THE DAY OF ATONEMENT
What to Know
What it is – The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is one of God’s most solemn appointed times (Leviticus 16; 23:26–32). It is a day of fasting, repentance, and reconciliation, marked by the high priest entering the Holy of Holies once a year and the unique ceremony of two goats.
Atonement and Cleansing – Scripture declares its purpose: “For on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you; you shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins” (Leviticus 16:30).
The Day of Atonement represents God’s justice in addressing sin and His mercy in providing forgiveness and purification.The Two Goats – One goat was sacrificed as a sin offering, while the other (the Azazel goat) symbolically carried the sins of the people into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:7–10, 21–22). This dual imagery points to both atonement through blood and the ultimate removal of sin.
Prophetic Meaning – The Azazel goat foreshadows Satan’s ultimate removal and accountability (John 8:44; 1 John 3:8; Revelation 20:1–3). The “fit man” ensures its permanent separation, symbolizing the final eradication of sin from God’s creation.
Christ’s Fulfillment – The New Testament shows that Jesus Christ is our great High Priest (Hebrews 9:11–12). Unlike earthly priests, He entered the heavenly sanctuary with His own blood, providing eternal redemption and continual intercession for believers (Hebrews 4:15).
Fasting and Repentance – The Day of Atonement is uniquely commanded as a time to “afflict your souls” (Leviticus 23:27), understood as fasting (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21). God calls for this humility to produce transformation and justice (Isaiah 58:6–7).
Call to Repentance and Renewal – The Day of Atonement emphasizes deep self-examination and turning to God (Acts 3:19; 2 Peter 3:9). It points beyond personal redemption to the future reconciliation of all humanity.
Global Significance – This day foreshadows the time when sin, Satan’s influence, and the effects of the Fall will be removed, paving the way for God’s Kingdom of righteousness and peace.
The Day of Atonement, known as Yom Kippur in Hebrew, is one of the most solemn holy days in God’s calendar. While many Christians today may view it as an outdated Jewish custom, a closer examination reveals its deep relevance and importance for Christians even now. Observing this Day of Atonement offers profound insights into God’s justice, mercy, and His ultimate plan to reconcile humanity to Himself.
The Day of Atonement is first introduced in Leviticus 16, where God commands the Israelites to observe this sacred day for repentance and ritual purification. It is marked by fasting — abstaining from food and water for 24 hours, from sunset to sunset — and by the high priest’s entrance into the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies) of the Tabernacle or Temple, the only day of the year that the high priest was allowed to enter. On this day, the high priest also made atonement for the sins of the people. Central to this observance were two goats chosen by lot: one to be sacrificed to the Lord and the other, the Azazel goat, to bear the sins of the people and be sent into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:7-10). This dual ceremony symbolized both the forgiveness of sin and its removal from the community.
The purpose of the Day of Atonement is beautifully summarized in Leviticus 16:30: “For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins.” This holy day represents God’s deep desire to purify His people and all humanity, offering a powerful reminder of His justice in addressing sin and His mercy in providing a path for reconciliation. Far from being merely a Jewish tradition or relic of the past, the Day of Atonement holds timeless significance for followers of Christ today, inviting reflection on God’s redemptive plan through Jesus Christ.
The deeper significance of the Day of Atonement lies in its dual themes of atonement and reconciliation. Atonement, achieved through the shedding of blood, reflects the biblical principle that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22). This principle is vividly illustrated in Leviticus 16, where two goats stand at the heart of the Day of Atonement ceremony. One goat is sacrificed to the Lord as a sin offering, symbolizing atonement through blood, while the Azazel goat is sent into the wilderness, bearing the sins of the people. The identity and symbolism of the Azazel goat have sparked much debate, with significant evidence pointing to it representing Satan.
The Azazel goat’s prophetic symbolism focuses on the ultimate removal of sin and its effects from God’s creation. Satan, as the source of sin and rebellion, bears ultimate responsibility for the sins he introduced into the world. Jesus Christ identifies Satan as the “father of lies” in John 8:44, saying, “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Furthermore, 1 John 3:8 describes Satan as the instigator of sin, reinforcing the idea that the Azazel goat symbolizes Satan’s eventual accountability. The goat’s banishment into the wilderness in Leviticus 16:21-22 parallels the prophetic scene in Revelation 20:1-3, where Satan is bound and removed at Christ’s second coming, ensuring he can no longer deceive the nations. This event occurs after Christ’s return, represented by the Feast of Trumpets, and aligns with the timing of the Day of Atonement in God’s biblical holy days.
An intriguing detail of the Day of Atonement ceremony is the role of the "fit man" or "suitable man" tasked with leading the Azazel goat into the wilderness. Leviticus 16:21 explains that after Aaron lays all the iniquities, transgressions, and sins of the people on the Azazel goat, this individual ensures its removal to an uninhabited place, symbolizing the complete separation of sin from the community. This "fit man" plays a critical role in the ceremony’s fulfillment, emphasizing the thoroughness of God’s plan to remove sin. If this "fit man" is divinely appointed, it reinforces the interpretation that the Azazel goat represents Satan. The deliberate and permanent removal of the Azazel goat underscores the eventual eradication of sin, symbolizing Satan’s ultimate fate when God’s justice is fully executed.
This understanding of the Azazel goat, the Day of Atonement, and its prophetic fulfillment provides profound insight into God’s redemptive plan. The ceremony not only emphasizes atonement and cleansing, but also foreshadows the ultimate removal of sin and its source, culminating in the establishment of God’s Kingdom of righteousness and peace.
In the New Testament, the Day of Atonement - like all of God’s appointed Feasts - finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who servers as our great High Priest. The book of Hebrews reveals that Christ, unlike the earthly high priests, entered the heavenly sanctuary once for all, offering His own blood as the ultimate atonement for sin. Hebrews 9:11-12 declares, “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.” By His sacrifice, Christ fulfilled the symbolic meaning of the sacrificial goat, and by His death and resurrection, He ensured the removal of sin. Moreover, through His atoning work, access to God is no longer restricted to the high priest entering the Holy of Holies once a year. Now, believers have a greater High Priest who intercedes for them continuously, one who “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
The Day of Atonement includes a unique command not found in other holy days. Leviticus 23:26-32 states, “It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.” The phrase “afflict your souls” has been traditionally understood to mean fasting, as supported by passages such as Psalm 35:13, “I humbled my soul with fasting,” and Ezra 8:21. This act of fasting symbolizes humility, repentance, and seeking atonement before God. However, fasting alone is not the ultimate goal. As Isaiah 58:6-7 teaches, God desires that this fast lead to a transformation of character: “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?”
This call to repentance is reiterated throughout the New Testament, urging believers to examine themselves, confess their sins, and seek reconciliation with God and others. Acts 3:19 exhorts, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” The Day of Atonement, like Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, provides an opportunity for deep self-examination, repentance, and renewal. While Passover and Unleavened Bread focus on the personal redemption made possible through Christ’s sacrifice for His firstfruits (those accepting His call and following Him in this time), the Day of Atonement expands this vision to include the future redemption of all humanity. It points to the time when God’s mercy will extend to all people, fulfilling the promise of 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
By observing the Day of Atonement, believers reflect on God’s justice, mercy, and His ultimate plan to reconcile all of creation to Himself. It serves as a reminder of the personal and global aspects of His redemptive work, calling all to repentance and renewal in alignment with His will.
The Day of Atonement is more than an ancient ceremony — it is a divine mirror reflecting both God’s justice and His mercy. But let us ask ourselves: What does it mean that sin must not only be forgiven, but also removed? What does it say about God’s plan that even Satan, the author of lies, must one day bear responsibility for his part in humanity’s fall? And if Christ, our High Priest, has already entered the heavenly sanctuary with His own blood, are we living as those who have been cleansed, reconciled, and given direct access to God?
Isn’t this day a reminder that forgiveness without transformation is incomplete — that atonement must lead to renewal? Doesn’t it challenge us to humble ourselves, not only with fasting, but with lives marked by repentance, mercy, and justice?
As the Day of Atonement sets the stage, the future holy days build upon this promise, revealing God’s plan to restore His creation to its original intent – one of righteousness and eternal peace.
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Discover the Meaning Behind God’s Appointed Times
Each of God’s holy days reveals a powerful step in His plan of salvation — from redemption to resurrection, from freedom from sin to the hope of His Kingdom. If the Day of Atonement opened your eyes, why not explore the rest?
The Sabbath – God’s commanded weekly rest
The Passover – Redemption through Christ’s sacrifice
The Feast of Unleavened Bread – Walking in newness of life
The Wave Sheaf Offering – Christ, the First of the first fruits
Pentecost (The Feast of Weeks) – Empowered by God’s Holy Spirit
The Feast of Trumpets – The return of Jesus Christ
The Day of Atonement – Cleansing and reconciliation