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Jesus and the Day of Atonement
October 4, 2014

For the past few weeks we have started to review the message of Jesus to the churches in the Book of Revelation, and in each of the messages we see a warning and a promise of eternal life. Part of what is needed to achieve eternal life is reconciliation with God the Father and the Day of Atonement, a somber day of afflicting one's soul, and interpreted by the Children of Israel to be fasting, is part of this process. In historical Israel, the high priest would enter the holy of holies on this date to make reconciliation with God, and in the modern era, our high priest is Jesus.

Hebrews 9:8-14
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. 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. 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?

In historical Israel, the high priest entered the holy of holies as part of an annual process to redeem the children of of Israel from sin. Today, Jesus has done that for us through his sacrifice, and obtained eternal redemption for us. No longer is there a need for Jesus as our high priest to enter the holy of holies. For apostolic first-century Christians, we consider the sacrifice of Jesus as a needed event for our salvation and the banishment of evil on the earth.

Revelation 20:1-3
And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

We believe that the banishment of Satan to the bottomless pit as described in the Book of Revelation is symbolized through the Day of Atonement. It was on this day, that in historical Israel, a goat was led to exile in the wilderness.

Leviticus 16:5-11
And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. 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. And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:

Today Jesus is our high priest and no longer is there a need for the annual entry into the holy of holies. The Day of Atonement symbolizes the future banishment of Satan into the bottomless pit and this event, a solemn day made possible by the blood of Jesus, observed by afflicting one's soul, will usher in a time of incredible world peace.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
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