This lesson was taught on the Day of Atonement at Israel Church of the Firstborn in Indianapolis, with the congregation fasting from the sundown before. Brother Obadiah opens it with a confession of his own, that forgiving people who hurt him is the thing he has struggled with most, and he makes forgiveness the theme of the day. From there the lesson traces the sacrifice for sin all the way through: sin entering the creation in the garden, the coats of skins, Melchizedek meeting Abram, the tabernacle and its veil, the priests and their garments, the bullock and the two goats, the scapegoat sent into the wilderness, and finally the veil of the temple torn in two when Christ died. Atonement, he says, means to be at one with God again. Every passage is read in the King James Version.
Watch the full Day of Atonement lesson on YouTube.
1.Forgive, and Fast in Secret
He switches the usual Sabbath script for Saint Matthew the sixth chapter, and opens with a confession of his own.
"One theme that I want to have with this day of atonement is forgiveness. So I kind of want to make a confession of myself. This is the one thing that over the years I struggled to deal with. I had a problem with forgiving people that has hurt me in the past. And I want to confess that, because one thing that the Bible wants us to do is to touch and agree."
St. Matthew 6:14-18 KJV14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
"So now what are you doing the day of atonement for? You doing this day of atonement for God to forgive everything that you did wrong to him. But in order for you to be forgiven, you got to forgive people when they do things wrong to you. You can't harbor it in your heart and in your spirit. You got to let it go."
Then he explains what the day itself is.
"Why do we say the eternal sacrifice of Christ? Because Jesus came and died for the people that was in the first testament, and he came and also died for the people that was in the new testament. He came once. He gave his body for the sins of the people one time, so that the animals that was killed under the first testament, we don't have to do those things no more."
"When he rose and sat down on the right hand of the Father, his body is the veil now. So in order to get close to the Father you got to go through the veil, and the veil represent him."
2.We Have an Advocate With the Father
The lesson proper starts in First John, with the advocate and the propitiation.
1 John 2:1-2 KJV1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
"Just in case you fall off the wagon unintentionally, because this ain't talking about sinning on purpose. If any man sin, that's when you sin in ignorance. We have an advocate with the Father. That's who you go to once you sin. That's what this day represent. We going right to Jesus, and Jesus is going to the Father."
"And not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Jesus died for everybody. It don't matter what nation you are. That's where Israel dropped the ball, the physical seed of Abraham. They think that the only people that God is going to save is them. But once you take the veil off of your eyes, you going to understand that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world."
1 John 3:1-8 KJV1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
"Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. And you got to purify yourself. That's what a fast really does. That's the ultimate purification, because you purifying your body, you purifying your mind to the word of God."
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law. That is the biblical definition of sin. What we do, we rightly divide the scriptures. So if the Bible tells you that this is the definition of sin, then that is what it is."
And Romans the third chapter, to say that everyone is in the same position.
Romans 3:23-26 KJV23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
"So I don't know about y'all, but I need this day of atonement. When I talked to the Lord about the one thing that I had to get out of my heart, I said, Lord, get it all out of me, it got to go. Once you take this atonement today, whatever sins you have committed, they are all gone."
3.When Sin Entered the Creation
He goes back to Genesis the third chapter to show where the need for atonement started.
Genesis 3:1-5 KJV1Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
"We all know that the serpent is none other than the devil. He was more subtle, that means crafty, than any beast of the field. The woman already knew what to do. She had her covering, which was Adam, and she left her covering. But you got to realize one thing, man. If we going to be the covering for our wives, then we got to be covered by the blood of Jesus as well. That's the only way you can be a covering."
Genesis 3:21-24 KJV21Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
22And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
23Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
24So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
"Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil. God showing you the godhead right here. So who is this us? That's the Father and the Son in that verse, because we know that the angels are not in God's image, but we know man is."
"He placed at the east of the garden of Eden cherubims and a flaming sword. We going to read about this a little later, because Jesus dwelt between the cherubims. And I'm going to throw this one thing in too. The first direction that he gave you in the Bible was east, because Jesus going to come by way of the east gate."
4.Melchizedek, and Abram Who Believed
Genesis the fourteenth chapter, for what he says is one of Jesus' many names.
Genesis 14:17-20 KJV17And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.
18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
"Melchisedec king of Salem. We know Salem is short for Jerusalem, and Salem means peace. And notice what his title was. He was also the priest of the most high God. You going to see this again a little bit later. And he gave him tithes of all. Tithe was first paid, and it was paid to him."
Then Genesis the fifteenth, where Abram believes and the animal sacrifice begins.
Genesis 15:6-14 KJV6And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
7And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.
8And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?
9And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
10And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.
11And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.
12And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
13And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
14And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
"And he believed in the Lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness. Just his belief. But you got to believe in everything that the Lord is telling you to do."
"They shall afflict them four hundred years. A lot of people get this mixed up with us being in slavery today coming over here. But it's not talking about that. This four hundred or four hundred and thirty years was when Israel went down into Egypt and became slaves. But that nation whom they shall serve, will I judge. And we know what the Lord did to the Egyptians. That was a form of judgment when he brought them out."
5.The Tabernacle and the Veil
Exodus the twenty-sixth chapter, and he stops to write the colors down.
Exodus 26:1-3 KJV1Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.
2The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.
3The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.
"I just want to kind of show y'all what the colors of the tabernacle was. We know linen is white. Then blue, then scarlet, which is like a red color, and then purple. So we got red, white, and blue. You see a whole lot of flags that we see now that are red, white, and blue. But we showing you what color the tabernacle truly was. And those was also the colors of the priests' garments when they got consecrated."
Exodus 26:30-35 KJV30And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.
31And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
32And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
33And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
34And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
35And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.
"So now we showing you what the veil looked like. It was red, white, blue, and purple, and it had cherubims decorated all over this veil. And this veil represented the third heaven. When you see what was going on inside of the tabernacle, it was a representation of what was going on in the third heaven."
6.The Priests and Their Garments
Exodus the twenty-eighth chapter, the consecration of Aaron and his sons.
Exodus 28:1-5 KJV1And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.
2And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
3And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
4And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
5And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.
"When the Lord brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, he made us priests, and he chose the sons of Levi to deal with the priesthood. These people was going to deal with the sins and they were going to kill the animals and sprinkle the blood. That was their job."
"These were the sons of Aaron, minus two. We had two of these guys didn't make the mission because they tried to do too much with God. You had Nadab and Abihu. They offered strange fire before the Lord, and even though they was in the office of the high priest, God killed them. So don't get too overzealous for the Lord."
Exodus 28:9-12 KJV9And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:
10Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.
11With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.
12And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.
"Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders for a memorial. Notice what this job was for these priests. One thing that God is doing, he is always making intercession for his children. So they always went off into the tabernacle with these twelve stones that was engraved with the twelve tribes of the children of Israel."
Exodus 28:31-35 KJV31And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
32And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent.
33And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:
34A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.
35And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.
"His sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the Lord, and when he cometh out, that he die not. So now you got to announce yourself. You just can't walk up in the Lord's house. These bells went off when they went in, to alert them, now we got somebody in the temple. And once you came inside of this tabernacle, one more thing that they had to be, clean. Before you go before God, you got to make sure that you clean before the Lord."
7.Consecrating the Priest With Blood
Exodus the twenty-ninth chapter, which he says he is teaching the old way this year.
Exodus 29:1-6 KJV1And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest’s office: Take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish,
2And unleavened bread, and cakes unleavened tempered with oil, and wafers unleavened anointed with oil: of wheaten flour shalt thou make them.
3And thou shalt put them into one basket, and bring them in the basket, with the bullock and the two rams.
4And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.
5And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod:
6And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre.
"Take one young bullock and two rams without blemish. Without blemish means that they had done no work. They have not plowed. They don't have no deformities. They had to be perfect before the Lord."
Exodus 29:10-21 KJV10And thou shalt cause a bullock to be brought before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the bullock.
11And thou shalt kill the bullock before the LORD, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
12And thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and put it upon the horns of the altar with thy finger, and pour all the blood beside the bottom of the altar.
13And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul that is above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar.
14But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin offering.
15Thou shalt also take one ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram.
16And thou shalt slay the ram, and thou shalt take his blood, and sprinkle it round about upon the altar.
17And thou shalt cut the ram in pieces, and wash the inwards of him, and his legs, and put them unto his pieces, and unto his head.
18And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is a burnt offering unto the LORD: it is a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
19And thou shalt take the other ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram.
20Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
21And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him.
"They had to burn the fat upon the altar, because we know that all of the fat belong to the Lord. That's the reason why the Lord had such respect to Abel's offering more than Cain's. Cain gave him some agricultural things, but Abel gave him the fat."
"When they killed the ram, they put the blood on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot. It should sound familiar. Why is all this blood sitting to the right? Who's sitting on the right hand of God? Just think about what you're reading."
8.The Cloud Filled the Tabernacle
Exodus the fortieth chapter, and he says this is some of his favorite reading.
Exodus 40:1-11 KJV1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.
3And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail.
4And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof.
5And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle.
6And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.
7And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein.
8And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate.
9And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy.
10And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy.
11And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it.
"Thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony. So on the other side of the veil, that's where the altar of incense was. Remember when we read that when Jesus gonna come back, the prayers going to come up as incense right before the Lord. So your prayers are on the other side, but it's going up into the third heaven."
"Notice everything that was in the temple and everything that was outside of the temple was holy. It had to be anointed with oil. So now we don't have the tabernacle standing. So who is the temple now? It was you. So you got to be holy the same way that this tabernacle was holy back in the days of Moses."
Exodus 40:34-38 KJV34Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
35And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
36And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:
37But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.
38For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
"Then the cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. See what you read. It's going to be the same way. When the Lord come back, once that temple get made, that cloud going to be in his temple all the time."
"When the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys. But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not. We need to do this in our personal lives. If God don't tell you to do it, don't do it. If God don't move, don't you move. You stay put, because he is the one that order your steps."
9.What an Atonement Really Is
Leviticus the fifth chapter, and the definition the whole lesson turns on.
Leviticus 5:1-11 KJV1And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.
2Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.
3Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.
4Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.
5And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing:
6And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.
7And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.
8And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder:
9And he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin offering upon the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is a sin offering.
10And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him.
11But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.
"The priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin. And notice, now we finally down to what an atonement really is. Atonement means to be at one with God again. Because now you have become an enemy to God because you have sinned. So once you confess it and you bring this lamb and tell the Lord that you have sinned, you take it to the priest, and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin."
"Let's say you couldn't bring no lamb. Then he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons. So who did this in the beginning? We saw this from Abraham. So God can show you that both are acceptable before him. And if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, he shall bring fine flour, and he shall put no oil upon it, neither any frankincense, because it is a sin offering. I don't want nothing to smell good about it."
10.The Two Goats and the Scapegoat
Leviticus the sixteenth chapter, the day itself.
Leviticus 16:1-10 KJV1And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;
2And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
3Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.
4He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.
5And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
6And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.
7And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
8And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
9And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’s lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
10But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.
"Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself and for his house. See, Jesus ain't gonna have to do none of this. But the priest had to do this, because even though he was the high priest and he was consecrated for that office, that had nothing to do with him having sin. That's why I went an extra day on fasting. I wanted to make sure that I atone for me and for my house even before I did the day of atonement, so that I was clean before the Lord before we do this lesson for the people."
"The goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord, to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. And that wilderness represents heaven. They would turn him loose someplace that was clean and he would go off into the wilderness, and the wilderness in this case represented the third heaven."
Leviticus 16:11-19 KJV11And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:
12And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:
13And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:
14And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.
15Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:
16And 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.
17And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.
18And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.
19And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
"And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place. If you reading in between the lines, God is telling you that there ain't no man in heaven. There's no man that's in the third heaven. The only person now that's making intercessions for the people is Jesus."
"He shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel. Take that in your fast as well, talking about removing uncleanness. When you do this day of atonement, you need to also pray to be clean again."
Leviticus 16:29-34 KJV29And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:
30For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.
31It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.
32And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest’s office in his father’s stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments:
33And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.
34And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.
"In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls and do no work at all. He don't want you to do no work at all on this day. You can't do no cooking. You can't do nothing on this day, because this day is holy, and you are to afflict your soul with fasting."
11.A Statute For Ever in the Seventh Month
Leviticus the twenty-third chapter, because he says God wants this to be a feast.
Leviticus 23:1-3 KJV1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.
3Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
"He called these feasts holy convocations. A holy convocation is a holy gathering. When holy people get together, Satan got to flee out. He got to go, because he can't be in the same room with holy people. That's why God want you to have a holy convocation on these days."
Leviticus 23:26-32 KJV26And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
27Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
28And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.
29For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
30And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
31Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
32It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
"If anybody that is watching online say, well, why are we a month ahead? Because we don't keep the lunisolar calendar. We don't keep the extra leap year calendar. God's years are sabbatical. They are not leap years. So we keep the sabbatical years."
"And ye shall afflict your souls. What's the affliction? Man, I'm thirsty. You looking all in the refrigerator and can't touch nothing. You planning what you going to eat that night. But you can't eat nothing right now, because that's the affliction. From even unto even shall ye celebrate your sabbath. Celebrate it. God is passing over all your sins right now. God is making atonement for everything that you did wrong this year."
12.Sacrifice and Offering Thou Didst Not Desire
Now into the new testament, starting with a psalm he says is Jesus speaking through David.
Psalm 40:4-8 KJV4Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
6Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
7Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
8I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
"Then said I, Lo, I come, in the volume of the book it is written of me. I'm going to come in the volume of the book. I'm going to give you my word in the first testament, and then I'm going to come in the volume of a book in the new testament. This is a psalm of David, but this is Jesus speaking through the mouth of David."
And Saint John the eleventh chapter, on who he died for.
St. John 11:49-52 KJV49And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
50Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
51And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
52And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
"Why did you just read that? Didn't they take that goat and confess over that goat and kill it for the sins of the nation of Israel? So now you seeing what he came and died for. And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. He coming to get everybody."
13.It Was Not an Enemy That Reproached Me
Psalm fifty-five, which he reads the same way, as Christ speaking.
Psalm 55:1-6 KJV1Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
2Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
3Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
4My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
"Jesus didn't do nothing wrong when he was here. But Jesus came and died for the Father's word. Jesus was a soldier. People don't understand what it is to be a soldier. It might be that you might die and not come home one day. Soldiers understand that when they go to war."
"My heart is sore pained within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. I'm getting ready to die. I've been everlasting, I ain't got no beginning, but now I'm getting ready to end. That bothered Jesus, because he was getting ready to go into the depths of hell and he did not want to go there. And hell in that case is the grave."
Psalm 55:12-17 KJV12For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
13But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
14We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
15Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
16As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
17Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
"For it was not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have borne it. But it was thou, a man mine equal. They was equal in the beginning when they was in the garden of Eden, when he said the man is become as one of us to know good and evil."
14.The Veil of the Temple Was Rent
Saint Matthew the twenty-seventh chapter, for the moment the priesthood changed.
St. Matthew 27:27-31 KJV27Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
28And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
29And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
30And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
31And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
"That's what they did to the master. Not only did he die for the sins of the people, they hated him without a cause. They beat him. They plaited a crown of thorns on his head, and we know that those thorns, once they pierce into your skull, it produces blood. And then they also spit upon him. They took a reed and smote him on the head. The man that created the world, that came and died for these people. But guess what? These people that hit him, if they repented, Jesus going to let them in the kingdom."
St. Matthew 27:45-51 KJV45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
47Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
48And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
49The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
50Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
"And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent. All this happened at the time that Jesus had died. So at this point in time, this was the acceptable day. And when he died, there was a changing of the priesthood. The Levitical priesthood got put on hold for a while, and then the priesthood of Melchisedec had came in. So Melchisedec is a priesthood."
15.The Law Was Our Schoolmaster
Galatians the third chapter, for what the law was actually doing.
Galatians 3:10-18 KJV10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
16Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
17And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
"Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. That's why you got to continue therein. That's why I did that lesson yesterday, well done, thou good and faithful servant. You got to endure unto the end."
"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles. We threw the Gentiles in because we know God is the God of all people. What was the blessing of Abraham? That he believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness."
Galatians 3:19-26 KJV19Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
20Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
21Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ. Everything, the law that was in the Old Testament, was all to be the schoolmaster to guide you right on up into Christ, like a crossing guard lady. You going to take them across and then you going to bring them under Christ. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."
16.A Priest For Ever After the Order of Melchisedec
Hebrews the seventh chapter, back to the priest who met Abram.
Hebrews 7:1-4 KJV1For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
"Without father, without mother. A lot of people like to dispute that. What do you mean he was without father and without mother? They don't understand the longevity of Jesus. Jesus was God in the beginning that became man to die for the sins of the people. So in order to have a body that could die, he had earthly parents. But when he said without father and without mother, if you go back and read off in Micah the fifth chapter, he will tell you that Jesus is everlasting."
Hebrews 7:11-12 KJV11If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, ( for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Hebrews 7:22-28 KJV22By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
"For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. There was going to be a change of the law, because the priesthood changed. And that priesthood is, you ain't got to sprinkle no blood no more. You ain't got to go into the holy place and the most holy place. You going to have somebody that's going to go for you."
"For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners. Why he say separate from sinners? Because he up in the third heaven right now, and ain't no sinners up there at all. Jesus was preaching to sinners when he was on the earth. But now that he is up in the third heaven, he is separate from sinners."
17.The Mediator of the New Testament
Hebrews the ninth chapter, which he says pulls the whole lesson together.
Hebrews 9:1-14 KJV1Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
2For there was a tabernacle made; the first, where in was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
3And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
4Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, where in was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we can not now speak particularly.
6Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
7But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
8The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
9Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
10Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
11But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. We just been talking about killing the animals, and now we talking about his own blood."
And one verse from Saint Matthew, for what the blood was for.
St. Matthew 26:28 KJV28For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
"You had the blood of bulls and goats in the Old Testament, and now you got the blood of Jesus which is in the new testament. His blood is going to cover the new testament."
Hebrews 9:15-22 KJV15And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
18Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
19For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
20Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
21Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
22And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
"Where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. Let's say you got twenty kids and you left your money to one child. After you die, them other nineteen kids can't touch that money at all. Why? Because you didn't leave it to them. That's what a testament is, like a will."
"Neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. It was not dedicated without the blood of animals. But what testament blood did he use? He surely didn't use Jesus's. He used the blood of animals. And without shedding of blood is no remission."
18.The Blood of Bulls and Goats Could Not Take Away Sins
Hebrews the tenth chapter.
Hebrews 10:1-13 KJV1For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7Then said I, Lo, I come ( in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
"In those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins."
"He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. What first? The first testament, that he may establish the second testament. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God."
19.By Whom We Have Now Received the Atonement
Romans the fifth chapter, and then the last spot.
Romans 5:6-11 KJV6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
"While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. That means you were still sinning. And being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. You saved from wrath once you come up under the blood."
"And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Through Jesus, we have received the atonement."
Psalm 32:1-5 KJV1Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
3When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
4For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
5I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
"I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. This is what I did at the beginning of the lesson. Don't hide your iniquity. Go ahead on and confess it so you can get it out of your spirit. That way you can be free from whatever is holding you down."
"If you want prayer, you got to make sure that what you praying for, you got to get it out of your life. You can't pray for nobody that's still going to have the same spirit remaining there. You got to make up in your mind that you want to change. That's the only time that prayer works. You can block your prayers. Don't block your prayers no more."
Closing Word
"And that is the atonement, the eternal sacrifice of Christ. And we hope you got some understanding in Jesus name."
Brother Obadiah's point was that atonement means to be at one with God again, and that the whole first testament was a working picture of how costly that is. A bullock and two goats. Blood on the horns of the altar, on the priest's right ear, his right thumb, his right toe. One man going behind the veil once a year, and no one else allowed in the room. Then the veil tore from the top to the bottom, and the sacrifice that had to be repeated every year was finished in one. He opened the lesson by confessing that forgiving people is the thing he has struggled with most, and that is where he left it too. You are asking God to forgive everything you did this year. You cannot ask for that and hold onto what somebody did to you.
More Lessons
Come Worship With Us
This lesson was taught at our Day of Atonement service at Israel Church of the Firstborn in Indianapolis, IN. Join us every Saturday at 12PM, or watch the Sabbath live online.