“26 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 27 “Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. 28 And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. 29 For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people. 30 And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. 31 You shall do no manner of work; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath.” Leviticus 23:26-32 NKJV
These verses in Leviticus are a summary of the solemn day. The requirements of Yom Kippur are given in greater detail in Leviticus chapter 16. In Biblical times, Yom Kippur was the only day out of the year when the high priest of the Levites could enter into the holiest place of the tabernacle of YHWH. As with all of the Lord’s feasts, Yom Kippur embodies meanings for the past, present, and future.
Throughout the year the Levite priests would make atonement for the sins of individuals in the congregation, but on Yom Kippur, the high priest would make atonement for the entire nation of Israel, a mammoth cleansing for the sins of the previous year.
Though a physical tabernacle does not exist and the priesthood is not in effect, the meaning is not lost in the Messianic community. Messianics today observe Yom Kippur as a cleansing of their own personal ‘tabernacles’, their minds. For twenty four hours they become introspective, searching for the sin in their own lives and repenting of it. As stated in the commandment, every adult afflicts themselves by fasting from sundown to sundown. They remain at home and refrain from working.
The previous fall holy day, Yom Teruah (Trumpets) is generally believed to be the day when Jesus (Yeshua) the Messiah returns. Though Yom Kippur’s meaning for the future is debated between believers, they do agree that He will put into motion the next step of His plan for salvation of the whole world.
The books of Leviticus and Revelation do offer some insight.
“And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.” Leviticus 16:16 NKJ
“7And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’s lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. 10But 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 NKJ
“1And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.” Revelation 20:1-3 NKJ
Just as it was in the days of the Levites, the Lord will come and perform a cleansing of His own upon His people, taking our sin and casting it upon the scapegoat, the evil one.