The Significance of the Day of Atonement

And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the Lord commanded Moses. Leviticus 16:34 (KJV)

Atonement means to cover over, to cover over sin by payment of the ransom for sin. In the Old Testament, they did this once a year on the Day of Atonement. The High Priest took the blood of an animal and sprinkled it on the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies to appease God. They did it so the nation of Israel would not suffer judgment and so they could maintain fellowship with God.

The blood was applied to the Mercy Seat that covered the Ark of the Covenant. The Ten Commandments were inside the Ark. The blood of the animal covered the Ark, thus the commands which they had broken were now covered by the blood. Atonement was made for their sins. Of course, all of this pointed to Christ and how His blood pays for the sins of all mankind.

And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. Leviticus 16:7-10 (KJV)

Both of the goats point to Jesus. Jesus Christ was our scapegoat. He carried our sins. As the other goat, He shed His blood. For those who accept and repent, Christ has removed all guilt. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement (Hebrews 9:6-10). Those who repent will be spared from judgment. Those who do not repent will not be spared.

This year, 2024, the Day of Atonement for the Jewish people started yesterday, October 11th, at sundown and finishes at sundown today, October 12th. In the Bible, the number 11 stands for judgment. The 11th plague in Egypt was the drowning of Pharaoh in the Red Sea. In the Book of Esther, Haman, the enemy of the Jews, was hanged, along with his 10 sons, another representation of the number 11 symbolizing judgment.

We are in a time of great judgment of the enemies of God; those who reject God and want to kill mankind. God has given these enemies ample time to repent. If they have not repented, only judgment remains. It has been said that we are in the days of Haman, meaning that what our enemies meant to do to us will be done unto them.

It is no accident that the Day of Atonement this year falls on the 11th and 12th. 11 stands for judgment and 12 stands for divine authority and power, and it stands for government. God will judge those who oppose Him. God will save and rescue His people from these enemies. Those who don’t repent will be judged. Those who repent will find forgiveness.