Leviticus 16:30, commentary and pictures

On its face the verse belongs to the great Day of Atonement on the tenth day of the seventh month, when the high priest alone entered the most holy place to make atonement that cleansed Israel from all sins before the Lord, while all the people afflicted the soul in solemn humiliation, prayer and fasting. That earthly cleansing removed in figure the sins daily transferred to the sanctuary by blood, with blood sprinkled before the mercy seat and iniquities confessed over the scapegoat to be borne away never to return. Its antitype is the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary, opened in 1844 at the end of the 2300 days when Christ as great High Priest entered the most holy place to perform the closing work of atonement by His own blood. That work is now going on above as the investigative judgment of the professed people of God, where only those who come with confession and repentance have their sins blotted out and their names retained in the book of life. Therefore the command to afflict the soul still binds, calling every person to deep searching of heart, confession and forsaking of sin, and faith in Christ's mediation, that cleansed and clothed in His righteousness they may stand blameless when probation closes.

Day, Sanctuary, and Ritual

The verse belongs to the great Day of Atonement on the tenth day of the seventh Jewish month. On that day the high priest made atonement for Israel to cleanse them from all their sins before the Lord, removing their sins from the sanctuary, and then came out to bless the people. The sanctuary so cleansed was God's earthly dwelling-place of glory, first the movable tabernacle erected in the desert of Sinai and afterward Solomon's temple in Canaan with its holy and most holy place and its vessels.

On that day the high priest alone entered the most holy place, after solemn preparation and in his special attire, to perform the special work of atonement that completed the yearly round of service. While he stood before God's presence the people waited about the sanctuary in silence and fear and prayer, fearing when he stayed unusually long. They were relieved when they heard his bells and saw him come out to bless them.

Day by day through the year sins had in figure been transferred to the sanctuary through the blood or flesh of offerings in the holy place, which acknowledged the law's authority and the sinner's guilt while pointing to pardon through a Redeemer without by itself canceling sin or fully releasing the sinner from the law's condemnation. The yearly cleansing removed them with blood, for it was a cleansing from sin and not from physical impurity. The high priest brought the blood of the offering into the most holy place and sprinkled it on and before the mercy seat over the law in satisfaction of its claims, and upon the altar of incense. As mediator he then bore the sins from the sanctuary and all the iniquities and transgressions and sins of Israel were confessed over the head of the live scapegoat to be borne by him to a land not inhabited, forever separated from the people never to return to the camp, and the people were not regarded as freed from the burden of their sins until the goat had been sent away.

While the atonement was going forward all Israel was required to gather about the sanctuary and every man to afflict his soul, lay aside all business, and spend the day in solemn humiliation before the Lord with prayer, fasting, and deep searching of heart. The ceremony taught God's holiness and His abhorrence of sin and that no one can come in contact with sin without becoming polluted. Its cleansing brought pardon and cleansing from sin and peace with Heaven, with assurance that iniquity would be remembered no more, preparing the people to rejoice and praise Him for His goodness and mercy at the Feast of Tabernacles.

Prophetic Time and Fulfillment

Just as the types relating to 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. This day therefore points to the autumn, when Christ as great High Priest would purify the earth by the destruction of sin and sinners and bless His waiting people with immortality. That appointed time was October 22 in the year 1844, in harmony with the termination of the 2300 days in the autumn. The cleansing of the sanctuary is the type of Christ's work as the great High Priest, and its antitypical fulfillment was expected at the time appointed by the symbolic service.

The sanctuary to be cleansed is not the earth to be purified by fire at Christ's second coming, but the sanctuary in heaven. In the ministration of the earthly tabernacle the second apartment, the holy of holies containing the ark of God's testament, was opened only upon the great day of atonement for the cleansing of the sanctuary. That earthly ministration served unto the example and shadow of heavenly things. Its fulfillment is the opening of the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844, as Christ entered there to perform the closing work of the atonement. He is now officiating before the ark of God, pleading His blood in behalf of sinners, followed by faith by those who understand His change of ministration and behold the ark of His testament.

What Christ accomplished on that very day was all that the Day of Atonement type would justify expecting, a cleansing priestly work rather than His coming to earth. Day by day sins had in figure been transferred to the sanctuary, and the once-a-year cleansing removed them, not as removal of physical impurity, for it was accomplished with blood, and therefore was a cleansing from sin. This earthly cleansing is the pattern for the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844. After the 2300 days ended, Christ entered the most holy place to cleanse the heavenly sanctuary and remove the sins recorded there.

That antitypical Day of Atonement is carried out in the most holy place, where Christ, the great High Priest, blots out the sins of His faithful people by virtue of His own blood. Its cleansing work continues until the ministry of the gospel ends and probation closes. His holding back from coming then to destroy the wicked gives sinners further time in mercy to repent of their sins and prepare for His coming.

Christ's Heavenly Mediation

Christ as the great High Priest now ministers in the heavenly sanctuary, making a special atonement and cleansing for Israel to make them clean from all their sins before the Lord. As on that day the people were to humble themselves and confess their sins so they could be atoned for and blotted out, so in the present antitypical Day of Atonement while cases are reviewed in the investigative judgment people must repent and confess their sins. He stands in the heavenly sanctuary making atonement for the sins of His people. While completing this atoning work in the Holy of Holies He wears the high priest's attire described for that service, before laying it aside to reign as king. After completing it He will come to earth in kingly power and take the waiting faithful to Himself.

He presents the prayers of repentant people to the Father with His own righteousness, and their sins are pardoned. As the people humbled themselves and confessed and the high priest interceded for them before God who granted pardon, so Christ now intercedes in the heavenly sanctuary. As Joshua the high priest stood as representative of an imperfect, sinful, contaminated people accused by Satan as a criminal and transgressor of the law, so Christ ministers for His people and bears the sinner's place. All types point to Jesus Christ as Sin-bearer and Substitute, who takes away the sin of the repentant, believing transgressor and cannot Himself be accused, so that in heaven the sinner is accounted justified. He answers Satan's accusation and rebukes him when he points to the defilement of God's people and triumphs in their discomfiture. The only hope for God's people in defection of Christian character is reconversion, repentance toward God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who is made unto them righteousness and sanctification.

In this fulfillment each person should humble himself before God, seek pardon for sin, and accept Christ's justifying grace and the Holy Spirit's sanctifying work, which renews the carnal nature in holiness after Christ's righteousness. This is the great day of atonement when holiness is of supreme importance and cleansing from all sins before the Lord is offered, calling for confession of sins and acknowledgment of God's mercy and love in pardoning transgressions, thankfulness for warnings that save from perverse ways, and witness to His goodness by a changed life. Reverses upon individuals, families, and churches are permitted to show danger and to humble hearts in repentance, for God chastens His children in hope of saving their souls. Those who heed reproof and repent with humility and contrition and confession are received again into favor with tenderness and love, spoken pardon to, and clothed with the garments of Christ's righteousness, and those who honor God by obeying His commandments are exalted by Him with strength and victory.

Investigative Judgment Review

The great Day of Atonement is now going on in the sanctuary above as the solemn scenes of the Judgment that concern every individual, and this is the great day of preparation when each person's case will soon come under review before God. The work in heaven must not be lightly regarded or crowded out by business cares but kept constantly before the mind, kept before the people, and urged upon consciences with earnestness and power, for a correct view of the sanctuary gives a correct view of the importance of the work for this time. That readiness to stand before God includes accountability for actions that encourage others to use stimulants and lead them toward sin.

While Christ the great High Priest ministers in the heavenly sanctuary, cases are reviewed in the investigative judgment, and the people must humble themselves, repent, and confess their sins so they may be atoned for and blotted out. The call to be cleansed from sin before the Lord joins a final day of confession before the books are opened and every person is judged, when every deed is reviewed before the heavenly universe, to be faced honestly rather than covered up, with Christ's death at Calvary as the basis for forgiveness and pardon.

In the type only those who had come before God with confession and repentance, and whose sins through the blood of the sin offering were transferred to the sanctuary, had part in the cleansing. In like manner only the cases of the professed people of God are now considered in the great day of final atonement and investigative judgment, while the judgment of the wicked is a distinct and separate work that takes place at a later period.

All who would have their names retained in the book of life and pardon recorded against their names must now sorrow for sin, truly repent, afflict the soul, search the heart, and closely examine the life history in individual probation, lest they be cut off from among the people, blotted from the book, or weighed in the balances of the sanctuary and pronounced wanting. This requires laying aside the garments of self-righteousness and daily humbling the soul before God, confessing individual sins, seeking pardon for transgressions, repenting and being converted that sins may be blotted out, entering the sanctuary above by faith and cooperating with Christ as Advocate and Intercessor to work out salvation with fear and trembling and to prepare the soul to reflect the divine image. It requires deep, faithful searching of heart, putting away a light frivolous spirit, earnest warfare to subdue evil tendencies that strive for the mastery, cleansing of the soul temple now in this life by sincere repentance and forsaking of every sin, purifying the corrupt heart and fountain so thoughts and stream are pure, overcoming, watchfulness, strengthening what remains and holding fast what was received and heard, and entire renovation of character to become a child of God, for the Judge of all the earth is taking a record of the lives of all who claim to be Christians and each one has a soul to save or to lose.

The work of preparation is an individual work, not in groups, where the purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in another and no one's purity or devotion can make up for another's lack. Though all nations are to pass in judgment before God, He will examine the case of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if there were not another being upon the earth, and everyone must be tested and found without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Only those who by faith follow Jesus in the great work of the atonement, understand the work of the merciful High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary, know what duties are required, and behold by faith the ark of His testament receive the benefits of His mediation and receive pardon of sins and not be cut off from the congregation. Those who reject the light and remain willingly ignorant of that ministration are not benefited, and the condition of careless and unbelieving professed Christians who are willingly ignorant of that work is the same as the condition of the unbelieving Jews.

Repentance and Heart Preparation

The command to afflict the soul still binds in the few remaining days of probation, requiring sorrow for sin, true repentance, deep humiliation before the Lord, and earnest warfare to subdue evil tendencies and put away a light, frivolous spirit. To afflict the soul means to be sanctified through the truth by receiving Christ who is the Truth, putting on Christ and partaking of His love, tenderness and compassion through the Word applied to the soul as eternal life that makes partakers of the divine nature. It means to humble self in the sight of the Lord so that He will lift up, to cleanse the hands and purify the heart, to cease striving for the highest place and thinking or speaking evil that causes heart-burning and discord, and to wage valiant warfare against every species of sin in order to be cleansed to pass through the portals of the holy city, for there will be no second trial.

Sins must be confessed, repented of, and forsaken beforehand so that they may go beforehand to judgment and be atoned for and blotted out. The time demands special preparation in humility, drawing near to God, searching the heart, putting sin away and cherishing no sin, while recognizing the condition as sinners and seeking the Lord with true penitence and deep contrition. Christ is able to cleanse from all unrighteousness and wash away every stain of sin, and those who confess and cling to Him may have pardon recorded against their names.

This requires deep, faithful searching of heart with close self-examination and surrender of self. Wrong thoughts and wrongs done must be put right through confession, reformation and repentance, with separation from the world to stand on God's side. Each person must do the work of cleansing the mind and purifying the soul in order to stand blameless before God, confessing sins to God and to anyone wronged, for leaving this work undone brings the day of the Lord unawares.

Each person is to confess only his own sins and mistakes rather than occupy the mind investigating other souls. Whoever senses something standing between himself and God should go to God for help to make the confession necessary to take the wrong, whatever its character, out of the way, and for help not to repeat the wrong. This means ceasing to accuse and find fault and speak evil against one another, laying aside all anxiety about the acknowledgements and confessions to be made by others, and loving as brethren with gentleness, courtesy and kindness. Such personal humbling and confessing makes way for the Lord's presence and brings spiritual victory.

The soul must daily lay aside the garments of self-righteousness, humble itself before God, confess individual sins, seek pardon for transgressions, and cooperate with Christ as Advocate and Intercessor to prepare the soul to reflect the divine image. It is to enter the sanctuary above by faith and unite with Christ in working out salvation with fear and trembling, for those who do not will be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary and pronounced wanting. Every soul must by living faith rest upon the merits of the crucified and risen Saviour, pleading the atoning sacrifice of Him who gave His life on Calvary, ceasing rebellion, opening the door of the heart to the heavenly Guest, and trusting in the efficacy of His sacrifice, without which faith prayers are worthless.

Cleansing from defilement comes through the blood of Jesus to those who confess and cling to Him. It purifies the corrupt heart and fountain so that thoughts are pure, requiring a living, active faith that works by love and purifies the soul, with self-control, pure holy motives, and reform. This means refusing to corrupt the soul by self-indulgence through appetite, liquor, tobacco and base passions, so the mind stays clear and the brain vigorous to distinguish right from wrong. To be cleansed from all sins is to meet the comprehensive requirement of God's Word to be like Him and represent in life the life and character of the holy Pattern, through the transforming power of God in the renewing of the mind by the Holy Spirit producing a new creature in harmony with the Word and with Jesus, shown by searching its pages and willingly approaching Him in prayer rather than avoiding self-examination. If after profession one still manifests fretfulness, peevishness, faultfinding, envy, evil surmisings, jealousy, impure thoughts and every rough and uncomely trait, the character is unchanged and reveals the satanic rather than the divine, showing Satan has power over mind, affections and character.

The antitypical day is of the same great humiliation and confession character as the type and is now present. As the priest had to prepare carefully and guard against contamination while sins were brought to mind, repented of and cleansed, so the atonement now taking place in heaven calls for holiness, reverence and careful preparation from those who minister in sacred things. That present sacred work should be the constant study of God's people.

Those who repent and confess their sins are recognized as worthy of God's protection and receive His seal, while those who persist in sin are passed by. Cleansing requires humbling the heart before God, heeding His counsel, examining the heart, ceasing murmuring and strife, learning from Israel's unbelief and impenitence, and repenting at once as the only hope of salvation. Delay is perilous, and persisting in self-complacency, standing in one's own light, and resisting the Spirit leaves the soul to destruction without remedy.

Present Life and Mission

The church is now living in the great antitypical Day of Atonement, the solemn time and day of grace appointed for confessing sins, repenting, and being cleansed from all sins before the Lord. Everything in salvation centers in the sanctuary where that cleansing work goes forward, and everyone must get ready. That readiness can coexist with joy and pleasure in Christ, as each person is urged to find Him now.

Its call to cleansing is a personal work to humble the heart before God, seek Him, and confess one's own sins rather than another's, shown in a Spirit-filled, born-again life. The present condition fitting the occasion requires confessing mistakes and errors, using all talents in harmony with the plan of Jesus Christ as co-workers with God, and following the life of Christ as the only safe pattern, and only those who do this are entitled to the name Christian. The church is to begin purification through repentance, humility, and deep heart-searching, with its members resisting evil, forsaking iniquity, and keeping God's law.

Its lesson is to remove wrongs between believers rather than allow them to remain, and to examine oneself in readiness to meet God's standard. This means ceasing to accuse and find fault and speak evil against one another, confessing only one's own sins in meekness and humility, and loving as brethren with gentleness, courtesy, and kindness. Repentance and conversion blot out sins and cleanse hearts from all jealousy and evil surmising, making pure, unselfish workers sanctified through the truth, given the quietude and simplicity of a little child, unified in trust and confidence so the work of God can advance and others can be helped, blessed, and converted.

The present sacred work in the heavenly sanctuary for the people of God is of the same humiliation and confession character as the typical day, and it should be the constant study of God's people. It is to be taught to children and to others by precept and example, teaching them to humble their hearts before God, confess sins, and know God and Jesus Christ. Those who teach this truth must give the trumpet a certain sound, leading people away from worldly customs and practices up higher to spirituality, piety, and earnest work for God in proclaiming the message of the third angel.

A correct view of the sanctuary gives correct views of the importance of the work for this time, for the great day of preparation and solemn scenes of the Judgment concerning every individual is now going on in the sanctuary above. That heavenly work must not be lightly regarded or crowded out by business cares but kept constantly before the minds of those employed in institutions, kept before the people, and urged upon their consciences with earnestness and power. Proper appreciation of it leads workers in publishing houses to manifest greater energy and zeal to make the work a success, keeping none careless and blinded to the wants of the cause and the perils that attend every soul, but making each a channel of light.

Readiness to stand when each person's case will soon come under review includes accountability for actions that encourage others to use stimulants and lead them toward sin. It is duty now to confess sins and acknowledge God's mercy and love in pardoning transgressions, to thank the Lord for warnings given to save from perverse ways, and to witness to His goodness by a change in life. Reverses upon individuals, families, and churches are permitted to show danger and to humble hearts in repentance, for God chastens His children in hope of saving their souls, and those who heed reproof and repent with humility and contrition and confession are received again into favor with tenderness and love, spoken pardon to, and clothed with the garments of Christ's righteousness, while those who honor God by obeying His commandments are exalted by Him with strength and victory.

The pattern calls seekers to recognize weakness, turn from sin, confess sins, and be purified from every moral defilement. As Israel sought the Lord as little children, so men handling sacred responsibilities must follow that same pattern in a conversion represented by a new birth, coming with a sense of weakness to be heard and answered. That coming strips away self, self-righteousness, Pharisaism and hardness of heart, with self dead and the life of Christ revealed by faith in the Son of God.

It is too late in the day for disputation and contention, for murmuring and strife and standing in one's own light. All must arouse from spiritual sleep, learn from Israel's unbelief and impenitence, afflict the soul, confess sins, humble the heart before God, repent at once as the only hope of salvation, and get ready for the great conflict and Christ's coming. Delay is perilous, and persisting in self-complacency and resisting the Spirit leaves the soul to destruction without remedy, with purification before God carrying eternal consequences.

Abundant grace is provided for all who feel their need, as each person humbles the heart before God and freely confesses his own sins, laying aside all anxiety about the acknowledgements and confessions to be made by others. When this humbling and confessing is done the Lord comes in and great victories are gained, cleansing hearts from jealousy and evil surmising in preparation for Christ's coming. The churches are thus to humble themselves, with each person confessing and putting away sin, which defiles character and separates from God, so sins are atoned for and cleansed.