We come now to the most solemn of all Feast Days: the Day of Atonement, a day of National and Sanctuary cleansing. On this day the special sacrifices that were offered for Atonement were two goats. One goat was slain, the other goat was taken into the wilderness, taking away the sins of the people. On this day only (which took place but once a year) the High Priest entered into the Most Set-Apart Place of all (within the veil) with the blood of Yahuah's goat, the Purifying Sin Offering.
Here he sprinkled the blood on the Mercy seat. The blood of the Purifying Sin Offering on the great Day of Atonement brought about the cleansing of all sin, all iniquity, and all transgression. The Priesthood, the Sanctuary and Israel as a nation experienced blood Atonement, thus being reconciled to Yahuah. Again we needs to remember that, (just as for Passover and Pentecost) there is a two-fold fulfilment relative to the Day of Atonement: that which finds its fulfilment in the Person and Ministry of Yahusha historically, and that which finds its fulfilment in the believers individually and in the Bridal Fellowship corporately both in the present and the future experientially.
There is absolutely no doubt that full and complete Atonement has been made by Yahusha Messiah on the Torture Stake, but there is also no doubt that most of the Bridal Assembly has never fully and completely appropriated and received all that the Atonement has provided. Why? Because IT IS THE EXPERIENTIAL ACTIVATION OF THE ATONEMENT (IN OVERCOMING SIN & EVIL IN OUR EARTHLY FLESHLY BODIES ... IE SAYING "NO" TO THE FLESH) THAT CONSTITUTES THE DAY OF ATONEMENT IN THE BRIDAL FELLOWSHIP.
The Day of Atonement was the most solemn of all days in Israel. As with Passover, Sheaf of Firstfruits, and Pentecost, so with the Day of Atonement. This day was a literal 24 hour day in Israel, in which significant events took place. The Prophet Zechariah, in prophesying of this day, said: ".. . and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day" (ZECH 3:9). The Scriptures often uses the word "day" in a literal 24 hour day meaning.
A ... A DAY OF SET-APART ASSEMBLING
( Leviticus 23;27-32; Numbers 29:7; Leviticus 16:31 )
Like every other Feast Day, the Day of Atonement was a Set-Apart Day to Assemble and a Sabbath rest. No servile work was to be done on this day. So serious was the command, that if any person did any work on this day he was to be cut off from the people of Yahuah. The Day of Atonement was to be kept from "evening to evening.” The same truth is applicable here as for other Feast Days and Sabbaths. Israel had to cease from their own works and rest in the work of the Atonement, the work of the High Priest in Sanctuary service. Likewise for the believer today, there is true rest in Yahusha’s finished work. It is not by our own puffed up efforts or works of self-righteousness - but it is what Yahusha has done in His atoning work that delivers us - of course we are required to hold up our end of the Covenant and become like our Bridegroom, by following His behaviour of death to self and suffering in overcoming!
(Ephesians 2:5-10; Romans 3:27-28; 10:30-33; Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 4:1-11; John 17:1-4; 19:30; Romans 11:32).
B ... A Day of Fasting
( Leviticus 23:26-32; Numbers 29:7; Leviticus 16:31)
This day (although involved in the Feasts of Israel) was really a fast day. In Acts 27:9 this day is called "The Fast". It was the only day of the Feasts of Yahuah specifically set aside as a day of National Fasting. Fasting has always been the AFFLICTION OF THE FLESH. It is the discipline and subjugation of bodily appetites. Throughout Israel's history there were special occasions of fasting, days of National Fasting and humiliation. The true and proper Fast is set forth in Isaiah 58. As the Day of Atonement historically approaches for the Bridal Fellowship, there will be greater times of affliction of the flesh and subduing of bodily appetites, for this is called OVERCOMING THE SELF since
“no flesh shall see His face”.
C ... A Day of Afflicting the Being
This day was also a time of "BEING-AFFLICTION," which was linked in this day of fasting and prayer. On this day the Israelites humbled themselves before Yahuah in national repentance and humiliation as they sought Yahuah. Yahuah uses being-affliction to draw us to Himself (Psalm 119:67,71). Any persons who refused to afflict their beings in Israel were cut off. All needed to accept the dealings of Yahuah. Being-affliction speaks of that judging of ourselves so that we will not be judged of Yahuah (I Corinthians 11:28-32).
THE DAYS ARE AT HAND WHEN THE FOLLOWERS OF YAHUSHA WILL INDEED FAST AND AFFLICT THEIR BEINGS, FOR (WHILE HIS SPIRIT LIVES WITHIN THEM) THE BRIDEGROOM YAHUSHA IS STILL AWAY. THEY WILL NOT THROW THEIR DESIRES AND FLESHLY APPETITES ON THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE BUT ONCE A YEAR THOUGH, FOR THEIR NARROW PATH OF OVERCOMING ALL THE WORLDLY EVILS FROM ASSAULTING THEIR BEHAVIOUR … IS A BATTLE FOUGHT EVERYDAY. YAHUSHA NOW REQUIRES A PERMANENT `BEING AFFLICTION' TO BE OPERATING IN HIS NEW COVENANT BRIDE - ALL THAT WAS SHADOWED FORTH IN THE NATURAL 24 HOUR FAST FROM FOOD - IS FULFILLED IN THE THE BODILY TEMPLE OF THOSE WHO WILL ACTIVATE YAHUSHA'S SPIRIT WITHIN AND AFFLICT THEIR BEINGS FROM SIN AND FLESHLY DESIRES 24/7 ... ARE YOU WILLING?
In the Passover Feast the blood was sprinkled upon the door. In the Pentecost Feast the blood was sprinkled on the people and the Covenant Book. In Tabernacles the blood was sprinkled seven times on the Mercy Seat. The Day of Atonement in the Bridal Fellowship will be the fullest manifestation of the power of the blood of Yahusha. It will mature the Bridal Fellowship into perfection, making an end of all sin, all iniquity, all transgressions and all sins (even of ignorance) and all uncleanness of filth and idolatry.
The Scapegoat
( Leviticus 16:8,10, 20-22, 26 )
As he did this symbolic act, he confessed over the goat all the sins, iniquities, transgressions and uncleannesses of Israel. When this was completed, the Scapegoat (or "goat for sending away") was taken by the hand of a fit man into the Wilderness. The goat was to bear away all the iniquities of the people into a land uninhabited, or a land of separation. There the fit man was to release the goat into the Wilderness. Upon his return to the camp he was to bathe himself wholly in water and then take his place in the camp of Yahuah and of Israel.
In writing to the Hebrews, Paul takes this up and clearly shows how Yahusha fulfilled the Sin Offering. For He went "outside the camp" of Jerusalem, outside of National Judaism and all religion, after His rejection. Here He was impaled on a Torture Stake.
His body was indeed outside the camp. It was not burnt physically, as it was incorruptible, but it did suffer the consuming fires of Yahuah's set-apartness and righteousness perfection against sin (Hebrews 12:29;13:10).
When the Atonement was completed as to his Household, the Nation and the Sanctuary, then the alive goat fulfilled its function in the ceremony. After Aaron had come out from the Tabernacle of the Congregation, he then laid his hands on the head of the alive goat.
After the Scapegoat had been sent into the Wilderness by the hand of the fit man, Aaron entered into the Set-Apart Place, washed himself and changed his garments. Then he took the fat of the Purifying Sin Offering, burnt it on the Altar in the Outer Court, for the fat belonged exclusively to Yahuah for His altar ...
(Leviticus 4:9-10; 1 Samuel 2:16).
However, the bodies of the Purifying Sin Offering, both the bullock and the goat, were taken by a fit man outside the camp where all was burnt. The skins, the flesh and dung were wholly burnt. The person who did this was then to return to the camp, wash his clothes, bathe his flesh in water and then enter again into the fellowship of the Israelite nation.
( Leviticus 16:29-34 )
Only the High Priest who was anointed and consecrated to minister in his father's stead (from the line of Aaron’s oldest son) could make the atonement. This anointed High Priest made the Atonement for all other priests, for all the congregation of Israel and the Sanctuary of Yahuah. YAHUSHA MESSIAH IS OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST, ANOINTED TO MAKE THE RECONCILIATION FOR THE BRIDAL ASSEMBLY, THE NEW BLOOD-COVENANT PRIESTLY BODY
(I Peter 2:5-9; Revelation 1:6; 5:9-10).
The difference between Aaron and Yahusha is this: Aaron and his animal sacrifices were two separate identities, sinful and inferior. YAHUSHA IS BOTH PRIEST AND SACRIFICE in His two natures, yet one undivided Person, sinless and superior. In His Divine nature He is the Priest; in His human nature He is the Sacrifice. Thus Yahusha (the Priest) offered Himself (the Sacrifice) for us (Gal 2:20; Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 8:1-4; 9:11-15).
AN EVERLASTING STATUTE ( Lev 16:29 )
The Day of Atonement ceremony was to be "an everlasting statute" in Israel on the appointed day of the year.
ANYTHING UNDER THE OLD BLOOD-COVENANT THAT WAS "EVERLASTING" CAN ONLY FIND ITS TRUE FULFILMENT IN AND THROUGH THE NEW BLOOD-COVENANT, AND "EVERLASTING LIFE" AS FOUND IN YAHUSHA MESSIAH.
All of the things pertaining to the Old Blood-Covenant were temporal and shadows, but the things under the New Blood-Covenant are spiritual and eternal. Yahusha Messiah lives in the "power of an endless life" (Hebrews 7:16) and it is only in this way can the Atonement be an "everlasting statute".
The redeemed will eternally remember the atoning work of Yahusha, thus fulfilling the "everlasting statute" of the Day of Atonement (Revelation 4:8-1 1; 5:1-14).
In the ceremony of the Day of Atonement "all iniquities" and "all sins" and "all transgressions" as well as "all uncleanness" were fully atoned for. The ministry of reconciliation took care of all these evil things in the nature of fallen man.
Yahusha Messiah, by His own sinless and atoning blood, has provided cleansing and reconciliation for His people. By the power of His redeeming blood, all sin, iniquity, transgressions and uncleanness shall be fully cleansed from the Bridal Assembly through the great Day of Atonement, and also completely at His coming.
There is no mistaking the interpretation of the ceremony of the Day of Atonement. The New Blood-Covenant, especially the Epistle to the Hebrews is basically given over to the symbolic significance of this day. We take the major points of the ceremony which have not been interpreted in the course of following the Old Blood-Covenant outline and see how the Book of Hebrews interprets such for us.
This fulfilled the prophetic word that Yahusha would come and "cause the sacrifice and offerings to cease" (Daniel 9:27 with Hebrews 10:1-10). The Torture Stake is the altar upon which the Son was offered. There is no further sacrifice for sin to be made. None can add up to take away from this finished work, as far as Yahusha’s sacrifice is concerned. It is perfect, full and complete.
Job himself said "the heavens are not clean in Your sight" (Job 15:15; 4:18; 25:5). It is not that the fallen Angels will be redeemed, for they sinned as spirit beings in the blazing white light of set-apart perfection and Messiah did not die to redeem them. However, Heaven has been defiled by their sinful presence and so had to be cleansed. So the power of the atoning blood of Yahusha accomplished this when He appeared as the Slain Lamb and kicked Satan out of the Heavenly Sanctuary. At this time the Heavens are told to rejoice because the accuser of the brethren is cast down. The believers are overcomers through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their witness. It is here that the Atonement manifests its supreme power in the cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary of the presence of the originator of sin in the universe.
THE SACRIFICES
All sacrifices and offerings pointed to the perfect and supreme sacrifice of Yahusha Messiah. As noted earlier, the animal sacrifices were brought in as a substitute for man's sin until the sacrifice and offerings came Himself to put away sin. Thus the sacrifices of all Feast Days, Sabbaths as well as the Daily Sacrifice were all fulfilled and completed by the one sacrifice of Yahusha. His body and blood caused the animal sacrifices to cease!
As the earthly Sanctuary had to be cleansed because of Israel's sins, transgressions, iniquities and uncleanness, so the heavenly Sanctuary had to be cleansed. Sin originated in Heaven. It was at the very heavenly throne that the "mystery of iniquity" began in Satan and the fallen angels. The heavens have been defiled by sin also.
Aside from the cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary, there is another aspect of the truth of the Sanctuary, which pertains to the Bridal Fellowship, which is Yahusha's Sanctuary, His earthly Temple, His dwelling place by the Spirit ...
(I Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:20-22; I Peter 2:5-9).
The Bridal Fellowship has yet to come into the full power of the atoning work of Yahusha which was accomplished on the Torture Stake. As far as Yahusha is concerned all was FINISHED and COMPLETE at His death. It was a "finished work" (John 17:4; 19:30). This is spoken of as judicial truth in relation to His first Blood-Covenant and the blood-requirements for disobedience. But as far as the believer is concerned individually, and the Bridal Fellowship corporately, many have yet to enter by BELIEF into that finished work of experiential truth.
FOR WHILE YAHUSHA HAS INDEED DONE HIS PART IN CLEANSING OUR EARTHLY BODIES SO THAT WE MAY APPROACH HIM, WE ARE YET TO FULLY OVERCOME AND STOP THAT WHICH CAUSES DEFILING FROM ENTERING US THROUGH TEMPTATION AND BAD HABITS AND DESIRES. THE MORE WE OVERCOME FOR YAHUSHA, THE GREATER THE FULFILLMENT (REFLECTED IN THIS FEAST OF ATONEMENT) WE ENTER INTO EXPERIENCE WITH HIM ..... AND OF COURSE IT'S OUTWARD MANIFESTATION IS THE BEHAVOUR OF LOVE !! THE SUPERNATURAL EXPERIENCE OF STANDING CLEAN IN HIS PRESENCE WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE AND DESIRE TO PLEASE HIM!
When Yahusha died on the stake, the veil of the Temple was miraculously rent from top to the bottom. It signified that the way into Yahusha's Presence was now open to all who believe and follow Him. Believers can come to Yahusha through the veil of His flesh and blood (Hebrews 10:19-22). The rending of the veil of the Temple was connected with the rending of the veil of Yahusha’s flesh, the Messiah's temple (John 2:18-22).
When Yahusha ascended up on high to Heaven, presented His blood and took His place on His Throne, fulfilling the type of entrance within the veil. Yahusha ascended on high and entered within the veil of the Heavenly Sanctuary. He is now there and remains within the veil, hidden from human view. At His second coming He will come forth from the Heavenly Sanctuary in flaming fire and Esteem to receive His own unto Himself and judge all outside Himself. Yahusha is risen, ascended and esteemed as the Forerunner into the heavenly Sanctuary, within the veil (Hebrews 6:17-20). This is the Order of Melchizedek. Others will follow Him, the Forerunner. This was Messiah fulfilling "the Day of Atonement" in the Heavenly Sanctuary.
THE ATONEMENT THEN WAS THE OFFICIAL PRESENTATION OF THE BLOOD OF YAHUSHA AT THE THRONE OF YAHUAH IN HEAVEN. THE EFFECT OF THIS IN THE BRIDAL FELLOWSHIP AND UPON ALL WHO BELIEVE IS THE RECONCILIATION AND POWER OVER SIN AND THE DEVIL!
The ultimate of the Day of Atonement will bring about full reconciliation of man with Yahusha, both Creator and Redeemer! The Torture Stake was the brazen altar where the sacrifice of Yahusha took place. The Throne was the Ark of the Blood-Covenant Witness where the sacrifice of Yahusha, His body and blood, were presented. This is the ultimate understanding of the Day of Atonement, for only by being cleansed AND THEN BEING TRAINED TO RUN OUR RACE OF OVERCOMING will the Bride ever get to experience the fullness of the ACCESS, made available by the precious blood of our Passover Lamb.
THIS IS THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF ATONEMENT - AFFLICTING OUR BEING AND FASTING FROM FLESHLY DESIRES - IT IS ONGOING - AND WE ARE REMINDED OF THE REASON WHY RIGHT HERE IN THIS MAGNIFICENT FEAST OF ATONEMENT. CAN YOU SEE THIS MATURE INTERPRETATION OF THE SHADOW INTO IT'S BEHAVIOURAL FULFILLMENT?
THE BRIDE NOT LONGER PHYSICALLY FASTS IN THE CHILDISHNESS OF THE OLD COVENANT SHADOW - BUT UNDERSTANDS THAT WHILE THIS IS A SOLEMN FEAST THAT DEALS WITH YAHUSHA'S BLOOD (SIMILAR TO PASSOVER) HE WENT TO THE STAKE FOR THE JOY THAT WOULD FOLLOW...
SO LIKEWISE THE BRIDE TODAY IS TO `HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING TO THE ASSEMBLIES' AND BE ENCOURAGED TO FAST FROM ALL WORLDY DESIRES AND FLESHLY SINS THAT KEEP US AWAY FROM THE DIVINE SUPERNATURAL ACCESS MADE AVAILABLE TO US THROUGH YAHUSHA'S PERFECT BLOOD. WE JUDGE OURSELVES SO THAT WE WON'T BE JUDGED!
SO HOW SHOULD WE FEAST AT ATONEMENT-TIME? LIKE ALL OF YAHUSHA'S SUPERNATURAL FEASTS WE COME TOGETHER IN SINCERITY AND TRUTH WITH GOOD FOOD, WINE AND PLENTY OF LOV'IN!
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