The Day of Atonement, the day in which the sins of Israel were pushed forward another year, was observed this year by Jews around the world beginning on the evening of October 11th, shortly before sunset, concluding after nightfall October 12th.

The Day of Atonement is called Yom Kippur in Hebrew. It means, “day of the lot”, named for the casting of the lot to determine which goat was offered in the Temple and which one was set free. This ritual ended when the Temple was destroyed in 70AD.

"And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness." - Leviticus 16:7-10

It is interesting that the complete book of Jonah is read in the afternoon service. It is said it is read for its timely message on the importance of repentance and prayer.

Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees that there would be only one sign given to it, and that would be the sign of the prophet Jonas (Jonah). Jesus compared His death, burial, and resurrection to Jonah in the whale.

"But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: for as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

“The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here." - Matthew 12:39-41 KJV

The book of Hebrews speaks of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and Christ.

"But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: ... But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. ... So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." - Hebrews 9:7, 11-12, 28 KJV

While the Old Covenant never removed sins, but pushed them forward another year, we now find a complete removal of our sins by the offering of Jesus.

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." - Acts 20:28

We find this by obeying the gospel as preached by Peter on the Day of Pentecost.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV