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The Great Controversy 1888
Such was the work that went on, day by day, throughout the year.
The sins of Israel were thus transferred to the sanctuary, and a special
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work became necessary for their removal. God commanded that an
atonement be made for each of the sacred apartments. “He shall make
an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the
children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins;
and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth
among them in the midst of their uncleanness.” [
Leviticus 16:16, 19
.]
An atonement was also to be made for the altar, to “cleanse it, and
hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.” [
Leviticus
16:16, 19
.]
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 scape-goat.” [
Leviticus 16:8, 21, 22
.] 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.” [
Leviticus 16:8, 21, 22
.] The scape-goat 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
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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