The Day of
Atonement
Oct 8th, 2011, a day of fasting from food and drink.
Atonement: Removal of Sin’s Cause and Reconciliation to God
We have already seen—through the symbolism involved in the
Passover—that Christ’s shed blood atones for our past sins.
In fact, atonement means reconciliation. The Day of Atonement
symbolizes the reconciliation of God and all humanity.
If we are reconciled to God through Christ’s sacrifice, why do we need
another Holy Day to teach us about reconciliation? If we are already reconciled,
why do we need to fast, as commanded on the Day of Atonement?
(Leviticus 23:27; Acts 27:9). What is this day’s specific significance in God’s
master plan for the salvation of mankind?
The Day of Atonement and Passover both teach us about the forgiveness
of sin and our reconciliation with God through Christ’s sacrifice. However,
Passover concerns the redemption of the firstborn and thus applies most
directly to Christians whom God has called in this age, while Atonement
carries universal implications.
Moreover, the Day of Atonement pictures an essential additional step in
God’s salvation plan not found in the symbolism of the Passover. This step
must take place before humanity can experience true peace on earth. All
people suffer the tragic consequences of sin. But sin doesn’t happen without
a cause, and God makes this cause clear in the symbolism associated with
the Day of Atonement.
Satan is the author of sin
The Day of Atonement involves not only the forgiveness of sin; it pictures
the removal of the primary cause of sin—Satan and his demons. Until God
removes the original instigator of sin, mankind will simply continue to fall
back into disobedience and suffering. Although our human nature has a part
to play in our sins, Satan the devil bears great responsibility for influencing
mankind to disobey God.
Even though many people doubt the existence of a devil, the Bible reveals
Satan as a powerful, invisible being who can sway all mankind.
Revelation
12:9 tells us that his influence is so great that he “deceives the whole world.”
The devil blinds people to the understanding of God’s truth. The apostle
Paul explained this to the Corinthians: “If our
gospel is veiled, it is veiled to
those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who
do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the
image of God, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
Paul also teaches us that Satan has influenced every human being to walk
in the ways of disobedience. He notes that those called into God’s Church
“once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince
of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience”
(Ephesians 2:2). Paul warned the Corinthians that Satan can present
himself as righteous to lead people astray: “For Satan himself transforms
himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers
also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be
according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
Jesus Christ plainly stated that Satan introduced sin and rebellion into
the world. In John 8:44 Christ declared to those who were antagonistic
to His teaching: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your
father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not
stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he
speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
Tying these scriptures together allows us to see the power and the influence
of Satan. Paul warned us to beware of the deceitful methods of the
devil: “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning,
your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure
devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3, NIV).
Christians who struggle to resist Satan and stop sinning fight a spiritual
battle against the devil and his demons. Paul explains: “For our struggle is
not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against
the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness”
(Ephesians 6:12, NASB).
Paul further explains here that Jesus Christ will deliver us from the influence
of the devil (verses 13-18). Of course, God is much more powerful than
Satan, but we must do our part by actively resisting the devil and the pulls of
the flesh (James 4:7). The Day of Atonement looks forward to the time during
which Satan’s deception will be removed and he will no longer be free
to influence and deceive mankind (Revelation 20:1-3).
Old Testament symbolism
Leviticus 16 describes God instructing ancient Israel to observe the Day
of Atonement. Although Christians are not required to offer animal sacrifices
today, this chapter adds significantly to our understanding of God’s plan.
Notice that the priest was to select two goats for a sin offering for the
people, and he was to present them before God (verses 5, 7). Aaron, the high
priest, was to cast lots to select one “for the Lord,” which he was to offer
as a sacrifice (verses 8-9). This goat represented Jesus Christ, who would be
slain to pay the penalty for our sins.
The other goat served a completely different purpose: “But the goat on
which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the
Lord, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into
the wilderness” (verse 10). Notice that this goat was not to be killed. The
high priest was to “lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all
the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the
goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man
appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place;
and the man shall release it in the desert” (verses 21-22, NIV).
The priest chose by lot the “scapegoat,” or Azazel, as the word appears
in the original Hebrew. Many scholars identify Azazel as the name of a
demon inhabiting the wilderness (Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible,
Vol. 1, p. 326). The Azazel goat represents Satan, who bears the responsibility
for the sins of humanity (verse 22) because of the deception he has
foisted upon mankind.
The high priest laid hands on this goat and confessed over it the wickedness,
rebellion and sins of the people. Why did he do that? As present ruler
of the world, the devil bears responsibility for his perversity in beguiling and
coercing humanity to sin. “The sending of the sin-laden goat . . . signified
the complete removal of the sins of the people and the handing them over,
as it were, to the evil spirit to whom they belonged” (The One Volume Bible
Commentary,1975, p. 95).
A scapegoat, in modern usage, is someone unfairly held responsible for
the mistakes of others. However, the modern English word scapegoat cannot
properly be applied to Satan; the devil is not a scapegoat in the modern
sense of the term. (Although some Bible versions use the word “scapegoat,”
Green’s Literal Translation more accurately calls it the “goat of departure.”)
Rather than unfairly bearing the blame for sin, Satan will be held justly
accountable for his own deliberate actions by which he has led humanity
into sin for thousands of years.
The symbolism of the live goat parallels the fate of Satan and his
demons, who will be removed at the outset of Jesus’ reign over the nations.
The book of Revelation describes this removal: “Then I saw an angel coming
down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great
chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is
the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him
into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he
should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished
. . .” (Revelation 20:1-3).
Thus the devil and his demons, who for thousands of years have led mankind
into every evil deed imaginable, will be removed to a place of restraint
(verse 4). Complete global reconciliation to God cannot occur until the
source of so much sin and suffering is out of the picture.
The modern application of this festival
Now notice specific instructions on when and how we are to keep this
festival. “Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement,”
God says. “It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict
your souls . . .” (Leviticus 23:27).
How do you “afflict your soul” on this day? Afflict comes from the
Hebrew anah, which means “to be afflicted, be bowed down, be humbled,
be meek” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament
Words, “To Be Humbled, Afflicted”). The same word is used in connection
with fasting in Psalm 35:13, Isaiah 58:3, 5 and Ezra 8:21. Fasting
means abstaining from food and drink (Esther 4:16).
So why does God tell us to fast during this specific 24 hours? Fasting
expresses our humble desire to draw closer to God. The Day of Atonement
represents a coming time of reconciliation during which, with Satan banished
and the world having been devastated by the horrific events leading up to this
time, a humbled and repentant humanity will at last be reconciled to God.
Few understand the proper reasons for fasting. Fasting is not to bend God
to our will. We don’t fast to receive anything from God except His abundant
mercy and forgiveness for our human weaknesses. Fasting helps us remember
how temporary our physical existence is. Without food and water, we
would soon perish. Fasting helps us realize just how much we need God as
the giver and sustainer of life.
We should always fast on the Day of Atonement in a repentant frame
of mind. Notice the prophet Daniel’s exemplary attitude while fasting:
“Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and
supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the Lord
my God, and made confession” (Daniel 9:3-4).
The early Church observed the Day of Atonement. More than 30 years
after Christ’s death, Luke still referred to the time and seasons by mentioning
this day, stating that “sailing was now dangerous because the Fast
was already over” (Acts 27:9). Almost all Bible commentaries and dictionaries
acknowledge that “the Fast” refers to the Day of Atonement.
Yet another important lesson comes to us through the Day of Atonement.
We have already seen that the slain goat represented the sacrifice in
our place of Jesus Christ, who took on Himself the death penalty we have
earned by sinning. But Jesus Christ did not stay dead; He came back to
life. What does the Day of Atonement teach us about Christ’s role after
His resurrection?
Leviticus 16:15-19 describes a solemn ceremony that was carried out
only once each year, on the Day of Atonement. The high priest was to take
the blood of the slain goat into the Most Holy Place—the holiest part of the
tabernacle—and to the mercy seat. The mercy seat was symbolic of the very
throne of Almighty God. The high priest acted out the function Christ performs
for repentant Christians. Having ascended to the very throne of God
to present the blood of His sacrifice, Christ intercedes for us—as He has
since His resurrection—as our High Priest.
The book of Hebrews makes this symbolism clear. “But Christ came as
High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle
not made with hands, that is, not of this [physical] creation. Not with the
blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy
Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:11-12).
Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we enjoy direct access to the true mercy
seat—the throne of our merciful, loving God. This was dramatically and
miraculously demonstrated at the moment of Christ’s death, when “the veil
of the temple,” covering the entrance to the Most Holy Place, “was torn
in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38). This massive
curtain was torn asunder in a dramatic testimony to the access we now
have to God’s throne.
Many verses in Hebrews mention Christ’s role as our High Priest and
intercessor. Because of His sacrifice for us, we can “come boldly to the throne
of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”
(Hebrews 4:16). The Day of Atonement thus pictures the loving reconciliation
all people can have with God through Christ’s sacrifice. It also shows the
remarkable truth that Satan, the author of sin, will eventually be removed so
that humanity can at last attain reconciliation with God on a universal basis.
The Day of Atonement serves as a vital preparatory step in anticipation
of the next milestone in God’s glorious Holy Day plan, beautifully depicted
by the Feast of Tabernacles.