The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 334

The European Union in Prophecy
Once a year, on the great Day of Atonement, the priest entered the most holy
place for the cleansing of the sanctuary. The work there performed completed the
yearly round of ministration. On the Day of Atonement two kids of the goats were
brought to the door of the tabernacle, and lots were cast upon them, "one lot for the
Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat." Verse 8. The goat upon which fell the lot
for the Lord was to be slain as a sin offering for the people. And the priest was to bring
his blood within the veil and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat and before the mercy
seat. The blood was also to be sprinkled upon the altar of incense that was before the
veil.
"And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess
over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all
their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the
hand of a fit man into the wilderness: and the goat shall bear upon him all their
iniquities unto a land not inhabited." Verses 21, 22. The scapegoat came no more into
the camp of Israel, and the man who led him away was required to wash himself and
his clothing with water before returning to the camp.
The whole ceremony was designed to impress the Israelites with the holiness of
God and His abhorrence of sin; and, further, to show them that they could not come
in contact with sin without becoming polluted. Every man was required to afflict his
soul while this work of atonement was going forward. All business was to be laid aside,
and the whole congregation of Israel were to spend the day in solemn humiliation
before God, with prayer, fasting, and deep searching of heart. Important truths
concerning the atonement are taught by the typical service. A substitute was accepted
in the sinner's stead; but the sin was not canceled by the blood of the victim. A means
was thus provided by which it was transferred to the sanctuary.
By the offering of blood the sinner acknowledged the authority of the law,
confessed his guilt in transgression, and expressed his desire for pardon through faith
in a Redeemer to come; but he was not yet entirely released from the condemnation
of the law. On the Day of Atonement the high priest, having taken an offering from
the congregation, went into the most holy place with the blood of this offering, and
sprinkled it upon the mercy seat, directly over the law, to make satisfaction for its
claims. Then, in his character of mediator, he took the sins upon himself and bore
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