Have we noticed that many calendars have "Yom Kippur" printed on October 2, 2006? Have we ever wondered what that term meant? It might surprise us that "Yom Kippur" has Biblical roots. The term literally means "day of covering," or "day of atonement." In a moment, we will examine the Biblical Day of Atonement, but first we must realize that it is completely impossible for people today to observe the Biblical Day of Atonement. According to a Jewish source, the day is presently practiced as "a day set aside to 'afflict the soul,' to atone for the sins of the past year....This day is, essentially, your last appeal, your last chance to change the judgment, to demonstrate your repentance and make amends" (www.jewfaq.org/holiday4.htm). Yet, the source never mentions the Biblical priesthood, sacrifices, or ritual that accompanied this day, which elements are now impossible to fulfill. Let us examine Leviticus 16 so that we will better appreciate Jesus Christ, the "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (Jn. 1:29).

Preparation for the Day of Atonement

Preparation for the Biblical Day of Atonement involved all of Israel. First, the people were to "afflict their souls" (Lev. 16:29), which is a reference to fasting. This was the only regularly commanded fast in the Bible. On this day, the people were to humble themselves by remembering the sins they had committed over the past year. They were to be mournful of the reality of their sins (cf. Mt. 5:4; 2 Cor. 7:10-11; Jas. 4:8-10). Additionally, they were to "do no work at all" on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29 cf. Num. 29:7). Each Israelite was expected to see himself, and himself alone, in the sacrifices of this solemn day. The seriousness of this is seen in the punishment for those who disobeyed: "he shall be cut off from among his people...the same soul will I destroy from among his people" (Lev. 23:29-30).

Second, the high priest had special preparation to make on this day. He alone conducted the major functions of this day. He was to put on special robes that were to be used for this occasion alone (Lev. 16:4). The high priest normally wore brightly colored garments (Ex. 28:2-5). However, on this day, he was to dress himself in a pure white linen coat, breeches, girdle, and miter, representing purity and humility.

Stages of the Day of Atonement's Ritual

The Day of Atonement's ritual involved the reception, the presentation, and the slaying of the sacrifices, with one sacrificial animal being released. First, consider the reception of the sacrifices. There were a total of five animals to be used for sacrifice on that day. One "young bullock" was for a "sin offering" and one "ram for a burnt offering," both sacrifices for Aaron and his fellow priests (Lev. 16:3). For the congregation, "two kids of the goats for a sin offering" and "one ram for a burnt offering" (Lev. 16:5). As will be noticed later, one of the goats for the sin offering was to be slain, while the other was to be released in the wilderness as a "scapegoat." Our term "scapegoat" comes from this incident, showing the Bible's influence on our culture.

Second, consider the presentation of the sacrifices. The "two kids of the goats" were presented before the Lord (Lev. 16:7). Aaron cast lots upon the two goats for the sin offering for the congregation: one to be slain, the other to be the "scapegoat" (Lev. 16:8).

Third, consider the slaying of the sacrifices. Aaron was to kill the bullock for the sin offering for himself and his house, and then enter within the veil of the tabernacle's holy of holies to sprinkle the blood. In so doing, he was to take a censor full of burning coals from the altar of burnt offerings with his hands full of incense (Lev. 16:11-12). Upon entering the veil, he was to burn the incense upon the coals so that the smoke would cover the mercy seat (Lev. 16:13). He then sprinkled the blood upon the east side of the mercy seat and seven times before the mercy seat (Lev. 16:14). Next, he killed the goat upon which the lot fell for the people's sin offering and sprinkled that blood as he had done with the blood for his and his fellow priests' sin (Lev. 16:15). Then, with the blood of both the bullock and the goat, Aaron went in the courtyard to the altar of burnt offerings and applied the blood to all four "horns" of the altar (Lev. 16:19). After this, Aaron presented the scapegoat before the Lord, laid both of his hands upon the head of the goat, confessed all Israel's "iniquities ...transgressions...[and] sins" (Lev. 16:20-21a). In doing such, their guilt was "transferred" to the scapegoat. This goat was then sent out, bearing "upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited" (Lev. 16:21b-22). This symbolized that God would ultimately take care of their sins! Finally, Aaron re-entered the tabernacle, took off the special garments, put on his regular garments, and sacrificed the burnt offerings: the first ram for himself and his priestly family and the second ram for the whole congregation (Lev. 16:23-24).

Purpose and Fulfillment of the Day of Atonement

The purpose of the Day of Atonement was to present atonement for sin. However, in so doing, it also showed the impossibility of any system of "one sacrifice for one sin" meeting the requirements of God and the people for forgiveness. "Rolling forward sins" is an idea that does not quite fit. These sins were not rolled forward in an accumulative sense. Each Day of Atonement took care of the previous years' sins. If a faithful Israelite lived 100 years, he did not have 100 years' worth of sins facing him at Judgment. Eight times in Leviticus 4-5, we read, "and it shall be forgiven him." It is evident that the Israelites enjoyed the forgiveness of sins based upon the certainty of Christ's sacrifice (cf. Ps. 32:1-11; 103:1-22; 51:1-19; Mic. 7:18-20; 2 Sam. 12:13). The blood of Christ flows past and future to cleanse the sin of all who obey God (Rom. 3:23-26; Heb. 9:14-15). The Day of Atonement, and the rest of the Old Law, was but "a shadow of good things to come" (Heb. 10:1). Christ is the substance of that shadow. Jesus fulfilled the Day of Atonement. Like the two goats for the people's sin, Jesus both died and lives. He shed His blood for our sins, but He also rose from the grave, and is set on the right hand of God, making intercession for His own (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25). "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (2 Cor. 9:15)! Have we accepted His wonderful sacrifice?