It is common these days to hear that the Feasts of Israel are crucial to understandingthe end-times
Some have said Jesus fulfilled the spring Feasts but the fall Feasts remain and He will fulfill at His Second Coming.
But the Bible declares the Jesus Fulfilled the Day of Atonement.
Hebrews 9:11-14
11 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! 15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance- now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (NIV)
When the Day of Atonement arrived, the high priest had to prepare himself and the whole nation. As we read, the high priest had to offer a sacrifice for himself first before he could offer one for the nation. But Jesus broke the pattern. Actually he fulfilled the pattern perfectly, better than any high priest from the line of Aaron could ever do. Let's look at the high priestly deeds of Jesus, and we will see how he has fulfilled the Day of Atonement.
Christ as high priest v. 11
Christ came as the perfect high priest. It was the role of the high priest to represent the people before God. But before any high priest could mediate for the people before God, he first needed a mediator himself. Already this shows a shortcoming of the system. But Jesus fulfilled a role which no human could ever fill. Before Jesus, a high priest could only enter into the Most Holy Place once a year, and even then the priest could not come directly into God's presence. Remember the sacrifices which had to be offered, and the incense which was burned. But when Jesus came into the presence of God, He didn't have to send up a cloud of incense, so that He wouldn't accidentally see God and die. Jesus Christ could boldly walk right up to His Father. Jesus Christ is the perfect high priest, able to represent his people, yet not in need of redemption as they are.
Perfect tabernacle v. 11
Christ did not enter the earthly tabernacle in order to come before God, but rather He went to where God is. Christ didn't go into the tabernacle, which was but an earthly replica of the heavenly reality. He didn't just come before God on earth, but before God in heaven. He ascended and is sitting at the right hand of God the Father. The high priest had to go into the tabernacle every year. By this we can see that he was unable to do once and for all what needed to be done. The high priest could not offer the perfect sacrifice and fulfill the Day of Atonement. Christ has no need for a tabernacle, or a temple. He doesn't need a mercy seat, or an ark of the covenant. Christ as our high priest is able to go right to God's presence every day, to plead for our case. He has done away with the external regulations which applied until the time of His new order.
Christ enters without blood of goats and calves v. 12
Unlike the high priest who had to sacrifice not only for the people of Israel but also for himself, Christ is a perfect high priest, without any taint of sin or imperfection. He can enter into the presence of God without the need of a sacrifice. Because he is perfect, he enters into the throne room of God every day, not just on the Day of Atonement. Aaron needed the blood of goats and calves. Christ can always enter in and plead for our atonement. Christ not only could make the perfect sacrifice for us, He became the perfect sacrifice in our place.
Entered the Most Holy Place v. 12
Just as every high priest before him, Jesus went into the very presence of God. All the other high priests had to put incense on the altar so that they would not walk in and see God. They feared for their lives while they were in the Most Holy Place. The high priest would have bells on the corners of his garments so other priests could hear him move around. He would have a rope tied to his ankle so that he could be pulled out from the Most Holy Place if he saw God, or he was found to be with sin, and died. Jesus didn't have to worry about this. He went into God's presence on our behalf without fear. As our representative, Jesus came before God and asked for our atonement. And being the perfect high priest he has achieved for us the perfect redemption and atonement.
By his own blood v. 12
The high priest always had to offer a sacrifice to cover his own sins before the sight of God. Jesus didn't have to offer that sacrifice, because he was without sin. He was perfectly obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Throughout history, every other high priest offered a sacrifice for himself first, and only then for the Israelites. Jesus not only offered a sacrifice for His people, He was that sacrifice. Once and for all he fulfilled the requirements of the Day of Atonement. No longer do we need to gather together and have a priest confess our sins over a goat. We don't need to have a goat and a bull offered so that we might be forgiven, or so we can continue to live with God. Jesus Christ by his own blood paid the supreme price for our sins.
Obtained eternal redemption v. 12
The sacrifice of goats and calves could never effect permanent peace with God. These sacrifices had to be repeated each year. The high priest entered the Most Holy Place each year, and placed blood on the altar to atone for the sins of the nation. Leviticus mentions that he sprinkled it seven times before the atonement cover. But this could only ceremonially cover the sins of the past year. Christ accomplished redemption once for all time. His atonement was an eternal one. It never needs to be repeated or redone. His blood lasts forever. We speak of some technical theological terms like expiation, and propitiation. What this means is that the sacrifice both covers over the sin, and takes away God's wrath. Christ both covers our sin, and has taken away the anger of God towards sin. We are eternally redeemed.
http://www.crcna.org/resources/church-resources/reading-sermons/day-atonement
--------------
The Day of Atonement
Every day animals were sacrificed for the sins of Israel. But once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) a special service was held. It was to be on the 10th day of Tishri, coming on different days of our calendar. It came in the month of September to early October. The Day of Atonement was the only day of the year that the priest entered the holy of holies to make sin offerings for himself, his family, and the "assembly of Israel." After making these offerings, the nation’s sins were symbolically laid on the scapegoat and it was led out into the wilderness and released.
Before the sacrifice of the two goats, the High Priest was required to make a sin offering for himself.
Lev 16:11 (NIV) ""Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his house and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering."
After completing his sin offering the High Priest was to take two goats provided from the Israelite community and he is to cast lots for them.
The term scapegoat or Azazel depending on the Bible translation you are using is found three times in Scripture in Leviticus 16.
Lev 16:8 (NIV) "He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat."
Lev 16:9 (NIV) "Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering."
Lev 16:10 (NIV) "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."
Lev 16:20 NIV) ""When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat."
Lev 16:21 (NIV) "He is 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."
Lev 16:22 (NIV) "The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the desert."
Lev 16:26 (NIV) ""The man who releases the goat as a scapegoat must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may come into the camp."
http://www.truthorfables.com/Scapegoat.htm
A type and shadow, Fulfilled by Jesus Christ was both the Goat for the Lord and the Scapegoat.
He not only was represented by the spotless goat, an offering for sin, He was represented by the goat who carried away the sins of the people into the wilderness, taking them away...
Some have said Jesus fulfilled the spring Feasts but the fall Feasts remain and He will fulfill at His Second Coming.
But the Bible declares the Jesus Fulfilled the Day of Atonement.
Hebrews 9:11-14
11 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! 15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance- now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (NIV)
When the Day of Atonement arrived, the high priest had to prepare himself and the whole nation. As we read, the high priest had to offer a sacrifice for himself first before he could offer one for the nation. But Jesus broke the pattern. Actually he fulfilled the pattern perfectly, better than any high priest from the line of Aaron could ever do. Let's look at the high priestly deeds of Jesus, and we will see how he has fulfilled the Day of Atonement.
Christ as high priest v. 11
Christ came as the perfect high priest. It was the role of the high priest to represent the people before God. But before any high priest could mediate for the people before God, he first needed a mediator himself. Already this shows a shortcoming of the system. But Jesus fulfilled a role which no human could ever fill. Before Jesus, a high priest could only enter into the Most Holy Place once a year, and even then the priest could not come directly into God's presence. Remember the sacrifices which had to be offered, and the incense which was burned. But when Jesus came into the presence of God, He didn't have to send up a cloud of incense, so that He wouldn't accidentally see God and die. Jesus Christ could boldly walk right up to His Father. Jesus Christ is the perfect high priest, able to represent his people, yet not in need of redemption as they are.
Perfect tabernacle v. 11
Christ did not enter the earthly tabernacle in order to come before God, but rather He went to where God is. Christ didn't go into the tabernacle, which was but an earthly replica of the heavenly reality. He didn't just come before God on earth, but before God in heaven. He ascended and is sitting at the right hand of God the Father. The high priest had to go into the tabernacle every year. By this we can see that he was unable to do once and for all what needed to be done. The high priest could not offer the perfect sacrifice and fulfill the Day of Atonement. Christ has no need for a tabernacle, or a temple. He doesn't need a mercy seat, or an ark of the covenant. Christ as our high priest is able to go right to God's presence every day, to plead for our case. He has done away with the external regulations which applied until the time of His new order.
Christ enters without blood of goats and calves v. 12
Unlike the high priest who had to sacrifice not only for the people of Israel but also for himself, Christ is a perfect high priest, without any taint of sin or imperfection. He can enter into the presence of God without the need of a sacrifice. Because he is perfect, he enters into the throne room of God every day, not just on the Day of Atonement. Aaron needed the blood of goats and calves. Christ can always enter in and plead for our atonement. Christ not only could make the perfect sacrifice for us, He became the perfect sacrifice in our place.
Entered the Most Holy Place v. 12
Just as every high priest before him, Jesus went into the very presence of God. All the other high priests had to put incense on the altar so that they would not walk in and see God. They feared for their lives while they were in the Most Holy Place. The high priest would have bells on the corners of his garments so other priests could hear him move around. He would have a rope tied to his ankle so that he could be pulled out from the Most Holy Place if he saw God, or he was found to be with sin, and died. Jesus didn't have to worry about this. He went into God's presence on our behalf without fear. As our representative, Jesus came before God and asked for our atonement. And being the perfect high priest he has achieved for us the perfect redemption and atonement.
By his own blood v. 12
The high priest always had to offer a sacrifice to cover his own sins before the sight of God. Jesus didn't have to offer that sacrifice, because he was without sin. He was perfectly obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Throughout history, every other high priest offered a sacrifice for himself first, and only then for the Israelites. Jesus not only offered a sacrifice for His people, He was that sacrifice. Once and for all he fulfilled the requirements of the Day of Atonement. No longer do we need to gather together and have a priest confess our sins over a goat. We don't need to have a goat and a bull offered so that we might be forgiven, or so we can continue to live with God. Jesus Christ by his own blood paid the supreme price for our sins.
Obtained eternal redemption v. 12
The sacrifice of goats and calves could never effect permanent peace with God. These sacrifices had to be repeated each year. The high priest entered the Most Holy Place each year, and placed blood on the altar to atone for the sins of the nation. Leviticus mentions that he sprinkled it seven times before the atonement cover. But this could only ceremonially cover the sins of the past year. Christ accomplished redemption once for all time. His atonement was an eternal one. It never needs to be repeated or redone. His blood lasts forever. We speak of some technical theological terms like expiation, and propitiation. What this means is that the sacrifice both covers over the sin, and takes away God's wrath. Christ both covers our sin, and has taken away the anger of God towards sin. We are eternally redeemed.
http://www.crcna.org/resources/church-resources/reading-sermons/day-atonement
--------------
The Day of Atonement
Every day animals were sacrificed for the sins of Israel. But once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) a special service was held. It was to be on the 10th day of Tishri, coming on different days of our calendar. It came in the month of September to early October. The Day of Atonement was the only day of the year that the priest entered the holy of holies to make sin offerings for himself, his family, and the "assembly of Israel." After making these offerings, the nation’s sins were symbolically laid on the scapegoat and it was led out into the wilderness and released.
Before the sacrifice of the two goats, the High Priest was required to make a sin offering for himself.
Lev 16:11 (NIV) ""Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his house and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering."
After completing his sin offering the High Priest was to take two goats provided from the Israelite community and he is to cast lots for them.
The term scapegoat or Azazel depending on the Bible translation you are using is found three times in Scripture in Leviticus 16.
Lev 16:8 (NIV) "He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat."
Lev 16:9 (NIV) "Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering."
Lev 16:10 (NIV) "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."
Lev 16:20 NIV) ""When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat."
Lev 16:21 (NIV) "He is 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."
Lev 16:22 (NIV) "The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the desert."
Lev 16:26 (NIV) ""The man who releases the goat as a scapegoat must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may come into the camp."
http://www.truthorfables.com/Scapegoat.htm
A type and shadow, Fulfilled by Jesus Christ was both the Goat for the Lord and the Scapegoat.
He not only was represented by the spotless goat, an offering for sin, He was represented by the goat who carried away the sins of the people into the wilderness, taking them away...