No.5.
SANCTUARY BACKGROUND
This study is essential to understand certain parts of Daniel 8, although it may seem totally unrelated at this point. It is also important in understanding salvation, so please take this opportunity of gaining fresh insights into how man is saved from the curse of sin and death.
In the beginning man’s character reflected his Maker. It was pure and holy, without defect of any kind.
Adam and Eve were given a garden home and it was their happy responsibility to care for it – lush grassy fields, clean clear rivers and lakes, magnificent trees, gorgeous perfuming flowers, beautiful song birds, fish, tame and friendly animals – all for their happiness and enjoyment of life. The work was not difficult, for weeds and thistles had no part in this newly created earth.
They could eat the fruit of all the trees in the garden, except one -- the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for God said, “… thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:17. This tree was not poisonous or harmful, but it was placed in the garden as a test of their love.
You see, the happy pair were to be given a choice as to whether they would obey God or not. Without some restriction, there could be no demonstration of their love, and they would simply be robots.
If they remained faithful and obedient, they would live for eternity without suffering or death. But if they partook of the fruit of this tree, it would prove their disloyalty to God, and they would die.
Our first parents were happy to obey God’s restriction, but they did not realise a fallen angel called Lucifer (now known as Satan) lurked in the shadows.
Adam and Eve were told of the defection of Lucifer and were warned that he might try to seduce them. They must watch for an enemy, and ever be on their guard.
One day, Eve was wandering about the garden, enjoying the delights of God’s creation, when suddenly she came upon the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It was not a deliberate action, and perhaps after recognising the tree, she turned immediately from it.
However in that instant, Satan spoke to her from the tree. “Yea (or, is it really so), hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Genesis 3:1.
Eve stops in amazement. Who is speaking to her? It is not Adam, nor is it her Creator, and it doesn’t sound like one of the holy angels. All she can see is a beautiful winged serpent resting in the branches. (The religious writings of ancient nations and the decorations of their buildings, even today, reveal the worship of a serpent with wings. This fits well with the punishment of the creature, for God said, “…thou art cursed above all cattle… upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.” Genesis 3:14)
Instinctively she answers, ‘Yes, we may eat of the fruit all the trees of the garden, except the tree of knowledge of good and evil, lest we die.’ Genesis 3:2.3. (Paraphrased)
Instead of calling Adam, Eve stands transfixed. This can’t be the beautiful angel that fell from heaven.
But it is. Invisible to her eyes, this devil angel was using the serpent as his medium, and undetected, he replied, “Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4.5.
This was an outright lie, a contradiction of God’s words.
(The word ‘gods’ (elohiym) in the above text has been translated in the English Masoretic (Jewish) Bible as ‘God’ from the Hebrew, which in this instance is more accurate. Also at this point, the only one Eve would desire to be like was God as there were no ‘gods’. Sadly, she would become like Satan, who would become a ‘god’ people would worship)
Hypnotised by the smooth words of the devil, “she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.” Genesis 3:6.
Thus the devil had succeeded in seducing Eve. Although she was totally deceived, she had coveted the promises of the devil and stolen God’s property; for this she would be punished.
It was different with Adam. He “was not deceived”, for he knowingly defied the words of the living God. 1 Timothy 2:14. He realised the fallen angel was behind it, but in love for his wife, he took the fruit from her and ate.
In the cool of that evening, God came to the Eden home for daily fellowship with His children, but Adam and Eve did not want to see Him. They quickly covered themselves with fig leaves and hid among the trees.
They were guilty and knew it.
At first they cast blame on each other – Adam blamed Eve; Eve blamed the serpent. In effect, the blame was shifted from themselves to God, making Him responsible.
God first spoke to the serpent, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15.
This is actually the first promise of deliverance, and Adam and Eve hung on to it in the days ahead. Our first parents were in harmony with God before their sin and at enmity with the devil, but after their defection, the reverse was true. So God ‘put enmity’ between the devil (includes his evil host), and the woman and her seed (the human race).
(The promise more importantly referred to the coming of the Messiah through the woman’s ‘seed’ or children. Christ is thus known as ‘the Seed of the woman’. Abraham was given the promise of a seed, which certainly meant he would have many children, but the main promise was of the Messiah, as shown by Paul. “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” Galatians 3:16)
In the original promise, God stated that ‘it’ (the Seed of the woman – Christ) would receive a bruise on His heel by the ‘seed’ of the devil. This does not mean that an angel can beget children, but it would be through those who choose to follow him, that the infliction would be made to Christ. This bruising was symbolically fulfilled when Christ was crucified. The reason why it is only referred to as the ‘heel’ is because Christ rose from the dead. He suffered greatly in His passion, but the grave could not hold Him.
Conversely, the original promise spoke of ‘it’ (Christ, the Seed of the woman) inflicting a bruise to the head of the devil’s ‘seed’. This is a far greater injury, in fact, if it is hard enough, it can mean death. And this is what it does mean, for Christ as Judge of the earth, will ‘bruise’ (or crush) not only those who follow Satan in their lives, but also the devil and his evil host in the final judgment of the lost. When Satan saw Christ rise from the grave, he knew his demise was certain. Now, in absolute hatred for Christ and everyone who chooses Him in their lives, the devil “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8. From Christ’s resurrection, Satan knew he has “but a short time”. Revelation 12:12.
In righteous solemnity, God told His children of their punishment: the woman would have pain in childbirth, and the man would find his work difficult among thorns and thistles.
“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken, for dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return.” Genesis 3:19. (See also 3:17.18)
(Please note, death is a return to the dust of the ground; it is not a flight to heaven. A resurrection is promised at the return of Christ for all who seek forgiveness and live their lives in penitent obedience to God’s holy law. It was the devil who said, ‘Ye shall not surely die’, and men and women remain deceived to this day)
Lesson One – Blood Sacrifices
In their guilt, Adam and Eve had covered themselves with fig leaves. In loving compassion God removed the leaves from their bodies and clothed them with the skin of an animal. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” Genesis 3:21.
This is a very important act. God did not simply create animal skins, He gave instructions for Adam to kill an innocent creature, and from this he made a coat for him. This is not mentioned in Scripture, but for Adam and Eve to be forgiven, they must shed innocent blood. This is central to Christianity.
It revealed the only way sin can be forgiven and cleansed from the soul -- the death of an innocent victim, for “without shedding of blood (there) is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22.
When our first parents sinned, they died spiritually, but physically they were permitted to live out their lives, penitent and forgiven. They had confessed their sin over an innocent animal, slain it and presented its blood to God. This was to be a regular act of worship, and if done with a repentant and obedient heart, they would remain forgiven.
The first ceremony recorded in the Bible is of Cain and Abel, Adam and Eve’s two sons. At the appropriate time, the boys brought their offerings. Cain “brought of the fruit of the ground”, and Abel “the firstlings of his flock.” Genesis 4:3.4.
Abel’s offering was accepted, but Cain’s was not. Without the shedding of blood Cain could not be forgiven. His actions revealed an unsubdued heart. Cain knew he had sinned, but remained defiant. In anger, he murdered his brother.
If Cain had wished to give an offering to the Lord of the produce he has grown in his garden, it would have been accepted, providing he had accompanied it with the sacrifice of a lamb. His refusal to go to the expense of purchasing a lamb from his brother showed that he did not desire to obey God and accept His way of salvation.
He would rather worship his own way.
The fig leaves covering Adam and Eve, and the offering of the fruit of the ground by Cain, teach the same lesson – our own works are polluted with sin and cannot, by themselves, be accepted by God.
The lives of these first four people reveal the history of the human race.
If we do not learn the lesson God has given in these experiences, we will repeat the rebellion of Cain and never receive forgiveness. In the end, we will die the death of the unrepentant sinner and return to the dust without hope.
Lesson Two – True Forgiveness
Now we must learn another lesson about the shedding of blood – “it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins”. Hebrews 10:4.
This might seem contradictory, but it is not.
The sacrificing of animals was very important for the first four thousand years of history, as it taught the worshippers that the innocent must die for the guilty. Ultimately it taught the death of Christ on the cross of Calvary.
Men and women were to see the heinous nature of sin, and the love of God. John 3:16.
When Jesus died, the actions of men prior to the cross were either vindicated or condemned. Those who died in faith were posthumously assured of an eternal resurrection. They had died believing the promises and knew that one day they would rise from the grave to meet the Lord in the air. 1 Thessalonians 4:16.17. That promise was now assured through the death and resurrection of Christ.
Those who chose their own way would remain in their graves without hope until the resurrection of the lost, at which time they would receive the final verdict and punishment for their sins.
“And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:29.
Lesson Three – The Law and Sanctuary
When God first gave instructions for the rite of sacrificing, it was a simple ceremony consisting of an altar and an animal to sacrifice. The only stipulation was that the animal must be clean (not swine, camel, hare, or other unclean animals. See Leviticus 11:1-20), and it must be without blemish. (See Leviticus 1:3. 4:3.28)
For 2500 years, this ceremonial rite served God’s people adequately, but after their Exodus from Egypt, a more elaborate system was instituted. This was in keeping with the establishment of Israel as a nation.
Soon after the encampment at Sinai, Moses was called up into the mountain to meet with God. Alone he climbed the steep and rugged path. Israel was now to be taken into a close and peculiar relation to the Most High, to be incorporated as a church and a nation under the government of God.
Not only was Moses instructed on how they should live as a nation, but also how they should worship.
The first revelation was God’s holy law of Ten Commandments. While Moses was receiving the law, the people of Israel were overwhelmed with terror. They cried out, “Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die”. Exodus 20:19.
The glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mount, and His voice sounded like a trumpet, long and loud. Exodus 19:19. Even Moses was fearful. “And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, ‘I exceedingly fear and quake’.” Hebrews 12:21.
This law was the foundation of the covenant between God and His people, and would be a “testimony of witness” against them if they broke the covenant. So sacred and holy was the Decalogue, that God gave Moses explicit instructions for its safe-keeping.
The second revelation was where to worship. “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8.
The sanctuary had two rooms, one the holy place, the other the most holy place or holy of holies. Dividing the rooms was a very thick and beautiful veil. Within these two apartments were four pieces of furniture – the ark in the most holy place, and the altar of incense, the table of shewbread and the seven-branched candlestick in the holy place.
“And they shalt make an ark…. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it… and thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold… and thou shalt make two cherubim of gold… and thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark, and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee…” Exodus 25:10-22.
The ark is referred to as “the ark of the testimony” and the “the ark of the covenant” because it held the “tables of the covenant” or “tables of the testimony”, which were the Ten Commandments written on stone. Exodus 40:22; Numbers 14:44; Deuteronomy 9:9; Exodus 32:15. The Ten Commandments were to be in the centre of the most holy place, and in the centre of the encampment of Israel. It was a continual lesson that not only were the commandments to be the centre of their worship, but God wanted them to be the centre of their lives. (Under the New Covenant, the same law of Ten Commandments is written on the heart. 2 Corinthians 3:3)
Daniel - Sanctuary
Do You Want to Know the Future?
The Ten Commandments gave the people a code by which they should live, a high and holy standard -- of humility in the sight of God, of spirituality, reverence, loyalty, respect, love, purity, honesty, truthfulness, unselfishness.
In them God said,
I am God over all gods
I am God over all things
I am God over all names
I am God, the Creator
I am God of the home.
I am God of life
I am God of marriage
I am God of possessions
I am God of truth
I am God of the heart
Although the set of tables were not given until Sinai, they were understood by Adam and Eve and their descendants, otherwise they would not have known sin. God could not have judged anyone guilty, for “by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20.
“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Romans 3:19.
All men stand under this law, including you and me. And we have all broken it, “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.
Outside the tabernacle were two pieces of furniture – the laver, a brass receptacle for holding water for the priests to wash their feet and hands, and the altar of sacrifice.
Under the law of Moses, when a man or woman had broken the law, they were commanded to bring an unblemished animal (of varying value, depending on their status and possessions) to the sanctuary, confess their sins on the head of the animal and kill it with their own hand.
“And he shall bring the bullock (or whatever animal it was) unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock’s head, and kill the bullock before the Lord.
And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation; And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the Lord, before the vail of the sanctuary.” Leviticus 4:4-6.
In this instance, the blood is sprinkled on the altar of incense in the holy place; at other times the priest must eat a small portion of the meat, that it might become a part of his being. Many and varied were the duties of those who served in the ancient temple or sanctuary.
As the priest fulfilled his sacred duties, he was providing the means for forgiveness and cleansing of the one who had brought his animal, as Scripture says, “the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.” Leviticus 4:26.
But remember, the forgiveness given by the priest under this covenant is a type of the forgiveness that would be given by Christ under the New Covenant. Although the penitent was able to return to his home without the guilt of his sin, the ceremony did not in reality take away the guilt or sin. It needed the sacrifice of Jesus. The moment Jesus Christ died, the faith and obedience of the faithful of past ages was vindicated, and they were truly forgiven.
The sanctuary services, prefiguring Christ’s death, reveal the righteousness of God in His wrath and justice, and in His mercy. Romans 1:16-18. “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” Psalm 85:10.
God’s justice is revealed by His unchangeable Law and the necessity for the death penalty to be paid. God might have said to Adam and Eve, ‘It is all right, I forgive you. Do not worry about eating the fruit’, but if He had done so, there would be no justice, and sin would be established for eternity.
Instead, God provided a means whereby He could uphold His sacred Law, which is a transcript of His character, and forgive the penitent. By doing this He revealed His great love and mercy to the sinner.
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy… He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Psalm 103:8.10.11.12.13.14.
The death of Christ shows us that God can never cancel or change His Law -- to do so would mean His beloved Son died in vain. It is the work of the Antichrist alone to presume to change God’s Law.
Another part of the sanctuary ritual was a series of feasts that were repeated each year. They began in the Spring and ended in the Autumn – Passover, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles. These feasts represented the plan of salvation from the cross to the final rest of all God’s people in the earth made new.
They began with the death of Christ, for we are told, “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us”. 1 Corinthians 5:7. (Another application of Passover will be during the plagues when the angel of death goes through the land. Then God’s faithful people will be covered with the blood while the angel ‘passes over’)
After Passover was the feast of Unleavened Bread. The first day of this seven-day feast was a ceremonial sabbath when the people must rest. On this day Jesus rested in the tomb. On the second day of the feast, a sheaf of barley was waved before the Lord, the firstfruits of the crop. On this day Christ was resurrected, together with men and women who had died in past ages. These became the firstfruits of the glorious harvest to come.
Although the Old Covenant lost its validity at the death of Christ and all sacrificial ceremonies ceased, including the feasts, the significance of the feasts did not end. They would progressively be fulfilled through the days and years to come.
Lesson Four – After the Pattern
When Moses was told to build the sanctuary, God said he must make it “according to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.” Exodus 25:9.
Often God would remind Moses, “And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.” Exodus 25:40. 26:30.
The reason why God gave explicit instructions and a pattern to follow is because the sanctuary on earth was a copy of the heavenly sanctuary. Certainly it was not to scale, but in principle it was the same. It too had furniture and a high priest who ministered on behalf of the penitent.
“We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices…. Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.” Hebrews 8:1.2.3.5.
It is from the earthly sanctuary we are able to learn of Christ’s ministration in the heavenly sanctuary. We can understand from the book of Hebrews (and Psalm 110:4) that Christ was a priest of the Order of Melchisedec and not of Levi. If He were a Levitical priest, his ministry would be temporary, as the earthly ministration was to pass away. Instead, Christ’s priesthood is eternal. Hebrews 7:21-28.
But like all priests, He must “have somewhat also to offer”, or he would not be a priest. Hebrews 8:3. The value of Christ’s sacrifice is shown when comparing the Old Testament (Old Covenant) sacrifices with that of the New Testament (New Covenant) in the following words, “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
And for this cause He (Christ) is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” Hebrews 9:13-15.
When Christ offered Himself on the cross of Calvary, He was presenting a perfect, unblemished life as the penalty for the sins of the whole world. At His first return to heaven on the morning of the resurrection, the Father gave assurance that His death was entirely acceptable. (Jesus returned to heaven for a short time on the morning of His resurrection to make certain His Father had accepted His sacrifice, and that same evening He met with His disciples. At His Ascension He took the ‘firstfruits’ with Him)
Jesus remained in Jerusalem for another 40 days, confirming His resurrection with those who loved Him. He spent much of His time teaching the Scriptures and showing the fulfilment of the prophecies concerning Himself. (Sample in Luke 24:44-48)
When Jesus left this earth, He ascended to His Father to begin His priestly ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. The disciples were to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Spirit. Ten days later it was sent -- from the Father to the Son and then to the disciples.
This gift was given on the feast of Pentecost, “when the day of Pentecost was fully come…” Acts 2:1.
At this third feast, two loaves of wheat bread were waved before the Lord as a thank offering for the harvest that had been reaped. Its fulfilment, in the giving of the Holy Spirit, was a token of the great harvest of the righteous at the return of Christ, when a voice will give the command, “Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” Revelation 14:15.
The pouring out of the Spirit on this day gave the disciples (150 men and women assembled in the upper room) the power to speak other languages and give the good news of salvation to those who came to the feast at Jerusalem. Acts 2:7-12.
Those who received the gift at Pentecost were to witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and “unto the uttermost part of the earth”, that the penalty for the sins of all men had been paid. Acts 1:8.
This is still the heart of the message for the world, and the power of the Spirit is still available for all who are willing to be used of God to share the good news. (There will be another out-pouring of the Spirit just before the end, to empower God’s remnant people to finish the work in power and glory. In agricultural terms, which the Bible uses, Pentecost was the ‘former rain’, the germination of the seed; the future outpouring will be the ‘latter rain’, the maturing of the seed. Joel 2:23; Hebrew 6:3; James 5:7)
Lesson Five – The Day of Atonement
This part of the study is very important, but without the background and previous lessons in this booklet, it would not be understandable. We are going to look at the last three feasts of the Hebrew ceremonial system.
On the 1st of the seventh month, the feast of Trumpets took place. The trumpet was a very important instrument in Israel, notifying the beginning and end of each day, the beginning of each month, and the beginning of religious services. It also gave warning when to go into battle, and to prepare for an important event. (It also had other purposes)
When the trumpet was sounded at the feast of Trumpets, it was a signal for all Israel to prepare for the next feast – Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement -- to take place on the 10th of the same month.
In the days following the feast of Trumpets, men and women were to seek the Lord and make certain every sin had been confessed and forsaken.
When the Day of Atonement arrived, all work in the home and business ceased. Quietness reigned.
God had said of this important day, “… It shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God.” Leviticus 23:27.28.
The day was spent in an attitude of solemnity, with prayer, fasting, and deep searching of heart, remembering that “whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.” Leviticus 23:29.
In the temple special ceremonies were performed.
During the year, the priests ministered in the holy apartment, but on this day the high priest entered the most holy place. After offering sacrifices for his own sins, he passed within the veil into the holy of holies, with the blood and the censor of incense. As the high priest neared the mercy seat, he sprinkled “much incense” upon the coals of the censer “that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not.” Leviticus 16:13. On the mercy seat of the ark, he sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice, making atonement for himself and his household. Leviticus 16:11.
Then he returned to the court yard, where he cast lots upon two goats. One became the Lord’s goat, the other Azazel, the scapegoat. Leviticus 16:8. (Hebrew: Azazel: az-goat; azel-to go away)
The Lord’s goat was slain and its blood taken within the inner veil to the most holy place, and sprinkled on the mercy seat. Leviticus 16:15.
Meanwhile the people were praying and watching for the high priest to return from God’s very presence in the Shekinah glory (a brilliant light) that resided on the mercy seat.
When the high priest sprinkled the atoning blood of the Lord’s goat on the mercy seat, atonement was made for it. He then passed into the holy place and made atonement for it. He returned to the courtyard and with the blood made atonement for the altar of sacrifice. Thus the Lord’s goat cleansed the sanctuary, its furniture, the priests and the people. Leviticus 16:33.
Why must this be done?
It is “… because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins...” Leviticus 16:16-20.
You see, sin and its guilt don’t just disappear into space. They are progressively moved – from the sinner to the innocent victim, from the dead animal (by its blood) to the altar of sacrifice, to the altar of incense, or the body of the priest (eaten as food) – and in type, the sin and guilt accumulate in the sanctuary.
Once a year it was necessary to cleanse the sanctuary and its furniture from guilt and sin, that all be made clean symbolically for the remainder of the year, especially for the following feast, five days later.
But where does the guilt and sin go after the cleansing?
This is where the scapegoat comes in. The priest laid his hands on the head of the scapegoat, confessed all the iniquities of the children of Israel upon it, and sent it away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness. Thus the sin and its guilt was separated from the camp of Israel. (The implication is that the goat dies in the wilderness, as it is not a mountain goat. With the death of the goat, sin and guilt cease to exist)
It is important to understand that this goat is not sacrificed by the priest, and thus it does not represent Christ. It represents the devil, who at a future time, will receive punishment for the sins he has caused God’s people to commit. He has a responsibility, not only for his own sins, for which he will suffer and die, but also for the temptations he has placed in the path of all people from Adam and Eve to the last person on earth. Thus, he is to suffer prior to his own judgment and final retribution. (We will discuss this at another time)
Yom Kippur -- the Day of Atonement -- was the day of judgment for Israel in type.
It was the end of the sacred year, and those who had afflicted their souls and forsaken their sins were sealed.
Before the day arrived, the greeting was, ‘May you be inscribed and sealed for a happy year.’ All who obeyed the word of the Lord were sealed and able to rejoice in the final feast, entirely free from guilt and sin. (Those who had refused were sent into the wilderness to die with the scapegoat)
When the high priest had ended his work in the sanctuary, he stood in full view of the people, raising his hands in blessing. Now all could praise God for sins forgiven and a year-end of rejoicing.
On the very day Yom Kippur ended, the Jewish people began to build the Succah, a booth made of branches and flowers. It was built outside the home, perhaps on a verandah, and gave its name to the next festival, Succot, beginning five days later. It was the feast of Booths or Tabernacles, and would last eight days.
“The Jew could truly pray on these eight festive days, so full of gladness and joy, that the Tabernacle of Peace may spread over all the children of God.” Unknown Sanctuary p35-39. (Jewish book)
These days were filled with singing, dancing, socialising, laughter, good food, a wonderful time for every man, woman and child.
Not only could the Jew rejoice that his sins were forgiven and completely separated from the camp in type, but Tabernacles commemorated the forty-year wandering of the Exodus when they dwelt in tents with God’s presence among them. It also looked forward to the day when God and the Messiah would dwell with men forever in the New Jerusalem and the earth restored to its Edenic beauty. Revelation 21:3.
Lesson Six -- Fulfilment
We must now consider the question – when will the feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles be fulfilled?
Clearly, the true feast of Tabernacles is after sin and guilt have been destroyed by Christ in the second death, for it is only then that we can say truly that sin has ceased to be. (This subject will come up again briefly when we study Revelation. The most important thing for us now is to have our sins in the sanctuary)
Now let us think about Christ as the Sin-Bearer.
We understand He bore “our sins in his own body on the tree”, but we need to consider that as high priest, Christ still bears those sins – those confessed and forsaken – and transfers them to the sanctuary. 1 Peter 2:24. You see, as a priest, it is His responsibility to bear the sins of God’s people to the heavenly sanctuary.
He was “once offered to bear the sins of many”, but now He must offer His blood in our behalf before God. Of course His wounds are not still bleeding, but He presents the evidence of His sacrifice by the nail prints in His hands and feet.
Now an important question -- If the earthly sanctuary needed cleansing of accumulated sins in type, will not the heavenly sanctuary at some time require the cleansing and removal of sins in reality?
The answer is Yes.
“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these (that is, better than animal sacrifices).” Hebrews 9:22.23.
When will it take place?
We do know that when Christ returns, His ministration will be complete and the bearing of sins will be over. Notice His position when He comes in the clouds of glory. “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 9:28. (Note emphasis)
This means that the judgment of God’s people will have been completed by the return of Christ. “Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.” 1 Timothy 5:24.
Of His glorious return, Jesus says, “Behold, I come quickly: and my reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12.
It is the reward of the righteous (the gift of eternal life) that Christ brings with Him, those who in previous days have had their sins transferred to the sanctuary. It is not the final reward of the lost, for they receive their wages at the second death, however, they do receive a partial reward in that they die at His coming. (We will study this further in Revelation).
At the close of the pre-advent judgment a decree will go forth from heaven declaring, “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.” Revelation 22:11.
This verdict means that every human being is completely sealed in character, whether for good or for bad. Nothing can change. This is the close of probation. (There will be another judgment (investigatory trial) for the lost, which we will study at another time.)
So, if the judgment of God’s people is completed before the coming of Christ, it could be taking place now.
If we allow the earthly sanctuary to be our guide in relation to the work of the high priest in the heavenly sanctuary, we can see that there will come a time when Christ will change location for the final phase of His work. We are not trying to limit Christ to a particular place in heaven, however, in His priestly work, the change of apartments meant a change in ministration.
The question still to be answered is -- When did the antitypical Day of Atonement begin? Now that you have completed this study, you will be more prepared to answer this question when we continue Daniel chapter 8.