Day of Atonement 2007

Greetings, brethren! Welcome to the Day of Atonement!

As we progress down through the Holy Day year and the Holy Day season, and knowing the meaning of God's plan for us, I'd just like to show you this book: God's Plan for Mankind Revealed by His Sabbath and Holy Days. It is truly a wondrous thing what God has done to be able to make it possible for us to understand the knowledge and meaning of the Holy Days.

So, this day, the Day of Atonement, has special meaning and the plan of God cannot go forward unless there is the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement. Today we'll begin in Lev. 23, because there God hid all the Holy Days in one chapter. He put it there so only those that would be willing to love Him, obey Him and keep His commandments would be willing to accept the Holy Days. Of course, we can prove that they were kept in the New Testament, too, but nevertheless the world rejects them. Those who accept them:

• don't keep them at the right time
• they don't keep them in the right way
• they don't keep them with the understanding from the New Testament

The Bible is a complete unit. The Old Testament and the New Testament have a unity of the Truth of God in it, and we have to seek out the things that are in the Scriptures to give us understanding as to what the Bible is really teaching us.

Let's see what it says concerning the Day of Atonement, Leviticus 23:26: "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying…" This is directly from God!

People say it's the Law of Moses; NO that's not true because God gave it! All Moses was a mouthpiece. Moses said, 'Thus saith the Lord.' So, here God is telling Moses about the Day of Atonement. This is God's Day of Atonement, not Moses' Day of Atonement, not the Jews' Day of Atonement.

The Old Testament is not a Jewish Bible. The Old Testament is not a Hebrew Bible. The Old Testament is an Aaronic priesthood, Levitical Bible, written in Hebrew! Yes, it was for the Jews, but that doesn't mean it was their Bible. It's the Word of God! So, just like Moses in bringing the Holy Days and speaking of God's Word and God's laws, it's God's day!

Verse 27: "Also, on the tenth day of this seventh month, is the Day of Atonement.… [if you take the word atonement and separate it out into three words, you have at-one-ment] …It shall be a Holy convocation to you. And you shall afflict your souls… [that means with fasting: no food and no water] …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).

We always take up and offering on the Holy Day, so we're going to go ahead and pause now and take up an offering.

(pause for offering)

Verse 29: "For whoever is not afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people." That is a spiritual application that God does! They're still among the people, but they're cut off from God among the people.

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

It's not just to the Jews alone. His people can refer to any of the tribes of Israel, to anyone who keeps the Day of Atonement. So, the Day of Atonement is the only day that has these absolute requirements concerning work. 

Verse 31: "You shall do no manner of work. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings."

We're going to see during this sermon why this Day of Atonement is so important. In the plan of God it is the focal point that begins the finishing of His plan.

Verse 32: "It shall be to you a Sabbath of rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. In the ninth day of the month at sunset, from sunset to sunset, you shall keep your Sabbath."

This is where we have it from the Scripture that it is absolutely clear that the Sabbath begins at sunset and ends as sunset! The reason it is put here in the Day of Atonement because:

• it is so important with the restrictions on working
• it is so important that we all begin fasting at the same time and end at the same time

that God then made it absolutely clear that the Sabbaths are going to be from sunset to sunset, which in the Hebrew is 'ba erev,' and this becomes a very important thing for us to understand. Let's also realize that there are things that need to be understood concerning the Day of Atonement.

Let's finish off here by going to Lev. 16, because here are some other instructions that God gave concerning the Day of Atonement and what was to be done. Without the New Testament you can't understand it completely, other than it is a day of fasting. But the ceremonies that are in Lev. 16 have spiritual significance, which the fulfillment of it is not revealed until the book of Revelation.

Even the children of Israel did not understand this. Even many of the commentators in trying to figure out:

• why there were two live goats
• why they were handled in the way that did
• what they pictured
• how it was done
• the spiritual meaning of it

Here's what exactly was to happened at the temple on the Day of Atonement; because God was dealing with people who were carnal, did not have the Spirit of God, and He had to provide a means and a way whereby He would continue to deal with them. God also had to show in the ritual that there would come a time when all sin would be removed. But we need the New Testament, and in particularly the book of Revelation, to fully understand it.

Aaron was to put on his special ceremonial garments and on this particular day, the Day of Atonement, was the only day in the entire year that the high priest could go into the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant was. That is really something that gives us deep meaning when we realize that Christ has made it possible for us to come into the Holy of Holies with our prayers spiritually, directly to God the Father in heaven above, every single day.

That shows the difference in our relationship. But nevertheless, after the priest put on the garments that he was to put on, and after he offered the offerings that he was to do, he was to take two kids of the goats and they were to be as identical as possible. Here is the special ceremony that he was to do after he had offered the sin offering for himself, to make atonement for himself and for all the priesthood.

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."

This special ceremony was very particular. All other offerings, the ones who brought them could select and determine whether they had a blemish or not. When they brought them then they were accepted. Here we have a whole different aspect of choosing the offerings. These two goats were presented live before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Verse 8: "And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats…" This is the only time this is done in all the Bible where casting lots for sacrifice to the Lord! This means that God has to make the distinction; God has to do the choosing!

"…one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel…. [another name for Satan] …And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer it for a sin offering" (vs 8-9)

This is an important thing to understand. When you have your sins forgiven or atoned for by the blood—and of course, this refers to the blood of Christ—and yet it is on the Day of Atonement. Because in it's fulfillment, as we will see, coming down in time that there has to be a time when God has to make the final judgment—and God will!

Verse 10: "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."

Now, let's understand that heaven, where the throne of God is, is never referred to in the Scriptures as a wilderness. A wilderness is where it is desolate, there's no water, there is very little life and it is a place of demons and jackals and so forth. So then he was to bring in the blood at the same time for the offering for his sins and his household. Sprinkled them on the mercy seat. It's the only time of year that the blood is sprinkled on the mercy seat, and it's sprinkled seven times.

After he does that, completes the atonement for the priesthood (vs 11-14).

Verse 15: "Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people, and bring its blood inside the veil.… [into the Holy of Holies, which then was a type of Christ] … And he shall do with that blood as he did with the blood of the young bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.… [he also did that seven times] …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. And so he shall do for the tabernacle of the congregation, which remains with them in the midst of their uncleanness" (vs 15-16).

When he killed the goat for a sin offering and took that blood into the Holy of Holies, this is very similar to what we have already covered in the book of Hebrews; that Christ went once with His own blood, into the Holy of Holies to make atonement for us and His one offering for sin forever.

When that happens, as this was going on, v 17: "And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goes in to make an atonement in the sanctuary until he comes out and has made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel."

When you have your sins forgiven, they're forgiven!

• Why do we have the second goat?
• Why was this ritual done?

Let's see what was to be done there and then we will see the fulfillment of it in Rev. 20. The special meaning of this and what this pictures in God dealing with the world in fulfilling His plan becomes very important.

Verse 20: "And when he has made an end of reconciling the sanctuary and the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, he shall bring the live goat. 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…" (vs 20-21).

• Didn't they just have their sins forgiven or atoned for with the sacrifice of the kid goat that was for the Lord? Yes!
• Why then do this?
• Why is this repeated?

Well, it goes to the heart and core of the whole revelation of the Bible, that sin comes because of Satan the devil! As long as he is around you will never, never, never completely get rid of sin. He is the responsible one!

Who caused Adam and Eve to sin? As soon as Satan was released in the form of a serpent into the garden, what did he do? He came to them and he deceived Eve! He lied to them and said:

You can become gods now! Why do you have to wait on God to tell you what is right and wrong? You can decide for yourself and you can become gods.'

That was an absolute lie! The only way they became as God is to decide what was right and wrong for themselves.

We're going to see a little later that Satan is always there! We will see why he has to be put away. Also, after Adam and Eve had sinned, God changed their nature to be more sinful, and put within them the law of death! Paul describes this as the law of sin and death.

So, you have two things that must be changed in order to get rid of sin and in order to be at one with God:

• Satan the devil has to eliminated
• human nature has to be changed

The Day of Atonement pictures when it's going to be, as we will say, finished and complete.

Then after he confesses all their sins and all their trespasses, "…putting them on the head of the goat… [which is for Azazel] … 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.…" (vs 21-22).

That cannot picture heaven at all, as some people have misunderstood, saying this is Jesus carrying away our sins. No, that's not Jesus carrying away our sins. He was crucified and resurrected.

"…And he shall let the goat go in the wilderness. And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall strip off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the sanctuary, and shall leave them there. And he shall wash his flesh with water in the Holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself and for the people. And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the altar. And he that let go the goat for Azazel shall wash his clothes and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp" (vs 22–26). That was the ritual that was to be done!

Verse 27: "And the young bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy place, shall they carry forth outside the camp. And they shall burn their skins in the fire, and their flesh and their dung."

A complete sacrifice for sin. So, the goat for Azazel could not in any way picture Christ because it wasn't a complete removal of sin by Christ. This had to be the agency representing Satan the devil who causes all people to sin.

Verse 29: "And it shall be a statute forever to you: in the seventh month, on the tenth of the month, you shall afflict your souls and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country or a stranger who is living among you, for on that day an atonement shall be made for you, to cleanse you, so that you may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It shall be a Sabbath of rest to you, and you shall afflict your souls, by a statute forever" (vs 29-31).

These are the instructions given in the Old Testament concerning the Day of Atonement and the two goats!

Now we know that Ezek. 28 shows us the origin of Satan, who was a covering cherub, who was perfect in the day that he was created. He got lifted up in pride and vanity. Isa. 14 show that then he decided to become like God. He decided that he would gather, as Rev. 12 shows, a third of the angels and over whatever period of time it took to convince them to follow him and rebel and go against God, and we don't know how long that this took place, from the time that Satan decided in his heart that he was become like God, to deceive a third of the angels to follow him, and then to launch the war that we find given to us in Rev. 12 and also Isa. 14.

It could have taken place over many, many thousands and thousands of years, we don't know! But we do know and understand how God works. We understand that when there is sin, God gives warning. God calls to repentance.

• Did God give the same opportunity to Lucifer before he became Satan, by falling?
  • Probably did!
  • Probably gave him that opportunity.
• Did God give the opportunity to the angels? I'm sure He did!

Perhaps that helps give us understanding as to some of the geological events that have occurred on the earth of which there is virtually no other explanation, because it is absolutely for sure that the heavens and the earth are older than 6,000 years.

Those who claim 6,000 years, they're stuck with several problems. God is eternal and lives from 'everlasting to everlasting' and 'inhabits eternity.' So, what they're saying is that for all eternity God did nothing until 6,000 years ago. That doesn't make any sense. The Scriptures in the Old Testament do not give it dogmatic absolute that it was everything in the whole universe was created in six days. That's another whole topic, but just need to interject it here so that we understand what we're dealing with.

Now when Satan fell, when he was cast back down; there were two castings down. We find one in Luke 10. Let's see what Jesus told His disciples after they came back on their first evangelistic tour and came back and said:

Luke 10:17: "Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us through Your name.' And He said to them, 'I was watching when Satan fell from heaven like lightning" (vs 17-18).

• the first fall was the fall of Satan the devil
• the second fall was the fall of Adam and Eve

The fall of Satan, as we're going to see, is irredeemable. And being irredeemable means he cannot be redeemed and brought back to a state of righteousness. But he must be dealt with, he must be put away, and he must be stopped. Even if Christ returned on the earth and Satan were not put away, He could not bring in the Kingdom of God the way He wants to if He just lets Satan linger around. So, he fell from heaven.

Now let's also see that Jesus, in confronting Satan the devil, had to overcome him and conquer him in the lowest, least physical condition that He could possibly be in. This is why Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. He didn't eat food, didn't drink water and was extremely weak. Then He had His confrontation with Satan the devil. This is really the battle of the ages. Not the fighting and warring in heaven that went on—that was a battle—but here is the battle now for all eternity, because the One Who was the Lord God of the Old Testament became Jesus Christ of the New Testament. He didn't humble Himself to become an angel, but humbled Himself even more to become a man, less than an angel, lower than an angel.

As the Son of God in the flesh, could He overcome Satan the devil? Could He overcome the powerful temptations brought upon Him? He had to defeat Satan the devil, spiritually. We find this battle recorded. This is part of it; of course, the final battle was at the crucifixion and the resurrection was the final battle to overcome Satan the devil. We'll see some of that here in the book of John in just a little bit.

Luke 4:2[transcriber's correction]: "For forty days to be tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing in those days; and after they had come to an end, He hungered. Then the devil said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God…'" (vs 2-3).

This took place in the wilderness where Azazel was released. So, it's very fitting that this confrontation take place there.

"…'If you are the Son of God… [appealing to pride] …command that this stone become bread'" (v 3)

Jesus could do that; look what He did in feeding the 4,000 and the 5,000; He could have done it. The key is:

• Who would He obey?
• Would He obey God the Father?

or

• Would He obey Satan the devil?

And remember, the one you obey is your God!

Because of the sin of Adam and Eve, Satan became the god of this world. We're also going to see what he is currently doing; how he works in the world and how he works against the Church.

Verse 4: "But Jesus answered him…"—with Scripture!

• not His own devices
• not His own thoughts
• not His own ways

Since He was in the flesh as a man, and He's also called the Son of man as well the Son of God, He answered and gave the same instruction to Himself, the same Scripture, which said how man should live, He applied to Himself.

"…saying, 'It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God."'" (v 4). This is taken from Deut. 8:3 and also is repeated in

Matthew 4:4: "…but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."

Let's just stop here for just a minute and ask a question: How much of the Old Testament does this include? How much of the New Testament does this include? All of it! And if there are any adjustments, or if there are any things that need to be done to modify or change some of the ritual laws, God alone can do that—no man! Note Appendix H: How Did Jesus Christ Fulfill the Law and the Prophets? in The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, A Faithful Version and it's also in A Harmony of the Gospels,

You will see that in His fulfilling He replaced all of it with a higher, more spiritual standard. He didn't eliminate anything! He gave it a higher, spiritual application! How do you do it as an individual? There it is right there!

Verse 5—how do you do it as a ruler, because Jesus was to be King of kings and Lord of lords. So, just like today, we'll see, Satan works in individual lives, Satan works in communities of people. Satan works in nations of people and leaders over nations. This why He had to have this test.

Luke 4:5: "Then the devil led Him up into a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time."

Just like on a huge great TV screen, seeing everything. This becomes very important for us to realize and where we are today and what's going to happen in the future.

Verse 6: "And the devil said to Him, 'I will give you all this authority, and the glory of them all; for it has been delivered to me… [men have delivered it to him, because they reject God and they accept Satan the devil as their god] …and I give it to whomever I desire.'"

Now, all the glory means all the wealth, all the riches and everything like that. Also, you can tell those who are serving Satan well by all the wealth that they have, because Satan is giving it to them.

Now then, it requires something else. You're not going to get it without a price. You've got to pay a price to Satan. Success in this world, Satan's way, you got to pay a price! The price that people pay is rejecting God and following Satan. Rejecting the true God and accepting him who is declared as the god of this world because all of this has been given to him.

Verse 7: "Therefore, if You will worship me in my presence, all things shall be Yours.'"

Let's see how absolutely true this is concerning the beast and the people on the earth. We are right now entering a time when the deception is getting greater and greater and more and more powerful than ever before. We've got be able to fight and resist against Satan the devil in every way possible that we can in our personal lives and within the Church.

Revelation 13:2 talks about the beast with seven heads and ten horns: "And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, and his feet like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion; and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne and great authority"—because he gives it to whomsoever he will!

Here we have the confrontation between Jesus Christ and Satan the devil. Who is going to be supreme? Who is God?

Verse 3: "And I saw one of his heads as if it were slain to death, but his deadly wound was healed; and the whole earth was amazed and followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon… [he's called the 'old dragon,' Satan the devil] …who gave his authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast? Who has the power to make war against him?'" (vs 3-4).

We are all going to be confronted with this in the future. The whole world is going to be confronted with the same proposition that Jesus was when He met Satan in the wilderness to defeat him and overcome him. 'Worship him'—and that means in the Greek, worship him as god! In other words, he was asking Jesus Christ to reject God the Father. Now think on that for a minute! If people worship another Jesus and worship another father, they are worshiping Satan the devil and they have rejected God the Father!

Satan likes to come in and get a little toe-hold and then get a little foot-hold, and then get a little leg-room, and then get a little body-room and then come in and take over the whole thing. He has to be stopped right at the first. Now then, the next one, let's see the solution to this.

Luke 4:7[transcriber's correction]: "'Therefore, if You will worship me in my presence, all things shall be Yours.' But Jesus answered and said to him, 'Get behind Me, Satan; for it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve"' (vs 7-8). The Day of Atonement pictures:

• Whom will you serve?
• The Lord?

or

• The 'god of this world,' Satan the devil?

Then he goes on saying—one more temptation—to trust him with your life. This could be reflected in many, many ways. But here it is to tempt God, you do daring things:

Verse 9: "Then he led Him to Jerusalem and set Him upon the edge of the temple, and said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God, cast Yourself down from here; for it is written…" (vs 9-10).

He takes the Scriptures and uses them and twists and turns them to his own advantage; to the disadvantage of those who are listening. If they buy into his program, they are rejecting God the Father and Jesus Christ.

I recently read in the Journal, there are some people who supposedly have been in the Church and they've been massaged by all of Satan's thoughts and all of Satan's ways and all of the false Christianity, and now they have come to the conclusion that all the laws of God have been abolished! All we need now is the love of God. Well you see, they have been so perverted in their minds, because of following Satan and believing his lies that they have just rejected everything! That's what Satan wants you to do!

• never put yourself into Satan's hands for his care
• never believe that when he quotes Scripture that it is correct

Satan says here v 10: "For it is written, 'He shall give His angels charge concerning You to keep You; and in their hands they shall bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone.' But Jesus answered and said to him, 'It is clearly stated, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God"'" (vs 10-12). The devil left Him for a time!

Let's see how Jesus was successful through His whole life. That by what He did, through the crucifixion, judgment was brought upon Satan the devil—the final judgment—which was that God, in the form of a man, with all the pulls of the flesh that human beings have, being tempted by Satan the devil—tempted in every way that we are—was able to overcome him and had not sinned once in His whole physical lifetime.

John 14:28: "You have heard Me say to you that I am going away, and that I will come to you again. If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that I said, 'I am going to the Father' because My Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it happens…" (vs 28-29).

This is before the crucifixion, and the whole purpose of the crucifixion. He's going to be judged as a sinner when He wasn't. He's going to be judged with the wicked when He wasn't. He is going to be condemned with the power of Satan the devil around all of those carrying out these things to condemn Him:

• through the political leaders
• through the religious leaders
• through the people

who all agreed to crucify Him!

"…so that when it comes to pass, you may believe. I will not speak with you much longer because the ruler of this world is coming; but he does not have a single thing in Me…. [there you have it, there's not a single thing in Him and He is perfect] …Yet, he comes so that the world may know that I love the Father, and that I do exactly as the Father has commanded Me. Arise, let us go out" (vs. 29-31).

This was done on the Passover night. The thing we need to understand about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is that the Passover pictures it applied to the Church. The Day of Atonement pictures when it's applied to Israel and to the world, to bring them to God.

Now let's see what else Jesus said concerning Satan the devil. Remember, if God has spoken it, and if it is prophesied, it is as good as done, though it has not yet been accomplished within the timeframe in which we are living. Now, let's come back here to John 12 and this is where Jesus was selected to be the Passover Lamb on the 10th day of the 1st month.

John 12:26: "If anyone will serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant be also. And if anyone serves Me, him shall the Father honor. Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour? But for this very purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.' Then a voice came from heaven, saying, 'I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.' Then the people standing there, who heard it, said, 'It thundered.' Others said, 'An angel spoke to Him.' Jesus answered and said, 'This voice did not come because of Me, but because of you. Now is the judgment of this world…. [through His crucifixion] …Now shall the prince of this world be cast out'" (vs 26-31).

Satan has to be cast out and we will see when that will take place as this Day of Atonement pictures!

(go to the next track)

We've just seen the prophecy of Jesus telling us that Satan is going to be put away, and that God's judgment has come! So that's quite an absolutely wonderful and great thing for us to understand!

John 12:31: "Now is the judgment of this world. Now shall the prince of this world be cast out." How is that accomplished? We have the same operation here as we find in Lev. 16? The live goat is removed, shall be put away. Here we have the goat for Azazel is to be sacrificed. What did Jesus say next?

Verse 32: "'And if I be lifted up from the earth … [signifying His death] …I will draw all to Myself.' But He said this to signify by what death He was about to die" (vs 32-33). Here we have an encapsulation of what was talked about there in Lev. 16!

Let's see how Satan works, because he's still 'the god of this world.' 1-Chron. 21 says that Satan moved David to number Israel. What do we see with this? Satan 'the god of this world' has rulership over all the nations; they've been delivered to him. Israel wasn't; that was the exception of all the nations of the world, and that's why David's sin was so terrible, because he yielded to Satan. Satan likes to come along and get people involved in 'good' things to do; things that will enhance the self; things that will build wealth. It's not wrong to have wealth, but we're going to see that all those who try to build their wealth through this latest real estate boom are all going to be unwealthy here pretty soon. Because you can't do it by debt and deceit. Remember, a prophet on paper is only on paper.
Let's see how he worked with David and what happened. Was there a penalty for the whole nation? Yes! Seventy thousand people died of the plague because of what David did. When Satan gets to the rulers, do the people suffer? Yes! Without a doubt! Now also, he likes to get to the religionists because in Zech. 3 we find Joshua the high priest, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. Here's the one that God was going to call. Here's one that was going to be one of the two witnesses, and God was calling him to repentance and Satan was there to resist him, so it couldn't be done. Satan has this whole world in his hand. We know he's called 'the god of this world.' Let's see why the world is in the condition that it is in.

Just like today, here we're trying to solve the immigration problem politically. Here's something that is true; you need to always remember. The problems of immigration are spiritual, because of the sins of the people; and particularly abortion: killing the most innocent. As I said before, until there's a kind of repentance that needs to be, nothing is going to change, it will get worse. So, Satan has the whole world in his hands.

Now let's see what it says of Satan the devil. We know this, we understand this, but what we need to do is read it and understand that it is real, that it is happening and that it is happening today and it has happened to the Church in the past and it is happening to the Church today, and it will happen to the Church in the future. We need to be very careful, we need to be very right with God. Not thinking that we're right in our own minds, because that's exactly what Satan will want you to do. Therefore, you have a righteous cause; Satan loves righteous causes! I mean, look at the Inquisition, wasn't that a righteous cause?

Revelation 12:7: "And there was war in heaven… [and this war is coming again] …Michael and his angels warred against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels warred…. [Satan has his demons; a third of the angels fell with him] …But they did not prevail, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, the ancient serpent who is called the Devil and Satan, who is deceiving the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him" (vs 7-9).

• How does he deceive the whole world?
• What is happening?
• How is this taking place?

Isa. 25 is a very important Scripture that tells us how Satan has the whole world in the palm of his hand. Remember, he told Jesus, 'All these have been delivered to me; and I give them to whomsoever I will.' In the midst of this, he can't do anything without God's permission. The whole lesson with Nebuchadnezzar was that God rules in the kingdoms of men and gives it to whomsoever He wills and sets up over it the basest of men. God is also involved in it. It's not that God is way off. But Satan has had this delivered to him. Now, here's what's going to happen when Satan is put away—Isa. 25:6—this is talking about the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Feast of Tabernacles pictures the Millennium.

Isaiah 25:6: "And in this mountain the LORD of hosts shall make a feast of fat things for all the people, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of refined wines on the lees. And He will destroy in this mountain… [that means in the whole world] …the face of the covering, which covers all people, and the veil that is woven over all nations" (vs 6-7).

So, the world is enveloped because Satan is the 'prince of the power of the air' in a blanket of deception. We can see this going on especially in the political realm and also in the religious realm. All religions are going to come together. All nations are deceived and they are going to come together in their great one-world government.

As one man was speaking about the insanity of WWII, that in the nations of Japan and Germany and then later in the Soviet Union, later in China and the things that went on there, there is a condition in which all people are so deceived that the nation seems to be possessed. They can't get out from underneath it. They couldn't get out from underneath it until Hitler died. They couldn't get out from underneath it until Stalin died. They couldn't get out from underneath it until Mao Tse-tung died. The same way with Pal Pot in Cambodia. The same way with the problem in Darfur today. Same way with the problem in Iraq today.

The people can't get out from under it as long as this veil and covering from Satan the devil deceives them. Of course, each one thinks they're doing the right thing. As long as Satan is around we're going to see that evil cannot be put away! Let's see how it works in the world.

Isaiah 26:10[transcriber correction]. "Though favor is shown to the wicked, he will not learn righteousness… [Isn't that what happens when the wicked are let off the hook. They don't learn anything; they just go out and do it again!] …even in the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD." That's what happens!

Let's see something that Solomon observed, and he didn't understand the reason for it. But we understand the reason for it because we know about Satan the devil.

Ecclesiastes 3:16[transcriber correction]: "And again I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there…"

Look at the Supreme Court, and people wonder: how could they come up with this kind of decision? Especially when you look at the reasoning for Roe vs Wade and bringing in abortion. You look at some of these other decisions that they have made. In the land where there's supposed to be freedom of speech, yet, you have hate that which you can be convicted for. That can fall into the realm of offending anybody, because wickedness is there! Look at all the other judgments that many of other judges have done throughout the land.

As long as Satan is around and he's in control, nothing's going to change. It may be able to be modified a little bit, but sooner or later he's going to wiggle his way in and have his way. We'll see what happened to the Church here in a little bit

"…and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there" (v 16). Haven't we experienced that, even within the Church? That in the highest levels of the Church, sin was allowed to abound? Yes, because Satan the devil is a slick liar, and 'he's the father of it, and in him there is no truth'; that's what Jesus said.

Satan wants to get to the Church, and we've seen that happen, too, and we see it continue to happen. He gets to the Church from without! Let's see that there are men who want to come in to destroy and take over the Church of God. They may not say we're coming in to destroy it, but 'we're coming in to improve it.' So the ones without, let's see how it identifies them. This is one called Simon Magus; we know all about him. Let's see the tactics that are used when people give themselves over to Satan the devil and the lying, unclean spirits. Let's see when they see something that is good and right that they want to take over and they want to improve it.

They don't come right out and say that at first. They save that for later when people are very well deceived. They can come along and say, 'Oh, now can't you see how bad it was keeping those Holy Days all those years.' They couldn't do it at first; they had to gradually chip away.

So, Philip goes down, preaching the Gospel, casting out demons and so forth; Acts 8:6: "And the multitudes listened intently with one accord to the things spoken by Philip when they heard and saw the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out ofmany of those who had them; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city" (vs 6-8). Yes, there's always joy when you're relieved of sin!

Verse 9: "But there was a certain man named Simon, who had from earlier times been practicing sorcery in the city and astounding the nation of Samaria, proclaiming himself to be some great one. To him they had all given heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, 'This man is the great power of God'" (vs 9-10).

God is always involved in it. Amazing! But the wrong god! the 'god of this world' who's blinded the eyes of those who don't believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Verse 11: "Now, they were giving heed to him because he had for a long time bewitched them with sorceries"—witchcraft, demonism, occult, all of those things!

He came along and he faked that he believed. He was even baptized; and that was great error by Philip, so they had to send the Apostles Peter and John down to straighten it out.

Let's see how Satan likes to work on individuals, and how Satan, as god of this world—wanting to come in as God—deceives people. He gives them good thoughts. Here was a thought:

Acts 5:1: "Now, a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price for himself…" (vs 1-2).

What they said was, 'All right, we'll sell our property and whatever it brings we will give.' Well, lo and behold, God blessed them, so they received more. They decided they were going to hold back since they got more.

So, Ananias, v 2: "Kept back part of it for himself; and his wife also being aware of it; and he brought a certain portion and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, 'Ananias, why did Satan fill your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit…'" (vs 2-3).

Satan—the father of liars—comes in and says, 'Well, here's a little lie for good. Go ahead and hold back some for yourself.' Who are you serving? Whenever you do that, you're serving Satan, not God. You failed the test of Matt. 4 and Luke 4.

"…and to keep back part of the price of the estate? Before it was sold, was it not yours?.…" (vs 3-4).

Ananias, you didn't have to sell it. But you said you would And before you sold it, it was yours. You could do with it anything you want to.

But what did Jesus say about our 'yes' and our 'no'? Jesus said, 'Let our yes be yes and our no be no.' And anything more than that comes from whom? The evil one! Here we see that right in action.

"…And after you sold it, was it not in your own authority?.… [you said what you were going to do with it after it was sold] …Why did you contrive this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.' And when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and expired; and great fear came upon all those who heard these things. Then the young men wound him up, and carried him out and buried him" (vs 4-6). His wife came and also took his place!

Satan wants to work in the lives of church members. Here's one way he can do it. People don't like it when I say you've got to tithe, because God says so. Well, think about it. This is here for a reason, something for us to learn. All right, and I've never seen it fail—never, never, never seen it fail—true, true, true, true in every instance, regardless of what it is, a little leaven leavens the whole lump and a little sin, unrepented of and when brought out to your attention, unrepented of, God still gives you space and gives you space and gives you space. But if you don't repent, sooner or later, more sin comes. I've seen it in every aspect of Christian living. I've seen it in every aspect of ministerial teachings. When they start teaching things that are not right, then it goes from one sin to another sin, to another sin, and then people are led astray.

The people in the Church and the ministers that are in the Church are not to allow those things to happen, because Satan today, since he has not been removed, appears as an angel of light. He has many good causes: 'Hey, let's sign people up for this. Let's get them in bondage by telling them we're getting them out of bondage. Let's free them from the Law!' Oh yes!

• Doesn't that sound good?
• Doesn't that appeal to a carnal mind?

You tell me how many are really converted who believe that the law has been abolished? Not one! They have believed a great deception!

The Church at Corinth was subject to the same problems here. Paul was writing them. This becomes very important for us to realize. Today, we need to be on guard more than ever before, because there are more avenues of Satan to use in 'the work' to get at people than in the whole history of the world. He can come right into your living room through television, the Internet, telephone; right into your living room through newspapers and books; right into your mind and heart if you give heed to it. So, when I read this, let's apply it to ourselves:

2-Corinthians 11:1: "I would that you might bear with me in a little nonsense; but indeed, do bear with me. For I am jealous over you with the jealousy of God because I have espoused you to one husband…" (vs 1-2).

There's one purpose in our life, and we're not to be detracted from that in any way, regardless of the guise that comes along which presents a stumbling block for you or for me that we take things into our own hands. Or that you get mad at someone. Or that you get impatient with someone. Or that you follow things that are wrong.

"…so that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means… [because Satan has many, many, many means] …as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For indeed, if someone comes preaching another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive…" (vs 3-4).

• because there are false spirits; demon spirits come with false prophets
• because they are inspiring them
• because they put into their minds satanic thoughts

"…or a different gospel, which you did not accept, you put up with it as something good" (v 4).

Today we could call that, as one famous cable news is, fair and balanced. 'Oh, we have to listen to what they have to say.' Well, if it's not according to what the Bible says, don't listen! If it's not according to Truth, then don't follow it! But that's what they were doing. They were saying, 'Listen, we've got to decide for ourselves. Speak on, let's hear what you have to say.' They would come in and what did they start doing? They started esteeming the false apostles greater than Paul! The false apostles were coming along and saying,

Well, now this Apostle Paul, you know that he's got his faults. I mean, look at how bad he looks. His eyes, they're a terrible mess. And you know his epistles are weighty and corrective. His bodily appearance is weak. Who would follow him?

They were exalting themselves, how good they are. I won't have time to go through the whole thing concerning the false apostle, but there were probably those who were Levites; there were probably those who had priestly blood within them, because he said that they were Hebrews and they were Israelites. They were claiming to have seen Jesus. It could have been some of those very ones who followed Jesus around but were never converted.

So Paul said, v 5: "But I consider myself in no way inferior to those highly exalted so-called apostles. For although I may be unpolished in speech, yet, I am not in knowledge; for in all things I have demonstrated this to you. Now, did I commit sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the Gospel of God to you freely? I robbed other churches, receiving wages from them for ministering to you" (vs 5-8).

He was going above and beyond to fight these false apostles. Did they listen? Well, we never find a complete resolution of this! We do find that the man who committed the sin of incest with his mother-in-law did repent. But we find very little else that was changed within the Church at Corinth. Knowing how things go, I can believe that after Paul died, this church just went to four winds of Satan the devil.

We see some prophecy of this in Rev. 2. Satan likes to get to the Church. It always comes in the form of doctrine; always comes in the form of personal sin with ministers who tolerate it and put up with it. Like one man who was close to a famous evangelist who was a very profligate whoremonger. When we all asked the question, 'Why did you stay with him so long?' Well, you know, he had his problems! Thirty years of it? Satan likes to be there! He enjoys it. All the trouble that's in the Church today, all you have to do is read the Journal and understand its gone WACKO! Torn from one end to the other, all by self-righteous men, not truly serving Christ and bringing out all these false doctrines. How much that has to do with satanism? You have to decide!

Rev. 2, and the Church at Smyrna, the church that had to suffer, the church that resisted unto death, the church that was martyred. I have yet to see a Smyrna Church of God saying, 'We here to be martyred.' No, they all want to be the Philadelphia Church of God because somehow they have brotherly love, when they have hatred in their heart. I can't believe it! It is unreal! So anyway, the Church at Smyrna, God says to them, Christ did:

Revelation 2:9: "I know your works and tribulation and poverty (but you are rich)…"—because IF

• you have faith in Christ
• you believe Christ
• you hold fast to the Truth

you are rich, even though you may not have very much physically.

"…and the blasphemy of those who declare themselves to be Jews and are not… [this is claiming to be true Christians, following Jesus truly] …but are a synagogue of Satan" (v 9). Satan likes to come in and get a hold of the Church and get a hold of brethren, and tear it all apart. Now, at the same time that God lets the Church be scattered, the faithful ones God watches over. But those who want to follow Satan now are separated out. This is how Christ separates out the wheat from the tares.

Then he also says, v 10:  "Do not fear any of the things that you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life."

Not one sin! They resisted Satan the devil! Oh! Not Pergamos! Hey, they live right where Satan's throne was—right in Pergamos. There was a great altar to Zeus, called Satan's throne. They got infected with the way of the religions of Satan, and began eating things sacrificed to idols. That evolved into what is called today an unholy Eucharist of the Roman Catholic Church, because it's sacrificed to an idol. They call it the Sacrifice of the Mass—that's what it's talking about. And the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, harsh rule over the brethren of God—a dictatorship. You know, and some people like dictatorships because then it relieves their conscience that they don't have to take care of their own lives—and they can blame the ministry: 'Well, you did it. You didn't tell me.'

Well, brethren, God wants us to grow up in Christ, that we run our own lives as led by the Spirit of God! That's what God wants, to be ruled by Christ, not ruled over by ministry. Then it got so bad that the Church at Thyatira, they got into the depths of Satan. Satan loves to get there. He loves to come into the Church. He loves to do these things. That's why we need to draw close to God every day. You go back. {Note sermon series: Keys to Answered Prayer} And what is it that we ask every day? Rescue us from the evil one! Everyday we're to ask that. And especially today, because Satan is out there, you see. Satan has got to be put away!

Christ came to annul and destroy all the works of the devil. Now some people like to argue: Will the devil live forever or will he die? Well, if he could have died, God could have caused him to die a long time ago and we wouldn't be going through all of this. The key is this:

• eternal life
• being the true sons and daughters of God
• living as God
• inhabiting eternity as God inhabits eternity

This is so great that God has got to know that we are not going to pull a Satan on Him. Therefore, we have to, with the Spirit of God, be qualified now, by God the Father through Jesus Christ, through the grace of God and the love of God, and we need to resist all the things concerning Satan the devil and his way; and his doctrine; and his world; and his rule unto death! That's the kind of resolve we need to have in our minds. Jesus did!

This is why Jesus came to defeat Satan, but until he is put away he is still allowed to work even though he has been judged and shall be removed!

Hebrews 2:14: "Therefore, since the children are partakers of flesh and blood, in like manner He also took part in the same, in order that through death He might annul him… [it doesn't mean destroy, annul cancels out everything that Satan has done] …who has the power of death—that is, the devil." He's going to annul him!

Now let's see the fulfillment of Lev. 16 where Satan is put away. We will see on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles that there is yet the final judgment to come upon Satan as pictured by the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles. The first thing that happens when Christ comes to the earth, He casts the beast and false prophet into the Lake of Fire!. You've got to get rid of the false government system and the false religious system. You get rid of them, they're burned up in the Lake of Fire. You've got to get rid of the 'prince of the power of the air.' You've got to put him away! He must be removed. The closest thing that God could show through the ritual of Lev. 16, the closest thing He could show of the abyss, as pictured here in Rev. 20 is taking the goat to Azazel out into the wilderness! So then, after the beast and the false prophet are burned up.

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).

Now then, one other thing has to change. Satan has to be removed because as long as he is around—because as we'll see when we come to the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles—as soon as he's loosed, what happens? Sin multiplies and people rebel and war against God!So, in the beginning of the Millennium not only does Satan have to be removed, but God has got to change the nature of human beings.

We find this three places in Ezekiel. This is what else that God is going to have to do, because you see, the carnal mind is tuned in to Satan, ready to receive the things of Satan. Satan is removed, now you've got to change the carnal mind, which was given to mankind as part of the judgment and sentencing that God gave to Adam and Eve—and has been passed on by inheritance all the way down to this time.

Ezekiel 11:18: "'And they shall come there, and they shall take away all its detestable things and all its abominations from it. And I will give them one heart… [God is going to change their heart and mind] …and I will put a new spirit within you. And I will remove the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh, so that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances, and do them. And they shall be My people, and I will be their God. And as to those whose heart is going after their detestable things, and also their heart is after their abominable idols, I will recompense their way upon their own heads,' says the Lord GOD" (vs 18-21).

Ezek, 18:30—where He says again He's going to change the heart and the mind. This comes by repentance. So in doing that, God grants them repentance and then, what is called in the New Testament 'circumcision of the heart,' that's called that in the Old Testament, too.

Ezekiel 18:30: "'Thus I will judge you, O house of Israel, each one of you according to his ways,' says the Lord GOD. 'Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin.'"

Not part of your transgressions, ALL of your transgressions. When we read these things, let's not only say God is going to do this for people when Christ returns and puts away Satan the devil, but let's say, 'Hey, what about us today, are we going to do the same thing?'

Verse 31: "Cast away from you all your transgressions by which you have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit; for why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no delight in the death of him who dies,' says the Lord GOD. 'Therefore, turn yourselves and live" (vs 31-32).

Ezek. 36:26—this is what God is going to have to do to all mankind. Just think how great this is going to be.

Ezekiel 36:26: "A And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My ordinances and do them" (vs 26-27).

Then everyone will come to the point of what we find in Psalm 119:128[transcriber's correction]: "Therefore, I esteem all Your precepts concerning all things to be right…"

And with conversion and that attitude the world will be AT ONE with God.

Scriptures from The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, A Faithful Version

Scriptural References:

• Leviticus 23:26-32
• Leviticus 16:7-10, 15-17, 20-27, 29-31
• Luke 10:17-18
• Luke 4:2-4
• Matthew 4:4
• Luke 4:5-7
• Revelation 13:2-4
• Luke 4:7-12
• John 14:28-31
• John 12:26-33
• Revelation 12:7-9
• Isaiah 25:6-7
• Isaiah 26:10
• Ecclesiastes 3:16
• Acts 8:6-11
• Acts 5:1-6
• 2 Corinthians 11:1-8
• Revelation 2:9-10
• Hebrews 2:14
• Revelation 20:1-3
• Ezekiel 11:18-21
• Ezekiel 18:30-32
• Ezekiel 36:26-27
• Psalm 119:128

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Leviticus 16:11-14
• Ezekiel 28
• Isaiah 14
• Deuteronomy 8:3
• 1 Chronicles 21
• Zechariah 3

Also referenced:

• Books:
  • God's Plan for Mankind by His Sabbath and Holy Days by Fred R. Coulter
  • A Harmony of the Gospels by Fred R. Coulter
    • Appendix H: How Did Jesus Christ Fulfill the Law and the Prophets? (The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, A Faithful Version)
    • Article: How Does Jesus Fulfill the Law and the Prophets
    • Sermon Series: Keys to Answered Prayer

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 7-17-07
Reformatted/Corrected: 8/2019