The bible describes this day in Leviticus 16, and 23, Isaiah 53, 58, and the entire book of Hebrews. Undoubtedly, there are many other biblical references to this day as well.
Here we learn that the term scapegoat is directly from the observance of this Holy Day, pouring our sins onto the 'scapegoat'. - http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/526601/scapegoat
As we believe that Yahshua is our messiah, who filled all requirements for blood sacrifice, we observe this day without shedding the blood of the scapegoat. And Yahshua, now being our Perfect High Priest, will be the one who stands before the Holy of Holies.
Here are some great graphics showing the details of the Hebrew Tabernacle, a shadow of YHWH's Kodesh Heykal, His Holy Temple in the Heavens.
http://www.theologyinsneakers.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Tabernacle.png
http://www.ingodsimage.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Tabernacle.jpg
Here is a fascinating historical account of the how the Hebrews observed this day up to the destruction of Jerusalem.
"The Mishnah (Yoma 39a[5]) follows the Hebrew Bible text; two goats were procured, similar in respect of appearance, height, cost, and time of selection. Having one of these on his right and the other on his left, the high priest, who was assisted in this rite by two subordinates, put both his hands into a wooden case, and took out two labels, one inscribed "for Yahweh" and the other "for absolute removal" (or "for Azazel"). The high priest then laid his hands with the labels upon the two goats and said, "A sin-offering to Yahweh" (thus speaking the Tetragrammaton); and the two men accompanying him replied, "Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever." He then fastened a scarlet woolen thread to the head of the goat "for Azazel"; and laying his hands upon it again, recited the following confession of sin and prayer for forgiveness: "O Lord, I have acted iniquitously, trespassed, sinned before Thee: I, my household, and the sons of Aaron Thy holy ones. O Lord, forgive the iniquities, transgressions, and sins that I, my household, and Aaron's children, Thy holy people, committed before Thee, as is written in the law of Moses, Thy servant, 'for on this day He will forgive you, to cleanse you from all your sins before the Lord; ye shall be clean.'"
This prayer was responded to by the congregation present. A man was selected, preferably a priest, to take the goat to the precipice in the wilderness; and he was accompanied part of the way by the most eminent men of Jerusalem. Ten booths had been constructed at intervals along the road leading from Jerusalem to the steep mountain. At each one of these the man leading the goat was formally offered food and drink, which he, however, refused. When he reached the tenth booth those who accompanied him proceeded no further, but watched the ceremony from a distance. When he came to the precipice he divided the scarlet thread into two parts, one of which he tied to the rock and the other to the goat's horns, and then pushed the goat down (Yoma vi. 1–8). The cliff was so high and rugged that before the goat had traversed half the distance to the plain below, its limbs were utterly shattered. Men were stationed at intervals along the way, and as soon as the goat was thrown down the precipice, they signaled to one another by means of kerchiefs or flags, until the information reached the high priest, whereat he proceeded with the other parts of the ritual.
The scarlet thread is symbolically referenced in Isaiah 1.18; and the Talmud states (ib. 39a) that during the forty years that Simon the Just was high priest, the thread actually turned white as soon as the goat was thrown over the precipice: a sign that the sins of the people were forgiven. In later times the change to white was not invariable: a proof of the people's moral and spiritual deterioration, that was gradually on the increase, until forty years before the destruction of the Second Temple, when the change of color was no longer observed (l.c. 39b).[1]" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azazel
It reminded me so very strongly of our own impending judgement day.
Will we hear, "Well done good and faithful servant," or "I did not know you, worker of lawlessness?"
In Revelation 3:4-6 Yahshua addresses the assemble of Sardis, "But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Unfortunately, not all the assemblies fare so well.
There is, fearfully, a day coming when the Book of Life will be closed and no more names entered into it. There is, fearfully, a day coming when we ALL when stand before Yahshua and be judged.
That is why we are urged to humble ourselves, deprive ourselves, test ourselves, and REPENT! And repentence does NOT mean just saying we are sorry. The hebrew word for Repent is Teshuvah, which means to TURN BACK.
YHWH is urging us to TURN BACK TO HIM! Turn away from sin! Turn away from our own will! Turn BACK to YHWH and His definition of righteousness! In Matthew 19:17 Yahshua said, "If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
As Isaiah 55:7-9 says,
Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways....
And Yahshua warned us clearly in Revelation 22:14, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
Repent. Turn back to YHWH and His Righteousness. Leave your own 'righteousness' that is just a bunch of filthy rags behind.
Gmar Chatimah Tova!
May you be inscribed in the Book of Life!
May you be inscribed in the Book of Life!
To learn more about Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement -
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