Yom Kippureem - Episode 2 - The Time of Jacob‘s Trouble

In this second lesson on the most holiest day for the religious Jewish people, Yom Kippureem יום הכיפורים‎ - the day of Atonements יום הכיפורים‎ -  we wonder if the Hebrews did this "feast" during the 40 years in the Sinai?  Did they do it in David's day, Solomon's, or Hezekiah's?  

In Jesus' day Yom Kippureem יום הכיפורים‎ was devoutly practiced and it was called "The Great Day" or "The Day" or simply the "The Fast."  This can be seen in the books of Acts when Paul was on that sea voyage and experienced the ship wreck.  Consider ... 

When we had sailed slowly for a good many days, and with difficulty had arrived off Cnidus, since the wind did not permit us to go farther, we sailed under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone; and with difficulty sailing past it we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea. When considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the fast was already over, Paul began to admonish them, and said to them, "Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives." (Act 27:7-10)

Dr. Craig Keener - an superb and highly credible Bible historian and scholar - comments on this.  He says ...

The “fast” here refers to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which occurs in September or October. Sea travel became more dangerous as winter approached (2Ti_4:21; Tit_3:12). Shipping was completely closed down from around November 10 to as late as March 10, but September 15-November 10 and March 11-May 26 were risky periods as well. (The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. © 1993 by Craig S. Keener).

During Jesus' day the appointed time focused on the High Priest and the rituals and events taught by יהוה‎ Yahvay, the Lord our God, in Leviticus 16.  It is possible there were services in the local synagogues across Israel.  However, the TORAH, God's "instruction" and not law emphasized the High Priest and the things that must be done on the Temple in Jerusalem.

After 70 A.D. Judaism changes dramatically.  All things had to be rethought and looked at from a different perspective.  Why?  There was no Temple anymore.  Now what?  So, Yom Kippureem יום הכיפורים‎ takes on a whole different way of observing this awesome day as the rabbis "made up" new rituals and new practices that are not in the Bible at all.  Some are.  But overall the Jewish way today of doing Yom Kippureem is not like it was in Jesus' day.

We know that there are days coming we call the Great Tribulation.  We know it has to do with the predictions of the "70 Weeks" on Daniel.  It was weeks of years or each year represents one day of "week." In Judaism you might hear that the "last week" of Daniel's 70 weeks is called the "Time of Jacob's Trouble."  Some verses related to this in Judaism are ...

"Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. "So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. "Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." 
(Dan 9:24-27)

Now these are the words which the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah: "For thus says the LORD, 'I have heard a sound of terror, Of dread, and there is no peace. 'Ask now, and see If a male can give birth. Why do I see every man With his hands on his loins, as a woman in childbirth? And why have all faces turned pale? 'Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob's distress, But he will be saved from it. 'It shall come about on that day,' declares the LORD of hosts, 'that I will break his yoke from off their neck and will tear off their bonds; and strangers will no longer make them their slaves. (Jer 30:4-8)

Is there some connection between Jesus, "The Time of Jacob's Distress (Trouble)," Yom Kippureem יום הכיפורים‎, Yom Teruah יוֹם תְּרוּעָה‎ (rabbinic name is Rosh HaShana), and Jesus' words as we read ...

"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (Mar 1:15)

Come.  Join us.  Let's study Yom Kippureem יום הכיפורים‎.  Let's "see" how this appointed time is a picture of the coming of the End of Days, the awesome Day of the Lord.