Leviticus 16:29, commentary and pictures

The verse appoints the tenth day of the seventh month as the yearly Day of Atonement, a perpetual statute requiring all Israel to gather about the sanctuary, afflict their souls in solemn humiliation with prayer and fasting and searching of heart, and do no work at all.
On that day the high priest entered the most holy place of God's earthly dwelling to make atonement for all Israel, remove their confessed sins from the sanctuary, and send them away forever by the scapegoat.
As the spring types of the first advent were fulfilled in event and in time, so this autumn type was fulfilled at the close of the 2300 days, when in 1844 Christ as great High Priest entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to perform the closing work of atonement and cleanse it by His own blood.
The present time is that great antitypical Day of Atonement, with the investigative judgment of every professed believer in progress above from the opened books, while Christ stands before the Father as Advocate pleading His blood for the repentant.
All who would have their names retained in the book of life must now afflict their souls by individual confession and forsaking of every sin, self-denial and humble obedience, lest they be cut off and blotted out, for only overcomers who are cleansed and at peace with Heaven will stand in the judgment.

Day Appointed Forever

The tenth day of the seventh month is appointed as the annual Day of Atonement, a statute for ever for the cleansing of the sanctuary. On that day the high priest made atonement for all Israel and removed their sins from the sanctuary, entering the inner apartment or most holy place which he was forbidden on pain of death to enter at any other time. That yearly service at the close of the year completed the yearly round of ministration and pictured a final work in which sin would be removed from the sanctuary. Its date served as a type marking the time of the cleansing, so that as the types of the first advent were fulfilled as to time, the types of the second advent must be fulfilled at the time pointed out in the symbolic service, in the autumn at the termination of the 2300 days, which in 1844 fell on October 22 and was regarded as the time of the Lord's coming.

The requirement bound every person without exception, whether one of their own country or a stranger sojourning among them, to afflict the soul and do no work at all. To do no work means to lay aside all business and cease from work while the work of atonement was going forward. The day was therefore sacred for all who lived among Israel, marked as a lasting statute calling for spiritual readiness.

To afflict the soul means to spend the day in solemn humiliation before God with prayer, fasting, and deep searching of heart and self-examination. The whole congregation spent the day in that manner and did not regard themselves as freed from the burden of sins until the scapegoat had been sent away. The requirement was meant to impress Israel with the holiness of God and His abhorrence of sin and to teach that no one can come in contact with sin without becoming polluted. That same humbling applies in the antitypical Day of Atonement, when while judgment is in progress confession and repentance are needed so sins may be atoned for and blotted out.

While the atonement was being made all Israel were required to gather about the sanctuary and in the most solemn manner humble their souls before God in order to receive pardon of sins and not be cut off from the congregation. Only those who by faith follow Jesus in the great antitypical work receive the benefits of His mediation in the heavenly sanctuary, while those who reject the light on that ministration are not benefited. The condition illustrates careless and unbelieving professed Christians who are willingly ignorant, and makes it even more essential in this antitypical day to understand the work of the merciful High Priest and know what duties are required.

The sanctuary to be cleansed is the dwelling-place of God's glory upon the earth, first the movable tabernacle made in the desert of Sinai and afterward Solomon's temple with its holy and most holy place to which its vessels were transferred. Its second apartment, the holy of holies containing the ark, was opened only on the great Day of Atonement for the cleansing of the sanctuary. That earthly ministration served unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, so its yearly opening points to the opening of the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844, when Christ entered there to perform the closing work of atonement, officiating before the ark of God and pleading His blood in behalf of sinners.

Yearly Atonement Typified

The sanctuary service was ordered in two divisions, with priests ministering each day in the holy place to transfer sins in figure into the sanctuary, and the high priest alone entering once a year into the inner apartment, the most holy place, to perform a special work of removal. That yearly entrance for the cleansing of the sanctuary completed the yearly round of ministration, and on pain of death he was forbidden to enter that inner apartment at any other time. The tenth day of the seventh month was set apart as the close of the year for this final typical work in which sin would be removed from the sanctuary.

On that day the high priest made atonement for all Israel and removed their sins from the sanctuary. The blood of the offering was brought before the law to show sin transferred, and then the high priest placed the confessed sins upon the scapegoat, which carried them away as forever separated from the people. This annual date served as a type marking the time of the sanctuary's cleansing.

He entered only after careful and solemn preparation, while the people waited in silence and prayer for divine blessing. They feared that sin might bring death upon him, and were relieved when the bells on his garments were heard announcing his return. He then came forth and blessed them, his petition heard and pardon granted, and after confession of sin they were declared at peace with Heaven. That peace prepared them to rejoice at the feast that came shortly after.

While this work of atonement went forward every person was required to afflict the soul and cease from work. To afflict the soul was to spend the day in solemn humility before God with prayer, fasting, and deep searching of heart and self-examination, and to do no work was to lay aside all business. These requirements were meant to impress Israel with the holiness of God and His abhorrence of sin. They taught that no one can come in contact with sin without becoming polluted.

Fulfilled In Eighteen Forty-Four

As the Passover and wave-sheaf types of the first advent were fulfilled not only as to the event but as to the time, so the types relating to the second advent must be fulfilled at the time pointed out in the symbolic service. That time falls in the autumn, in harmony with the termination of the 2300 days in the autumn, for the cleansing of the sanctuary, the great Day of Atonement, occurred on the tenth day of the seventh Jewish month. In 1844 that tenth day fell on October 22 and was regarded as the time of the Lord's coming. The type required a work by Christ as the great High Priest on that very day, so the disappointment of those who expected Him then to come was a mistake about the nature of the event and not about the time, for He did then accomplish all the type justified expecting.

What was then expected was that Christ, the great High Priest, would appear to purify the earth by the destruction of sin and sinners and to bless His waiting people with immortality. What actually began was the antitypical work in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, pictured by the yearly typical service of atonement at the close of the year in which sin would be removed from the sanctuary. When the 2300 days ended, Christ the High Priest entered the most holy place to cleanse the heavenly sanctuary. There in 1844 He entered before the ark of God to perform the closing work of atonement, officiating before the ark and pleading His blood in behalf of sinners.

That cleansing is by virtue of His own blood, to cleanse it from the sins of the people. The second apartment of the earthly tabernacle, the holy of holies containing the ark of God's testament, was opened only on the great Day of Atonement for the cleansing of the sanctuary, and as the earthly ministration served unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, its yearly opening points to the opening of the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844. The sanctuary to be cleansed at the end of the 2300 days is in heaven, not the earth to be purified by fire at Christ's second coming to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity.

Judgment Now In Heaven

We are living now in the great antitypical Day of Atonement, with the investigative judgment in progress in the sanctuary above during the few remaining days of probation. It is too late in the day for contention and disputing over doctrinal differences, for each must now be confessing sin, humbling the heart before God, heeding Christ's counsel, repenting, and getting ready for the great conflict. This present judgment concerns every individual among the professed people of God, while the judgment of the wicked is a distinct and separate work to take place at a later period.

Though all nations pass in judgment before God, each individual case is examined as closely as if there were not another being on earth. The heavenly books are opened and every deed and act is brought under review, for the Judge of all the earth is taking a record of the lives of all who claim to be Christians. Only those who have come before God with confession and repentance, whose sins through the blood of the sin offering were transferred to the sanctuary, have part in the service. Their sins must by confession and repentance go beforehand to judgment, to be atoned for and blotted out.

All who would have their names retained in the book of life must now afflict their souls before God in this same way, in individual work that no other's purity and devotion can supply. Those who fail will be cut off from among the people, have their names blotted from the book of life, and be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary and pronounced wanting. Now is the time of grace and day of atonement for this humbling, mourning and weeping over sin, cleansing of hands and heart and soul-temple from impure thoughts, unholy desires and debasing sins, forsaking every sin and vindicating God's law in character.

Christ now stands as great High Priest, Advocate, Intercessor and Redeemer before the mercy seat and the Father in behalf of Israel. Contrite prayers offered with confession and repentance are presented to the Father mingled with the incense of His righteousness, while He pleads His blood and the efficacy of His sacrifice and their pardon is recorded. As Sin-bearer and Substitute He takes away the sin of the repentant, believing transgressor, so the sinner is accounted justified. That ministry meets Satan, who still stands as adversary pointing to the defilement of God's people, triumphing in their discomfiture, and accusing imperfect, sinful, law-transgressing people. The only hope of the accused is reconversion, repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ as made righteousness and sanctification.

Souls Afflicted Today

To afflict the soul now is to repent of sin and humble oneself before the Lord in sorrow for sin and true repentance, with deep and faithful searching of the heart, putting away a light and frivolous spirit, and waging earnest warfare to subdue the evil tendencies that strive for the mastery. All who would have their names retained in the book of life must do this in the few remaining days of probation while the great Day of Atonement is in progress, lest they be cut off from among the people. Each one will be examined as closely as if there were not another being on earth, and everyone must be tested and found without spot or wrinkle.

The work of preparation is individual and not in groups, for another's purity and devotion cannot offset one's lack. Every person must confess his own sins instead of investigating other souls or waiting to see what others should acknowledge and confess. Each freely confesses his own and lays aside all anxiety about the acknowledgements to be made by others, rather than exalting self and disparaging others. Where this humbling takes place great victories are gained, but souls are in peril and readiness for the Lord's appearing depends on examining self and setting the heart in order without a moment to lose.

This means seeking the conviction of the Spirit of God upon the heart, going to God whenever anything stands between the soul and Him, asking His help to make the confession needed so the wrong, whatever its character, is taken out of the way, and asking His help not to repeat it. No sin is to remain unconfessed or be cherished and practiced, but every sin must be confessed and forsaken while cases are being decided, with deep earnest heart-searching, prayer, and repentance rather than self-satisfaction in busy religious work. Confession is to be made to God and also to anyone wronged, with minds cleansed and souls purified, turning from selfishness and lack of love. Without confession and reformation there is no pardon, but God forgives those who turn from the world and take their stand on His side.

Sins must by confession and repentance go beforehand to judgment, humbly remembered and put away in meekness so pardon is recorded and cleansing through Christ's blood is received. The time calls for special preparation through humility, drawing near to God, trusting Christ to cleanse from unrighteousness, diligently repenting, humbling the heart, and considering one's standing in the judgment. Believers must lay self on the altar as a living sacrifice and examine self before God. They must right wrongs, remove grievances between one another, confess sins and face examination before God to meet His standard, and forgive rather than humiliate those who have erred, for neglecting this leaves people unprepared for the day of the Lord.

Afflicting the soul means waging valiant warfare against every species of sin, drawing nigh to God with cleansed hands and purified hearts, being afflicted and mourning and weeping over sin, and humbling oneself in the sight of the Lord. It means ceasing strife for the highest place that causes heart-burning and discord, and never thinking or speaking evil of a brother or judging him. Now is the accepted time to obtain the education that enables living in the heavenly courts, for there will be no second trial and only those who overcome will pass through the portals of the holy city, while God will lift up all who humble themselves. The call is to fasting and prayer, examining hearts, earnestly seeking counsel from God, and following the leadings and drawings of His Holy Spirit instead of lifting the soul unto vanity in self-confidence. Satan invents every possible device to draw attention away from standing in the proper position of confessing sins and seeking a living experience in the things of God, making confusion through different opinions so that souls are not afflicted.

Afflicting the soul does not mean making up bodily hardships, manufacturing crosses and duties to distress the body, depriving oneself of nourishing food, or practicing rigid economy that weakens or injures the body as the temple of God, for this brings no holiness and is outside His word. It does mean self-denial and self-control with pure holy motives, refusing to corrupt the soul by self-indulgence of appetite and base passion. This includes liquor and tobacco, which becloud the perceptive faculties, weaken mind and brain, pervert reason, and leave men feeble, indifferent, and unable to distinguish right from wrong, so that professing to keep God's law while indulging self violates what the day requires. One whose name is on the church book must not manufacture wine or cider for the market, but must act as a reformer and follower of Christ with heart and influence set against every evil practice, and if he continues encouraging stimulants destructive of virtue, purity, and love of God he must be labored with, placed under censure, and counted unworthy of a place and name among God's people, for he will be condemned in judgment when he meets men made drunkards through his influence and answers for his own sins and for those he led others to commit.

It means laying aside garments of self-righteousness and unrepentant boasting, daily humbling oneself before God, confessing individual sins and seeking pardon for transgressions, with no shame in saying, I have done wrong, I have made a mistake, I have sinned. Every soul must now repent before God while resting by living faith upon the merits of a crucified and living Saviour, accepting justifying grace and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit that transforms the carnal nature into holiness. This requires entering the sanctuary above by faith and cooperating with Christ in preparing the soul to reflect the divine image, uniting with Him in working out salvation with fear and trembling, for those who fail will be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary and pronounced wanting. Those serving in sacred work must therefore be holy and pure in life and speech, guarding against contamination as the high priest guarded himself, laboring to present people perfect in Christ. They must turn from self-reliance and self-righteousness, seek the Lord as little children with a sense of personal weakness, confess sins and purify from every moral defilement, be stripped of self and hardness of heart so self dies and the life of Christ is revealed.

The solemn work must be kept constantly before the mind and urged upon consciences with earnestness and power, especially by those employed in institutions, without letting business cares absorb the mind so that the work in heaven is lightly regarded. A proper appreciation of the sanctuary subject gives correct views of the importance of the work for this time and leads publishing workers to greater energy and zeal for success, that each may seek to be a channel of light and none become careless and blinded to the wants of the cause and the perils attending every soul. Teachers by precept and example help others know God and Jesus Christ, children are taught its meaning with cultivation of spirituality, piety, heavenly-mindedness, turning from worldly customs to earnest work for God, and constant study of Christ's sanctuary work, and everyone who so teaches gives the trumpet a certain sound in proclaiming the third angel's message as the last note of warning to the world. Strict obedience is required, including honoring the Sabbath rather than using its hours for personal work while Christ stands in the heavenly sanctuary before the mercy seat making atonement. God's people are called to a condition appropriate to the occasion, confessing mistakes and errors, employing talents in harmony with Christ's plan as co-workers with God, and following His life as the only safe pattern, which alone entitles one to the name Christian.

Believers must search the Scriptures to become intelligent about where they are in this world's history and the work being accomplished for them, seeking the Lord with true penitence and deep contrition in confessing sins that they may be blotted out. They must give present truth as meat in due season rather than a tame spiritless testimony, because Satan seeks to rob the message of its power so people will not be prepared to stand in the day of the Lord. They must acknowledge God's mercy and love in pardoning transgressions, thank Him for warnings that save from perverse ways, and witness to His goodness by a changed life. Delay brings peril and destruction without remedy, for repentance now is the only hope of salvation, learned from Israel's unbelief and perishing in impenitence. This is a final day of atonement and confession before the heavenly books are opened and every deed is brought under review, when everyone should closely examine life history, seek entire renovation of character, and ask pardon that sins may be blotted out, for each has a soul to save or to lose.

Neglect leaves the heart out of harmony with the Word of God and with Jesus, so that searching Scripture is neglected and approaching Him in prayer feels like a punishment while conscience condemns and busy activity is preferred to self-examination, against God's comprehensive requirement to be like Him and represent the holy Pattern in life. Yet joy and pleasure through Christ may still spring up, and overcoming the world comes through faith. The antitypical day is of the same character as the typical day of great humiliation and confession of sins before God, requiring the church to humble the heart, heed Christ's counsel, search the heart, turn from sin, and get ready for the great conflict and for His appearing, because the outcome has eternal importance. The work of overcoming must be done here in this life by sincere repentance, forsaking every sin, keeping thoughts and fountain pure, vindicating God's law in character, cleansing the soul temple from impure thoughts, unholy desires, and debasing sins, and confessing sins so pardon is written and names are not blotted from the book of life.