The Day of Atonement

Paul, writing to Timothy, his “own son in the faith,” (1 Timothy 1:2) gave counsel that is especially pertinent to Seventh-day Adventist Christians.

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called. (1 Timothy 6:20)

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. (2 Timothy 3:14)

The uniqueness of the Advent movement and the truth which has been committed to our trust is the understanding of the sanctuary message in type and antitype. LeRoy Froom, church historian and apologist, wrote that the sanctuary truth was “the one distinctive, separative, structural truth—the sole doctrinal teaching that identifies and sets” the Seventh-day Adventists “apart from all other Christians ....” (Movement of Destiny, p. 541)

To understand this uniqueness and trust, we must understand the basic lessons of the sanctuary services. While the book of Leviticus outlines several offerings and services, Paul, in the book of Hebrews, places the emphasis on two services. These are the sin offering as recorded in Leviticus four; and the day of atonement as recorded in Leviticus sixteen. Paul sums these up in the beginning of the ninth chapter of his epistle to the Hebrews:

Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always (margin: daily)  into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience. (Hebrews 9:1-9)

Here Paul writes about a daily and a yearly service. The efficacy of these two ministrations had but one common source in reality. In the type, there were sacrifices for each service. In the antitype, one sacrifice is sufficient for both ministrations. “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 9:28) “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, ...” (1 Peter 3:18) Notice the emphasis Paul places on the perfect sacrifice of Christ as he continues writing in Hebrews.

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 into the holy place, having obtained [“thus securing” RSV] 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? (Hebrews 9:11-14)

The blood of Christ provided the means for the ministration in the sanctuary which would purge the conscience or the mind. Let us ever remember that the battle is for the mind. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5)

The Sin Offering

The fourth chapter of Leviticus catalogs four different sin offerings: “the priest that is anointed”- the high priest, “the whole congregation of Israel,” “a ruler,” and “the common people.” These four offerings were administered through two different procedures.

In the case of the high priest or the assembly of Israel, a young bullock was the offering. (Leviticus 4:3, 14) The procedure as found in Leviticus 4:1-21 for the high priest or for corporate sin could be outlined as follows:

  • The bullock was brought to the door of the tabernacle where either the high priest, or the elders if the offering was for the congregation, would lay his or their hands upon the animal and confess their sins.
  • The bullock was slain and the blood was sprinkled before the veil in the holy place with some blood being placed on the horns of the golden altar.
  • The remaining blood was poured out at the foot of the altar of burnt offerings.
  • The fat was removed with the kidneys and liver and burnt on the brazen altar.
  • The rest of the bullock was carried out of the camp into a clean place, laid upon wood and burnt.

The last two sin offerings included all the individuals of Israel except the high priest. Even the common priests were included. The Hebrew word for “ruler” in Leviticus 4:22 is aysn - nasi which means prince, king, or leader. While nasi is used to describe the head of each of the 12 tribes as a “captain,” (see Numbers 2:3-29) it is also used to describe Eleazar who was to be “chief (nasi) over the chief (nasi) of the Levities.” (Numbers 3:32)

Whether it was a ruler or a common person, the procedure for the service was the same, the main difference being that the ruler was to bring a male “kid of the goats,” while the common person could bring a female kid or lamb. Perhaps the most striking feature of this sacrifice is that the blood was never taken inside the Holy Place and it was ministered by the common priests. The procedure as found in Leviticus 4:22-35 could be outlined as follows:

  • The goat or lamb was brought to the sanctuary and the hands of the offender were placed upon the head of the animal with confession of the sin being made.
  • The animal was slain and its blood placed on the horns of the altar of burnt offerings.
  • The remainder of the blood was poured out at the foot of the altar of burnt offerings.
  • The fat was burnt on the brazen altar.
  • The priest would eat a portion of the flesh of the animal “in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.” (Leviticus 6:26)

The result of these services was clearly spelled out. For the ruler it is stated: “The priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.” (Leviticus 4:26) The services for the common person brought about the same result: “The priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.” (Leviticus 4:31, see also v. 35)

This atonement made at the altar of burnt offerings representing the cross resulted in forgiveness. This forgiveness secured at Calvary was so sufficient that man can be at-one with God. The New Testament gives a beautiful illustration in Luke 23:39-43. The repentant thief hanging on a cross beside Jesus asked the Master to remember him in His kingdom. The thief received assurance of full forgiveness! This is an atonement that we dare not deny!

The Atonement of Atonements

Besides the sin offerings of Leviticus four, we find another offering that was referred to as a sin offering. This service was performed once each year on the tenth day of the seventh month.1 This day, now known as Yom Kippur, (Day of Atonements) is the most holy day of the Jewish year. It was understood to represent judgment and final cleansing of sin.2  The Day of Atonement services as found in Leviticus 16 could be outlined as follows:

  • After officiating at the regular morning service in his pontifical robes, the high priest bathes and changes into the holy linen garments of a common priest.
  • The high priest presents the bullock before the Lord; lays his hands on its head.
  • He presents the two goats and casts lots to determine which shall be for Jehovah and which for Azazel.
  • The high priest kills the bullock and preserves its blood.
  • He takes the censer and incense into the most holy place and arranges incense on the burning coals in the censer that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat.
  • He returns to the court for the blood of the bullock, which he takes into the most holy place and sprinkles it on and before the mercy seat seven times.
  • The high priest returns to the court, kills the Lord’s goat, and enters the most holy place sprinkling its blood as he did the bullock’s blood.
  • After sprinkling the blood, he returns to the holy place and makes atonement for the holy things.
  • The high priest then returns to the court and makes atonement for the altar, sprinkling it with the blood of both the bullock and the goat seven times, placing the blood on the horns of the altar.
  • The high priest confesses the sins of Israel over the head of the live goat, and sends it into the wilderness by the hand of a fit man.
  • After these services, the high priest washes himself, puts his  pontifical robes back on, and offers the fat of the sin offerings, the burnt offering for himself and the people, the burnt offering for the day, and the kid of the sin offering for the day. (See the SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 1, p. 706)

The result of this service was one of cleansing. “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 16:30) The blood of Jesus provided the means for both the atonement of the cross and the ministry in heaven. This gives new meaning to 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The Hebrew word for atonement, kaphar, literally means to cover. While our sins are covered by the blood, they must also be removed from not only the record books of heaven, but from our lives! The atonement of forgiveness made at the cross, as important as it is, is not the full and final atonement that must be made for the total restoration of man so that he can be in the presence of a holy God. A simple illustration will make this clear. A mother tells her girl she may go play but must not get muddy. After a few minutes the daughter appears at the door crying. A fall has resulted in her white dress becoming brown. The mother looks on with pity. Quick to notice the repentant attitude of the child, she assures her of her love and forgiveness for getting muddy. However, even though she is forgiven, she is still dirty and must be cleansed! The atonement at Calvary provides forgiveness, but we must yet receive cleansing by the blood of Jesus in the Heavenly Sanctuary. “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?” (Hebrews 9:14)

The book of Leviticus records several different types of offerings which resulted in an “atonement” being made. (See Leviticus 1:4; 4:26; 5:6; 12:7) However, the atonement made on the tenth day of the seventh month stood out above all the rest. Leviticus, chapter 23, reviews the major ceremonial Sabbaths and there inspiration, referring to the day of atonement, employs the majestic use of the Hebrew plural to show the superior nature of this atonement over any other provided. We read: “the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonements: [kippur: plural in the Hebrew] 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 atonements, [plural in the Hebrew] to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 23:26-28)

God has promised to “make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.” (Isaiah 13:12) Through the final atonement in heaven God will prepare 144,000 to give a special revelation of His character to the universe.

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. (Revelation 14:4, 5)

The Psalmist stated, “Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” (Psalm 32:2) No wonder we have been counseled to “... strive with all the power that God has given us to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand.” (Review & Herald, March 9, 1905)