Sabbath School THE DAY OF ATONEMENT Leviticus 16 1
The significance of the Jewish economy is not yet fully comprehended. Truths vast and profound are shadowed forth in its rites and symbols. The gospel is the key that unlocks its mysteries. Through a knowledge of the plan of redemption, its truths are opened to the understanding. 2
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Far more than we do, it is our privilege to understand these wonderful themes. We are to comprehend the deep things of God. Angels desire to look into the truths that are revealed to the people who with contrite hearts are searching the word of God, and praying for greater lengths and breadths and depths and heights of the knowledge which He alone can give. (Christ s Object Lessons, p. 133) 4
Jesus Christ was the foundation of the whole Jewish economy. He established the sacrificial offerings which typified himself. The whole system of types and symbols was one compacted prophecy of the gospel, a presentation of Christianity. (The Review and Herald, March 21, 1893) 5
How did Paul sum up the sacrificial system? Hebrews 9:1 7 6
As a people we should be earnest students of prophecy; we should not rest until we become intelligent in regard to the subject of the sanctuary, which is brought out in the visions of Daniel and John. This subject sheds great light on our present position and work, and gives us unmistakable proof that God has led us in our past experience. 7
It explains our disappointment in 1844, showing us that the sanctuary to be cleansed was not the earth, as we had supposed, but that Christ then entered into the most holy apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, and is there performing the closing work of His priestly office, in fulfillment of the words of the angel to the prophet Daniel, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Daniel 8:14. (Life Sketches, p. 278) 8
In the future, deception of every kind is to arise, and we want solid ground for our feet. We want solid pillars for the building. Not one pin is to be removed from that which the Lord has established. The enemy will bring in false theories, such as the doctrine that there is no sanctuary. This is one of the points on which there will be a departing from the faith. Where shall we find safety unless it be in the truths that the Lord has been giving for the last fifty years? (The Review and Herald, May 25, 1905) 9
How did Peter view the truths given to the early church? 2 Peter 1:16 10
It is as certain that we have the truth as that God lives; and Satan, with all his arts and hellish power, cannot change the truth of God into a lie. While the great adversary will try his utmost to make of none effect the word of God, truth must go forth as a lamp that burneth. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 595, published in 1881) 11
THE SACRED DAY The most solemn of the ceremonial sabbaths. Leviticus 23:27-32 12
Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement(s): it shall be an 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(s), to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. (Leviticus 23:27, 28) 13
Yom Kippur kaphar 14
THE PEOPLE WERE TO: Afflict their souls (Acts 27:9; Psalm 69:10 Those who participate in the final day of atonement must control appetite. Do no work: only feast day with work probation equal to 7th day Sabbath. Those who worked were to be cut off from the camp. Those who violate the Sabbath today will not be among the redeemed (Revelation 21:27) 15
The high priest alone officiated in the atonement service. Exodus 30:10; Hebrews 9:7. Christ is the only mediator between God and us: 1 Timothy 2:5 16
Thus the great Intercessor presents His petition to the Father. No middle-man comes between the sinner and Christ. No dead prophet, no buried saint is seen. Christ Himself is our Advocate. All that the Father is to His Son He is to those whom His Son in humanity represented. In every line of His work Christ acted as a representative of the Father. He lived as our substitute and surety. He labored as He would have His followers labor, unselfishly, appreciating the value of every human being for whom He suffered and died. (The Signs of the Times, June 28, 1899) 17
CURRENT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 18
All sins of the year in the sanctuary. Leviticus 4:27-31. 19
In the sin offerings presented during the year, a substitute had been accepted in the sinner s stead; but the blood of the victim had not made full atonement for the sin. It had only provided a means by which the sin was transferred to the sanctuary. By the offering of blood, the sinner acknowledged the authority of the law, confessed the guilt of his transgression, and expressed his faith in Him who was to take away the sin of the world; but he was not entirely released from the condemnation of the law. (Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 355, 356) 20
SOLEMNITY OF ATONING SERVICES A pure, holy priesthood must serve. Leviticus 16:3, 4, 6 Hebrews 7:24 26; 1 Peter 2:21, 22 21
Soul-searching confession and repentance. Numbers 29:7; (Leviticus 23:28-32) 22
Every man was to afflict his soul while the work of atonement was going forward. All business was laid aside, and the whole congregation of Israel spent the day in solemn humiliation before God, with prayer, fasting, and deep searching of heart. (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 355) 23
Cleansing by blood alone. Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9:22, 23 24
The cleansing, both in the typical and in the real service, must be accomplished with blood: in the former, with the blood of animals; in the latter, with the blood of Christ. Paul states, as the reason why this cleansing must be performed with blood, that without shedding of blood is no remission. Remission, or putting away of sin, is the work to be accomplished. (The Great Controversy, pp. 417, 418) 25
Incense in the golden censer: Leviticus 16:12, 13 Exodus 30:34 38 26
Just as he entered within the second veil, carrying the golden censer filled with coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, and his hand full of incense, he placed the incense upon the coals in the censer, that the cloud of fragrant incense might cover him as he passed in before the visible presence of God, as manifested between the cherubim above the mercy seat. (S. N. Haskell, The Cross and Its Shadow, p. 210) 27
THE BLOOD OF ATONEMENT The Lord s lot and its blood: Leviticus 16:7-9 28
On the Day of Atonement two kids of the goats were brought to the door of the tabernacle, and lots were cast upon them, one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat. Verse 8. The goat upon which fell the lot for the Lord was to be slain as a sin offering for the people. And the priest was to bring his blood within the veil and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. The blood was also to be sprinkled upon the altar of incense that was before the veil. (The Great Controversy, p. 419) 29
Atonement blood within the veil Leviticus 16:14, 15 30
On the Day of Atonement the high priest, having taken an offering for the congregation, went into the most holy place with the blood and sprinkled it upon the mercy seat, above the tables of the law. Thus the claims of the law, which demanded the life of the sinner, were satisfied. (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 356) 31
SINS REMOVED FROM THE CAMP Sins removed from sanctuary: Leviticus 16:20, 21 Revelation 20:1 3 32
Then in his character of mediator the priest took the sins upon himself, and, leaving the sanctuary, he bore with him the burden of Israel s guilt. At the door of the tabernacle he laid his hands upon the head of the scapegoat and confessed 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 as the goat bearing these sins was sent away, they were, with him, regarded as forever separated from the people. Such was the service performed unto the example and shadow of heavenly things. Hebrews 8:5. (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 355) 33
The blotting out sin: Leviticus 16:30; Isaiah 43:25; 44:22 34
As in the final atonement the sins of the truly penitent are to be blotted from the records of heaven, no more to be remembered or come into mind, so in the type they were borne away into the wilderness, forever separated from the congregation. (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 358) 35
Our Sin Bearer: Isaiah 53:4, 5, 7, 8, 10; Rom. 3:24, 25 36
It is for thee that the Son of God consents to bear this burden of guilt; for thee He spoils the domain of death, and opens the gates of Paradise. He who stilled the angry waves and walked the foam-capped billows, who made devils tremble and disease flee, who opened blind eyes and called forth the dead to life, offers Himself upon the cross as a sacrifice, and this from love to thee. He, the Sin Bearer, endures the wrath of divine justice, and for thy sake becomes sin itself. (The Desire of Ages, pp. 755, 756) 37
Satan acknowledges the righteousness of God Leviticus 16:10 Philippians 2:9 11 38
As if entranced, the wicked have looked upon the coronation of the Son of God. They see in His hands the tables of the divine law, the statutes which they have despised and transgressed. They witness the outburst of wonder, rapture, and adoration from the saved; and as the wave of melody sweeps over the multitudes without the city, all with one voice exclaim, "Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints" (Revelation 15:3); and, falling prostrate, they worship the Prince of life. (The Great Controversy, pp. 668, 669) 39
Satan seems paralyzed as he beholds the glory and majesty of Christ. He who was once a covering cherub remembers whence he has fallen. A shining seraph, "son of the morning;" how changed, how degraded! From the council where once he was honored, he is forever excluded. He sees another now standing near to the Father, veiling His glory. He has seen the crown placed upon the head of Christ by an angel of lofty stature and majestic presence, and he knows that the exalted position of this angel might have been his. (The Great Controversy, p. 669) 40
Satan sees that his voluntary rebellion has unfitted him for heaven. He has trained his powers to war against God; the purity, peace, and harmony of heaven would be to him supreme torture. His accusations against the mercy and justice of God are now silenced. The reproach which he has endeavored to cast upon Jehovah rests wholly upon himself. And now Satan bows down and confesses the justice of his sentence. (The Great Controversy, p. 670) 41
Notwithstanding that Satan has been constrained to acknowledge God's justice and to bow to the supremacy of Christ, his character remains unchanged. The spirit of rebellion, like a mighty torrent, again bursts forth. Filled with frenzy, he determines not to yield the great controversy. The time has come for a last desperate struggle against the King of heaven. He rushes into the midst of his subjects and endeavors to inspire them with his own fury and arouse them to instant battle. 42
But of all the countless millions whom he has allured into rebellion, there are none now to acknowledge his supremacy. His power is at an end. The wicked are filled with the same hatred of God that inspires Satan; but they see that their case is hopeless, that they cannot prevail against Jehovah. Their rage is kindled against Satan and those who have been his agents in deception, and with the fury of demons they turn upon them. (The Great Controversy, pp. 671, 672) 43
Ezekiel 28:6-8, 16-19 44
The End 45