Examining the services of the Earthly Sanctuary will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the work of the Redeemer within the Heavenly Sanctuary at the end of time. During the dispensation of the Hebrew Church, penitent sinners desiring pardon were given specific instructions on how to deal with their violations of divine law.
“If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally by doing something against any of the commandments of the Lord in anything which ought not to be done, and is guilty, or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, then he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed. And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and kill the sin offering at the place of the burnt offering.” Leviticus 4: 27-29 (NKJV).
Then the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour all the remaining blood at the base of the altar. He shall remove all its fat, as fat is removed from the sacrifice of the peace offering; and the priest shall burn it on the altar for a sweet aroma to the Lord. So the priest shall make atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him. Leviticus 4:30-31 (NKJV)
By laying his hands upon the head of the substitutionary sacrifice. The sinner transferred his own sins to the animal being offered. Denoting the gruesome reality that the Lamb of God would one day die in man’s place. The Brazen Altar represented the repentant sinner. The horns represented the believer’s power at God’s throne, appealing to the blood of the Saviour. The blood of the Sin Offering was poured out at the base of the Altar because the blood of Jesus was shed for the benefit of his people. Furthermore, the blood of the world’s Redeemer ultimately cleanses the earth to benefit all the redeemed who will finally inherit this world. The substitutionary sacrifice represented Christ. The fat, like the Burnt Offering, was consumed in the flames upon the Altar and ascended to the Lord Almighty as a sweet-smelling savor because Christ lived a perfect, sinless life.
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 (NKJV)
“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17 (NKJV)
Following this procedure repeatedly during the twelve months of each year, numerous sins were transferred to the Holy Place of the earthly Sanctuary. Accordingly, an annual cleansing known as The Day of Atonement became necessary. The only sins that could be cleansed from the Sanctuary were those transferred there.
“This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you. For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord. It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever. And the priest, who is anointed and consecrated to minister as priest in his father’s place, shall make atonement, and put on the linen clothes, the holy garments; then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tabernacle of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel, for all their sins, once a year.” And he did as the Lord commanded Moses.” Leviticus 16:29-34 (NKJV)
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