October 02, 2006

Israel has come to a standstill to observe Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, the highest holy day on the Jewish calendar, is a day of prayer and fasting observed by the Jews around the world and a unique day here in the Jewish state of Israel.

The streets of Israel are empty of traffic; little children are riding their bikes in the usually busy thoroughfares as the Jewish families observe a 25 hour fast on this very solemn day in the life of the Jewish people. The state of Israel is on high alert and security is very tight as the Jews honor their God on Yom Kippur, the holy day following the New Year, and the ten awesome days when the Jews seek to be included in the Book of Life.

Jimmy's Prophetic Prospective on the News

The observance of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, by Jews around the world and especially here in Israel has a past, present, and prophetic significance. During the times of the Tabernacle in the wilderness wonderings and the period of the first and second Temples here in Jerusalem, once a year on Yom Kippur, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies in the Temple with the blood of the sacrificed animals and pour it on the Mercy Seat between the cherubs on the Ark of the Covenant. This ritual was for the covering of the sins of the Jewish people for another year.

Now, without a Temple here in Jerusalem, the Jews can only fast and pray during this sacred holy day for Jews around the world. The past and the present are significant, but the prophetic scenario surrounding Yom Kippur is essential for our understanding of the End Times. Yom Kippur, without a Temple in Jerusalem, will continue until the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, to here on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

Jesus Christ will return to the earth on the Jewish holy day of Rosh Hashanah, and during the ten awesome days, the Lord will build His Temple, have a battle at the Jezreel Valley, go to Petra and retrieve the surviving Jews, and bring them here to Jerusalem where He will enter the Holy of Holies on a future Yom Kippur, the day of salvation for the Jews at that time.

Yom Kippur today assures us that a future Yom Kippur will be fulfilled.