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SUBJECT: Day of Atonement
QUESTION: Who or what is the scapegoat?
ANSWER:
First, from our doctrinal statement on the Holy Days--The
Day of Atonement"
Day of Atonement: The 10th day of the 7th month had quite
an elaborate ritual in Old Testament times and continued up
until the destruction of the Temple. It was a commanded
fast day in which nothing was eaten or drunk for 24 hours,
from the evening of the 9th to the evening of the 10th. On
the day itself, the ritual of the two goats was enacted as
described in detail in Leviticus 16. Two goats were
selected. By drawing lots, one was chosen to represent God
and the other to represent "Azazel." In later literature
"Azazel" was considered a name for the chief of the demons,
i.e. another name for Satan (I Enoch 9:6. 10:4). The high
priest first sacrificed a bull for himself and entered into
the Holy of Holies to sprinkle the blood on the mercy seat.
Then, he slaughtered the goat "for the Lord" and sprinkled
its blood on the mercy seat, as he had done the blood of the
bull. In this way the high priest was the only person to
ever go into the Holy of Holies, and then only on the Day of
Atonement. At all other times, and to all other people, it
was off limits. The goat for Azazel then had the sins of
the people confessed over it by the high priest. After that
it was taken away live into the wilderness and turned loose,
symbolically removing all the transgressions of the people
away from the camp. Thus, the Day of Atonement symbolized
the reconciling of the Israelites to God.
Note: This clearly indicates our belief that the goat set
loose was the scapegoat.....and represents Satan.
The following is taken from the old correspondence course
written by the Worldwide Church of God when they were still
preaching and teaching the truth:
Goat Chosen for the LORD
On the Day of Atonement, the high priest took two young
goats from the congregation of Israel (Leviticus 16:5, 7). The
two goats, in physical appearance, were similar. But they
were to portray two vastly different symbolic roles.
Leviticus 16:5, 7
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.
7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them
before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation. |
1. How was it determined which goat would represent which
role? Leviticus 16:8. What happened to the goat on which the
LORD'S lot fell? Verse 9.
Leviticus 16:8-9
8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one
lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the
scapegoat.
9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the
LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
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COMMENT: The LORD who dealt with ancient Israel, as we
learned in previous lessons, is the member of the God Family
who became Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:1-4). Therefore this
goat, which was sacrificed for a sin offering and whose
blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat for an atonement for
all Israel, represented Jesus Christ.
Although the two goats appeared to be alike, one was to
typify Christ. Men were utterly unqualified to determine
which goat was suitable. Therefore it was necessary for God
to decide.
A lot is a solemn appeal to God to supernaturally decide a
matter (Proverbs 16:33). It is a sacred religious ceremony.
Modern lotteries profane this ancient holy ceremony
appealing to God.
Men, without God's supernatural intervention, are unable to
determine who represents Christ. Most people who think they
worship Christ are actually following ministers who are
deceived by the devil (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Satan has so
deceived the whole world (Revelation 12:9) that mankind as a
whole does not know who is God and who is the adversary.
2. Did the high priest sacrifice the goat representing
Christ--the goat chosen by lot "for the LORD"--as a sin
offering for all the people? Leviticus 16:15-16. What did
the blood of the sin offering picture? Romans 3:23-26;
Hebrews 9:12-14.
Leviticus 16:15-16
15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering,
that is for the people, and bring his blood within
the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the
blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy
seat, and before the mercy seat:
16 And he shall make an 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.
Romans 3:23-26
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory
of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation
through faith in his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are
past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his
righteousness: that he might be just, and the
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Hebrews 9:12-14
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.
13 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:
14 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? |
COMMENT: The killing of the LORD'S goat and sprinkling its
blood on the mercy seat pictured the method by which humans
can be reconciled to God-- through the sacrifice of an
innocent victim. Christ was that victim. He voluntarily took
our guilt with Him on His cross, paying the penalty in full.
Our guilt is expiated, atoned for; it ceases to exist if we
accept Christ as our Savior and quit sinning.
The sins of the people were borne by the goat even as Christ
bore our sins on His cross (Hebrews 9:28). But Christ rose
from the dead, ascended to the throne of God in heaven and
shall return.
3. Did the Aaronic high priest, after killing the goat
representing Christ, enter the Most Holy Place behind the
veil and sprinkle the goat's blood on the mercy seat? Hebrews
9:7; Leviticus 16:15-16. Was the Most Holy Place an earthly
representation of God's heavenly throne? Leviticus 16:2;
Exodus 25:21-22; Numbers 7:89.
Hebrews 9:7
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:
Leviticus 16:15-16
15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering,
that is for the people, and bring his blood within
the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the
blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy
seat, and before the mercy seat:
16 And he shall make an 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.
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.
Exodus 25:21-22
21 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.
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.
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.
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COMMENT: The altar, Tabernacle and mercy seat were
considered defiled by their presence among the sinning
Israelites. All through the year Israel's sins were
symbolically transferred to the Tabernacle and its fixtures
(Leviticus 4:2-7). On the Day of Atonement this guilt was
symbolically purged from the nation so God would continue to
dwell with Israel. The goat's blood symbolized the
blood of Christ.
4. Did Christ, after His sacrifice and resurrection, enter
behind the veil to the throne of God in heaven? Hebrews
6:19-20; 8:1; 9:24; 1 Peter 3:22. Was it His own blood that
He presented as an offering for sin? Hebrews 9:11-12.
Hebrews 6:19-20
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both
sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that
within the veil;
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even
Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order
of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 8:1
Now of the things which we have spoken this is the
sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the
right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the
heavens;
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:
1 Peter 3:22
Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of
God; angels and authorities and powers being made
subject unto him.
Hebrews 9:11-12.
11 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;
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.
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COMMENT: The high priest, symbolically taking the atoning
blood to God's throne, represented and symbolically did the
work of the risen Christ.
Both the high priest and the goat represented Christ. It was
not possible for the high priest to die every year to
picture Christ's death. That had to be symbolized by the
goat. Nor could the goat--after it was killed--represent the
risen Jesus Christ, our eternal High Priest. The human high
priest represented the living, resurrected Christ. That is
why he had to be symbolically cleaned so carefully before he
could officiate.
5. What has Christ, our High Priest, been doing for more
than 1,950 years? Hebrews 7:25; 4:14-16; 1 John 1:9; 2:1-2.
Hebrews 7:25
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the
uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever
liveth to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest,
that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of
God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was
in all points tempted like as we are, yet without
sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to
help in time of need.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
1 John 2:1-2
1 My little children, these things write I unto you,
that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an
advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not
for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole
world. |
COMMENT: Christ is our living Savior. Christ's death has
paid the penalty of all human sin. But that in itself did
not complete the job of making atonement for all humans.
Satan still rules this world, influencing everyone. The vast
majority do not believe in Christ's sacrifice and do not
obey God.
How will the job of atonement be completed? How will all
mankind eventually be made at one with God the Father? The
answer is revealed through the symbolism of the live goat.
Goat Led Into the Wilderness
An unusual feature of the Day of Atonement rituals was the
goat led alive into the wilderness. Who or what did this
goat represent? Why wasn't it killed? What significance did
the wilderness have?
When the priest went behind the veil into the Most Holy
Place, he symbolized Christ ascending to God's throne in
heaven. The work he did in the Most Holy Place
symbolized Christ's work for more than 1,950 years. When the
priest came out, he symbolized Christ's return to earth.
What did the high priest then do--and what will Christ do
after He returns?
1. After the Levitical high priest had sacrificed one goat
and completed his work inside the Tabernacle, did he seize
the other goat? Leviticus 16:20. Did the priest symbolically
place the sins of the people on the head of this goat? Verse
21.
Leviticus 16:20-21
20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the
holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation,
and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:
21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head
of the live goat, and confess over him all the
iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their
transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon
the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the
hand of a fit man into the wilderness: |
COMMENT: Jesus Christ atoned for our sins when He took the
penalty of our sins upon Himself by sacrificing His sinless
life for us. When we repent of our sins, our past debt
ceases to exist. The sins of the people were symbolically
atoned for by the sacrificed goat (Leviticus 16:15). So what are
the sins placed on the head of the live goat? The key to the
explanation--and the symbolic meaning of this Holy Day--lies
in correctly understanding who or what this goat
represented.
2. The goat chosen by lot for the LORD represented Christ.
Who was the other goat to represent? Verse 8. Was it to be
banished? Verse 10.
Leviticus 16:8, 10
8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one
lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the
scapegoat.
10 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. |
COMMENT: The English word scapegoat is not a correct
translation of the Hebrew word God inspired. The original
word was azazel. Azazel, among the early Semitic dwellers in
the Sinai desert, referred to Satan the devil! James Moffatt
therefore translated this as "Azazel the demon."
William Gesenius wrote this: "This name was used for that of
an evil demon....The name Azazel...is also used by the Arabs
as that of an evil demon" (Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, page
617). "The devil, named Eblis in the Koran, was once one of
the archangels in heaven, and was called Azazil, but by
disobedience fell" (J.W.H. Stobart, Islam and Its Founder,
page 114).
Hermann Schultz wrote: "Azazel is...an Aramaic...name for an
unclean and ungodlike power, which has its abode in the
wilderness, in the accursed land outside the sacred bounds
of the camp" (Old Testament Theology, translated by
Paterson, 1892, vol. 1, page 405).
"The high priest...cast lots upon the two goats. One was to
be for the Lord for a sin-offering. The other was for Azazel
(the completely separate one, the evil spirit regarded as
dwelling in the desert), to be sent away alive into the
wilderness" (F. Watson, The Cambridge Companion to the
Bible, 1893, page 161.)
Modern commentaries often misunderstand this azazel goat.
This is not too surprising, since Satan has deceived the
whole world, and deceived many into thinking he does not
exist. Some commentators claim that this azazel goat
represents Christ. Such theories have no biblical or
symbolic support.
Let's notice a modern Jewish commentary that makes it clear
that the azazel goat represented _ Satan the devil:
"Azazel...was probably a demonic being.... Apocryphal Jewish
works, composed in the last few centuries before the
Christian era, tell of angels who were lured...into
rebellion against God. In these writings, Azazel is one of
the two leaders of the rebellion. And posttalmudic documents
tell a similar story about two rebel angels, Uzza and Azzael--both
variations of the name Azazel. These mythological stories,
which must have been widely known, seem to confirm the
essentially demonic character of the old biblical Azazel"
(Union of American Hebrew Congregations, The Torah--a Modern
Commentary, page 859).
The word scapegoat carries a wrong connotation. Originally
it meant "escape goat"--the goat that was allowed to escape.
But today the word scapegoat signifies "one who bears blame
or guilt for others." This is definitely not the meaning
that God inspired. Azazel--Satan--bears his own guilt in
deceiving mankind. Satan is not a scapegoat for another's
sins. He will be punished for his own guilt.
The real cause--the actual author--of human sin is Satan the
devil (John 8:42-44; Eph. 2:2). Satan is guilty of inspiring
the sins of mankind. Christ paid the penalty for our part in
every sin we Ye repent of. But He did not pay for Satan's
part in these sins, or the sins of the other demons. Demons
are not offered salvation, and they refuse to repent! So
here, in this Levitical ritual, all of man's Satan-inspired
sins were symbolically put back on Satan's head, where they
belong!
When Jesus Christ returns, Satan's part of the blame for
mankind's sins will be placed on him, and he will then be
removed from the presence of man. Justice will be done.
3. Was the azazel goat sent away from all mankind carrying
his sins with him? Leviticus 16:21-22. Does the wilderness to
which the goat was taken represent the land of ruins that
modern "Babylon" will become? Read Isaiah 13:19 through
14:23.
Leviticus 16:21-22
21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head
of the live goat, and confess over him all the
iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their
transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon
the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the
hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their
iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall
let go the goat in the wilderness.
Isaiah 13:19 -14:23
13:19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty
of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God
overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
13:20 It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it
be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither
shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall
the shepherds make their fold there.
13:21 But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there;
and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures;
and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance
there.
13:22 And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry
in their desolate houses, and dragons in their
pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and
her days shall not be prolonged.
14:1 For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will
yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land:
and the strangers shall be joined with them, and
they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.
14:2 And the people shall take them, and bring them
to their place: and the house of Israel shall
possess them in the land of the LORD for servants
and handmaids: and they shall take them captives,
whose captives they were; and they shall rule over
their oppressors.
14:3 And it shall come to pass in the day that the
LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from
thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou
wast made to serve,
14:4 That thou shalt take up this proverb against
the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor
ceased! the golden city ceased!
14:5 The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked,
and the sceptre of the rulers.
14:6 He who smote the people in wrath with a
continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in
anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.
14:7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they
break forth into singing.
14:8 Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the
cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down,
no feller is come up against us.
14:9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet
thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for
thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath
raised up from their thrones all the kings of the
nations.
14:10 All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art
thou also become weak as we? art thou become like
unto us?
14:11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the
noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee,
and the worms cover thee.
14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer,
son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the
ground, which didst weaken the nations!
14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will
ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the
stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the
congregation, in the sides of the north:
14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will be like the most High.
14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the
sides of the pit.
14:16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon
thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man
that made the earth to tremble, that did shake
kingdoms;
14:17 That made the world as a wilderness, and
destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the
house of his prisoners?
14:18 All the kings of the nations, even all of
them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.
14:19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an
abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that
are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down
to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under
feet.
14:20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial,
because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy
people: the seed of evildoers shall never be
renowned.
14:21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the
iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise,
nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world
with cities.
14:22 For I will rise up against them, saith the
LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name,
and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the LORD.
14:23 I will also make it a possession for the
bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it
with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of
hosts. |
COMMENT: Satan, the instigator of sin, is guilty of
inspiring our sins, and his guilt cannot be atoned for. His
sins are placed on his own account, and then he and his sins
are sent away--completely removed from the presence of God
and God's redeemed children!
Satan's power over mankind is through deception and sin.
Through Christ's redeeming sacrifice, we have been bought
back, purchased, ransomed from the spiritual kidnapper.
Satan has lost his claim to ownership, and he will be
prevented from exercising that influence for 1,000 years. No
longer will he be an adversary or an accuser of the
brethren. Mankind as a whole cannot be fully atoned--"at
one" with God--until this is done.
4. After coming in contact with the azazel goat, did the
high priest have to wash himself again before coming in
contact with the people? Leviticus 16:24. And did the man who led
the goat away have to wash his clothes and bathe before
coming into the camp? Verse 26.
Leviticus 16:24, 26
24 And he shall wash his flesh with water in the
holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth,
and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering
of the people, and make an atonement for himself,
and for the people.
26 And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat
shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in
water, and afterward come into the camp.
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COMMENT: The symbolism is certainly that of having come in
contact with the devil!
5. Is the azazel goat pictured as remaining alive? Verses
10, 22.
Leviticus 16:10, 22
10 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.
22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their
iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall
let go the goat in the wilderness. |
COMMENT: Satan is a spirit being and therefore immortal
(Luke 20:35-36). To signify that, the goat was permitted to
live. But notice that it was turned loose only when
completely removed. This represents Satan being prevented
from influencing mankind after Christ's return.
Notice the fulfillment of this part of God's Master Plan, as
revealed in the book of Revelation.
6. What will be done to Satan after the Second Coming of
Christ? Revelation 20:1-2. Where will he be cast? Verse 3. Also
notice Revelation 18:1-2.
Leviticus 16:24, 26
24 And he shall wash his flesh with water in the
holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth,
and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering
of the people, and make an atonement for himself,
and for the people.
26 And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat
shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in
water, and afterward come into the camp.
Revelation 20:1-3
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having
the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in
his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent,
which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a
thousand years,
3 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.
Revelation 18:1-2
1 And after these things I saw another angel come
down from heaven, having great power; and the earth
was lightened with his glory.
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying,
Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is
become the habitation of devils, and the hold of
every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and
hateful bird. |
COMMENT: The "bottomless pit" or abyss was pictured by the
desert wilderness where the azazel goat was banished. Satan
and his demons will be chained by an angel of God (who was
symbolized by the man mentioned in Leviticus 16:21). He will
be completely prevented from further leading mankind into
sin. No longer will Satan be able to broadcast his evil
attitudes.
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