Good morning,

The Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur begins on Tuesday evening, 8 October, at sunset. The day of atonement (Leviticus 16) is the most holy day on the Jewish calendar. Today we will see why.

YOM KIPPUR

THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: 30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord. 31 It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever. 32 And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest’s office in his father’s stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments: 33 And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation. 34 And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the Lord commanded Moses. (Leviticus 16:29-34, also reference Leviticus 23:27-32 and Numbers 29:7-11)

INTRODUCTION

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar. The Bible prescribes Yom Kippur as a day of affliction (Lev 16; 23:26-32). In the ancient world, the High Priest woke up early, donned his priestly garments, and sacrificed a bull for both himself and his family. He then cast lots over two goats, choosing one for the Lord and designating the other as the goat to remove sin. Only on this day did the High Priest enter into the Holy of Holies in the Temple to offer incense and sprinkle blood on the Ark of the Covenant. Before concluding the sacrifices by burning both the bull and the goat, the High Priest placed blood from the Lord’s goat onto the second goat. He then cast the second goat into the wilderness, thus symbolically removing Israel’s sin.

In modern observance, Yom Kippur involves a fast from both food and drink. Many spend the entire day praying in the synagogue. During the Ten Days of Awe preceding Yom Kippur, many Jewish people give tzedakah (charity) which some consider a replacement for the animal sacrifice. A small segment of the Orthodox Jewish community practices kapparot, a ceremony in which a person waves a chicken over his head, before killing the chicken as a symbolic transfer of sin. According to tradition, the Book of Life and the Book of the Dead are closed on Yom Kippur, and the fates of those within the books are sealed for the coming year.

Followers of Jesus the Messiah confidently look forward to eternal life, because our names are written in the Book of Life. When Jesus died, the veil of the Holy of Holies ripped in two, symbolically breaking a barrier between humans and the presence of God. Previously, only the High Priest had access to this room, and he only entered it once a year on Yom Kippur (Matt. 27:51). However, Jesus’ death gives believers access to God, because He entered into the Heavenly Holy of Holies to offer His blood for our redemption (Heb 9:11-12). Unlike the Israelites’ annual sacrifices on Yom Kippur, Jesus’ one sacrifice continues to provide atonement to this day. Yom Kippur, for followers of Jesus, reminds us of the certainty of our redemption through the blood of our Messiah and High Priest, Jesus.

Yom Kippur also reminds us of the ultimate salvation of the Jewish people. The prophet Zechariah speaks of a day when the nation of Israel will recognize her Messiah and “they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son” (Zech. 12:10). When the Jewish people recognize Messiah, as Paul writes, “All Israel will be saved” (Rom. 11:26). The Day of Atonement thus reminds us of our own salvation and also looks forward to the salvation of Israel.

ELEMENTS OF YOM KIPPUR

1) Afflicting your soul

The word in Hebrew is “anah” means “to afflict, oppress, humble, be afflicted, be bowed down”.  This occurs through fasting.  God requires a fast to be humbled and afflicted on the Day of Atonement.

         a) Prayer

         b) Confession

         c) Repentance

         d) Renewal

The picture is of a lost sinner, searching for the Messiah, Jesus, finding Him, confessing and repenting their sin before Him.

2) Sabbath

No work is to be done on this day. There was a penalty for working on this day. “And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.” (Leviticus 23:30) The day was to be completely dedicated to God.

This is a picture of the rest we have in the Messiah.

3) Atonement

“To cover, purge, make reconciliation”.  The atonement was a reconciliation of the children of Israel to their God. This happened through the blood sacrifice of the bullock and goat. The scapegoat was a picture of the sins of Israel being taken by the scapegoat.

This pictures what Jesus did on the cross. He paid the sin debt for all mankind through his blood sacrifice on the cross at Calvary. No more need for animal sacrifices.

CONCLUSION

Yom Kippur is:

• A day of reflection
• A day of rest
• A day of fasting
• A day of renewal
• A day of confession of sin
• A day of repentance of sin
• A day of reconciliation between man and God
• A day of atonement
• A day of salvation

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Yesterday, I referenced the Shofar and asked the question, “What does the blowing of the trumpet mean to believers in Yeshua (Jesus)?” The answer is it signals the Rapture of the Church. Verse 16 references the ”…trump of God…”

Paul explains the Rapture to the Church at Thessalonica.

Comfort in light of the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) This is the most extended and most important description of the Rapture in all of Scripture.

The Hope of the Rapture (13)

¹³ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

The Confidence of the Rapture (14)

¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

The Order of the Rapture (15)

¹⁵ For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

 The Person of the Rapture (16a)

¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,

The Resurrection of the Rapture (16b)

with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

The Catching up of the Rapture (17a)

¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up

The Intimacy of the Rapture (17b)

 together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

The Encouragement of the Rapture (18)

¹⁸ Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Ultimately the Rapture is a comfort to a needy people. We are to serve God till He returns. We are to watch expectantly and persistently.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Last night began the observance of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, “head of the year” or “first of the year.” Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. The Jewish New Year is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year. The Bible refers to the holiday as Yom Ha-Zikkaron (the day of remembrance) or Yom Teruah (the day of the sounding of the shofar). The holiday is instituted in Leviticus 23:24-25.

“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.”

The shofar is a ram’s horn which is blown somewhat like a trumpet. One of the most important observances of this holiday is hearing the sounding of the shofar in the synagogue. No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah. Religious services for the holiday focus on the concept of G-d’s sovereignty.

This would be a great time to wish all our Jewish friends a hearty Happy New Year. It would also be a good time to reflect on our own lives. Are we keeping short accounts with God? When He reveals sin in our lives, do we confess it (1 John 1:9) and move on serving God? What does the blowing of the trumpet mean to believers in Yeshua (Jesus)? (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) What does it mean that God is sovereign?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning.

Revelation 22 describes life. There are 12 pictures to help us identify life. There is the river of life, the tree of life, the faces of life, the light of life, the faithful sayings of life, we are to worship the God of life, the prophecy of life, the Alpha and Omega of life, the commandments of life, we are to come to life, and the Lord Jesus is life.

These pictures describe our eternal home. God gives the readers one last chance to get saved. He warns not to add or take away from the “…prophecy of this book…”

The book of life (22:18-19)

¹⁸ For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:¹⁹ And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

We are not to alter the word of God. Many church’s, denomination, and cults, change the God’s word so it agrees with their doctrinal principles. God says that He will judge them.

Lord Jesus Christ is life (22:20-21)

²⁰ He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.²¹ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Jesus is coming soon. The rapture of the church could happen at any time.

The question is, are you ready? Have you been obedient to God’s word in the matter of salvation? If not, are you prepared for total isolation, in a lake of fire, with no relief, ever. You do not have to go there.

Conclusion

Come quickly Lord Jesus!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning.

Revelation 22 describes life. There are 12 pictures to help us identify life. There is the river of life, the tree of life, the faces of life, the light of life, the faithful sayings of life, we are to worship the God of life, the prophecy of life, the Alpha and Omega of life, the commandments of life, we are to come to life, and the Lord Jesus is life.

These pictures describe our eternal home. God gives the readers one last chance to get saved. He warns not to add or take away from the “…prophecy of this book…”

The Alpha and Omega of life (22:12-13)

¹² And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.¹³ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Jesus is coming to judge mankind and reward them for their work. Unbelievers will be judged and rewarded by being cast into the lake of fire. Believers will be rewarded with being in God’s presence for all eternity.

The commandments of life (22:14-15)

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.¹⁵ For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Another reference to obedience to God’s word. When we obey God’s word, we will trust Christ by grace through faith for salvation. We will obey God’s word out of love, not compulsion. Obedience equals life.

Come to life (22:16-17)

¹⁶ I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.¹⁷ And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

One last opportunity to come to salvation through Jesus payment for our sin debt. The Spirit of God and the bride, the church age believers, say come. It is open to all that hear and are thirsty. Then it is open to everyone.

Have you chosen to follow Jesus? If not, why not?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning.

Revelation 22 describes life. There are 12 pictures to help us identify life. There is the river of life, the tree of life, the faces of life, the light of life, the faithful sayings of life, we are to worship the God of life, the prophecy of life, the Alpha and Omega of life, the commandments of life, we are to come to life, and the Lord Jesus is life.

These pictures describe our eternal home. God gives the readers one last chance to get saved. He warns not to add or take away from the “…prophecy of this book…”

Revelation 22

“…I come quickly…”

“And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.⁷ Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” (Revelation 22:6-7)

Introduction

River of life (22:1)

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. (Zechariah 14:4-8)

Tree of life (22:2)

² In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Ezekiel 47:1-12)

The faces of life (22:3-4)

³ And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:⁴ And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

The light of life (22:5)

⁵ And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Faithful sayings of life (22:6-7)

⁶ And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.⁷ Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Worship the God of life (22:8-9)

⁸ And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.⁹ Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

The prophecy of life (22:10-11)

¹⁰ And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.¹¹ He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

The Alpha and Omega of life (22:12-13)

¹² And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.¹³ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

The commandments of life (22:14-15)

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.¹⁵ For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Come to life (22:16-17)

¹⁶ I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.¹⁷ And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

The book of life (22:18-19)

¹⁸ For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:¹⁹ And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Lord Jesus Christ is life (22:20-21)

²⁰ He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.²¹ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Conclusion

Come quickly Lord Jesus!

Good morning.

Revelation 22 describes life. There are 12 pictures to help us identify life. There is the river of life, the tree of life, the faces of life, the light of life, the faithful sayings of life, we are to worship the God of life, the prophecy of life, the Alpha and Omega of life, the commandments of life, we are to come to life, and the Lord Jesus is life.

These pictures describe our eternal home. God gives the readers one last chance to get saved. He warns not to add or take away from the “…prophecy of this book…”

Faithful sayings of life (22:6-7)

⁶ And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.⁷ Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Three things to glean from these verses. First, God’s word is truth. It is sure and will never fail. Second, God sent his angel to proclaim what is to come. He has been doing that from the very beginning of Scripture. Third, we are to obey the word of God. The theme from Genesis to Revelation is to obey what God tells us to do.

Doing these three things brings life.

Worship the God of life (22:8-9)

⁸ And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.⁹ Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

The mistake of mankind throughout the ages is that they worshipped anything but God. Idols of stone and wood. Gods of the sun, moon, and stars. The things of this world.

Worship God and have life.

The prophecy of life (22:10-11)

¹⁰ And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.¹¹ He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

We have had the word of God, the Bible, available to us all our lives. But it can only bring life when it is opened, read, obeyed, and applied to our lives. The Bible tells us about sin, tells us the wages of sin is death, and that God provided a solution to the problem of man’s sin through Jesus paying our sin debt on the cross at Calvary. Jesus gives us eternal life.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning.

Revelation 22 describes life. There are 12 pictures to help us identify life. There is the river of life, the tree of life, the faces of life, the light of life, the faithful sayings of life, we are to worship the God of life, the prophecy of life, the Alpha and Omega of life, the commandments of life, we are to come to life, and the Lord Jesus is life.

These pictures describe our eternal home. God gives the readers one last chance to get saved. He warns not to add or take away from the “…prophecy of this book…”

River of life (22:1)

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. (Zechariah 14:4-8)

The rivers we have today are polluted. There are chemicals and waste that is discharged into them. But this river brings life. It is pure and has no contaminates.

Tree of life (22:2)

² In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Ezekiel 47:1-12)

Genesis 3:22-24 reveals that man was driven out of the garden of Eden so that he would not take of the tree of life. Now man is permitted to eat and enjoy the fruit from the tree of life.

The faces of life (22:3-4)

³ And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:⁴ And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

There are many references in the Bible about men not being able to see the face of God. It was prohibited. Now we will be able to look into the face of our Lord Jesus Christ without fear.

The light of life (22:5)

⁵ And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Jesus said “…I am the light of the world…” Now He is the light of heaven.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

“Heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glory and grace. I want to see my Savior’s face. Heaven is a wonderful place.” This chorus was popular as I was growing in my walk with the Lord.

What will the new heaven and earth be like? God describes it to us in Revelation 21 and 22. This week we will look at Revelation 21. We will see the coming of heaven, the tabernacle of heaven, what God does for us in heaven, the look of heaven, the size of heaven, the construction of heaven, the temple of heaven, the light of heaven, and the purity of heaven.

The purity of heaven (21:27)

²⁷ And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Conclusion

Heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glory and grace, I want to see my Savior’s face, heaven is a wonderful place, I want to go there!

Heaven is a glorious place!

But not everyone who wants in, gets in. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

So how do I get my name written in the Lamb’s book of life?

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?³¹ And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:30-31)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)

Those who repent of their sins, believe on Jesus Christ by faith, will have their names written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Only those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ will be in heaven.

This week’s devotions have given us a picture of what we will experience in heaven.

Please choose to make Jesus your Lord and Savior.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

“Heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glory and grace. I want to see my Savior’s face. Heaven is a wonderful place.” This chorus was popular as I was growing in my walk with the Lord.

What will the new heaven and earth be like? God describes it to us in Revelation 21 and 22. This week we will look at Revelation 21. We will see the coming of heaven, the tabernacle of heaven, what God does for us in heaven, the look of heaven, the size of heaven, the construction of heaven, the temple of heaven, the light of heaven, and the purity of heaven.

The temple of heaven (21:22)

²² And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

The light of heaven (21:23-26)

²³ And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. ²⁴ And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.²⁵ And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. ²⁶  And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.

God the Father and God the Son are the temple in heaven. Jesus is the light of heaven.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001