Sabbath School Class—Life as Discovery and Hope

November 15, 2008
Larry R Evans

Questions for Reflection

1. The altar was a symbol of God’s presence, and by accepting the sacrifice, God was assuming responsibility for the sin of the person. True or False?

2. The altar of sacrifice found in the sanctuary pointed individuals to the cross of Christ. True or False?

3. Today,the role of the priest of the Old Testament is carried out by the clergy. True or False?

4. Atonement in the Bible is symbolized as an event. True or False?

5. The Feast of Trumpets ritual illustrated the final resolution of the sin problem. True or False?

6. Because the sacrifice on the cross was complete we no longer need a mediator. True or False?

7. The scapegoat as portrayed in the sanctuary services was a substitute sacrifice for the Israelites who had been rebellious and sinful. True or False?

8. The Day of Atonement symbolized the anticipation of a “future” event. True or False?

Reflective Review

The Day of Atonement was a pivotal event in a series of sanctuary services. It’s very design sounds a note of finality to the sin problem. The purpose of the ritual was not to forgive sin. That had been cared for in daily sacrifices. Atonement on this day was made for the Most Holy Place, the holy place and the altar. (Lev 16:33) Nevertheless, such atonement was made for the benefit of the people. The object of atonement is nonpersonnal, that is to say, it is for the sanctuary and the altar. The sacrifices made during the year cared for the personal sins of the people. The Day of Atonement spoke to a deeper or root issue—the origin of sin and its final removal from the earth and the entire universe! It promises that sin will eventually be deleted forever. The service embodies hope that crying will cease and every tear will be wiped away. We are reminded by this service that atonement is much more than an event. It is a process. “Atonement was the result of the totality of the sacrificial system that included the slaying of the victim and the ministry of the priest on behalf of repentant sinners.” (Angel Rodriquez in Spanning the Abyss, p.82) While there are many intricacies full of special meanings within the activities on the Day of Atonement which teach much about how serious the problem of sin is, the primary purpose is clear. The Day of Atonement was to communicate the message that God’s presence dwells among his sinful people for the purpose of restoring not only salvation for each individual but resolving the root problem caused by sin which has impacted the entire universe. The Day of Atonement, therefore, touches the very core of our own spirituality. It calls each of us to a spirit of total submission and dependence on God. We are inheritors of a new creation (2 Cor 5:17) and a new heaven (Rev. 21:1) made possible because of God’s plan of restoration. We are a people of confirmed hope not only because of what Jesus did on the cross but because He serves today as our High Priest who continually administers the benefits of His sacrifice made on the Calvary. It would appear that the insights presented in the sanctuary services draw us to a profound conclusion:

The Spirit and the bride say ,’Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes let him take the free gift of the water of life.” (Rev. 22:17)

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