Yom Kippur and the Sealed Book

In Hebrews 8 through 10, Paul gives a midrash involving The Messiah and the Yom Kippur ceremony (described in Lev. 16). We can be certain that the subject is Yom Kippur because it is only on this day that the golden censor is placed in the holy of holies (Heb. 9:4 & Lev. 16:12), and that the High Priest enters the holy of holies. Now, Hebrews tells us that the earthly holy of holies is a shadow of the heavenly holy of holies (see Heb.8:2, 5). In the earthly holy of holies is the ark of the Covenant, Book of the Covenant and Tablets of the Covenant. These are symbols of the Old/Mosaic Covenant. In the heavenly holy of holies then, is kept the New Covenant (see Heb. 8:2, 5-6; 9:11-15,also Heb. 8:8-11 quotes Jer. 31:31-34 on the New Covenant).


Now, there is an important parallel between Lev. 16; Heb. 8-9 and Rev. 5. In Heb. 8 and Rev 5, the Messiah is at the right hand of the throne in the heavenly holy of holies:


Behold this is the whole point of what we are saying: that what we have in this a Cohen Gadol that sat at the right hand[1] of the Sh’kinah in the heavens, (Heb. 8:1)


1. And I saw on the righthand of him who sat on the throne, abookinscribed from within and from without and
sealed[2] with seven seals….

7. And he came and took the book from the hand of him who sat on the throne.

(Rev. 5:1, 7)


In both Hebrews 8-9 and Rev. 5, the Messiah is also able to do something because of his death and blood. In Rev. 5, he opens the seven sealed book and in Heb. 8, he becomes mediator of the New Covenant:


3 For every Cohen Gadol gives offerings of gifts and sacrifices. It is needed also that this one have a thing which is to be offered.


6 And behold now he has obtained a priesthood which is more excellent from that which had been made, to be more excellent than the first which is upheld on better promises from the first ones.


12 Also not by the blood of goats and bulls but once he entered into the set-apart place with the blood of himself and having secured for us eternal redemption.


15 And because of this word he is made mediator of a renewed covenant between Him and us, which is not another, made through blood with the redemption of the servants which are under the first covenant which might
receive the promise which is of eternal inheritance.

(Heb. 8:3, 6; 9:12, 15)



4. And I was weeping much, because there was no one who was found who was worthy to open the book and to loosen its seals.

5. And one of the elders said to me, Do not weep, Behold, the lion from the tribe of Y’hudah[3], the root of David[4], is worthy[5]. He will open the book and its seals.

6. And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts and of the elders that [there] stood a lamb as if it was slain[6]. And it had seven horns and seven eyes that are the seven spirits of Eloah that are sent to all the earth.

7. And he came and took the book from the hand of him who sat on the throne….

12. And they were saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the slain lamb to receive power and riches and wisdom and
strength and honor and glory and blessing.

(Rev. 5:4-7, 12)


Moreover, in Lev. 16:14, blood is sprinkled on the mercy seat seven times, while in Rev. 5 & 6, Messiah opens seals seven times because of his blood. It would seem then that the opening of the sealed book in Rev. 5 is synonymous with becoming mediator of the New Covenant in Heb. 8-9 and the fulfillment of the meaning of the Yom Kippur ceremony of Lev. 16.


Now, let us look in more detail at the sealed book in Rev. 5. The Book of Revelation often draws material from the prophets of the Tenak. In this case the “sealed book” seems to be a reference
to a book mentioned in Is. 29:


10 For YHWH has poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes; the prophets, and your heads, the seers, has He covered.

11 And the vision of all this is become unto you as the words of a writing that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying: ‘Read this, I pray you’; and he says: ‘I cannot, for it is sealed’;


14 Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the prudence of their prudent men shall be hid.


18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of a book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.

(Is. 29:10, 11, 14, 18)


Thus, with the revealing of this sealed book, the apostasy ends. This parallels what we learn in the olive tree parable (Rom. 11:16-27). This parable speaks of the apostasy of Israel as a “deep sleep” (Rom 11:8 = Is. 29:10).


In Rev. 5& 6 we learn that the book is sealed with seven seals. These are seven things which must happen before the book can be opened. These seven seals correspond to the curses which Israel is to go through for not having kept the Law (Deut 28-29; Lev. 26). These seven seals also parallel the material in Mt. 24 as follows:

Now, just as the Yom Kippur ceremony of Lev. 16 makes atonement for the sins of the children of Israel (Lev. 16:16-21), the Messiah in Rev. 5, passes judgement on Israel for having violated Torah. These judgements are the seals. Once the judgements of Dt. 28-29 are made, then we
can come to Dt. 30:1-4


1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you shall bethink yourself among all the nations, where YHWH your
Elohim has driven you,

2 and shall return unto YHWH your Elohim, and hearken to His voice according to all that I command you this day, you and your children, with all your heart, and with all your
soul;

3 that then YHWH your Elohim will turn your captivity, and have compassion upon you, and will return and gather you from all the peoples, where YHWH your Elohim has scattered you.

4 If any of your that are dispersed be in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there will YHWH your Elohim gather you, and from there will He fetch you.



Then we reach a parallel to Mt. 24:31=Mk 13:27 (remember Mt. 24 parallels the seven seals):


4 If any of your that are dispersed be in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there will YHWH your Elohim gather you, and from there will He fetch you.

(Dt. 30:4)


Then the text goes on to parallel Jer. 31:31-34[7](which speaks of the New Covenant):


5 And YHWH your Elohim will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will do you good, and multiply you above your fathers.

6 And YHWH your Elohim will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live.

(Dt. 30:5-6)


All of this is further demonstrated in Rev. 10:1-11 where the sealed book is revealed. Here the voice of the seventh angel points to the seventh trumpet and the beginning of the Kingdom of YHWH (Rev.
10:7 & 11:15).

[1] Ps. 110:1

[2] Isaiah 29:11-12, 17; Jer. 32:10-12; Ezek. 1:26; 2:9-10; Zech. 5:1-4; Rev. 10

[3] Gen. 49:9-10

[4] Isaiah 11:1

[5] “is worthy” or “has overcome/conquered”

[6] Isaiah 53:7; Exodus 12; John 1:29

[7] Moreover Jer. 31:31-34 speaks of the renewal of the covenent as does Jer. 32:40-44. Inbetween these passages Jeremiah speaks of a book (KJV has
“evidence” but Hebrew has SEFER “book”) that is sealed
until the restoration of Israel (Jer. 32:6-16).

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