The Passover-Atonement Connection

Go To Meeting

Steve Durham—August 27, 2022

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The fall Holy Days are upon us again! They come around every year. We repeat Lev. 23 every year. I want to focus on how Passover and Atonement tie together through the entire plan of God.

It shows the importance of keeping the Holy Days every year, for our benefit and remembrance:

• Passover
• Unleavened Bread

of course the Wave Sheaf Offering in there is very important picturing Christ:

• Pentecost
• Trumpets
• Atonement
• Feast of Tabernacles
• Last Great Day

All of these Holy Days are important to us, to the Plan of God and have a very important meaning for us. They picture the Family of God coming together, God having a family. That's the whole purpose of our existence; the Plan of God points that out, and the Holy Days are a key to that.

These are personal days for us who are called, and they have great meaning to rest of the world. God doesn't want anyone to perish; He wants everyone to make it. So, they have an individual, personal meaning to each one of us.

As we have God's love and we grow in that, and we sigh and cry for the abominations that happen around us. When we care for one another and look out and have empathy and sympathy for the world, we pray for them.

But these days have a personal, individual meaning for us, and we're going to focus on that. They are appointed times where God places His presence in them, and they are Holy. They are also called solemn, very serious and solemn days that we picture and keep. They're to be remembered, every one of them! God calls them Sabbaths!

God says in Exo. 20: remember the Sabbath; the weekly Sabbath but also remember each and every one of those days! That's why we repeat them! He wants us to know the Plan of God and repeat it. We have a tendency to forget as humans. We have to be reminded! We have the fall Holy Days coming up:

• Trumpets is the 26th of September
• Atonement is the 5th of October

Atonement seems to get lost sometimes in the other days. Sometimes we just come up to it and we fast and go on. But it's very important and has very significant meaning for that day, and God's wants us to be very serious about it and keep it properly.

Without Passover there's no Atonement. If Christ didn't come and live a sinless life and die as our Sacrifice then Satan would continue. But since He did and He is our Sacrifice for our sins, and He also confronted Satan and He qualified to replace Satan then Atonement can come and Christ capture Satan and bind him, as we will read, and place him in the abyss. He can be out of the effect that Satan has on the world.

That's is something that we all look forward to and something that we all need. This world will be a different place without Satan in it. It's almost impossible to think about what it would be with the difficulties and the sufferings and afflictions that happen to us on a daily basis.

But there is a purpose for that; there is a benefit. It's not fun going through them when go through them, but there is an ultimate benefit of perfecting and drawing us closer to God. That's really what Atonement does. Without Atonement there's no Tabernacles and Last Great Day, because Satan would still be around.

Christ's sacrifice for sin and the Passover and Atonement reconcile us to God with the forgiveness of sin and the replacing of the individual that's responsible for sin, who brought sin into the world. He's the responsible one, and we will see that in the two goats.

That's why each and every element of Lev. 23 and Lev. 16 is very important. We are to keep them with reverence and forethought with a solemn attitude.

The world has pretty much forgotten Atonement, except for the Jews who call it Yom Kippur. It's regarded as the Holiest day of the year in the Jewish religion! It's a fast day, a day picturing the repentance of sin and reconciliation of all mankind back to God through Christ, and Satan being put out! Those two connect!

We're going to see that the fast, afflicting our souls, is extremely important to reconciliation. It's critical to keep correctly the Day of Atonement. I'm going to drive this home: Atonement and Passover together are intrinsically linked in reconciliation, the overall importance for God's Plan for mankind. Without those days:

• there would be no family
• we would not be able to be forgiven of our sins
• we would not be reconciled

Christ makes the ultimate fulfillment of Atonement possible by removing Satan, the obstacle and hindrance to our relationship with God.

The word atonement in the Old Covenant/Testament means covering! We'll talk about what it means in the New Covenant. It's a concept of a person taking action to correct a previous wrong-doing on their part, or directly an action to undo a consequence that has happened. Christ can do that when He puts Satan out, as well.

What I want to talk about today is the connection between Passover and Atonement. It's all about reconciliation.

Why affliction? We talk about afflicting our soul; that'spersonal, individual! Nancy is going through a lot of affliction right now, but she's handling it very well and doing a good job. God is working with her through that affliction. The end result of that is that all things work to the good of those who believe in God (Rom. 8:28).

We would normally read the Scriptures in the context of Passover, and that's very, very important. We normally think of Passover in terms of being reconciled to God, which is true. Passover and the Day of Atonement are bound—both of them—in reconciliation. Atonement answers and has the solution to problems not resolved by Passover.

Passover is personal in nature, providing reconciliation of each one of us individually back to God and the beginning of unity with man in the Church with Christ, in that family relationship with our elder Brother, the King of kings, Jesus Christ and our Father the Almighty God.

It is through Passover that we learn the price of redemption and reconciliation through Jesus Christ. Atonement is more universal in nature and provides reconciliation for the world to God, and also each one of us individually. So, it's more far reaching.

We've always said that Passover and Unleavened Bread and Pentecost are for the Church Era. Then after the fall Holy Days, which we're coming up on, Trumpets, Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day picture the rest of the world coming in. All of mankind being at-one with God!

Each one through their personal relationship with Jesus Christ after Satan is defeated through the Passover (Matt. 4). Christ qualified; He faced Satan and won that encounter. He defeated Satan and qualified to replace Satan.

It's just like David when he was anointed by Samuel, it was seven years before he was actually inaugurated or became king. It's kind of like the same thing with Christ. He qualified to be the King of kings, the God Who rules everything and replace 'the god of this world' (2-Cor. 4:4).

Christ defeated Satan and the Passover shows that, but Satan was still able to work out his nefarious schemes and produce confusion and division, as well as rebellion against God.

Atonement shows that Satan will be defeated and punished by banishment when the angle comes and puts him in chains. Satan will no longer be free to do anything to mankind. He will be released again at the end of the Millennium.

1-Peter 1:17-21 points out the cost of reconciliation that is vital to God's purpose. It's a major portion of our desire to obey God and comes from the sense of obligation to God. God loved us first! And we love Him.

It's like the story that I've told: the individual that said why they didn't do something and why they weren't out doing what the rest of they're friends were doing. It was because they said, 'I love my parents and they love me. I don't want to do anything to hurt them.'

So, there was a sense of love and obligation, the same way we do when God loves us and does things for us. It's an appreciation of how much Christ paid for us to be free, to have that liberty and freedom, and eternal life and our sins done away with!

Just like Atonement is going to put the individual responsible for the sin coming into the world away.

We will never feel this unless we begin to understand that this was done for us individually. If only person had sinned in all of God's creation, it still would have taken the life of the Creator, the sinless life of the Creator in the flesh, to get that individual free from the wages of sin (Rom. 3:23; 6:23).

He did it for us! It's easy for us to not focus on that. But we have escaped death; death was our punishment for sin. But the individual that brought sin into the world in the first place was Satan, and he will be held accountable on Atonement. We picture that every year!

Christ did it for mankind, as well as for us. This is a very personal, somber, serious and individual Holy Day that we keep. But we also remember that it pictures the world, as well.

This is a path that a person has to take in his thinking to recognize the cost that was made for us to come to a sense of obligation for love for the Father and Jesus Christ, and for others. We ought to respond out of thanks for what He did; we owe our lives to Him!

People have been willing to give everything to someone who maybe has saved their lives from drowning or snatched out from a speed automobile or crash or something, or other kind of death. We would be thankful and willing to pay a great price for that.

But Passover, we rehearse that understanding that Jesus Christ saved us individually by His life. Our acceptance of that sacrifice and repentance of sins and turning around and going through the process of baptism, receiving the Holy Spirit and then living a life in line with the commandments and loving God and others (Matt. 22).

The Truth of God's Plan is hidden from the world! The Truth about Atonement is well hidden from the world.

Colossians 1:26: "Even the mystery that has been hidden from ages and from generations, but has now been revealed to His saints."

We have the opportunity through the Holy Spirit and our calling to understand this marvelous plan of salvation and the plan of mankind and what God has planned for them, to become part of the Family of God!

If you think about where sin came from. You can go to Isa. 14 and Ezek. 28 and it talks about Satan ascending to the Throne and trying to overthrow God, and God throwing him back down to the earth. The earth was then in turmoil—'tohu' and 'bohu':

Genesis 1:2[transcriber's correction]: "And the earth was without form and void…"

It was because of a war that took place, and in the beginning God began to refurbish or remodel the earth and make it habitable for mankind. He created man and shortly afterward woman (Gen. 2, and He put them in the garden and told them—gave them choice, free moral agency—they could choose and God will never take that away from us. He wants us to be in the Family.

God doesn't want Satan, a lot of satans running around and be miserable for the rest of their lives eternally. God told them not to take of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the garden. He gave them a command not to do that. So, they didn't until:

Genesis 3:1: "Now, the serpent was more cunning than any creature of the field, which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, 'Is it true that God has said, "You shall not eat of any tree of the garden"?'" This is the way Satan works; he was setting her up! He was spinning the Truth!

Verse 2: "And the woman said to the serpent, 'We may freely eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has indeed said, "You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die."'" (vs 2-3).

She had it down pretty well! She knew what she was supposed to do. She listened and emotion entered in.

Verse 4: "And the serpent said to the woman, 'In dying, you shall not surely die!…. [this is where the 'immortal soul' comes in] …For God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be like God, deciding good and evil.'"

To know means to ascertain by observing and experimenting; make your own choice—deciding! But God is saying:

I tell you the way to abundant life and the way to eternal life is to obey Me. I know what's good for you! But if you don't and choose your own way, then sin lies at the door and death is the result of that.

Verse 6: "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasing to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. Then Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden" (vs 6-8).

Sometimes a young child will have done something wrong and they hide from their parents. They knew they did wrong.

Verse 9: "And the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, 'Where are you?' And he said, 'I heard You walking in the garden, and I was afraid because I am naked, and so I hid myself.' And He said, 'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree, which I commanded you that you should not eat?' And the man said, 'The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.'…. [always 'passing the buck'] …And the LORD God said to the woman, 'What is this you have done?' And the woman said, 'The serpent deceived me, and I ate.'" (vs 9-13)—pointing somewhere else!

Verse 14: "And the LORD God said to the serpent… [he was the one responsible] …'Because you have done this, you are cursed above all livestock, and above every animal of the field. You shall go upon your belly, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life.'"

Here is the first indication of the connection between Passover and Atonement:

Verse 15: "And I will put enmity between you [Satan] and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed [Christ]; He will bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.'"

Satan was able to kill Christ, but God the Father resurrected Him. Satan thought he had gotten rid of Christ, and ever since then he has tried to thwart the Plan of God. He is the one who brought sin into the world, and here is the first indication that we need a Savior: Passover, and that Satan would be put away: Atonement. First connection!

In this message we won't go through Passover, we know that pretty well. Let's go through Atonement and sort out the things that it says and get a little bit more detail on the Day of Atonement and why it's so important and why each element is so critical. It applies to us individually as well as to the world.

We're still here and still physical and we need to keep these days and remember them. Even though it doesn't say specifically to remember Atonement, it is a Sabbath of the Lord! God talks about that in many, many places:

Exodus 20:8: Remember the Sabbath Day… [weekly] …to keep it Holy.

• remember that it's a Holy Day
• remember between God and earth
• remember the commandments, statutes and ordinances

We will see that Atonement is referred to as a statute! It is something to be remembered! Not something just because He says it's not in this section of Lev. 23. These days, this whole packages, is to be remembered! It's important for us and for the world!

The Day of Atonement has not come, yet; we're still looking toward the fulfillment of that day! It has a lot to do with us personally as we live our lives, as well.

Leviticus 23:27: "Also, on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be a Holy convocation to you. And you shall afflict your souls and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. And you shall do no work in that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, in order to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God" (vs 27-28). Personal!

God made us personally with His hands. He focused on us personally and wants a personal relationship. This day and all the Holy Days are personal.

Verse 29: "For whoever is not afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people."

We'll talk about what that does in relationship to Atonement.

Verse 30: "And whoever does any work in that same day, the same one will I destroy from among his people." This is serious! This a serious day!

Verse 31: "You shall do no manner of work. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be to you a Sabbath of rest…" (vs 31-32).

See how He refers back to the Sabbath—these are Sabbaths, Holy Days and we remember all of them.

"…and you shall afflict yourselves. In the ninth day of the month at sunset, from sunset to sunset, you shall keep your Sabbath."

Atonement pictures:

• Satan's removal
• the fast, which is critical
• it's personal

As we take part in these events, these specific things He tells us; God wants us to totally focus on this pivotal day:

• His appointed fast day
• His appointed Feast

Which had to do with what He had done, has done and what He's going to do! Let's look at the instructions in Lev. 23:

• v 27—"…It shall be a Holy convocation to you…."

What makes something Holy? It's God's presence in that day! God's presence in anything makes it Holy!

Atonement refers to the sacrifice that Jesus Christ make in order to reconcile all that had sinned—everyone, all, have sinned!Reconciled to a God Who is Holy!

1-Peter 1:15: "But according as He Who has called you is Holy, you yourselves also be Holy in all your conduct."

How is that possible? Made possible through the giving of the Holy Spirit, bringing the Holy Spirit to us on the Day of Pentecost! Us accepting our part in it, the sin, and looking for reconciliation. Owning the fact that we are sinners, and we sin, and we need Jesus Christ, that Sacrifice. As we receive that Holy Spirit we become Holy. But He also says:

For it is written, 'You be Holy because I am Holy'

God's presence in that day and in us makes it us Holy. We don't think of ourselves that way, but there's an earnest down payment that is in you that is Holy.

• v 27—"…you shall afflict your souls…"
• v 29—"For whoever is not afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people."

This is personal! This affliction is for you—it's tied into fasting—and fasting and work is tied together, as well.

The fast, which is afflicting your soul making a good case for that, is critical and personal and has to do with no work! There's a reason for that, and He wants us to think about what we're doing. We don't work on that day, we fast and draw close and focus on God:

• Who gave you everything
• Who made you
• Who you owe everything to
• without God you're nothing

You put out the work specifically and emphatically linked to Atonement because of the significance to both God and His people personally, and to Jesus Christ and the removal of Satan.

No work is to be done! We are incapable of ourselves of overcoming Satan and sin.

• we need God
• we need His Holy Spirit
• we need the sacrifice of Christ
• we need Satan out of the picture

That's what Unleavened Bread is about!

All the work that is done by Christ's sacrifice is now, today, beside God the Father at the Throne as the High Priest and the offering for sin. A Perfect Offering in which He personally offered Himself when He was crucified, and the removal of Satan in the future. He's involved in both of those.

The purpose for the fast is for putting our total reliance, trust, faith, hope and love in Him! As elders we are to preach Christ and Him crucified (1-Cor. 2:2[transcriber's correction]). That's what Paul preached; that's everything!

• we preach the Truth
• we love the Truth

We have a love for the Truth and it should come out of us! You should obviously see it! It should be part of you! Everything we say should be the Truth, based in Scripture!

There are reasons why we fast in addition through the year, but also on this day:

• To intercede for other people because we're showing that love of God in us—agape love. We don't want anyone to fail, anyone to perish, just as God does. We love people, everyone: our neighbors and those in the Body of Christ, the household of God.
• Repentance—we need to change! We need that repentance, and we know how we receive that: through Christ's sacrifice and reconciliation.
• God's way—that we don't go back, but we go forward!
• We ask for help when we fast; we need help. We need to ask Him to help us along the way. He will if we draw close to Him, and draw close through afflicting our soul.
• We ask for spiritual deliverance and that's what the Days of Unleavened Bread pictures, and we're going to be delivered from Satan on Atonement.

These things run throughout the Plan of God through the Holy Days!

• Healing—physical and spiritually—(Isa. 61); us personally and the world

Isa. 58 talks about what a good, true fast does! The reason for us personally to do that. We've all sinned and we've all fallen short.

Isaiah 58:6: "Is not this, rather, the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bands of wickedness… [on you and the world] …to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed ones go free… [we are all oppressed in a lot of ways; sin in the world oppresses everyone] …and that you break every yoke? Is it not to give of your bread to the hungry…" (vs 6-7).

Christ talks about that: as you have done it to one of these little ones, you have done it unto Me!

As you see things in your life that's what you do out of love and concern. Bread can be both physical and spiritual, and you give it to the hungry.

"…and that you should bring home the wandering poor? When will you see the naked and cover him; and not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break out as the dawn…" (vs 7-8).

That is the Holy Spirit leading and guiding you and doing good with Christ in us, the Truth motivating you to do good, right and good works; those works that come from God, not ourselves! God has shown those as we live our lives accordingly.

"…and your health shall spring out quickly; and your righteousness… [the righteousness of Christ in you] …shall go before you the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard" (v 8).

God will back you up, have your back; "…be your rear guard." He's there to help you; His hand helps you. He's there every time you ask for something He's right there. Every time you need something, He's right there as long as you're with Him!

That's what fasting and affliction does! Afflicting our soul draws us close to God. It shows us that we need Him, and shows us where our power, strength, sustenance and provision comes from. We can't do ourselves; we can do nothing of our own. Christ said that and here He was God in the flesh!

Verse 9: "Then you shall call, and the LORD shall answer; you shall cry, and He shall say, "Here I am." If you take the yoke away from among you, the pointing of the finger, and speaking malice."

What affliction does is humble us, makes us contrite, makes us yielding, submissive, obedient and knowing that we're nothing! Then we don't elevate and raise ourselves up and think we're something great and that we're better than everyone else, and know more than anyone else. That we're more intelligent, and somehow God looks down on us and we're better than anyone else. We're just the opposite!

Daniel gives us an example of a fast. Afflicting our souls has been a question in Atonement.

• Why do we do that?
• What is it called?
• It's not for us?

Et cetera!

Daniel's fast was to bring reconciliation for sin to God! The sin that the nation and himself that they had found themselves in. Daniel knew that they needed reconciliation and to bring everlasting righteousness.

Daniel 9:3[transcriber's correction]: "And I set my face toward the LORD God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting… [they're one, a package] …and sackcloth… [humility] …and ashes.

Verse 23: "At the beginning of your supplications the word went forth, and I have come to declare it, for you are greatly beloved… [and we all are] …therefore, consider the word, and understand the vision: Seventy weeks are decreed upon your people and upon your Holy city to finish the transgression and to make an end of sin, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy" (vs 23-24).

There's a lot to be said in that, and that's the purpose of that fast. Of course, it was answered and will be answered and is also prophetic.

Isaiah 57:14: And He shall say, 'Cast up! Cast up! Prepare the way! Take the stumbling block… [the sin; take Satan out of the way] …out of the way of My people.'" That's us now and in the future!

It's going to be a Millennial event that has repercussions throughout the Millennium until Satan is loosed again and he's finally put away into the Lake of Fire.

Verse 15: "For thus says the high and lofty One Who inhabits eternity; Whose name is Holy; 'I dwell in the high and Holy place, even with the one who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.'"

That's what afflicting and fasting, prayer and supplication does; drawing close to Them. They dwell with us. Psa. 15 talks about who will dwell on the mountain of the Lord. Who will be there.

Matt. 4, Luke 4 and Deut. 8:3 talks about 'man shall not live by bread alone.' But prior to that Christ went into the wilderness, led by the Holy Spirit to fast in preparation for dealing with Satan, the confrontation; the most important battle in history.

Of all the battles that have taken place, this was a spiritual battle of mind, will and spirit and Christ had to prepare for it, the same we do in preparing through fasting. Remember that Satan is still here and he needs to be put away. To do that, and get serious about it, our part in it is to prepare to sons and daughters, kings and priests in the Family of God. To help usher in that Millennial setting. To bring the Kingdom of God and help the rest of the world. When we do that we have to prepare when we're physical to be there.

Matthew 4:1: "Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Spirit in order to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, afterwards He was famished. And when the tempter came to Him, he said, 'If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread'" (vs 1-3)—self-perpetuation! The next one was cast Yourself down!

Verse 6: "And [Satan said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God, cast Yourself down; for it is written, "He shall give His angels charge concerning You, and they shall bear You up in their hands, lest You strike Your foot against a stone."'" Self-preservation!

Verse 8: "After that, the devil took Him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and said to Him, 'All these things will I give You…'" (vs 8-9)—self-determination!

All the things that Satan uses to tempt us today in different degrees, Christ went through.

Verse 10: "Then Jesus said to him, 'Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him alone shall you serve."'"

• How do you do that?
• How can we draw close and do that?

The Day of Atonement is so very important to remember Christ's sacrifice and the purpose! To be encourage that even though we make a mistake, god is there to forgive us, IF we repent and draw close to Him! "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him alone shall you serve."

Verse 11: "Then the devil left Him… [1-Peter 5 says to resist the devil] …and behold, angels came and ministered to Him."

Fasting gives us the power from God because drawing close, looking to Him and He reacts to that, responds to that. Power from God to fight against Satan and resist him.

Christ was qualified to replace Satan and we become qualified through Christ and our Father through our actions and our heart in repentance and fasting. To become kings and priests along with, under, Christ and the Father. But Christ qualified to be King of kings and Lord of lords, to replace Satan and to bind him and remove him from causing mankind to be separated from God because of sin.

Isaiah 59:22: "But your iniquities have come between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear."

Back to Lev. 23:

• v 27: "…and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD."

When we're in this frame of mind, we want to thank God and give Him an offering. And give Him everything that we have, because He's given it to us!

• v 28: "And you shall do no work in that same day…"
• v 30: "And whoever does any work in that same day, the same one will I destroy from among his people."
• v 31: "You shall do no manner of work…"

You're going to be destroyed, cast out and put away from, just as Satan was if we continue with that frame of mind and don't recognize the Passover/Atonement connection and the value of it, and the purpose of it for us personally.

God does not want us to do any work on that day. It's His day! He's in that day and He calls us into that day and wants us to be serious about what that day represents. We stand still! When you're working you're not standing still. Just like Israel stood still. Moses said to them:

Stand still and see the power and glory of God! He's going to take care of the Egyptian army that's coming at us.

Satan that's coming at us! Stand still and see His salvation as Moses and the Israelites did when God divided the Red Sea and there was a way of escape. God is going to give us a way of escape; He's not going to put anything in front of us that we cannot bear. He's always there to care for us, save us and give us that deliverance!

• v 31: "…It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings."

It says that about the Sabbath, as well; perpetual. Look at what He calls it: a statute! We can go through the Scriptures that talk about remembering the day, the commandments, the Law, the statutes. Deut. 8 talks about that. Some people say that you don't have to remember it, it's not that big a deal!

Yes, it is! "…throughout your generations in all your dwellings." That' pretty permanent!

• v 32: "It shall be to you a Sabbath of rest…"

Atonement a Sabbath? Yes! Each and every one of the Holy Days! Remember the Sabbath Day, remember God's Sabbath and Holy Days! Why?

"…and you shall afflict yourselves. In the ninth day of the month at sunset, from sunset to sunset, you shall keep your Sabbath" (v 32).

These are all requirements for us to do on that day. They have great meaning. The Day of Atonement ties in with Passover throughout the Plan of God for mankind.

Atonement is personal between you and God. We don't keep it for someone else. We don't fast for someone else. We do love and care about everyone, and we want all—just as God does—there! As we see difficulties and things in front of us, we care for them and do what we can, but it's personal and between you and God. This is a personal relationship. Atonement—at-one-ment—with God, referring to the condition of being one with God and with others even in the Family of God, because they have God's Holy Spirit and they are Holy, as well.

When you shake someone's hand who is in the Church or in the Family of God, and you're saying hello, you're fellowshipping with Jesus Christ and God the Father.

Atonement is from the English word 'atone' or 'a-tune' meaning at-one, to be in harmony. Right before Christ left, right after the Passover He said:

John 17:21: "Tat they all may be one, even as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, in order that the world may believe that You did send Me."

See how that He brings that personal and then to the world. It's all tied into Passover and Atonement. Then Paul says:

1-Corinthians 6:17: "But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit." All of us are one!

Verse 20: "For you were bought with a price…."

Through that sacrifice, the blood and stripes—all that Christ went through—for us! A perfect sinless sacrifice in the flesh.

"…Therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (v 20)—they're not your own!

• we want to do our own thing
• we want to think our own way
• we want to put our own ideas and opinions on these Holy Days
• that's not what we're supposed to do

• we are one with God
• we are purchased
• we are His

He tells us what's best for us. Out of love He tells us what to do. We don't change that!

John 10:30: "I and the Father are one." And we are one (John 17:11, 21). We draw close to God:

• through fasting
• personal introspection
• meditation
• thinking about it through prayer
• drawing close to God on Atonement
• we acknowledge our dependence on God
• we recognize who is ultimately responsible for sin entering into the world—Satan
• on Atonement we look forward to the appointed time when Satan will be chained and locked up

Romans 5:12: "Therefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and by means of sin came death; and in this way death passed into all mankind; and it is for this reason that all have sinned."

Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. but are being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (vs 23-24). That's how, through that Passover sacrifice that redeems and reconciles us!

Atonement does the same thing in that it gets rid of the problem—the obstacles and the stumbling block—and cause of sin in our lives and in the world. It leaves us open and free to be redeemed and reconciled and brought back to Christ.

What a wonderful time! I think we need to think and meditate on that; what that's going to be like.

Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death…"

We've all died; we would all be dead in our sins if it weren't for God and Jesus Christ.

"…but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" (v 23).

Passover and Atonement are necessary steps to redemption and salvation from that death penalty!

It's a wonderful message for us and for the world! We've been given the opportunity to understand that right now. I don't know why He's called us and given us that, and opened our mind. He has a purpose for us! We're to be preparing to serve and help, doing that right now in preparation for that day when the rest of the world will come.

Then the Last Great Day, all that have lived, we will be there to help them as well. To love them and care for them! But we have to focus on these days that He puts before us: Passover, Atonement and all the others.

• repentance and forgiveness of our sins
• acceptance of the blood of Christ
• drawing close to God through prayer and fasting

We've been separated from God by Satan, and Satan and our sins will be defeated and removed:

Isaiah 59:2: "But your iniquities have come between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear."

But through Christ, that opened door, that opportunity to go into the Holy of Holies and have our sins forgiven and go before the High Priest and Sacrifice Jesus Christ! He is our Advocate Who goes and advocates our case before God, because He's 'been there'! He's the Mediator!

Satan is responsible for sin entering the world, and will be dealt with on Atonement.

Quickly I want to go over the two goats, because it is said that they are:

not really important and don't have much to do with Atonement. Satan's only mentioned a couple of times, so he really doesn't have anything either. That is not what God wants us to focus on.

Lev. 16:7 gives us another ceremony that was done on the Day of Atonement. I won't go through it all, but just the two goats:

Leviticus 16:7: "And he shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots on the two goats; one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel" (vs 7-8).

Satan is not mentioned, but we know that Azazel means scapegoat and it refers to the goat used for the sacrifice for the sins of the people and it represents Satan.

Verse 9: "And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer it for a sin offering. But the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement upon it and sent away into the wilderness for Azazel" (vs 9-10).

Verse 15: "Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering… [Christ was sacrificed, crucified] …that is for the people… [personal, for you] …and bring its blood inside the veil. And he shall do with that blood as he did with the blood of the young bull… [remember that life is in the blood] …and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. And he shall make an atonement for the sanctuary because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel and because of their transgressions in all their sins…. [same thing with us] …And so he shall do for the tabernacle of the congregation, which remains with them in the midst of their uncleanness" (vs 15-16).

Verse 21: "And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the sins of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away by the hand of a chosen man into the wilderness. And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities to a land in which no one lives. And he shall let the goat go in the wilderness" (vs 21-22)—picturing Satan!

The goat that is sanctified for the people is Christ:

Romans 5:8: "But God commends His own love to us because, when we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more, therefore, having been justified now by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His own Son, much more then, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received the reconciliation" (vs 8-11).

The live goat that was let go into the wilderness represents Satan.

Revelation 20:1: "Then I saw an angel descending from heaven, having the key of the abyss, and a great chain in his hand. And he took hold of the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. Then he cast him into the abyss, and locked him up, and sealed the abyss over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were fulfilled; and after that it is ordained that he be loosed for a short time" (vs 1-3).

Fred has talks about Gog and Magog for the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles and what's going to happen.

Revelation 20:7[transcriber's correction]: Now, when the thousand years have been completed, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison; and he shall go out to deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, of whom the number is as the sand of the sea, to gather them together for war" (vs 7-8).

Satan is not done! He's still out working to deceive and to the destruction of God's Plan.

Verse 9: "Then I saw them go up upon the breadth of the earth and encircle the camp of the saints, and the beloved city… [and it doesn't go well of him] …and fire came down from God out of heaven and consumed them."

Hebrews 12:29: "For our God is indeed a consuming fire."

He burns up sin and evil! The Holy Spirit within us burns up sin within us, if we allow it to. Stir up that Spirit, stoke the flames of that Spirit so that we can overcome that sin and place it where it needs to be.

Revelation 2:10: "And the Devil, who deceived them, was cast into the Lake of Fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet had been cast; and they, Satan and the demons, shall be tormented day and night into the ages of eternity."

Romans 9:14: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. Now, you have not received a spirit of bondage again unto fear, but you have received the Spirit of sonship, whereby we call out, 'Abba, Father.'" (vs 14-15)—reconciled to God the Father!

Verse 16: "The Spirit itself bears witness conjointly with our own spirit, testifying that we are the children of God. Now, if we are children, we are also heirs—truly, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer together with Him… [afflict our souls] …so that we may also be glorified together with Him" (vs 16-17)—the purpose!

This all took place from the foundation of the world; this was His Plan!

Ephesians 1:3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly things with Christ; according as He has personally chosen us for Himself before the foundation of the world in order that we might be Holy and blameless before Him in love" (vs 3-4).

That can't happen as long as sin abounds and is here! But Christ makes a way for that!

Verse 5: "Having predestinated us for sonship to Himself through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His own will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us objects of His grace in the Beloved Son; in Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the remission of sins, according to the riches of His grace, which He has made to abound toward… [tie in Rom. 5:5] …us in all wisdom and intelligence" (vs 5-8).

Verse 9: "Having made known to us the mystery… [not made know to the world] …of His own will, according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Himself; that in the Divine plan for the fulfilling of the times, He might bring all things together in Christ… [tie in Acts 3:21, the restitution of all things] …both the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth; yes, in Him, in Whom we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestinated according to His purpose, Who is working out all things according to the counsel of His own will; that we might be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in the Christ" (vs 9-12).

That's what fasting does! Drawing close to God and trusting Him in everything we do and say, every deed and word that we do—we trust in Him!

Verse 13: "In Whom you also trusted after hearing the Word of the Truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in Whom also, after believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance" (vs 13-14).

This is adown payment showing that we are part of the Family if we continue the course and endure!

"…until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory" (v 14).

We can go through the things that pertain to Satan:

• a liar
• father of lies
• murderer from the beginning

Satan is still running around and there's still a need for Atonement! He doesn't want us to understand the importance and keep these days properly. He wants us to water them down.

God doesn't want us to do that! He wants us to know the Truth and know it, do it earnestly do it with a clean and sincere heart!

Satan would minimize the true meaning of Atonement and Passover if he could. He has attacked those days:

Passover:

• the 14th/15th controversy
• Christ didn't come in the flesh
• He was just a teacher, not the Messiah
• He was a brother to Satan
  • all those water down
  • all of those are denying Christ

Atonement:

• there's no Satan, he doesn't exist
• Why do we need atonement?
• 'I don't sin! I don't have any sin, I'm pretty good'
• the two goats aren't important
• it's not necessary for us personally, rather for the world
• fasting is not for us, it's for others

Those are watering down the real meaning of Atonement that God wants us to understand the Truth! We're commanded to:

• seek the Truth
• teach the Truth
• be on guard

Galatians 1:6—Paul says: "I am astonished…"

It's time for us to put on the armor of God and be serious about this! Be vigilant! Be a watchman and watching!

"…that you are so quickly being turned away from Him Who called you into the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which in reality is not another Gospel; but there are some who are troubling you and are desiring to pervert the Gospel of Christ" (vs 6-7).

Verse 8: But if we, or even an angel from heaven, should preach a gospel to you that is contrary to what we have preached, LET HIM BE ACCURSED!"

It's very important that we all know the Truth, preach it, stay close to it and do it!

Verse 9: "As we have said before, I also now say again. If anyone is preaching a gospel contrary to what you have received, LET HIM BE ACCURSED!"

Colossians 2:6: "Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, be walking in Him; being rooted and built up in Him, and being confirmed in the faith, exactly as you were taught…" (vs 6-7).

Ask for the discernment of the Spirit. When you hear something that doesn't sound right—DING!—that Spirit will direct you!

"…exactly as you were taught abounding in it with thanksgiving. Be on guard so that no one takes you captive through philosophy…" (vs 7-8)—'intelligent' reasonings: 'I've got new truth here!'

"…and vain deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ" (v 8).

This is serious stuff!

Verse 9: "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in Him… [there's a simplicity in Christ] …Who is the Head of all principality and power" (vs 9-10).

1-Peter 5:8: "Be sober! Be vigilant! For your adversary the devil is prowling about as a roaring lion, seeking anyone he may devour."

2-Corinthians 11:3: "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness… [he's still at work] …so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."

Christ's Truth is simple, basic! Once you have God's Holy Spirit and you obey the things you learn, it becomes very basic and simple. Some people want to make it difficult and complex! It's not! It's simple!

Verse 4: "For indeed, if someone comes preaching another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different gospel, which you did not accept, you put up with it as something good. But I consider myself in no way inferior to those highly exalted so-called apostles" (vs 4-5).

Verse 13: "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers who are transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And it is no marvel, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light" (vs 13-14).

Always sounding good and wonderful! 'he cares for us, he's so good, he wants to do everything for us, a wonderful person'! "…and angel of light"! That's who Satan looks like! Watch the pope sometime! Sounds good!

Verse 15: "Therefore, it is no great thing if his servants also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness—whose end shall be according to their works."

It's very serious that we speak the Truth! Simply put, the word of Atonement means reconciliation!

Satan is the cause of sin in the world, and will be punished for his deception in the world!

Atonement is the work that Christ did in life, and death to make salvation possible to mankind upon repentance and belief in Christ and His sacrifice, blood and salvation!

We understand Passover—this was planned before the foundation of the world. The Lamb of God slain from the foundation (Rev. 13). Christ has now entered into the Holy Place:

Hebrews 9:24[transcriber's correction]: "For Christ has not entered into the Holy places made by human hands, which are mere copies of the true; rather, He has entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us."

You and me, personally and individually are to 'work out your own salvation with fear and trembling' so you can be there with Christ in the Family to help and serve.

Verse 25: "Not that He should offer Himself many times, even as the high priest enters into the Holy of Holies year by year with the blood of others; for then it would have been necessary for Him to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now, once and for all… [one time for everyone for all time] … in the consummation of the ages, He has been manifested for the purpose of removing sin through His sacrifice of Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this, the judgment" (vs 25-27).

We're all going to die, but we're looking for that city, that relationship with God, the reconciliation with the Father to become sons and daughters of God in the Kingdom.

In doing so, He triumphed over Satan and the demons and the hold that they have over mankind. It makes it possible to be redeemed back to God and purchased by His blood.

Verse 12: "Not by the blood of goats and calves, but by the means of His own blood, He entered once for all into the Holiest, having by Himself secured everlasting redemption for us."

I'm sorry for repeating this over and over, but I hope  you see the connection between the two days.

Galatians 1:4—speaking of Christ: "Who gave Himself for our sins, in order that He might deliver us from the present evil world…"

We really need to stop and think about that, and what He's done and what it does, results in.

"…according to the will of our God and Father" (v 4).

He gave Himself for our sins. He paid the penalty and provided an Atonement! If that is not a connection, there isn't another Scripture that is.

Isaiah 53:11: "…By His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many; and He shall bear their iniquities."

Verse 12: "…He has poured out His soul to death; and He was counted among the transgressors… [He didn't sin] …and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for transgressors."

The purpose of Jesus' death could not be any clearer. The message resounds throughout the Old and the New! He died in our place to provide and atonement and forgiveness and payment for the penalty of sins!

Revelation 17:14 "These will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb…"

Picturing a time in the future; who are "these"? Psa. 15 asks: who will be there?

"…but the Lamb shall overcome them… [the world who fights Him] …for He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful" (v 14).

• they remain to the end!
• they endure to the end!
• they suffer through the afflictions!
• they afflict their souls and they suffer through
• they fast and draw close to God
• they realize that Satan is the reason for sin

When we do sin we have a Savior and Sacrifice, and through the blood we have an atonement!

This Day of Atonement we can see the importance and connection that it has with us and Christ. now and in the future!

Let's be there as called, chosen and faithful with Christ our Savior, Passover, and King of kings!

Scriptural References:

• Colossians 1:26
• Genesis 1:2
• Genesis 3:1-15
• Exodus 20:8
• Leviticus 23:17-32, 27
• 1 Peter 1:16-17
• Isaiah 58:6-9
• Daniel 9:3, 23-24
• Isaiah 57:14-15
• Matthew 4:1-3, 6, 8-11
• Isaiah 59:2
• Leviticus 23:27-28, 30-32
• John 17:21
• 1 Corinthians 6:17, 20
• John 10:30
• Romans 5:12
• Romans 3:23-24
• Romans 6:23
• Isaiah 59:2
• Leviticus 16:7-10, 15-16, 21-22
• Romans 5:8-11
• Revelation 20:1-3, 7-9
• Hebrews 12:29
• Revelation 2:10
• Romans 9:14-17
• Ephesians 1:3-14
• Galatians 1:6-9
• Colossians 2:6-10
• 1 Peter 5:8
• 2 Corinthians 11:3-5, 13-15
• Hebrews 9:24-27, 12
• Galatians 1:4
• Isaiah 53:11-12
• Revelation 17:14

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Romans 8:28
• Matthew 4
• 2 Corinthians 4:4
• 1 Peter 1:17-21
• Matthew 22
• Isaiah 14
• Ezekiel 28
• Genesis 2
• 1 Corinthians 2:2
• Isaiah 61
• Psalm 15
• Luke 4
• Deuteronomy 8:3
• 1 Peter 5
• John 17:11
• Romans 5:5
• Acts 3:21
• Revelation 13
• Psalm 15

SD:bo
Transcribed: 9/9/22

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