On an annual basis, believers in Messiah, Yeshua observe a very solemn day that is marked with afflicting our souls by fasting. This day is well known as Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement.
There are so many lessons and symbolisms packed into this one day depending on the level of study. For instance, this is the day of forgiveness of our sins and opens the way for us to become at-one (ment) with Elohim which is a real-time and personal action. It’s also the day that marks the start of the Shmita and/or Yovel (Jubilee) cycles with a mighty blast from the shofar or trumpet. And it is well known that the Fall Festivals point to future events that have been prophesied to happen at the end times. These are just a few examples of what defines Yom Kippur.
This article will be focused on one prophetic aspect of Yom Kippur that has not been taught anywhere – yet.
For prophecy scholars and students who study into the timing of the prophetic events, it is understood that the Fall Festivals symbolize the final end time events that are described in the Book of Revelation. Yom Kippur is the second of these Fall Festivals. It’s correlation to the end time prophecies surrounds the final trumpet blast.
That final trumpet blast is described as the seventh angel sounding his trumpet in Revelation 11:15-19:
15 “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
and he will reign for ever and ever.”
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry,
and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name,
both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.”
The above verses detail what Yeshua will do for His people and what they do with Him.
There is also Revelation 19:1-6 which echoes the events of Revelation 11:15-19 but from the perspective of the destruction of ‘the kingdom of the world’.
“After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,
“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God; 2 because His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her.” 3 And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! Her smoke rises up forever and ever.” 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5 And a voice came from the throne, saying,
“Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.” 6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying,
“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.”
The sounding of this seventh trumpet at Yom Kippur announces the defeat of hasatan and his kingdom (of the world). This defeat has just happened within the past ten days which began with Yeshua’s return at Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets). That is why verse 15 is written “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah…” Now, our Messiah Yeshua is the King upon this earth and His millennial kingdom begins.
Part of the prophetic Yom Kippur events involved with the defeat of hasatan’s kingdom of this world, is that hasatan is bound and thrown into the abyss for one thousand years as described in Revelation 20:1-5:
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.
Verse 3 details something important. When hasatan is in the abyss, he will not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years are completed.
This means that the evil influence he exerted upon this earth will be gone.
When the twenty four elders in Revelation 11:15-19 proclaim what will happen on this prophetic Yom Kippur, they are detailing the glory of Yeshua purging this world of evil and wickedness.
And now with the source of evil and wickedness gone, this becomes a time of detoxification of all the evil and wickedness that has prevailed upon this planet and the people living on the planet for six thousand years.
Could this be why we afflict our souls? Is the deep down purpose of afflicting our souls meant to commemorate this upcoming prophetic event when the earth is cleansed of evil and wickedness?
Fasting is considered as the optimum way to afflict our souls especially as we observe Yom Kippur. Depriving our bodies of nourishment for one day shows us just how finite we are; which is a very humbling experience. However, it is well known that fasting also allows the body to rest and reset to a more normal function, a process which is called detoxification. The detoxification process is a form of afflicting our souls especially if it is to release the body from something that it has become unnecessarily dependent upon. A very strong example is what transpires when someone detoxifies from a destructive dependency on drugs (whether street or medicinal). It is a huge and painful struggle for the body to relinquish its hold on the drugs it grew dependent upon. The detoxification process for something like this makes it very clear that the body and soul are deeply afflicted.
On a world scale, that is what Yeshua the Messiah will be doing when He defeats hasatan and his world kingdom at the seventh trumpet on the upcoming prophetic day of Yom Kippur. Hasatan’s influence and kingdom has been like a very addictive and destructive drug that the world has been hooked on for six thousand years. Once it is gone, there will be that time of detoxification for the people which will afflict the souls of everyone. After that, it will be a most profound difference to no longer experience the influence of hasatan when we face daily decisions. That is emphasized in the final part of the Fall Festivals with Sukkot. This is one of the reasons it is called the Season of our Joy (see article “Glimpse Your Future With Sukkot”).
Clearly, we know there is good benefit in afflicting our souls with fasting. The body experiences healing and is reset back to its proper ability to function. So too will the world and the people on this earth experience healing and reset back to its proper function. Thankfully, the upcoming worldwide detoxification from evil and the subsequent healing will be governed by Yeshua as our King and Saviour with the end result being a new life in His kingdom, much like that of the Garden of Eden. We will be free from hasatan’s debilitating drugs of evil and wickedness and will be living blessed, productive and joyous lives. No wonder the twenty four elders and the bondservants sing “hallelujah” so many times.
Be well, go well and live well – as Moses admonishes us.
Be Well With You ... As Moses Admonished 