Sermon: Reconciliation
by Chris Cumming
1] Where does it say we are to keep the Day of Atonement?
Leviticus 23:27
Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of
atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall
afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
2] Is this day commanded anywhere else in the Word of God?
Leviticus 16:29-30
29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh
month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and
do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger
that sojourneth among you:
30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to
cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.
Leviticus 25:9
Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the
seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound
throughout all your land.
Numbers 29:7-11
7 And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an holy convocation;
and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein:
8 But ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD for a sweet savour; one
young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year; they shall be unto
you without blemish:
9 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals
to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram,
10 A several tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:
11 One kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the sin offering of
atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering of it, and
their drink offerings.
3] What does this word, “Atonement” mean anyway?
The American Heritage Dictionary says, “Reconciliation between God and humans.
The Britannica Concise Encyclopedia says, “Religious concept in which obstacles
to reconciliation with God are removed, usually through sacrifice.
The Smith Bible Dictionary says, “The great day of national humiliation, and the
only one commanded in the Mosaic law [see Fasts]. The mode of its
observance is described in Leviticus 16, and the conduct of the people is
emphatically enjoined in Leviticus 23:26-32.”
Under the heading of “How observed” we read, “It was kept by the people as a
high solemn Sabbath. On this occasion only the high priest was permitted to
enter into the Holy of Holies. Having bathed his person and dressed himself
entirely in the holy white linen garments, he brought forward a young bullock
for a Sin Offering, purchased at his own cost, on account of himself and his
family, and two young goats for a Sin Offering, with a ram for a Burnt Offering,
which were paid for out of the public treasury, on account of the people.
“He then presented the two goats before the Lord at the door of the Tabernacle
and cast lots upon them. On one lot, ‘For Jehovah’ was inscribed, and on the
other, ‘For Azazel’. This goat was called the scapegoat.
4] What does our doctrine say about the meaning of Atonement?
"The Day of Atonement, a solemn day of fasting and self-searching represents
the time when sin shall be placed upon the head of its ultimate source, Satan
the devil. The removal of the cause of evil allows God's Kingdom to hold
unopposed rulership over mankind."
In another place it reads:
"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 [as the 9th day is coming to an end] 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 (1 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."
5] What does the doctrine say about the Holy Days in the New Testament?
Under the heading, "Holy Days in
the New Testament.":
"Various of the festivals are mentioned elsewhere, though generally only in
passing. Pentecost is mentioned twice besides Acts 2 (Acts 20:16; 1 Corinthians
16:8). The Day of Atonement is called by its common designation of the time,
'the Fast' (cf Acts 27:9). These all indicate an environment, in which the holy
days were known, accepted and observed."
Acts 27:9
Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the
fast was now already past, Paul admonished them.
6] What does our doctrine say about the spiritual meaning of the Day of
Atonement?
Under the heading, "Spiritual Meaning.":
"Day of Atonement: The Day of Atonement symbolizes both the reunion of God and
man after Christ returns to earth, and the binding of Satan to render him
inactive. The evils of human nature are the attitude of Satan the devil. As long
as the source of evil remains active, evil will have a part in subverting the
world. At this time, the sins of the world shall, correctly, be placed on their
source, as symbolized by the Azazel goat which was sent away into the
wilderness. Satan shall be chained and no longer allowed to deceive the world
(Revelation 20:1-3). This is not to diminish our own role in sin, for the Day of
Atonement also represents the reuniting of God and man through the sacrifice of
Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind."
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.
7] What does our doctrine say about how the Church of God observes the Day of
Atonement?
Under the heading, "Observance in
the Church of God.":
The Day of Atonement is kept by a complete fast (no food or drink) from
sunset [even] to sunset [even]. (Exceptions are of course made
by the individuals themselves in cases of serious illness and the like).
8] What does our booklet on Bible Prophecy say about the Day of Atonement?
In the booklet, "Can You
Understand Bible Prophecy?":
"The crossing of' the river Jordan into the 'promised land' is a symbolism of
the Christian inheritance of the Kingdom of God; and the forty years' wandering
(forty is a number symbolizing trial or testing in the Bible) symbolic of
the life of trials and tribulation confronting each newly-begotten Christian
(John 16:33). There are literally dozens of types in the Bible which are shadowy
examples of God's plan.
John 16:33 says…
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the
world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world.
“Thus, each of the annual holy days are shadows of the reality of God's purpose;
they are prophetic, in that sense:
"(5) The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27-29) contained many shadowy
types and examples in its original observance, and is still observed today by
fasting (Acts 27:9, margin). It is a day which symbolizes 'at-one-ment' with
God; and portrays the time in the future when the whole world will ultimately be
reconciled with God."
Let us look at that reference to Acts 27 and verse 9:
Acts 27:9
Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the
fast was now already past, Paul admonished them.
The commentary on verse 9:
Because the fast was now already past - By the “fast” here is evidently intended
the fast which occurred among the Jews on the great day of atonement. That was
on the tenth of the month Tisri, which answers to a part of September and part
of October. It was, therefore, the time of the autumnal equinox, and when the
navigation of the Mediterranean was esteemed to be particularly dangerous, from
the storms which usually occurred about that time. The ancients regarded this as
a dangerous time to navigate the Mediterranean. ~Barnes Notes
9] What does the booklet, “Christ in the Old Testament say about the Day of
Atonement?
From our booklet, "Christ in the
Old Testament.":
"It was shortly after this, while Philip was still many miles north of Jerusalem
in Samaria that God sent His angel to tell him about the Ethiopian eunuch.
"Philip 'Preached Unto Him Jesus.'
"Seeing the wide-eyed interest of this big official of the Ethiopian queen,
Philip warmed to his task.
"He asked that the scroll be rolled back until he came to the last lines of the
preceding passage. He read to the eunuch how the Messiah was to have been beaten
nearly to death, 'As many as were astonished at Thee: His visage was so marred,
more than that of any man, and His form more than the sons of men' (Isaiah
52:14), and then related all the events of the terrible night of Christ’s
arrest, His scourging, and His death.
"He read, 'So shall He sprinkle many nations,' and reminded the Ethiopian of the
practice of the priests on the Day of Atonement to sprinkle drops of blood on
the altar, on the Book of the Law, the Tabernacle, all the vessels, and even on
the people (Hebrews 9:18-22).
"He showed how the sacrifices were but a foreshadow of the necessity for God
Himself to come to die for the sins of His own creation (John 1:1-14), and how
sacrifices were not originally intended (1 Samuel 15:22, 23; Jeremiah 7:22), but
that God had instituted them to remind sinning Israel that the wages of sin was
death." ---end quote---
Later in the same booklet [Christ in the Old Testament]:
"The point is that everywhere in the Old Testament where the Paschal lamb is
mentioned, it is a type of Christ!
"A final scripture: 'And He saith unto me, ‘Write, Blessed are they which are
called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb' (Revelation 19:9).
"No doubt, Philip must have used some, if not many, of the Old Testament
references to Christ during his few hours of conversation with the Ethiopian
eunuch.
"The Day of Atonement, and a 'Prophet Like Unto Moses.'
"Since it is doubtless the eunuch was in Jerusalem to worship God, it is obvious
this trip must have been for more than one purpose. The scroll would have been
like a national treasure to Candace and her court. However, since he was there
to 'worship,' it is obvious there were dual reasons for the trip.
"If the eunuch was keeping God’s annual sabbaths, and it is obvious he was, then
he was without doubt familiar with the sacrifices, including the special
sacrifices required on the Passover and the Day of Atonement. Would not Philip
have expounded the meaning of both? Surely, he could not have omitted the
Passover, since the relationship with the sacrificial Lamb on Nisan 14, and the
scriptures in Isaiah 52 and 53 are so closely associated.
"Each year, on the tenth day of the seventh month, one of the most solemn high
day sabbaths was observed, the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27-32).
"On that day, the high priest was to offer a bullock for himself and his family,
then to select two kids of the goats, and cast lots upon them.
"One was for 'the Eternal,' and the other was for 'the Azazel,' sometimes
rendered 'scapegoat.' The goat upon which the lot for 'the Eternal' fell was a
sin offering for all the people. The goat which was called 'the Azazel' was to
have all the sins of the people confessed over him, then to be taken by the hand
of a 'fit man' who was capable of insuring the goat did not escape, and was to
be taken a vast distance into the wilderness, then let go.
"Since the scriptures being read by the eunuch and Philip spoke of how the
Savior would 'sprinkle all nations,' it is very likely Philip expounded
Leviticus 16, which says, 'And he [Aaron] shall sprinkle of the blood
upon it [the altar] with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and
hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel' (Leviticus 16:19).
"Paul knew the Holy Scriptures. All of his teaching, his writings, his beliefs,
like those of every one of the early apostles, were based solely upon the Old
Testament Scriptures.
"Of these symbols of Christ, Paul wrote, '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 [the Day of Atonement was the
only time in the year the high priest entered into the holy of holies—a symbol
of heaven itself] 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? And for this cause He is the Mediator of the new testament [new 'will,'
new 'legacy,' new 'covenant'], 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 9:11-15).
Paul was not remotely aware that he was writing part of the Bible when he wrote
these words. He knew what God’s Word said about the time when God would make a
new covenant with His people; a time when He would write His holy and perfect
law in their inward parts, and their hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
Believe it or not, Paul spent perhaps three and one-half years with Jesus Christ
personally (Galatians 1:15-19 with 1 Corinthians 9:1). He said he was one who
was called directly of Christ (Galatians 1:1, 10-12).
The letter to the 'diaspora' of the Hebrews, or the scattered members of the
twelve tribes of Israel, emphasized the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. It showed
how the types, shadows, and symbols of the Levitical priesthood were rendered
unnecessary by the High Priesthood of Jesus Christ. Because the Day of Atonement
was the one holy day when the high priest entered into the 'holy of holies'
after the ceremonies of 'sprinkling' the people, the book, and the altar with
blood, it was obvious to Paul, as it was to all Christ’s apostles, that the high
priest was a type of Jesus Christ; that the blood of animals was a type of
Christ’s shed blood; that the 'holy of holies' was a type of God’s throne in
heaven.
Notice how the Priesthood of Christ is explained:
"For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law,
he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and
hyssop [like a brush of a bush, which was also a cleansing agent, used like a
paint brush in sprinkling the blood], and sprinkled with blood both the
book, and all the people, Saying, ‘This is the blood of the testament which God
hath enjoined unto you.’
"Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of
the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and
without shedding of blood there is no remission [forgiveness]. 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. 'For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands [as
in the Tabernacle, or the Temple, on the Day of Atonement], which are the
figures of the true [shadows, types, representations]; but into heaven
itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that He should
offer Himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year
with the blood of others; For then must He often have suffered since the
foundation of the world: but now once [typified by the Day of Atonement]
in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of
Himself.
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 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
9:12-28).
"There are many places in the New Testament where we may read of the types,
shadows, symbols, and representations of the plan of God which were written in
the Old Testament.
"These were the only Holy Scriptures which were in existence when the apostles
and the early church were preaching the Word of God in the first century.
"Not one of the Gospel writers, nor Paul, ever presumed they were 'writing the
Bible' when they wrote down their recollections, or, in Paul’s case, letters to
churches he served, or the young men who worked with him.
"Did they receive salvation?
"Did they learn of Christ?
"Did they repent, and did they receive God’s Holy Spirit?
"Of course they did!
"How? By rejecting the Holy Scriptures which they had studied, heard read and
preached, and read themselves all their lives, and claiming they believed in a
'Bible which was yet to be written'? They knew and understood about the
prophecies concerning Christ in the Old Testament Scriptures. Why would anyone
assume they thought them to be 'done away,' when they knew the knowledge of
salvation was contained therein?
"The Day of Atonement was one of the most solemn, important holy days in the
year, a day of fasting (Leviticus 23:27; Acts 27:9), and the only day in the
entire year when the high priest entered into the holy of holies. The high
priest was a type of Christ. The shed blood of animals was a type of Christ’s
blood. The holy of holies was a type of heaven itself, where Christ was received
of His Father as the sacrifice for the sins of the world.
"It is more than merely logical, since the Ethiopian eunuch had puzzled over the
passages in Isaiah’s prophecies about Christ, that Philip would have explained
the meaning of the types and shadows of Atonement; explained about the sacrifice
of Christ; about Who Jesus Christ really was!"
---end quote---
10] Posted at the EA web site is our booklet, “Betrayal
and Forgiveness.”
What are the first words you read in this booklet?
It reads, “Why are we commanded to ‘afflict our souls’ by fasting on the Day of
Atonement? What is so solemn, so somber, about this day that it requires
fasting? Here, from your own Bible, is the truth about the Day of Atonement.”
The booklet then goes into a detailed description of how this world has rejected
God and run everything by sin. The world is full of evil and sin.
After this description we read:
The estrangement of this world against God is a total alienation. It is
complete.
As they rejected Christ, so did the world reject His disciples, as He
prophesied: "They shall put you out of the synagogues; yea, the time cometh,
that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God a service.
"And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father
nor me" (John 16:2, 3).
Now do you understand how complete, how total is the spiritual darkness and
Satanic confusion that grips this world--yes, including the world of religion?
There is need for the world and the very solar system itself to be restored to a
condition of being "AT ONE" WITH GOD!
Because the process of alienation has been so painful, the holy day which
pictures the reconciliation and final removal of all the sources of hostility,
rejection, and hatred also features something painful: an "affliction" of our
lives, through fasting!
A "Feast" of Fasting
Now, let's come to understand the symbolism and typology of the somber Day of
Atonement.
"And the Eternal spake unto Moses, saying, 'Also on the tenth day of this
seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation
[a
commanded assembly]
unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls ... 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
Eternal your God.
"For whatsoever soul [person]
it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from
among His people" (Leviticus 23:27-29).
That "afflicting your souls" means fasting; abstaining from food and water
during that entire twenty-four hour day, is crystal clear from the Scriptures.
---end quote---
Later in the booklet we read:
“Fasting is not for the purpose of "getting God's attention." It is, instead,
for getting our attention on God.”
Still later in the booklet, Mr. Armstrong concludes:
When does the binding of Satan occur?
Immediately after the Second Coming of Christ and following Christ having thrown
the beast and false prophet into a lake of fire!
Note this sequence of events well! Satan is bound after Christ's coming, which
is pictured by the Feast of Trumpets, yet before the beginning of the
Millennium, which is foreshadowed, in part, by the Feast of Tabernacles. Which
holy day comes between Trumpets and Tabernacles? The Day of Atonement.
The forgiveness of sin requires the shedding of blood.".... without shedding of
blood there is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22). The Passover lamb, the daily and
special sacrifices; the slaying of the bullock for Aaron and his family, and the
slaying of the goat "for the Eternal" all picture CHRIST'S SHED BLOOD for the
sins of mankind. But the second goat, the "Azazel," is NOT FOR THE ETERNAL, but
is for the purpose of remaining alive to bear the sins and guilt of Israel far,
far away into a distant, uninhabited wilderness.
This does not picture forgiveness of sin, for no blood is shed. Therefore, the
theory that the live goat, or "Azazel," which is sent into a desolate,
uninhabited wilderness pictures "forgiveness of sins" is utterly impossible.
Instead, it pictures how Satan, who will remain alive for eternity, will be
burdened with memories of his iniquities and sins for ever and ever.
Think of it! Laying upon the head of the live goat, like virulent bacteria and
viruses, all the sins of the world, the goat is sent into a remote, desolate
wilderness. The wilderness, or "Arabah" was always used as a type of sin.
While God will forgive and forget our sins, Satan the Devil has no capacity for
remorse or forgiveness and will NEVER FORGET. He will remain alive, REMEMBERING!
Therefore, though God, our Creator, completely forgives and forgets your sins
and mine, our "partner in sin," the original sinner, the one who influenced us
to sin, will remain alive, continually remembering! He will be alone. There will
be no light to see. There will be no companionship. He will remain alone with
his torturous thoughts, his bitter memories, for all eternity.
---end quote---
The booklet, “Betrayal and Forgiveness” ends with these words:
When we abstain from food and drink from sunset to sunset during the holy Day
of Atonement, we should not think about how pitiful we are, how hungry we are,
how we desire food! This defeats the purpose of Atonement.
Rather, we should get our minds off physical things, and think only of spiritual
things. We should think, again, of how much God has suffered for mankind! How
God was betrayed by Lucifer; how Satan destroyed the original creation; how
Satan deceived our first parents; how he attacked Job; how he influenced Herod
to kill thousands of innocent babies; how he tempted Christ; how he influenced
Judas to betray Christ; and how he is our adversary, "accusing" us before God,
day and night!
We should realize that we have had an evil partner in sin! We should soberly
contemplate how GREAT is God's mercy toward us, that He should say He will
"remove our sins from us as far as the East is removed from the West," realizing
how Satan, laden with his share of our guilt, will be hurled into the "blackness
of darkness for all eternity"!
Only when all this is accomplished will this world, under the righteous reign of
Jesus Christ, become once again truly "at one" with God!
How fervently we should pray, "Thy Kingdom Come..."