Introduction: In our last devotion we studied the subject of the Jewish Feast called “Yom Kippur” or “Day of Atonement.” Remember these feasts were “TIME OUTS”! Every year these 7 feasts are celebrated in Israel. While the Church derives benefits from these Jewish Feasts, they were given by God to the Jews to practice every year. The Day of Atonement is observed 10 days after the Feasts of Trumpets, or the New Year.
These 10 days leading up to the Feasts of Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement – are the most solemn and holy days of the year. It is a time to get right with God, confess sin, and make restitution where it is needed.
So we’ve studied the past, now let’s look at the Present and Future.
1. Present (Lev 16)
Remember the 2 goats (slain and scape)? These were a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. Some Jews are still waiting for their Messiah. However, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ has already been born, died on a cross for our sins, and risen from the grave. Presently, there is not a temple standing on the Temple Mount for the Jews to go into the Holy Place and worship, while the high priest goes where the Ark of the Covenant was located sprinkling the blood on the mercy seat 7 times.
Therefore, they pray at the Western Wall in hopes of their soon coming Messiah to appear.
The next temple will be rebuilt somewhere in the future and the Jews will restore worship through sacrifices in the temple. Meanwhile, in the near future, the Antichrist will make his way into the temple and sit in the temple 1/2 way through the tribulation desiring to be worshipped (2Thess 2:4). Great persecution and martyrdom will be the result for those who do not worship the beast or his image. Yet, the Lord will resurrect those who have been beheaded for their faith in Jesus Christ at the beginning of the millennial reign of Christ.
2. Future (Ezek 40-47; Zech 14:4-14; Rom 11:26) (Zech 12:10)
“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”
Futuristically, many Jews who have rejected Jesus Christ will turn to Him and be saved.
Conclusion: Again, in the millennial reign of Jesus Christ, which will be 1,000 years according to Rev 20, those martyrs who did not worship the beast or his image will be resurrected to rule and reign with Christ for 1,000 years.
Bottom line: God has a plan for the Jewish people who He made an Unconditional Covenant with, including the Abrahamic, and Davidic. But, He also has a plan for His Church. Soon the rapture will take place and the Lord’s time clock will begin to tick all the way through eternity future. This assures us who are a part of His Church that God is FAITHFUL to keep His promises!
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese
