Leviticus 16:13, commentary and pictures

On the yearly day for cleansing the sanctuary where God dwelt among His people, only the high priest could enter the most holy place, and only after solemn preparation and with trembling. He was to place incense on the fire before the Lord so its cloud would veil God's glory above the mercy seat, making it possible to stand in His presence without dying. With that covering in place he sprinkled the blood of the offering on the mercy seat above the law, satisfying its claims and cleansing the people, then in figure removed their sins upon the scapegoat to be borne forever away. This service was a shadow of Christ's ministry as great High Priest in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, where He blots out the sins of His faithful people until the work is finished. The fragrant cloud means prayers ascending with confession while the merits of His atoning blood and character are pleaded, so the present antitypical day of atonement, entered upon in 1844, calls every person to humility, repentance, and cleansing from all defilement through His blood.

The Earthly Day of Atonement

Leviticus 16 describes the process for cleansing the sanctuary, the sanctuary commanded to be made so that God might dwell among His people. It was first erected as a movable sanctuary made in the desert of Sinai, and afterward as the temple built by Solomon. That temple had a holy and a most holy place, and the vessels of the earlier sanctuary were transferred to it, as God's dwelling-place of glory upon the earth. The chapter sets forth the priestly attire and service of the Jewish high priest, including putting incense upon the fire before the LORD. That priestly attire is what Christ as great High Priest now wears, different from the many crowns in one crown He will wear as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS when Michael stands up to reign.

Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only once a year on the appointed day. He could enter only after careful, solemn preparation, and he approached God with trembling. No one else could enter the sacred place unbidden. He was to put incense upon the fire before the LORD so that its cloud would cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not. The cloud covered the mercy seat and veiled God's glory from his sight, and this covering made it possible to enter God's presence without dying. An unbidden or uncovered approach meant death, and this direction belongs to the sanctuary service for the great day of atonement.

While he ministered inside, the people waited outside in prayer. They feared that the Lord's glory might slay him because of their sins or his own. When they heard the bells on his garments they knew he had come out safely, and he blessed them. With the cloud of incense covering the mercy seat, he sprinkled the offering's blood on the mercy seat above the law, making satisfaction for the law's claims. As mediator he then took the sins from the sanctuary and transferred them in figure to the scapegoat, which bore them away as forever separated from the people. With the blood sprinkled there under the covering incense cloud as Aaron ministered before God, the people were cleansed from guilt, pointing to the merits of Christ the slain Lamb whom God accepts as the purifier from sin, whose atoning sacrifice remains effective through all time.

Christ's Ministry and Our Preparation

The service on the great day of atonement, when the holy of holies was opened for the cleansing of the sanctuary, was an example and shadow of Christ's ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. Its antitypical work takes place in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ as great High Priest blots out the sins of His faithful people, and His ministry continues there until the work is complete and probation closes. The ministry performed on behalf of the children of Israel, including Joshua's service as high priest, typifies Christ's actual ministry in heaven for His people. Christ is the Sin-bearer and Substitute for the offender, to whom all the types point, who takes away the sin of the repentant, believing transgressor.

As Satan then pointed to the defilement of God's people and triumphed in their discomfiture, so he accuses them now. The warm blood sprinkled upon the mercy seat means the efficacy and merits of Christ's atoning blood, and the fragrant cloud of incense ascending before God means prayers ascending to heaven while sins are confessed and the efficacy of that blood is pleaded, made fragrant with the merits of Christ's character. Notwithstanding unworthiness, there is One who can take away sin and save the sinner, and every sin acknowledged before God with a contrite heart He will remove. Faith laying hold on these merits is the life of the church.

The great antitypical day of atonement was fulfilled in heaven in 1844. The sanctuary to be cleansed is in heaven, not the earth to be cleansed by fire at Christ's second coming to punish the wicked. Christ entered the heavenly sanctuary at that time to cleanse it from the sins of the people by virtue of His own blood, in mercy and loving-kindness giving them still more time to repent of their sins and prepare for His coming instead of destroying the wicked. The solemn ritual when incense was used in the sanctuary calls attention to the solemn work of judgment and atonement, a work concerning every person and not to be treated lightly. It is connected with a final day of atonement before the books are opened and each person is judged by the record of deeds.

The Day of Atonement service points to the antitypical Day of Atonement now in progress, in which each person must consider how the case will stand in the judgment and seek cleansing from every defilement through the blood of Jesus. It therefore calls for preparation, with sins confessed so they may go beforehand to judgment, and for drawing near to God for pardon from One able to cleanse from every stain of sin. The work requires humility and putting away sin, and the present solemn time calls for the church to be purified through repentance, humility, and searching of heart. The fire and fragrant incense by which the cloud covers the mercy seat so the priest does not die also picture using the means God provides, through which divine power is joined to the human agent, while self-sufficiency leaves a person unable to do God's work.