TIME'S UP, AMERICA!

The countdown has begun, and the actions we take over this next year could determine either the destruction of our nation, or - its rebirth by the grace of God - and with it, His coming GLORY!

As our 21-day fast and corporate prayer of repentance and supplication ended on September 24th, the year-long countdown began with Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur, colloquially known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The term "Yom Kippur" is derived from the Hebrew words "Yom," meaning day, and "Kippur," meaning to atone, effectively translating to the Day of Atonement. This somber yet revered day holds immense historical and spiritual significance in Jewish tradition and is meticulously observed by Jewish communities around the globe, marking the culmination of a ten-day period of reflection and repentance known as the Ten Days of Repentance, beginning with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

Historically, Yom Kippur finds its roots in the ancient Israelite tradition, more precisely in the biblical text of Leviticus 16:29-30, where it is outlined as a day designated for self-affliction and abstinence from work, all in a bid to cleanse one's soul. It is a day when the Jewish people seek forgiveness for their sins and transgressions and strive to mend their relationship with God, facilitating a renewal of their covenant with the Divine. The central themes encompassing Yom Kippur are teshuvah (repentance), tefillah (prayer), and tzedakah (charity or righteousness). During this day, observers fast for approximately 25 hours, refraining from food and drink, wearing leather shoes, bathing, applying lotions or creams, and engaging in marital relations.

In the ancient Temple period, Yom Kippur was the only day when the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, the innermost sanctum of the Temple in Jerusalem, and invoke the ineffable name of God, seeking atonement for the entire nation of Israel. The priest would perform intricate rituals involving sacrificing animals and sprinkling their blood to symbolize purification and reconciliation between God and His people. These rites highlighted the essential significance of atonement, sacrifice, and mediation in re-establishing the broken divine-human relationship.

From a Christian perspective, Yom Kippur assumes a profound symbolic resonance, with Jesus Christ considered by believers as the ultimate fulfillment of the Day of Atonement. The New Testament, particularly in the Book of Hebrews, parallels the High Priest's role during Yom Kippur and the sacrificial and mediating part of Jesus Christ. According to Christian doctrine, Jesus, as the sinless Son of God, offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to atone for the sins of humanity, thus providing eternal redemption for believers. The shedding of Christ's blood is superior to the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament, ensuring everlasting purification and reconciliation between humanity and God.

Christ's crucifixion is thus viewed as the ultimate atoning sacrifice, rendering the traditional animal sacrifices of Yom Kippur obsolete, as God's sacrifice is sufficient to satisfy all atonement for all transgressions, no matter how great.

When we, as believers, exercise our faith and recognize Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection with humble prayer, we allow the Holy Spirit's assistance to defeat our shortcomings and problems. Thus, God answers with boldness and assurance of forgiveness, much like the High Priest's annual entrance into the Holy of Holies. It is with these very miracles, that multitudes are drawn to Christ – to participate in His creation as one new man. As Christians, this profound connection reiterates that Jesus is the promised Messiah, who fulfills the law and the prophets, including the propitiations and rituals intrinsic to Yom Kippur.

As the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur illustrates a collective and introspective journey of repentance, forgiveness, and renewal within the Jewish faith. This day's rich historical and spiritual tapestry has traversed through centuries, imbuing a universal message of hope, transformation, and divine communion. While the foundational essence of Yom Kippur is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, the Christian interpretation presents an expansive theological dialogue that transcends ritualistic boundaries, and offers a Holy vision of divine love, sacrifice, and eternal redemption through Jesus Christ – offered freely to all whom might accept His generous offer. Indeed, Christ's invitation can be likened to an invitation to marriage, as it does not threaten forced obedience but invites us to participate as co-creators in His coming kingdom!

These dual perspectives on Yom Kippur thus fulfill Jewish tradition while uniting those all around the world outside the Jewish faith with hope and forgiveness. Christ's brief and glorious sojourn among men and his rejection of the temptations of the fallen one, remain a testament to His divine promise and spiritual fulfillment, and cannot be ignored or denied.