Israel's Seven Apocalyptic Days, Part 4

Israel’s Seven Apocalyptic Days

Part 4, The Day of Atonements

Chapter 20, Part 4 Preview: (Part 1). The Bible is filled with prophecies that involve the punishment of all twelve tribes of Israel for abandoning our heavenly Father. In a great many of them Father pleads for them to return to Him. Our Father had been a husband to the nation of Israel. The Day of Atonements is the day when the backsliding stops forever! Our Father will make a New (marriage) Covenant with Israel (no it’s not with “the church)”. This is the exact day where the happily ever after part begins! It is also described as the rebirth of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Yeshua (Jesus*) elaborated to His disciples about this very event:

Matthew 19:28 Yeshua told them, “I tell you with certainty, that as for you who have followed Me, when the Son of man sits on His magnificent throne on the Renewed Earth, you will also sit on twelve thrones, presiding over the twelve tribes of Israel. —The Testimony of Yeshua, Gabriel Version (GV)

Before going on, I want to note some Scriptures about Father’s role as a Husband. This is very important because people almost never figure out who the bride of this husband is. Yet she is at the core of all prophecy!

Jeremiah 31:31-33 The time is coming, announces Yehovah, when I’ll make a New Covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah; 32 Unlike the covenant that I made with their ancestors during the time when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt; since they broke My Covenant, tho I was their Husband, announces Yehovah: 33 In this Covenant that I’ll make with the house of Israel after those days, announces Yehovah; “I’ll put My Torah in the very seat of their thoughts and emotions; I’ll write it onto their minds. I’ll be their Elohim, and they’ll be My people. —The Word of Elohim (WE)

The Day of Atonements is the day when Israel’s backsliding stops forever!

Isaiah 54:4-8 “Dont be afraid; because you wont be ashamed or humiliated and you wont be embarrassed, because you’ll forget the disgrace of your youth. You wont remember the shame of your widowhood. 5 Your Makers are your HUSBANDS [yes, both are plural searchword: makers]; Yehovah of Armies is His name; and the Devout One of Israel is your Redeemer. He’ll be called the Elohim of the entire earth. 6 Yehovah has called you like an abandoned wife with a hurting spirit, even a young wife, when she is rejected”, says your Elohim. 7 “A brief moment have I’ve set you free, but with great compassion I’ll gather you. 8 In overflowing fury I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting loving kindness I’ll have compassion on you”, announces Yehovah your Redeemer. WE

(As an aside, verse 5 is like: “Let Us make mankind to resemble Us [06213, (8799)], that is, in Our outward appearance [01823] ...”, of Genesis 1:26 WE.)

Jeremiah 3:20-22 Surely as when a wife unfaithfully departs from her husband, that is how you have been unfaithful with Me, house of Israel”, announces Yehovah. 21 A voice is heard on the bare heights, the crying and the petitions of the descendants of Israel; because of the perversity of their ways, they’ve ignored Yehovah their Elohim. 22 Return, you backsliding nation, and I’ll heal your backsliding. “We have come to You; because you are Yehovah our Elohim”! WE

1 Samuel 7:3-8 Samuel spoke to the whole household of Israel, and said, “If you want to return to Yehovah with all of your being, then rid yourselves of your foreign gods and fertility goddesses [06252], and establish yourselves with Yehovah, and only serve Him; and He’ll deliver you out of the grasp of the Philistines”. 4 Then the descendants of Israel got rid of their lords [baalim], and their fertility goddesses, and served Yehovah only. 5 Samuel said, “Gather all of Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to Yehovah for you.” 6 They gathered together at Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Yehovah, and fasted on that day, and it was there that they said, “We have sinned against Yehovah”. Samuel was the judge of the descendants of Israel at Mizpah. 7 When the Philistines heard that the descendants of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went out against Israel. When the descendants of Israel heard about it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 The descendants of Israel asked Samuel, “Dont cease to cry to Yehovah our Father for us, so that He will rescue us from the grasp of the Philistines”. WE

Soon Israel was restored:

verses 14-15 The cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and its border did Israel deliver out of the hand of the Philistines. There was peace between Israel and the Amorites. 15 Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. WE

But the theocracy didnt even last thru the lifetime of Samuel. Israel wanted human rule instead of divine rule:

1 Samuel 8:6-8 But Samuel trembled with griew, when they said, “Give us a king to judge us”. So Samuel prayed to Yehovah. 7 Yehovah told Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people, everything that they’re telling you; because they havent rejected you, but they’ve rejected Me as their King! 8 In regard to all the works that they’ve done since the day that I brought them out of Egypt, even to this day, in that they’ve forsaken Me, and served other gods, just as they are doing to you. WE

verse 18: You’ll cry out in that day because of the king you’ve chosen; but Yehovah wont answer you then”.

Yet beginning on the Day of Atonements of the next Jubilee year, a change will be set in motion that is exactly equivalent to the birth of a nation:

Isaiah 66:7-16 “Before she had labor pains, she gave birth; before her pain came, she delivered a son. 8 Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Will the earth be born in one day? Will a nation be brought forth at once? As soon as Zion had labor pains, she gave birth to her children! 9 Will I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery”? asks Yehovah; “Should I who cause to bring about births shut the womb”? asks your Elohim. 10 “Celebrate with Jerusalem. Everyone who loves her should be glad for her. Everyone who mourns over her should celebrate for joy with her, 11 so that you can nurse and be satisfied at the comforting breasts; so that you can drink deeply, and be delighted with the abundance of her splendor”. 12 Yehovah says, “Look, I’ll extend peace to her like a river, and the splendor of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you’ll nurse. You’ll be carried on her side, and be dandled on her knees. 13 As one who his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you’ll be comforted in Jerusalem”. 14 You’ll see it, and celebrate, and your bones will flourish like the tender grass; and the hand of Yehovah will be known toward His servants; and He’ll be angry with His enemies. 15 Yehovah will come with fire, and His chariots will be like a whirlwind! He will return with fierce anger; He will punish them with flames of fire. 16 will be

The Book of Joel, just three chapters long, is entirely about the latter day fulfillment of the Day of Atonements. The Day of Atonements portrays the prophetic time when Israel is finally reconciled to their Father. The context of Joel indicates that the Beast has already, by this time, desecrated the latter day Third Temple, “the holy place” mentioned in Matthew 24:15, and that Father—now actually present on earth—is annihilating all of Israel’s enemy armies who stand in her way! The book of Joel describes the response of Israel to the events that they witnessed beginning just nine days earlier on the Day of Trumpets. Joel contains the clearest explanation concerning the Atonement of the people of Israel in response to the Day of the Yehovah. Notice from the following excerpts what the people will do; then notice what Father will do in return!

Joel 1:13-15 Put on sackcloth and mourn, you priests! Wail, you ministers of the altar. Come, lie all night in sackcloth, you ministers of my Father, for the meal offering and the drink offering are withheld from your Father’s house. 14 Consecrate the fast. Summon the Festival Meeting [06116]. Gather the elders, and all the inhabitants of the land, to the house of Yehovah 3 your Father, [the newly built Third Temple] and cry to Yehovah. 15 Oh, the day! For the Day of Yehovah is near, and it will come as destruction from the Almighty Father. WE

Joel 2:1-3, 9, 11-12 Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the Day of Yehovah is coming, it is soon: 2 It’s a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn spreading on the mountains, a great and strong people; there has never been the like, neither will there be any more after them, even to the years of many generations .... 9 They rush on the city. They run on the wall. They climb up into the houses. They enter in at the windows like thieves .... 11 [Yehovah] thunders His voice before His army; for His forces are very great; for He is strong who obeys His command; for the Day of [Yehovah] is great and very awesome, and who can endure it? 12 “Yet even now,” says [Yehovah], “turn to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. WEB

Joel 3:1-17 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; [no, not Armageddon!] and I will execute judgment on them there for My people, and for My heritage, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations. They have divided My land, 3 and have cast lots for My people, and have given a boy for a prostitute, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink. 4 “Yes, and what are you to Me, Tyre, and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Will you repay Me? And if you repay Me, I will swiftly and speedily return your repayment on your own head. 5 Because you have taken My silver and My gold, [from Father’s Third Temple] and have carried My finest treasures into your temples, 6 and have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem to the sons of the Greeks, that you may remove them far from their border. 7 Behold, I will stir them up out of the place where you have sold them, and will return your repayment on your own head; 8 and I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hands of the children of Judah, and they will sell them to the men of Sheba, to a faraway nation, for [Yehovah] has spoken it”.... 11 Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves together.” Cause your mighty ones to come down there, [Yehovah]. 12 “Let the nations arouse themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the surrounding nations. 13 Put in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the winepress is full, the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.” 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the Day of [Yehovah] is near, in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. [Just as in Matthew 24:19] 16 [Yehovah] will roar from Zion, and thunder from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth will shake; but [Yehovah] will be a refuge to His people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel. 17 “So you will know that I am [Yehovah], your Father, dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem will be holy, and no strangers will pass through her any more. WEB

On the Day of Atonements of the next Jubilee year, I expect to hear “the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound” commemorating (but not innitiating) the most important Jubilee year since the one that Yeshua began His ministry in. This is when the survivors of the coming holocaust will be given back the property that was lost by their ancestors many centuries ago due to disobedience:

Leviticus 25:1-8 [Yehovah] said to Moses in Mount Sinai, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a Sabbath to [Yehovah] .... 8 “‘You shall count off seven Sabbaths of years, seven times seven years; and there shall be to you the days of seven Sabbaths of years, even forty-nine years. WEB

Verse 9 of this chapter takes us to the point in time of Day of the Yehovah, which will occupy the Jubilee Year. It not only marks the year when Israel—all twelve tribes—will return to her ancient territories (Ezekiel 47) but it is the “day of vengeance”—the year when Israel is “redeemed” and her enemies receive “recompense”. While the Jubilee lasts for an entire year, it is specially memorialized on the Day of Atonements, that has absolutely nothing to do with the beginning of a new year! (Karaite Korner)

Leviticus 25:9-13 Then you will sound the Jubilee ram’s horn trumpet on the tenth day of the SEVENTH month. On the Day of Atonements you will sound the trumpet thruout all your land. 10 You will make the fiftieth year holy, and proclaim liberty thruout the land to all of its inhabitants. It will be a Jubilee for you; and each of you will return to his own property, and each of you will return to his tribe. 11 That fiftieth year will be a Jubilee for you. In it you wont sow, or store what grows by itself, or gather from the unpruned vines. 12 For it is a Jubilee; it will be holy for you. You will eat the fresh voluntary produce from your fields. WE

Isaiah 63:4 For the day of vengeance [is] in My heart, and the YEAR of My redeemed is come. WEB

Isaiah 34:8 For [Yehovah] has a day of vengeance, a YEAR of recompense for the cause of Zion. WEB

Here is a brief timeline of end time events: The Two Witnesses will explain to Israel the significance of their captivity, beginning with the Jews in Jerusalem, during the Great Tribulation, over a period of 3 1/2 years:

Back in Zechariah 12:6 we read that Father “will make the princes [0441, or friends] of Judah like a firepan in a woodpile, and like a torch among a swath of cut grain....” WE

Without getting deeply into that topic here, I believe that these “princes” include the Two Witnesses. They will be the movers and shakers of the Second Exodus.

Zechariah chapters 12 thru 14 describes the transition from the Great Tribulation—the second 3 1/2 year period (making seven years, Daniel 9:27) to “the Day of Yehovah” (or “the Day of the LORD”) perhaps better than any other prophecy. Millions of Israelites from all twelve tribes will die, but a remnant will survive the ordeal, being “counted worthy to escape” (Luke 21:36). While the many nations that tortured Israel are suffering thru the Day of the Yehovah, Israelites from all over the world are headed for Israel in the Second Exodus (Isaiah 11:11). The inhabitants of Jerusalem will be experiencing divine protection during the regathering as they begin to understand that their ancestors killed the Messiah, and they themselves were indifferent at best. (Zechariah 12:8-12) Now Israel is torn between agony and ecstasy! So much suffering has occurred, but it is time for the twelve tribes to resettle the entire the Promised Land as described in Ezekiel 47. The Day of Atonements completes one of the biggest events in world history—the Second Exodus!

The following Scriptures and commentary, relate specifically to the celebration of the Day of Atonements.

Leviticus 23:27-29 However on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonements: it shall be a holy convocation to you, and you shall afflict yourselves [fast]; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to [Yehovah]. 28 You shall do no manner of work in that same day; for it is a Day of Atonements, to make atonement for you before [Yehovah] your Father. 29 For whoever it is who shall not deny himself in that same day; shall be cut off from his people. WEB

The Day of Atonements is easily associated with fasting and drawing closer to Father. Yet the vast majority of people who claim to follow Father have always been a great disappointment to Him. This situation will no longer be allowed once Israel’s captivity and release has softened the hardened heads of our people. Notice from the context that this is a time when people can actually hear the voice of Father. The “Breach” in human relationships with Father, that has mystified humanity since the time of Adam will be repaired! All of “Palestine” will again be truly holy and be rebuilt. This is definitely not just figurative speech!

Isaiah 58:1-12 Cry aloud, dont spare, lift up your voice like a ‘trumpet’ [showphar], and declare to My people their disobedience, and to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways: as a nation that did righteousness, and didnt forsake the ordinance of their Father, they ask of Me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to Father. 3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ say they, ‘and You dont see? Why have we afflicted our soul, and You take no knowledge?’ “Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exact all your labors. 4 Behold, you fast for strife and contention, and to strike with the fist of wickedness: you dont fast this day so as to make your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is such the fast that I have chosen—the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to [Yehovah]? 6 “Isnt this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? [Jubilee terminology] 7 Isnt it to distribute your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light shall break forth as the morning, and your healing shall spring forth speedily; and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of [Yehovah] shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and [Yehovah] will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am’.... 12 Those who shall be of you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called The Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of paths to dwell in. WEB

Atonement means reconciliation. Some say that the Azazel goat, (or scapegoat) a part of the core meaning of the Day of Atonements, represents Satan taking on the sins of the world—in essence atoning for our sins, and putting us in the good graces of Father. Were that the case, then Satan would reconcile us to our Savior! Is that Satan’s role? If that is not blasphemous, then what is?

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 2 expresses a common opinion about the primary meaning of the Day of Atonements—that is that the day has something to do with “an evil spirit”.

“The general meaning of the ceremony is sufficiently shown in the text [of Leviticus 16]. But the details present some difficulty. The Vulgate caper emissarius, “emissary goat”, represents the obscure Hebrew word Azazel, which occurs nowhere else in the Bible. Various attempts have been made to interpret its meaning. Some have taken it for the name of a place where the man who took the goat away used to throw it over a precipice, since its return was thought to forebode evil. Others, with better reason, take it for the name of an evil spirit; and in fact a spirit of this name is mentioned in the Apocryphal Book of Henoch, and later in Jewish literature. On this interpretation—which, though by no means new, finds favour with modern critics—the idea of the ceremony would seem to be that the sins were sent back to the evil spirit to whose influence they owed their origin. It has been noted that somewhat similar rites of expiation have prevailed among heathen nations. And modern critics, who refer the above passages to the Priestly Code, and to a post-Exilic date, are disposed to regard the sending of the goat to Azazel as an adaptation of a pre-existing ceremon[y].”

Repeatedly, the Atonement Scriptures concern these four pivotal commonalities: sin and death, sacrifice and life.

The symbolic and prophetic significance of the Day of Atonements can be determined from the information contained in Leviticus, provided we have the simple understanding that the Messiah was sacrificed for our sins. Sacrifices were always “without blemish”. If Satan, who was blemished top to bottom, could have done the job, then certainly salvation would have been accomplished that way!

Yeshua was immersed (baptized) on the Day of Atonements!

Great events happen on Biblical “Feast” Days (both mo’ed & chag). There are three big clues that allow for this Atonement/immersion connection. First, Yeshua was designated as a Lamb (which refers to either a goat or a sheep), second, He was sent out into the wilderness immediately after being designated as the Lamb and being immersed. Thirdly, a Levitical priest participated in the event. Here are the relevant Scriptures:

The first goat represents Yeshua’s blood being shed as His life is given as sin offering. That the goat “for Yehovah (the Lord)” (03068) was Yeshua became apparent when John the Immerser declared that Yeshua was “the lamb of Aloha (Father)” (John 1:29 and 36).

It is the second goat, or the “live goat”, that people do not seem to pick up on. Had Yeshua remained dead we would have no eternity! While the sacrificial goat truly represents Yeshua the Messiah as “a sin offering”, it should be just as apparent that the second goat represents the same Savior—only this time as the living Savior of the world.

Yeshua also fulfilled the role of the Azazel goat. One of the goats is sacrificed. This should easily be perceived to be a representation of the Messiah’s sacrifice “that is for the people” (v.15) for the sins of all of humanity ultimately. Notice that before the Azazel goat was sent “away into the wilderness” bearing “all the iniquities of the children of Israel”, it had to have all the sins of Israel symbolically put on its head by Aaron, the high priest. In later years, his descendants carried out this annual depiction. Here is how this story was anticipated on the Day of Atonements for centuries.

Leviticus 16:9 Aaron will present the goat that the lot fell on to Yehovah, and offer him for a sin offering. WE

Leviticus 16:20-21 “When he has made an end of atoning for the Dedicated Place, the Devout Tent, and the altar, he’ll present the live goat. 21 Aaron will lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all of the iniquities of the descendant’s of Israel, and all their transgressions—all their sins; and he’ll put them on the head of the goat, and send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. 22 The goat will carry all their iniquities on himself to a solitary land, and he’ll let the goat go in the wilderness. WE

When it was time for this symbolism to actually be fulfilled, a Levitical descendant of Aaron was required to lay hands on the ultimate “Lamb of Aloha”. John the Immerser was used as a priest to fulfill the prophetic meaning of this symbolism. Both of John’s parents were descendants of Aaron:

Luke 1:5 In the days of Herod the king of Judea, there was a certain priest, whose name was Zacharias, of the division of the house of Abijah; and his wife was a descendant of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. —The Testimony of Yeshua, Gabriel Version (GV)

The Pharisees, claiming to be priests at the time, were not even Levites. They took the role from the Sadducees, among whom were true Levites, as was John, tho he is not known to have belonged to a sect. So John was the high priest of Father’s actual choosing.

Yeshua’s own Father was the One who sent His Son into the wilderness in the ultimate fulfillment of the scenario, by His spirit:

Mark 1:12 Immediately the Spirit sent Him away [1544] into the wilderness. GV

Yeshua, that Azazel goat, carried the sins of Israel into the desert!

John 1:29 The next day John saw Yeshua coming towards him, and said, “Look, the Lamb of Aloha, who takes away the sins of the world”. GV

Matthew 3:13-16 Then Yeshua came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be immersed by him. 14 But John protested; and said, “I need to be immersed by You, and You have come to me”? 15 Then Yeshua told him, “Consent right now, for it is necessary to fulfill all righteousness”. Then He consented. 16 When Yeshua was immersed, He arose immediately from the water. Heaven was opened to Him; and He saw the Spirit of Aloha descending like a dove, and it came on Him. GV

Matthew 4:1 and Luke 4:1 both mention that Yeshua was “led” into the wilderness.

Search Fathers Word describes the word led, used by Matthew and Luke, as being primarily in reference to an animal:

“to lead by laying hold of, and this way to bring to the point of destination: of an animal”

However Mark is even more plain:

Mark 1:12 Immediately the spirit banished Him into the wilderness.

This is the actual enactment of the Azazel goat—Yeshua the Lamb of Aloha, being banished into the wilderness on the very Day of Atonements!

However, the “live goat” was not to publicly come on the scene for another two thousand years.

I believe that the actual fulfillment of the Day of Atonements is contained in the Scriptures about these two goats and even more concerning two birds soon to be considered.

The live goat represents our living resurrected Savior. Exodus 12:5 indicates that a “lamb” can be either a sheep or a goat.

On the Day of Atonements, we should focus on Father’s formula for salvation. Sin and death, necessitate sacrifice so that we can obtain life.

Leviticus 16:8 Aaron will cast lots for the two goats; one lot for Yehovah, and the other lot for the Azazel goat. GV

Azazel is literally two words (Strong’s 05795 and 0235) meaning “a kid goat” and “to go away”. No further clarification is known.

1 Corinthians 15:17 If the Messiah has not been raised, your faith is worthless; and you are still without hope in your sins. GV

Romans 5:10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to Father through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by His LIFE. WEB

2 Timothy 1:8-10 ... so dont you be ashamed of the testimony of our Master, nor of me His bondsman [1]; but endure evils in connection with the Good News, thru the power of Father; 9 who has given us real life, and called us with a holy calling; not according to our works, but according to His will, and His loving kindness that was given to us in Yeshua the Messiah before the time [5550] of eternity [166], 10 and is now known by the appearance of our Savior, Yeshua the Messiah; who has abolished death, and has revealed life and immortality, by the Good News. GV

[1] See why “bondsman” is far better than “prisoner”. Keyword prisoner.

Death is already abolished for our Father’s children!

1 Timothy 1:10 and is now known by the appearance of our Savior, Yeshua the Messiah; who has abolished death, and has revealed life and immortality, by the Good News: GV

Of course, this reference to death being abolished is in reference to the resurrection:

1 Corinthians 15:54 So when this perishable is clothed with the imperishable, and this mortal is clothed with immortality; then the written word will be accomplished, “Death is devoured in victory.” GV

Humanity literally sent away the Savior, nailed to a tree, yet bearing all of the sins of the world—past, present and presumably future. However, for the salvation to be complete, the Savior has to return and “clean house”. This is symbolized in the seemingly mundane rituals involving the cleansing of a home contaminated with the loathsome disease of leprosy. Both a slain “bird” and a LIVING “bird” make atonement. (Compare to Matthew 3:16)

Leviticus 14:49-53 To cleanse the house he shall take two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. 50 He shall kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water. 51 He shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times. 52 He shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, with the living bird, with the cedar wood, with the hyssop, and with the scarlet; 53 but he shall let the living bird go out of the city into the open field. So shall he make atonement for the house; and it shall be clean. WEB

There is a great deal of symbolism in this leprosy account. Notice the emphasis on “atonement”, the sacrifice of two “clean” birds, a seven day period and an eighth day. Without being redundant, I wont comment further, besides there is more here than I presently understand.

Leviticus 14:1-31 [Yehovah] spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest, 3 and the priest shall go forth out of the camp. The priest shall examine him, and behold, if the plague of leprosy is healed in the leper, 4 then the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. 5 The priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water. 6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water. 7 He shall sprinkle on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird go into the open field. 8 “He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water; and he shall be clean. After that he shall come into the camp, but shall dwell outside his tent seven days. 9 It shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off. He shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his body in water, then he shall be clean. 10 “On the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb a year old without blemish, and three tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mingled with oil, and ‘one log’ [about 1/2 liter] of oil. 11 The priest who cleanses him shall set the man who is to be cleansed, and those things, before [Yehovah], at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 12 “The priest shall take one of the male lambs, and offer him for a trespass offering, with the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before [Yehovah]. 13 He shall kill the male lamb in the place where they kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the place of the sanctuary; for as the sin offering is the priest’s, so is the trespass offering. It is most holy .... 18 The rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed, and the priest shall make atonement for him before [Yehovah]. 19 “The priest shall offer the sin offering, and make atonement for him who is to be cleansed because of his uncleanness: and afterward he shall kill the burnt offering; 20 and the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meal offering on the altar. The priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean. 21 “If he is poor, and cant afford so much, then he shall take one male lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, and one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal offering, and a log of oil; 22 and two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to afford; and the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering. 23 “On the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, before [Yehovah]. 24 The priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before [Yehovah]. 25 He shall kill the lamb of the trespass offering. The priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering and put it on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot .... 29 The rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before [Yehovah]. 30 He shall offer one of the turtledoves, or of the young pigeons, such as he is able to afford, 31 even such as he is able to afford, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, with the meal offering. The priest shall make atonement for him who is to be cleansed before [Yehovah]. WEB

Here is a big clue for those who still dont know who it is who bears our iniquities:

Isaiah 53:9-11 They made His grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death; although He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth. 10 Yet it pleased [Yehovah] to bruise Him. He has caused Him to suffer. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed. He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of [Yehovah] shall prosper in His hand. 11 After the suffering of His soul, He will see the light and be satisfied. My righteous Servant will justify many by the knowledge of Himself; and He will bear their iniquities. WEB

What does the “wilderness” represent that the live goat was released into, and what about the “open field” that the “living bird” was released into? Strong’s 4757 places emphasis on “large tracts of wilderness (or uninhabited land) (around cities).” The first itemized use of field emphasizes a “cultivated field”.

Ezekiel 36:33-36 Thus says the Lord [Yehovah]: In the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be [rebuilt]. 34 The land that was desolate shall be tilled, whereas it was a desolation in the sight of all who passed by. 35 They shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the Garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited. 36 Then the nations that are left around you shall know that I, [Yehovah], have built the ruined places, and planted that which was desolate: I, [Yehovah], have spoken it, and I will do it. WEB

I would suggest that the “wilderness” and the cultivated “field” appear to represent a before and after comparison.

Exodus 16:2 The whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness .... WEB

Ancient Israel is the “before” picture as well.

Leviticus 16:21-22 Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is ‘in readiness’. 22 The goat shall carry all their iniquities on himself to a solitary land, and he shall let the goat go in the wilderness. WEB

(The use of the words “fit man” in the KJV, instead of something like ‘in readiness’ has caused some people to think that an “ape man” was needed for the task, leading to a total misunderstanding of the symbolism!)

The First Exodus involved Israel escaping captivity to hold a feast in the wilderness.

Exodus 5:1 Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, “This is what [Yehovah], the Father of Israel, says, ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ WEB

The Second Exodus portrays the “after” picture.

Zechariah 12:10-11 I will pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they will look to Me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for his only son, and will grieve bitterly for Him, as one grieves for his firstborn. 11 In that day there will be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. WEB

WEB Footnote:

“After “Me”, the Hebrew has the two letters: “Aleph Tav”, (the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet), not as a word, but [some suppose] as a grammatical marker.”

[How about, it’s a clue that the Messiah is the Alpha and Omega: the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet—Revelation 1:8,11; 21:6; 22:13]

The Day of Atonements is, as someone expressed it “at-one-ment” with Father. During the Day of the Yehovah, while many other nations of the world are being punished for having overdone their punishment upon Israel, the many Israelite nations will begin to become at one with their Father! That is what the following Scriptures were to portray to ancient Israel, tho they never had a clue.

Exodus 30:10 Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once in the year; with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once in the year he shall make atonement for it throughout your generations. It is most holy to [Yehovah]. WEB

Much of Israel will be spared the seven last plagues!

Exodus 30:12 When you take a census of the children of Israel, according to those who are numbered among them, then each man shall give a ransom for his soul to [Yehovah], when you number them; that there be no plague among them when you number them. WEB

The Day of Atonements is “a memorial” to the day when Israel makes atonement for her sins!

Exodus 30:16 You shall take the atonement money from the children of Israel, and shall appoint it for the service of the Tent of Meeting; that it may be a memorial for the children of Israel before [Yehovah], to make atonement for your souls. WEB

During the Day of the Yehovah, Father will “defend” those who are seeking refuge in Jerusalem, as we saw in Zechariah 12:8 above, and He will teach them righteousness:

Zechariah 9:15-16 [Yehovah] of Armies will defend them; and they will destroy and overcome with sling stones; and they will drink, and roar as through wine; and they will be filled like bowls, like the corners of the altar. 16 [Yehovah] their Father will save them in that day as the flock of his people; for they are like the jewels of a crown, lifted on high over his land. WEB

Isaiah 60:21-22 Your people also shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified. 22 The little one shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation; I, [Yehovah], will hasten it in its time. WEB

The Day of Atonements is when sorrow turns into joy!

Psalm 30:11 You have turned my mourning into dancing for me. You have removed my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness .... WEB

Isaiah 51:11 The ransomed of [Yehovah] shall return, and come with singing to Zion; and everlasting joy shall be on their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. WEB

Jeremiah 33:10-12 Thus says [Yehovah]: Yet again there shall be heard in this place, about which you say, It is waste, without man and without animal, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without animal, 11 the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, Give thanks to [Yehovah] of Armies, for [Yehovah] is good, for His loving kindness endures forever; and of them who bring sacrifices of thanksgiving into the house of [Yehovah]. For I will cause the [captives] of the land to return as at the first, says [Yehovah]. 12 Thus says [Yehovah] of Armies: Yet again shall there be in this place, which is ‘waste’, [wilderness] without man and without animal, and in all its cities, a habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down. WEB

The following “day” will literally occur on the Day of Atonements of a near future Jubilee year!

Ezekiel 36:33-35 Adonay Yehovah says; “On the day that I cleanse you from all of your iniquities, I’ll enable you to inhabit the cities, and the waste places will be rebuilt. 34 The land that was desolate will be tilled rather than remaining desolate in the sight of everyone who passed by”. 35 They’ll say, “This land that was desolate has become like the Garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are fenced and inhabited”. WE

On Atonement we should look forward to the Promised Land, which our generation will reenter at the very onset of the Everlasting Kingdom.

The Part 4 introduction was expanded on the Day of Atonements, 2008

Now for Part 5, The Feast of Tabernacles