After Passover, why do we need the Day of Atonement?

Posted on 05/02/2016 by Natan Lawrence

Leviticus 16:1–34, Passover and the Day of Atonement compared. A cursory reading of the Scriptures seems to indicate that there exists overlapping similarities between some of the blood atonement ceremonies of Passover or Pesach and the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur.

What are the differences between the sin atonement offerings of Pesach and Yom Kippur?

Perhaps realizing the fact that the Passover occurs during the spring feast day season and the Day of Atonement occurs during the fall feast day season may answer this question.

Prophetically the spring feast days picture Messiah Yeshua’s first coming, while the fall feast days prophetically point to his second coming. How does this understanding shed light on the answer to this question?

Both Pesach and Yom Kippur picture redemption through the shed blood of Yeshua; that is, being delivered from bondage to sin and the rudiments of this world.

Passover symbolizes the first steps a new believer takes when coming out of spiritual Egypt and accepting Yeshua, the Lamb of YHVH, as one’s Savior and Master.

Yom Kippur, on the other hand, pictures the blood of the Lamb covering over the sins of the individual and the corporate sins of the nation of Israel. Yom Kippur also prophetically points to the time when Yeshua will return to the earth to initiate the final regathering of lost Israel, and to prepare to marry his bride, redeemed Israel.

Perhaps this understanding will help to answer why another Passover-like feast is needed. Yom Kippur doesn’t focus so much on leaving Egypt, but rather on YHVH’s people preparing to enter the millennial kingdom under the Messiah.

Blog Scripture Readings for 5-1 Through 5-7-16

Aside

THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION:

Parashat Acharei Mot — Leviticus 16:1 – 18:30
Haftarah —1 Samuel 20:18 – 20:42**
Prophets — Isaiah 62:1 – 66:24; Jeremiah 1:1 – 2:37
Writings — Job 13:1 – 19:29
Testimony — Acts 19:1 – 22:30

Most of this week’s blog discussion points will be on these passages. If you have general comments or questions on the weekly Scripture readings not addressed in a blog post, here’s a place for you to post those. Just use the “leave a reply” link below.

The full “Read Through The Scriptures In A Year” schedule, broken down by each day, can be found on the right sidebar under “Helpful Links.” There are 4 sections of scripture to read each day. One each from the Torah, the Prophets, the Writings, and from the Testimony of Yeshua. Each week, the Torah and haftarah readings will follow the traditional one-year reading cycle.

** A different Haftarah is read when it is a special sabbath in Jewish tradition. This week it is Shabbat Machar Chodesh on the traditional calendar. Otherwise, Ezekiel 22:1–22:19 would be read.

Weekly Blog Scripture Readings for 5/1 through 5/7/16.

Why the box of matzot in the pansies?

Posted on 04/30/2016 by Natan Lawrence

What speaks of YHVH’s glory more than flowers?

Yeshua thought so. He declared that all the glory of Solomon’s kingdom wasn’t even equal to that of a common lily.

Amazing! Men get all excited over their own creations: palaces, works of art, and great human accomplishments, yet we often overlooks the flowers. Why? Because flowers take the glory away from men and point it to Elohim where it all belongs.

That’s why I put the box of matzah in a planter full of pansies.

YHVH’s feasts, like the flowers, point to YHVH Elohim. The unleavened bread points to Yeshua, the Living Torah-Bread of Life who is the Creator of all including the flowers.

It all comes back full circle and it all fits together in my way of thinking like a puzzle making a beautiful picture. Matzot—flowers—Yeshua—the Torah—the Bread of Life— the Creator—the biblical feasts—the glorious beauty of Elohim.

Ponder, reflect, meditate, get in the river of life and enjoy!