Trinity Baptist Church

 

We come now to the sixth of the seven feasts of Israel. 

 

At first glance, the Day of Atonement would appear to have as its primary connection between Judaism and Christianity the cross and death of Jesus. But it actually points forward to the 2^nd coming of the Lord. It contains a symbolism that is extremely significant that is not found anywhere in the symbolism of the Passover, and that symbolism pictures sin.

 

All people suffer the tragic consequences of sin. But sin doesn't happen without a cause, and God makes this cause clear in the symbolism associated with the Day of Atonement. Passover deals with salvation, and the blood sacrifice that was necessary. 

 

But it doesn’t deal with sin. So the Day of Atonement involves not only the forgiveness of sin; it pictures the removal of the primary cause of sin-Satan and his demons.

 

Until God removes the original instigator of sin, mankind will continue to have to deal with the awfulness of sin.   

The Day of Atonement looks forward to the time during which Satan's deception will be removed and he will no longer be free to influence and deceive mankind. (more in a moment)

 

 

The Day of Atonement was the most solemn day of the year for the people of Israel. It was often simply referred to as "The Day." It was a day that atonement was made for the priest and his family, the community, the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting, and the altar. It was a solemn day. The Day of Atonement also was known as the "Great Fast" or "The Day of the Fast". The Day of Atonement was designated by the Lord as a day in which "you shall afflict your souls." By definition, this was understood to mean fasting.

 

In fact, the Day of Atonement was the only fast mandated by scripture. The Israelite who failed to devote himself to fasting and repenting on this day were to be "cut off from his people" (Lev. 23:29)

 

It was also a day with prohibitions against all forms of work. Those who likewise chose to ignore this regulation would suffer the death penalty (Lev. 23:30).

 

It was also a very solemn day for the priesthood of Israel. Only on that singular day of the year was the high priest permitted to enter the Holy of Holies in the Temple and stand before the presence of God's glory.

 

 

In doing so, the high priest was required to wear holy garments woven from white linen instead of his normal colorful garments overlaid with the golden breastplate. His linen garments were worn only on that day and never again.

 

It was absolutely critical to the nation that their high priest not become ritualistically unclean and, thereby, disqualify himself from performing his duties. To safeguard against this possibility, the priest was required to leave his home one week before the Day of Atonement to stay in the priest's headquarters in the Temple area.

 

During the week, the high priest was twice sprinkled with the ashes of a red heifer to circumvent the possibility that he had become unclean through touching a dead body. Such was the normal cleansing process for ceremonial defilement (Numbers 19:1-10).

 

The high priest did not perform the Temple services on a regular basis, but during the week leading up to The Day of Atonement, he alone conducted the sacrifices. All aspects of his duties for the coming holy day were faithfully practiced, whether it was sprinkling blood with his thumb and forefinger, burning incense, lighting the lamp stand, or rehearsing his movements throughout the Temple. There could be no mistakes, or the result would be a monumental catastrophe and humiliation for the nation - Israel's sacrifices would be disqualified, leaving the sins of the people uncovered.

 

 

 

Now the Jewish day began at sunset, and the Temple service for the Day of Atonement began at dawn the next morning. The ashes on the altar were cleared away, and four fires, instead of the normal three, were lit to set the day apart as distinct.

 

On any other day, the high priest would merely wash his hands and feet with water from the priestly laver before performing his service. On The Day of Atonement, he was required to totally immerse himself in a special golden bath near the Court of the Priests. This was carried out behind a large linen curtain, which revealed the shadow of his movements to the public view.

 

This assured that no changes were made to the required procedures. The high priest put on his golden garments with great care. His majestic purple robe was hemmed with tiny golden bells so the people could hear him work as he represented them. Over the top of his robe, he wore a golden breastplate which was studded with 12 precious stones - a constant reminder that he was the representative of the 12 tribes of Israel before the true and living God.

 

After dressing, the high priest washed his hands and feet to perform the regular daily service. Following the morning service, the high priest returned to his bath chamber to change into his white linen garments for The Day of Atonement. Five times during the day, he changed clothing, and five times he followed the same cleansing procedure. Each time, he washed his hands and feet, removed his garments, totally immersed his body, put on his change of clothing, and washed his hands and feet a second time.

The afternoon Temple service was the main focus of the Day of Atonement observance. Through the sacrifices of this service, atonement was made for the sins of the priesthood and people of Israel for the preceding year.

 

The high priest began the afternoon service by moving to the Court of the Priests, where a young bull awaited him between the altar and the Temple porch. Since this bull was the sin offering for the high priest and the priesthood, the ceremony took place near the Temple where the priests ministered.

 

The high priest would press his two hands against the head of the young bull, as a sign of identification with it as his substitute, and make a confession of his sin. Three times during his confession, he would pronounce the covenant name of the Lord (YAHWEH).

 

Under Jewish oral law, this holy name was forbidden to be spoken on any other occasion lest it be taken in vain (Exodus 20:7) by mispronouncing it or misusing it. Each time the name was uttered by the high priest, the people of the priests would fall on their faces in worship and repeat, "Blessed be His name whose glorious kingdom is forever and ever!"

 

The high priest was next escorted by two priests to the eastern side of the altar. On his right was the deputy high priest (the priest appointed to take his place in case he became unable to fulfill his duties). On his left, he was escorted by the chief priest of the division of priests chosen to minister that week.

 

 

 

Two goats stood there, side by side, awaiting the high priest. They were identical in size, color, and value. They faced the Temple and gazed at the high priest and his entourage as they approached.

 

Two golden lots were placed inside a golden vessel sitting on the stone pavement nearby. One was inscribed with "FOR YAHWEH", and the other with "FOR AZAZEL." The high priest shook the vessel and randomly took one lot in each hand. As he held the lots to the foreheads of the goats and determined the outcome, he declared them "a sin offering to the Lord." The two goats together were viewed as one singular offering.

 

Now here is where some of the difficulty in interpretation enters if you see the Day of Atonement as representing the crucifixion and the work of Christ. 

 

Azazel literally interprets “dubious”. Dubious means “of doubtful quality.” 

 

Actually, the Jew saw the scapegoat as a type of Satan. The sins of the people and thus the punishment of the people were laid upon Azazel the scapegoat. 

 

He would bear the responsibility for the sins of the people.  

 

This ceremony can be found in Leviticus 16:7-10. Notice in verse 8, one lot is for the Lord, and the other lot is for the scapegoat. The high priest took the two lots, one marked for the Lord and the other marked for the scapegoat, and placed one upon the head of each animal, sealing their fate.

 

God gave this ceremony of the casting of lots during the Day of Atonement to teach us how He will judge the nations of the world prior to the Messianic age known as the Millennium. We’ll look at that in a moment. But before I leave the Historical significance, let me insert this:

 

 

The goat, upon which the lot "For Azazel" fell, was immediately identified by a crimson strip of wool tied to one of its horns. It was then turned around to face the people, whose sin would later be placed on its head.

 

The goat determined FOR YAHWEH was left to face the large stone altar; the place where it was shortly to be offered as a sin offering.

 

The high priest returned to the young bull a second time and pressed his hands on its head. This time he confessed the sins of the priesthood, where as before he had confessed his own sin upon its head. The bull was then slaughtered by the high priest, and its blood collected in a golden bowl. A nearby attending priest was handed the bowl and given the task of stirring the blood so that it would not congeal.

 

Next, the high priest took a golden fire pan or censer and walked up the ramp to the altar. He carefully filled the fire pan with live coals from the fires burning on top of the altar. Then he took two handfuls of incense and placed them in a golden ladle.

 

 

With the fire pan in his right hand, and the incense in his left, he ascended to the Temple and passed through the Holy Place where the lamp stand, the table of showbread, and altar of incense were located.

 

At the rear of the Holy Place, he paused to make his way through the veil (the thick curtain which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies). Once inside the Holy of Holies, he stood in quiet solitude. Only the soft orange glow of the coals lit the room.

 

The high priest poured the incense onto the coals and waited a few moments for a fragrant cloud of smoke to fill the room before making his way back through the thick curtain.

 

The high priest then took the golden bowl filled with the bull's blood and returned to the Holy of Holies. He carefully sprinkled the blood before the Ark of the Covenant. He sprinkled it once upwards and then seven times downwards, as though he were cracking a whip. All the while he counted aloud to prevent any errors.

 

He then exited the Holy of Holies and placed the bowl in a golden stand. The high priest continued outside to the court of the Priests to slaughter the goat set aside for the Lord. He collected its blood in a golden bowl and entered the Holy of Holies a third time, sprinkling the blood of the goat in the same manner as that of a bull.

 

Afterwards, he sprinkled the ground outside of the veil with the blood of the bull. Then he repeated the procedure with the blood of the goat.

Finally, he poured the two bowls together and sprinkled the horns (protruding points on each corner) of the altar in the courtyard.

 

Attention was then drawn to the remaining goat. The high priest proceeded to lay his hands on its head and confessed the sins of the people upon it. The scapegoat was then led by a priest through the Eastern Gate more than 10 miles into the wilderness never to be seen again.

 

While the scapegoat was being led into the wilderness and the people awaited word that it had been accomplished, the afternoon service continued. The high priest finished sacrificing the bull and the goat on the altar, and their remaining parts were taken outside the city to be burned (Hebrews 13:11-13).

 

Then the high priest addressed the people. He read the Day of Atonement passages from Leviticus and quoted the Numbers passage by heart to verify that all commandments had been duly accomplished. Finally, the remaining offerings for The Day of Atonement were offered; these were the burnt offerings, as opposed to the sin offerings.

 

The high priest entered the Holy of Holies a final time to remove the fire pan and incense ladle. He then bathed, for the fifth time during the day, and changed into his golden garments. As the cool autumn night quickly approached, he performed the regular evening Temple service, and drew The Day of Atonement to a close.

 

So you can see that the Day of Atonement was the most solemn of all the feast days. 

It was the day of cleansing for the nation and for the sanctuary. On this day alone, once a year, the high priest entered into the holiest of all, the Holy of Holies in the temple, within the veil of the temple, with the blood of the Lord's goat, the sin offering. 

 

 

Now with that ceremony in mind, see how it points to the Messiah Himself. (not all)

 

1. The priest used a golden censer (Leviticus 16:1-2,12-14)

 

The incense of the golden censer represents the prayers of Bible believers. Aaron the high priest typifies the ministry of mediator and intercessor.

Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews 3:1) and Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 12:24). He lives to make intercession for us (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:22-27).

 

2. He went within the veil once a year (Leviticus 16:2).

 

By the death of Jesus, we are free to enter into the veil every day (Matthew 27:50-51, 2 Corinthians 3:14, Hebrews 4:16, 6:13-19, 10:19-22).

 

3. He washed himself in water (Leviticus 16:4,24).

 

For Aaron, this meant he must be absolutely clean in order to make atonement on behalf of the people of Israel. 

 

Jesus was absolutely clean and without sin when He made the atonement of sacrificing His body on the cross.

 

4. He put on holy linen garments (Leviticus 16:4,23).

 

The priestly clothing is also mentioned in Exodus 28:1-4. In verse 3 they are for glory and beauty. The linen garments speak of the sinless humanity of the Lord and His righteousness. These linen garments were stained with blood while the priest offered the sacrifices. 

 

After the sacrifices were complete, the garments were taken off and new garments were put on again (Leviticus 16:23-24). Reminders of the resurrection when they found the burial clothes of Jesus lying in the tomb.  

 

5. The bodies of the animals were outside the camp (Leviticus 16:27).

 

The bodies of the sin offering, both the bullock and the goat, were taken outside the camp where they were burned. Jesus was crucified outside the camp or gates of Jerusalem (John 19:17-20 and Hebrews

13:10-13).

 

5. At the moment the atonement was made on the Day of Atonement, those being atoned for were sinless and blameless before God. (Leviticus 16:29 – 31)

 

The congregation of believers in the Lord Jesus is being presented before God without spot or blemish (Ephesians 5:27) because of the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:19).

 

Now when does that presentation take place? At the end of the age, when Jesus presents us to God as His bride. 

 

At that time, after the seven years of tribulation, Jesus will return with His bride from Heaven. The earth will be redeemed and come into full and complete rest from the curse brought upon it by Adam's sin. Complete restoration of man's lost inheritance will take place. God's people will be totally set free -- set at liberty, from all sin, sickness and disease, death, and the curse. 

 

Satan, the source of all these things, will be bound. He is the one who bears the responsibility for sin in the world.   

 

Listen to Revelation 20:1-3

 

That binding will usher a wonderful time on earth known as the Millennial Reign of Christ. It is described there in Revelation 20:4-6. 

 

It is followed by a time when Satan is released for a little while. There will be a judgment upon the nations of the earth and every lost individual will appear before the Great White Throne of God.

 

Matthew 24:27-31, 25:31-46

 

Notice the sheep and the goats. 

 

And then: 

 

The tabernacle of God will be with men and He will dwell with them (Revelation 21:1-4). And that brings us to next weeks study on the Feast of Tabernacles.

 

God divinely placed the Day of Atonement before the Feast of Tabernacles, which is called "The Season of Our Joy." 

 

The children of Israel and all believers in the Lord Jesus could only rejoice once they were redeemed and their sins forgiven.

 

In Joel 2:15-16 we read..."Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the

breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet."

 

Jesus spoke of this same event in Matthew 24:27-31. In Matthew 24:31, the trumpet that is being blown is called by Jesus the great trumpet.

 

There are three primary trumpets to the Jewish people and these three trumpets are associated with specific days in the year.

 

These three trumpets are:

 

1. "The First Trump" blown and associated with Pentecost. (sound of a rushing, mighty wind)

 

2. "The Last Trump" blown and associated with the Feast of Trumpets. (rapture)

 

3. "The Great Trump" blown and associated with the Day of Atonement. (announcing the 2^nd coming of the Lord)

 

This is the trumpet that is blown on the Day of Atonement. This trumpet will usher the return of Christ to rule as Messiah ben David, the King, during the Messianic age.

 

The Day of Atonement serves as a vital preparatory step in anticipation of the next milestone in God's glorious Holy Day plan, beautifully depicted by the Feast of Tabernacles.