The Day of Atonement, one of God's seven annual Holy Days, pictures a major event in God's Plan—the binding of Satan at the beginning of the millennium. English-speakers have often heard the analogy that Atonement pictures our coming at-one-ment with God. But have you ever asked yourself, "What am I doing to prepare for this great event?"
Are you ready for what the Day of Atonement pictures?
Some may assume that since God will take care of binding Satan when the peoples of the earth become at one with God, there is little for us to do to prepare for this significant event. However, the parable of the ten virgins suggests otherwise. In the parable, the wise virgins took a supply of oil with their lamps and, when the bridegroom came, "those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut" (Matthew 25:10). The foolish virgins were out of oil when the bridegroom came, and missed out on being part of the wedding—because they were not ready! Symbolically, the wise virgins became at one with the bridegroom at the wedding because they had prepared for this event. The foolish virgins lost the opportunity to become at one with the bridegroom, because they were not prepared when he came. The wedding in this parable portrays the marriage of Christ and the Church (Revelation 19:7–9). The oil is symbolic of God's Holy Spirit. The wise virgins were filled with the Holy Spirit, and were ready to become at one with God. The foolish virgins were not nourishing or using God's Spirit, so they were not ready for this momentous event.
In this article we will look at three important lessons that we must learn if we want to be ready for the Day of Atonement and what it pictures—a time when the world will become at one with God. We will also discuss what we need to understand about this world so we can be ready to rule with Jesus Christ in the "world to come" (Hebrews 2:5).
Remember the Meaning
The Bible reveals that the Day of Atonement is to be observed, as a high Sabbath and a holy convocation (a commanded assembly) on the tenth day of the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar (Leviticus 23:26–32). The statement that "it shall be a statute forever" indicates how important this day is to God (v. 31). God commands us to "afflict" our souls on the Day of Atonement—meaning we are to fast on that day (Psalm 35:13; Isaiah 58:3). Fasting is a very humbling experience, and it shows God that we are receptive to His teaching and willing to do as He commands. Paul's comment that "the Fast was already over" refers to the fast on Atonement, which clearly indicates that the New Testament Church was observing that fast (Acts 27:9).
The full meaning of the Day of Atonement is not revealed in Leviticus 23, where the Holy Days are listed and discussed, but other chapters of the Bible explain many details. God told Moses to perform, on the Day of Atonement, a ceremony involving two goats (Leviticus 16). The first goat was offered as a sacrifice (atonement) for the sins of the people (vv. 15–16). This sacrifice foreshadowed the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ that would reconcile sinful human beings to God (Romans 5:10–11; 2 Corinthians 5:18–19). It is significant that the word atonement means reconciliation. The Hebrew name for the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, comes from the Hebrew word kaphar which means to cancel a debt or reconcile. Through the annual observance of the Day of Atonement, we are reminded of God's plan to ultimately reconcile— restore a right relationship between— human beings and Himself.
The second goat in this Old Testament ceremony is less understood—and is even puzzling to many theologians. This second goat was to bear the sins of the people, and be "sent away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man" (Leviticus 16:21). Many Bible commentaries and handbooks speculate that the two goats represent "two natures of Christ," or that the second goat represents "an aspect of Christ's sacrifice" (see Clark's Commentary, Unger's Bible Handbook, Halley's Bible Handbook). However, Scripture clearly reveals that is not the case at all. While some versions of the Bible refer to the second goat as a "scapegoat," the actual Hebrew word from which it is translated is Azazel—a name that comes from the Hebrew word azel, meaning "separated" or "removed." Jewish tradition has linked the Azazel with the prince of the fallen angels: Satan the Devil.
In the New Testament, the Apostle John records a vision that reveals the second goat's significance. John saw "an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished" (Revelation 20:1–3). The Bible reveals that the role of the "suitable man" who sent the second goat into the wilderness will be fulfilled by an angel, and that the second goat pictures the devil—who will be restrained during the millennium. When we observe the Day of Atonement, we are reminded of this major event in the plan of God. Most professing Christians have no idea of the meaning of this day, because they do not observe it as God commands.
But what does all this have to do with becoming at one with God? Are there important steps that we must take, or will God do everything for us? What must we do to be ready to become at one with God?
Overcome Satan's Influence
Another lesson we need to learn from the Day of Atonement is how to recognize, resist and overcome the influence of Satan. This is an important step towards becoming at one with God. The Apostle Paul told Christians in Corinth that they were living in a world influenced by Satan. He explained that Satan has been the actual "god of this world," and has blinded the minds of most people regarding God's plan and purpose for the human race (2 Corinthians 4:3–4). The Bible also reveals that Satan has "deceived the whole world" (Revelation 12:9) by promoting lies and spreading false and misleading ideas (John 8:44), and that he has even used misguided ministers (2 Corinthians 11:1–15) to preach a different gospel and deceive people by twisting scriptures out of context (2 Peter 3:14–16). Paul admonished Christians to "come out" of this world and "separate" themselves from the misinformed ways of human-devised societies (2 Corinthians 6:14–18). Paul warned Church members that they must understand how the devil operates, and must not be ignorant of his devices, "lest Satan should take advantage of us" (2 Corinthians 2:11). The devil's deceptions include provoking wrong thoughts and ideas that lead to wrong actions (Ephesians 2:2), and fostering erroneous assumptions—for example, the idea that if something seems right to us, it must be right. The results of such erroneous thinking can be devastating (Proverbs 14:12).
The Apostle Peter warned believers to "be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Peter was understandably concerned, because he knew that he, too, had been deceived by Satan (Matthew 16:21–23). Scripture reveals that Satan not only wanted access to Peter (Luke 22:31–32); he even wanted to deceive Jesus Christ and divert Him from His mission (Matthew 4:1–11). Christians must learn to recognize and resist the advances of Satan (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9) if we hope to become at one with God and be in His kingdom. In order to overcome the temptations that Satan puts in our path, we are told to put on "the whole armor of God" (Ephesians 6:10–11). That armor includes proving the Truth, obeying God's commandments, learning to live peaceably with others, trusting in God's promises, learning to nourish and use His Spirit and maintaining a close relationship with God through prayer and Bible study (Ephesians 6:13–20). This is how Jesus Christ overcame the satanic pulls of this world (John 16:33) and could be at one with God (John 10:30). It was also Christ's prayer that we, too, would grow to become at one with God (John 17:11).
Develop God's Mind
The third lesson we should learn by observing the Day of Atonement is that in order to become at one with God, we must develop the mind and perspective of God. We must learn to think like God. Jesus told His disciples, "I and My Father are one" (John 10:30) and, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). In essence, Jesus was saying that He and the Father share the same values and the same perspectives—they both think along the same lines and are of the same mind. On the night before He was crucified, Jesus prayed in the presence of His disciples, "Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are" (John 17:11). Jesus understood the important step in God's plan that the Day of Atonement pictures.
The Apostle Paul explained how we can become at one with God and with Jesus Christ. He wrote: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Jesus Christ" (Philippians 2:5). With the mind of God, Jesus humbled Himself and "made Himself of no reputation" as He obeyed God and fulfilled His mission on this earth (Philippians 2:7–11). Many problems within society, within the Church and between people would disappear if people would be willing to humble themselves as they serve others, instead of seeking attention and promoting their own agendas. Paul pleaded with Church members in Corinth, who were divided into factions, urging them to "all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10). Paul later explained that when we are able to understand the truth of God, and share the same perspectives on spiritual matters, it is because "we have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:7–16).
If we have the mind of Christ, we will be humble and teachable. We will want to do things God's way, instead of insisting on our own way. We will reflect the attitude of Jesus Christ who, when faced with a difficult decision, said to His Father, "not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39). Paul had this same attitude when he urged the Galatians to let Christ live His life through their lives by guiding their minds and actions (Galatians 2:20). In similar words, Paul urged the Church in Rome to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" and to "walk properly"—living their lives as Jesus Christ would live His, according to the laws of God (Romans 13:12–14). As we develop the mind and perspective of God, our lives and thoughts and actions will begin to radiate the very nature and character of God. This is an essential element in how we become at one with God, which is God's ultimate goal for human beings.
As we reflect on the Day of Atonement, we should remember its biblical significance in the plan of God—that Satan will be bound, and the peoples of this earth will have the opportunity to become at one with God. In order to become at one with God, we must learn to recognize, resist and overcome the deceptive, divisive and destructive influences of Satan. We must also develop the very mind and perspective of God, so we will be able to think and act like a member of the God family. This is why God created us as human beings. Are you making progress toward this goal? Will you be ready for what the Day of Atonement pictures— the time in the future when we will ultimately become at one with God?