Hebrews 9:7-8
But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.#1 While the Passover symbolizes Christ's sacrifice for our sins on a personal level, it is essential to understand that Christ's role as our High Priest who has made Atonement for us is on top of that. Christ's sacrifice fulfilled all sacrifices at once, and each sacrifice highlights a different role that Christ has fulfilled for us. The Atonement sacrifice highlights forgiveness for the sins that we commit in ignorance. Over time, God opens our eyes to our own sin, but we must come before Him in humility and prayer before He will do so, as David did when he said "Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults."
#2 The Day of Atonement ritual was the essential role of the high priest as the intercessor for the people of Israel, and thus this day teaches us that Christ, as our High Priest, is our intercessor. Furthermore, He is the "way into the Most Holy Place." In Christ's name, we are able to come before the throne of God (the true Most Holy Place) in prayer, and, ultimately, Christ is the Way to dwelling with God in His Kingdom. When "the tabernacle of God is with men," (Revelation 21:3) we will constantly be in the presence the Most Holy Place.
Leviticus 23:27-30
The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present an offering made to the LORD by fire. Do no work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the LORD your God. Anyone who does not deny himself on that day must be cut off from his people. I will destroy from among his people anyone who does any work on that day.#3 The Day of Atonement is the only time of the year that God commands us to "deny ourselves," which is done by fasting for 24 hours, from sunset to sunset, without food or water. The entire concept of fasting is to humble yourself before God by denying the will of your flesh to eat and drink so that you can discern and accept the will of God. Notice how this ties into point #1: we are forgiven the sins that we commit in ignorance, but at the same time we are also humbling ourselves so that we can properly submit to God's will.
#4 Fasting is the most powerful spiritual tool that we have for drawing close to God. This day also pictures people turning their hearts back to God. Notice that the consequences for not observing this day by fasting and abstaining from work are being "cut off" and "destroyed." Anyone who is not willing to draw close to God at His command will not be able to enter His Kingdom. With that said, not everyone is being called at this time to do so, but they will be called in the future when this Holy Day finds its ultimate fulfillment after Christ's return.
#5 Note that it says to "present an offering to the LORD made by fire." This was a commanded, individual offering that each person was required to make (see Tithes and Offerings: What are they and what are they good for?). In light of the points about being humbled, this is another means by which we show our submission to God by acknowledging that everything that we have comes from Him.
Leviticus 16:9-10
Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering. But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat.#6 The scapegoat in the Day of Atonement ritual was not a sacrifice. This goat being sent away from the people into the desert symbolizes the removal of Satan from this world, so that he can no longer have the power to lead humanity astray as he has done since the time of Adam and Eve. This occurs right after Christ's return (pictured by the Feast of Trumpets last week) and can be found in Revelation 20, right before beginning of the Millennium (pictured by the Feast of Tabernacles, beginning next Wednesday night). The act of removing the influence of Satan is a demonstration of God's compassion towards humanity. He does not want us to be led astray, and so He will give everyone a chance to follow His ways apart from the influence of the tempter.
2 Corinthians 3:13-18
We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.#7 The Hebrew word for "atonement" is "kippur," which literally means "covering" or "veil." Remember also that in the temple there was a veil that separated the Most Holy Place, and that veil was ripped in two upon Christ's death. The Day of Atonement symbolizes the removing of the veil from our hearts, so that we are able to "with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory" and to be "transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory." God's plan is all about changing us from what we want to be and into what He wants us to be. Humbling ourselves and having the veil lifted from our hearts, we are able to see the evil of our ways so that we may no longer commit sins in ignorance. This is a vital step in our lives towards the transformation that God requires by the Holy Spirit.
Everyone have a wonderful and blessed Day of Atonement tonight/tomorrow!
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