The message and lesson of Yom Kippur is simple and it is this: there is only ONE acceptable COVERING and APPROACH to God and that is through the BLOOD of the CROSS OF CHRIST! One intention of the severity of God’s judgment on Nadab and Abihu as recorded in Leviticus 10, days prior to the establishment of Israel's first Day of Atonement, was to magnify God’s requirement of respect, reverence, admiration and acceptable WORSHIP for and within the most holy place, within the veil, where the Shekinah, or divine glory, was pleased to dwell between the cherubim. As our mediator and Great High Priest, Christ has opened access into the same throne room for ALL who will put their faith and thus, be “COVERED,” in and BY HIS BLOOD. The HOLY OF HOLIES where Aaron alone could go once a year was a type of the place where God manifests His special presence; it’s a place where mortal men (no matter how religious or spiritual mortal man may think himself to be) must never make common or just another ritual or ceremony!
By Chris McDonald
TEXT:
Leviticus 16:1-5 - And the Lord spoke unto Moses after the death of the
two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the Lord, and died; [2] And the Lord
said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times
into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the
ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. [3]
Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin
offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. [4] He shall put on the holy linen
coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded
with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are
holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.
[5] 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.
As we write this journal Jews worldwide are celebrating the Fall Feast of Yom
Kippur, a beautiful prophetic celebration of our Lord's Atonement. When one
speaks of the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, which means "covering," one can
never leave out of that discussion the Old Covenant plan of redemption which
included the ark of the covenant, the shedding of blood, the Day of Atonement
and the efficacy of Christ as one sacrifice for the sins of the world.
Under the
Old Covenant, Israel's High Priest could only go into the holy of holies ONCE a
year, on the Day of Atonement, with the blood to make atonement for the sins of
the people. Likewise, ONCE, in the end of the world, CHRIST died and shed His
precious blood for the sins of the world, obtaining our eternal redemption. by
entering into the Holy of Holies in the heavens to appear before God for ALL who
will but trust and believe in what He did for us at the Cross! It should be
noted that in Hebrews 9 through 10:20 the writer is speaking of the Day of
Atonement, or Yom Kippur.
Look at the number of scriptures that testify to this fact:
Hebrews 9:7-8
But into the second went the high priest alone
once every year, not without
blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: [8]
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:
Hebrews 9:12
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.
Hebrews 9:25
Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into
the holy place every year
with blood of others;
Hebrews 9:26
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world:
but now once in the end of the world
hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Hebrews 9:28
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 10:10
By which we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ
once for all.
Hebrews 10:12
But this man, after he had offered
one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Hebrews 10:14
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
The
Holy of Holies
The Holy of Holies, the second and most holy compartment of the sanctuary, was
separated from the Holy Place, where all Priests could minister daily, by the
inner veil. Entrance into the Holy of Holies was allowed only once a year on
the Day of Atonement, and was restricted to the High Priest himself. This
limited access is indicative of the importance of its furnishings: the ark and
mercy seat. Usually the two are referred to as “the ark,” although the mercy
seat is a distinct and separate item. There is a physical link that has
prophetic and typical significance when discussing the Feast of Yom Kippur.
The absence of any “figures” of God on the ark is a noticeable feature, since
heathens often placed figures of their deity on their arks. This, along with the
second commandment, discouraged idol making.
Exodus 20:1-5
And God spoke all these words, saying, [2] I am the Lord thy God, which have
brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. [3] Thou
shalt have no other gods before me. [4] Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven
image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the
earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: [5] Thou shalt not bow
down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth
generation of them that hate me;
Charge of the ark and mercy seat was given to the Kohathites, who were
instructed to wait until it was properly covered by the priests before they were
called to move it. Ordinarily, the place of the ark during a journey appears to
have been in the middle of the nation, since this was the location of the
Kohathites.
Numbers 10:21
And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up
the tabernacle against they came.
Other scriptures state the ark ALWAYS led the way during the nation’s
journeying, specifically the first movement of the nation from Mount Sinai AND
the passage across the Jordan River.
Numbers 10:33-36
And they departed from the mount of the Lord three days' journey: and the ark of
the covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days' journey, to search
out a resting place for them. [34] And the cloud of the Lord was upon them by
day, when they went out of the camp. [35] And it came to pass, when the ark set
forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and
let them that hate thee flee before thee. [36] And when it rested, he said,
Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel.
Joshua 3:3
And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of
the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove
from your place, and go after it.
Joshua 4:18
And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the
Lord were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet
were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their
place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.
The ark was taken from the holy of holies on special occasions or battles, such
as:
• The battle against the Midianites
• The fall of Jericho
• The Mount of Blessing and Cursing
• The War with the Philistines.
Numbers 31:6-7 - And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe,
them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy
instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand. [7] And they warred against
the Midianites, as the Lord commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.
Joshua 6:4-13 - And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of
rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the
priests shall blow with the trumpets. [5] And it shall come to pass, that when
they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the
trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city
shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before
him. 6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up
the Ark of the Covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams'
horns before the ark of the Lord. [7] And he said unto the people, Pass on, and
compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the Lord.
Joshua 8:33
And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this
side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark
of the covenant of the Lord, as well the stranger, as he that was born among
them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against
mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they
should bless the people of Israel.
1 Samuel 4:3-6
And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said,
Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch
the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh
among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. [4] So the people sent
to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord
of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni
and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. [5] And when the
ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a
great shout, so that the earth rang again. [6] And when the Philistines heard
the noise of the shout, they said, what meaneth the noise of this great shout in
the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the Lord was come
into the camp.
Numbers 14:44 and 1 Samuel 14:18 also suggest that the ark was taken along on
other important occasions.
Numbers 14:44
But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the
covenant of the Lord, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.
1 Samuel 14:18
And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at
that time with the children of Israel.
The Ark
When God gave instructions concerning the ark, he said it was to contain what he
would give. From Hebrews 9:4, we learn there were THREE items in the ark:
1. The Two Tables of the Covenant
2. A Golden Pot of Manna
3. Aaron’s Rod That Budded
Hebrews 9:4
Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about
with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that
budded, and the tables of the covenant;
Exodus 25:16
And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.
The first items placed in the ark were the two covenant tablets. Moses brought
the second set of tablets down from Mount Sinai on his eighth and last descent.
They were not placed in the ark until seven months later, after the tabernacle
and ark were constructed.
Exodus 34:29
And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables
of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist
not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
Exodus 40:20
And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark,
and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:
Deuteronomy 10:1-5 states that Moses put this second set of covenant tablets in
an ark that he made immediately upon his descent.
The golden pot of manna was commanded to be placed in the ark sometime before
the nation’s arrival at Mount Sinai.
Exodus 16:33
And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein,
and lay it up before the Lord, to be kept for your generations.
The manna was no doubt preserved by divine intervention since manna would
normally decay in one day.
The rod of Aaron was placed in the ark sometime during the wilderness
wanderings, probably during their first year. Some people believe the book of
the law was also kept in the ark. Whether this is in reference to the entire
Pentateuch or just the book of Deuteronomy is not certain; in either case, it
was only placed next to the ark.
Deut. 31:26
Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of
the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
At the time the ark was brought into Solomon’s temple, only two tables of the
covenant remained.
2 Chron. 5:10
There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at
Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came
out of Egypt.
There is no record of when the golden pot of manna and Aaron’s rod were removed,
but their removal probably occurred when the ark was captured by the
Philistines. The three items were ALL a type of Christ and a TESTIMONY of God’s
provision and gracious providence in light of Israel’s chronic and constant
rebellion. The two covenant tables were called the tablets of testimony because
in them were embodied all the other laws which were given for the nation’s
well-being.
Exodus 34:29
And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables
of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist
not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
Deut. 10:13
To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee
this day for thy good?
There was no nation on earth which had such glorious laws, but these same laws
witnessed against the nation for their many deliberate transgressions of the
law.
Deut. 31:26
Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of
the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
The golden pot of manna was a testimony of God’s provision of food in the barren
wilderness, but it also tested the nation’s obedience; Israel failed this test
several times.
Exodus 16:32
And Moses said, This is the thing which the Lord commandeth, Fill an omer of it
to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have
fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.
Exodus 16:4
Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you;
and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may
prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
Exodus 16:20
Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until
the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.
Exodus 16:27-28
And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day
for to gather, and they found none. [28] And the Lord said unto Moses, How long
refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?
Numbers 21:5
And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought
us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is
there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
The ark as a type the reader must consider the fact that there was the special
chamber, the holy of holies, which housed the ark. This was the MOST sacred part
of the tabernacle and the most SOLEMN location on the Day of Atonement, the
Feast of Yom Kippur. The HOLY OF HOLIES derived its importance from the presence
of the ark! There were no daily, weekly, or even monthly activities associated
with the ark. The high priest could enter into the holy of holies once each year
on the DAY OF ATONEMENT, which was the only ritual that pertained to the ark.
The high priest’s function on this day was quite different from his ministries
at the other furnishings! At the brazen altar there was the perpetual fire and
sacrifices to attend to, there was his washing at the laver, there was the need
to replenish the oil of the candlestick, the eating of the bread at the table of
showbread and the incense burning at the incense altar, all of which
necessitated the priest’s daily attention.
With the other furnishings, because the priest ministered at each of them, we
understand them as representing various ministries of Christ:
• The Table of Showbread – Christ as the Bread of Life
• The Golden Lampstand – Christ as the Light which keeps us from darkness
• The Brazen Altar – Christ as the Sacrificial Lamb of God Shedding His Blood
for the Entire World
• The Brazen Laver – Christ as the Living Water, Cleansing Us From The Daily
Defilement of Sin
• The Altar of Incense – Christ, as our Intercessor in Heaven, And The Holy
Spirit’s Work Within the Believers As Our Intercessor On Earth
The ark, because of its isolation and lack of similarity to other furniture, its
typology is mostly implied but hardly ignored.
Hebrews 9:24
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the
figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of
God for us:
When Christ ascended to heaven (the holy place) it was to appear in the presence
of God, which is what the ark typifies! Throughout Israeli history, the ark was
always synonymous with God. For this reason, the ark led the way in the
wilderness wanderings and was taken into battle often. The mercy seat also, like
the ark, was thought of as representing God as well.
Psalm 80:1- To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim-Eduth, A Psalm of Asaph.
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that
dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.
Psalm 99:1
The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let
the earth be moved.
1 Samuel 4:4
So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the
covenant of the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two
sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of
God.
From between the two cherubim on the mercy seat God spoke to the nation through
the high priest.
Exodus 25:22
And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the
mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the
testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children
of Israel.
Exodus 30:6
And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony,
before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.
Leviticus 16:2
And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at
all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is
upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy
seat.
Numbers 7:89
And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with
him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat
that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake
unto him.
The mercy seat is a TYPE OF CHRIST because of the New Covenant message of
redemption preached by the Holy Spirit through Paul in Romans 3:25:
Romans 3:25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (MERCY SEAT) through faith in his
blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past,
through the forbearance of God;
Hebrews 9:5
And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the Mercy Seat (propitiation); of
which we cannot now speak particularly,
As God spoke to the nation of Israel of old from the mercy seat on the Day of
Atonement, so today He is speaking to ALL nations through the blood of the Lord
Jesus Christ!
Hebrews 1:1-3
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the
fathers by the prophets, [2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,
whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; [3]
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and
upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our
sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
The Blood of Bulls and Goats
As stated earlier in our study, the Day of Atonement was observed during the
fall after the crops were harvested. It’s the middle of the three high holiday
feasts all Israel observes even in modern times. ALL three feasts point to
Christ but in this writer’s mind this Yom Kippur feast is without a doubt the
most important because of the message it proclaims. According to Jewish rabbis
it IS the most sacred day of the year and the only day on which the Israelites
were/are commanded to afflict their souls by fasting. This was in solemn
preparation for the special sin offerings being offered for the nation’s sins.
Numbers 29:29-30
And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first
year without blemish: [30] And their meat offering and their drink offerings for
the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their
number, after the manner:
The priests’ preparation for making the special offerings on this day, like the
peoples’ were different than usual. Though the priests always washed their hands
and feet at the laver before ministering at the brazen altar or in the
sanctuary, on this day, due to the solemnity of the event, the high priest
washed his whole body.
Leviticus 16:4
He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon
his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre
shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh
in water, and so put them on.
White clothing in scripture is associated with holy angels and holy saints.
Ezekiel 9:2
And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward
the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them
was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in,
and stood beside the brazen altar.
Matthew 28:3
His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
Mark 16:5
And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side,
clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
John 20:12
And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the
feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
Rev. 19:7-8
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb
is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. [8] And to her was granted that
she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the
righteousness of saints.
How fitting that the High Priest, who mediated and offered sacrifices on behalf
of the nations, should wear white, symbolizing the purity and righteousness of
CHRIST, our REAL mediator and true sacrifice!
The high priest would then make ready the animals for the offering. For the
congregation, two goats were used for their sin offering and one ram for their
burnt offering. The high priest would cast lots, probably with the Urim and
Thummin, to determine which goat would be offered on the brazen altar and which
he would release as a scapegoat. The priest then laid his hand on the
bullock, catching its blood in a bowl. After washing at the laver he proceeded
into the sanctuary where he took up the golden censer, which was full of coals,
from the brazen altar, and also picked up a handful of sweet incense.
He then went into the holy of holies, placed the golden censer before the mercy
seat, and added the incense to cause a cloud of smoke to fill the room.
Leviticus states that the high priest would DIE if he failed to burn the incense
so that the cloud covered the mercy seat.
Leviticus 16:13
And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of
the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die
not:
This speaks to us today that sinful man cannot look on the full glory of God:
Exodus 33:20-23
And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and
live. [21] And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt
stand upon a rock: [22] And it shall come to pass, while my glory passes by,
that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand
while I pass by: [23] And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back
parts: but my face shall not be seen.
1 Tim. 6:16
Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto;
whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting.
Amen.
Yet, through CHRIST, we have total access to the Father and can stand in His
presence without dying! God often veiled himself in a cloud as he did during
Moses’ sixth ascent of Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:15-18); on Moses’ eighth ascent to
get the second set of covenant tables; when the tabernacle was first set up; at
the dedication of Solomon’s temple, and on the DAY of Atonement.
Leviticus 16:2
And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at
all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is
upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy
seat.
Thus, because the ark was typical of God, it was necessary to “veil” it in a
cloud, too. The smoke filling the holy of holies is typical and prophetic of
Christ’s intercessory work on behalf of the believer which began with the
atonement wen Christ died on the Cross!
After entering the holy of holies and placing the golden censer before the mercy
seat, the high priest took the blood from his own sin offering, sprinkled it
seven times before and on the mercy seat before going to the outer court where
he KILLED the sacrificial goat. He brought its blood into the holy of holies,
sprinkled it as he did with the blood of his own sacrifices. It was this special
application of blood on the mercy seat that speaks of the sacrifice at the
altar, typifying Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary, which made it possible for God’s
mercy to be extended to mankind. The reason the blood had to be brought into the
holy of holies before ark, and not just to the brazen altar, was to teach that
Christ’s atoning death could be efficacious only as it regarded God the Father.
God would not accept ANYTHING else but the blood of a PERFECT sacrifice for
man’s sin debt to be paid.
As the priest left the holy of holies, the high priest would make atonement for
the holy place. This was accomplished by sprinkling blood, possibly on the veil,
as done in the sin offering for the high priest, and on the horns of the incense
altar to comply with Exodus 30:10:
Exodus 30:10
And Aaron shall make atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the
blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make
atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the Lord.
The blood was also put on the horns of the brazen altar and sprinkled on the
altar itself to make atonement. This was done because of the uncleanliness of
the people.
Leviticus 16:16-19
And he shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of
the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins:
and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation that remaineth among
them in the midst of their uncleanness. [17] And there shall be no man in the
tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy
place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his
household, and for all the congregation of Israel. [18] And he shall go out unto
the altar that is before the Lord, and make an atonement for it; and shall take
of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the
horns of the altar round about. [19] And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it
with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness
of the children of Israel.
All of this activity of the high priest to this point was done without the usual
assistance of the other priests.
Leviticus 16:17
And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in
to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an
atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of
Israel.
No other priest, person OR Levite, was allowed in the tabernacle until atonement
was made. Christ in his work as expiator and mediator needed no assistance, so
the high priest, in typifying this, was not assisted on this day.
1 Tim. 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ
Jesus;
The priest then took the second goat of the sin offering, laid his hands on its
head, and confessed the sins of the nation. This goat was then led to an
uninhabited area and released, symbolizing its bearing of their iniquities.
Only on the Day of Atonement was there ever offered more than one animal for a
sin offering. Single animal offerings for sin was a distinct characteristic of
the SIN OFFERING but on this day TWO animals constituted one offering. The
purpose of the second goat, which was called the scapegoat, was in type to
prophetically portray the coming resurrection of Christ. The first goal was
“delivered” for Israel’s offenses, the second one “sent away,” for Israel’s
justification. Both goats spoke of CHRIST.
Romans 4:25
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
The first goat was offered on the brazen altar, because without shedding of
blood there could be no remissions of sin, typifying Christ’s death on Calvary.
However, the thing that made Christ’s death effectual was his resurrection.
1 Cor. 15:17 - And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in
your sins.
It was the resurrection that proved Christ was not subject to death because of
his sinlessness, which also qualified him to be a vicarious sacrifice for all
mankind. The second goat, spared from death, was typical of the resurrection.
Next, the high priest washed his whole body at the laver and changed into his
other garments of “glory and beauty.” Two rams for a burnt offering were then
offered, and the fat of the bullock and goat of the sin offerings were burned on
the brazen altar. The remains of the bullocks and goat of the sin offerings were
carried “outside the camp” and burned.
This completed the ceremony of the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, and typically
taught that Christ suffered “outside the gates of Jerusalem.”
Hebrews 13:11-12
For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the
high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. [12] Wherefore Jesus also,
that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
The Israelites who led the goat into the wilderness, and carried the sin
offering outside the camp were to wash themselves and their clothing before
returning to the camp. These ceremonial washings and those of the high priest
must have impressed the people with the pervading evilness of sin, even on those
who are only ceremonially affected by it.
Although Yom Kippur expressed the removal of the sins of the nation, ironically
there was never any true efficacy in those sacrifices:
Hebrews 10:4
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away
sins.
There was however lasting efficacy in what they typified. Hidden within the
inner veil of the tabernacle, God beautifully typified when consummate atonement
would be realized. Hebrews 10 says, “by a new and living way” Christ consecrated
all those who come to Him by Faith and anchor their faith in what He
accomplished for us at the Cross:
Hebrews 10:20
By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil,
that is to say, his flesh;
It would not be until Christ, having the flesh of men and tempted like men, and
YET WITHOUT sin, came and offered His body and the shedding of blood to satisfy
the just demand of God for sin that the human race could be truly reconciled to
God. Upon Christ’s death the veil of Herod’s temple in Jerusalem, which
corresponded to the inner veil of the tabernacle, was torn from the top to
bottom the moment Christ said, “It is finished!” indicating that God’s demand
for justice and man’s sin debt was satisfied and paid.
His work was never finished, but:
Hebrews 10:12
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on
the right hand of God;
The Old Covenant saints had access to God but it had to be through a priest and
an animal sacrifice. Our access is different is that Christ, our high priest,
sacrifice, is SEATED at the right hand of God where we can take our petitions
DAILY and DIRECTLY without a human mediator. This is that “NEW AND LIVING WAY.”
Hebrews 10:20
By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil,
that is to say, his flesh;
Another important event that occurred on the Day of Atonement every fifty years
was the blowing of the trumpets to announce the year of Jubilee. This was to
announce the release of slaves, debts, and the restoration of all lands to their
owners. Upon the authority of Christ and the Old Covenant prophecy, we know this
typifies the effect of Christ’s atoning death.
Isaiah 61:1-2
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to
preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that
are bound; [2] To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of
vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
Luke 4:18-21
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the
gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach
deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at
liberty them that are bruised, [19] To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
[20] And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down.
And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. [21]
And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your
ears.
Though Christ, our YOM KIPPUR, our ATONEMENT, we too can be delivered from sin
and its power, and restored to God! Though the Jubilee lasted for only a year in
the Old Covenant economy, it denotes an age for us – the day of Salvation. This
is the feast of Yom Kippur, a type of our covering in Christ; may we ever look
to the Cross and believe in that covering today!
2 Cor. 6:2
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation
have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day
of salvation.)
It's getting late neighbor and it's harvest time. I pray you know this Christ
today and He has covered you with His blood! He waits for the sinner with open
arms and will receive such before it is too late! Be saved today and come to
Christ, our Yom Kippur