Newsletter October 2026
The Lamb’s book of life
But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honour into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there) And they shall bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Revelation 21:22-27)
On 12th September, Jews all over the world celebrated Rosh Hashanah, the start of their New Year (5787). In the scriptures (Leviticus 23:24; Numbers 29:1), this day is referred to a memorial of blowing of trumpets (Yom HaTeruah). No explanation is given as to the purpose of this blowing of trumpets (or shofrot – rams horns), but in the later prophetic books we understand that the sound of the trumpet announces the Lord’s Day, when He will sit on His throne to judge the world in righteousness. (e.g. Joel 2). Then books will be opened to reveal everyone’s deeds. Those whose names are found in the Book of Life will receive eternal life. (Revelation 20:15; Matt. 25:46). This is why Rosh Hashanah (or Yom HaTeruah), is followed by 8 days of repentance (Teshuvah – lit. turning) leading up to Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement, lit. covering), which, in 2026, fell on 21st September.
The Day of Atonement is very unusual in that it is not a time of coming together physically nor of bringing sacrifices to the Lord individually; rather, on this one day in the year, the high priest would offer one sacrifice for himself and his house and then bring one sacrifice on behalf of all the people into the Holy of Holies (the innermost part of the tabernacle and later the temple in Jerusalem). However, since the temple was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70 following an uprising against the Roman occupiers, there have been no more sacrifices on that day. This annual sacrifice has been substituted by a period of repentance in the hope that God would forgive the sins of those who turn to Him with all their heart (Deuteronomy 4:29; Jeremiah 29:13).
While this has become the way of observing Yom Kippur for almost 2000 years, there are still those who are convinced that the temple needs to be rebuilt so that the sacrifices can be reinstituted. This, of course, would have huge implications for the future of Jerusalem and the entire Middle East as it would completely change the political and religious status quo.
As Christians, we are not looking for a temple with animal sacrifices. Nor do we look to specific dates for our final redemption. Jesus told us that no one except the Father Himself knows about the day of His return. Nonetheless, he did give indications of the signs leading to that day. And He told His followers then and us today to watch and pray, so that we would be ready. Every day for us should be a day of searching our hearts and turning to God so that we are found righteous in God’s sight for the day of judgment. However, we also know that, despite our efforts to please God and to walk in obedience to His will by the power of the Holy Spirit, who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13), we will always fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). We therefore look to the Lamb who was sacrificed once for all, and we put our faith in Him alone.
In Hebrews 10, we read how Jesus, by His death on the cross, became the sacrifice of Yom Kippur, once for all. No matter what we bring to God in respect of our own righteous deeds, it is ultimately Jesus who bridges the gulf between our sinfulness and God’s holiness. He alone lived in complete obedience to the Father (Philippians 2:8) as He is the only begotten Son, who left His glory, taking on human form to bring humanity back to God. He gave His life that we may have life in Him. Have you put your faith in Him? Have you received cleansing through His blood, that perfect life that He surrendered for you? Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?