Day of Atonement
What kind of framework do you put this doctrine in? A world view is okay as far as it goes. It says keep your feet on the ground and stay in touch with reality. It seems to advocate a survival rationale which is what is necessary to survive. So where does the heavenly perspective apply? "Our citizenship is in heaven" (Php 3:20). Jesus said, "'My kingdom is not of this world'" (Jn 18:36). We are as "strangers in the world" (1Pe 2:11 NIV). Even "the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God" (1Co 3:19). Over the centuries religions have tried to reconcile the physical world with spiritual realities. Denominations have created doctrine to define truth for themselves. Some will even use a scripture from the Bible to customize a doctrine to use. However, "no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation" (2Pe 1:20). Therefore, we must be "handling accurately the word of truth" (2Ti 2:15). One helpful framework is the Feasts (festivals) of the Lord. Passover occurs in the first month of Israel's religious year. Pentecost transpires in the third month, and Tabernacles in the seventh. The historical events happened to Israel, and then Christ completed them, because the Old Testament experiences pointed to Christ's fulfillments. Passover and Pentecost were fulfilled in literal 24-hour days. The Day of Atonement will similarly take place because, "'On exactly the tenth day of the seventh month is the day of atonement'" (Lev 23:27). "Through His own blood, He entered the Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption" (Heb 9:12). This will "cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve" God (:14).
The high priest entered the Holy of Holies "once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers" (Heb 9:7). "It is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you" (Lev 16:30). "Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Heb 9:22). Christological fulfillment of this day is "where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever" (Heb 6:20). Therefore we must "hold fast the confession of our hope . . . for He who promised is faithful" (10:23). Furthermore "by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement" (:18). We are "laying hold of the hope set before us" (:18) which is "an anchor of the soul" (:19) and "one which enters within the veil" (:19). God told Moses, "'I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat'" (Lev 16:2) which was in the Holy of Holies. In addition, "Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear . . . to those who eagerly await Him" (Heb 9:28). We are "looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of Christ" (Titus 2:13). "Every one who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself" (1Jn 3:3). "When He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is" (:2). It is "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col 1:27). "This perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1Co 15:53).