Understanding the Antitypical Day of Atonement and Investigative Judgment

The antitypical Day of Atonement is a solemn period of investigative judgment during which Christ completes His work as our High Priest, moving from the holy place to the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary to deal with the record of sin Hebrews 8:1-5HF 265.1+1.

The "Storage" and Location of Sins

When a person truly repents and accepts Christ's sacrifice, they are immediately forgiven, but the record of that sin remains in the heavenly sanctuary until the final atonementCCh 348.1+2. This mirrors the earthly type where the blood of the sin offering provided a means to transfer the guilt of the sinner to the sanctuary throughout the year Leviticus 4:1-7PP 355.3+1. These records are kept in the books of heaven, where every word, deed, and secret motive is faithfully chronicled by angels Daniel 7:10+1COL 310.2+2. Specifically, while the blood of Christ releases the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the law, the sin stands on record in the most holy place of the heavenly temple—which contains the ark of the testament—until the investigative judgment decides their final blotting out Revelation 11:18-19CCh 348.1+1.

Consecration and the Day of Judgment

The cleansing or re-consecration of the sanctuary takes place during the investigative judgment, which began in 1844 at the end of the 2300-day prophecy Daniel 8:14GP 89.3+1.

• The Investigative Process: Just as the earthly high priest entered the most holy place once a year to cleanse the sanctuary, Christ entered the heavenly most holy place to perform the closing work of atonement Hebrews 9:7CIHS 52.1+1.

• A Time of Solemnity: This is indeed a period of "black or white" decisions where the cases of all professed followers of God pass in review to determine who is attired in the wedding garment of Christ's character Matthew 22:11HF 265.1+2.

• Individual Responsibility: While this work is going forward in heaven, we are called to a state of deep heart searching, prayer, and confession, mirroring how ancient Israel was required to afflict their souls on the Day of Atonement or be cut off from the people Leviticus 23:29-30PP 355.3+2.

The Scapegoat as a Type of the Devil

The scapegoat, or Azazel, is a distinct type of Satan and is not a representation of ChristHF 299.4+3.

• The Distinction of Lots: In the typical service, lots were cast to separate the Lord’s goat from the scapegoat; since the first represented Christ as a sin offering, the second represents an opposite personality, which is Satan Leviticus 16:8PP 355.3+2.

• The Burden of Guilt: Christ, as our Mediator, removes the sins of His people from the heavenly sanctuary and places them upon Satan, the original instigator of all sinHF 299.4+2. Satan does not atone for these sins in a saving sense; rather, justice demands that he suffer the final penalty for the iniquities he caused God's people to commitCIHS 56.2+2.

• The Final Banishment: Just as the scapegoat was led by a fit man into a land not inhabited, Satan will be confined to this desolate earth for a thousand years during the millennium, bearing the weight of the sins he provoked Revelation 20:1-3CIHS 180.2+2. At the end of this period, he will perish in the final fire, and sin will be forever eradicated from the universe Revelation 20:10HF 299.4+2.