Leviticus 16:5
And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
The verse appoints the offerings for the one day in the year set apart for cleansing God's earthly dwelling-place, with two goats for sin and one ram for burnt sacrifice. That yearly entering of the high priest into the most holy place foreshadowed Christ's closing work of atonement in the heavenly sanctuary, which He entered to cleanse it from the sins of His people by virtue of His own blood. Having passed within the second veil through the open door, He now ministers as sin-bearer and substitute to take away sin and blot out the sins of all His faithful ones until probation closes and the ministry of the gospel is ended. He finishes this work attired as the Jewish high priest was, before laying off the priestly dress to stand up and reign as King of kings. Because the solemn antitypical day of atonement is now present, sins must be confessed, forsaken, and put away beforehand to judgment so they may be pardoned and cleansed.
Day of Atonement Ritual
Leviticus 16 describes the cleansing of the sanctuary, and that sanctuary is neither the earth nor the church but God's dwelling-place of glory upon the earth. It was first the movable sanctuary erected in the desert to dwell among Israel, identified as the desert of Sinai, and in the other account as the desert of Arabia. It was afterward continued in Solomon's temple in Canaan, with its holy and most holy place to which the vessels of the movable sanctuary were transferred.
The verse belongs to the one day of the year appointed for ministry in the most holy place of the sanctuary and the temple, the earthly symbols of God's dwelling-place where one apartment was sacred to His presence. The veil inwrought with cherubim at its entrance was not to be lifted by any hand save one, and to lift that veil and intrude unbidden into the sacred mystery of the most holy place was death. This was because above the mercy-seat and the bowed, worshiping angels dwelt the glory of the Holiest, upon which no man might look and live. On that day the high priest with trembling entered God's presence while clouds of incense veiled the glory from his sight. Throughout the courts of the temple every sound was hushed and no priests ministered at the altars, while the hosts of worshipers bowed in silent awe and sent up their petitions for God's mercy. These things happened by way of example and were written for admonition upon whom the ends of the ages are come.
The yearly service required that the high priest enter the most holy place only after solemn preparation. While he stood before God at the mercy-seat, the people waited in prayer. If he remained longer than expected, they feared that their sins or the priest's own sin had brought death upon him. The sound of the bells on his garments reassured them that he had survived. He then came out and blessed them.
Christ's Heavenly Atonement Ministry
The earthly Day of Atonement service is the example of the heavenly sanctuary, where the most holy place was opened only on that one day for the cleansing of the sanctuary, foreshadowing Christ's closing work of atonement in the heavenly sanctuary. That service points to Christ's work in the heavenly sanctuary, which He entered to cleanse it from the people's sins by virtue of His own blood. At the time pointed out by the message one veil was shut and the other was opened, and the great High Priest has gone within the second veil through the open door which no man can shut until the work there is fully done.
There He blots out the sins of all His faithful ones from Abel to the present time, sinners are invited to seek an entrance by faith into the most holy place and to come to this open door, and the work continues until He proclaims that he that is unjust must remain unjust still, when probation is closed and the ministry of the gospel is ended. Jesus finishes the work of atonement in the Holy of Holies attired as the Jewish high priest was, and this priestly attire belongs to the time before Michael stands up, laid off when He stands up to reign as King of kings, wearing many crowns in one crown. The offerings made on behalf of Israel and the other types of that service point to Christ, who ministers for His people as their sin-bearer and substitute and takes away the sin of the repentant, believing transgressor. As the high priest ministered in behalf of the children of Israel while Satan pointed to their defilement and triumphed in their discomfiture, so Christ now ministers in behalf of His people while Satan accuses them, yet unlike the accused sinner Christ as sin-bearer and substitute for the offender cannot be accused.
Solemn Call to Preparation
The solemn sanctuary work above concerns every person and must be kept in mind rather than neglected amid business cares. Its importance should be pressed upon consciences, and appreciating it calls workers to greater energy and zeal and to watchfulness for the needs of the cause and the spiritual dangers facing each soul.
The antitypical day of atonement is the time to consider how each person's case will stand in the judgment. It calls for preparation for Christ's work as the great antitypical Day of Atonement, in which sins are to be confessed and put away so they may go beforehand to judgment, and Christ can cleanse the sinner and secure pardon. The church is in a solemn time of atonement and should seek purification through repentance, humility, and heart-searching.
The Day of Atonement points to the present time as the last great day of atonement and day of confession before judgment. It is the time just before the books are opened when every person will be judged by the things written in the books and every deed and act will be tried and brought into review before the heavenly universe. It calls for uncovering wrongs, confessing and forsaking sin, and believing that Christ died on Calvary to forgive sins and pardon transgressions. Salvation comes only to those who do not cover their wrongs and do not make play-work of religious life. These things happened by way of example and were written for admonition upon whom the ends of the ages are come.