Feast of Atonement: Shadow Feast

 

We are currently in the middle of the Fall Feasts of the LORD. We have completed the Feast of Trumpets, the following nine days of awe, during which we examine ourselves and repent of our sins in preparation for the day of Atonement (Lev. 23:27-32), which we have also just completed.

On the day of Atonement, under the old covenant, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle and sprinkle the blood of bulls and goats on the mercy seat atop the Ark of the Covenant. This sprinkling of blood would cleanse himself, his family, the sanctuary and its vessels, and the people, sanctifying the flesh (Heb. 9:13). This cleansing, however, had to be repeated yearly, being able to cleanse the flesh temporarily only. While this, in itself was of significant spiritual importance, The Feast of Atonement, being a temporary and partial remedy, was a mere example and shadow of the eternal atonement yet to come:

"...priests that offer gifts according to the law: who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished by God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount."   Heb. 8:4b-5 (see also Ex. 25:40)

During this feast, the tabernacle into which the old covenant priest entered and temporarily cleansed with animal blood, was only a shadow of a heavenly tabernacle:

"It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these (animal blood); but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us."  Heb. 9:23-24

Even the blood applied yearly under the old covenant to the mercy seat during this feast that could cleanse only the flesh, was a shadow prophesying the eternal one-time atonement by the blood of the Son of God made in the heavenly tabernacle, that cleansed the conscience (mind, soul, inner man), not just the flesh, of man:

"...but now once in the end of the world (age) hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself...Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?...For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins...For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." Heb. 9:26b,12-14,10:4,14

The priest, himself, in the old covenant, was only a shadow of the eternal Priest, Jesus, who would make the offering for all of us. Jesus, our High Priest, was not a priest made from the law and commandments as the earthly, or shadow priests were, but by the power of an endless life (Heb. 7:16). While the shadow priests must end their service because of death, His unchangeable priesthood continues forever (Heb. 7:23-24).

The LORD gave us a prophetic picture of this eternal Priest to come through the miraculous incarnation of an eternal king-priest in the old covenant, Melchisedec (meaning the king of righteousness):

"(For those (earthly or shadow) priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath made by Him that said unto Him, "The LORD sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."  Heb. 7:21, (Ps. 110:4, Gen. 14:18, Heb. 7:1-3)

Not only was the eternal priesthood of Christ to extend forever into the future, but it began in the eternal past as He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Heb. 4:3, Rev. 13:8). This eternal priesthood accomplished the thorough work of salvation and sanctification only hinted at in the shadow Feast of Atonement, allowing us to be written in the Book of Life:

"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, utterly, entirely, to the end, to the last) that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them...now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." 

                                                                                            Heb. 7:25, 8:6

Being those who have been cleansed, saved, and sanctified through the fulfillment of this shadow Day of Atonement, the knowledge of all these things should manifest in us:

"Having... boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,...Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water, let us hold fast the profession of our hope without wavering..."  Heb. 10:19, 22-23

This knowledge of the eternal, one-time, completed atonement offering by our High Priest, Jesus, also comes with a sobering consideration:

"...if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins...He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how mush sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace?...The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God."

                                                                                Heb. 10:26, 28-31 (excerpt)

The fulfillment of this "shadow feast" does not give us a free pass, or eternal permission, to rebelliously, and wilfully, continue to sin. The blood of Jesus, sprinkled for us upon the mercy seat in the heavenly tabernacle should not be despised in this manner by the very people who have the knowledge of the miraculous deliverance accomplished by our eternal High Priest of the atonement. Instead, let this truth be a part of us, and manifested through us.

 

To Contact/Give:

PO Box 155

Christmas, Fl. 32709

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

PayPal available

 

To watch the entire message:

https://www.facebook.com/kenneth.e.stevenson/videos/10210102545581967/

 

Get Understanding!

 

We have already entered into the season of the Fall Feasts of the LORD. These feasts not only incorporate important spiritual principles, but also prophetic promises that will ultimately shake the heavens and the earth in their fulfillment by Jesus, the Messiah.

It is essential that all of God's people, including the Church, walk in understanding concerning the feasts, to which the LORD attaches so much significance. This is what the LORD has proclaimed regarding the next fall feast, the Day of Atonement:

"Also, on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whatsoever soul it shall be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be unto you a Sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month, at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath."   Lev. 23:27-32

This day of atonement, according to the LORD's description above, was to have no distractions from the purpose of the day-fasting and repentance. He makes it very clear that souls hang in the balance. It is not to be taken lightly. The day of atonement was, and is, a prophetic type and shadow of the atonement for all men that was made through the blood of His own Son, Jesus. Even when the LORD saw the animal blood, which was just a faint shadow and type of the Eternal Atonement, He answered from heaven. How much more He answers the blood of His only begotten Son.
These feasts also continue to speak and promise prophetically to us of coming events, and we should understand those events, and how they are to unfold. The LORD wants His people to understand His feasts and His principles. His Word exhorts His people to get this understanding:

"Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth...Wisdom is the principal thing (beginning, first (fruits)); therefore get wisdom: and with all thine getting, get understanding...How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!"   Prov. 4:5, 7,  and Prov. 16:16

God warns through His prophets that failure to get knowledge and understanding could be fatal:

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against Me: therefore, I will change their glory into shame."   Hos. 4:6-7

The prophet, Hosea, quoted above, had been instructed by God to marry a prostitute, as a picture of what God's marriage to Israel had become. His own people, even His own priests, had allowed sin to multiply among them. We, the Church, have been called to be priests and kings to our God. We also have been overset by sin.

The Day of Atonement, meant to prophecy the atoning blood of His Son poured out for all time, requires our self-examination and repentance in the face of it. The nine days between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement are called "The Days of Awe", dedicated to prayer and repentance. The whole month of Elul before the beginning of the fall feasts is a month of repentance and return, teshuvah, to God. According to the Jewish tradition, not only was the individual to examine himself, but also to gather friends to examine him for sins, that he may acknowledge them, and repent of them. The purpose of this repentance is reconciliation with our God, who desires it earnestly, and who is continually reaching out:

"Go and proclaim these words to the north, and say, "Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you: For I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God,  and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed My voice, saith the LORD. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you, one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion."   Jer. 3:12-14

The LORD describes His relationship to Israel, including the backslider, as a marriage. He is ever committed and always watching for our return. His goal is to bring us to His city, the spiritual place called Zion. He provides pastors to give us this knowledge and understanding, so we will know His heart towards us (v. 15). He sent His Son, the greatest Shepherd of all, our atonement, to teach us, and to provide this place for us eternally.
As the LORD describes His marriage relationship to Israel, it can't help but remind us of the Church as the betrothed in our relationship with Christ, becoming the Bride who has made herself ready in righteousness for the coming marriage supper of the Lamb. Yet many Christians do not understand the importance of self-examination and repentance from sin. In lack of understanding, they think that the covering of the grace of God, which Jesus' sacrifice made available for us, requires nothing more from them. This is not true according to scripture:
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?.....Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." 
                                                                                        Rom. 6:1-2, 12-14
During these precious feast days, the LORD is calling to us: "Get wisdom, get understanding." The feasts have nothing to do with setting dates, or predicting the end of the world, but, rather, for examining ourselves, and returning back to God. They are about the understanding of the price of the atonement for our sins, and thereby preparing for the coming prophetic events.
For our serious consideration of our relationship with Him, and for our sincere desire to be servants of righteousness rather than servants of sin (Rom. 6:16), the LORD makes this promise:
"Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not."   Mal. 3:16-18

May you be inscribed forever in the Book of Life.

To Give/Contact:
PO Box 155
Christmas, FL. 32709
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
http://endtimeschool.com/
To hear Dr. Ken Stevenson's entire message:
https://www.facebook.com/kenneth.e.stevenson/videos/10210058301595895/