The Scapegoat: Why It Points to Satan

It's truly wonderful to explore the profound truths revealed in God's Word concerning the scapegoat and its significance in the great plan of salvation! The scapegoat, in its symbolic representation, points unmistakably to Satan as the one who will ultimately bear the accumulated guilt of all the sins he instigated.

Let's delve into this important Bible truth together:

The Ancient Day of Atonement: A Type

In the ancient Israelite service, the Day of Atonement was the most solemn day of the year, a time for afflicting souls and cleansing the sanctuary. On this day, two goats were brought before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle Leviticus 16:7. Lots were cast upon them: "one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat" Leviticus 16:8.

Here's how each goat played its part:

• The Lord's Goat (The Sacrifice): The goat upon which the Lord's lot fell was slain as a sin offering Leviticus 16:9. Its blood was carried into the Most Holy Place by the high priest and sprinkled on the mercy seat to make atonement for the holy place, the tabernacle, and the altar, cleansing them from the uncleanness and transgressions of the children of Israel Leviticus 16:15-16. This sacrifice foreshadowed Jesus Christ, "the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world" John 1:29, who "bore our sins in His own body on the tree" 1 Peter 2:24 and made the great offering on Calvary. Our Savior, as our High Priest, entered "into heaven itself... with His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption for us" Hebrews 9:12, 24.

• The Scapegoat (Azazel): After the high priest had finished the work of reconciling the holy place, the tabernacle, and the altar Leviticus 16:20, he would take the live goat (the scapegoat). He would lay both his hands upon its head and confess over it "all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat" Leviticus 16:21. This goat, now bearing the confessed sins of the people, was then sent away "by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness," "unto a land not inhabited," and "let go" Leviticus 16:21-22. This symbolic act represented the final removal of sin from the people.

Why the Scapegoat is Satan (The Antitype)

It is crucial to understand that the scapegoat does not represent Christ. While Christ is the sin offering and our High Priest who cleanses the heavenly sanctuary with His blood Hebrews 9:12, 23-24, the scapegoat serves a different, distinct role in the final disposition of sin.

The Bible and ancient understanding firmly establish the scapegoat as a type of Satan:

1. The Name "Azazel": The Hebrew word for scapegoat, as given in the margin of Leviticus 16:8 is Azazel. This term is consistently understood by ancient Hebrews and Christians, as well as in ancient languages like Syriac, to refer to a personal being—the devil, or "the angel (strong one) who revolted" Leviticus 16:8 margin). Just as one lot was "for the LORD," it is logical that the other lot was "for Azazel," referring to another personal being.

2. Satan as the Author of Sin: Satan is the originator of sin, the "dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil" Revelation 20:2. He "sins from the beginning" 1 John 3:8 and is the ultimate cause of all evil. Justice demands that the author of sin should ultimately bear the responsibility and penalty for all the sin he has instigated.

3. Final Transfer of Sins: In the antitype, after Christ's ministry as our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary is completed, and the sins of His truly repentant people are blotted out from the records of heaven Acts 3:19+1, these sins will be placed upon Satan. Our Savior will, "in the presence of God and heavenly angels and the hosts of the redeemed," declare Satan "guilty of all the evil which he has caused them to commit" Leviticus 16:21. This act of placing sins on Satan is a just and fitting retribution, as he is the primary instigator of all transgression.

4. Satan's Confinement: Just as the scapegoat was sent "into a land not inhabited" Leviticus 16:22, Satan will be banished to the desolate earth for a thousand years. This desolate earth, made waste and void after the Lord's coming, becomes his "bottomless pit" Revelation 20:1-3+1. This confinement prevents him from deceiving the nations Revelation 20:3.

5. Final Eradication of Sin: At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be loosed for a short season Revelation 20:7, leading the wicked resurrected dead in a final assault against God's people. Fire will then descend from heaven and devour them, destroying Satan and all his followers Revelation 20:9-10. In this final destruction, "all that do wickedly, shall be stubble," and "it shall leave them neither root nor branch" Malachi 4:1. Satan will suffer "the full penalty of sin in the fires that shall destroy all the wicked" Revelation 20:9-10+1. This glorious event marks the complete eradication of sin from the universe, with Satan bearing not only his own sins but also the accumulated weight of all the sins he caused God's people to commit.

Our Role in the Antitypical Day of Atonement

We are living in the "antitypical day of atonement" now, a solemn time when Christ is cleansing the heavenly sanctuary Daniel 8:14+1. Our position is to "afflict our souls" Leviticus 23:29, which means we are to humble our hearts before God, confess our sins, and forsake them Acts 3:19. This is a time to actively cooperate with Christ's work of purifying His kingdom Isaiah 58:6-11.

We are called to:

• Repent and be converted: Our sins can be "blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord" Acts 3:19.

• Walk in the light: "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" 1 John 1:7.

• Yield to divine power: Man cannot overcome Satan's temptations on his own, but "through faith man is to be a partaker of the divine nature, and to overcome every temptation" Ephesians 2:8+1.

The atoning sacrifice of Christ is full and sufficient 1 Corinthians 15:3+1. He alone bears the penalty for our sins, justifying us by His blood and reconciling us to God Romans 5:8+1. By accepting Him, we are accounted righteous and receive eternal life Revelation 3:5. The scapegoat's role is not one of atonement, but of finally receiving the accumulated guilt for his rebellion and instigation of sin, thus bringing the great controversy to its righteous conclusion.

It is a blessed truth that God's plan of redemption ensures not only the forgiveness of our sins through Christ but also the ultimate eradication of sin and its author! 🙏