His Glory Blog

Leviticus 16 describes the origins of Jewish Yom Kippur. Moses’ brother Aaron was told by God to change into linen clothing and sacrifice a bull as a sin offering to atone for himself and his family and a ram for a burnt offering. The blood was to be sprinkled in a specific way on the alter and the bull was to be discarded by burning in a specific way. There were also two goats that were brought to the temple. Lots were cast as to which would be sacrificed and which would become the scapegoat. Aaron was to place his hands on the scapegoat, and this was the transference of the sins of Isreal to the goat which was then released into the wilderness. Thus, the sins of Isreal were removed from them and forgiven by God. This tradition was continued into the temple through the time of Jesus.

Christians believe that Jesus was the atonement for sin as not only the Lamb of God from Passover but also the Scapegoat of Yom Kippur that atoned for sin and removed it through forgiveness through God’s Grace. There was a time between the beginning of the Messiah’s ministry (30 AD) and the destruction of the temple (70 AD) which equaled 40 years. The number 40 in Biblical terms symbolizes a period of testing, trial, or probation. The number appears 158 times in the Bible (134 in the Old Testament and 24 in the New Testament). If the 40 years between the crucifixion of the Messiah and the destruction of the temple was a probation or trial for the Jewish. Do we see that in historical text? Absolutely!

The Pharisees from what Jesus himself called the synagogue of satan write in the Talmud (the “oral Torah” that tried to give interpreted context to the Old Testament since God sending Jesus to fulfill it was rejected): Yoma 39b “The Rabbis taught, ‘Forty years before the destruction of the temple (30 AD-70 AD) the lot failed to come up on the right side (two stones, one white and the other black were used to cast lots for the scapegoat. For 40 years only the left side or black stone was chosen) , the tongue of gold did not become white (the strip of crimson wool tied to the head of the scapegoat did not turn white to indicate God’s acceptance and the removal if sin) , and the western light did not burn the whole night (the western most light of the menorah which is the central flame, closest to the Holy of Holies, and is used to light the other eight candles, it was to stay constantly burning).The gates of the sanctuary opened by themselves (a prophecy quoted in the next sentence where the Rabbi quotes Zechariah 11:1 admitting that the doors opening signified the upcoming destruction of the temple)until Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai rebuked them.”

Judaism cannot see that 40 years of repeated refusal of the sacrifices of the old covenant were pointing them toward the new covenant where Jesus was the Yom Kippur scapegoat removing sin and the Passover Lamb of God whose blood atoned for all sin. God provided a final sacrifice that fulfilled sacrificial law. Although the priests were willing to kill the Messiah (final sacrifice provided by God like the ram given to Abraham) they were not willing to accept the completion given by God. They instead chose to explain away the signs that their self-reliance was no longer valid in an outdated and completed covenant. “The wickedness of the priesthood and the ruling parties brought an end to the miracles that were common in the time” -Judaismanswer.com

People are still under the impression that followers of Judaism are God’s chosen people. They were. Israelites were given a covenant that required sacrifice and acted as a foreshadowing of what the Messiah would come to complete Daniel 9:27 he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. The purpose of sacrificial law was always to honor God and glorify Him. The problem for current Judaism is that the final sacrifice was provided and rejected in Jesus. After 40 years of God calling out to lost Israel by rejecting the sacrifices, through lack of acknowledgment in miracles, the temple was destroyed so the futile sacrifices were no longer possible. God used Daniel to prophecy that they had 490 years to rebuild Jerusalem, put an end to their sinfulness, and turn back to Him. At that point God promised to fulfill and complete all prophecy and visions (this was completed and fulfilled in Jesus and the reason the miracles confirming acceptance of Yom Kippur ceased) and Messiah would come before the fall of the second temple (70 AD).

Daniel 9:24-27 “Seventy weeks (490 years) are decreed about your people and your holy city (Jerusalem), to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. ²⁵ Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks (49 years). And for sixty-two weeks (434 years) it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. ²⁶ And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one (masiah- Messiah) shall be cut off (karat-to die a violent death) but not for himself (in lo). And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary (Temple destroyed 70 AD). Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war (Babylon). Desolations are decreed. ²⁷ And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week (3 years of Jesus ministry) he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering (Scapegoat and Lamb). And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” (457 BC (Ezra 7:11-26) + 490 years = 33 AD Christ Crucified)

               It was the rejection of God, the rejection of His provided completion of the old covenant, and the repeated rejection of His 40 year probation that started with the Messiah’s ministry and ended with the destruction of the temple and the ability to sacrifice that ended the claim of being God’s chosen. God chose Israel but they failed to choose Him in return. That decision turned the children adopted by faith, by choosing God in return, through Jesus into His chosen. His New Covenant.  Mark 12:1-12 The Parable of the Tenants