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Day of Atonement─2009
Fred R. Coulter—September 28, 2009
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Today is the tenth day of the seventh month of calculated
Hebrew calendar, the sacred calendar of God. Let’s begin in Leviticus 23 and
this will tell us about today. And today is a very important day not only for
us, but also for the world. We’ll see some similarities between the Day of
Atonement and events leading up to the Passover. Let’s begin here, Leviticus 23:26: “And the LORD spoke to
Moses, saying, ‘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… [Now, ‘afflict your souls’ means that you fast without
water and food. There are some certain exemptions for people who have severe
medical problems] …and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD” (vs 26-27).
We don’t offer animal sacrifices, but we do offer offerings on every Holy Day,
and being able to come together on the Day of Atonement before God; fasting,
looking to Him for
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His help
His strength
His Spirit
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His love
This is a time to bring a good offering to God to show your
love and appreciation for Him, and also in understanding that, as human beings,
we’re nothing but the dust of the earth; we’re nothing but a vapor that comes
and goes or the grass that dries or the flower that falls off—and that’s the way
that human life is. When we’re fasting we realize it more than ever before. When
we’re eating and we’re strong and we have water and we have plenty of
everything, we never think about how much we really need these things on a
day-to-day basis.
Here’s a command for this day; and in particularly (and as we
will see) it tells us: “‘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… [so, no work] …for whoever is not afflicted in that same day, he
shall be cut off from among his people…. [That means that God will
separate him out in the midst of the people, even though he’s still alive and
connected with people. There’s a difference between those who are just people in
the world—don’t have the Spirit of God; don’t understand the Truth of
God—they’re cut off from God and blinded anyway. But if someone who knows the
Truth and does not do it, then this will happen to people again—be cut off.]
…And whoever does any work in that same day, the same one will I destroy from
among his people…. [That doesn’t necessarily mean that a person has to be
exterminated. There are many different ways through which people can destroy
their lives: through sin and neglect and all of those things] …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… [Remember, all Holy Days are a Sabbath]
…and you shall afflict yourselves. In the ninth day of the month at
sunset, from sunset to sunset, you shall keep your Sabbath’” (vs 28-32).
And this why God has given the sunset. Everyone can look out
and see when the sun has set and knows when the day begins. We don’t have to
worry about noon. We don’t have to worry about midnight. We don’t have worry
about any other thing. Sunset begins and ends the day! So He wants everyone
beginning their fasting, beginning the day Atonement at the same time, as it
comes to them wherever they are on the earth.
So, at this time we’ll take a pause and we’ll take up an
offering.
(pause)
What I want to do is go back to Exodus 12 and we’ll look at
some things concerning the Passover, because people have wondered why do we have
the Day of Atonement when—for those who are the firstfruits of God, those who
are of the Church of the Firstborn—we keep the Passover and also the Day of
Atonement. Well, we’re going to see we keep both of them, number one because God
says so
But here’s a key that’s important to understand: The
Passover was for Israel, to bring them out of sin, bring them out of Egypt and
bring them to God. Now, let’s look at some things here that are
important to understand. We know that the first day of the seventh month is the
Feast of Trumpets. And the tenth day of the seventh month is the Day of
Atonement. And the Day of Atonement has something similar to what the Passover
has—but not quite exactly. And yet, there’s parallels, which indicate to us some
very important things.
Let’s begin right here—Exodus 12:1: “And the LORD spoke to
Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, ‘This month shall be to you
the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year to you” (vs
1-2). However, the calculated Hebrew calendar is figured on the Feast of
Trumpets in the seventh month. So what is the difference? This is the beginning
of the month for observing the Holy Days and the first day of the seventh month
for calculating the Hebrew calendar is to have the calendar so that it covers
the whole year so that it will be accurate in the spring for the first month,
and accurate in the seventh month for the Feast of Trumpets.
Now then, notice what He says here, v 3: “‘Speak to all the
congregation of Israel, saying, “In the tenth day of this month they shall take
to them each man a lamb for a father’s house, a lamb for a house.” So the tenth
day of the first month was when the lamb was selected. We’re going to see
something similar for the tenth day of the seventh month for the Day of
Atonement. But notice, each one was to select it for their own house. If the
household was too small then a neighbor would combine with him. They were to
keep up until the fourteenth. We won’t go through all of that because we cover
this at the Passover. In the fall we have
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the Feast of Trumpets, the first day
the Day of Atonement, the tenth day
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the Feast of Tabernacles, the fifteenth day.
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the Passover [season], the first day
selecting the lamb, the tenth day
for the Passover; the fourteenth day
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the Exodus, the fifteenth
Now in the fall, the similarity between the fourteenth ends
at that particular point because it begins with the Feast of Tabernacles on the
fifteenth. So we will focus in on one, ten and fifteen.What happened when the children of Israel left on the exodus?
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they were free
the firstborn had been saved
all Israel had been saved
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and they were on their way to meet God and to learn of
God’s way
We will see something similar when we come to the Day of
Atonement and the tenth day and the fifteenth—the tenth day being Atonement; the
fifteenth being the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles. And that’s when all
the world will receive salvation.Here, the fifteenth day of the first month was the beginning
of the salvation of Israel. When we come to the New Testament we also have
something very important for us to understand. Let’s come to John, the twelfth
chapter, and let’s see where Jesus Himself—and you’ll have to follow that in the Harmony, as it’s all broken down by the flow of events chronologically.
This is actually where God selected Jesus. No man could
select the Lamb of God. John the Baptist, when he saw Jesus, said, “Behold the
Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.” But when was He selected for
the crucifixion? That was on the Sabbath, just like when the children of Israel
selected the lamb on the tenth day of the first month, that was likewise on a
Sabbath.
John 12:20: “Now there were
certain Greeks among those who had come up to worship at the feast. And these
came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee; and they asked him, saying,
‘Sir, we desire to see Jesus.’ Philip came and told Andrew, and Andrew and
Philip in turn told Jesus” (vs 20-22). It’s very interesting when you go through
and you analyze how Jesus answers. He really doesn’t answer their particular
question, but He answers with a meaning that covers many, many different things.
So always keep that in mind.
Verse 23: “But Jesus answered
them, saying, ‘The time has come for the Son of man to be glorified…. [They only
asked to see Him] …Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into
the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit…. [In
a parable, He was talking of Himself. He was that grain that was to die and be
put into the earth, so that the fruit of the New Covenant and those coming into
a relationship with God, would be granted—through upon repentance and
baptism—the Holy Spirit. And hence they would be on their way to salvation.]
…The one who loves his life shall lose it… [and that is in this world] …and the
one who hates his life in this world shall keep it unto eternal life” (vs
23-25).
Now, how are we to hate ourselves if we are to ‘love our
neighbors as ourselves.’ Well, it’s this way: We are to hate the sinful
nature that we have, so that we can understand and realize that
must be eliminated and replaced by the operation of the Holy Spirit and
conversion—so this why. You can put in your notes: Luke 14:26. If you
come to Christ you have forsake everything! So likewise, in order to save the
world, Jesus had to forsake everything to become that perfect sacrifice. But as
we know—and here’s the difference between Passover and the Day of Atonement—the
Christian Passover applies to those that God has called, and has blinded the
rest of the world. And, as we will see, Atonement answers the question: How is
God going to solve the problem of blinding all the rest of the world and cutting
people off from salvation, when (as we will see during the Last Great Day) He
desires all men to be saved? So you’ll have to wait for the Last Great Day to
understand that. But all of God’s plan is revealed by His Sabbath and Holy Days. “…the one who hates his life in this world shall keep it unto
eternal life. If anyone will serve Me, let him follow Me…” (vs
25-26). That’s why one of the greatest sins among the ministry of God and the
ministers in the world is that they don’t teach people to follow Christ, and
have the relationship with Jesus Christ that they need; the relationship with
God the Father so that they can be blessed with God’s Spirit, grow in grace and
knowledge. They follow a man! Everyone has to follow Christ. All the teachers,
elders, ministers, deacons—everyone in the Church. Christ is the Head of the
Church. He is to rule in our lives with His Spirit. So we’re to follow Him. Yet, there are some people who say you don’t have to pay a
lot of attention to a lot of the New Testament because that was for the Jews.
‘However, since we’re Gentiles Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles and we can
select out of there everything that applies to the Gentiles, and anything that
applies to the Jews we don’t have to be bothered with.’ So that’s how they
ignore the teachings of Jesus. How can they get away with this? “‘If anyone… [it doesn’t say ‘if any Jew’] …will
serve Me, let him follow Me…’” (v 26).
That’s how you follow Christ. And you follow Christ from the
day you’re converted until the day you die, or the day you’re changed at the
resurrection. Since we’re talking about life and death at this point, when you
are baptized you are conjoined into the death of Jesus Christ. Then you’re
raised out of that watery grave to ‘walk in newness of life.’ So your
faithfulness to the end and your death, at the end of your life—be it soon or be
it late—seals and finalizes your part of the New Covenant with God
the Father and Jesus Christ. Remember, Jesus said, ‘The one who endures to the end, the
same shall be saved.’ That’s how we do it. And the death of a saint is precious
in the eyes of God. So therefore, it’s precious in the eyes of God because the
covenant for that individual—beginning with baptism and receipt of the Holy
Spirit—has been finalized with their death, which they pledged when they were
baptized. That finalizes it. And part of the operation of God, so that we can
eventually be one with God in the Kingdom of God as spirit beings is that this
flesh must die! So when someone dies in the faith, as Paul said, ‘We’re not to
grieve like the rest of the people,’ because we know the Truth! And all who die,
the next instant of their thought, after dying in the faith, will be what? Resurrected as spirit beings and being carried off by angels to the Sea of
Glass. So all of that, when you take the rest of the Bible and apply it
here, that’s what He’s talking about.But notice, He’s making a point with it, because not only do
individuals have to do this, but Jesus Himself had to do this: He had to follow
the Father, be faithful unto death, and the most excruciating death through the
Passover events.So, He says, “‘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 something startling happened.]
…Then a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘I have both glorified it and will glorify it again’” (vs 27-28). That covers two things:
This is when God the Father personally selected Jesus for the
Passover Lamb on the tenth day of the first month. “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…. [So that you would know that He was chosen on that day.]
…Now is the judgment of this world. Now shall the prince of this world be
cast out. And if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all to Myself’” (vs
29-32). But He said this to signify by what death He would die.Notice, it’s very interesting here—let’s read v 31 again:
“‘Now is the judgment of this world…. [Everything concerning the world]
…Now shall the prince of this world be cast out.’” That’s Satan the devil who is
the prince of the power of the air, who is deceiving the world,
who is the god of this world. Now, since the judgment has come upon him,
why has he not been removed? That is answered in the Day of Atonement; because (as we will see) going through the ritual of the Day of Atonement the
world—and even the children of Israel, and even the high priest—could not tell
the difference between Satan, as ‘god of this world’ and God as the true God! The whole world’s blinded. They don’t know who the true God is.
Now, let’s come back here to the book of Leviticus 16—and
let’s go through it and see the parallels, because here we are, we’ve already
had the Feast of Trumpets on the first day of the seventh month. Now the tenth
day of the seventh month, which is the Day of Atonement.
Leviticus 16:29: “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” (vs 29-30). Now, let’s stop and ask a question: Moses
qualified for the first resurrection. All the house of Israel didn’t. So, in
order for God to deal with them—because they’re blinded; because every time they
left an obedient judge or king, they went right into apostasy and sin and
Satan-worship, sun-worship, Ashtoreth-worship and the whole thing; and the whole
world has been given over to that—only those who God reaches down and draws and
calls are plucked out of that system. All the rest are there, so likewise with
Israel. They couldn’t tell; the priest couldn’t tell. So likewise with the
world; the world can’t tell who the true God is as differentiated from Satan
who’s the ‘god of this world.’
Leviticus 16:2: “And the
LORD said to Moses, ‘Speak to Aaron your brother, that he does not come at all
times into the sanctuary within the veil before the mercy seat, which is on the
ark, so that he does not die, for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy
seat’” Then He shows how he’s to come in with his offering; the Holy garments.
And then he was to take sin offerings and burnt offerings (v 5); a bullock for
himself for his sin offering.
Now, v 7 is a very strange ritual. And one that without the
New Testament, and in particularly without the book of Revelation, you cannot
understand its interpretation. “‘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…. [Azazel is another name for Satan, and also a name for the
wilderness where Satan abides.] …And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the
LORD’S lot fell, and offer it for a sin offering’” (vs 7-9). Now, that’s to take
care of the sins of the children of Israel. They have their sins forgiven,
cleansed rather, through this operation. And God will deal with them for another
year.Now then, notice what had to happen with the other goat.
“‘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’” (v 10). Now why would God do this? We know that the sin offering, which
was slain and the blood sprinkled on the altar, etc., represented a type of the
sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The answer lies in this: The world and people and even the
high priest here could not tell the difference between the true Savior
and Satan. So God had to make the choice. And when it comes to the finality
of this (as we’ll see in just a little bit), the symbolism of removing the live
goat represents Satan who is a spirit being who does not die. That’s why in the
book of Revelation we will see: he [Satan] is ‘bound in the abyss.’ So this is
what was done. Then the man who took the goat for Azazel into the wilderness, he
had to come back and wash his clothes, wash himself and his garments and so
forth, and then he could enter back into the camp. The burnt offerings, the sin
offerings and the goat for the sin offering were all taken outside the camp and
burned—skin, intestines, dung and everything!Later, when they had the temple in Jerusalem—you have the
temple here on the Temple Mount, then you have the Valley of Kidron, then you
have the Mt. of Olives. Well, up on the Mt. of Olives, near the top where they
could look straight into the temple area, they would have a priest watching down
into the ceremony for the Day of Atonement. And he was the attendant at what was
called the Miphkad altar. Now the Miphkad altar was the altar without the camp
where all the sin offerings and all the skin and everything were burned. So he
was the one then who would administer all the things brought to him by the
different Levites—the skins and the entrails and everything. All of that would
burn outside the camp.Now, let’s look at a parallel here. Let’s see the fulfillment
of this—Revelation 20—then we will see the fulfillment of this with Christ, and
why then the goat that pictures Christ for the Day of Atonement in prophetic
fulfillment actually means this: This is when God will remove Satan the
devil, and then beginning on the fifteenth day of the seventh month—the
Feast of Tabernacles which pictures the Millennial reign of Christ—that brings
salvation to the whole world. But in order to remove the blindness, in order to
remove the false god, you’ve got to get rid of Satan the devil. He’s got to be
bound. Just like with us: Though we have our sins forgiven every day when we ask
for forgiveness, is Satan still in the world? Is he still out there after us? Yes! Does he still have the world captive? Yes! The truth is, God
cannot and will not bring salvation to the world until Satan has been
removed—cannot happen! That’s the timing of God’s plan.Let’s see the fulfillment of taking the goat for Azazel into
the wilderness. Some people have said, ‘Oh well, because the sins are put upon
him, that must mean that that’s another type of Christ going to heaven.’ Well
two things are wrong with that:
And all sin rests back upon Satan the devil; because he’s the
instigator of it, the father of lies and sin, then rebelled and took a third of
the angels with him in his rebellion. So Satan and the demons must be removed
and also the sons of God must be spirit beings to rule and reign with Christ
before salvation can come to the earth.
Let’s pick it up here after the last
battle—Armageddon—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).
You have to come to day seven of the Feast of Tabernacles for
the rest of the story as to why that. But you see, the Millennium does not begin
until Satan is removed.
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That’s going to take away the covering of the blindness.
That’s going to take away the sin.
That’s going to take away the deception.
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That’s going to take away all of those things from the
world.
So that’s why it happens this way. Then they will have the
sacrifice of Christ applied to them.Let’s come to Hebrews, the ninth chapter. The sacrifice of
Jesus Christ does not apply to the world, yet! It will at the set
time. It applies to the Church now! So when it comes time for it to be applied
to the world, then what we read of here in Hebrews, the ninth chapter, and what
happened with the operation of Christ—when He ascended and was accepted by God
the Father as a sin offering—then salvation will be opened to the whole
world through Christ. Satan will be removed; there will be no guesswork
involved. Hebrews 9:1: “Truly then, the first tabernacle also had
ordinances of worship and an earthly sanctuary. For the first tabernacle, which
is called Holy, was furnished; in which were placed both the
lampstand and the table, and the loaves of showbread. But behind the second veil was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,
containing a golden censor, and the ark of the covenant, which was overlaid on
all sides with gold; in which was the golden jar containing the manna,
and the rod of Aaron that had sprouted, and the tablets of the covenant; and
arching above it were the cherubim of glory spreading their wings over
the mercy seat, concerning which now is not the time to expound in
detail” (vs 1-5). “Now with these things prepared in this manner, the priests
enter into the first tabernacle at all customary times in order to perform the services… [That was to offer incense, that was to light the candles,
etc.] …but the high priest enters alone into the second tabernacle once a year…” (vs 6-7)—on the Day of Atonement. Now, I want you to think of
the contrast between that and what has been given to us. What has been given to
us is: We have been given access to God any minute of any day so that our
prayers can come up into the Holy of Holies in heaven above.
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That’s why it’s a greater covenant.
That’s why it’s a greater way.
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That’s why God
only calls a few now.
But after Satan has been bound, then this will apply to all
human beings—salvation will be universal. That’s what this world needs, and
that’s why we’ve been called.“But the high priest enters alone into the second tabernacle once a year, not without blood, which he offers for himself and
for the sins that the people committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit signifying
this: that the way of the Holiest has not yet been made manifest, while
the first tabernacle is still standing… [God destroyed it! Let’s also understand
something very important that we’ll cover during the Feast of Tabernacles: In
the beginning with Adam and Eve, He was dwelling with them in the Garden of
Eden—no temple. In New Jerusalem there’s no temple there, but God the Father and
the Lamb are the light of it. So all of this temple thing was temporary. Let’s
understand something: God destroyed it twice!—586 B.C. and 70 A.D.—because of the sins of the people and their rejecting God because
they were blinded and could not tell the difference between Satan the devil and
the true God. That’s why he has to be removed. Verse 9: “Which is a symbol for the present time, in
which both gifts and sacrifices are being offered that are not able to
perfect the one performing the service, as pertaining to the conscience.” And that’s the whole operation of the New Testament. Just going to
the temple and offering a sacrifice for your sin does not change your heart and
mind. It only cleansed you and all Israel to be accepted by God at the temple,
because that’s where God met them. He put His presence in the temple and their
access to God was only through the temple.Now we have access to the temple in heaven above, directly to
God the Father and Jesus Christ. So he says, v 10: “These services consist only of meat and drink offerings, and various washings and
physical ordinances, imposed until the time of the new spiritual order. But Christ Himself has become High Priest of the coming good things… [New
Covenant and on into the salvation of the world later on] …through the greater
and more perfect tabernacle, not made by human hands (that is, not of
this present physical creation)” (vs 10-11).Concerning animal sacrifices and the sprinkling of their
blood—v 14: “To a far greater degree, the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, shall purify your conscience
from dead works to serve the living God.” Now you need to understand
this: Every thought that you have—whether good or evil—without the Spirit of God
and without the cleansing of the Spirit of God are works that are evil or dead
works which do not purify the conscience although you may do some good things.
How do you understand that? Very simple: If you don’t have the Spirit of God,
you do not have the power to be converted and have the law of ‘sin and death’
removed from you by ‘the washing of the water of the Word. And the law of
death being enacted when you die, dying in the faith, seals and finishes that
covenant with God—cleanses the conscience.Verse 15: “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the New Covenant: in order that through His death, which took place for the release of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called might receive the promise
of the eternal inheritance.” That’s what it’s for.Now, let’s go back and let’s come to John, the eighth
chapter, and let’s prove a point. There were those who claimed to be Jesus’
disciples. There were those who said they believe in Him. And Jesus told them
that they were not of Him, ‘but of their father, the devil!’ And where did this
take place? Right at the temple in Jerusalem. John 8:31: “Therefore, Jesus said to the Jews who had
believed in Him… [They said, ‘Oh yes, we believe. Oh yes, look, this man does
miracles. He’s a wonderful man. Oh, let’s follow Him.’ Jesus gave them a test.
Everyone’s going to have a test. If you say, ‘Oh, I believe in Jesus’ you may
not pass the test; and if you don’t the devil’s going to come and take out of
your heart what was put in there.’] …‘If you continue in My word, you are truly
My disciples. And you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free’”
(vs 31-32). So, you’ve got to
—and the ‘Truth shall set you free!’ Notice
their answer. They weren’t converted though they believed in Him. Good lesson
for everyone who says, ‘If you believe in Jesus you’ll be saved.’ And you’re
never baptized; you never receive the Holy Spirit. False conversion! Not
true! A lie! Notice also, you have to continue in His Word, keep the
commandments and all that sort of thing.
So here’s their answer. They were relying on who they were.
“They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s seed, and have never been in bondage to
anyone. What do You mean by saying, “You shall become free”?’…. [Notice how He
answers.] …Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who
practices sin is a servant of sin” (vs 33-34). And that comes from Satan the
devil.
(go to track #2)
Let’s continue in John 8:34: “Jesus answered them, ‘Truly,
truly I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a servant of sin….
[This is why when you are converted you don’t practice sin, you can’t live in
sin, because the Holy Spirit will prick your conscience so that you will
repent.] …And the servant does not live in the house forever; but the Son
lives forever. Therefore, if the Son shall set you free, you shall truly be
free…. [He’s talking about free from sin and free from Satan the devil (as we will see)—because here they were right at the temple. The children of
Israel? Yes, indeed!] (Notice what Jesus said in answering them): …I know
that you are Abraham’s seed; but you are seeking to kill Me, because My words do
not enter into your minds. I speak the things that I have seen from My
Father, and you do the things that you have seen from your father’”
(vs 34-38). And this is why the Day of Atonement shows why Satan must be
removed. You can have everyone—good intentions may be on the surface, but what’s
really in their hearts and minds? You can never get rid of those things as long
as Satan is around—he must be removed!We’ll see in a little bit, likewise, Satan is still after the
Church. Likewise, he wants to get us who have been removed from the world,
spiritually, and placed in God’s way. He wants to get us back from that into his
way, into the world. And I’m afraid in too many cases, he has succeeded, because people just do not have a deep commitment to serve God
unto death!—especially in today’s ‘comfortable’ world. Well, that’s soon
going to change.“‘I know that you are Abraham’s seed; but you are seeking to
kill Me, because My words do not enter into your minds. I speak the
things that I have seen from My Father, and you do the things that you have seen
from your father.’ They answered and said to Him, ‘Our father is Abraham.’ Jesus
said to them, ‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of
Abraham…. [And what did Abraham do? He believed and obeyed!] …But now you
seek to kill Me, a man who has spoken the Truth to you, which I have heard from
God; Abraham did not do this. You are doing the works of your father.’
Then they said to Him, ‘We have not been born of fornication. We have one
Father, and that is God’” (vs 37-41). Deceived! They think that God is their Father. “Therefore,
Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love Me, because I
proceeded forth and came from God. For I have not come of Myself, but He sent
Me. Why don’t you understand My speech? Because you cannot bear to hear
My words…. [Why? Remember, here there were those who believed in Him; they were
all at the temple. And the thing is, the physical temple on earth does not
convert a person. You need to understand that! Here’s a good example of
it. Here He identified it.] …You are of your father the devil, and
the lusts of your father you desire to practice…. [Even though Jesus was there
in person, at the temple in person, and they were there at the temple in person,
sin still existed because Satan has not been removed. And a lot of these
pretenders were of their father the devil.] …He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth because there is no truth in
him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he is speaking from his own self; for he
is a liar, and the father of it. And because I speak the Truth, you do not
believe Me’” (vs 42-45). Yet, it said over here these were the Jews who had believe in
Him. Not belief unto conversion! There is a belief, ‘Oh yes, God exists.
Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! Let us continue in our sins.’ There is a
belief to conversion, and that’s through repentance and baptism!So He says, v 46: “‘Which one of you can convict Me of
sin? But if I speak the Truth, why don’t you believe Me? The one who is
of God hears the words of God. For this reason you do not hear, because you are
not of God’” (vs 46-47). There they were, very religious. That’s why Satan has
to be removed. That’s why the Day of Atonement they have that special sacrifice
with the two goats—one to be presented for the Lord and offered as a sacrifice,
the one upon whom the sins were confessed because he’s the author of sin. And
Satan must be removed bearing his own sins because there is no forgiveness for
all the sins that Satan has been responsible for bringing upon man. Now, some
people do not like me to say that Satan inspires. But he puts in the heart, and
if he puts in the heart, to me that’s inspiring, that he caused all people to
do! He has to be removed! Because they were deceived, because they were blinded, that’s
why then all of those who lived and died in that condition you’ll have to wait
to hear the message for the Last Great Day. They will have an opportunity for
salvation, but not the kind of salvation that comes with the first resurrection.
That’s special! That’s a special calling! And, brethren, I want you to
understand it. We also need to realize this: Satan is still out there and the
ones he is after are those of us—you and me! That if he can get us to
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deviate from the way of God
turn from God
become filled with vanity and self
become filled with self-righteousness and stupidity
believing false doctrines
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looking to ministers of Satan the devil who appear as
ministers of righteousness—because Satan appears as an angel of light.
We’re living in those days when there’s going to be many
false prophets, many false teachers showing great signs and wonders to even
deceive us. That’s what Satan wants to use to deceive us.So on this Day of Atonement we have got to resolve in our
minds, with the same commitment, the same kind of yieldedness to God that we did
on the day we were baptized, that we will resist Satan the devil and fight him
because he is still in the world and out after us.Now, let’s come to Revelation 2 & 3 and let’s see the
prophecies of how Jesus said that Satan would be after us and how the churches
fall victim to the wiles of the devil. Remember Peter. Jesus was telling the
disciples, ‘Look, I have to go to Jerusalem and I’m going to be arrested, I’m
going to be killed and I’ll rise the third day. And I will suffer many things
from the elders, the chief priests and the scribes and everything.’ And Peter
said, ‘Lord! That’ll never happen to You.’ And what did Jesus say to him? ‘Get you behind Me Satan, for you savor the things of men, not the things of
God!’ Right there in the midst with the disciples, and just before that
the accounts says of Peter, ‘Whom to men say that I am?’ Some say Jeremiah,
some of the prophets. But He said, ‘Who do you say that I am?’ And Peter
said, ‘You are the Christ! The Son of God.’ And Jesus said, ‘The Father revealed
that to you, Simon.’So a little while later on the same journey, He says to
Peter, ‘Get you behind Me, Satan, for you savor the things of men not of God.’
And then on the Passover night, what happened to Peter? Jesus told him, ‘Peter,
you’re going to deny Me three times.’ But He said, ‘I have prayed for you. Satan
has requested you. But I have prayed for you so that your faith will not fail.
And when you have been strengthened, strengthen the brethren.’ And he did deny Him three times! Right there! Where was Satan
on the Passover night? Right in the room with Jesus and the disciples. Isn’t that right? With Judas Iscariot. Isn’t that true? Yes, indeed! So Satan is also after the Church. And we need to understand it in these last
days. He’s going to persecute the Church. He’s going to make war against the
Church (Rev. 12).Let’s look at just a little bit of Revelation 2 & 3
concerning the status of the Church, and how people respond to God. Let’s come
to the church at Ephesus, Revelation 2:2, where Jesus says: “I know your works,
and your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot bear those who are evil;
and that you did test those who proclaim themselves to be
apostles, but are not, and did find them liars… [So they did a lot. They were
vigilant right at first.] …And that you have borne much and have
endured, and for My name’s sake have labored and have not grown weary;
nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first
love” (vs 2-4). They began to cool down. And that means that they began to
love people and things more than God, and preaching the Gospel and doing what
they should. So, He tells them to repent. But they hate the deeds of the
Nicolaitanes (v 6).Now, let’s come to the church of Pergamos. The church at
Smyrna, they were faithful unto death and they were commended—no sins! Verse 12:
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos, write: These things says He Who has
the sharp two-edged sword…. [He’s saying that for a reason.] …I know your works
and where you dwell, where the throne of Satan is; but you are holding
fast My name, and did not deny My faith, even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells….
[What happens when you get in the middle of where Satan has his chief
headquarters? or where Satan has other headquarters? He has many locations on
the earth. You get in a city like New York City or Washington, D.C., or Los
Angeles, California, or San Francisco, California, you’re right there, people
living in sin and living in lies and living duplicitous lives and committing all
kinds of sin. It’s going to affect you. It affected them.] …But I have a few
things against you because you have there those who hold the teaching of
Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of
Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication” (vs 12-14).
So they were bringing in idol-worship. They were probably not taking the
Passover the way that they should, but were into what is now called, in
Christianity today, ‘the Lord’s Supper.’ And they would bow down before a cross.
Just like they do in the Catholic Church today.When they go against the laws of God, they are committing
fornication with idols. And remember, Paul wrote, ‘you cannot eat of the table
of the Lord and the table of demons.’ You cannot take the world’s
way, of their interpretation of the Lord’s Supper and communion and say ‘Oh,
isn’t that nice?’ and they do this every Sunday, ‘Isn’t that lovely.’ It’s
an abomination to God!Verse 15: “Moreover, you also have those who hold the
doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.” What is the doctrine of the
Nicolaitanes? That is an over-lording lordship over the brethren, plus a
false grace, that once you have been saved you’ve always been saved and even
though you’re living in sin you’re going to be saved. That’s the doctrine of
the Nicolaitanes. And you have seen what God has done to the Church for those
churches that follow that—right? Yes! Where are they? Some still have
to be reckoned with! Notice what He says here in v 16: “Repent! For if you do not repent, I will come to you quickly, and will make war against them
with the sword of My mouth.” Christ fighting His own church because they have
practices in there, inspired by Satan the devil, because they absorbed it by
living in the world and too close to the things of Satan the devil. And they
thought, ‘Oh, this is good! Oh this works!’Just like today, ministers and teachers are not called
ministers and teachers, they’re speakers and psychologists and CEOs. And they’re
interested in their money and their retirement and not in teaching God’s way to
the people. That’s where hierarchies lead to. Look at the Catholic Church. Look
at the Anglican Church. Look at the Worldwide Church of God. And there are three
other Churches of God out there that those who are the leaders of it better
listen up and pay attention, because the sword of the Lord is coming upon
you for your hideous sins and your arrogance and authority that you have in
ruling over the brethren. Now, if any of you brethren who are under that, you
better get out from underneath that lest you suffer with them! Christ will fight
against you!Notice, He says, “The one who has an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit says to the churches….” (v 17). This is Christ talking
to His churches. We better listen up and pay attention! They didn’t pay much
attention, because the next church became even worse! Thyatira—v 20: “But I have a few things against you, because
you allow the woman Jezebel… [the Roman Catholic Church! Jezebel—that’s
what God thinks of you!] …who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce
My servants into committing fornication and eating things sacrificed to idols.”
That’s what the whole service of the Roman Catholic Church is about—idolatry and
blaspheme against the sacrifice of Christ!“And I gave her time to repent of her fornication, but she
did not repent. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and those who commit
adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their works….
[and that came between 1000-1300 A.D. The Catholic church was in
terrible turmoil with plagues and all things against them because they wouldn’t
listen.] …And I will kill her children with death… [No spiritual salvation
through that. That’s what the Day of Atonement is all about. To give you the
understanding between the true God and the true Savior and Satan the devil and
his false messiah—though he calls him Jesus.] …and all the churches shall know
that I am He Who searches the reins and hearts; and I will give to each
of you according to your works. But to you I say, and to the rest who are in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, and who have not
known the depths of Satan, as they speak…” (vs 21-24). How far into Satanism can people go, even though they were in
the Church of God? The answer is all the way! That’s why Satan has to be
removed. Plain and simple. There can be no salvation to this world until that is
done! It’s right there at the temple with Jesus and the disciples. Right there
at the Passover with the apostles. Right there ready, begging, wanting for
Peter. But Jesus prayed for him that he [Satan] wouldn’t have him. Now, you think about us, the days that we’re living in and
the things that we need to understand. That’s why, since we have the whole
Bible; we have all the Word of God; we know the plan of salvation. We better not
treat it lightly. We better not treat it with contempt. We better not treat it
with ho-humism. But we better rejoice in it and live and love it and thank God
for it and stay zealous for God all the time. Notice the next church here—Sardis. They’re in pitiful shape.
They have a name that they live, but they are dead! Dead! So Jesus gives them an
admonition—doesn’t lay too much upon them. He says, Revelation 3:2 [partially paraphrased]: “…be watchful…haven’t found your work perfect or
complete before Me, and strengthen the things that remain that are about to die
For I have not found your works complete before God. Therefore, remember what
you have received and heard, and hold on to this, and repent. Now then,
if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you shall by no
means know what hour I will come upon you” (vs 2-3). The question is then: Do
you have enough to be saved or not?Then the church of Philadelphia—the one who is faithful to
God. But notice what they have to fight. Notice what they have to constantly be
on guard against—and they are the only ones who really were on guard against it.
Verse 8: “I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, and no
one has the power to shut it because you have a little strength, and have kept
My word, and have not denied My name…. [We deny Jesus’ name by our works, by our
attitudes and our relationship with God if we let it fall into losing the first
love, following the ways of the world, getting involved deeply into Satanism and
spiritism or just becoming plain dead! We’ll see the next one is lukewarm.]
…Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who proclaim themselves to
be Jews… [That is, they know the way of salvation through Jesus, but they
don’t!] …and are not, but do lie—behold, I will cause them to come and worship
before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the
word of My patience, I also will keep you from the time of temptation which is about to come upon the whole world to try those who dwell on the earth”
(vs 8-10). Then the last one is Laodicea—lukewarm; they’re cool! Isn’t
it interesting that in this age that term is used for ‘oh, that’s great’—cool!
They’re lukewarm, ‘neither cold nor hot’—many have already been ‘spewed out of
the mouth’ of Christ (vs 15-16 paraphrased) and they still
don’t get it because they’re looking to the physical things. Yes, God
blesses us with physical things, but when you look to those as the sign of your
spiritual standing with God, you make a great mistake! If you want to learn a
real good lesson, go back and read the life of Solomon who was the world’s
greatest Laodicean—rich and increased with goods of everything that you could
possibly ever imagine! Was he spewed out of God’s mouth? Sure was! Bible
doesn’t show that he repented. And he divided the kingdom, did he not? Just stop and ask yourself a question: What has God done to
the Church as we know it? We’ve been spewed out of the mouth of God—haven’t we? Yes, indeed! And out of that then, there are going to be those who are
faithful, those who don’t care, those who are dead, those who are going to go
right back into the world, those who will re-embrace Satan the devil and all of
that.
So you see, this is why Satan has to be put away. This is
what the Day of Atonement is all about! Who is the true Savior? the true God?
And who is the deceiver? The “angel of light” who wants to destroy all human
beings and to destroy all Christians. That’s why Satan the devil must be
removed, and this Day of Atonement tells us the story of the account of
God’s plan and that He will do it.
Scriptural References:
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Leviticus 23:26-32
Exodus 12:1-3
John 12:20-32
Leviticus 16:29-30, 2, 7-10
Revelation 20:1-3
Hebrews 9:1-11, 14-16
John 8:31-47
Revelation 2:2-4, 12-17. 20-24
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Revelation 3:2-3, 8-10, 15-16
Scriptures referenced, not quoted
Also referenced: Book:
Harmony of the Gospels by Fred R.
Coulter
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