of the verses above. Azazel may not be a cliff, or a reference to G-d, but a reference to a Demon (or Satan). The book of Enoch (referred to in scripture but not included in the Hebrew
or Christian canon) calls Azazel a Chief fallen angel:
1 Enoch 2:8, where God says, "On the day of the great judgement he {Azazel} shall be cast into the fire. [---] The whole earth has been corrupted through the works that were taught by Azazel: to him ascribe all sin".
If Azazel were to actually be a Chief Demon, or even a Ha-Satan figure, the meaning of the scapegoat would have even greater meaning than normally attributed to it bearing our sin (and by type, Messiah bearing our sin). If Azazel is a Chief Demon than the scapegoat would have actually been a blood price redemption to cancel Ha'Satan's claim on man. This theme is exactly the setting seen in the book (and movie) Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis who wrote it as part of the Narnia series. In the book, the Messiah figure Aslan, must be turned over to the Witch (Ha'Satan figure) to be killed as a Blood price to redeemed the fallen boy (figure of fallen man.

In Summary
In Yom Kippur we clearly see three types of Messiahs role and sacrifice: High Priest, Sin / Peace offering, and scapegoat. In the scapegoat we can witness the blood redemption for each of us. As that redemption, Messiah bought us back, as a kinsman redeemer, from Ha'Satan.
Ha'Satan who had legal claim to us because of our willful sin and rebellion from G-d.
Yes - Yom Kippur still has full meaning for believers,  as our High Priest took His own Blood as a Peace Offering to G-d and redeemed us by His sacrifice from the adversary.

Succoth (Feast of Tabernacles)

Succoth is the most joyous feast of the year. This feast remembers the 40 years in the wilderness when Adonai dwelt with His people and cared for them. It celebrates the Harvest and our Thanksgiving for all that G-d has provided. Succoth also celebrates the Shekinah of G-d, Yeshua, coming to dwell with man. Finally, Succoth celebrates G-d's final redemption of
Man, and His coming to dwell with His people in the New Jerusalem.
As important as this Holy Day is; it is amazing that most believers in the Church will never celebrate it (during this lifetime.(
What is more amazing, and frankly disturbing, is that many Believers in God and Jesus do not make attending Synagogue a priority during this time. If we as Believers do not make keeping G-d's Appointed times (Mo'edim) a priority, how are we any different?
Keeping G-d's Mo'edim must be a priority in our walk, as it is commanded by G-d, were kept by the Master (Yeshua), were kept by His Talmidim, and are a sign of who we are.
Please pray about this and determine today to make G-d's Appointed Times a priority in our lives.

"L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem" (or to women, "L'shanah tovah tikatevi v'taihatemi"), which means "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year."