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BACKGROUND
THE FEASTS
EASTON
FEAST; FESTIVALS - RELIGIOUS; ATONEMENT; ATONEMENT, DAY OF; AZAZEL; PASSOVER; PENTECOST; TABERNACLES, FEAST OF:
NEW BIBLE DICTIONARY
PASSOVER; PENTECOST, FEAST OF; TABERNACLES, FEAST OF:
The
full background to this teaching is available online at this link
THE FEASTS - BIBLE DICTIONARIES
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| THE DAY OF ATONEMENT |
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26 The LORD said to Moses, 27 “The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present an offering made to the LORD by fire. 28 Do no work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the LORD your God. 29 Anyone who does not deny himself on that day must be cut off from his people. 30 I will destroy from among his people anyone who does any work on that day. 31 You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. 32 It is a sabbath of rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath.” (Leviticus 23:26-32)
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| THE CALL TO WHOLENESS
(2nd of 2) |
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 The Day of Atonement belies its name as a Feast of the Lord, really being a day of getting ones self right with God and in fasting! Still, it plays a key role in the pattern of the Feasts, and was regarded as the most important of all feasts during Old Testament times. It still is the most sacred day of the year to the Jews today. We have tended to lose sight of its significance through our intimate experience of the Passover sacrifice of Jesus and the Pentecost release of the Holy Spirit. But the time is coming and has indeed now come, when the principles of the Day of Atonement are to be re-established in God’s, end time, Tabernacle Church. The embracing of these truths is vital, as we move towards the fulfilment of this age. Only by their application, will we be able to attain goals of holiness and purity in our lives, and so be qualified to participate in the total thanksgiving and joy of the ultimate, Feast of Tabernacles.
To experience Pentecost we must first embrace Passover. To experience the joy of Tabernacles, we must add to Passover and Pentecost, the experience of the Day of Atonement. In practical terms, we must take one step at a time along our Christian walk, logically embracing one milestone after another. Experiencing first the salvation of Jesus, then the baptism or release of the Holy Spirit into our life. After these, we must learn to submit our lives to the will of God the Father, by applying the principles of the Day of Atonement. Then, and only then, will we qualify to participate in the glorious Tabernacles Feast itself.
We will now continue from where we left off last week, with the final 11 points.
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| 11. A Day of Sacred Assembly: |
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 To be a day of rest, such as was included in all but one of the other feasts. However in this case, God’s command was to be taken so seriously, that anyone who disobeyed was to be banished from the nation.
Leviticus 23:27-32, Numbers 29:7, Leviticus 16:31
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| 14. A Day of Sacred Assembly: |
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 A very sacred, not a celebration time, unlike other festivals. Atonement was to be the sacred day of national and personal repentance.
Joel 2:15-17, Numbers 10:10
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| 15. The Tenth Day of the Seventh Month:
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 Seven, the number of completion, relates to the completion of the annual cycle of feasts in the seventh month.
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 Ten, the number of trial and testing, speaks of the ten days of preparation required, from the blowing of Trumpets on the first day of the month.
Leviticus 23:27, Numbers 29:7
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| 16. The Censer Ministry:
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 The censer was a dish into which coals for the burning of incense were put. A cloud of incense was required before the High Priest could approach God. Incense speaks of prayer and praise as being the way to approach God. See Psalm 141:2.
Leviticus 16:1-2, 12-14
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| 17. Washing With Water:
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 The High priest had to wash himself twice in the Washing Basin, at the beginning and end of the ceremony. Purification was most important.
Leviticus 16:4, 24
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| 18. The Linen Garments:
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The normal priestly garments “……for glory and for beauty” (Exodus 28:2 NKJV) or “……to give him dignity and honour” (same verse, NIV) were set aside for simple linen robes, signifying righteousness.
Leviticus 16:4, 23
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| 19. The Atonement for Sins, Uncleanness, Rebellion and Wickedness: |
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 In this ceremony, all sins, all uncleanness, all rebellion and all wickedness were atoned for. Forgiveness was complete. The people were again pure in the sight of the Lord, until they again sinned that is. Of course, this cleansing had to be individually accepted by each person to be effective. For all have a free will to accept or reject God’s gracious mercy.
Leviticus 16:16, 21, Daniel 9:24-27
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| 20. Atonement for the Tabernacle:
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 The High Priest cleansed the three part Tabernacle, sprinkling blood on the Atonement Cover and floor of the Most Holy Place, and on the horns of the Incense and Brazen Altars in the Holy Place and Outer Court respectively.
Leviticus 16:16-20, 23
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| 21. The Scapegoat:
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 The High Priest confessed all the sins and uncleanness of Israel over the scapegoat, before sending the goat out into the wilderness, a place of separation. Separation from sin here, of course. The man who released the goat had to cleanse himself, before being accepted back into the camp.
Leviticus 16:8, 10, 20-22, 26
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| CONCLUSION |
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 The Day of Atonement provided the way for the people to return into right relationship with God. Of course, each individual had to personally take advantage of this opportunity. We of course understand that under the New Covenant, Jesus fulfilled this function. He opened the way, removing the veil, enabling us to enter into the very presence of God. But, as with the Jews, we have to personally embrace what He has done into our life.
Throughout history, a relative few individuals have shown what is possible. For some have entered the Holy of Holies, usually for limited times, then mainly through worship or prayer. People such as Smith Wigglesworth have lived for extended periods, inside the veil. Another, more personal example to me, was my Auntie Ina. The opportunity is there. We just have to take advantage of it. But generally, we are not yet living in God’s presence, as Jesus made His Atoning sacrifice for us to do.
So for the full glory of the sacrifice of Jesus to be seen in us, we must individually and as a church, apply the principles of the Day of Atonement to our lives. This is the call of the Trumpet to us today. The fruits will be seen by, and in those who obey the call. In those whose desire is to be part of the end time, Tabernacle church.
That ‘the secrets of the Old are revealed in the New’, is a favourite saying about the Bible. This is true of the Day of Atonement particularly, the book of Hebrews primarily being devoted to explaining it. Well known too, is that Hebrews is the least understood book in the New Testament, next to Revelation, which incidentally contains a lot about the Day of Atonement too. It is only now that Passover and Pentecost have been restored, the Trumpet sounded to herald the Day of Atonement, that the Lord is desiring, challenging and indeed requiring us, to apply these principles to our lives, should we wish to attain fullness in Him. Now it is up to us!
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| <i>NEXT WEEK</i> |
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 Jesus dying on the cross was amazing in itself. But what is even more amazing is how He perfectly fulfilled the principles of the Day of Atonement.
No, it wasn't just chance, but planned from the beginning of time, given in 'type' in the Day of Atonement, and turned into reality when Jesus fulfilled the Father's will, giving His life for you and for me.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 The stuff excites me! For it illustrates how God's plan has been in place from the beginning of time. A plan which we play our part in working out today. If we are prepared to make the necessary sacrifice.
Today's photo is of Piha: Taitomo Island, south Piha
The Maori (New Zealand's native people, named this island Taitomo because of the tunnel, or tomo, that runs through it. Locals call this tunnel the keyhole, and surfies and fishermen use it as a shortcut to the surf.
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
25. To the believer Jesus is Saviour, but to the disciple he is also Lord.
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
If Only I'd Thought of it: http://www.wwj.org.nz/thought.php
Laughing at Ourselves: http://www.wwj.org.nz/laugh.php
A look at some of lifes curious questions: http://www.wwj.org.nz/why.php
Everything you ever wanted to know about....: http://www.wwj.org.nz/exex.php
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The only feast that was really a fast! A fasting feast! Or, a feast of fasting! 
A national day of humility before the Lord in prayer and fasting, a time where the people sought His will. Judging themselves, in order not to be judged by the Lord.